New maps, fixes coming for Team Fortress 2

44 Comments by Justin McElroy Dec 13th 2007 9:00AM
Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

A squeaky wheel over at NeoGAF got greased down by a Valve staffer recently with a boatload of info on Team Fortress 2's future, both on consoles and PC. After poster and 360 owner "Shamrock" complained about a lack of communication from the company, software engineer Kerry Davis replied (in an email Shamrock reposted), painting a bright picture of the game's future, with a new patch just sent to Microsoft for certification that "fixes several game-play exploits, improves bandwidth usage, improves stats reporting and fixes some menu bugs."

There are also new maps in the pipeline. Davis said that PC players would probably get the new levels piecemeal as they're finished and 360 owners would likely be downloading a PC pack. There is no mention of similar treatment for PS3 players. We're going to hope that's just because Davis was talking to a 360 owner and not because of ... well, you know. Other stuff.

[Via Shacknews]

Tags: dlc, orange-box, orangebox, team-fortress-2, tf2, valve, xbox-live

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

sifer2400: Dec 13th 2007; 9:03AM

i have to get this game apparently ive been in some kind of dark cave

Jtenma: Dec 13th 2007; 9:23AM

Yeah, really I've been on Unreal tournament 3 and Call of Duty 4 too much to really ever pick it up.

...your not alone.

deaftly: Dec 13th 2007; 10:02AM

After I beat portal, i tried to get into tf2 but i really just didn't like it at all. Traded it in for UT3 for ps3 the other day. The graphics in UT3 look even better then Gears for 360, its pretty amazing. Halo3 and UT3 are the best multi games out right now imo.

WiNG: Dec 13th 2007; 10:44AM

Get TF2, it will NEVER get old, no two classes play the same, it's just a blast.

FidliousWong: Dec 13th 2007; 12:05PM

Team Fortress 2 is not for everyone. Honestly, it's a bit daunting. Let's put it this way. Team Fortress 2 is not a ramping game, it's a trial by "ARGHHHHHH MY FACE WAS STABBED." That's not for everyone. Frankly I got tired of fighting my way into the non profanity littered servers. But that's more personal preference.

@deaftly,

Agreed on UT3 graphics. Pure eye candy. I take it you've SEEN the Redeemer go off? So gorgeous...

Bright white, particals, and the moment after you stop to figure out if you survived it...

James: Dec 13th 2007; 12:59PM

It's a shame you're not going to play a game that's better than all them other FPS games. TF2 is the dogs bollocks but it'll take a mighty fine map to pull me away from dustbowl.

Jeff: Dec 13th 2007; 9:12AM

I need to force myself to play it some more. The only class I've managed to like so far is medic-- I'm too much of an FPS guy to adapt to the totally unique gameplay of Team Fortress.

Jtenma: Dec 13th 2007; 9:15AM

At this point, I don't see why ps3 owners should even care about this game...

FOXHOUND: Dec 13th 2007; 9:24AM

As a PS3 owner myself, I highly recommend just getting the PC version until any/all of the following occurs:

» A re-release/disc exchange for a working, non-load time lagged version
» Gabe loses a significant amount of weight(the glazed donut diet doesn't work)
» Spend the money on UNCHARTED, RATCHET & CLANK, or UNREAL TOURNAMENT III instead

Jtenma: Dec 13th 2007; 9:29AM

I wonder...do you think a patch is out of the question? I might pick it up for my 3 if they do.

Trev (Completely Normal Human Defense Force): Dec 13th 2007; 9:36AM

Its a very good set of games. The only part I would be concerned over is the potential lack of TF2 players. Anyone that was really into TFC would probably have picked it up on PC and with all the (apparently inaccurate, thanks d-toid) reports of it running terribly on PS3, it probably won't be leaping off shelves.

As for how it runs, there's a comparison video on gamevideos.com that I swear must have been made by some 360 fanboy. Its not a very good comparison if you repeatedly quicksave for the PS3 version and not the 360. Note the upper left corner if you decide to watch it. Once they stop saving (about the same time as the machine gun fire in the jet ski part) it runs just as well as the 360 version.

Foxhound has a point though. Get a 3 year old game, or get a copy of Warhawk or Uncharted that both look and run a lot better?

GRANTED: Dec 13th 2007; 9:43AM

i really wanted this game a month ago but i think warhawk and cod4 are enough fps for now. if there are serious problems with the 3 version ill pass.

note: ill be referring to ps3 as 3 from now on, reference the previous post.

Jtenma: Dec 13th 2007; 9:47AM

Did I...I-I just CREATE A INTERNET TERM!!!!!!

Yeah really I got it from an old buddy of mine...we both say it now casually...say it with me "3".

