This is an off-the-cuff article, that is to say I am basically writing it with no research and no drafts. What you get is the first thing that comes out my head and I am in a hurry!

I love Steam. It’s made my life so much easier. Partly because I hate DVDs or CDs and partly because of all the other features. Sure, there are some things I HATE about it, but everything in life is a compromise.

You live your everyday life. Work, family, house, children – whatever.

But one day you get caught in an absolutely dark, surrealistic and sadistic world called Halfquake. Is it an institution?

Is it on earth? Noone seems to care about you, your pain and your life. Forget your past, it’s gone forever. Just pray it won’t be too sadistic.

Amen.

The player has made a mistake in the past and has to face the consequences now (suffering).

The punishment comes to the player in 4 parts and one additional final part.

This is like nothing you have ever played before.

I noticed that Valve announced today that they would be using Steam Workshop to distribute Skyrim mods.

They had previously announced distribution of Portal 2 mods via the same method, and as I wrote on somewhere, that scared the heck out of me.

Hello sufferers,

This weekend sees the start of the Hazardous Half-Quake Quatridual.

Half-Quake is made by Muddasheep and he has a special way of looking at things – a sadistic way!

He enjoys tourturing players via various techniques. His mods have a visual style that has been copied but never equalled.

For each new map and mod I update, I will include the description, screenshots, TAGS and my own review. It will also have a working download.

You can subscribe to the RSS Feed or you can follow me on Twitter. Using either of these methods will allow you to recieve updates as soon as I post the latest map or mod.

The winner of the draw (see below) will get a Halfquake DVD full of Halfquake goodies (dialogue bloopers, artworks, notes), featuring a unique drawing by Muddasheep.

The top reviewers (as in the reviewers who post all the reviews) will be entered into a draw to win a Half-Quake DVD. Huge thanks to Muddasheep for agreeing to create another one.

If you don’t know what the DVD is, please take a look at William’s excellent piece about it.

Get playing now, so you can post your reviews on the same day as I post them:

• HQ1: Half-Quake
• HQ2: Half-Quake Amen and The Present
• HQ3: Half-Quake: Sunrise

I am pleased to announce the next mapping competition: CrossbowVille.

Full details can be found on the competition’s page: CrossbowVille.

I suggest you read the page carefully, because there is one new rule that is related to the sponsors that is very important.

I don’t use Steam Friends as much as some, but that’s true of Facebook, LinkedIn or Skype etc.

For those that seem to spend their entire life online (I’m looking at you Au Heppa!) they may not pay much attention to their friends list.

I do. I don’t know why but I do.

It’s time to think about the next mapping competition.

This time, SteamContests has organized the sponsorship of Tt eSPORTS!

They will be supplying the MEKA G1 keyboard as the first prize and the Black Element gaming mouse as the second prize.

Those are IN ADDITION to any prize I give AND there may be some other smaller prizes too.

So, with all that in mind, it’s time to select the next theme.

Enjoy being scared? This mapping competition challenged mappers to make a scary scene. No combat was required but allowed.

There are 5 entries in this mappack. The maps can be played in any order. I have listed them in the order I received them.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alex from JustMakeGames for providing the motivation to run the competition and TheHappyCloud for providing the prize.

In addition, I would like to thank all the entrants. GREAT WORKS GUYS!

Don’t forget to play late at night with all the lights out!