Team Fortress 2 to get unlockable weapons, new game mode
As previously stated, the medic will be first to receive the upgrades. The first earned weapons is the Overhealer. Unlocked by earning 35 achievements, the "gun" can permanently raise an ally's health to 200% (the current medic tool temporarily boosts health to 150%). Citing balance concerns, Valve said they may remove the invulnerability-granting Ubercharge from the Overhealer. The second unlockable weapon is also a healing ray (what? No shotgun?), but no details were given except that you have to earn all medic class achievements to unlock it.
A new game mode will be introduced with the map Goldrush, the second map due out (alongside the Badlands remake). In Goldrush, the blue team must escort a mining cart through tunnels. The cart moves faster with more blue team members nearby, but stops completely if a red player gets near. According to previous statements from Valve, the maps and medic updates are due out within the next two months.
[Image credit; thanks, Fortyseven]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
theCardinal @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:25AM
I am so scared for the balance of TF2 right now.
Organic_Shadow @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:03AM
As if to imply that there ever WAS balance? Seriously. Every server I go into is either all medic/hw or spy/engy. Boring. Needs to be balanced out so there are incentives to play other classes, or there are more drawbacks to the popular/powerful classes.
They also need to make it to where if the player has been overhealed to %200, if the medic tries to turn around and uber charge them their health will slowly return back to it's normal maximum. An ubered 200% health HW coming in your base? Talk about some extreme imbalance in the wrong direction...
Billy @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:17AM
Organic, TF2 isn't perfect but ALL the classes get played, I think you're vastly over-exaggerating.
- Soldier - there's constantly rockets flying around everywhere. This is the most played class if you ask me.
- Pyro - this is also a very highly played class. I get burned to death constantly, I hate playing against a team that has a bunch of these, and that's not too uncommon. I think his main weapon is too powerful.
- Sniper - I get sniped constantly on some maps. There are definitely people who play this class. One of the least popular ones but it still gets plenty of play on some maps. (Man, what I wouldn't give a for an FPS without a sniper class - that would be so fun - I hate sniping).
- Demo man - this is one of my favs, and I know it's played a lot cuz I'm always getting blown to pieces by sticky bombs left on teh walls.
- Scout - yeah not played much but that's cuz it sucks ass other than for trying to actually be the flag capturer.
WiNG @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:29AM
"an ubered 200% Heavy"
1. Uber targets are invincible, so an ubered 1 HP heavy is as dangerous as a 600 HP one.
2. The medic can already overheal a Heavy to 150%.
3. This would require 2 medics since the overheal and ubercharge guns will be separate.
Durinthal @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:35AM
Here, check out some stats:
http://steampowered.com/status/tf2/tf2_stats.php
Say what you want, but the game is quite balanced at the moment.
theCardinal @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:40AM
Organic, I think most of the unbalancing you're talking about is due to player choosing classes poorly. There's plenty of incentive to play all the classes. I find them all to be fun in their own way.
As Billy points out, the situation you describe with the heavy, would require three players to acheive, which balances out by tying up those players.
Billy, if you check the TF2 stats on steam, you'll see Scout is actually the most played class. I know... I was surprised too.
t_m @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:40AM
I just bought the orange box, but i haven't gotten around to TF2 yet... i hope they don't wreck it before I try it...
Organic_Shadow @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:52AM
Obviously you guys don't play enough TFC/TF2 to really understand what im saying.
If he get's healthed up to 200% AND IS THEN RENDERED INVINCIBLE(ie: uber) once his uber wears off, you still have a crapload of HP to deplete on him before he dies. So if he is going to get the privilege of being invulnerable, then he shouldn't get the privilege of having 200% HP either.
Now, as far as balance is concerned, im sorry, but if the point of TF2 is to amass a large group of medics around two HW and run into eachother's base, then why even have any other classes? Countless times, NO EXAGGERATION, I go into servers for BOTH teams to be 100% medics and heavies due to nobody ever putting class restrictions on their servers.
As far as when other classes are actually played, it's 90% of the time newbs that haven't been playing long enough to realize that they're going to get constantly owned by anyone doing the medic+hw deal. Once they've been playing a while and figure it out they just whore those two classes like everyone else.
