first person shooter
Team Fortress 2 Getting Major Updates In April
Posted by Michael McWhertor at 10:13 AM on March 27, 2008
According to a report from Shacknews, the PC version of Team Fortress 2 will see a major update in April, including the previously discussed new gameplay type, Payload, will arrive with the new map "Goldrush". In addition, the Medic may be getting his new weapon, the double-barreled "overhealer" gun, the first of the new unlockable weapons.
In even better news that fans of achievements in awesomeness will appreciate, the "Meet The Scout" cinematic is confirmed for an April release. Shacknews says it will arrive on or about the April 20 game update, but we've heard previously that it will arrive some time next week. Given Valve's well known tardiness, we would put our money on it debuting later. But we're keeping hope alive.
New Team Fortress 2 Content Scheduled for Mid-April; Includes Goldrush, New Weapons, Meet The Scout [Shacknews]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
phor11
Posted 5:04 AM 28/3/08
I don't pity anyone playing an FPS on a console who complains about the experience (or lack of DLC).
They should kick themselves for buying an FPS on a console in the first place.
ESPECIALLY with a Valve game where at LEAST 50% of the long term enjoyment inevitably comes from members of the community using the tools Valve gives us to make their own maps/mods/game modes.
phor11
Derigor
Posted 3:16 AM 28/3/08
@Annex1:
Getting screwed by your 360 shouldnt be anything new. I mean paying for p2p networking with advertisements should already make you feel that way.
Like 99% of FPS games, TF2 is infinitely better on the PC.
I love the fact that they are giving unlockable gear for the diff classes. Thats one of the things I like about BF2142 (and BF2). They better give the Pyro some hilarious burninating accessories.
Derigor
Annex1
Posted 10:12 PM 27/3/08
The important thing to remember here is that all of us who paid $60 for the Orange Box AND pay a monthly fee for Live, STILL don't get any new content. We keep getting screwed here.
Annex1
Nirual
Posted 7:17 PM 27/3/08
More toys for the medic, sweet. It's easily my favorite class. Oktoberfest!
Nirual
ErskinPig
Posted 6:22 PM 27/3/08
@Gwydeon: Check the following article out. These changes are just the beginning:
[www.computerandvideogames.com]
ErskinPig
Gwydeon
Posted 5:51 PM 27/3/08
What I don't get is why it still sounds like they are going to release only the medic's new toy, and not any of the others.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the new unlockable medi-gun , however it is implemented, will be great. We should also see an influx of medics something quite absent on some servers. This is however disappointing.
Gwydeon
Philondra
Posted 5:06 PM 27/3/08
In Japan, the PC version of TF2 is actually quite a blast to play. The barriers to playing Western PC games are high enough that only the "dedicated" get into it -- meaning that over half the people on any given server are people I have played with multiple times.
It takes the good parts of both public (get a game whenever) and private (the same people) servers. *thumbs up*
Anyway, REALLY looking forward to the new medic stuff (medic is my most played class)
Philondra
shadydentist
Posted 4:22 PM 27/3/08
A few points:
-A friend of mine had the 360 version of TF2, and it was sorta disappointing. But thats probably because...
-I've been playing the PC version since launch, and it was pretty fun at first. The visuals were great, being both aesthetically pleasing and also very easy to differentiate. What transformed this into a FANTASTIC experience was playing on a private server regularly. Good teamwork is a little hard to get sometimes on a pub, but when you've got an entire team of people communicating well, the game really shines.
shadydentist
vantesaur
Posted 3:57 PM 27/3/08
@Crazy_Buffet_Happens: You want grenades back for TF2? Most players regard the removal of grenades for every class being one of the best things in TF2. I never played any previous TF games, but I've played a lot of Battlefield and Call of Duty (originals of both series in particular) over the years and the lack of nade spam in TF2 was just a miracle for me.
@chup88: But while they have ubercrit the medic isn't healing them, and a unheadled heavy walking slowly is just asking to have half a dozen rockets slammed into his legs. But that also depends on whether a second medic can heal/uber a player that the first medic is uber-critting. If that is possible then it's time for everyone to run away.
vantesaur
Crazy_Buffet_Happens
Posted 3:22 PM 27/3/08
i was of the few who found my initial impression of tf2 unfavorable. i played q1tf and mega for 5 years and sweated tf2 (this version) for over 1 year then sank the cash for a new pc to play it. It grew very little on me and honestly i have more fun playing DoD:Source. maybe i can come back to it after i get quake wars out of my system and someone finally makes a dang "+gren1 +gren2" mod for the game.
