GameHelper has posted a new article looking at the upcoming version 3.0 of Day of Defeat, the popular WW2 mod for Half-Life. There's info on new weapons, classes, maps, etc and new screenshots are included.

Got an email from Valve announcing the fourth Half-Life Mod Expo. Unlike previous years, it won't be held in San Francisco but rather in Dallas, TX during the CPL Summer Event. The Mod Expo will take place Monday, July 22 from 8 PM to 10 PM. Teams who want to show off their modification need to email modexpo@valvesoftware.com.

Valve has released the latest Half-Life server files, in anticipation of tomorrow's client upgrade. There are full downloads and upgrades for Linux and Windows. We have mirrors for the Windows 4.1.0.9 to 4.1.1.0 upgrade, Windows 4.1.1.0 full version, Linux 3.1.0.9 to 3.1.1.0 upgrade and Linux 3.1.1.0 full version. Client files are coming tomorrow at 1PM CST.

Valve Software has sent along word on the release date for the upcoming Half-Life and Counter-Strike releases. In an attempt to be cool, we'll be hosting this stuff on the Fileshack network which spans across 9 file servers currently, with more to come online soon. Here you go:

New client and server updates for Half-Life and Counter-Strike (Half-Life 1.1.1.0 and C.S. 1.5) will be released this week. Both updates include the Ricochet Mod, phase two of the recently introduced anti-cheat technology, a new Counter-Strike map (de_piranesi), as well as various fixes and tweaks. Server files will be released to the public Tuesday evening. Client files will be released for download Wednesday morning at 11:00 a.m. PST, at which point Steam clients will be updated automatically. Those interested in mirroring any of the files, please contact: mirrors@valvesoftware.com.

Over at CS Nation you can find the change list for the upcoming Half-Life patch. According to another update on that site, the patch is now due June 12. Thanks HomeLAN Fed.

An update from the guys at Geekboys on those Half-Life v1.1.1.0 details, apparently that demo playback util might not be showing up in v1.5 after all but in a future release.

Some more details have come out with the upcoming Half-Life release. Apparently there's going to be a bit more to it than was originally thought. They are also packaging a demo playback util you can see screenshots here and some more details via the PHL guys:

PLAYBACK: Main thing is that you have a slider for the timeline which you can use. You can also use quick keys for: - Jump to start - Go one frame back - Pause - Play - Go one frame forward - Jump to end - set time scale.
EDITING: Now you can select parts and then cut them out from the demo-file. For example you record a super demo, but you dont want to keep the last round.

Also, a mention of the release timeframe:

Right now we're planning the release for next Wednesday, but if we run into any significant problems in testing we'll have to push things back a week.

Valve sends word they are going to make the Internet crash again soon, as new Counter-Strike and Half-Life patches are on the way. Here's what will be included.

New client and server updates for Half-Life and Counter-Strike are in the final phases of development and will be released in the coming weeks. Both updates (Half-Life 1.1.1.0 and C.S. 1.5) include the Ricochet Mod, phase two of the recently introduced anti-cheat technology, as well as various fixes and tweaks. The Ricochet Mod source, which includes animation blending and multi-serve technology, will be added to the Half-Life SDK. In addition, Counter-Strike 1.5 includes de_piranesi, a new mission created by Iikka Keranen.

Computer & Video Games has a Q&A with Doug Lombardi of Valve, asking him about various Valve related products. Yes, they even ask him about Team Fortress 2 and it's not dead ("We'll start showing it again once it gets to a certain point, and we're now getting very close to that point"). Other questions are about Steam, mod support, Counter-Strike on the Xbox and a few other things.

A year after the previous release, a new version of Firearms has been released. They say this Half-Life mod has been changed significantly, and it comes with all kinds of new weapons and models.

Version 1.6 of the Front Line Force mod for Half-Life has been released. There's a 16mb upgrade file for those with 1.5, or a 100mb full download if you don't have this team mod. Here's a partial list of new features/changes.

- New versions of flf_sogem, flf_ebonysword, flf_toledo featuring gameplay and FPS improvements
- Completely, 100% fixed player hitboxes
- New 'dive' feature - hitting your prone key while running will execute a dive to the ground. At higher speeds you’ll take a little bit of damage on the way down, but some situations call for you to get down immediately
- Various bug fixes (stuck on map change, fadetoblack bug, etc)
- Weapon tweaks
- Prone/getting up delay decreased

The new version of Day of Defeat has been released as promised. There are new maps and all kinds of improvements in beta version 2.1 of the popular WW2 mod for Half-Life. The mod's site has several mirror sites listed for the Windows and Linux releases, we have the Windows files mirrored for you as well. Grab the 2.0 -> 2.1 upgrade or the full 2.1 client. Here's a partial list of changes

- added dod_koln
- added dod_cherbourg
- many map tweaks and fixes
- reduction in texture usage in maps
- grenadier down to 3 grenades
- improved HLTV support - shows flags, objects, grenades, death messages and scoreboard!
- optimized netcode
- 'sharp' crosshair, includes alternate colored crosshair
- removed ability to 'water snipe'

According to the Day of Defeat site, version 2.1 of this popular WW2 mod for Half-Life will be released tomorrow. It adds two new maps, optimizes netcode, and comes with various other changes/fixes.

