Heavy is next in line for Team Fortress 2 update

by Ross Miller { Jul 2nd 2008 at 1:00AM }

First the Medic, then Pyro, and now Mr. Heavy. Valve has announced that the Heavy class is next in line for Team Fortress 2 class updates (i.e. new weapons and achievements). Additionally, Valve said it will "open up the process a little" in talking about how the update is designed. The goal of the update is to "make the Heavy more viable when he has no Medic to pair with" but in a manner that does not significantly change the Heavy's role in the game. We're interested to see how those ideas and constrants translate to new firepower.

[Thanks, Andrew R!]

Tags: heavy, team-fortress-2, tf2, valve

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr.ESC @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:17AM

You know Fernando I really love TF2,I really do so when you steal its thunder for some JRPG you are most likely to taste my Downvote rage which is different from Brooklyn Rage because I said "Downvote" but for your luck this JRPG happen to be Chrono Trigger.

So thanks for the information Fernando (Really) but don't do it again.Anyway I'm going to check it right away.

P.S How you get this information? Do you have Square Enix site in your favorites? Well something as big as Chrono wasn't exactly going to stay in the dark for a long time anyways but again thank you very much.

Oh yeah and 1+

Mr.ESC @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:19AM

Yay!

Valve please bring this content to the xbox 360,for great justice.

Oh well I was going to upgrade my Pc for Diablo III anyway but still...

Negativecool @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:31AM

"upgrade my Pc for Diablo III"

Ha ha ha, thats funny. +1 to you.

Haggard @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:21AM

You're looking at a $4,000 upgrade to be able to render those 'circular' candles at least :P

Mr.ESC @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:05PM

So you think my 486 can still run it?

You heard that Acer,you can still run games.Is this a great day or what?

Einhanderkiller @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:21AM

Ya-tatatatatatatata-ya-tatatatatatata-kaboom!

Mr.ESC @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:45AM

More liek Ya-tatatatatatatata-ya-tatatatatatata *Headshot.

Donnie @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:04AM

When will the 360 get all of these glorious updates?

TheGuy @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:13AM

Ask Microsoft. Valve wants to give away the updates and update as they please, but Microsoft has to approve each update plus they want to charge for major changes or maps.

B @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:50AM

I can see them pushing a 360 patch once all of the classes are updated since they are doing these updates relatively quick and Valve hasn't really put much effort in their console counterparts

and TheGuy there has been free of charge maps and updates to games (I think just recently Frontlines got a free update/map) so I see no reason why this couldn't be free.

GenBanks @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:52AM

He means costs for the company releasing the updates, not to the end user.

B @ Jul 2nd 2008 5:22AM

Ah, my bad

brokenscope @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:22AM

With each class they have been releasing achievements to let people progress towards better equipment.

But to my knowledge the orange box has already distributed its allotted achievement points amongst the initial achievements that came with the base game.

It wouldn't surprise me if MS wouldn't allow achievements that don't give gamer points, but won't allow for valve to change the values of the older achievements to make room for the new ones.

Jacksons @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:07AM

20+ heavies in a game spraying bullets all over? That's going to be crazy.

shMerker @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:41AM

Can you say spybait?

Poisoned Al @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:04AM

I'll do what I did with the pyros which was turn heavy and watch my kill count go crazy. Spies, solders snipers and demomen are going to have a "target rich environment."

The only class update I'm truly dreading is the sniper update. I just hope valve have the sense to release another calls update at the same time, otherwise I'm going to go nuts.

Haggard @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:23AM

"Watch your head, wanker!"

Jakka @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:30AM

@ Poisoned Al

That doesn't bother me at all.Pyro's and Heavies don't require any skill.On the other hand, you're either a good sniper or you not a sniper at all.

I am going to be pissed-off with the Engineer updates though.Lot less TEAM,lot more FORTRESS.

Joseph @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:30PM

ANYTHING is better than the Pyro spam going on right now. 8+ pyros in every game, drives me crazy.

michas_pi @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:14AM

Cry some more.

NvM @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:13AM

Although I've seen a decline in pyros lately, you'd think they'd make improvements to a more anti-pyro like soldier or someone.
Oh well TF2 is still a lot of fun and I can't wait 'til the Heavy's other gear.

Poisoned Al @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:17AM

They are called heavys. I've been cutting these dip-shits in two for weeks with my mini-gun.

Jakka @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:34AM

They're called Back Burners or Flaming Axetinguishers.
If one of them sneaks up on you,you might as well start typing various Pyro curses.

btw, as for a person who spends most of their time on a Dust/Gold Servers, you might know the reason why I dislike playing heavies.

"Say goodbye to yer 'ead, wanker!"

Poisoned Al @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:53PM

It's called "cover." Going from A to B in a straight line is asking for a bullet in the brain.

randomshagz @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:48AM

I cant wait till Avanti.

http://www.google.com/search?q=randomshagz+Avanti&hl=en&filter=0

UltimateQ @ Jul 2nd 2008 6:01AM

Team fortress is the most fun shooter I've played in years. The last shooter I enjoyed was Wolfenstien: Enemy Territory. But that is getting old and kind of stale. Most of the servers a filled with bots.

Played some Quake Wars, It felt similar but it still wasn't the same.

Even tried some of the dreadful CoD4. The game is to popular for its own good. There are to many mingebags.

TF2 is where its at.

gb @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:32AM

I too came from ET, TF2 rules :)

GenBanks @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:32PM

Well said. TF2 rules. I've never liked a game enough to bother joining a clan, until now. I'm just learning all about Ventrilo, IRC, Wireplay etc because of how much I like TF2.

