Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 Pyro class next in line for upgrade]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/team-fortress-2-pyro-class-next-in-line-for-upgrade/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/team-fortress-2-pyro-class-next-in-line-for-upgrade/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/team-fortress-2-pyro-class-next-in-line-for-upgrade/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Following the generous upgrades given to Team Fortress 2 Medics earlier this year, it now appears that the Pyro class is next to be doused in flame-retardant achievements and fiery, unlockable weapons. Citing the latest issue of PC Gamer, CVG also reports that Valve plans similar additions for the game's remaining classes, though the timing of these future updates has not yet been revealed.

Likewise a mystery is what Pyro players can expect from the new achievement-fueled equipment roll out, though we expect it to mirror what was given to Medics, only with less healing and more toasting anything that moves.

[Via Big Download]

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 Pyro class next in line for upgrade originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsmedicPCpyroteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2unlockablevalveTue, 03 Jun 2008 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[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/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!

JoystiqMeet the Team Fortress 2 Scout ... again originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halflifeorangeboxPCscoutteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2trailervalveSat, 19 Apr 2008 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[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/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.

JoystiqIndividual Orange Box games hit retail April 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BreakingNewsHalf-LifeHalf-Life-2Half-Life2HL2Orange-BoxOrangeBoxPCPortalSteamTeam-Fortress-2TeamFortress2ValveWed, 05 Mar 2008 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 PC update balances classes, introduces tournament mode]]>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/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).

Continue reading Team Fortress 2 PC update balances classes, introduces tournament mode

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 PC update balances classes, introduces tournament mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demomanfpsnerfpatchPCsoldierteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveSun, 02 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[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/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.

Continue reading Zero Punctuation attempts building SimCity Societies

JoystiqZero Punctuation attempts building SimCity Societies originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>escapistPCPS3simcity-societiessimcitysocietiesteam-fortress-2teamfortress2theescapistXbox-360yahtzeezero-punctuationzeropunctuationWed, 13 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[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/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

JoystiqToday in Joystiq: February 4, 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dailyrecappapercraftpyroteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveMon, 04 Feb 2008 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[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/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.

JoystiqValve: More Portal coming 'for sure' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CakeDLCEAElectronic-ArtsFPSHalf-LifeHalf-Life-2Half-Life2HL2Orange-BoxOrangeBoxPCPortalPS3SteamTeam-Fortress-2TeamFortress2ValveXbox-360Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[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/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

JoystiqToday in Joystiq: January 29, 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsdailyrecaphumorPCPS3satiresomething-awfulteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveXbox-360Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[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/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]

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 updated for PC, 'Well' map goes CTF originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PCsteamteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveMon, 28 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[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/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]

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 to get unlockable weapons, new game mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PCPS3team-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveXbox-360Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[More TF2 tweaks for Pyro, Soldier]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/more-tf2-tweaks-for-pyro-soldier/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/more-tf2-tweaks-for-pyro-soldier/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/more-tf2-tweaks-for-pyro-soldier/#commentsFiled under:


We knew some changes were headed to Team Fortress 2, namely to the Medic, but CVG is now reporting some of the planned changes for other classes as well. Specifically, we're talking about the Pyro and Soldier classes. So far, the only change announced for the Pyro has to do with scoring. Basically, Pyros will now be rewarded with points when they successfully light an enemy on fire. The idea, according to Valve's Robin Walker is to reward the player for foiling enemy plans even when doing so didn't necessarily end in their death. The Soldier class is due for an interesting change as well, as Walker notes that Valve "is focused on making Soldiers a little more careful firing their rockets at point blank targets." We're not exactly sure what that would entail, especially when factoring in rocket jumps, so we'll just have to wait and see. The changes should be rolling out within the next two months.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqMore TF2 tweaks for Pyro, Soldier originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsorange-boxteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveWed, 16 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve tweaking Team Fortress 2's 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/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]

JoystiqValve tweaking Team Fortress 2's pyro, possibly soldier originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>orange-boxorangeboxPCteam-fortress-2teamfortress2valveXbox-360Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Roomba perfects the art of Team Fortress 2 griefing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/22/team-roomba-perfects-the-art-of-team-fortress-2-griefing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/22/team-roomba-perfects-the-art-of-team-fortress-2-griefing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/22/team-roomba-perfects-the-art-of-team-fortress-2-griefing/#commentsFiled under:


As much as it pains us to be on the receiving end of online gaming skullduggery, we can't help but admire Team Roomba for elevating the practice to an art form. This ain't your Pap Pap's griefing; team-killing and name calling are far below the maleficent minds of Team Roomba. In their latest highlight reel from Team Fortress 2, they transform the doldrum process of respawning into a quiz show, where right answers put you back on the battlefield -- accidentally creating the most amazing supergenre we've ever witnessed: the Online Multiplayer First Person Shooter and Trivia Game (OMFPSaTG, for short).

