Hello, boys (and the limited number of girls).

I'll keep this brief for you all, to help retain your interest. When the leak had happened, shortly afterwards, a bunch of us got together and formed an IRC channel on the GameSurge network named #worminati. Yes, the Wormers of The Light, named after the supposed secret society The Illuminati who are alleged to have deep controlling influences on the way the world is run, besides other things. People were brought in one-by-one after we were sure they could be trusted, but it took a long time and after a while some people stopped coming because the novelty wore off for them, not being that in to IRC or finding its benefits as exciting as some of us. Eventually we stopped bothering to look at cases as the threat of another leak had pretty much been wiped out.

However, the idea of an IRC channel for OD was actually formulated shortly prior to the leak, so its establishment was partially coincidental. For this reason, and because of the benefits it has shown when frequented along with the current #worms IRC channel, we decided to keep it open and make its existence known to the rest of the circle.

For those of you who don't understand the concept of IRC or its advantages, here (http://worms2d.info/IRC_%28Internet_Relay_Chat%29) is a handy guide written by yours truly. It also covers setting up an IRC client, connecting to a server, automating your client, idling, highlighting or 'beeping' and network authorisation, which is required for access to #worminati.

For those of you who want to get started right now, here's what you have to do:
Register an account with GameSurge (http://www.gamesurge.net), log on to the network using your preferred IRC client and authorise yourself.
Send me your GameSurge username via IM, PM or email, or join #worms and find me in there. I will add you to the user list. Alternatively, if KRD, bonz, SomePerson or Squirminator2k are online in #worms and I'm not, and you want to access the channel sooner, ask them if they are awake and if they will add you to the user list if they can.
The channel is for authed-only users and invite-only. Once you have been added to the channel's user list, you must get ChanServ to invite you in before you can join. The following line will invite you immediately:
/msg chanserv invite #worminati
To have ChanServ automatically invite you upon every authorisation, use this line (recommended):
/msg chanserv uset #worminati autoinvite on
Join the channel!

GameSurge server addresses can be found here (http://worms2d.info/Worms_on_GameSurge). The IRC guide (http://worms2d.info/IRC_%28Internet_Relay_Chat%29) I made can help you automate your client to load at computer startup minimised, connect to the network, auth and join channels. It will also help you set up some 'beepers' that signal you when someone says your name or a chosen word - recommended for long-term use. I encourage you to read the part about idling and to try it out, but recognise that it's your choice.

GameSurge usernames of masters and coowners

Handle - GameSurge username
worMatty - worMatty
KRD - KoreanRedDragon
bonz - bonz
SomePerson - SomePerson
Squirminator2k - Squirminator2k

To see someone's username when they are authorised, do a WHOIS on them. In mIRC, this is /whois <nickname>. GameSurge will likely report this as '<nickname> is logged in as <username>'. You should do a WHOIS on a #worminati channel master, coowner or user to make sure of their identity before you send them your username, outside of the channel.

Masters and coowners: To add a user, use the following line within the channel:
!adduser *username peon

New users: I haven't told all the masters and coowners yet so it will be a lovely surprise for them, too.

New in the fight to bring the community closer together, sort of!

If you're in #worms and I am too, you can use the !ag <text> public command to send messages to AG in WormNET! Even better, people in AG can use the !irc <text> command to send them to #worms!
At the moment the amazing message system is set up to relay any line in AG containing the word 'help' to #worms, for a bit of a laugh. This is in anticipation of a #Help channel that we hope to start on WormNET.

Note to mods: Would someone mind stickying this? Thanks.

Stickied. Heaven knows we don't have enough stickies here.

There are girls in OD these days? Well, I'd have done my hair if I'd known.

HuntaKilla's shown her face once or twice recently, I noticed.

Thanks, Andrew.

I've sent you an application form to join your channel. I hope I get the position :)

we decided to keep it open and make its existence known to the rest of the circle.

You're too kind. See ya there sometime. :p

There are girls in OD these days? Well, I'd have done my hair if I'd known.

Hah, for some reason I thought Saffya had OD access, but she doesn't. And I knew about NZkiwi. You sure there aren't any other girls in OD? Kinda depressing really :(

I must make a habit of appearing in there more often.

