analysis – Page 7 – The Daily SPUF

Randomness in Video Games

October 5, 2015 Gyoku 4 Comments 100% Orange Juice, analysis, random, random crits

One of the most controversial topics in Team Fortress 2 is that of its random elements, particularly of random critical hits, though random spread was another area of contention for quite some time. Why do so many Team Fortress players think that randomness is an unacceptable part of the game? It may help to look at other games to gain some perspective. In Magic: the Gathering cards like Mana Clash are reviled for introducing random coin flip elements into the game. More infamously, the Star Wars: TCG by Wizards (not to be confused with the Star Wars: CCG by Decipher)… [Continue Reading]

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Mixed up Valve Timelines and You

September 29, 2015 Medic 0 Comments analysis, fun, history, idea, lore, opinion, story, suggestion

Valve are known for their strange, confusing story telling, with mixed up, confusing timelines. The question that has bothered many is whether our favourite first person shooter series is connected to the other popular first person shooter, the fps storytelling cliff hanger, the puzzle game and the zombie survival game. Are Valve’s games all connected to one another? Sadly, right off the bat, the world of Team Fortress is not connected. The catch up comic starts in the 1800s, predating really any other game. Unless Dota 2 is set in the past, but the variety of magics and technologies, plus… [Continue Reading]

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2fort could be saved, yet somehow we still haven’t managed it

September 21, 2015 Medic 0 Comments 2fort, analysis, balance, criticism, map, maps, spam, suggestion

Note: I wrote this on my mobile. You should be impressed. Do you know how many variations of 2fort there are? Tons of them. Far more than any other official map. You don’t see them on the TF2 map workshop because Valve nor us want them there, the workshop is for brand new stuff, not fixes and modifications. Valve will do their modifications in their own time, and you can always sell map stamps with new maps – community fixes are harder to make money from. But you visit tf2maps.net or gamebanana, the 2fort variations will flood you. 2fort night,… [Continue Reading]

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Rocket Jump Waltzing Away – TF2’s Soundtrack

September 19, 2015 Medic 2 Comments analysis, criticism, music, opinion, suggestion, thought

I love the soundtrack of Team Fortress 2. Absolutely adore it. My favourite tracks are by far Rocket Jump Waltz (which has been my alarm tone on my phone for about 2 years now) and It Hates Me So Much, from Expiration Date… I was about to say the recent 15 minute video, then I remembered just how long ago that update was. Wow. Music is a big part of every video game and if it wasn’t for the loud, extravagant orchestra-like soundtrack, TF2’s promotional content wouldn’t have nearly as much Ooomph. Every time you open up the game, there’s… [Continue Reading]

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Giving the Third Degree the Third Degree

September 14, 2015 aabicus 0 Comments analysis, balance, medieval, melee, MvM, pyro, weapon

Move over ladies and gunboats, it’s the only straight upgrade in Team Fortress 2! Man, considering it’s the one unlock in the entire game with absolutely no reason not to equip it you would bet it must be the high-rolling undisputed king of its weapon class, right? Right? No. Turns out the Third Degree sucks. Its only upside is pointless on a class that spews penetrating particles that engulf every enemy in melee range. You wanna kill somebody that has a Medic? Airblast them apart and go to town on the poor German sod. Pulling out your melee is only setting yourself up for… [Continue Reading]

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Spies – Out of Place?

September 13, 2015 Medic 0 Comments analysis, balance, criticism, spy

Spy has always been a tricky class to balance. He’s designed to be a pick-class, someone who takes out key targets – generally a Medic or Sniper – so the rest of his team can gain the upper hand. But unlike our other pick-classes, Scout and Sniper, Spy really struggles to do his job effectively. Really, when you think about it, Spy is incredibly out of place in the world of TF2. While Sniper sits on some ledge a mile away making his amazing picks (often baiting his team to distract the enemy so he can get those tasty tasty… [Continue Reading]

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TF2’s Unlock System is Truly Unique

September 5, 2015July 27, 2017 aabicus 0 Comments analysis, balance, comparison, unlock, weapon

Can we take a moment just to explore how revolutionary TF2’s unlock design is? Think back to the days before the Gold Rush Update. TF2 was a complex and nuanced game, with 9 classes and 25 weapons, and then Valve announces that there will be unlockable weapons added, starting with the Medic class. What would you predict these weapons will be like? Taking the standard dev theme for designing alternate weapons for a slot, probably something like this: I’m running through a list in my head of shooters with swappable inventory unlocks, and I’m seeing a very tedious trend where the closest thing to… [Continue Reading]

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PASS Time – Pass, or Worth The Time?

August 24, 2015 Caldoran 2 Comments analysis, beta, game mode, new, pass time, strategy, Ultiduo

I almost heard the collective groans and sighs from TF2 fans all over the world when the update notes dropped. Another Beta gamemode?! Not even a single map has been completed since the Beta started, yet Valve has apparently been busy at work creating yet another thing to be “tested”. What are they thinking? Well, simmer down there. Valve works in mysterious ways – At this point, are you still surprised at Valve making yet another mind-boggling, logic-defying decision? But let’s move on to the topic at hand. What is PASS Time? Think American football – with guns. There is a single ball… [Continue Reading]

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A Comprehensive 100 Tour Review of Mann vs Machine

August 20, 2015 Dan 0 Comments advice, analysis, criticism, game mode, MvM, strategy

$429.84 Over the past 3 months, I’ve spent over $400 on Team Fortress 2: Mann vs. Machine. I want to provide an honest and accurate reflection of Mann vs. Machine, in addition to clearing up some of the misconceptions about the game mode that many of the newer players have. For those of you that are looking to continue or start playing MvM, this guide will lay out the basic details that you’ll need to determine whether or not MvM is right for you. You will not profit A lot of players start playing MvM in hopes of turning a… [Continue Reading]

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Sharks and Minnows (aka You)

August 18, 2015 aabicus 0 Comments analysis, Depth, Not TF2, shark!

Unless you play on tc_meridian, TF2 has a depressing absence of sharks. This holds true for the rest of my Steam library as well. Luckily, Depth recently had a free weekend, and I got to fill this void, just like the sharks in that game got to fill themselves up with me. I’ve always had an intense fascination with underwater combat in video games, partly because I’m mildly terrified of water in real life. I dedicated a whole article to what little of it exists in TF2, I can’t resist leaping into bodies of water whenever my gameplay crosses them, and… [Continue Reading]