Hold on to your hats!

Not long ago ShackNews had an interview with Robin Walker about the new head-slot which was added during an update in anticipation for future items. The crux of the conversion was that valve have been receiving alot of negative feedback in relation to unlockables tied to achievements and are trialing a method of countering that.

It seems that a solution has been found.. Random item drops!

That was the best solution!! Randomly you just get given stuff?

I feel I have a better idea: Kill-points buying weapons/items at a shop.. which would not only mean that people would earn their items but it would also tie into the mercenary theme of the game a bit better. Big unlocks like the current achievement items could be more expensive then ordinary items but still be unlocked by achievements.

A similar game mechanic has been in Counter-Stike since forever and seems to work fine for them, except with the advent of steam and steam-cloud it means people could save up their points and keep their items!

In all honesty I haven't tried it yet (Team Fortress 2: Updating 44%) and valve are apparently going to let us know how it all works on their blog tomorrow.. Stay tuned.

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News straight from the shack!

Despite the fact that I don't condone people jumping on leaked content - 'bloody wankers' (I'm practising for the sniper update) and spoiling a lot of hard work that the dev's, creative's, and marketing teams work so hard to orchestrate..

I can't however hold back with this one.. The entire team in the office had to find tissues to hold back the lunch-time nose-bleed I suffered after watching Meet the Spy



Once again.. Bravo.. More and more are valve not only proving they can roll with the best in the gaming industry but that they can size up to the big boys of the 'animation' industry

'Meet the Spy' could easily be up for numerous marketing, short film, and animation awards. Superbly crafted and directed and easily comparable to Pixer on a level of story telling and entertainment... However, I think the boys at Valve need to stress-test their models a bit more if they are expecting performances like this from them, the occasional stretch and fold mid shot is hard to ignore.

[Dear Valve: I've said it once, i'll say it again.. Valve.. Please.. Please, sell me a feature length 'Meet the team' DVD. Please?]

Surprise!

If you've ever been even semi-excited about a team fortress update, then I now is the time to be ecstatic!!
If it wasn't enough to be told that the Sniper update is coming out..

• Day 1 we find out that the sniper might be leaving his battlements to 'giv em a blood drubbing'
  


• Day 2 the level which looks to have made an early appearance in the Scout Update is revealed. On top of that; 'Is that a nighttime map?. . . Is that rain?'


• Day 3 the sniper seems to have fashioned himself a shield in order to get the jump on backstabbing spys.


• Day 4.. Surprise!

I think I wet myself..