Source Engine Beta Released for DS

[CSN NewsBot]

Update: My bad. I apparently left out just how to enable the BETA update on servers! Whoops. To start a beta server, run hldsupdatetool with the command "-beta srcmp0104".



This command line parameter can also be used by Steam clients by adding the above command to the end of your Steam shortcut as per the usual.



Sorry fans of Nintendo, the DS in this headline stands for "Dedicated Server." Yes, a new BETA is now available for Source server admins everywhere.

• Cheat protected many more cvars
  
  
• Replaced cl_interp with cl_interp_ratio. Server can limit it with
  
  sv_min_cl_interp_ratio and sv_max_cl_interp_ratio
  
  
• Added sv_rcon_log to allow rcon logging to be disabled

This was announced via the HLDS mailing list. The update will go public later next week, so any feedback to this BETA needs to be submitted to the HLDS mailing list as soon as possible.

[V1P3R]

These are some useful changes.....



though I don't think it's worth a Subway Billboard on Long A.

[Zips]

Wrong game.

[Ryosuke T]

when i first read the title i was like DS? nintendo? haha.

[DevgruSeal H.E]

That's what I thought as well :P

[DaRk-AnGeL]

Replaced cl_interp with cl_interp_ratio. Server can limit it with

sv_min_cl_interp_ratio and sv_max_cl_interp_ratio

Any idea on what these commands actually do yet ? (Yes I am aware they must fix the interp bug, but I don't know exactly how)



Will your regular Joe server admin even bother to take the time to learn about these cvars ?



Either way, from a competitive standpoint, this is a step in the right direction, albeit a very late step......

[Hutz]

Basically, using an interp ratio instead of straight-up interp lets you adjust your updaterate from server to server while automatically keeping an optimal interp value.



I tried the beta, and as soon as I type 'c' in the console, the game crashes. gg

[Zips]

Yeah, the client BETA seems to be having some issues. Since it's only a BETA, it'd be wise not to use it yet.

[FAF]

DaRk-AnGeL wrote..

Will your regular Joe server admin even bother to take the time to learn about these cvars ?

Well every time I check ma_rates on my server, most non-regulars have rates like 7500/20/30 or even 20000/20/20. So I'd say yes, your average server admin will take the time, just as the average player takes the time to blatantly rate hack and then feigns ignorance when confronted with the evidence :)

[entRo]

Why would either of those be rate hacking? I'm pretty sure 20/30 is the default for cmd and update rates, and 20000 is the default rate.



They're probably not feigning ignorance (not that it's even against any sort of rules to mess your rates up, it's a disadvantage anyway), they actually are ignorant. If they weren't, they'd be using 25000/100/100.

[Hutz]

If they weren't ignorant, their rate would whatever DL they're capable of, their updaterate would be just high enough to avoid choke, and cmdrate would be their average framerate.



25000/100/100 isn't some magical rate setup that works for everybody, ya know.

[FlyingMongoose]

DaRk-AnGeL wrote..

Any idea on what these commands actually do yet ? (Yes I am aware they must fix the interp bug, but I don't know exactly how)



Will your regular Joe server admin even bother to take the time to learn about these cvars ?



Either way, from a competitive standpoint, this is a step in the right direction, albeit a very late step......

Any server admin who knows how it all works will, so the majority of clan owned servers, and business owned servers, and GSP set up servers will have it pre-set to optimal.



These commands allow for limiting rates from server side.



Basically it does what Cvar-X did by allowing a specific range of rates and other rate based settings.



and in a sense it does prevent some "rate-hacking".



(I'm going with rate/updaterate/cmdrate)



And no, 7500/20/30 and 20/20/20000 are NOT rate hacking

500/20/30 that's rate hacking 20000/1/1 that's rate hacking, and the list goes on, basically any rate that creates a less than 10 ping but intense amounts of lag can be considered "rate hacking".



Anyone who knows how to set rates properly (even 56kers) will *NOT* have visible lag or even an advantage, I don't kick 56kers from servers I administrate usually, I enlighten them on proper rate settings for themselves.



And the best I've seen is 15000/45/60 about 250 ping, and no lag. So yeah...56kers don't have an advantage...not in source, nor does it cause adverse affect on other players pings like it does in 1.6, not that I've seen.



I've had a personal friend accused of "rate hacking" in my own server before. He was running 25000/100/65 (optimal for his connection and mine to a server in chicago). I noticed no noticeable lag or any issues on him so I dismissed it, but people kept bitching because he kept killing them.



One of the bigger problems is so many people think anyone better than them is a hacker. No matter how good you are, there is always someone better, period....