The goal of this map is to make Smallcube less lucky and more team based.
It's a bit wider (one flag on each side), longer (2 flags on each side). So it's 512 units longer and 256 wider. The goal remains where it was, in the field now. It also produces less random ball resets.
I also removed all graphical details, the map is pretty naked now, just for gameplay.
Have fun, I'll ignore the moaning, since I believe in it too much myself. :)
Oh btw, I am not 100% happy with the 'top of the goal'-part, but I had to avoid attackers standing on it, and it's the only thing I could come up with, because I had to avoid a plane wall there.

http://deathball.net/Downloads/DB-SmallCubeSE.zip
Put the file in UT2004/Deathball/Maps

It will be on all servers I'm hosting in a while.

I hope you did all celebrate Deathball's birthday on October 31. (V1.0) and baked a cake for it etc....?
Fine!
It's now dead for 3 years! And still as active as 3 years ago...man cool!

Gameservers.net features 2 new public servers:
DB1: 82.192.78.8:7010 - V2.3
DB2: 82.192.78.8:7030 - V2.4beta

I am admin there, so if you have complaints about server settings or so, contact me. Hope to see you playing there.

This site is for those who don't have time to set mIRC or just simple don't like it. Here you can download the preset DBpickup mIRC which automatically joins to #dbpickup. You only need to set your name (check irc commands at the bottom)

If you are tired of playing on public servers, fed up with players who always leave the goal when they spawn there, and you want to play well organised DB matches (5v5 DB-Cube no VO - 3v3 DB-Smallcube no VO) then just join the channel!

When you are connected to #dbpickup there are some commands you good to know to join a game...

Commands:

/nick randomdude [changes your name to randomdude]
!team [you can check if there is any game running]
!join k [join the game as keeper]
!join d [join the game as sweeper]
!join m [join the game as midfielder]
!join s [join the game as spectator]
!remove [remove yourself from the game]

If "!team" gets you nothing, there is no match on. Just stay there and wait a bit. It's also worth asking people if they open a match. Just don't run away, it's worth the waiting.

If you added to a game and it started, you will now get a personal message from db_pickup, he will tell you which server to join and the password.
You got 3 minutes to do so :)

By the way, we are only playing version 2.4beta there. Install 2.3 for this and put the 2.4 patch on top (in one of the latest news posts you find all info on it).

You might also be chosen to pick teams (db_pickup notifies you so).
Then you have to type "!select 3" (3 being the number of the player you want to pick for your team). It's really obvious once you see it.

IRC Commands:
/join #dbpickup (joins room #dbpickup)
/nick randomdude (changes your name to randomdude)

Thanks to LeC

Part 1of the 2.4 beta version has been updated

N.B. -- This is a beta version and is not backwards compatible with the 2.3 Full Release servers.

Part 1 (16mb) NEW
Part 2 (1mb)

(YES YOU NEED BOTH FILES... if you have the previous 2.4 beta, you only need the 1st)

.u and .ini files go in ut2004/deathball/system
.ukx into ut2004/deathball/animations
.ut2 into ut2004/deathball/maps

Changes:
DB-Smallcube (3on3) fixed keeper starting points and new fireworks
DB-Echo (4on4) added

At first I thought it was the new code not using the keepers startpoints. Then I noticed that the blocking volume of the goal (that prevents you from walking into you own goal) is overlapping the startpoint, hence it couldn't be used.

Outlooks are good that 2.4 will be finished. Give it time though...not these days, not next week. But 3 people are on it.

DB2.4beta1.zip of the beta is updated (only DB-Cube in it).

N.B. -- This is a beta version and is not backwards compatible with the 2.3 Full Release servers.

You get it at http://www.deathball.net/Downloads

As you all know, we are testing the 2.4 beta for some days now.
You can get it in this thread: LINK

Short info on what will be changed in this version.
-Ignore the big fire shot in singleplayer. It will be cool later, just trust us! :P
The ball will have a leet trail when it's fast. Nothing to do with what you see there at the moment, this is just me trying stuff, don't worry.
-The deflecting will be toned down a bit (I wanna reduce the height of the collision cylinder and dampen the rebound power.
-The goals will stay at this size.
Sure, many hate it now, because they are playing with their tactics, reflexes and expectations from 2.3. Trust me, the more you play it, the more you will like it! The transition might be a bit weird...but...you know, in the end you will like what we have here now.
-The shaking time will be reduced a bit.
-Boosting will go back to 2.3 status.
-For high power shots your mouse sensitivity will keep increasing, to make aiming harder.

Well, thats the main changes, won't mention the rest here now. \o/
Don't ask when we release it.
When Cata gets to code all this and when I'm happy with the balance (no, I'm not at the moment!). Current version is an unbalanced test version, but us playing this all day long will make the final version be teh pwn in the end! \o/

Ok, start the moaning in the comments please, luv it!

What can you expect in 2.4?
Major gameplay changes, all previous version changes were pussy compared to this!
Game design wise I was just running into a dead-end with 2.3 and the problems could not be fixed anymore on this way, like keeper volley delay and such, which was really annoying.

