Code Zulu Bind Maker

Vista incompatibility fixed (finally huh?)

Well, I finally got around to publishing the vista fix.

As has been mentioned before (has it really almost been a year now???), bind maker was broken in vista.

I gutted the problem dll and rewrote a bunch of ugly code. There are minor visual differences between the versions, I'll get the site and users guide updated some time, but the new version works exactly like the old one did. The form is now sizable, and you can adjust the two middle boxes (it has a splitter in between them now) as well as maximize the window (it looks really weird on my 30" monitor).

So for all you vista having, bind maker using mofo CS'ers out there, you can finally use bind maker again!

All the links have been updated so click away!

Server Downtime - migration complete

Our hosting providers closed up shop. Over the next few days we will be relocating bindmaker.org.

It should be pretty seemless, but if we don't show up for a day or two, thats why.

Downloads (as always) can be found at sourceforge and berlios

Thanks for your patience.

UPDATE: We've successfully moved the site to a new location. There may be one more move that we make (when we transition the site to its new final destination), until then, Thanks for the patience. Happy Fragging!

Vista Incompatibility

It has recently come to my attention that the current version of bindmaker (1.1.5.x) is not compatible with Windows Vista. Actually, bindmaker itself is not incompatible, but one of the libraries that it uses (sandbar.dll) is. sandbar.dll is used to give bind maker the Office 2003 style menu and tool bars.

Normally I'd just update the library, but it is no longer free, and therefore isn't very useful to an open source application.

I will try to fix the issue and re-release a version that is compatible with vista (and remove the broken menu and toolbar library) as soon as I can.

Old School

Back in the day when I started playing counter strike, I was a studious college student making straight A's in school. My older brother invited me over to his place one night and gave me half life, a burned cd with counter strike on it, and told me I had to start playing CS on a server he loved named Salad Shooters. Well, my grades dropped, my focus shifted and I became a PC gamer (though I did manage to graduate on time)...

That server has since died, the clan disbanded (though the community still exists somewhat), but a few guys who hang around the SS community got together for old times sake and set up an old CS 1.6 server. I don't play much CS these days (too many better games out there IMO), but it was fun jumping in a server with some old friends and getting owned.

anyway, just thought I'd post the IP and give it a little pimp.

If you're bored, and want to own some folks who don't play a lot, check out the Old School server at:

The Old School CS1.6:
72.9.229.128:27015

Valve Customer Support

EDIT: I do have to say that their support did get much much better. They actually responded back and forth multiple times today, and did what real support tech's do (resolve issues).

If you have to create the ModInstallPath registry key described below to get bind maker to find your games, and have a legal / valid steam account, PLEASE SUBMIT A SUPPORT TICKET TO VALVE. We can only suggest adding the key, but the real problem is on their end, and as I cant reproduce the issue, your help is needed in the matter.

We've had a lot of support requests come in lately which have been caused by something Valve does (actually something valve sometimes doesn't do) when you install steam.

Typically, when you install steam, Valve places a registry key in your system registry which is supposed to help mod makers install their mods. The registry key is named ModInstallPath and unfortunately for us, is the key bind maker uses to find your game directory.

We've seen that fairly sporadically that key is missing. I decided to open a support ticket with valve to find out what was going on. Here's my email to them:

Hello,

I develop an application called bind maker (http://bindmaker.org), and use the ModInstallPath that is installed with steam (or used to be) to find and load game config files. I've recently had an influx of support requests which have arisen from that key being missing. I've tried re-creating user's environments using my different steam accounts, but cannot get an install which is missing that registry key.

Is that key omitted under any conditions that I should be aware of?

Thanks,
--Steve

And this was their response:

Steve,

Please read the information found in the link given below in order to troubleshoot and resolve your issue.

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Main_Page

WOW! For those who may have missed it, I opened a "support ticket" with valve, not with NullFX Software (us). Weird thing is, they'd have us figure out why sometimes their installer doesn't include a very useful (and documented I might add. look for the bullet point saying Added install path registry key so that MODs know where to install) registry key.

I wonder how many of our users would like support like that?

GG Valve Support!

If bind maker asks you to find your game config files, try opening your registry editor (start -> run: type regedit) to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareValveSteam and add a new "string value" named "ModInstallPath" with the path to your counterstrike directory (ex: c:program files (x86)steamsteamappsqwazoCounter strike, but replace "counter strike" with "half-life" like so: c:program files (x86)steamsteamappsqwazohalf-life).

hopefully this is useful information to anyone in need. God forbid we give shitty customer support like that!

