Team Fortress 2 SDK Update Includes Source Files For 10 Maps

Valve recently announced on the Team Fortress 2 blog that they are releasing the source files to 10 of the game's maps, making it much easier for fans to customize them. They also said they'd be releasing more source files for maps and models in the future. "Here's the list of maps that are included in the update: Lumberyard, Ravine, Badlands, Dustbowl, Granary, Gravelpit, 2Fort, Badwater, Goldrush, and Hydro. For the beginner map makers out there, we hope this gives you an easier entry point by allowing you to alter or edit an existing map, as opposed to being forced to start from scratch.


... We also hope that it'll reduce the amount of confusion around the game logic and entity setup required for the various TF game modes."

An update to the Source SDK that includes the .vmf source files for many of the official TF2 maps. This is something we've wanted to do for a while, especially as we've been growing the range of game modes in TF. Here's the list of maps that are included in the update: Lumberyard, Ravine, Badlands, Dustbowl, Granary, Gravelpit, 2Fort, Badwater, Goldrush, and Hydro.

For the beginner map makers out there, we hope this gives you an easier entry point by allowing you to alter or edit an existing map, as opposed to being forced to start from scratch. For example, you could start by fine-tuning cover in Goldrush, alter the layout of Granary, or tweak the amount of health and ammo in Gravelpit. Or maybe you just have a ton of ideas on how you think you could improve Hydro or 2Fort. We'd love to see what you come up with.

For the experienced map makers, we hope this gives you a variety of examples of how we design and construct levels, the tools we use to finish the aesthetic/thematic elements, and some specific implementation solutions to performance and networking problems. We also hope that it'll reduce the amount of confusion around the game logic and entity setup required for the various TF game modes.

Our plan is to get more of our TF content source out in the SDK, so look for more maps & model sources in the future.


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Team Fortress 2 update from Valve to make game fair

When Valve introduced the first four class updates to Team Fortress 2, an achievement system was used to help unlock new weapons and items. According to Valve, that system did not work as intended.

In the end, instead of playing the game toward fun and rewarding goals, hardcore players would grind achievements to unlock the game's latest weaponry. At the time, users complained the achievement system was changing the landscape of Team Fortress 2's online community - mostly because some of the achievements were so difficult to acquire regularly.

In response, Valve has changed the new weapon system with the latest update (Spy & Sniper). In the new system, Team Fortress 2 utilizes Valve's Steam Cloud, automatically rewarding players new weaponry and items previously only attainable through completing achievement related tasks.

Full post on Joystiq here...

Team Fortress 2 PS3 video game Blog - Evolution of the Demoman

The path to arriving at a final design for a character is sometimes a long and winding one.

This was especially the case for the Demoman and we thought it would be interesting to step through that process and shed a little light on how we arrive at our final designs.

Find out more on the Official Team Fortress 2 blog...

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Team Fortress 2 Heavy Update - Arena Mode Detailed

New details on Team Fortress 2's Arena mode have been unveiled, shedding light on the multiplayer shooter's newest gametype set to arrive with tomorrow's release of the Heavy class update.

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Team Fortress 2 Pyro Update Coming this Thursday 19 June

Valve has announced that the Pyro class update for its online multiplayer shooter Team Fortress 2 will be released this Thursday. 

To celebrate the update, the company is also doing a free TF2 Weekend, starting this Friday.

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TF2 Pyro Update: 1st Unlockable Weapon Revealed

The upcoming Pyro update bound for Valve's multiplayer shooter Team Fortress 2 is "almost completely wrapped" and will include changes to the core class beyond the addition of unlockable weapons and achievements.

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