Team Fortress 2 Pyro update coming Thursday

by Justin McElroy { Jun 17th 2008 at 8:10AM }

We didn't think it possible to get more satisfaction out of setting people and property ablaze, but the eternal optimists at Valve are attempting to improve on the experience with an update to Team Fortress 2's Pyro class, which the company has announced will arrive on Thursday. Expect the Axtinguisher (which sounds like something Strong Bad came up with) as well as two other weapons and 35 new achievements for the Fortress firebug.

What's more, all Steam users will be able to try out the new enhancements with a free Team Fortress 2 weekend beginning this Friday. (Note to new players: TF2 is not always a hellish world of flame, populated only by masked men spraying fire in every direction. That will pass, we promise.)

Tags: patches, pyro, steam, team-fortress-2, updates

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

FOXHOUND @ Jun 17th 2008 8:13AM

Any news on whether or not the "MEET THE SNIPER" video will be released this week?

Poisoned Al @ Jun 17th 2008 8:31AM

It's out today.

GenBanks @ Jun 17th 2008 8:58AM

11 am PUT (or something like that... why can't everyone just use GMT ?!) Anyway, I think it works out to about 6 or 7pm GMT.

Desert Eagle @ Jun 17th 2008 3:15PM

It's up now. A little late, but better late than never, at least for Valve that is.

GenBanks @ Jun 17th 2008 3:17PM

It's up, and I think it's the funniest one yet :D I hope Joystiq features it.
I lol'd so hard when the demo accidentally stabbed himself xD

t_m @ Jun 17th 2008 8:34AM

How easy is it to get into TF2 at this point?

I bought the Orange Box, but i'm almost entirely a Single Player kind of guy, so I haven't tried out TF2 much. (except getting as far as finding out it doesn't have bots).

I'd kinda like to try it out, but I'm a little worried that I'll be stuck on a map I don't know, with weapons and abilities I don't know, and lots of people who've been playing since release will shout at me. And I'll cry.

BravoNavo @ Jun 17th 2008 8:43AM

It's not that hard, dude. Play Medic for a bit to get a feel for the game. And so what if you die a bit? It's called learning a new game. Dying a bunch is part of the process. Even single player games have that.

GenBanks @ Jun 17th 2008 9:00AM

There are some pretty skillfull players, but it's far more accessible than Counter Strike since you don't have to wait around every time you die, so you aren't penalised too much for experimenting with the game.

You definitely shouldn't have any problems this weekend though, since there will be a free trial period starting Friday, so I'm guessing thousands of noobs will be trying out the game for the first time :D should be fun ;)

Einhanderkiller @ Jun 17th 2008 9:24AM

It's very easy to get into.
Hell, even my 6 year old cousin picked up on the game. He's only played a little, but he already knows most of the basics like how resupply lockers work and how to play a Spy.

Zertoss @ Jun 17th 2008 9:43AM

There are Youtube videos showing how to effectively play each class, and there are newbie servers for helping the fresh meat get acquainted with the game.

JonFitt @ Jun 17th 2008 11:16AM

There are a lot of classes, but they have very few weapons, and you can get the feel of a class pretty quickly.

Most people die a lot, and none of the maps are that huge so it's easy to get a feel for a map.

Start with Soldier, Scout, Pyro or Demo as they're the easiest to get into.

You will die a lot, but soon you'll learn what your class can or can't do, and where you should be going. It's also almost impossible for one person to lose a map for the team no matter how bad they are, so no-one will shout at you.

MS @ Jun 17th 2008 7:17PM

@ t_m : If you have any FPS chops, you will learn it quickly. Start with the medic or soldier. Check youtube for How To videos.

And if you don't like getting yelled at? Turn off all of the speech features and just support your teammates as best as you can til you feel like you have the hang of it. Then get your voice on.

t_m @ Jun 18th 2008 8:14AM

ok. I'll give it a try if i have time.