Cower in fear of bonz and his new amazing admin powers on IRC! :D

Saw Xinos and HK come in while I wasn't at home. When you do that next, try saying "Gregor" or "KRD" and I should be around within a minute or two to grant you the very special privilege. That is if I can get my head around this automatic invite system.

*Reads first post again.*

Edit: There, you're both on the user list now. Though I can only take credit for HK, someone must have added Xinos yesterday already. :mad:

I would join in, but every chat I've ever joined has required that I pay attention to it constantly to make it work, and unless its built into the games I'm playing or the browser I'm using, it never works.

same reason I only use XFire these days.

but if this version of IRC or whatever it is does either of those things then feel free to let me know, since I saw nothing of the sort on its webpage (granted, I didn't look very hard at all)

I can't get in because i'm stupid.

I would join in, but every chat I've ever joined has required that I pay attention to it constantly to make it work, and unless its built into the games I'm playing or the browser I'm using, it never works.
IRC is a protocol dedicated to chatting. It requires that you have an IRC capable client.
Since I see that you are using Yahoo messenger and AIM, I suggest you get a multi-protocol instant messenger program that is also capable of the IRC protocol.

I use Miranda IM (http://www.miranda-im.org) and am happy with it.
Trillian (http://www.ceruleanstudios.com) is also good.
I can't get in because i'm stupid.
What a pity.
Although, we wouldn't need you to advertise your crappy art all over IRC anyway... ;)

I have the same problem of Akuryou. If I set IRC to notify me for every message, it gets awfully annoying, and if I don't, I forget about it. So no I don't like it much.

I keep mIRC minimised and restore it now and then to see what's been going on. Sometimes I have it open in the background and glance across to it. I also have it beep me when my name is mentioned or one of a few select words.

You don't have to take part in every conversation on IRC.

I'm probably amongst the minority of regular users in that I don't have beeps turned on. I just rely on the fact that I'm interested enough to check it often. If someone says my name while I'm away, I'm probably not going to notice, but then I wouldn't be there to hear a beep either. I need some sort of log which stores a list of messages for me to read when I get back.

I'm probably amongst the minority of regular users in that I don't have beeps turned on. I just rely on the fact that I'm interested enough to check it often. If someone says my name while I'm away, I'm probably not going to notice, but then I wouldn't be there to hear a beep either. I need some sort of log which stores a list of messages for me to read when I get back.

Yeah, IRC chats are the best thing on the web you could be reading.

I meant a list of messages where people had tried to stir me. I'm not one of these ones who reads entire chat logs, thank you. :p

IRC is a protocol dedicated to chatting. It requires that you have an IRC capable client.
Since I see that you are using Yahoo messenger and AIM, I suggest you get a multi-protocol instant messenger program that is also capable of the IRC protocol.

I use Miranda IM (http://www.miranda-im.org) and am happy with it.
Trillian (http://www.ceruleanstudios.com) is also good.I've used IRC before, it just doesn't work well for me for the reasons I mentioned in the last post. I was wondering about the GameSurge thing, as it was presented like an add-on to IRC. I was suggesting that unless it can be seen through my browser or the games that I'm playing (which is something normal IRC can't do) then I have no use for it. if GameSurge is just some specific servers for gamers that doesn't change anything of the programming, then that means I don't have any use for it.

ChatZilla (http://chatzilla.hacksrus.com/) is a Java based IRC client that works as a plugin for Mozilla based browsers, e.g. Firefox.

AFAIK, Opera has a built-in IRC client.

So if you're using one of these browsers, you might want to check out their IRC capability.

Errr... i've been trying to get in, but I can't. I must be doing something wrong... or do you have to add me to the invite list or something? :confused: My username is Splapp. It says I "lack access" lollolololo

AFAIK, Opera has a built-in IRC client.seriously?! *goes to find it*

edit: *finds it* ok, but what do I set it to to get it to work with the gamesurge thing? it prompts me to "Choose IRC network or type in server name" and I assume that's where I would have to select teh gamesurge thing, but how do I tell it that? do I just download the client and it'll appear in the list or do I just use one of the things listed already? if so, which option do I use?

Tools menu, mail and chat accounts, add...

You probably want to connect to a Gamesurge IRC server near you:
http://gamesurge.net/servers/?language=English

I don't know if Opera's IRC client has automation options to automatically connect to channels with passwords on start-up.
ChatZilla for Mozilla/Firefox does.

