The reason for this is that the engine build used by the Orange Box DSes on Steam (one for TF2 and each of the Steamworks mods) differs from the one that Suicide Survival was built with (the 2007 SDK code). However there is a solution:

This is a step-by-step guide on how to host your own dedicated server. PS: this will probably also work for other mods with the same problem.

STEP ONE

Download the HLDS Update Tool, which installs a standalone dedicated server. This doesn’t require Steam to be running, but also doesn’t read data that Steam has downloaded — meaning that it requires a separate install of the game your are running from, including all textures and sounds. If you don’t have 2.5GB free space on your hard drive you’re out of luck.

Once downloaded run the hlsdupdatetool.exe and choose a install directory on your hard drive.

STEP TWO

Getting the necessary files to run the server:

a) Open a command prompt.

Go to Start, Run and type “cmd” (minus quotes) and press enter.

b) Change to the directory where the HLDS Update Tool is installed.

If you’re unfamiliar with the commands here is exactly what you’ll have to type:

> cd c:\

> cd <the directory you installed the HLDS Update Tool>
usually its HLServer so type:  cd hlserver

c) Run the HLDS Update Tool with the “update” command:

> hldsupdatetool.exe -command update -game hl2mp -dir .

<-dir>   is the path where you want the files installed e.g.  ” .” (for the current directory) or “c:\hlserver”

d) After its done run the update command again for a different game:

> hldsupdatetool.exe -command update -game orangebox -dir .

d) Once it’s done downloading all the files go to step three.

For further info regarding the use of the hldsupdatetool.exe check the readme file inside the hlserver folder.

STEP THREE

Copy the SuicideSurvival Folder into the orangebox directory you just created with the hldsupdatetool.exe.

In most cases this would be: c:\hlserver\orangebox\hlserver

STEP FOUR

Create a Server.cfg file. This file a simple text file which save config variables for the server. Here is a simple example config file:

hostname “the name of your server”
rcon_password “pick an admin password”

// Gameplay
mp_flashlight 0
mp_fraglimit 50
mp_timelimit 40
mp_falldamage 30
mp_teamplay 1

// Server Cvars
sv_lan 0
sv_region 255
sv_downloadurl “http://www.suicide-survival.com/sv_download”
sv_allowupload 0
sv_allowdownload 1
net_maxfilesize 60
sv_voiceenable 1
sv_alltalk 1
sv_maxrate 7000
sv_minrate 2000
sv_maxupdaterate 30
sv_minupdaterate 10

fps_max 100

Copy and paste the above text into a textfile and save it as: “Server.cfg” inside the HLServer\orangebox\SuicideSurvival\cfg directory.

If you want to know what each command does check this console command list from Valve.

STEP FIVE

Well you’re almost there. One final step to starting your server is to make a shortcut of it and pass some commands along when launching it:

a) go to the Orangebox directory: HLServer\orangebox\

b) Right-click on the “srcds.exe” and choose: “create a shortcut”

c) Right-Click on the shortcut file and choose: “settings”

d) In the field “target” add the following at the end of it:  -game suicidesurvival

So it reads: C:\HLServer\orangebox\srcds.exe -game suicidesurvival

e) Hit the OK button.

Voila! Your done. Double-click on the shortcut file and you should see the launch window for the dedicated server.

If you have any questions or encounter some errors leave a comment below. If your running a server regularly feel free to advertise your server in the forum.

Steam has some promotional packages which includes among other things Half-Lif 2: Deatmatch. How to get this package is very easy. Just visit one of the following links, depending on your graphic card manufacturer, and download Steam:

• Steam package for Nvidia users
• Steam package for Ati users

This is a limited time offer from Valve. So be sure to get it while its free. This is a great opportunity to play some rounds of Suicide Survival with your mates who  previously didn’t had the chance to play it.

Hi everyone, it has been a long time since there was an update so it is time for some news:

First of all, Suicide Survival is not dead, its only resting (just like the parrot). And whenever I check the servers I always see a few people playing which really suprises me. I figured Suicide Survival would be hip for a few months and then dissappear into the great void of the internet. Alas I was wrong which really makes me happy.

Second of all and mostly being the reason why I layed down the development of Suicide Survival for a while are some personal matters: I finished my Bachelor in Game Design this summer and I’m still trying to get a job in the game industry. Second I’m working on my final project again in order to submit it to the IGF and Unity Awards. If you want to check it out you can visit the website at: www.doppelscope.com The website is only in German for now but there will be a playable and English version of it as well in the near future.In short this has my main priority followed by creating my portfolio and getting a job. However I will try to get a new version of Suicide Survival out before christmas this year.