Haven't played online FPS games since Quakeworld.. but it was much easier back then.. just log in and frag everyone. Tried CS:Source once and people weren't very forgiving of newbies, so i gave up.

capt_carl @ Jun 17th 2008 8:49AM

:O!

I haven't played TF2 in like a month due to summer classes. What a great way to start again.

capt_carl @ Jun 17th 2008 8:49AM

:O!

I haven't played TF2 in like a month due to summer classes. What a great way to start again.

GenBanks @ Jun 17th 2008 8:55AM

I've said this before, but Valve is definitely my absolute favourite gaming company.

I was expecting 'Valve time' like with the Medic Achievements. This makes this announcement a very very pleasant suprise indeed.

I don't think I will ever tire of TF2 :D

TheQuagster @ Jun 17th 2008 9:03AM

I sure hope there's a secondary weapon for his flamethrower, like oil that spills on the floor that he can ignite.

Zertoss @ Jun 17th 2008 9:07AM

Wow, I wasn't expecting this update this soon. Someone must've lit a fire under Valve.

grex9101 @ Jun 17th 2008 9:37AM

WHERE is the 360 update?

Valve, you are letting us down and our patience is wearing thin.

sicsided @ Jun 17th 2008 9:49AM

haha, console gamers haven't won over every single developer yet.

Long Live Steam!

Rick @ Jun 17th 2008 9:52AM

Ditto. And has there been any change in the quality of TF2 over XboxLive yet? The last time I played it maybe around February (and really, it played this way since day one) it was laggy, difficult to find games to join and otherwise a frustrating experience. The gameplay itself is great, but if you can't even hold a connection to the host, what's the point?

Is Valve working on an update to improve stability for the 360?

Kizzle @ Jun 17th 2008 10:58AM

"Long Live Steam!"? What, you like getting raped on the PC rather than the console?

Seriously, fuck all forms of digital distribution. I prefer to own the games I buy, not own a license to play them.

sicsided @ Jun 17th 2008 11:36AM

@Kizzle

Then by the box and then just put in the CD Key? It's not like they don't have both. As for other games on there, yeah I can see that but I haven't had any problems with licenses disappearing if that's what you mean.

I will admit, I didn't like steam at all from the beginning, but now it works better than way back when and creates a nice environment where hacks and piracy can't get to as easily.

As long as I am not paying money for a service, I don't consider it rape.

JCD @ Jun 17th 2008 12:03PM

Agreed, this is really weak. The console versions of TF2 may not have as big a user-base as the pc version, but if you're going to put out a product, as a AAA developer you have an obligation to support it.

To all the console haters out there, I would take this as an ominous sign. If Valve won't update their games for consoles, what can you expect if/when some other platform comes out that takes sales from the pc?

Korova Pyro aspect @ Jun 17th 2008 12:07PM

Rick, TF2 360 is completely stable now. You always have a bunch of games with good connection to chose from. Even those indicated as poor connection are perfectly playable.

There are still plenty of people playing, both expert and noob.

But the game is so fun, its even fun when you lose, because its practically impossible to have a repeatable shut down strategy, no matter how god you are. There is always a way to undermine a repeat of a perfect attack or defense.

GenBanks @ Jun 17th 2008 3:27PM

I think they're trying to hint that they'd rather you play on steam ;)

Although it's also Microsoft's fault because there are much fewer hurdles for bringing new content to steam than there are to bring it to xbox live.

It really is a top notch experience on PC, the steamworks stuff is great and there are loads of excellent custom maps. You generally have lots more control over your experience with the game when you play it on PC (from maps, to mods, to customized rules, eg no crits).

Come, ye console gamers, and render yourselves unto the comforting bosom of steam. Her skin be soft, her luscious lips caressing ye, and her gentle words ejaculating tender thoughts.

grex9101 @ Jun 17th 2008 3:44PM

I think some of you are missing the point - YES the pc may have more options, customisation etc. However, I FAR prefer to play my games on my comfy couch on my big tv on (shock) a joypad.