Crazy_Buffet_Happens
TemplaerDude
Posted 3:18 PM 27/3/08
@SpartanQ77: Considering the fact that none of the games on the Orange Box are as you describe, the logical conclusion is that you've never played it.
TemplaerDude
whiptcracker
Posted 3:12 PM 27/3/08
@SpartanQ77: Woah, I may not have been a fan of the 360 version of TF2, but saying The Orange Box is crap...that borders on blasphemy.
@ErskinPig: I'm sure the PC version is probably a better experience.
whiptcracker
Shoot2thrill
Posted 2:37 PM 27/3/08
Having never played TFC I was totally shocked TEAM Fortress 2 required you to work as such. After a few Hrs of play though the game and humor shines out
(A great game doesnt need hrs to show its awesomeness? how bout all those looong role playing games?)
Shoot2thrill
ErskinPig
Posted 1:13 PM 27/3/08
I will say this: it's not a game to play when you're wound up & stressed, it'll just make you feel worse! :P When you're chilled out & don't have things worrying you though, it's awesome.
ErskinPig
Toprem
Posted 12:49 PM 27/3/08
@SpartanQ77: I think you just made it clear that you are in no position to ever critique video games for the rest of time.
Toprem
chup88
Posted 12:42 PM 27/3/08
yes because heavies need to crit more... its gonna suck so much when two pairs of crit heavies pop out and rape the whole team
chup88
ErskinPig
Posted 12:39 PM 27/3/08
@SpartanQ77: Nice fanboy rant. Good stuff.
ErskinPig
Toprem
Posted 12:37 PM 27/3/08
@Fyren: TF2 is the most fun Ive ever had in MP FPS. You really need to try out custom maps (lol @ console idiots), as there's now a shitream of them out.
Toprem
Zero_
Posted 12:32 PM 27/3/08
Yeah, the OverHealer Gun has been scrapped because they deemed it too redundant and has been replaced with the Crit Gun, which instead of invuls. gives the target a 100% crit strike for 10s. Neato.
Zero_
Toprem
Posted 12:21 PM 27/3/08
pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease someone tell me that they are eventually going to finish off all the classes in the Meet The XXXX line.
Toprem
TheEngineer: Rocking the Goggles
Posted 12:10 PM 27/3/08
@SpartanQ77:
Who exactly is insulting Halo and Brawl fanboys?
TheEngineer: Rocking the Goggles
SpartanQ77
Posted 11:59 AM 27/3/08
I played all orange box games on both PC and 360, and I am quite good at them, but to me, they are generic, sorta original, but boring, poor gameplay, and they just suck. Heh, and here they are insulting Halo fanboys and Brawl fanboys. Orange Box, IMO, is a piece of crap.
SpartanQ77
lasttimeyouaskedme
Posted 11:56 AM 27/3/08
@Fyren: I loved the graphics, the concept, the characters, the voicework...
but i absolutely hated the gameplay...
lasttimeyouaskedme
TheEngineer: Rocking the Goggles
Posted 11:29 AM 27/3/08
@ErskinPig:
360 isn't that bad. Occasionally, there will be truly epic lag, but actually to the point it's funny, and this doesn't happen that often. What does piss me off is that rockets and grenades lag when fired out of the guns a little too often. Overall, it's pretty good. Far from unplayable, and after playing Brawl online, it seems like the zenith of online gaming.
TheEngineer: Rocking the Goggles
TheEngineer: Rocking the Goggles
Posted 11:27 AM 27/3/08
Am I the only one who is hoping new weapons never come to the 360? I can't see this as a good thing. Achievement whores are already a problem. I get invites to games all the time only to find out it's just people going for achievements. This will only make the problem worse. In the best case scenario, it will seriously cut down on actual games being played for a few weeks as everyone works on getting the achievements. Worst case scenario, many new players will be put off to the game due to the work you have to put in for the new weapons, and old players (like me) will be pissed as hell that they have to waste their time before they can play competitively again.
