Mod matters, with Ashton 'I ain't 'fraid no mod' Mills.
Neotokyo is a source-based mod that's been five years in production, and modeled after the creativity of Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the shell) and Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira). Set thirty years in a futuristic Japan, a failed coup by the armed forces leads to an ongoing war between the government's National Security Forces (NSF) and a breakout group of the armed forces called JINRAI.
In a nutshell Neotokyo is a futuristic Counter-Strike with teamplay elements. Unique to the mod is a twist on the classic Capture The Flag mode with Capture The Ghost, involving finding and keeping a fragmented robot which grants the bearer the ability to 'see' enemies through the walls, as long as he remains still. On its own it's not a huge advantage, its key lies in using teamspeak to communicate enemy movements to team mates.
There are ten maps ranging from inner-city Tokyo to snow-driven temples along with 18 different player models to spice up the visuals. Each side has three classes - Recon, Assault and Support - with a host of weapons and abilities such as night vision and thermal vision, or thermoptic camouflage (aka cloaking). Better weapons are unlocked as you gain in rank, and the use of squads (members of which are visible on your HUD) helps in coordinated strategies.
As a Source-based mod the graphics are crisp, clean, and fast and the on the whole the mod is finely polished. Just like Counter-Strike don't expect to master it overnight; experienced players will tear you a new one on your inevitable de-noobifying learning curve. Still, using your environment to advantage can counter even the best players, as can using each class' skills effectively.
Credit must go to the authors for the superb attention to detail on the models, game world, and weapons. And for a cheat-sheet on how to play see the Media section of the website. If you're looking for a futuristic teamplay mod, give it a go, it's free after all.
So you think you're a suave, sensual, romantic? Have you thought about how you might pop the question to your significant other for a life of wedded, marital, bliss?
Kristy, aka PuffyPuppy, did just that and came up with perhaps the most geeky proposal of all: her man loved playing Fallout 3, so she made a mod to propose to him.
Not being a master modder, Kristy first contacted Bethesda to see if her idea was plausible. Quite possibly, she was told; she should put her question to the experts in the modders forum. She did this and soon her thread attracted enough attention that a plethora of modders were onboard, and the result after three months of work was 1+1=1, aka The Wedding Proposal.
Far from a small piece of work, 1+1=1 includes a new location, a quest, new items, voice acting by Kristy herself, and an in-game model of the real-world ring. Modders who helped make the mod also gave wedding 'presents' in the final room.
She stars in it, of course, held captive by crazed pimp and his Raider buddies. And, once rescued by her in-game hero, pops the question like so: "Will you, Shawn, take me, Kristy, to be your post-apoclayptic love slave until death do us part?"
Love-slave you say, eh?
And yes, her man did say yes. Of course, it helps that saying no turns Kristy into a raging Deathclaw intent on tearing you a new one.
Hell hath no fury...
Issue: 133 | February, 2012