It's just far more...sociable..

GenBanks @ Jun 17th 2008 4:31PM

It's not more sociable in my family, if monopolized the TV with video games when I'm home, everyone would turn against me fast. Nobody wants to watch me play TF 2 for hours. That's why get my dose of console games by plugging the PS3 into my monitor.

Oh and FYI, you can plug a computer into a TV pretty easily. All you need is a DVI to HDMI adaptor. You can also use a gamepad with a computer very easily. (I have an xbox 360 controller for when I play GRID, also on steam.)
In terms of space issues in the TV room, well, a recent laptop can play TF2, so the issue of practicallity isn't a factor either... especially since they often come with HDMI ports as well. A small desktop can also be very powerful but quiet and inobstrusive.

zero2dash @ Jun 17th 2008 9:57AM

Damn...going to have to pick up the pace on cleaning the whole house because Thursday through the weekend is SHOT. SHOT I tell ya. =D

AWESOME news
I

Chris72b9 @ Jun 17th 2008 10:05AM

I'd love to get into this game again (it's still my favorite multiplayer game on the 360) but like many, I'm waiting for a damn update.

If I went on right now, I'd bet I'd only be able to find 3-4 good, 16 player rooms, and half of them would lag out.

This is a shame Valve! We need the update on the 360. TF2 is an amazing game. I hate seeing it rot away like this.

And to clear up any confusion, I can't just get it on the PC. My PC can't run it.

Korova Pyro aspect @ Jun 17th 2008 12:11PM

Man, there may be something wrong with your internoodles if you cant find a good room.

ANyway, you are not satisfied with 3 or 4 16-players rooms?! You just need one at a time.

wallace321 @ Jun 17th 2008 11:03PM

I don't know how crappy your computer can be - buy my laptop is 3 years old, it's 1.8 ghz mobile p4 with 1 GB RAM and an ATI 9600 video chipset. It runs at 640x480 with all the settings and effects set to low or off... But it runs SILKY smooth and I love it!

GenBanks @ Jun 17th 2008 3:34PM

Just get an nvidia 9600 GT or a Radeon 3870 (or upcoming 4850) and you'll be running it in no time.

Or if you don't even want to spend that much, you could even get acceptable framerates with a Radeon 3850 or less.

Steam is a beautiful woman (or man?) gazing at you lustfully. She just wishes you had a bigger graphics card.

Field Anony-mouse @ Jun 17th 2008 10:13AM

Burnin in the morning, burnin in the evening, burnin at supper time.

A message to those who complain that there are too many pyros, or that the pyro is such a noob class... run. Run far far away, but first know this... MRA-HA-HAAAA!!!

I'm curious though what the other two weapons are. Pyro is my primary class (over 4 times the usage of my secondary class the medic), and my friends were talking about this the other day. Possibilities like actual napalm that you could spray on the floors and walls, or incendiary shells for the shotgun.

Poisoned Al @ Jun 17th 2008 11:31AM

It's not really a noob class. Noobs play as a pyro, but die rather quickly when they just run at a heavy or solder. Good pyros hang back and enjoy their diet of flambé spy.

Jakka @ Jun 17th 2008 10:51AM

We all know what a big TF2 fan I am, but this is gonna suck.It'll fuck up all the balance and make the game unplayable for at least a couple of days.While I'll unlock about 50% by playing/farming(then unlock the rest with my VAC-proof Achievement hack.) a majority of players will spend ages trying to unlock them which will result in only...I dunno 25% of players actually playing the game?

Now there's a question of balance.Having eight fucking pyro's on your team is a spy suicide.Lack of Spies means an increase in the amount of Engineers.This could go on for ages but you get the idea.Oh, and two-three engineers will easily nail hundreds of kills on those poor short-ranged Pyro's spoiling the game for everyone.