games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


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?


Continue: More Updates stories





prev next

21 comments | showing # 1 to 21

Naktu's Avatar
Naktu at 05/30/2009 23:06
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
peachboy at 05/30/2009 23:08
"unloocking" typo

oh valve, can they do no wrong?
Dan CiTi's Avatar
Dan CiTi at 05/30/2009 23:22
Thank god.
ThunderHeartXI's Avatar
ThunderHeartXI at 05/30/2009 23:35
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
Dan CiTi at 05/30/2009 23:38
Oh wait so I can still get 20 Sandmans and Dead Ringers in my inventory? Cool.
bluemeep's Avatar
bluemeep at 05/30/2009 23:49
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
Phoenix Gamma at 05/31/2009 00:20
Just let me use the points I earn in game to buy them. That's such a simpler solution.
IzekialRage's Avatar
IzekialRage at 05/31/2009 00:24
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
Ali D at 05/31/2009 00:24
@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
CapnCrunk at 05/31/2009 01:39
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
Havoc Fang at 05/31/2009 01:52
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
Vedicardi2 at 05/31/2009 04:20
Yay, now I can cheat to get them again!
Soulwax's Avatar
Soulwax at 05/31/2009 05:38
I just want the hats godammit :(
Dr Terror's Avatar
Dr Terror at 05/31/2009 07:06
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
Lev Arris at 05/31/2009 07:25
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
eskimo bob at 05/31/2009 08:19
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
Jon B at 05/31/2009 10:32
@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
Korolev at 05/31/2009 10:38
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
Zanduar at 05/31/2009 11:32
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
dprime at 05/31/2009 15:01
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
Chronic Logic at 05/31/2009 19:54
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.
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos



    Win this!
    Reminder: We're giving away six copies of Magnacarta 2!



    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Mahjongg Artifacts 2 review
    Dragon Age: Origins review
    Lost Winds: The Winter of the Melodias review
    Osmos review
    Space Invaders Extreme 2 review
    Half-Minute Hero review
    JU-ON: The Grudge review
    Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble review
    Thexder Neo review
    Domino Rally review
    more reviews
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    Skate 3
    Hudson's bringing back the Bonk
    James Cameron's Avatar
    Bomberman Battlefest
    Calling
    Bad Company 2's multiplayer
    Partying like it's 1959 in BioShock 2's multiplayer
    BioShock 2 through the eyes of Big Daddy
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 49541 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing
    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: Ten 'classic' games that did not age well





















    More Destructoid Originals



     Popular now more
























    Destructoid's editorial lovefest is:
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief    		 Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Dale North
    News Editor    		 Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor    		 Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Letters to the editors
    tips@destructoid.com
    Associate Editors
    Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
    Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
    Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
    Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
    Dyson Samit Sarkar
    Contributors
    Adam Dork
    Ben Perlee
    Daniel Lingen
    Joseph Leray    		 Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Will Maddock
    Stella Wong





     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    		 support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    		 keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online     		seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap     		our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?



    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006