Other than that, the new maps will be great. I hope they're free on the 360, but even if they aren't, I'd still pay.
TheEngineer: Rocking the Goggles
ErskinPig
Posted 11:19 AM 27/3/08
@whiptcracker: @Fyren:
//shrugs. Whatever. Oh, I've heard bad things about the Xbox version, lag etc. I play the PC version, so dunno if that makes a difference, but meh anyway.
@Hollowcow: I'm sure Valve would like to update you at the same time, but they'll be facing red tape BS from M$ & Sony who'll no doubt be dragging their heels about free DLC.
ErskinPig
splines
Posted 11:18 AM 27/3/08
Voting for Meet the Pyro after this one.
splines
Fyren
Posted 11:16 AM 27/3/08
@Hollowcow: Hence the reason I have yet to buy any valve games for my consoles.
There are some developers that should just stay PC exclusive and deliver AAA PC games. Valve is really one of the few measly PC developers that is sitting high and pushing units; too many good names are dying off.
Fyren
Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.
Posted 11:15 AM 27/3/08
About time we get to Meet another class, it's been a long time coming.
Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.
DrFresh
Posted 11:13 AM 27/3/08
What is the point of posting that something didn't meet your expectations when apparently your expectations were ridiculous?
'I was hoping to have a religious experience of epic magnitude and came away totally underwhelmed.'
Really? Who cares.
DrFresh
Hollowcow
Posted 11:04 AM 27/3/08
Why no love for the console players?? We are officially abandoned.
Hollowcow
Ghede
Posted 10:53 AM 27/3/08
Valve Time:
Tomorrow: Next week.
Next Week: Next month.
Next Month: This quarter.
This Quarter: This year.
Mid-April: September.
Ghede
bighit006
Posted 10:48 AM 27/3/08
im pretty sure the overhealer has been scraped, and instead their palying with idea of a gun that instead of giving you ubercharg, gives you 100% critical hits for 10 seconds.
either way i hope they hurry up.
bighit006
Polywhirl
Posted 10:43 AM 27/3/08
Sweet. A Scout video. I play a scout, so hopefully the humor will resonate more.
Polywhirl
whiptcracker
Posted 10:41 AM 27/3/08
@ErskinPig:
Er, a well hyped game needs over 4-5 hours of gameplay before it begins to be good? Hell Portal lasts half that time and is a fantastic experience throughout.
If a game takes a long time before 'hidden depths' are revealed, then it's not as great of a game as it could be.
I played TF2 on the Xbox and thought the 360 interface was clunky compared to similar online games, too many people didn't know how to play like a team on the console version, and it was hard to find a game. It was fun, but nothing that blew my socks off and I went back to playing different online games.
I don't have enough freetime to spend 20 hours on a game before it starts rocking.
whiptcracker
inn1t
Posted 10:39 AM 27/3/08
Does anyone know when Badlands and whatnot will be coming to the 360 and PS3? It's becoming a bit lame playing the same maps over and over religiously. Thanks!
inn1t
AfroMan070
Posted 10:39 AM 27/3/08
at first i didnt like team fortress 2, but i kept playing it, and now i love it. to whoever said it takes more than just a couple of hours to really grasp the depth, you're right.
great game.
AfroMan070
hrunting
Posted 10:38 AM 27/3/08
@sasquatchua: Surely, you jest. The TF2 players have an insatiable appetite...
As for me, adding "Meet the Scout" into the release would certainly make me more inclined to forgive them for taking so long.
hrunting
Ghede
Posted 10:34 AM 27/3/08
@whitey9: Argh, beat me to it. Rasslefraggle.
Ghede
Ghede
Posted 10:32 AM 27/3/08
I've heard the Overhealer build has been scrapped.
[forums.steampowered.com]
Not sure how accurate it is.
Ghede
StormTec
Posted 10:31 AM 27/3/08
@Fyren:
You know, I actually had the opposite experience. I was never a fan of TFC and aside from praising the art style of TF2, I wasn't really that interested in it. In the end though, I found that the game was actually a lot better than I gave it credit for. I thought gameplay and classes (eventually) were quite well balanced and the stripping down of the original TFC's gameplay mechanics to the bare essentials worked out quite well. And for an online FPS, it definitely exudes character, though perhaps not in as obvious a way as you seemed to be expecting?