Jeff: Dec 13th 2007; 9:58AM

I have to agree with Foxhound-- don't buy buggy games! It sends a bad message to developers; it's telling them they can put shit on a plate and we'll eat it right up.

And, as he said, when you have Uncharted and UT3 to consider... you aren't exactly starving to death. =)

Jeff: Dec 13th 2007; 9:58AM

And I'm definitely gonna start calling it 3. Breeding confusion = fun.

Jtenma: Dec 13th 2007; 10:10AM

(I'm gonna make a big deal out of this)

THIS SHALL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE OFFICIAL NEW TERM ONLY THE COOLZERZ PEOPLE CAN SAY.

"3" OR "MY 3" IS THE OFFICIAL COOL TERM. SEE JTENMA FOR MORE DETAILS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY IF IN THE UNITED STATES.

©JTENMA INC.

I'm laughing right now in case you didn't realize this.

Poisoned Al: Dec 13th 2007; 2:00PM

yeah, that won't get confused with a crappy mobile phone network in the UK.

zkey14: Dec 13th 2007; 9:17AM

this game needs another ctf map, pronto

WiNG: Dec 13th 2007; 10:49AM

They should just release CTF_Well. It already has an intel room, it would take about 30 minutes to mod.

In fact I'm pretty sure fan mods already exist.

SGT Grumbles: Dec 13th 2007; 12:54PM

Here you go:
http://www.fpsbanana.com/maptypes/1837

There are 75 CTF maps at the moment. I'm assuming maybe 10 of them are good.

FOXHOUND: Dec 13th 2007; 9:19AM

...Hopefully before the end of the year?

Pixelbotgo: Dec 13th 2007; 9:29AM

and the award for best blog title and picture combination goes to...

sinergy: Dec 13th 2007; 11:07AM

lol i know eh? that pic hilarious.

Blazur: Dec 13th 2007; 9:31AM

This has been public knowledge on the forums for some time now. They've also promised us a new achievement pack for the medic which should be out any day now.

Some new CTF maps would be very much welcomed. I still play this game almost daily since the date of release, but have grown rather bored of the stock maps. The linear CP maps are incredibly painful to play. Thankfully the community has grasped the SDK with open arms and created a plethora of excellent custom maps.

Hopefully we'll see Hunted and Badlands make a return!

capt_carl: Dec 13th 2007; 9:38AM

I haven't touched TF2 in weeks only because I've been busy. I thought I read somewhere about a few new achievements being added, but maybe I'm wrong.

New maps would be awesome. Time to inform your next of kin!

LilCo187: Dec 13th 2007; 9:43AM

Man that screenshot....every time I hear the words Team Fortress 2 that exact image pops into my head lol

FidliousWong: Dec 13th 2007; 9:52AM

Considering I can MAKE my own maps for UT3 on PS3 now (supposedly, no levels finished to test although I do have five designs baking... closest to get done is Rumble Pit but my Kismet isn't working right), who cares about extra maps on a game they halfassed anyway? Sorry, Valve... any dent you could have made on PS3 was lost after COD4 and UT3 shipped.

Jeff: Dec 13th 2007; 10:00AM

Yeah, really. If they pulled this garbage a year ago, they would have gotten away with it. But there's no excuse any more; UT3, COD4, Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank... 3 can handle damn beautiful games if developers work for it.

Blazur: Dec 13th 2007; 10:22AM

As I understand it, the responsibility of porting the Orange Box over to the PS3 rested on the hands of EA. They were the ones who half-asses it...not VALVe.

FidliousWong: Dec 13th 2007; 10:29AM

Gabe Newell wouldn't touch it. Pawned it off on EA. When the creators refuse to deal with a port, do you really blame the poor shmucks hired to rebuild someone else's game or the lazy bastards who couldn't be bothered?

Blazur: Dec 13th 2007; 10:38AM

FidliousWong, I'd place the blame on the poor developers at EA. VALVe commands my respect far more than EA ever could with their crappy development and poor service.

Gabe was pretty adamant about expressing his dis affinity for the PS3. Why they decided to allow a port on this console I'm not certain, but I'll still blame EA for releasing the game when it wasn't ready. The game runs just fine on the 360 and PC.

SGT Grumbles: Dec 13th 2007; 12:57PM

"Gabe Newell wouldn't touch it. Pawned it off on EA."

I'm pretty sure that's Valve's unique way of saying "Screw you guys, I'm going home."

Bucket: Dec 13th 2007; 10:33AM

I have to say I'm not concerned with the PS3 or 360 versions because there's no comparison to the PC.

Although I wonder if "fixing exploits" means actual gamebreaking issues or piddling balance complaints. If they fix the underground sentry exploit in Gravelpit, or maybe even taking damage through the gate in Dustbowl (although that was a part of TFC too), then fine. I'd be pissed if they messed with the classes because of everyone bitching about crit rockets or face-backstabs or standing on sentries et cetera, ad infinitum.