ChatZilla DOES?

I never found it. I knew it could connect to channels, but you had to list them be their address and it didn't let you add a password or other line to execute on startup. Unless I never found it.

I've yet to find anything it can't do. Opera's IRC client seems to be fairly well kitted out with features. They're just not in the normal places IRC clients normally put them.

Only problem is that (as far as I know) it's no good at telling you when you've got new messages, although given that those messages have come from people who use IRC, that's not often a bad thing.

ChatZilla DOES?

I never found it. I knew it could connect to channels, but you had to list them be their address and it didn't let you add a password or other line to execute on startup. Unless I never found it.
Seems so:
http://chatzilla.hacksrus.com/faq/#autoperform
Watch out though, the password is stored in plain text!

(Which is also the case in Miranda, I just noticed...)

I do have Miranda IM highlight / beep when my name is called, but nobody ever does. :p (it can also auto-auth/join/etc.)

seriously?! *goes to find it*

edit: *finds it* ok, but what do I set it to to get it to work with the gamesurge thing? it prompts me to "Choose IRC network or type in server name" and I assume that's where I would have to select teh gamesurge thing, but how do I tell it that? do I just download the client and it'll appear in the list or do I just use one of the things listed already? if so, which option do I use?http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3419/clip0004fg5.gif

Opera will also highlight the chat tab if someone types in your name (and highlight the respective text), otherwise it just highlights the tab text when chat changes.

Hah, for some reason I thought Saffya had OD access, but she doesn't. And I knew about NZkiwi. You sure there aren't any other girls in OD? Kinda depressing really :(In fairness, most (few) girls don't hang around the forum on a permanent basis.

ah, well that was simple enough. thanks sup!

edit: btw, I'm going by Xelioth on the IRC.

edit2: HK got me to just use akuryou13, since everyone in the worms community knows me by that name...

I don't think the channel likes me, I can't get in anymore. I sense there's a bug where you are going to have to authorise me every time I want to join.

>chanserv< invite #worminati
-ChanServ- You lack access to #worminati.
I was in there jus the other night!

Is anybody else using Xchat? How's it working for you?

Do you not auth as 'darkxinos'? That's what we have you as. Check your settings.

Na, I just didn't realise you had to auth yourself every time.

Every time you connect to the network. Would you like help automating your client?

Great WormNet conversations, part 1:

[22:21] <worMatty> sbvdbvhyufdreifgbvevhyidik
[22:21] <Dezar> i
[22:21] <worMatty> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!chocolate

(OK, so it's not from #worminati, but this seems like the most appropriate place).

Great WormNet conversations, part 1:

[22:21] <worMatty> sbvdbvhyufdreifgbvevhyidik
[22:21] <Dezar> i
[22:21] <worMatty> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!chocolate

(OK, so it's not from #worminati, but this seems like the most appropriate place).
yep that sure is whacky and random

Well, the only reason why I posted it was to have somewhere where it could be archived forever, as was the brilliance of the conversation. If you want to IRC without conversations like this, then you should visit #worminati.

I need to be activated!

My username is Muzer.

EDIT: worMatty did it...

Wieee
http://xinart.net/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2078.JPG

Next step is getting into worminati then

I've never really bothered or even taken much notice of IRC.

I've just registered as Xenomortis.

This channel still alive?

If you mean #worminati, Luke, then yes, it still exists. Not many people idle in it but it's there, and ready to use.

Wieee
http://xinart.net/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2078.JPG

Next step is getting into worminati then

That's even greater than I imagined it, I wants!

My first thought was that maybe having the text box on the bottom screen would make more sense, but I guess it's the other way around once you learn to touch type. Touch type, get it? Get it?! :(

I've never really bothered or even taken much notice of IRC.

I've just registered as Xenomortis.

Ooh, that was you. We were a bit busy playing [with the idea of] hexagonal bughouse chess, so I only noticed an intruder after he/you had already left. Doesn't help we get quite a few actual intruders these days, I assume because of recent Team17 game releases. :confused:

Ooh, that was you. We were a bit busy playing [with the idea of] hexagonal bughouse chess, so I only noticed an intruder after he/you had already left. Doesn't help we get quite a few actual intruders these days, I assume because of recent Team17 game releases. :confused:

Well I didn't actually say anything, so that probably didn't help.