Now we are going to have way bigger goals (3.2 x bigger).
At the same time keeper lose their volley delay. So keeping will turn into an instant volley job. To get a ball out of the right corner, you now need to dodge right and volley. Also no more jumping from left to right corner of the goal to invite someone to shoot into a certain corner...followed by a dodge into the open corner. You need to do it way more subtle now. :)

At the same time you can now powerup shots about twice as far (double power of current then) which adds a totally new attacking perspective. In 2.3 you need to get close or in the penalty box. Now you can try distance shots (if the enemy defense allows you to power up shots from that far).
If the enemy hides in his box, just shoot and they have no chance.

Also boosting will be reduced a lot. It became a bit annoying that it's all about boosting. I wanna enforce more smart positioning on the field instead of boosting from A to B in 2 seconds. So you actually have to carry the ball down the field or at least work your way over the field, instead of "boost - pass"...which skips the whole midfield. Expect about 50% boost power, maybe a bit less. It will still be worth boosting, but way less effective. Double boosting (I wonder why teams don't really use it...only by chance) will be really effective now though!
This will also kill what people call "penix". If you don't know it, don't bother. ;)

We might add banana-volley. When you have altfire pressed while volleying, your view towards the ball will cause a banana into a certain direction...depending on how you look at it. Not sure about that yet.

Keeping altfire pressed will totally prevent you from picking up the ball.
A ball thats withing 180° in front of you will bounce in your view direction, as usual. Balls from behind will deflect off of you.
Lying balls can be pushed around (dribbling tbh).

Bare with me in the beginning, the right balancing of all values will take some matches to get it right, but then I'm very optimistic!
This will take a lot of moaning in the first 1-2 weeks because it's nothing like people are used to, but I think it's going the right way, so I'll ignore most of it :lol:
Just open yourself to new things.
<3 u all!

Value changes:
Keeper volley delay: 0.4s -> 0.05s
Enemy Field Player Volley Delay: 0.5s -> 0.3s
Keeper volley radius: 200->320 (enemy field player has 260, friends have 290)
Powerup shot: 1800-> ~3000 (longer powerup time)
Keeper has no more pickup magnet delay.

If you are interested in a 2on2 league, that Strafe came up with in a mood, write down your name in the comments, to see how many interested people we have.
Cheers <3

The league is now closed and it's starting tomorrow (you can play today tho).
Play all matches whenever you want to, don't cause trouble, etc, be fair. I've not set up a rules page. Up to you to be sane. This is fun, not a fight for your life. There is nothing to win expect 5 minutes in the spotlight (of moaning and complaining).

I decided to make all teams play each other ones. If it goes well, we can do a larger version next time. Consider it a test league.

Anyway, here is the league page, sorry for the poor design, but it will do the job.
http://www.deathball.net/league

Taking your bets now in this poll.

What about a happy little 3on3 league? There not being many big 5-person teams, we might go for this, to get people into serious playing again. 3 or 4 people coming together to a 3on3 team.
It would be every team playing each other team once (or twice).
I'd try to organise this somehow, just show me some interest.
If you have 2 or 3 friends to play with, perfect, tell me.
If you are a lonely player, go to our Clan Forums and search for other people or for a team that might want to recruit you.

It's just a matter of how many teams we'll get, for me to decide if it's worth it or not.
I guess I can count my team in :>

Comments please (and no whining! If you don't like the general idea, don't cry us rivers in the comments).

Rules: 3on3 is played on DB-Smallcube, 20 minutes, tie, shortreset, NO volley-only.

Teams that signed up so far: (contact person underlined)
3dg (esk, Brain, Bloodeh, Malik)
WW (Robotojon, Shady, Ghost)
LoC (Curve, Donny, Flexy, Shev, Ballbreaker)
Dirty (Shigeru, DJDriveBy, Rico)
gKo° (Rookie, Tituz, Beginna, Blaubär, Welle, Nat!on)
nPu (Titanium, Nightboy, Achilly)
aB (Goldeneye, Catalyst, Zero, T4d3, Fivebagger, Orney, Elica)
TVPD (LeC, Strafe, David, Sixty)

Players that are looking for a team (contact me to be put here):
Insane, Megaman, Messy, blubbeh, Raven, Moon, Goldengun, Fragger

Check the previous newspost. The links in it are all updated.
This should be the definitive version of the map. Don't expect updates to it.

What has been changed?
All in all it's harder. Instead of aiming at a certain pixel of a brick in the wall, to get a perfect shot, it's now more about Deathball-skills.
A lot harder to reach the max scores of every stage.
Often it's not "all scores count" instead of "best counts". Which adds to the skill aspect.

The old ranking from Version 2 can still be seen here:
Version 2 Ranking
The new one is here:
Version 3 Ranking

Inspired by Kerm's Olympic tourney, I made up my own competition.
14 funny tasks in a new map. You get points for all, depending on how well you do.

Current Ranking

All you need to know is here!

I am also looking for official testers, who chase people through the map, note their scores and submit them to me afterwards. Just query me in IRC, if you are interested and have time for 2-3 rounds a day.