Adam Danielson: Dec 13th 2007; 10:42AM

Finally some new maps...i wouldn't say i'm bored of the first 6, but after playing a tons of hours i can say i only really enjoy 3-4 out of the 6 (hate granery, not really fond of 2fort anymore, hydro is fun for a new minutes but in my opinion the choke points kill it.)

I've played many custom maps, some are great while most are pure shite (castle, crazedacre, mach2 i'm looking in your general direction)

I'd love some new achievements and maybe a new gamemode or 2, some more ctf maps would be great..

Blazur: Dec 13th 2007; 11:10AM

cp_castle and ctf_mach2 are some of my favorite maps :)

Also very fond of ctf_turbine and cp_lazytown, with granary, well, and avanti being my least favorite. They're too predictable.

michaud.jon: Dec 13th 2007; 12:35PM

It's funny because everyone who is complaining about the game is a console player. This game is flawless on PC and it already has 100+ custom maps available!

I also wanted to mention that I played the UT3 demo and I have to admit I deleted it after an hour of play time. The game is total rubbish, maybe the visuals are nice but the gameplay sucks. If you want REAL 1on1 you need to get Quake, HL, Gears, style not the shitty "im faster then light" movement that you get in UT games.

BTW I'm a Doom, Duke3d, Quake 1-2-3 player so I know my FPS.

SGT Grumbles: Dec 13th 2007; 1:02PM

They really need to rename the console version to "Team Fortress 2 DEMO" to stop the confusion. I've never heard anyone with the PC version of TF2 say that it sucks.

James: Dec 13th 2007; 1:03PM

I hear that. These casual, thumb twiddeling console gamers don't know what they're missing. TF2 is by far the best game this year, with Galaxy in a close 2nd. I don't think I've seen any other games from 2007 hit the overall Top 10 rankings...

dan stabbingworth: Dec 13th 2007; 1:10PM

I wish there was one standard or licensable product for matchmaking that would take care of any random matchmaking problems that non-Halo games have. Sometimes I revert back to playing Halo 2/3 because I can't be troubled to deal with lag/finding a match/etc.

It seems like MS should just include a matchmaking platform that could be tailored for each individual game so developers could save time and provide a flawless system.

russtophiles: Dec 13th 2007; 1:11PM

Ahaha, the heavy's face in the pic is so adorable. He's like a giant man-baby on Christmas day. I'm rabidly enjoying TF2 and it's actually the only FPS I've ever played on a nightly basis in....ever maybe. I think the last time I was this hooked on an online FPS it was the original Counterstrike when I was on a 28.8 modem.

Though I think the majority agrees that Grainery and Well are the weakest of the current maps, they're all really well done. I think it's the fact that they're symmetrical capture-the-point maps that turns people off. It works for CTF ala 2fort, but not quite as well for point-capture.

One thing I'd be interested to see is if they'll be tweaking the role of the medic in future updates, since it seems to be the most controversial class in the game to a lot of people. It's a class that few people tend to want to play, yet one that's pivotal to victory in many matches. Though really they may end up never touching the classes since, all things considered, they're astoundingly well balanced.

Also, I want a pyro figure to put on my desk. BADLY. I'll sculpt it myself if I have to.

Emophia: Dec 14th 2007; 7:22AM

I've been playing custom maps on the PC version on TF2, I find them much better than Valve's maps...

The game is freaking great though...

There is nothing like it out there...

Annd graphically, to me, it looks better than Crysis ever could...

Too bad the console versions suck ass...

Fuzion uk: Dec 17th 2007; 7:02AM

^^The console version Dosnt suck ass atall IMO the game is great,Just a few bandwith issues wich will be fixed soon with a new Patch,and the new maps in the next year will top this game off nicly.And should Keep us console Gamers Happy for a while.

Just so you guys know i have all steam games on Pc,But my pc needs an upgrade to play all these new games

Brian: Dec 24th 2007; 11:32AM

I own COD4, UT3 and TF2, all for pc. Personally, COD4 is the best tactical shooter and UT3 is the best arcade style shooter. TF2 just feels sluggish to me and i didn't like it very much. UT3 is far superior to it. I need to sell the orange box....

Shadowneko: Jan 4th 2008; 5:34AM

The framerate TF2 hasn't lagged on me that bad at all yet on the PS3. The only lag I've had is when it hits certain severs that are far away from me.

My only complaint: only six maps! Plus as an added bonus many PS3 players only to seem want to play 2fort!(to me the contorl ponit maps are more fun at times!)

I hope we get those maps on the Playstation store too...but I did want the PC edition mainly for the user created maps that us console users will never get to play...