The /msg command does not work for me on gamesurge. I typed /help for and got the command list, and the closest I found to msg was the 'privmsg' command. So when I typed '/privmsg chanserv invite #worminati' I got the response: "-ChanServ- You must specify a command as well as a channel."

I suspect GameSurge and chanserv work a bit differently since this thread was created.

Why isn't there a nice IRC client? They all seem to assume massive amounts of knowledge. I should be able to just connect and use it. It's ****ing chat. It shouldn't be this complicated. It should be click-link-oh,-hello-how-are-you. This level of user configuration just isn't good enough any more. Not in a world where I can easily get group instant messaging in a web browser with zero configuration.

In general, user friendliness is inversely proportional to the number of features. In general.

You can use the IRC built into an IM client, which is in general very friendly, but those usually lack features so much it hurts.

Oh, and this authentication thing is unique to GameSurge. Most servers use NickServ instead, which is now built-in to most IRC clients. But Gamesurge just HAD to be different.


Oh, and Xinos: /msg chanserv invite #worminati

/msg often doesn't work on crap IRC clients. In that case, try
/chanserv invite #worminati

In general, user friendliness is inversely proportional to the number of features. In general.

I don't think that's remotely true. Look at GMail or the iPhone. Or Sky+.

That used to be true, but a few years ago a trend started for making things with lots of features that hid them in places you wouldn't think to look until you wanted to use them at which point you'd find them right away. Apple had been doing it for years before that but nobody had paid them much attention. I think these days software with loads of features is generally as easy to use as software with very few, because why bother writing a feature if nobody can find it? The days when it was considered okay to expect the user to look things up every time are long gone.

IRC software just hasn't caught up, because the protocol was never standardised well enough to support a nice, clean interface, and because only nerds ever use it anyway. And I've nothing against nerds, but I don't think it leads to a healthy environment if nobody else is there.

The iPhone doesn't have loads of features. Having loads of apps that add features doesn't count; I could use that same argument to say that Windows or Firefox has loads of features. I can think of a lot more phone OSes that have more features by default; Android for one, even Windows Mobile. Neither of those are too user-friendly, but they have more features than the iPhone.

Compared to other PVRs, Sky+ doesn't have many features either. There is no series link (as far as I can tell), no way to transfer videos to a PC, not much extendability (AFAIK you can't increase the HDD size). I'll admit, I don't know too much about Sky+, but I have used it quite a bit.

I'll give you GMail. I did say in general ;p

I'm not convinced it's even true in general. It's only true of badly designed applications, and that's only because there's only so much you can do to screw up an application that only does one thing. And I think most applications used to be really badly designed, but application design has come on in leaps and bounds lately and now I think you can cram as many features as you like into an application without it becoming hard to use.

Compared to other PVRs, Sky+ doesn't have many features either. There is no series link (as far as I can tell), no way to transfer videos to a PC, not much extendability (AFAIK you can't increase the HDD size). I'll admit, I don't know too much about Sky+, but I have used it quite a bit.
Sky+ has a series link function in the Programme Planner. I'm told by Maplinites that the USB socket is used to transfer videos using a USB A-A cable but I'm not convinced. You can increase the HDD size as long as it's supported by the box. Maxtor is what they usually are.

www.digitalspy.co.uk forums

Aside from those, Sky+ has an auto standby function now that turns your box in to standby mode in the early hours of the morning after no activity. There is an option to turn off 'Press red' banners after a user-set period of time. The programme planner has a Copy function that allows you to select a bunch of recorded programmes one by one and play them one after the other in that order so you can export them to VHS or DVD, and it displays a description of the programme before it is played during the process so you know what you're about to watch. You can use the menu system to add Free To Air channels that are not on the Sky EPG but are broadcasted on the Astra 2C/D array.

Sky+ was a revolution and perhaps the fact its user interface is so intuitive and well-organised is why it seems less advanced.

How long have you been working for Sky?

:eek: The channel has been killed! It's MAHRRDAHR!

Matty did itttt.

Honestly, I wasn't unhappy about taking an empty channel off my channel tab bar either. I'm in plenty enough on GameSurge alone as it is.

Yeah, there are simply not enough active OD members to justify a dedicated IRC channel.
Let's setup an OD mailing list with a daily newsletter! http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1060/awsmt.png