Last but not least Michael Kuzel aka Eccentricity from the official forums has made a pretty awesome and well designed map. Its called SS_Allan and even features a new and unique game mode. Taken straight from the read me:

In certain intervals, a special shrub will spawn in a random location. This special shrub has no identifying features that separates it from normal shrubs or even Suiciders - except for one thing - it chirps. Every few seconds this unique shrub will emit a small chirp sound. This sound can be heard both by the Survivors as well as the Suiciders. Use your ears to locate this shrub, as it will give an advantage to the Survivor team if its found and used!

Check out the thread from Eccentricity in the forums or simply download the map (21 MB) and try it out.

I’m currently in my last semester of my BA in game design. So all my time is being focused on the diploma project which of course is a game (DUN! DUN!). I still haven’t decided if it will be a new version of Suicide Survival or something totally new. I’ll make an update once that has been solved.

On the ModDB.com “Mod of the Year Awards” Suicide Survival was voted into the “top 22 released Half-Life 2 mods of 2008″ by you. Thank you very much for your votes.

Another important news is that I’m one of the few selected students to receive an GDC Student Scholarship sponsored by the IGDA. This means I’ll be at the Game Developers Conference in a couple of days. I’m super excited and feel very honored to have received this scholarship. This will not only be my first time visiting the US, but also my first time meeting so many big time game developers.

If you are visiting GDC as well or are from San Francisco and want to meet the guy behind Suicide Survival then drop me a mail.

Alternatively you can also follow my newly created Twitter page which I’ll keep updated about the trip, the GDC and my diploma project.

Thats about it with the current things going on. More news after the GDC.

I’ll write some update on what’s been going on with Suicide Survival in a couple of days. So stay tuned

If yes, then now its the time to show your support and vote for Suicide Survival on the ModDB.com Mod of the Year Awards. To do so simply go on the Suicide Survival page on ModDB.com and click on the “VOTE FOR MOD” button under “Nominate for Mod of the Year 2008″.

Currently the awards are in phase 1 which ends on January the 16th.  During this phase the thousand of contenders get narrowed down to the players choice top 100.

Oh, and happy new year!

NEWS PAGES

• http://www.krawall.de/web/Mod_der_Woche/news/id,34052/s,,
• http://www.hlportal.de/?sec=&site=news&do=shownews&news_id=6495
• http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/View.php?view=HL2Mods.Detail&id=214
• http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/fullstory.php?id=155395
• http://www.vossey.com/mod/Half-Life-2/Suicide-Survival–i1249.htm
• http://www.half-life.hu/index.php?l=YToyOntzOjQ6Im1lbnUiO3M6NDoibmV3cyI7czoyOiJpZCI7czo1OiIyMzQzMCI7fQ==
• http://www.halflifefusion.fr/mods.php?e=557&r=BYID
• http://www.knc-clan.com/index.php?file=News&op=index_comment&news_id=9
• http://www.tvfm.hu/story.php?title=let%F6lt%E9sek-suicide-survival-hl2-mod

BLOGS

• http://sch8.bloggospace.de/61027/Modding-RockZZZzzz/
• http://blogs.wefrag.com/Douceur/2008/12/25/suicide-survival/
• http://clblprod.blogspot.com/2008/12/suicide-survival-is-out.html
• http://www.game-damashi.com/mod/half-life2/suicidesurvivor.htm
• http://allyourinternets.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/killer-plants-swedes-and-the-worst-video-clip-of-all-times/
• http://blog.livedoor.jp/manual_bomb/archives/51567915.html
• http://zabbixx.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/petit-mod-pour-la-route/
• http://summer36.seesaa.net/article/111579004.html

REVIEWS

• http://www.hlportal.de/?sec=mods&site=mods&do=showmod&mod_id=661

PODCASTS

• http://www.moddb.com/mods/suicide-survival/features/modcast-s02-e03
• http://www.moddb.com/mods/suicide-survival/features/modcast-s02-e05
• http://www.podcast17.com/transmissions/c10119
• http://www.podcast17.com/transmissions/c9961 (Interview)
• http://www.podcast17.com/transmissions/c9803