The video is safely contained after the jump, and is extremely NSFW due to foul language, blurry gay porn, and a number of Legends of the Hidden Temple references.

(Thanks, Perko.)

Continue reading Team Roomba perfects the art of Team Fortress 2 griefing

JoystiqTeam Roomba perfects the art of Team Fortress 2 griefing originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GriefingOrangeBoxTeam-RoombaTeamFortress2TeamRoombaTheOrangeBoxValveSat, 22 Dec 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3's Orange Box confirmed for US and Europe Dec. 11]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/ps3s-orange-box-confirmed-for-us-and-europe-dec-11/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/ps3s-orange-box-confirmed-for-us-and-europe-dec-11/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/ps3s-orange-box-confirmed-for-us-and-europe-dec-11/#commentsFiled under: ,


December is looking to be a most excellent month for PlayStation 3 owners keen on shooting things from a first-person perspective, with both Unreal Tournament III (shipping December 10th) and The Orange Box stepping onto the platform, albeit a bit later than expected. An EA press release politely reminds us that the latter will be released on December 11th in both the US and Europe, with French and German versions following in 2008.

In the unlikely case that you've not been exposed to Valve's Orange Box and currently envision it as a crate full of citrus fruit, allow us to point out that it contains Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2 and Portal... too. One can only hope the tech people at EA used their 11th hour to rid the port of its alleged framerate issues.

JoystiqPS3's Orange Box confirmed for US and Europe Dec. 11 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FPSHalf-Life-2HalfLife2OrangeBoxPortalPS3Team-Fortress-2TeamFortress2The-Orange-BoxValveTue, 04 Dec 2007 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortess 2's Xbox Live update now available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/team-fortess-2s-xbox-live-update-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/team-fortess-2s-xbox-live-update-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/team-fortess-2s-xbox-live-update-now-available/#commentsFiled under: , ,


You'll forgive us for missing this tidbit of news this weekend, as we (along with some of you, no doubt) were much too enthralled by the other, other, other, other Game of the Year, this one nestled in Valve's sumptuous Orange Box. If you wanted to add Team Fortress 2 to your list of yearly praise but felt that lag ruined the experience, perhaps the title update for the Xbox 360 version will do away with your doubts. The following technical alterations to the charming multiplayer romp should take effect the next time you load up the game whilst signed in to Xbox Live:
  • Reduced network bandwidth usage in multiplayer.
  • Improved overall game performance.
  • Arranged search results to favor preferred host conditions.
  • Improved searching for ranked games.
  • Addressed a possible false report of too little storage space on larger hard drives (not this again!)
[Via press release

JoystiqTeam Fortess 2's Xbox Live update now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsOrange-BoxOrangeBoxTeam-Fortress-2TeamFortress2TF2ValveXbox-360XboxLiveMon, 29 Oct 2007 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Nega-review: The Orange Box]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/nega-review-the-orange-box/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/nega-review-the-orange-box/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/nega-review-the-orange-box/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

To start with, there's "the horrendous box art, which I'm pretty certain was designed by a select group of mildy-talented fifth graders." (8)

For Half-Life 2 and its episodic add-ons, "the visuals are not as good as they should be." (8) "The graphics don't compare with say BioShock, Gears of War or Halo 3," (6) and the game "suffer[s] from occasional framerate stutters and issues." (1) "There's also some noticeable pop-up." (6) "You'll ... see some chugs at certain points, such as during large chain explosions with equally large numbers of characters onscreen." (1)

"There are mid-level loads that halt the action... often [for] 30 seconds to a full minute. This is especially aggravating when a load comes during a high-speed chase." (8) "Whenever you approach a new area, the game pauses and loads. This feels distinctly last-gen, especially compared with FPS of the moment Halo 3, which seamlessly loads new areas without pause." (6)

As for the game itself, "some sections feel over-long, others just a lonely set of corridors." (3) Your AI teammates "can often get in your way when trying to move about small places [and] the AI often ignores [your] orders or will simply refuse to stay put and let you get through a corridor." (8) "Episode 2 is still linear. ... It's not exactly innovative - there's only one new enemy type and the lone new weapon isn't seen until the finale." (4) "The sense of familiarity can dull the game's appeal to [an] extent." (3)

