HLTV stands for Half-Life Television (obviously). It is a Spectator Proxy Server that connects directly to a game server and records EVERYTHING the players do as it happens in game. Then up to 128 spectators can connect to the HLTV server and watch what the server "sees," with the HLTV Proxy acting like a go-between for the Game Server and Spectators. It comes free with the Half-Life v1.1.1.1.0 upgrade, and is even included in the Retail version of DoD!

A player would connect to an HLTV server just like a game server. What a spectator will experience is the ability to Ghost Mode (spectate) just like they could when DEAD in DoD without fade-to-black, but also be able to watch both sides of the game. It's the coolest thing ever, and a must-have for clan matches.

 

You can connect to an HLTV server in two ways.  I personally use Half-Life to play Day of Defeat, so I'll give instructions from that point of view.  It should be the same for Retail users.

 

If you know the IP address of the HLTV Proxy Server, type this command in the Console:

 

connect xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:27020  <----HLTV IP

 

By default the IP port is 27020 (game servers use 27015), but the server admin can change that without notice.  CMH won't.

If you don't know the IP address, but you do know the name of the Game Server being played on, do the following:

  1. Open Half-Life/DoD as usual (Mod mode doesn't matter)

  2. Choose Multiplayer

  3. Choose Spectate (not Internet)

  4. Update the server list

  5. Choose your server's name.  It will appear in green text, and have an eye-ball next to it.

 

Once you connect and you can see the action starting, you may notice that everyone is Team Killing (TK).  THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE.  Since HLTV uses a 30sec delay in broadcast time, it will only have the game action and names loaded, but not the team affiliation.  Give it about 30-60sec to load, and all team members will be sorted out.  You may also experience some players running around with the original Half-Life "Gordan Freeman" suits on.  This is also do to the loading, so don't freak out.  No one is cheating (atleast we hope not).

 

Also you will notice that the view of the game is cycling through random players.  This is the Auto Director function that is on by default.  The auto director takes your screen view directly to where "the action is" without warning.  This thing is a good idea, but a pain in the a**.  We'd recommend turning it off.

 

Press CTRL (the crouch button) to bring up the HLTV menu viewing menu.  Click on OPTIONS and uncheck Auto Director.  On the bottom right side of the screen you can change your viewing capabilities.  I personally prefer FIRST PERSON because it feels like I'm the one playing.  You will see everything the player you're viewing can see, even down to his direct aim.  You can also use

 

  Chase Cam--Follow a player in 3rd person view, and pivot around the model with 180 degree viewing.

  Locked Chase Cam--Same thing as Chase Cam, but you are locked in view on the player's back.

  Free Look--Just what it says.  You can float around the entire map freely.  Control this view using your movement keys (like you use to play DoD) and your mouse for turning.

 

1. You can use the mini map (M button) just like in a game...but you can only see the player you're viewing on it.

2. You can chat (Y button) with all other spectators connected...but you can't talk/interact with players (30sec delay, remember?)

3. When someone starts shooting in your vicenity, the viewing may go into Slow Motion.  This is one of the coolest features, because bullets are wizzing, casings are spinning, and players are duckin' and dodgin' in Super-Slo-Mo!  Straight outta the Matrix, baby!

4. Screen shots are THE most useful thing to do during clan matches.  Take a screen shot of action, or the score board (TAB button) using the default F5 key.  We'd also recommend a screen shot of anyone dealing out a rack of headshots or blowing up 3 enemies with one grenade...it's just cool for bragging rights.

 

Remember, it's YOUR responsibilty to get those screenshots for the players in a clan-match...because you see EVERYTHING!