I just think, in my PERSONAL opinion, that the game was never balanced, and that any class-based game that features two classes that everyone and their mom constantly wants to play over all others, has a serious problem on their hands they need to address. Sure, no game is ever perfectly balanced, but at least in TFC the class favoring was a little more evenly spread.
York @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:45PM
Organic, seriously, shut up. I've played tons of TF2, and the Heavy/Medic combo isn't nearly as powerful as you claim. First off, it takes a long time to charge an uber, and it only lasts about 10 seconds. Second, a heavy moves so slow when firing, you can just hide while he's ubered. Third, the heavy may have 300, 450, or even 600 health, but he's completely screwed if you kill his medic. Also, scout is not weak. It's by far my most played class, and his speed and rate of fire on the shotgun make up for his low health.
Either you don't play TF2 enough, or you play it on 360 (everyone may be complete shit on the 360 version for all I know, I have it for PC).
Oh, and I think pyros do run a bit faster...
russtophiles @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:27AM
I am nervous and excited at the same time. I really hope they don't end up just making better versions of current weapons when you unlock achievements. If they're going to add weapons they should all stand on their own with unique advantages and disadvantages. Potential balance issues aside, I have been pining for more weapons to play with. Give the pyro and demoman some new weapons next and we'll be in business.
Jerk Face @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:33AM
Yeah, Demoman for sure. When even the pyro at least has the shotgun, then demoman needs something better to use at short range. Even if it is weaker, which would make sense for balance.
Blazur @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:31AM
I share your feelings. The game is incredibly well balanced right now with the class dynamics, so adding additional weapons could potentially break this up. But I also trust VALVe that they'll make the right decision for the game. Giving additional incentives to pursuing achievements is an exciting idea, however.
We'll have to see how it turns out. Honestly, I'm more worried that they'll screw up badlands than introduce an imbalanced game mechanic with alternate weapons. If they end up remaking this map into a linear CP style like they did with Well I'll be so disappointed.
WiNG @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:31AM
The Demoman is an insanely powerful class. His weakness is very short and very long range. He OWNS mid range. That's his niche.
If anything they will give him the dynamite detpack seen in the trailers, which will operate on a fuse or something.
paragraph @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:32AM
Tell me this will be free on XBL, i'm not going to pay for something that i'll probably never use... (i suck at TF2, well, i don't suck, i just have friends that pwn)
danny. @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:34AM
I stopped playing after COD4 even though I enjoy TF2 more. The leveling in COD4 just hooked me. I am so glad that I can go back to TF2 now with something new to accomplish.
These are new achievements for the medic class right? I hope they take more effort than the existing medic achievement that only take a few rounds to get.
Billy @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:19AM
I agree, TF2 is an awesome amazing game, but COD4 really got me addicted trying to level up and earn new weapons and add-ons. I haven't touched TF2 in almost a month, geez has it really been that long? I think it was right before Xmas the last time I played. :P
Jerk Face @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:34AM
Teh Wickerman sez:
This is new and exciting!
danny. @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:39AM
nah, he goes off-topic to whine about DRM and Undertow.
Demaar @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:35AM
It's Valve. I honestly don't think there's anything to worry about.
Blazur @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:44AM
You're right. VALVe is one of my most trusted game developers, and they rank right up there with Blizzard. They know what they're doing.
The more I think about this change the more excited I get about it. Now people who specialize in one or more classes with have even more flexibility with their usage. This could be really wild :)
norcom @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:37AM
Oh great, WHAT THE $*&%^!!! I don't want to have to play for tens of hundreds of hours to get these "new" weapons, it's the reason I stopped playing all the other online shooters. I DO NOT WANT TO DIG FOR GOLD OR FIGHT FOR HOURS FOR NEW WEAPONS. I want to play OUT OF THE BOX when I need a fun fix. PLEASE DON'T DO IT it will fail just like the rest.
paragraph @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:45AM
O.o
Umm...
Ok...
Calm down?
It adds depth to the game, and it ensures that the people who have the good guns can handle them. If you give a total newb an RPG, he's going to pick it every time, while the asshole with a sniper rifle is still going to pick him off.
I really think you're overreacting... i mean yeah, it's a pain in the ass to have to fight and play for a long time to get something that isn't much of a reward, it can be done... Battlefront II wasn't that bad :-P
LaughingTarget @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:46AM
I doubt it would come to that. I don't play online games much but I got almost all the achievements the week it came out. They aren't ridiculous requirements like killing 10,000 opponents (there is one like that, but not class specific). Getting the medic achievement is easy as is the Pyro one.
darrel @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:48AM
There IS a reason why they're only starting with the medic first.