Continue reading Nega-review: The Orange Box

JoystiqNega-review: The Orange Box originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>half-life2negareviewOrangeBoxPCportalPS3TeamFortress2valveXbox-360Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zero Punctuation likes Orange Box, but loves Portal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/zero-punctuation-likes-orange-box-but-loves-portal/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/zero-punctuation-likes-orange-box-but-loves-portal/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/zero-punctuation-likes-orange-box-but-loves-portal/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've gotten used to the saucy Brit named Yahtzee hating whatever he reviews in his Zero Punctuation pieces for the Escapist; so imagine our surprise when a little ray of sunshine crept into the latest video (found after the break). This week Yahtzee tackles The Orange Box and generally seems dismissive of the whole thing -- except for Portal, which he loves. Yes, even ornery Yahtzee has sold out and is having a love-fest with the game, just like many on the Joystiq staff.

Regarding Portal, the typically acid tongued Yahtzee says, "[Portal is] the most fun you'll have with your PC until they invent a force feedback codpiece." The Orange Box seems to have a little something for everyone, even for people like Yahtzee. Now how long will it be before the Portal theme song becomes a spontaneous geek sing-along anthem at every gaming convention?

Continue reading Zero Punctuation likes Orange Box, but loves Portal

JoystiqZero Punctuation likes Orange Box, but loves Portal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halflife2orangeboxPCportalteamfortress2theorangeboxXbox-360yahtzeezeropunctuationWed, 17 Oct 2007 16:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Play Team Fortress 2 with Valve this Friday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/play-team-fortress-2-with-valve-this-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/play-team-fortress-2-with-valve-this-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/play-team-fortress-2-with-valve-this-friday/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've been unapologetic about our love for The Orange Box, so we have to admit to being a little conflicted about an event this Friday that will allow you to play some Team Fortress 2 against the Valve team on Xbox Live. Sure, it would be neat to have a chat with them, but when we're staring down the barrel of a chain gun at someone who's brought us so much joy, we're not convinced we'll be able to pull the trigger.

The event kicks off on Friday at 6 p.m. EDT, and we've provided a full list of gamer tags after the break if you want to take part. Just do us a favor, OK? If you see someone firing a gun into the air and screaming Point Break-style, just go ahead and ignore us, alright? We'll pull through.

Continue reading Play Team Fortress 2 with Valve this Friday

JoystiqPlay Team Fortress 2 with Valve this Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>orangeboxteamfortress2valveXbox-360xboxliveWed, 17 Oct 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve makes patch for Team Fortress 2 lag on 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/16/valve-makes-patch-for-team-fortress-2-lag-on-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/16/valve-makes-patch-for-team-fortress-2-lag-on-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/16/valve-makes-patch-for-team-fortress-2-lag-on-360/#commentsFiled under: ,


The only problem is that you don't have it yet. Valve knows that some of you playing the Orange Box have experienced lag while playing 8-on-8 or 6-on6 Team Fortress 2 games, and they've reacted quickly, making a title update for the game designed to fix the issues.

Now, the title update must make it through the gauntlet of Microsoft's certification process. Should it make it out alive, 1UP says you can probably expect the lag situation to be improved by this weekend or early next week. Good luck, little title update. We're rooting for you.

JoystiqValve makes patch for Team Fortress 2 lag on 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>certificationmicrosoftorangeboxteamfortress2valveXbox-360Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: The Orange Box (PC, Xbox 360)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/metareview-the-orange-box-pc-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/metareview-the-orange-box-pc-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/metareview-the-orange-box-pc-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Valve may have the most deficient understanding of episodic gaming EVAR(!), but they are masters of smoke and mirrors marketing. Valve made us completely lose focus on Half-Life 2: Episode 2 being in The Orange Box (YAY!) by bundling so much gaming goodness in the package, that instead of us cracking jokes about their episodic incompetence, we end up calling The Orange Box the gaming value of the year -- 'cause it is with Half-Life 2, Episodes 1 and 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2. Sure, if you've played Half-Life 2 on your PC it might not be such a fantastic value, but for console owners (minus those that played Half-Life 2 on the original Xbox) this is their first go at HL2 and its episodes.
  • GameTap (100/100): "If your PC isn't quite up to snuff, the Xbox 360 version is a good substitute. Occasional framerate hitches, plus one minor gaffe with the gamepad (weapon selection) are the only things dragging down the 360 version. That, and it has freaking 99 Achievements spread across all five games. Due to the delay of the PS3 version, we haven't played it yet, but we'll update you when we do."
  • Team Xbox (96/100): "So, is The Orange Box the best bargain in gaming? While there might be longer games (Oblivion, for example) or games that pack more titles onto a single disc (any of the 'classic' compilations), this is a near-perfect blend of varied games. ... Although this is undeniably one of the must-own games for the Xbox 360, we have a few questions. Will we be getting Episode Three over Xbox Live? And where's our Counter-Strike: Source?"
  • IGN (95/100): "There's nothing else available on any console like The Orange Box. Though you could argue that Half-Life 2 is old news by now, there are still four components of the Box brand new to consoles. That so much great content is offered at the standard single-game price is astonishing ... And all on one disc. While Portal and TF2 may not be strong enough to stand on their own, coupled with the Half-Life titles, The Orange Box really is one of the best games ever released."

