Team Fortress 2 - New Maps, 360 Patch and more

[Evo]

Various sources, these sources being CVG and Shacknews are reporting that there are new Team Fortress 2 maps, a 360 patch and video creating tools all in the works![br]

Confirmation regarding maps and the patch came from Valve's Kerry Davis via forum user Shamrock. Valve submitted an Xbox 360 patch--addressing exploits and bugs, bandwidth usage, and stats reporting--to Microsoft certification today, and expects the certification process to take 10-14 days, completing before Christmas.[br]As far as new in-production maps, Davis gave no time frame. They will be released individually on PC, and in a single pack on Xbox 360. It is unknown whether that pack will be free; Microsoft has been reported as being discouraging towards developers releasing free game content through Xbox Live.[br]In a separate email sent to Shacker Trips, Valve's Robin Walker noted that the company plans to add to its official SDK the proprietary tools it uses to create the videos highlighting TF2 classes such as the Heavy, Engineer, Soldier, and Demoman. He said the company uses Softimage XSI and Autodesk Maya as well as its own tools.

[br]All very interesting news I must say. Though the lack of mention of anything appearing for the recently released PS3 version is intriguing!

 

[Operational]

Interesting we did know that more maps for TF2 were on the way but hopefully this means that the ones for PC will be out soon.

Microsoft discouraging developers from giving out free content is very dodgy if true.

 

[Narvi]

They own the servers. If the released content is free and popular, it would eat up a lot of their bandwidth. That's all.

 

[Omnomnick]

Sounds interesting...Wonder how many maps are being created, and ignore the bit about Microsoft, they are just money grabbing a**eholes who won't even sell Xbox Live for free when the Wii and PS3 have no problem giving free internet advantages. Yesterday I payed ?6 to buy 3 new halo 3 maps, while yeh they were good, but they should be more leaniant with their products, instead of leaving Halo with those crappy maps it had previously...

 

[Deleted member 56031]

Are they going to be free on PC? I imagine they would.

 

[Pesmerga]

Where are the new character shorts??

 

[hool10]

The best surprise was getting the tools to make our own TF2 movies. I can't wait but I have a feeling something is coming out tonight or next week. Something before Christmas.

 

[Forceflow]

New SDK tools ... how about fixing the old ones ?

 

[AciD]

Ok SDK update+Achvs now!

 

[SgtSpamBoy]

There are some great user created maps out there right now (of course for the PC only). Some new maps by Valve would be awesome though, they always have that extra flair.

 

[hool10]

There are some great user created maps out there right now (of course for the PC only). Some new maps by Valve would be awesome though, they always have that extra flair.

Or for that matter, fun. They also don't look like a barren world that's untextured.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

Can't wait for the new maps! Should breath some more life into the game.

 

[Iron_cube]

New maps better mean new gamemodes

 

[SgtSpamBoy]

New maps better mean new gamemodes

It is kind of strange that 2Fort is the only official CTF map...

What gamemodes do TF & TFC have that TF2 doesn't (I've never played them).

 

[Mr-Fusion]

When are those sobs going to release new maps day of defeat source huh wtf nubz plox

 

[Omnomnick]

ACHIEVEMENTS NOW!!!!

SDK update can come later...

Also, when is the next 'Meet the...' released, any ideas?

 

[Iron_cube]

It is kind of strange that 2Fort is the only official CTF map...

What gamemodes do TF & TFC have that TF2 doesn't (I've never played them).

Hunted, for one.

But they could easily create brand new ones.

 

[AciD]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YoGZviRcxY
Done with version from source 2007 binaries.gcf v0

 

[Shamrock]

Dat nigga stole'd muh name!
D:

 

[Para]

It is unknown whether that pack will be free; Microsoft has been reported as being discouraging towards developers releasing free game content through Xbox Live.

This is very true, HOWEVER don't act so shocked but instead use a bit of reasoning.

Firstly, XBox Live is a very fast content delivery system just like Steam is. That's mainly because it's part of the whole content delivery infrastructure Microsoft has. All the Windows, Office etc. patches gets released through the same thing on the bottom level, MSDN lies on that too not to mention the actual company and software specific sites including both text and video blogs and so on and so forth. What this means is that there's oodles of bandwidth which of course isn't free and is already used by entire globe -and that's not an exaggeration- almost for free they just can't keep everything free. That's why one has to buy Live Gold pass in order to play on XBox Live enabled games (read: multiplayer games) because it's too big of a moneyhole for Microsoft.

So that's why, but what about how? Okay, currently the greatest selling title on XBox360 is Gears of War (I think it's like 7-9 million copies, in comparison entire Halo trilogy has sold 15 million and HL1 sold about 8 million before Steam came along) and Epic made a map pack for it. MS wanted Epic to make the map pack something everyone has to buy if they want to play it and fair enough it's understandable since it's more spent bandwidth for Microsoft and being corporates (both MS and Epic) there's no doubt they would turn their head on an extra buck or two.

Now, the map pack of GoW was released I think it was in the beginning of last summer for the price of 800 MS Points (about 8 dollars) but Epic managed to make it so that at this moment everyone can download those maps for free; They were exclusive to those who were willing to pay only for a limited time.

Whatever Valve will do, I kinda hope they do what Epic did. It's the kind of compromise that seems to make everyone happy, those who are not willing to pay a bit for the maps can always wait a few months, nothing odd in that.

 

[ríomhaire]

Valve release free updates through steam and charge no subscriptions. Microsoft charge subscriptions and want updates to not be free. Lovely.

 

[SgtSpamBoy]

Users of XBL Gold have to pay for that package every year plus pay for the maps and game content - that's double skidoo...

Epic's approach is a good compromise considering the circumstances, I just wish more other companies did the same or had the power of having stuff be free if they wanted.

Too bad all the user created maps can't be easily ported to consoles, they miss out on a lot of good unofficial maps.

 

[Crispy]

It is kind of strange that 2Fort is the only official CTF map...

What gamemodes do TF & TFC have that TF2 doesn't (I've never played them).

Modes for TF2:
Push (e.g. Well, Granary)
Attack & Defend (e.g. Dustbowl, Gravel Pit)
Capture the Flag (e.g. 2Fort)
Rotation (e.g. Hydro)

Modes for TFC:
Push (e.g. Warpath)
Capture the Flag (e.g. Epicentre, Crossover2, Badlands, 2Fort)
Attack & Defend (e.g. Dustbowl)
Escort (e.g. Hunted, where guards escort a crowbar-wielding VIP to the exit point, while Snipers try to stop them at all costs)
Chained-objectives (e.g. Rock2, where you need to first get the security card, then release the gas to score - also resulting in a scramble for everyone to seek refuge in gas-proof zones around the map)
Territory (e.g. CanalZone2, where both teams attempt to secure all 5 control zones across the map)

This is the sort of thing you're missing out on in TFC if you've never played it. TF2 did improve the class balancing 10 fold, but it is still lacking in game modes. I used to be able to play TFC for hours and hours on end and never get bored because the map rotation is so vibrant. Sadly TF2 has been designed for more casual play, where players snatch a quick game here and there. What might give it extended play is the fact that the art style is so basic maps are easy to make, so more focus can be given to gameplay. A healthy custom map scene could keep compulsive players playing TF2 for longer.

If the next map release for TF2 a) isn't free and b) doesn't include a less boring CTF map I will probably buy a copy of ET:QW and play that instead.