FORUMS

• http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=149940
• http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=76131
• http://www.k-foren.de/showthread.php?p=1771671
• http://www.ocremix.org/forums/showthread.php?p=487873
• http://forum.vgcats.com/showthread.php?t=24921
• http://www.hlfallout.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=65047&st=0
• http://forum.game-central.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&p=11847
• http://board.opteria-gaming.net/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=247
• http://www.hlportal.de/?sec=forum&site=thread&sec=forum&site=thread&thread_id=15995&page=1
• http://www.pcpowerplay.com.au/forums/showthread.php?p=2579400
• http://www.dreamviews.com/community/showthread.php?p=973989
• http://forums.facepunchstudios.com/showthread.php?t=656626
• http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=771864#post8714203
• http://intoxgaming.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=5634
• http://forum.canardpc.com/showthread.php?t=31417
• http://www.mediavida.com/vertema.php?fid=39&tid=343537
• http://www.hl2spain.com/foro/index.php?showtopic=40791
• http://www.pcpowerplay.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=112346
• http://forums.gamer.co.il/gamer2/php/replieslist.php?TopicID=962159
• http://games.on.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=109&t=158641&sid=80ba13ad49bdf7448d30f661e977373d
• http://n-club.dk/fora/emner/196029/1/
• http://gm.ucoz.ru/forum/27-293-1
• http://forum.blockland.us/index.php?topic=51950.0
• http://fanboy-forum.com/index.php?topic=3526.0
• http://www.jact.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=16145

VIDEOS

• http://www.wegame.com/watch/lol_suicide_survival_mod/
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1HyXSkTke4
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCa1l3uzau8
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeSA-7YYR7o
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJJysztdLNY
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FusW2PbCZ4A
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEEqV8VKuuU
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKl3oS-XlHE
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ADihWSWdUM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3KdoCD5s1c
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7NAOUEyJQ4
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TJHUkq-0I8
• http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7og7y_clickntest-suicide-survival_videogames
• http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/298478.html
• http://zoome.jp/systemshock/diary/46
• http://www.moddb.com/groups/tv/features/mod-video-spotlight-december-2008

STEAM GROUPS

• http://steamcommunity.com/groups/PAGreenhouse/
• http://steamcommunity.com/groups/xshrubsx (Clan)
• http://steamcommunity.com/groups/spoungebob-zc (Clan)
• http://steamcommunity.com/groups/shrub (Clan)
• http://steamcommunity.com/groups/shrubparty

DOWNLOAD SITES

• http://browse.files.filefront.com/Half+Life+2/;2332294;/browsefiles.html
• http://www.fileplanet.com/109910/0/0/0/1/section/Mod_Files_and_Patches
• http://www.fileplay.net/files/fps/hl2/mods/ss
• http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/halflife2/mod/28372.html
• http://www.paradisesgarage.com/mcweb2/files/folders/hl2_mods/entry2521.aspx
• http://www.pcguru.hu/pcguru/letoltes.php?letoltid=3413&nev=Suicide_Survival_[HL2_mod]
• http://www.vossey.com/telechargement/Suicide-Survival–Suicide-Survival-1-1–i1629.htm
• http://games.rapidshare.com/gamesnew/detail.html?datei=_2008_12_mod_survivalsui_.xml&rubrik=client

SOCIAL BOOKMARKING

• http://digg.com/pc_games/The_Most_Ridiculous_Half_Life_2_Mod_You_ve_Ever_Seen

Merry X-Mas from the developer of Suicide Survival!
Thanks for all the support,
and move into 2009 with a blast!

Tobias Baumann

Thanks to Knoxerboy101 for this most hilarious video.

In particular I’m looking for the following people:

One coder

Requirements:

• Familiar with c++ language
• Previous experience coding for  the Source Engine
• Ability to work in a close team and take directions
• Enough free time on your hands for the project

What he will work on Suicide Survival:

• Coding and testing new gameplay features

One modeler

Requirements:

• Previous experience making low-poly models for games
• Familiar with exporting models to the Source Engine
• Ability to texture his own models
• A basic understanding of color theory
• Ability to work in a close team and take directions
• Enough free time on your hands for the project

What he will work on Suicide Survival:

• Creating new wacky prop models
• Creating a new player model
• Re-texturing old and new stuff

Two mappers

Requirements:

• Previous experience making maps for the Source Engine
• Familiar with play testing and optimizing maps
• A fair understanding of the gameplay mechanics of Suicide Survival
• Previous experience with making textures for the Source Engine
• A basic understanding of color theory
• Ability to work in a close team and take directions
• Enough free time on your hands for the project

What he will work on Suicide Survival:

• Creating new maps
• Creating textures
• Play testing new maps

How to apply

Now if you are interested in any of these jobs and fullfill the requirements here is how you apply. Send an e-mail to: tobias dot baumann at zhdk dot ch containing the following informations:

• Why do you want to work on Suicide Survival?
• Best part of Suicide Survival?
• Worst part of Suicide Survival?
• Whats your previous experiences with working on mods?
• Are you working on any other mod team or project at the moment?
• A/S/L?
• What do you do for a living?
• Include links to your portfolio or samples of your work.
• Please note that applications without samples of your previous work will not be accepted.
• What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?