JoystiqMetareview: The Orange Box (PC, Xbox 360) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halflife2metarevieworangeboxPCportalPS3teamfortress2valveXbox-360Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 video: Meet the Demoman]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/team-fortress-2-video-meet-the-demoman/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/team-fortress-2-video-meet-the-demoman/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/team-fortress-2-video-meet-the-demoman/#commentsFiled under: ,

The fourth in Valve's series of Team Fortress 2 class videos has emerged, this time showcasing the Demoman. So far, the Demoman has received very little fanfare, with nary a bit of video footage in sight. Sure, we all like riddling things with bullets as the Heavy, or letting our turrets do it for us as the Engineer, but what about the pure, visceral joy of blowing stuff up? Yeah, the Soldier has a rocket launcher, but what about real explosive death? That's where the Demoman comes in. Rather than spoil the video for you, we'll simply direct you to watch it with your heads full of eyeballs.

[Thanks, Sunny]

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 video: Meet the Demoman originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artselectronicartsorange-boxorangeboxteam-fortress-2teamfortress2valveTue, 09 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Team Fortress 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/joystiq-hands-on-team-fortress-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/joystiq-hands-on-team-fortress-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/joystiq-hands-on-team-fortress-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We know that a lot of you who pre-ordered the game through Steam have already been playing around with the beta version of Team Fortress 2. We just wanted to put this message out to those of you who may still be on the fence. We've been enjoying the beta version of the game for a while now and, to put it mildly, we're extremely impressed.

Let us give you the quick version, if you're a complete TFC noob. Two teams, each competing for one objective. Each team is populated by very different classes of characters, each with their own special abilities. Team Fortress Classic is one of the all-time favorite multiplayer shooters, and as 1/3 (or 1/5, depending on your view) of the Orange Box, TF2 is looking to reinvent the game.

Gallery: Half-Life 2: Orange Box

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Team Fortress 2

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Team Fortress 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halflife2handsonorangeboxPCteamfortress2valveXbox-360Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[TF2: an extended look at the engineer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/tf2-an-extended-look-at-the-engineer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/tf2-an-extended-look-at-the-engineer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/04/tf2-an-extended-look-at-the-engineer/#commentsFiled under:


With the release of The Orange Box fast approaching, we're itching to get all the info we can about its delicious contents. We're probably most excited for the collection's multiplayer offering, Team Fortress 2. So far, we've been enamored of the clever character class videos that Valve has released, but we haven't seen too much focus on how these various classes actually play. Enter Eurogamer, with a video of our personal favorite, the engineer. The video pretty much covers the things you'll be doing as an engineer, namely building things and dropping fools with your shotgun. Unfortunately, Eurogamer doesn't support embedded videos, so you'll have to leave the comfy confines of X3F to view it. We know it can be scary, but we also know that you can do it. Go ahead, click that "read" link. It's not nearly as scary as it seems.

JoystiqTF2: an extended look at the engineer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artselectronicartsorange-boxteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2valveThu, 04 Oct 2007 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Drool: Orange Box goes gold!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/27/drool-orange-box-goes-gold/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/27/drool-orange-box-goes-gold/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/27/drool-orange-box-goes-gold/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The wait is almost over, as Valve's The Orange Box mega-compilation has gone gold! October 10 is the date to circle on your calendars, as the package (which comes stuffed with Half-Life 2, Episodes 1 and 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2) heads to retail that day for both Xbox 360 and PC. The recently delayed PS3 version is still expected to ship a few weeks later. Maybe now the folks at Valve can take a break and finally deal with those Little Sisters.