They want to see what people will think about the new upgrade. If they gave the upgrade to every class all at once, there will be a HUGE shitstorm.
norcom @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:05AM
It adds depth to people who play this 24/7 because they get bored. The people who play this once in a while will be missing out on all the cool new stuff and will drop this game. They need to add new blood, not make the old blood more powerful. Just like BF2 and BF2142 were fun until I started playing for new weapons. In the end I wasn't playing for fun, I was working towards the latest gun. Sure you can pick them up from the killed players but then I'm playing scavenger hunt. Adding more weapons is a good idea but having to work for that simple fun factor is not. Tetris didn't make you work for new shapes. What if it started only with a single L shape? How long would you have played?
NATO_Duke @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:26AM
Wow Norcom - that was quite the hissy fit. It gives games more online longevity if players get rewards for playing it. People like to unlock ranks and guns.
I guarantee you are in the minority.
NATO_Duke @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:29AM
Also, you seem to really miss the point that developers care about people playing their games long term in order to drive sales of that francise and future ones.
They won't shoot themselves in the foot because the guy who only plays once in a while doesn't want depth to the game. How the heck does that make sense for a business?
Your points are shallow and self serving - and simply make no damn sense.
WiNG @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:35AM
"What if it started only with a single L shape? How long would you have played?"
Not sure if you realize this but tetris would be REALLY easy if it were only L blocks.
norcom @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:36PM
WoW cares about long term players because you have to pay to play. The longer they keep them the more $ they make. Once Valve sold a copy of TF2 they've made their $. They might want to appeal to long term players with unlocks and what not but they wont make any more $ unless they get new people on board. Once they add unlocks and other unnecessary stuff this will no longer be a fast fun arcade shooter but another BF2/BF2142. I followed the BF franchise until they decided make me you earn that fun. I just want to have it.
NATO_Duke @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:59AM
Norcom, you are missing my point - it isn't about selling more copies of one game to the same person - its about getting them stuck on the francise. You know, making BF players buy BF2, BF2142, etc. If they play it a lot and work hard to get better gear or ranks, then they will be entrenched in the series and grab the next one.
You do notice that all of your points are based on what YOU want. I still don't see how you have become the majority. The tetris argument makes no sense either, they gave a full game, as TF2 is now. Later allowing perks or upgraded weapons does not mean the game before was not complete - as a puzzle game with no pieces would be.
SGT Grumbles @ Jan 23rd 2008 3:17PM
Norcom, have you seen any of the new achievements? You'll probably unlock at least 10 of them in one round as the medic. They're all simple things like heal someone who is on fire.
ElDiabloConQueso @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:43AM
I'm with you guys... I'm nervous about toying with the balance that's in place. But one thing I'm trying to keep in mind is that this is coming from the guys at Valve who scrapped YEARS worth of work to start over because they knew what they had wouldn't be fun. And when they finally released TF2, I knew they had done the right thing.
And have you watched the commentary in the game about class and map balance? They've always put a ton of thought and testing into what they're doing.
But still... I'm nervous.
Obie @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:56AM
Wow, sounds like fun...lets hope these changes also make it to the 360 version.
pituch @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:23AM
Has anyone heard if these updates will make it to the 360? I can't get enough of this game and would love to see new content for it make its way to live too.
Einhanderkiller @ Jan 23rd 2008 6:02PM
I'm pretty sure that Valve said that they have no plans to bring the new content over to the consoles at the moment.
Ted @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:03AM
Excitement levels reaching bursting point!
Jeff @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:18AM
Healing ray...sounds like a sniper rifle...OF HEALING!
Jerk Face @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:57AM
That would be cool, actually! : )
Zog @ Jan 28th 2008 10:21PM
that would actually be incredibly cool...a sniper healing ray..like a you shoot a pill at someone from far range? actually that would be a GREAT addition..adds a lot of strategy from healers that can survive from far distances but still heal people.
Billy @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:22AM
Lemme guess - MS won't let them release this for free on XBL right? :P God damnit that pisses me off. If a company is kind enough to release free content, they should be allowed to.
