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Team Fortress 2 achievements based unlocks are back photo

Last weekend we filled you in on a bit of a change to the Team Fortress 2 unlock system. In the recent Spy/Sniper update it had changed to a more random drop system as opposed to the achievement based unlock system that was in place before hand. It sparked a little debate as to which was better, and the merits of both systems. Can't really say who won the argument, and Valve seems to agree so they've come out with an update that offers the best of both worlds.

The new system has achievement milestones for unlocking new items and weapons, but the random drop will still be in the game too. So the achievement unlocks are really just an extra way to get those lovely items you so covet. Valve also issued an update for the way items randomly dropped earlier in the week. So does the middle of the road settle everyone's quams?


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21 comments | showing # 1 to 21

Naktu's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/30/2009 23:06
Naktu
It's the internet.

There have always been complaints.

There will always be complaints.

Any change is the end of the world.

A lack of change is proof those in charge suck.

I quit this game, I hope you guys learned your lesson!
peachboy's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/30/2009 23:08
peachboy
"unloocking" typo

oh valve, can they do no wrong?
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/30/2009 23:22
Dan CiTi
Thank god.
ThunderHeartXI's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/30/2009 23:35
ThunderHeartXI
I think it's fair, in a sense. If someone unlocks the items fairly (i.e. not using achievement boxes) then good for them. But all I can see now are a bunch of achievement box whores unlocking weapons day one and getting the items they don't care for or getting doubles of the items they already have randomly. I think I'll stick with getting the items randomly, people who use achievement boxes are an absolute head ache to work with. That said, if there was an item I really, really wanted (can you unlock hats? If so, I will whore myself out to get them) I would probably dip into the achievement box pool and sully myself.
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/30/2009 23:38
Dan CiTi
Oh wait so I can still get 20 Sandmans and Dead Ringers in my inventory? Cool.
bluemeep's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/30/2009 23:49
bluemeep
I've only been playing for a week, but this sounds like good news to me. I need the Backburner to live. TO LIVE.
Phoenix Gamma's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 00:20
Phoenix Gamma
Just let me use the points I earn in game to buy them. That's such a simpler solution.
IzekialRage's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 00:24
IzekialRage
I just got done playing and i got the entire sniper unlocks withing 2 hours of regular play. The bow is so awesome.
Ali D's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 00:24
Ali D
@thunderheartXI: I think they're just another random drop, there's no way to unlock hats specifically.

I'm hoping that TF2 doesn't end up with a much too heavy inventory management bent.

@Phoenix Gamma: that's actually a really good idea. Reward players for getting high scores and dominations.
CapnCrunk's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 01:39
CapnCrunk
I'm also in favor of the XP style of unlocking stuff. Just take the achievements, and assign large amounts of XP to them. You'd earn those big batches of XP alongside the XP you get like in any other FPS with unlocks. Every level you earn, you pick a class you'd like an upgrade from.

No, that still wouldn't stop people from using achievement servers. But I still don't like this random drop thing, I could play Diablo or something for that.
Havoc Fang's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 01:52
Havoc Fang
I went on to a server, having already got a ton of achievements pre-milestone, I expected they would all burst out at me. They didn't, so I rushed into the battle anyway. The SECOND I got killed by a Scout, It exploded, resulting in a ton of 'lulwuts' from other people and a very confused looking Scout.
Vedicardi2's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 04:20
Vedicardi2
Yay, now I can cheat to get them again!
Soulwax's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 05:38
Soulwax
I just want the hats godammit :(
Dr Terror's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 07:06
Dr Terror
I dont like it because I think my game ideas are better than valve's, even though Im just a snot nosed gamer & its their job.
Lev Arris's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 07:25
Lev Arris
We i'm happyish. Only because i'd been playing for almost 10 hours, and found no drops whatsoever. Which was pissing me off.
eskimo bob's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 08:19
eskimo bob
what the hell? weren't both in there from the start? I remember the day after they'd released the update I got Pyro Milestone 1 and the Flare Gun at the exact same time, most likely from the achievement.

a confused is I.
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 10:32
Jon B
@Phoenix Gamma
I would announce that you win the internet for that comment, as it is a brilliant idea, but unfortunately wouldn't work since achievement servers can have bots on them.
Korolev's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 10:38
Korolev
Good - this will clear up a lot of angst. Now they just have to stop allowing people to "find" weapons and items they already have, and everything's good. I know valve put it in because they wanted to implement a "trade" system - but honestly, what would the point of this system be? "Here, have a flare gun" for what reason? It's now so easy to get the unlocks, and most of the people who are playing it would have already gotten some of the items, so trading would be useless.
Zanduar's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 11:32
Zanduar
Blah. Achievement unlocks are broken gameplay. It rewards grinding and promotes players soloing in a game based on teamwork. Achievement servers get made just to get some of the ridiculous achievements. Support classes get left in the dirt since most of the achievements are based on getting kills.

The random unlocks didn't work because Valve didn't put in trading. Well that and there shouldn't be unlocks. All items should be available to all players from the beginning.
dprime's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 15:01
dprime
It's real easy to say "all items should be available from the start" but the fact is delayed gratification can make repetitive came scenarios a lot more fun and replayable. And when you want people to keep playing, to keep the game fresh, that's a great strategy.

Do you think in a simple action game I'd have gone through Naxxramas 15 times and had fun? No, but Wall of Terror had to drop off of KT EVENTUALLY, and then it did, and it was worth it.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/31/2009 19:54
Chronic Logic
A compromise sounds good. But I really don't understand why you have to unlock the weapons in the first place. Grinding for your unlocks to stretch out replayability is not a good reason.
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