In case you've been living under a rock, The Orange Box will retail for $50 for the PC at retail, with the console variety demanding a bit more from your wallet with a "next-gen price" of $60. Of course, those who pre-purchased the collection over Steam will enjoy an additional 10% cost savings, though it's likely they're too wrapped up in the Team Fortress 2 beta to care.

Gallery: Half-Life 2: Orange Box

JoystiqDrool: Orange Box goes gold! originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fpshalflifeorangeboxPCportalteamfortress2valveXbox-360Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a tour of the Team Fortress 2 maps]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/take-a-tour-of-the-team-fortress-2-maps/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/take-a-tour-of-the-team-fortress-2-maps/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/take-a-tour-of-the-team-fortress-2-maps/#commentsFiled under:

Alright, so we're beginning to understand the characters of Team Fortress 2, but what about their environment? In what sorts of places will we be wreaking havoc? A series of videos has been released giving a brief glimpse of each of Team Fortress 2's six maps: Hydro, Gravel Pit, Well, 2 Fort, Granary, and Dust Bowl. Unfortunately, all the videos are done in a grainy, almost black-and-white style that doesn't exactly mesh with YouTube. Hopefully we'll see some high resolution versions of these videos soon. Still, you can get an idea of the layout of each map and the game types available on them. We've embedded the rest of the videos after the break.

Continue reading Take a tour of the Team Fortress 2 maps

JoystiqTake a tour of the Team Fortress 2 maps originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artselectronicartsorange-boxorangeboxteam-fortress-2teamfortress2tf2the-orange-boxtheorangeboxvalveThu, 13 Sep 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2: Meet the Engineer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/team-fortress-2-meet-the-engineer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/team-fortress-2-meet-the-engineer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/team-fortress-2-meet-the-engineer/#commentsFiled under:

We love all of the Team Fortress 2 character videos. We're just going to abandon all journalistic integrity and say that. They are sweet. The latest video in the TF2 character series introduces the Engineer. We never would have guessed that the Engineer had a sensitive side, but he spends the entire video playing the guitar. Then again, that's the joy of being an Engineer, right? You get to set up turrets to do the killing for you, and that's exactly what you'll see in his video. We won't spoil the fun, but suffice it to say that the Engineer's facial expressions are priceless. Watch, laugh, enjoy.

Oh, and if you haven't seen them already, be sure to check out the Soldier and Heavy videos.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2: Meet the Engineer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artselectronicartsorange-boxorangeboxteam-fortress-2teamfortress2valveWed, 12 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Engineer tells his tale in Team Fortress 2 trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/the-engineer-tells-his-tale-in-team-fortress-2-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/the-engineer-tells-his-tale-in-team-fortress-2-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/the-engineer-tells-his-tale-in-team-fortress-2-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Engineer tells how he solves "practical problems" in the continuing series of trailers about the psychopathic characters from Team Fortress 2. If for some strange reason you've missed The Heavy and The Soldier trailers, we've gone ahead and added their videos again after the break for your easy viewing pleasure.

Now's a good a time as any to remind people that if you really need to play Team Fortress 2 (and you're a PC owner), all you need to do is pre-purchase The Orange Box on Steam and you can start playing the TF2 beta next week. Although we don't exactly know how, but we hope some of the humor from these trailers translates to the gameplay. Then again, we've gotten used to the possibility of well-designed trailers being more interesting than the games they are for.

Continue reading The Engineer tells his tale in Team Fortress 2 trailer

JoystiqThe Engineer tells his tale in Team Fortress 2 trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halflife2orangeboxPCportalPS3teamfortress2valveXbox-360Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Pre-purchase Orange Box on Steam, play TF2 beta next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/pre-purchase-orange-box-on-steam-play-tf2-beta-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/pre-purchase-orange-box-on-steam-play-tf2-beta-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/pre-purchase-orange-box-on-steam-play-tf2-beta-next-week/#commentsFiled under: ,


Valve announced today that those who pre-purchase this holiday's über-value The Orange Box on Steam will be invited to the Team Fortress 2 beta next week. Beginning Sept. 17, those who bought the game can download and activate the TF2 beta. If that's not enough, Valve will also toss in Peggle Extreme, a special edition of the game that'll have themed Half-Life 2, TF2 and Portal content.

Those who purchase The Orange Box before Oct. 10 via Steam also get 10% off the $49.95 price on PC. Meanwhile, the console versions of Orange Box will both be the "next-gen price" of $60 -- although Amazon currently has the Xbox 360 version for $55 as part of a pre-purchase deal. The PS3 version was recently delayed. The PC and Xbox 360 versions of The Orange Box will be ready to peel on Oct. 10.