A better way to get your games!

As you may have been able to tell, We've added a few Ad's around the site. Personally, I hate ads. I typically hate sites that have ads, especially if they're not things that I'd have any use for.

There are 2 websites that I visit that I actually don�t mind having ads on. That�s because they've been minimal and informative.

The companies I have advertised on this site are companies (games, products or services) that I've personally used, plan to use again, and highly recommend from a personal perspective. I've tried to only select things related to gaming, computers, and general website stuff (though I couldn�t help but add shutterfly.com just because that�s who I always use to print all my digital photos). My thinking is that if you're looking to start (or grow) your clan, and need a website or game server host, you'll be able visit some of the folks listed here (if nothing else but for information purposes only).

Now, on to the point of the article!

Ever since valve released steam, I've wanted to download all my games online like that. Click, pay, download and play. I've bought plenty of games online, only to have to wait for the box to get shipped to my home. The other day I was looking for a strategy guide for Oblivion, and ran across a site owned by IGN (the guys who run GameSPY and FilePlanet) called Direct2DDrive that sells all their games online (and by "online" I mean "ONLINE!"). Not only do you get to buy them online but you download them online right then and there as well. I was able to buy a few games (plus the strategy guide), download them and frag on within minutes (you've got to love FIOS). Normally I wouldn�t bring myself to pimp a site or product like this, but normally I'm not fragging minutes after I pay for a new game online. That�s bad-ass enough for an entry on the site.

Enjoy!

Episode I - Now Playing... or should I say now paying. (not worth the $$)

I've been waiting on this one for a while. I hope I haven't wasted $20 on this game (edit: yes, I did, the game is totally overpriced). Since Battlefield2 came out I haven't played a game that can touch its beauty or game play, but since I finished the original HL2 I've been wondering WTF happened. I loved HL2, and spent countless hours playing and replaying the game. I'm pretty much stoked to find out the W and TF of whats going on.

I'll post my thoughts / review on the game as I play it. With the NBA confrence finals and soon to be finals looming, I might not get any real dedicated game time for a couple of weeks, but I'll have to make due with games at work in my spare time till then.

Its been a while

Well, Its been a while since I last wrote anything on this site.

A few months ago, I lost my main development box, which had the source code to every program I've ever written on it. Needless to say Bind Maker v2 was one of those. I've since started re-writing it again, but can't help wonder if anyone would even be interested. There has only recently been 1 person asking about it since I mentioned it was comming.

Since Battlefield2 came out, I havent really touched counter-strike at all, I've even thought about shutting the site down alltogether, but people keep downloading the app, so I dont know.

besides being able to edit game settings for source, it will have an alias builder and online script browser where folks can share their scripts (and others can use them w/ out copying any code anwhere).

I know a lot of people just hit the site to download the app, but if you have an opinion please vote on the poll HERE
(in the upper right hand corner between the "donate" box and this article)

Battlefield 2! (my 2 ¢ review)

When it comes to pc games, I don't typically stray too far from counter-strike. This past week, I've been altogether impressed and distracted by the newly released battlefield 2. I've never played any of the battlefield series, but co-workers of mine wouldn't stop sending me clips of the game, so I decided to pre-order it. Having now played it, I believe I'm going to be distracted from counter-strike for quite a while. this game is awesome!

My biggest complaint of most first person shooter games is a lack of team play. That's one of the things I love about Counter-Strike. Battlefield 2 takes team play to the next level. It allows you to form squadrons and has a commander who can help direct the battle as it happens. When in a squad, you can choose to re-spawn around your captain as opposed to spawning back at a base. The game has a great mix of player categories, and gives you enough (when a squad has the right mixture of players) to totally sustain yourself long term in battle.

I have a fairly old system (athlon 1.3 thunderbird / 1 gig ram / FX5600:128 / sound blaster-live) and didn't expect much in the way of smooth game play. In fact, my computer fails the minimum requirements in several areas. I was surprised when on medium settings it played as smooth as counter-strike 1.6 (far more smooth than CS:Source or any HL2 based games... atleast on my pre-historic machine).

This game is packed full of goodies (rolling fog, amazing lighting, smooth looking player models, realistic sounds and the list goes on). I'd definitely recommend this one for purchase, you won't be disappointed. If you don't want to take my word for it, download the demo and try it out.

The site's private message utility is back online

We recently upgraded the forums here, and in the process of doing so, found a bug in the private message system. The bug kept anyone from sending or recieveing private messages in our forums. the issue has be resolved, and things should be back to normal.

Thanks for your patience.