UKCT - UKCounterTerrorist

[steam] has been updated once more, just in time for the [cpl] Winter Championships due to kick off today ( US time, so most likely very late tonight / early tomorrow morning UK time - we'll keep you informed.)

There have been no dramatic changes, just alterations to the way Steam and the Source games operate, and a cut in loading times ( "transition times" ) for those of you that own Half-Life 2.

Here's the entire changelog, [steam] should update automatically - if not, a quick restart will do the trick.

Steam

Source MODs will now automatically appear in the games list

Improved startup process for Steam

Fixed crash when creating a backup that would span multiple DVDs

Fixed a bug that would unnecessarily validate Steam caches after a cache corruption

Fixed Condition Zero: Deleted Scenes and Codename Gordon failing to backup correctly

Fixed a bug where the message "the game files will be deleted and re-acquired" would repeat

Fixed offline mode failing after not connecting to Steam for more than a month

Half-Life 2

Optimization to the Steam filesystem to reduce game launch and level transition time

Source SDK

Simplified debug-launch process for MOD developers. MOD developers no longer need to place a config file in their directory

Added a registry key for MOD developers to use to locate a user's Steam installation located at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareValveSteamSourceModInstallPath

To whet your appetite for the soon-to-kick-off [cpl] Winter Championships, US gaming scene site [gotfrag] has teamed up with MFA Video Productions to release a short first day preview, taking a look back at some of the returning greats and some of the new names attending this year's winter competition.

The video is shortly over 13 minutes and weighs in at a heavy 79.5mb. Unless you are a paying [gotfrag] member, they will cap your download speed.

Get the short film here.

Well after seemingly trying to strengthen their line-up recently, with the proposed additions of w1cked and Flavas, one of the better UK teams in the form of CAution! look to have closed their doors for good.

Their IRC topic doesn't shed any explicit light on the reasons why, but says "thanks to all the REAL members" - the emphasising of 'real' perhaps suggesting a little animosity between the longstanding members and the new additions?

Either way, it will be a blow to the UK CS scene to lose a respected and well-performing clan that had been around for 8 months - a substantial time in our volatile community. On behalf of [ukct] I'd like to wish them the best of luck in the future.

Well the first day of the [cpl] Winter Championships is all but over. The CS tournament is yet to kick off, and is due to start tomorrow at 5:00pm UK time. There have been many speculations as to the opening round 1 fixtures, but all preliminary - as soon as something definite is announced, we'll have it for you.

Right here, is the competition structure and map lists, including downloads of the in-house maps and their overview files.

Tournament Structure

64-teams

Round-robin format, double-elimination (entire tournament)

MR30, 1:45 round times.

Overtime start money: $10,000

Map Rotation

Championship Finals: de_inferno

Consolation Finals: de_cpl_mill

Runoff Matches: de_train

Upper Finals: de_train

Upper Semi-Finals: de_dust2

Upper Quarter-Finals: de_nuke

Upper Round 3: de_cpl_mill

Upper Round 2: de_inferno

Upper Round 1: de_cpl_strike

Lower Finals: de_dust2

Lower Semi-Finals: de_nuke

Lower Quarter-Finals: de_cpl_mill

Lower Round 6: de_cpl_fire

Lower Round 5: de_train

Lower Round 4: de_dust2

Lower Round 3: de_nuke

Lower Round 2: de_cpl_mill

Lower Round 1: de_inferno

As you can see, de_cpl_strike debuts along with the returning de_cpl_mill and de_cpl_fire as the in-house CPL-only maps. You can download these, and the ever-problematic overview files, from [ukct] below:

de_cpl_mill map & overview

de_cpl_fire map & overview

de_cpl_strike map & overview

All 3 overview files only

Hello all,

I hope you would agree that with enuex back, the site has picked up, as he provides excellent coverage, and well written newsposts, that makes you just want to hug him.

But alas, he will be back off to uni soon, and therfor his experience gone. Mango also is making some life-changing decisions, so unsure of his future here on the site. Therefore, we are really looking for some new talent, to write along-side myself, FSK and Ghetto.

You dont have to have any experience, I didnt, and im still here! But we would hope for some mature, original guys or girls who understand the time it takes to write. I myself am working full time, and trying to complete a degree, so it doesn't give me much time.

So, [ukct] needs you! If you are interested please contact me or enuex in the main channel, #ukct. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions, we will inform you as best we can.

Many thanks, enjoy the evening!

UKCT staff.