TF2 Update News

Just read some exciting new on Team Fortress 2 over at PC Gamer.

Valve have announced that the map CP_WELL has received a revamp and has been turned into CTF_WELL. All the control points have been removed and the level modified to suit the CTF game type. This I assume makes it a single arena rather than the small areas in the CP version.

Not all is lost for the CP_WELL fans, valve will still be supporting this and it is still part of the rotation. Good news to my ears :) CTF_WELL will be out within the next few days.

Coming next month are two new levels. CP_BADLANDS and more interesting GOLDRUSH that contains a new game mode. In GOLDRUSH there will be a mine cart that needs to be pushed to either base. Once a team has control of the area around the cart it starts to move towards the enemy base. Sounds pretty cool!

Finally there is going to be an overhaul of TF2's game play. Basically there will be new achievements added for each class, once a certain percentage of these have been complete new weapons and skills will become available to each class. The Medic will be the first class to receive their changes with a new Overcharge skill that will double a targeted friendlies health but reduce the ability to unber shield. This skill becomes available once 18 of 35 medic achievements have been completed. It seems that Valve is making an effort to add pro's and con's to each upgrade as to make it important to make the right choice in each situation.

So that's some very exciting news indeed. Hopefully these new additions come soon!

Team Fortress 2

While having a fairly quiet and uneventful weekend I decided to jump into Team Fortress 2 . I have always been a fan of the original and played TF2 on and off for a month or so, not really getting into it. Late Saturday night / early Sunday morning changed all that.

Playing on a local ISP server (Game Arena) I stumbled into a room filled with a group of mature and very friendly gamers. The tactical style of play made this game so much more enjoyable. Every class had a purpose and was well supported by most team mates. I for instance was a spy, using my sap ability to destroy the enemy engineer gun turrets that were causing a nuisance to our spies and soldiers in the enemy intelligence room. It was just so much fun!

Fuelled by this TF2 fever I decided to read up on some of the TF2 developer material. The faction rivalry stems further than just team colours, the developers have created a rivalry through art. In the Red corner you have a very traditional and southern form of art work. The warm hues and wooden architecture really separates itself from the Blue faction. The Blue faction has an industrial feel with cool colours and very flat clean surfaces. I must commend Valve how they have pulled this off. The player models are identical on both teams, however both teams feel very different. I have hatred for the Red team, the brute hicks that they are! Why? I don't really know, its just the the Blue seems so much cooler to me.

The community is also starting to churn out some great looking maps. Just check out http://www.tf2maps.net/ and the remake of Rock by Buddikaman. Its shaping up to be a top notch and high quality project. Its even got me pulling out my old World Editor skills and building something in Hammer. I have plenty ideas already!

Late Saturday night I didn't think I would have a new addiction, but come Tuesday afternoon I am sitting here at work counting the minutes until I can get home check and get into whooping some Red arse! Thanks Vavle for creating another relationship killer...