Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Valve releases Team Fortress 2 Gold Rush update, new Medic weapons [update]http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-gold-rush-update-new-medic-weapo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-gold-rush-update-new-medic-weapo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-gold-rush-update-new-medic-weapo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Team Fortress 2 Gold Rush update is now available for free download via Steam. The update includes the Gold Rush map with its own gameplay style dubbed Payload. Perhaps more important than the map, this update marks the first set of new achievements and unlockable weapons.

The first class to receive the update is the Medic, who can earn three new weapons -- Blutsauger, Kritzkrieg and Ubersaw -- obtained by earning 12, 24 or all 36 new medic achievements, respectively. All the new achievements, including a complete Medic icon set (PNG files) can be found at the Gold Rush site.

Update: It's also worth noting that this weekend, May 2 - 4, Steam users can play Team Fortress 2 for free. That includes the Gold Rush update. You can pre-load the game now.

Gallery: Team Fortress 2: Goldrush

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]]>breakingnewsteam-fortressteam-fortress-2tf2valveRoss Miller2008-04-29T22:43:00+00:00Meet the Team Fortress 2 Scout ... againhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/19/meet-the-team-fortress-2-scout-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/19/meet-the-team-fortress-2-scout-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/19/meet-the-team-fortress-2-scout-again/#commentsFiled under: ,


We absolutely loved the short vignettes put together by Valve to advertise the different classes featured in The Orange Box's online multiplayer offering, Team Fortress 2. The scotch-slurping demoman, the six-string pluckin' engineer -- not only did they get us hyped up for one of our favorite first person shooters of last year, they brightened our otherwise dreary existences. Now, we know that most of you are familiar with the whole crew since the release of Orange Box, but in honor of last week's release of a standalone version of TF2 for the PC, Valve released what we assume will be the last of their advertisements for the game -- introducing the Scout, who apparently has the social graces and equipoise of a Real World cast member. Enjoy!

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]]>halflifeorangeboxscoutteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2trailervalveGriffin McElroy2008-04-19T13:05:00+00:00Team Fortress 2 Goldrush screenshots and videohttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/team-fortress-2-goldrush-screenshots-and-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/team-fortress-2-goldrush-screenshots-and-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/team-fortress-2-goldrush-screenshots-and-video/#commentsFiled under:


click to enlarge

Want to see what the latest railroad-covered map to hit Team Fortress 2 looks like? Valve shared four screenshots and a video (embedded after the break) to give y'all a peek of their latest handiwork. We're still anxious to get our hands on the latest gametype - Payload - but this oughta do for now.

Gallery: Team Fortress 2: Goldrush


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]]>GoldrushTeam-Fortress-2TF2ValveChristopher Grant2008-04-17T04:58:00+00:00Team Fortress 2 unlockable Medic weapons detailedhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/team-fortress-2-unlockable-medic-weapons-detailed/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/team-fortress-2-unlockable-medic-weapons-detailed/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/team-fortress-2-unlockable-medic-weapons-detailed/#commentsFiled under:

Team Fortress 2 took center stage at a Valve-sponsored pizza party in San Francisco last night. Well, to be precise, the team-based shooter's new Goldrush map and unlockable Medic weapons took center stage, and the pizza provided just the right ambiance. ShackNews got their pizza-stained hands on the new offerings, and also had a chance to talk with Valve's Robin Walker about plans for unlockable weapons for the other classes (they should be coming "faster"), difficulty in balancing new weapons (there's a "trade-off"), and plans for other news maps with the Payload gameplay like Goldrush ("you have a moving fortress").

The medic is the first class to get the new weapons - unlock a series of class-based achievements to earn each of the three new toys, including the Blutsaugher ("a new syringe gun" that draws health from enemies), the Critzcrieg (a "new medigun" that switches up the ubercharge), and the Ubersaw (melee attacks charge your medigun). The update should hit sometime in April; still no word on whether any TF2 downloadable content will make it to the consoles.

