HaloBrowser (new server browser)

[Based on the other traffic I see here, I'm assuming that PC-Halo is an
appropriate topic. If not, a [gentle] correction is all I need...]

I've been pretty dissatisfied with the various Halo server browsers out
there so I ended up writing my own. I figure there's a chance it might
interest others, so here you go...

The main feature in my mind is a MUCH more powerful filtering capabili-
ty (*) than I've seen before. You can filter out servers based on al-
most any criteria, or combination of criteria. And if a filter you want
is not there, I can easily add it as long as the servers provide the
necessary info.

It does still have some rough edges, but I find it very usable and han-
dy. That doesn't mean anybody else will, of course, but if you'd like
to take a look at it please do so. It's freeware; no "gotcha" there.
You can find it as <http://www.ziomek.com/Halo/>.

If HaloBrowser does, or could, have some value, feedback on it would be
appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom Z


(*): As an example, here is the current filter file I use with HaloBrow-
ser to exclude games I'm not interested in (yeah, I'm picky...)

REQUIRE Version 01.00.04.0607
FORBID NOT DedicatedServer
FORBID Password
FORBID Radar All
FORBID Map DangerCanyon
FORBID Map DeathIsland
FORBID Map Gephyrophobia
FORBID Map Icefields
FORBID Map Sidewinder
FORBID Map Timberland
FORBID Map Infinity
FORBID Map BoardingAction AND Game NOT Slayer
FORBID Game Race
FORBID Vehicles Ghosts
FORBID Vehicles Scorpions
FORBID Vehicles Banshees
FORBID Vehicles 'Gun Turrets'
FORBID Vehicles Custom
REQUIRE NumPlayers Min 3 AND Open 1
FAVOR Map NOT BloodGulch
FAVOR Map Damnation AND Game CTF
FAVOR Map RatRace AND Game CTF
FAVOR Map BoardingAction AND Game Slayer AND Invisibility

--
/"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign |
\ / | Email to user 't_ziomek'
X Against HTML | at 'yahoo.com'
/ \ in e-mail & news |

Well, I would use your filter service if it blocked things I didn't like,
but unfortunately you seem to have removed everything I like and left the
games I avoid. And I generally like a variety of gameplay, so I never even
use the filter except to block empty and full servers.


On 8/9/04 12:49 AM, in article 1103_1092030561@news.microsoft.com, "Tom
Ziomek" <See@MySig.comz> wrote:

> [Based on the other traffic I see here, I'm assuming that PC-Halo is an
> appropriate topic. If not, a [gentle] correction is all I need...]
>
> I've been pretty dissatisfied with the various Halo server browsers out
> there so I ended up writing my own. I figure there's a chance it might
> interest others, so here you go...
>
> The main feature in my mind is a MUCH more powerful filtering capabili-
> ty (*) than I've seen before. You can filter out servers based on al-
> most any criteria, or combination of criteria. And if a filter you want
> is not there, I can easily add it as long as the servers provide the
> necessary info.
>
> It does still have some rough edges, but I find it very usable and han-
> dy. That doesn't mean anybody else will, of course, but if you'd like
> to take a look at it please do so. It's freeware; no "gotcha" there.
> You can find it as <http://www.ziomek.com/Halo/>.
>
> If HaloBrowser does, or could, have some value, feedback on it would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Tom Z
>
>
> (*): As an example, here is the current filter file I use with HaloBrow-
> ser to exclude games I'm not interested in (yeah, I'm picky...)
>
> REQUIRE Version 01.00.04.0607
> FORBID NOT DedicatedServer
> FORBID Password
> FORBID Radar All
> FORBID Map DangerCanyon
> FORBID Map DeathIsland
> FORBID Map Gephyrophobia
> FORBID Map Icefields
> FORBID Map Sidewinder
> FORBID Map Timberland
> FORBID Map Infinity
> FORBID Map BoardingAction AND Game NOT Slayer
> FORBID Game Race
> FORBID Vehicles Ghosts
> FORBID Vehicles Scorpions
> FORBID Vehicles Banshees
> FORBID Vehicles 'Gun Turrets'
> FORBID Vehicles Custom
> REQUIRE NumPlayers Min 3 AND Open 1
> FAVOR Map NOT BloodGulch
> FAVOR Map Damnation AND Game CTF
> FAVOR Map RatRace AND Game CTF
> FAVOR Map BoardingAction AND Game Slayer AND Invisibility