Wanna participate in the Deathball Olympics tourney?
Check this thread for all you need to know.

It's not about winning games, it's pretty unusual stuff.

Keepers should never be stuck to their line. Not in 5on5 and especially not in 3on3.
-Use dodge to the max, get out to kick a player away when he is about to get the ball. (Don't sit their watching him while he gets it).
-Dodge to get behind enemy players to start an attack (another player needs to back this up a little to not leave the goal totally open)
-Dodge out to get balls that are lying around or that are being passed.

A keeper is basically a field player with a lot more powers (dodge, faster run, higher jumping) who needs to use all to their extremes and has to be totally aware of anything. You are not only protecting the goal (get away from this football idea), but never forget the goal with everything you do.
But, defenders, if you see your keeper dodging out for something useful, get in the goal and cover it!

Ok Cata and co, start moaning. (if this stuff is all crap just don't come looking every day to leave your shit in the comments :))

You know that the ball is actually in your stomach when you catch it, not in the weapon?My fiancée Susi made me tell you this. Dunno why... :wall:

When you do pbox camping, do not occasionally hit your opposing player. This gives him a chance to start a move because he is flying around and he is doing a new approach. This is very effective against the 1-move player type that only jumps up and waits for a pass from behind.
So as you wait without hitting him, wait for the enemy ball holder to power up or something, THEN kick the guy which you are watching. It's all about the right timing. Constant kicking is useless junk.

PS: pbox camping (defender sitting at the edge of the box, to avoid being kicked away by the attacker) is not a bad or lame thing, it's just 1-move attackers complaining about it.

Go get a 2nd move! Don't be a "pass me on third jump" kid. This is the reason for you not scoring against a semi-good defender (and losing 27:3 in a 3on3 *cough cough*). There are unlimited things that can be done, go find them instead of whoring the same over and over (without success).

Jumping does not make you faster.
The air control you have in the running direction is the same speed as the actual running speed, it doesn't get faster. To back that up, I tried running and jumping the same distance, both times it was exactly 14,89 seconds.

Keeping altfire pressed as defender is of _no_ use. It doesn't make your radius bigger, it ONLY prevents yourself from catching the ball.

Lemme show you this one here.

Do you want to play Deathball pickup matches, but you are too lazy, or something, to get IRC? Here you go
http://dbpickup.uw.hu/news.php

Humbleone wants you to be informed about the public games that are being held each sunday. Go check this thread for more info.

For those who haven't noticed, we are taking a break from Deathball after working more than 2 years non stop on it.
It's not dead, just our motivation is pretty down right now.
I can't tell when we'll get back into business.

But we've got a modeler, Vlad, working on new player models, he's doing good progress, and they look a lot better than what we have now. It will be up to Robert to put this stuff in the game then.

It was pretty dissapointing when we beta tested the new ball. Offline it all works so good, but online there were so many problems popping up, a big bunch of work to do, and no good feedback or anything, so not quite motivated. Anyway, don't know when Matt will be back into that stuff.

Deathball was voted for as "Best Mod", as "Best FPS Mod" (which we aren't btw.) and as "Best Original Mod" over there at pmods.net, a french Mod site.

In the Best Mod category the awards were as following:
Best: Deathball
2nd: Natural Selection
3rd: Day of Defeat
4th: StargateTC
5th: Red Orchestra

Best FPS Mod:
Best: Deathball
2nd: Natural Selection
3rd: StargateTC
4th: Day of Defeat
5th: Red Orchestra

Best Original Mod:
Best: Deathball
2nd: Natural Selection
3rd: Stargate TC
4th: Alien Swarm
5th: WormsHL²

Thanks a lot to all who voted for us \o/

We are leaving all competitors behind us in this player vote (in all categories).
Top 3

For voting go here.

I was interviewed about Deathball (quite original questions for once), in German.
Extreme-Players.de Interview

[edit] Phuzzel did a translation of it into English in the comments!

Looks like we've been voted as 2nd "best" game in the "best Sports Mod" category (For all games) on moddb.com.
http://features.moddb.com/111/?fpage=13

Here our forum thread, including a .....funny/scary video of the first voted mod: ;)

Heh no, to be honest, the winner mod looks very dissapointing in all terms to me, but go judge for yourself and compare with Deathball (since it looks a bit similar gameplay wise).
It's a prize where the fans voted, no Jury or something.

The riddle, notpron, now has it's own page which I made for it.
You can reach it at http://www.notpron.com
So I don't have to use the Deathball news for it anymore.

Thanks to all visitors, new hit record yesterday, 26075 different people on one day.
Oh, you ask for 2.4? Yes, it will come soon enough, but not soon though.
Problems left are some online problems with the ball, penalty shootout isn't done. Replays don't work at all at the moment (thanks to the new ball), altfire-volley-banana ain't there yet and spin on banana ain't big enough yet.
But we are betatesting already. You can join that if you are on #deathball.
So far
David

"Happy new year"-news post got lost. We had some newsscript bug, that all before 2005 got erased and the right bar was missing (only in Internet Explorer), but it's fixed now \o/