[image credit]

Read - Valve Reveals Final Team Fortress 2 Medic Weapons
Read - Robin Walker on New TF2 Content, Future Maps, and Awesomeball
Read - Team Fortress 2 Goldrush and Unlockable Weapon Hands-on Impressions

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]]>GoldrushSteamTeam-Fortress-2TF2ValveChristopher Grant2008-04-16T13:27:00+00:00New Team Fortress 2 PC content due mid-Aprilhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/new-team-fortress-2-pc-content-due-mid-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/new-team-fortress-2-pc-content-due-mid-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/new-team-fortress-2-pc-content-due-mid-april/#commentsFiled under: ,


A fresh batch of content for the PC version of Team Fortress 2 is set to arrive during the week of April 20th, according to Shacknews. The update will add a new map,"Goldrush," to Valve's multiplayer shooter, along with unlockable weapons and a strong desire to succumb to the cartoonish mayhem all over again just when you thought you shook the addiction and got your life back on track which was becoming increasingly dominated by thoughts of playing the game which in fact you are considering right now at the expense of your ability to avoid run-on sentences somebody please please help us.

Ahem.

Goldrush will be the first map to support "Payload," a new game which tasks teams with pushing a mine cart (loaded with explosives, natch) into the opposition's base. In a stunning nod to real life, the cart will go faster when it has more players pushing it through the inevitable barrage of gunfire. Just so you know, most of that will likely be aimed at the Medic, the first class expected to benefit from the addition of unlockable weapons.

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]]>DLCOrange-BoxOrangeBoxSteamTeam-Fortress-2ValveLudwig Kietzmann2008-03-27T07:30:00+00:00Individual Orange Box games hit retail April 9http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/individual-orange-box-games-hit-retail-april-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/individual-orange-box-games-hit-retail-april-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/individual-orange-box-games-hit-retail-april-9/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Perhaps you've been burnt by digital distribution in the past, and now refuse to even touch the likes of Steam. Perhaps you found one or more of the games in Valve's critically acclaimed Orange Box to be lacking in a peel. Perhaps you'd like us to stop with the excruciating puns you jerks and report the news already geez.

So, have at it: Valve has confirmed to Joystiq that the individually boxed Orange Box PC games are due to hit physical shelves on April 9th. The separate SKUs, which will be available worldwide, consist of first-person puzzler Portal, caricatured multiplayer romp Team Fortress 2, and a crowbar double-whammy in the form of Half-Life 2: Episode One and Two. Valve has yet to officially announce pricing details, but retailers currently list Portal at $19.99 and the other two packages at $29.99 each. Expect more details soon.

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]]>BreakingNewsHalf-LifeHalf-Life-2Half-Life2HL2Orange-BoxOrangeBoxPortalSteamTeam-Fortress-2TeamFortress2ValveLudwig Kietzmann2008-03-05T19:15:00+00:00Valve wants to keep it free, with Team Fortress 2 DLChttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/valve-wants-to-keep-it-free-with-team-fortress-2-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/valve-wants-to-keep-it-free-with-team-fortress-2-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/valve-wants-to-keep-it-free-with-team-fortress-2-dlc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There's no such thing as a free lunch, but Valve's Doug Lombardi figures you already paid your meal ticket when you purchased Team Fortress 2 on the PS3 or Xbox 360. That's why he wants all future downloadable content for the console versions to be completely free of charge.

Of course, it's not entirely up to him, but Lombardi hopes to get at least some content -- like the upcoming map packs -- over to players at no additional charge. According to him, DLC isn't about earning increased return on games, but rather about "keeping the customer happy." He sees the work as being an investment in future projects, as it builds consumer trust with the Valve label.

No official date has been set for the first TF2 console DLC. Let's just hope that Valve's admirable philosophy wins out in the end.

[Via Game|Life]

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]]>dlcdoug-lombardidouglombarditeam-fortress-2tf2valveScott Jon Siegel2008-03-05T07:30:00+00:00Team Fortress 2 for Xbox 360 patched, no class changeshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/team-fortress-2-for-xbox-360-patched-no-class-changes/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/team-fortress-2-for-xbox-360-patched-no-class-changes/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/team-fortress-2-for-xbox-360-patched-no-class-changes/#commentsFiled under: ,