This newsgroups is for Halo on Xbox. microsoft.public.XBOX.halo

--

Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

"Tom Ziomek" <See@MySig.comz> wrote in message
news:1103_1092030561@news.microsoft.com...
> [Based on the other traffic I see here, I'm assuming that PC-Halo is an
> appropriate topic. If not, a [gentle] correction is all I need...]
>
> I've been pretty dissatisfied with the various Halo server browsers out
> there so I ended up writing my own. I figure there's a chance it might
> interest others, so here you go...
>
> The main feature in my mind is a MUCH more powerful filtering capabili-
> ty (*) than I've seen before. You can filter out servers based on al-
> most any criteria, or combination of criteria. And if a filter you want
> is not there, I can easily add it as long as the servers provide the
> necessary info.
>
> It does still have some rough edges, but I find it very usable and han-
> dy. That doesn't mean anybody else will, of course, but if you'd like
> to take a look at it please do so. It's freeware; no "gotcha" there.
> You can find it as <http://www.ziomek.com/Halo/>.
>
> If HaloBrowser does, or could, have some value, feedback on it would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Tom Z
>
>
> (*): As an example, here is the current filter file I use with HaloBrow-
> ser to exclude games I'm not interested in (yeah, I'm picky...)
>
> REQUIRE Version 01.00.04.0607
> FORBID NOT DedicatedServer
> FORBID Password
> FORBID Radar All
> FORBID Map DangerCanyon
> FORBID Map DeathIsland
> FORBID Map Gephyrophobia
> FORBID Map Icefields
> FORBID Map Sidewinder
> FORBID Map Timberland
> FORBID Map Infinity
> FORBID Map BoardingAction AND Game NOT Slayer
> FORBID Game Race
> FORBID Vehicles Ghosts
> FORBID Vehicles Scorpions
> FORBID Vehicles Banshees
> FORBID Vehicles 'Gun Turrets'
> FORBID Vehicles Custom
> REQUIRE NumPlayers Min 3 AND Open 1
> FAVOR Map NOT BloodGulch
> FAVOR Map Damnation AND Game CTF
> FAVOR Map RatRace AND Game CTF
> FAVOR Map BoardingAction AND Game Slayer AND Invisibility
>
> --
> /"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign |
> \ / | Email to user 't_ziomek'
> X Against HTML | at 'yahoo.com'
> / \ in e-mail & news |
>
>

Everyone seems to use it for both, so let people do PC Halo related postings
on this newsgroup. No one cares.


On 8/10/04 5:45 AM, in article O50YgcsfEHA.3320@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl, "Mike
Brannigan [MSFT]" <mikebran@online.microsoft.com> wrote:

> This newsgroups is for Halo on Xbox. microsoft.public.XBOX.halo

Top-posting fixed...

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 11:45:14 +0100, "Mike Brannigan [MSFT]" <mikebran@online.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> "Tom Ziomek" <See@MySig.comz> wrote in message
> news:1103_1092030561@news.microsoft.com...
> > [Based on the other traffic I see here, I'm assuming that PC-Halo is an
> > appropriate topic. If not, a [gentle] correction is all I need...]

I did realize what the groups name is. I also looked at the group's
contents. I saw (and see) a lot of non-Xbox postings. I don't see
them getting slammed down like this. That is why I thought it would
not be a problem to post my message.

> This newsgroups is for Halo on Xbox. microsoft.public.XBOX.halo

No prob; I won't mention it here again.

Can you suggest an appropriate newsgroup for posts re Halo PC? I
have not been able to find one.

Regards, Tom, who can't imagine where all that "evil empire" stuff
comes from; Microsoft and everybody there are just the nicest folks
you'd ever want to meet

--
/"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign |
\ / | Email to user 't_ziomek'
X Against HTML | at 'yahoo.com'
/ \ in e-mail & news |

We've posted and answered Halo PC questions in here for a very long time.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"Tom Ziomek" <See@MySig.comz> wrote in message
news:1103_1092191241@news.microsoft.com...
> Top-posting fixed...
>
> On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 11:45:14 +0100, "Mike Brannigan [MSFT]"
> <mikebran@online.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>> "Tom Ziomek" <See@MySig.comz> wrote in message
>> news:1103_1092030561@news.microsoft.com...
>> > [Based on the other traffic I see here, I'm assuming that PC-Halo is an
>> > appropriate topic. If not, a [gentle] correction is all I need...]
>
> I did realize what the groups name is. I also looked at the group's
> contents. I saw (and see) a lot of non-Xbox postings. I don't see
> them getting slammed down like this. That is why I thought it would
> not be a problem to post my message.
>
>> This newsgroups is for Halo on Xbox. microsoft.public.XBOX.halo
>
> No prob; I won't mention it here again.
>
> Can you suggest an appropriate newsgroup for posts re Halo PC? I
> have not been able to find one.
>
> Regards, Tom, who can't imagine where all that "evil empire" stuff
> comes from; Microsoft and everybody there are just the nicest folks
> you'd ever want to meet
>
> --
> /"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign |
> \ / | Email to user 't_ziomek'
> X Against HTML | at 'yahoo.com'
> / \ in e-mail & news |
>
>