Nomi @ Jul 2nd 2008 6:22AM

Sniper and Soldier updates plzzzz!

Poisoned Al @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:19AM

YES! One of my favorite classes next to the solder. I'm not sure have valve will tear the heavy away from his beloved Sasha tho.

Korova of the highlands @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:23AM

My favorite thing is that Heavy's gun is named Sasha!

"Who touched Sasha!!!!!"

Poisoned Al @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:30AM

Thinking about it, a lighter, less powerful mini-gun that lets him move a bit faster might work. As he is now, he's an easy target for snipers and solders if he doesn't have a medic with him.

I'm sure Valve know what they are doing. I mean they fixed the pyro, as he's worth playing now he can hit people more then a foot away from him, and medics can look after themselves a bit better and don't have to spend the entire match staring at a heavy's bottom.

Matt @ Jul 2nd 2008 5:15PM

Medic still is a lock-on and forget class that is reserved only for the worst gamers. Heavy isn't too far behind, but does require some focus on the state of the battle as he'll get mowed down if he gets caught in the wrong spot.

Pyro still is the worst class across the board, offering no real skilled actions and having significant problems in most situations. While the Heavy and Medic are definitely classes designed for bad gamers, the Pyro doesn't excell in the hands of any gamer.

The article is a great look at the TF2 design process, but I'm wondering how the game's shallow skill curve could be the result of what appears to be a pretty clean iteration process.

My bet is the people at Valve are terrible at the game compared to good tf2 players and base their decisions on the faulty idea that they are experts at the game. That would allow a great design process to result in generally pointless classes like the Pyro, unskilled roles like the Heavy or Medic, and the nerfs to the more skilled roles of the Demo, Soldier, and Sniper.

Joseph @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:34PM

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe a smaller gun, less damage, higher accuracy. His shotgun replacement could be a shield, protects him from the front, which a heavy could switch to quick if things get way out of hand (and so the medic can catch up.) And maybe brass knuckles? Not sure what direction they're going to take the Fists of Fury.

Poisoned Al @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:03PM

"My bet is the people at Valve are terrible at the game compared to good tf2 players and base their decisions on the faulty idea that they are experts at the game."

What, like YOU? God you're a pretentious prick! Valve use a metric shit-load of data to make their decisions, not what YOU want. And I hate the idea of "newbie" classes. Some classes are easier to pick up then others, but they are still hard to master.

For one, the pyro's new compressed gas alt fire is really useful at removing demo stickies, and the flare gun can bother snipers, were as before all they used to hear was; "thanks for sanding still wanker". Battle medics can preform devastating "uber-chains" with the ubersaw, that causes an opposing team to flee in panic.

The fact you don't know this proves what a fucking newb you are.

Kree @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:41AM

No.
Just no.

I do like Nintendo-related products. Heck, I'm a big fan of Chrono Trigger. But do not, ever, waste the first post with irrelevant shit like this ever again.

I only just fell in love with TF2 after getting a chance to play it a few days ago. The Heavy happens to have become my favorite class. When I click the comments link I want to read comments about either TF2 or the damn Heavy.

Urgh, and really, what the hell Fernando? This is Joystiq dot freaking com. They are a gaming news website. They provide news about games. They have news articles that will contain the wonderful information about this remake, most likely with some witty banter. The fine writers at Joystiq HQ are more than capable at providing ample information about this upcoming Chrono Trigger DS release.

This is why people downvote you on sight Fernando. I used to feel sorry for you about that fact.

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:16AM

All this time I thought people downvoted him because Joe > Protoman.

At least that was my reason for doing so.

snu183 @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:29AM

Ah glorious day. Love getting announcements from Valve. Check out their blog for more info about their process, n if your more interested check out their homepage n their keynote presentations. Lotta interesting deliverables that highlight process, concepting, brainstorming, etc. And to the 360 guys, itll come, but good luck with some of the chivos without custom farming maps. N honestly, just buy a $70 video card for ur parents computer and ull be fine (as long as it has 512mb or more) because ya itll look ugly as sin, but ull get a way better experience. Kinda like how gears is ment to be played on the 360 (sucked ass on pc due to the fact that it was devleoped for 360 so the controls were all wonkie), TF2 is ment to be played on a PC.

-d

WiiFTW @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:16PM

Yea my parents surprised me with a computer when my old one was having trouble functioning (Windows:P). It was a $400 off the shelf HP. AMD x2 5200, 1 GB of RAM, etc.

Then I got a ATI Radeon 2600 xt for Christmas which came bundled with TF2, Portal, HL2: E2, and DoD:S. It was about $100 and it even runs TF2 quite well and steady at 1280x1024.

snu183 @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:15AM

ya its surprising how valve has created such a versatile engine that can be added to and be so scalable. people buy ps3s just for metal gear, why not buy a pc for tf2 ;-) because u know u wana

-d

Ibere @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:48AM

I hope one of the new "guns" is an anti-spy shield for the Heavy's back. :-P

Shangheli @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:52PM

Valve owns

HeavyMSV @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:41PM

These TF2 "updates" are ruining the game for us casuals.. Now you have to GRIND in an competitieve FPS just to use the same weapons as the rest... ****ing rediculus!

Korova of the highlands @ Jul 2nd 2008 5:11PM

I have to agree. I am dreading unlockables and more complicated weapons coming to 360. It will lower the pick up and play element by a lot.

There are plenty of multiweapon, you gotta know what you are doing and be quick type of games where I unfortunately get my head blown off in the first 10 seconds.