An update for Team Fortress 2 has come to the Xbox Live. Unlike the PC patch from over the weekend, there are no balance changes to the classes themselves. Instead, a number of glitches have been fixed, as well as the inclusion of rumble for weapons and the addition of 10- and 14-player team sizes. No indication of a PlayStation 3 patch, so if you've gotten an update, let us know in the comments below. Full details (via Steam forums) after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
  • Fixed a medic invuln exploit.
  • Fixed grenades going through players or buildings.
  • Fixed exploit with rockets causing damage through thin walls.
  • Fixed exploit allowing snipers to fire faster than intended.
  • Fixed exploit allowing players to teleport with the intelligence.
  • Fixed exploit attaching sappers to buildings through walls.
  • Fixed spy backstab exploit.
  • Fixed spy being able to attack without dropping his disguise.
  • Medics no longer heal enemy spies when they're not disguised.
  • Tweaked autobalance calculations.
  • When an engineer dies in sudden death, his buildings explode.
  • Fixed stats sometimes not reporting correctly.
  • Added a dialog to indicate when the host shuts down the server.
  • Added rumble to TF weapons.
  • Fixed ping column sometimes getting hidden in some resolutions.
  • Added 10 and 14 player game sizes.
  • Prevent hosts selecting game sizes above their bandwidth limits.
  • Improved handling of large network packets to eliminate bandwidth spikes.
  • Reduced respawn times for smaller games.

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]]>team-fortressteam-fortress-2tf2valveRoss Miller2008-03-03T23:30:00+00:00Team Fortress 2 PC update balances classes, introduces tournament modehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/team-fortress-2-pc-update-balances-classes-introduces-tournamen/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/team-fortress-2-pc-update-balances-classes-introduces-tournamen/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/team-fortress-2-pc-update-balances-classes-introduces-tournamen/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've been hearing a lot less about Valve's cel-shaded, humor-tinged multiplayer shooter since the release of another wildly popular FPS of a more serious nature. Thankfully, Valve isn't using their lighter server load as an excuse to let Team Fortress 2 go to the dogs -- they just released a patch upon an unsuspecting populous of TF2 junkies, adding a number of new matchmaking features and tweaking a few minor gameplay quirks.

We've got a complete list of changes after the jump, but here's a few highlights: A Tournament mode has been added, complete with a team creation UI and win/loss tracker. Sorting through custom games is now easier, as server hosts can now add searchable description tags to their rooms. Most importantly, players who tire of being on the receiving end of high explosive weaponry will be pleased to hear that the maximum ammo capacities for the Soldier and Demoman classes have been sharply reduced (much to the chagrin of rocket-jumpers and Scotsmen, no doubt).

Added "Custom" tab to the server browser
  • Servers can now specify metatags describing the custom rules they've adopted
  • Players can use tag filtering to find servers running the custom rules they want to play
  • Added options for servers who want to become custom games: Disable critical hits (tf_weapon_criticals), eliminate respawn times (mp_disable_respawn_times), and raise maxplayers above 24

Initial release of Tournament mode (mp_tournament)

  • UI for handling team naming, ready mode, and win results
  • Disables team player limits, autobalancing, and intermission

Class balancing

  • Reduced Soldier's maximum rocket reserve ammo from 36 to 16
  • Reduced Demoman's maximum sticky bomb reserve ammo from 30 to 16
  • Reduced Demoman's maximum grenade launcher reserve ammo from 40 to 24

General

  • Added protection against voice command spamming. Dramatic reduction in teleporters needed
  • Fixed mp_timelimit ending the map during the middle of a round on maps like Dustbowl and GravelPit
  • Fixed "lastdisguise" command not remembering if you were disguised as your own team
  • Added "Toggle Disguise Team" binding in Options->Keyboard to toggle the disguise team for the Spy's PDA
  • Changed PDA menus to accept keys bound to "slot1", "slot2", etc., and "slot10" cancels
  • Fixed Spectator targetID not using team colors
  • Changed team autobalance code to not balance the teams when the active round timer shows less than 60 seconds
  • Fixed "-maxplayers" on the command line not correctly setting the maxplayers value for the server
  • Fixed Badlands never having Sudden Death triggered
  • Fixed Engineer being able to detonate buildings that are being sapped
  • Changed Engineer buildings to detonate when a player disconnects instead of blinking out
  • Fixed potential client crash for players being healed by a Medic or dispenser
  • Made several improvements to server-side stat reporting (not related to individual player stats)

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]]>demomanfpsnerfpatchsoldierteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveGriffin McElroy2008-03-02T14:00:00+00:00Team Fortress 2 Valentine's Day cardshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/team-fortress-2-valentines-day-cards/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/team-fortress-2-valentines-day-cards/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/team-fortress-2-valentines-day-cards/#commentsFiled under:


Whaddyaknow? We weren't the only ones to get floating pink hearts in our eyes thinking of Team Fortress 2 on Valentine's Day. It's not enough that Valve dropped a major update for the shooter on us today, but Alexandria Neonakis has whipped up five incredible Valentine's Day cards for your special someone (and if they'd appreciate a TF2 Valentine, they're a keeper!). We've covered her other amazing Valentine's before, so you've got a nice selection to choose from if shooting cartoons in the face isn't their idea of romantic.

