Welcome to Tangrams Blitzkrieg pages.

"November 2009", It's been a considerable time since this site was updated, some 18 months, due to server problems. Fortunately some good support comes via a VirginMedia technical news group (once you've found the address, phone support sucks) thanks have to go to Lee Grant of Virgin Media Technical Support.

The last 18 months have been traumatic for the Blitzkrieg gaming community. The loss of the Blitzkrieg Portal site, greatest thanks to Lee (bkp) for putting up the site and maintaining it for so long, along with everyone that helped make it the success it was. The brief and valiant attempt of a replacement forum by Don (Wespex), sorry I didn't make the transfer, other commitments. And then there was the extremely tragic news of the loss of our mutually dear friend Leon van der Merwe. Leons support and friendship to all in the Blitzkrieg community was an inspiration and he is sadly missed by all. My greatest thanks for all his past contributions, conversations and genuine friendship, my heartfelt sorrow goes to his family.

Site updates have been on hold for some time and new material was lost with the problems of 18 months ago. Various pages have been overdue an update and now with site access restored, hopefully things will take off again, watch this space.

The most recent updates are as below.

Browser Support.

The site currently works on browsers Firefox 1.5 to 3.5 and Internet Explorer 6 to 8. Alternative browsers and earlier versions of Firefox and IE may or may not work as desired. I will not be attempting to make the site backwards compatible and can only suggest that you update your browser if possible. For those using older versions of Internet Explorer or running older Operating systems than Windows XP your best option may be to install Firefox.

Web site coding and menus.

The current version of this site relies purely on CSS and XHTML pages (no Java). My apologies for all the blank menu test links in the above menu but it's been a struggle to get the menu working correctly, hopefully now that it is I can get on with adding the much promised tutorial info. The top menu structure works purely on CSS code using a much altered version of Steve Gibsons GRC.com site wide menu (Invitro page) although my site lacks any backward browser compatability. The original elements of this site were created using NetObjects fusion 8 and subsequently re-done in XHTML and CSS. All XHTML pages were validated using the W3C.org online validation service.

Site editing is mainly carried out with the use of the web editor HTML-kit and a fantastic plugin called includeHTML, so site maintenance is now much easier. The downloads section is up and running and the tutorials section should recieve an update soon. Some of the linked pages are still under construction, partly this was down to system crashes and some data loss. I know it may have been easier just to leave the broken links out of the menu until they are ready, but unfortunately every menu was originally hand coded. Now if only i'd come across HTML-kit and includeHTML a lot earlier. I should also mention that XMLspy 2004 Home edition, Amaya 10 and NotePad++ are also used for site maintenance and testing.

Possible Multiplayer online security problem with LUA.

22nd August 2006

McAfee Avert Labs warning over LUA scripting worms, viruses that make use of the LUA scripting language used by Blitzkrieg amongst many others. Several of these viruses are variants of W32 Netsky and W32 Bagle, potentially these viruses can be launched either on the server side or on the Gamers own PC depending on where the respective LUA scripting is taking place and obviously if it is compromised. see AvertLabs "Worm threat to online gaming"

Torvicks the Vickers wielding penguin.

Playnoevil game security has played down the suggestion of a problem citing the fact that game servers are normally Linux based rather than Windows however Linux is itself under increased virus attck. PlayNoEvil Game Security, "Lua Worm Script Attacks against Online Games.. or not?" Antivirus and Firewall software always hits both processing and internet access speed, and it gamers can be tempted to disable them, but not having them switched on, updated and correctly configured leaves you dangerously open to attack.