JoystiqPre-purchase Orange Box on Steam, play TF2 beta next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halflife2orangeboxPCportalteamfortress2valveXbox-360Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Loads of new Team Fortress 2 vids]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/loads-of-new-team-fortress-2-vids/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/loads-of-new-team-fortress-2-vids/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/loads-of-new-team-fortress-2-vids/#comments GameVideos has posted a handful of new videos of Team Fortress 2 gameplay. In all, we get to see the engineer, spy, sniper, scout, and soldier doing their thing. We noticed yesterday that the camera can pull away from the player in order to show off an emotion. Seeing these new videos, it has become clear that this is a player controlled action, so you can use it to taunt your living (or dead) opponents whenever you wish. Beyond that, the game plays out as you would expect. You have sixty seconds to prepare before each match, during which time you can select your class and figure out your strategy. The rest is pure mayhem. Our favorite video, embedded above, features the spy infiltrating the enemy base and laying waste to them with his butterfly knife. Everything we've seen of Team Fortress 2 points to good times ahead. Check out three more videos after the break.

Continue reading Loads of new Team Fortress 2 vids

JoystiqLoads of new Team Fortress 2 vids originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronicartsorangeboxteamfortress2tf2valveFri, 07 Sep 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress gameplay video emerges]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/team-fortress-gameplay-video-emerges/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/team-fortress-gameplay-video-emerges/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/team-fortress-gameplay-video-emerges/#commentsFiled under:

After several videos detailing the characters and style of Team Fortress 2, GameVideos has finally uncovered some actual gameplay footage. It is, in short, chaos, and a more wonderful chaos we could not imagine. Throughout the video, we get to see the soldier, medic, spy, sniper, and engineer in action. The game looks to be pretty much non-stop action, with plenty of opponents to go around. In perhaps the most intriguing moment of the video, the camera pulls out to a third person perspective as the engineer laughs at the poor soul he just bludgeoned to death. It doesn't look as though this has any more value than simply rubbing in your kill and pissing off your opponent. Then again, how much more value do you need?

JoystiqTeam Fortress gameplay video emerges originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>orangeboxteamfortressteamfortress2valveThu, 06 Sep 2007 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Orange Box delayed on PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/the-orange-box-delayed-on-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/the-orange-box-delayed-on-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/the-orange-box-delayed-on-ps3/#commentsFiled under:


Gamespot reports that Valve's Doug Lombardi confirmed to them the PS3 version of über-value The Orange Box will be delayed on PS3 by "a couple weeks." The PC and Xbox 360 versions will move forward with their Oct. 9 release. Wonder if those poor Valve employees still won't be able to play BioShock until the PS3 version is done too. Valve overlords, have a heart and let them play, everyone seems to be getting stuck on these delays -- for real, no joke.

Per the usual of all these PS3 delay announcements, Valve would not identify the reason for the delay, the game is being ported by EA. Lombardi also wouldn't talk about a specific date, he merely let the "couple weeks" quote float out there. Hopefully Sony can craft some message to explain these delays away, maybe it'll be the first memo by Karraker's replacment.

JoystiqThe Orange Box delayed on PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halflife2orangeboxportalPS3teamfortress2valveThu, 06 Sep 2007 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo Wars and TF2 videos on XBLM]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/30/halo-wars-and-tf2-videos-on-xblm/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/30/halo-wars-and-tf2-videos-on-xblm/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/30/halo-wars-and-tf2-videos-on-xblm/#commentsFiled under: ,


A new day brings some new Xbox Live Marketplace content, and while we don't have any new demos to enjoy, there are some decent videos. The first video is the Halo Wars walk-through that was supposed to go up earlier this week. If you haven't already seen it on the intertubes, it's definitely worth checking out. The second video has also already been seen on the web, though it's probably worth watching in hi-def with some popcorn on the couch. We are talking, of course, about the Team Fortress 2 video featuring the soldier. We said it before and we'll say it again: comedy gold. Download both videos at your earliest convenience, but please, watch responsibly.