[Thanks, Kunikos]

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]]>Team-Fortress-2TF2Valentines-DayValveChristopher Grant2008-02-14T19:00:00+00:00Zero Punctuation attempts building SimCity Societieshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/zero-punctuation-attempts-building-simcity-societies/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/zero-punctuation-attempts-building-simcity-societies/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/zero-punctuation-attempts-building-simcity-societies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


If you believe that Zero Punctuation's only reason for playing SimCity Societies was to make a totalitarian government in the vein of the Nazi regime -- well, you'd be right. This week Yahtzee takes on the fantastically average game and ends up complaining about it more than making fun of it. In the end he says that SimCity Societies isn't worth the player's time, but then anybody who actually bought SimCity Societies probably already knows that.

After the break you'll find this week's NSFW review of SimCity Societies, with special Team Fortress 2 homage to the love which dare not speak its name.

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]]>escapistsimcity-societiessimcitysocietiesteam-fortress-2teamfortress2theescapistyahtzeezero-punctuationzeropunctuationAlexander Sliwinski2008-02-13T23:00:00+00:00Major Team Fortress 2 update adds Badlands tomorrowhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/major-team-fortress-2-update-adds-badlands-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/major-team-fortress-2-update-adds-badlands-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/major-team-fortress-2-update-adds-badlands-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under:


The romantic Lotharios at Valve have a certain something special planned for you on Valentine's Day, tomorrow. No, not cake you silly goose, this is way more romantic. They want to take you on a trip, to an exotic map called "Badlands." But it won't be just you; they've invited 9 of your friends (pictured above) so you can all spend a wonderful V-Day together, in Team Fortress 2, fragging the night away.

Tomorrow's update isn't simply a new map though. They're also updating the Dustbowl, Granary, and CTF Well maps with various tweaks as well as improvements to the Source Engine and SourceTV, all in what they're saying is the "largest update" since the game's launch last Fall. It's still unknown if the updates (and new map!) will make their way to the console versions, so we've asked Valve to weigh in on it. Give them some time to get back to us, and we'll let you know what they say, deal?

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]]>SteamTeam-Fortress-2TF2ValveChristopher Grant2008-02-13T18:58:00+00:00Today in Joystiq: February 4, 2008http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/today-in-joystiq-february-4-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/today-in-joystiq-february-4-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/today-in-joystiq-february-4-2008/#comments We find the Team Fortress 2 Pyro papercraft hilariously ironic, given how flammable we suspect him to be. (Disclaimer: Joystiq advises against the use of flames. There is no respawn in real life.) Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery

News
King of Kong underdog to cameo in upcoming film
New games this week: Devil May Cry 4 edition
Gears of War 2 graces GamePro cover
American McGee announces next 'twisted tale' project after Grimm
Operation Wolf, Columns III land on Virtual Console
Xbox 360 'arcade model' hits Japan March 6
Just blow: Smash Bros Brawl disc problems blamed on dust
Halo 3 DLC for spring swaps 'Purple' for 'Moonlight'
Rock Band Weekly: B-52's, Faith No More and KISS
PS3 budget lineup heading to Japan, 'likely' Europe
This Wednesday: Poker Smash batters XBLA, Crystal Quest gets polished
New Buzz! games coming in March
NBA Ballers: Chosen One gets Chuck D, Just Blaze
Sony cuts PSP dev tools cost in half
The Green Mile actor Barry Pepper to voice Prototype lead
PSP's Daxter sells 2 million copies in 2 years
THQ gets new CFO (also: acronym two-for-one sale ongoing)
SingStar '90s makes us feel old
No More Heroes first planned for 360, says Suda51
Folding@home for PS3 goes platinum
THQ gets new CFO (also: acronym two-for-one sale ongoing)
New Call of Duty 4 maps 'on the way'
Criterion explains Burnout Paradise online hard drive requirement
GameTap turning off Myst Online in 60 days

Rumors & Speculation
Rumor: Resident Evil 4 to blame for no Capcom in Brawl
Will Portal change the game industry?
EA predicts PS3 will outsell Xbox 360 in 2008

Culture & Community
Devil May Cry, a retrospective and review
Ben Heckendorn's Xbox 360 Elite laptop