A lot of reviews do make it a point to talk about the style and the game's own sense of humour. Which I can understand as it is one of the defining features of TF2. Though I've found that sometimes they end up talking that particular point up a little too much. And that could lead to what's probably a kind of over-hyping of that particular feature.
StormTec
Fyren
Posted 10:28 AM 27/3/08
@ErskinPig: You must have missed the part, "I just bought OB over steam two days ago".
So my opinion is based on hype/expectations when the game was announced + Reviews I've read since the release.
IGN's review made it out to be the second coming, which coincided with my expectation.
I also said, although disappointing and underwhelming; I load up the frequently for a quick round or two during lunch and in between nightly routines ^^.
Fyren
evolution0
Posted 10:26 AM 27/3/08
Fyren, agreed. I was definately underwhelmed. I couldn't help but think "this is what the hype is all about...?". Still, good news for TF2 fans.
evolution0
ErskinPig
Posted 10:24 AM 27/3/08
@Fyren: Hmm, well you probably had unreasonable expectations then. But really, 4-5 hours of play is as good as zero hours to be honest. You need to play it for a lot longer for all the hidden depth and character to emerge. As for it being like TF, well that's hardly surprising, lol. I don't know what this Wolf thing you're refering to is, but meh.
As someone whose played countless hours on the game, I can tell you with confidence that it is a great game. ;)
@whitey9: Oh yeah. Well they're definitely implementing new guns in one form or another.
ErskinPig
whitey9
Posted 10:18 AM 27/3/08
Yeah.. either scrapped or put off or drastically changed:
[www.bit-tech.net]
whitey9
whitey9
Posted 10:16 AM 27/3/08
I thought the overhealing gun was scrapped?
whitey9
Fyren
Posted 10:15 AM 27/3/08
@ErskinPig: uh...ok?
I didn't make a notion that it was bad, just that it was underwhelming and disappointing.
I had this grand scale of laughing cartoons in the most perfect POV gameplay and the reviews and post mortem articles showed confirmed my fantanasy.
I load it up and like I've said before, TF+Wolf=TF2. Well this game is more like Wolf and if the new "payload" plays like it sounds; more cement to Wolf's "Goldrush".
Its decent enough to load up frequently, it just fell of my expectations on every level.
Fyren
ErskinPig
Posted 10:07 AM 27/3/08
@Fyren: It's a great game, you need to play it before passing judgement ;)
ErskinPig
ErskinPig
Posted 10:06 AM 27/3/08
I've known this was coming, but good to hear. Just off for a game of this right now!
ErskinPig
Fyren
Posted 10:04 AM 27/3/08
I just rebuilt my rig and bought OB through steam two nights ago ( I didn't want to experience Orange Box on the 360 with all the lag and whatnot).
TF2 was definitely one of the most underwhelming game I have every played. With all the comics and the rad reviews, I thought it would be just bombardment of the senses, yet it was very disappointing. It mashed up TF and Wolf.
Then again, I've played only 4 maps and a total of 4-5 hours or so. Guess the new map is right on time.
Fyren
sasquatchua
Posted 10:03 AM 27/3/08
The TF2 crowd seems to be pretty well taken care of... but how about some DLC for Portal?
sasquatchua
VPS
Posted 10:00 AM 27/3/08
[storm.elxx.net]
VPS
magic1234
Posted 10:44 AM 27/3/08
does anyone miss the eight shot grenade launcher. i constantly run out of amo mid fight.
magic1234
inanimaterod
Posted 10:34 AM 27/3/08
Damn, I thought it was supposed to be "Meet the Pyro" next. Don't care for the Scout.
inanimaterod
r3n
Posted 12:11 PM 27/3/08
I, myself, love the orange box. Great value for money and I find the games to be great fun. I play TF2 very regulary and just passed the 100 hour mark with it. Still loving every minute of it.
Portal, simply amazing, looking forward to the second.
Ep2, had a lot of nice gameplay and progressed the story well I felt.
Can't wait for this update though! Some new achievements to burn through and some weapons to unlock! :D Plus a new map and Meet the Scout... Going to be a great update imo. :D
r3n