Fileplanet is hosting a new beta update version of the Linux and Windows Half-Life server files. This patch fixes two Counter-Strike issues and two Linux specific problems. RThanks HomeLAN Fed.

Valve has released beta patches for the Half-Life dedicated servers. There's a 3.1mb Windows patch and a 1.6mb Linux patch. Several HLTV and engine problems have been fixed, though remember this is still beta code (but compatible with current clients). Thanks Blues News.

HomeLAN Fed's Saturday morning mod interview is with the creator of the Poke646 mod this time. This is a single-player Half-Life mod, not too many of those around.

Valve sends word that they are conducting a hardware survey among all the Counter-Strike and Half-Life players again. So far, there are 180,000 results. Still a lot of people with a TNT2 videocard. Results from the previous survey can be found here.

GameSpot Australia has conducted an interview with Valve writer Marc Laidlaw. He answers questions about things like the basis of the Gordon Freeman character, why the idea of a secret government agent is popular, his involvement with the Half-Life expansions and various other things. Thanks Blues News.

As promised, Valve has released the latest Half-Life and Counter-Strike patches. There's a Half-Life 1.1.0.9 full download, 1.1.0.8 -> 1.1.0.9 upgrade, Counter-Strike 1.0.0.4 retail update, 1.0.0.3 -> 1.0.0.4 upgrade, a Counter-Strike mod version 1.4 full download and 1.3 -> 1.4 update. We have all these files mirrored for you. You need a Shacknews account to download. Note that you don't need to download any of these files if you are already a Steam beta-tester. You'll be updated automatically.

- Counter-Strike 1.0.0.4 Full Retail Update - Fileshack Dallas.
- Counter-Strike 1.0.0.4 Full Retail Update - Fileshack NYC.
- Counter-Strike 1.0.0.4 Full Retail Update - Fileshack Seattle.

- Half-Life 1.1.0.9 Full - Fileshack Dallas.
- Half-Life 1.1.0.9 Full - Fileshack NYC.
- Half-Life 1.1.0.9 Full - Fileshack Seattle.

- Counter-Strike Mod 1.4 Full - Fileshack Dallas.
- Counter-Strike Mod 1.4 Full - Fileshack NYC.
- Counter-Strike Mod 1.4 Full - Fileshack Seattle.

- Counter-Strike Retail 1.0.0.3 to 1.0.0.4 - Fileshack Dallas.
- Counter-Strike Retail 1.0.0.3 to 1.0.0.4 - Fileshack NYC.
- Counter-Strike Retail 1.0.0.3 to 1.0.0.4 - Fileshack Seattle.

- Half-Life 1.1.0.8 to 1.1.0.9 - Fileshack Dallas.
- Half-Life 1.1.0.8 to 1.1.0.9 - Fileshack NYC.
- Half-Life 1.1.0.8 to 1.1.0.9 - Fileshack Seattle.

- Counter-Strike Mod 1.3 to 1.4 - Fileshack Dallas.
- Counter-Strike Mod 1.3 to 1.4 - Fileshack NYC.
- Counter-Strike Mod 1.3 to 1.4 - Fileshack Seattle.

A list of changes for Half-Life can be found here, for Counter-Strike changes go here.

Mirrors: 3D Gamers, Blues News, Half-Life Tiscali Games, Counter-Strike Tiscali Games.  Note: Everyone who created an account today will have to do so again, very sorry for this.

In anticipation of tomorrow's Half-Life and Counter-Strike client upgrades, Valve has released the updated server files. There's a Windows and Linux version as usual. Here's the upgrade files from 4.1.0.8 (Windows) to 4.1.0.9 and 3.1.0.8 (Linux) to 3.1.0.9. There's also a Counter-Strike 1.4 server upgrade.

• HL Windows server upgrade - Fileshack New York City
• HL Windows server upgrade - Fileshack Seattle
• HL Linux server upgrade - Fileshack New York City
• HL Linux server upgrade - Fileshack Seattle

• HL Windows server full - Fileshack New York City
• HL Windows server full - Fileshack Seattle
• HL Linux server full - Fileshack New York City
• HL Linux server full - Fileshack Seattle

• Counter-Strike Linux server upgrade - Fileshack New York City
• Counter-Strike Linux server upgrade - Fileshack Seattle

Client files will be released tomorrow at 1pm CST.