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]]>dailyrecappapercraftpyroteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveRoss Miller2008-02-04T23:59:00+00:00Valve: More Portal coming 'for sure'http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/valve-more-portal-coming-for-sure/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/valve-more-portal-coming-for-sure/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/valve-more-portal-coming-for-sure/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Though we'd be GlaDOS can be to have another slice of Portal's topsy-turvy displacement gameplay, we'd almost certainly be unsatisfied with a quick 'n dirty content boost to our 2007 game of the year. Thankfully, Valve's Doug Lombardi has told Eurogamer that the developer isn't looking to simply throw a handful of new puzzles at us. "There'll be more Portal, for sure," he said. "But the details of that, to be honest, we're still working out."

Also being worked out at Valve headquarters are the continuing adventures of crowbar-wielding physicist, Gordon Freeman, who's due to appear in Half-Life 2: Episode Three. "With Episode Three we want to live up to the promise of where we are taking things to; there's a lot of work being done to make sure we deliver on that promise." If you're dying to learn more about where said things are being taken to, you're going to have wait a bit, "probably months not weeks." And don't even get us started on how long you might have to wait for the actual game.

At least you'll have some upcoming Team Fortress 2 content to keep you busy which, as per Valve's desire for all its additional content, will be free.

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]]>CakeDLCEAFPSHalf-LifeHalf-Life-2Half-Life2HL2Orange-BoxOrangeBoxPortalSteamTeam-Fortress-2TeamFortress2ValveLudwig Kietzmann2008-02-01T19:30:00+00:00Today in Joystiq: January 29, 2008http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/today-in-joystiq-january-29-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/today-in-joystiq-january-29-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/today-in-joystiq-january-29-2008/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We love those image manipulating wizards at Something Awful. Their latest project is new (and much needed) achievements in Team Fortress 2. Enjoy the four pages of photoshoppery and check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Reminder: Win King of Kong on DVD
Super Spoiler Bros. Brawl: Major leaked roster update, videos & more
Today's most satirical video: Loading.Ready.Run tackles 'Max Effect'

News
Japanese Brawl intro hints at unannounced characters, looks sweet
EA Marvel fighting game no longer in development, partnership dissolved
No plans for 120GB PS3 in UK, says Sony
THQ gets Playboy bunnies going mobile
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue arrives stateside April 17
Undertow team creating Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game's game
Civilization Revolution on hold for Wii
Majesco releases early version of Eco-Creatures as DS download
Turok demo finally comes to North American Xbox Live
Console CryEngine 2 will be shown at GDC; console Crysis still not confirmed
Nintendo hopeful third-party Wii games will sell
Want to see three minutes of Tiberium gameplay?
Animal Crossing and Kirby coming to Japanese Wii in '08
Sony gets Buzz-y dealing with trademark dispute
IGA details Burnout in-game advertisers
Sarah Michelle Gellar really wants to make Alice movie
Codemasters looks to outer space for next MMO with Jumpgate Evolution
MMO film Second Skin gets trailer
New Nyko adapter to unwire Wii wired Nunchuk
Smash Bros. Brawl shortages imminent
Take-Two details 'Hot Coffee' settlement; no receipt necessary
Valve shares SteamWorks toolset with PC development world
New GRAW 2 DLC offers new maps, missions, weapons

Rumors & Speculation
Analyst: Spore 'likely' delayed until later in '08; EA guidance incorrect

Culture & Community
GameStrata statistic site launches, get PWN3D via graphs
Crook hides cash in gutted consoles

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]]>achievementsdailyrecaphumorsatiresomething-awfulteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveRoss Miller2008-01-29T23:59:00+00:00Team Fortress 2 updated for PC, 'Well' map goes CTFhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/team-fortress-2-updated-for-pc-well-map-goes-ctf/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/team-fortress-2-updated-for-pc-well-map-goes-ctf/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/team-fortress-2-updated-for-pc-well-map-goes-ctf/#commentsFiled under: ,

Valve Software has updated Team Fortress 2, introducing a new (sort of) official map for the game, a capture the flag variant of Well (currently available as a control point game mode). The update also provides fixes for SourceTV demo recording and various Gravel Pit exploits, among other patchwork.

The updated is currently for PC users only via Steam; we've sent Valve an email asking when it expects the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of TF2 to receive the update. We're still awaiting the upcoming Badlands map remake and the unlockable weapons coming first to the medic class.