JoystiqHalo Wars and TF2 videos on XBLM originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustrieseaelectronicartsEnsemble-StudiosensemblestudiosHaloHalo-WarshalowarsmgsMicrosoft-Game-StudiosmicrosoftgamestudiosorangeboxReal-Time-StrategyRTSteamfortress2valveThu, 30 Aug 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soldier talks to the troops in Team Fortress 2 video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/22/the-soldier-talks-to-the-troops-in-team-fortress-2-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/22/the-soldier-talks-to-the-troops-in-team-fortress-2-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/22/the-soldier-talks-to-the-troops-in-team-fortress-2-video/#commentsFiled under: ,

Hilarious and slightly disturbing, The Soldier video for Team Fortress 2, the game bundled with The Orange Box, makes us laugh in that uncomfortable way. Not cute like "The Heavy" video, this clip of The Soldier is just a little bit darker. Team Fortress 2 through brilliant marketing is really turning into the game we've become excited about in The Orange Box. Sure it'll probably be just another frag-fest that the average person won't stand a chance in, but it's oozing with dark charm.

The Orange Box continues to be the value bundle of the year. With Half-Life 2, Episodes 1 and 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2 -- that's a lot of value in a little box, especially if you've never played Half-Life 2. We're definitely looking forward to seeing more of these clips, even if we don't think we'll stand a chance in an online match with the actual game.

Gallery: Half-Life 2: Orange Box

JoystiqThe Soldier talks to the troops in Team Fortress 2 video originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halflifehalflife2orangeboxPCportalsteamteamfortress2valveXbox-360Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve staffer: Modders setting bar too high]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/22/valve-staffer-modders-setting-bar-too-high/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/22/valve-staffer-modders-setting-bar-too-high/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/22/valve-staffer-modders-setting-bar-too-high/#commentsFiled under: , ,


There have historically been few companies more supportive of the modding scene than Valve. Now, in a new interview with ShackNews, two Valve designers are giving advice to what many perceive to be an ailing mod community. John Morello, an animate and designer at the company, insists that the problem stems from modders thinking too big.

"Mod developers are setting the bar higher than people require--a fun game is a fun game," he said. "I honestly don't think the community is setting the higher standards as much as the mod developers themselves." While that may be true, when Morello begins talking about the Team Fortress 2 design crew being comprised almost entirely of former modders, one can't help but wonder if the mod scene might in some way also be suffering from its best and brightest being recruited away. What do you think? Have you downloaded a good mod recently? Have you ever tried to make one yourself?

JoystiqValve staffer: Modders setting bar too high originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halflife2moddingPCteamfortress2valveWed, 22 Aug 2007 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/18/psp-fanboy-theatre-volume-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/18/psp-fanboy-theatre-volume-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/18/psp-fanboy-theatre-volume-30/#commentsFiled under:

Finally, after a long E3-related hiatus, PSP Fanboy Theatre is back with an all new edition. Every weekend, PSP owners can download files wirelessly via m.pspfanboy.com.

Instructions: Save all movie and thumbnail files to the VIDEO folder. These high resolution 480x272 videos require firmware 3.30 or above. (Note: OE custom firmware will also play these videos.)

New for PSP: Get selected videos delivered automatically to your PSP via our new RSS feed.


Legend of the Heavenly Sword: Part 2
Download MP4 (13.1MB) | Download JPG

The following videos are featured after the break: Folklore (PS3), Jericho, Stranglehold, Team Fortress 2, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground.

Continue reading PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 30

JoystiqPSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Aug 2007 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>folkloreheavenlyswordjerichostrangleholdteamfortress2theatretonyhawkSat, 18 Aug 2007 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: design philosophy of Team Fortress 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/16/video-design-philosophy-of-team-fortress-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/16/video-design-philosophy-of-team-fortress-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/16/video-design-philosophy-of-team-fortress-2/#commentsFiled under:

We are all about Team Fortress 2 here at X3F. While we certainly look forward to the classic gameplay, there can be no doubt that its luscious visual style is a big draw. The above video from Gamersyde shows off just how much work goes into all the environments and characters of Team Fortress 2. The team at Valve drew their inspiration from commercial drawings of the early 20th century. Hell, they even mention the work of Hayao Miyazaki as an influence. One of the overall goals of the design process was to make every character unique and easy to identify at a distance. With this in mind, the team set about creating unique color schemes and silhouettes for each character. There are also lots of technical elements discussed in the video. We're not really sure what a Phong highlight is, but if it makes Team Fortress 2 this pretty, we really don't care.