Angelo @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:33AM
If you're making reference to that incident with the Gears of War map pack, this is a different situation entirely. Microsoft published Gears of War; they certainly did not do so for The Orange Box.
I imagine this particular update (and other previous ones) will come eventually to Xbox 360, but they'll have to run the MS certification gauntlet first like any other title update would have to.
NATO_Duke @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:35AM
"God damnit that pisses me off. "
What pisses you off? They have never said any such thing. You just made that up in the hope of being pissed off. You are creating an attack on MS just for the hell of it. MS allows patches to games constantly! Its a given that any title you play will have a patch at some point. (And new items were given away in Crackdown that went beyond some weapons alone.)
If I remember correctly the drop ship they added to Warhawk recently cost us money. Does THAT make you mad? That actually happened.
Relax and stick with what happens in reality and you will enjoy life more.
Blazur @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:33AM
For anybody curious, supposedly these are the leaked medic achievements.
http://www.tfportal.de/gfx/screenshots/tf2/tf2_medic_achievements.jpg
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:37AM
Kick ass pic. But I'm done with TF2. CoD4 is a much better multiplayer game.
Ted @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:52AM
It isn't objectively better you just prefer it.
I think TF2 is a much better multiplayer game.
Poisoned Al @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:51PM
This comment just reaffirms to me that you're wrong about everything.
WiNG @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:52AM
As someone who plays TF2 a lot, I'll throw in my two cents. (here's my stats: http://steamcommunity.com/id/wingspantt/stats/TF2)
First, adding new guns is not a big deal IF they must be chosen INSTEAD of current guns. Valve's intent is not to add better guns to the game, but to add alternate guns. This is fine. It makes the game more dynamic and strategic, and rewards people who are experts in their classes.
Second, there needs to be incentives for people to play the least played classes.
http://www.steampowered.com/status/tf2/tf2_stats.php
As you see here, Scouts and Engineers are played 2 to 3 times more than Medics, Spies, and Heavies. There's a good reason for that.
Medics are for many players boring to play. Their main goal is to hold down "HEAL" while dodging bullets, and occasionally hitting the right mouse button. This is important to the team but not overly exciting. A medic has no strategic considerations other than "stay alive and keep everyone else at full health". Anything that diversifies this is good.
Spies are powerful but very hard to play for new players. Additionally, since friendly fire is not an option, spy checks are a given. Spies are almost worthless in organized play, since teams can make simple rules that would make a spy instantly recognizable. Spies should be able to display non-primary weapons, for example. Or perhaps do more SPYING, so that, say, they could hear enemy chat/voicechat.
Pyros are nearly obsolete due to the staggering midrange power of soldiers and demomen. The fact that mediguns, health packs, and dispensers all instantly cure burning doesn't help. IMO only the medigun should cure burning, which would buff Pyros AND incentivize players to play Medic, to counter Pyros. Additionally, the Pyro should probably run at 107% speed like the Medic, in order to make his close range abilities uncounterable simply by "running straight away".
Heavy Weapons Guy is just too slow and simple to be fun for most players. Nobody likes taking 50% longer to cross a map, and the only strategy of his gun is "aim it at stuff" and "don't run out of ammo". If the Heavy had some kind of rage meter or adrenaline or SOMETHING, even a charged-up fist-based charging attack, this would add some dynamicism to the class.
The scout, although played a lot, probably only has high usage numbers due to "Scout Rush" early game tactics. The real problem with the scout is that a single sentry, even level 1, completely destroys a scout. Additionally, a skilled Heavy can cut a Scout down so easily that the Scout's mobility is a moot point.
In summary, TF2 is great but there is definitely room for some dynamic changes that will make certain classes more rewarding.
Jerk Face @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:03AM
Very well said, pal. Good points, all of them. I particularly agree about the pyro. People complain about them being over-powered but really they aren't. It takes much more skill to be good with a pyro than many (but not all) of the other classes.
Ted @ Jan 23rd 2008 1:06PM
Excellent points, I hope someone from valve has reads your suggestions (maybe try posting it on the PC Gamer comments area from the read link?)
Also, impressive pyro stats o.O I have never come close to that high as that class.
Game Artist @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:27AM
If my experience with other games is any indication you're going to have alot of people playing to get achievements rather than playing to help the team win with these patches.