[Via Primotech]

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]]>steamteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveRoss Miller2008-01-28T19:00:00+00:00Team Fortress 2 to get unlockable weapons, new game modehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/team-fortress-2-to-get-unlockable-weapons-new-game-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/team-fortress-2-to-get-unlockable-weapons-new-game-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/team-fortress-2-to-get-unlockable-weapons-new-game-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The PC Gamer blog has shed some light on the changes Valve has planned for Team Fortress 2. The "large scale modification" is actually quite big -- new weapons unlocked via achievements earned in the game. The arsenal can be swapped out via a new Loadout menu, though we're not sure if that means configuration can be done mid-game, between rounds, or only from the main menu.

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]

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]]>team-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveRoss Miller2008-01-23T09:15:00+00:00The Joystiq Weekend: January 19 - 21, 2008http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/the-joystiq-mlk-weekend-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/the-joystiq-mlk-weekend-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/the-joystiq-mlk-weekend-2008/#comments The above picture from DeviantArt user DrakeLake just begs to be used as a desktop background. Even better, it begs for an adorable Team Fortress 2 mod. Check out the highlights for the weekend:

Joystiquery
CES 2008: A covert intel briefing on The Agency
Metareview - In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
PS Fanboy Week in Review: 1/14 - 1/20
Today's 9-to-5 video: Portal: A day in the Life of a Turret
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup just got told

News
NASA may enter game publishing realm with space exploration MMO
N+ greenlighted for Xbox Live Arcade, includes multiplayer
New Penny Arcade Adventures gameplay footage features hobo warfar
Street Fighter IV to be playable at Japanese Amusement Expo Feb. 15
SNK revisits well, returns with 16-game compilation for PS2, PSP
DS RPG Rondo of Swords coming stateside in April
MTV's Stephen Totilo sits down with Lost: Via Domus
Lineage II clan rivalry ends in real life murder
Play PC games on your PS3 with StreamMyGame
Nintendo accidentally confirms Lucario, Ness, Jigglypuff for Brawl
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]]>dailyrecapkirbyteam-fortress-2tf2Ross Miller2008-01-21T23:59:00+00:00Valve tweaking Team Fortress 2's pyro, possibly soldierhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/valve-tweaking-team-fortress-2s-pyro-possibly-soldier/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/valve-tweaking-team-fortress-2s-pyro-possibly-soldier/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/valve-tweaking-team-fortress-2s-pyro-possibly-soldier/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Though all the pretty colors and No One Lives Forever-esque art direction is enough to keep commoners like us entertained by Team Fortress 2, it's what's going on under the hood that's really important to the hardcore legion of fans. In an email to one member of that community, Valve's Robin Walker reveals a few changes incoming for the pyro and soldiers classes, part of the "large scale modification to the core of the game" Walker talked about earlier this month.

For the pyros, they're going to be receiving points for every enemy they ignite, making mass burnings not just fun, but profitable. Walker's a little more vague about soldiers, saying the team wants them to be "a little more
careful firing their rockets at point blank targets." As TF2 newbs we have no idea what she means, but we imagine some of you commenters will have a few ideas.

[Via CVG]

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]]>orange-boxorangeboxteam-fortress-2teamfortress2valveJustin McElroy2008-01-16T11:45:00+00:00Team Fortress 2 to get 'Badlands' map remake, medic tweakshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/team-fortress-2-to-get-badlands-map-remake-medic-tweaks/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/team-fortress-2-to-get-badlands-map-remake-medic-tweaks/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/team-fortress-2-to-get-badlands-map-remake-medic-tweaks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

New changes are coming to Team Fortress 2. Speaking to Shack News, Valve's Robin Walker reconfirmed that two new maps will be coming in the next two months for the PC version, including a remake of the TF Classic map Badlands. Walker couldn't confirm if those maps would arrive on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 versions of the game.

Walker also said that modifications to the medic class are coming soon, possibly before the maps. Although unspecified, Walker said, "It's a large scale modification to the core of the game. It'll debut in a limited fashion through the Medic first, but it'll be affecting all classes eventually." Our guess? They're taking away the Medic's ability to heal - boy, would that change the game! But seriously, they'll probably just put a floating sign over medics that reads "shoot me first."

[Image from BioWare's Halloween]

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]]>half-life-2medicsteamteam-fortress-2tf2valveRoss Miller2008-01-14T17:00:00+00:00