[Thanks, DjDATZ]

JoystiqVideo: design philosophy of Team Fortress 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronicartsorangeboxteamfortressteamfortress2tf2valveThu, 16 Aug 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Orange Box gets a much needed makeover]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/the-orange-box-gets-a-much-needed-makeover/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/the-orange-box-gets-a-much-needed-makeover/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/the-orange-box-gets-a-much-needed-makeover/#commentsFiled under:

Ever since we laid our eyes on the Half-Life 2: Orange Box cover art we have been a little perplexed by its simplistic design. The cover art featured a mostly orange background with white text explaining the contents and that was about it. We accepted the cover though and never made a fuss. But now it looks like Valve has had a change of heart and design philosophy. TeamXbox is reporting that Valve decided to re-design the Orange Box cover and now it actually features artwork! Indeed, it shows off beautiful Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2 and Portal artwork! We're glad to see Valve add more art to the cover art and spiffy up the Orange Box, because it really looks good. Check out TeamXbox's supplied Half-Life 2: Orange Box cover viewable after the break.

Continue reading The Orange Box gets a much needed makeover

JoystiqThe Orange Box gets a much needed makeover originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cover artCoverArthalf life 2half life 2 orange boxhalf-life 2Half-life2HalfLife2HalfLife2OrangeBoxorange boxOrangeBoxportalteam fortress 2TeamFortress2valveSat, 30 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TF2 devs play cross-platform, but you won't]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/tf2-devs-play-cross-platform-but-you-wont/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/tf2-devs-play-cross-platform-but-you-wont/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/tf2-devs-play-cross-platform-but-you-wont/#commentsFiled under:


So, Shacknews posted a lengthy preview of Team Fortress 2. At first, everything was normal, no different than what we expected. Multiple classes, fun gametypes, cool maps, protestations that the Medic is fun to play: everything was copacetic. According to the review, Team Fortress 2 will not feature cross-platform play. That's all well and good, except Valve -- developer of the PC and Xbox 360 versions (EA UK is handling the PS3 version) -- "regularly play cross-platform multiplayer games." Why then, are we denied such pleasure? According to Valve's Doug Lombardi, it "introduces more problems than it is worth." He further notes that Valve would only implement cross-platform play in a title that was designed for it from the start.

Ah well, looks like we'll have to be satisfied with fragging fellow 360 fanboys.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqTF2 devs play cross-platform, but you won't originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic artsElectronicArtshalf life 2half-life 2Half-life2HalfLife2hl2orange boxOrangeBoxteam fortress 2TeamFortress2tf 2Tf2the orange boxTheOrangeBoxvalveWed, 20 Jun 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve: our downloadable content will be free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/valve-our-downloadable-content-will-be-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/valve-our-downloadable-content-will-be-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/valve-our-downloadable-content-will-be-free/#commentsFiled under:

When perusing our comment threads, you may see comments from Team Fortress 2 fans that will be opting for the PC version over the 360 version? Why? Lots of free content. Specifically, lots of free user-made content. While it may be some time before user-made content heads to the 360, we are happy to report that any downloadable content for the Orange Box will be free. Eurogamer reports that Valve will not charge for its DLC. According to Team Fortress 2 designer, Robin Walker, "You buy the product, you get the content," who adds, "We make more money because more people buy it, not because we try and nickel-and-dime the same customers." We imagine that someone at EA -- publisher of the Orange Box -- has just imploded. Free content is always good, especially when you consider that TF2 will ship with only 6 maps.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqValve: our downloadable content will be free originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic artsElectronicArtshalf life 2half-lifehalf-life 2Half-life2HalfLife2orange boxOrangeBoxportalteam fortress 2TeamFortress2valvevalve softwareValveSoftwareFri, 25 May 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 classes get broken down]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/team-fortress-2-classes-get-broken-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/team-fortress-2-classes-get-broken-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/team-fortress-2-classes-get-broken-down/#commentsFiled under:


It seems Team Fortress 2 is fast becoming the best reason to own the Half-Life 2 Orange Box. In every preview of the game, various outlets are describing it as the most outstanding feature of the entertainment-packed package. With some particularly impressive visuals and reportedly rock-solid gameplay to boot, it's easy to see why. IGN recently got their turn to try out Team Fortress 2 and have done us the favor of breaking down every single character class in the game. With 9 classes from which to choose, finding your favorite might be a difficult task, especially considering that the support classes are actually fun to play.

Honestly, we're torn so many ways we don't know what to think. Do we pick the Demoman and his sticky bombs, the Pyro and his flamethrower, or the Engineer and his deadly turrets? What about the chameleon-like Spy, or the cool-as-nails Sniper, or the well-rounded Soldier? Of course, there is the Medic, who's capable of making players and himself briefly invulnerable, and there's the Scout, who can change direction mid-jump. Then again, there's always the Heavy Weapons Guy ... and his beloved Sasha.

Who's your favorite so far?

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 classes get broken down originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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