Hello all, I'm Jesus. I've taken up the task of becoming a Community Fortress writer, just some quick info on myself here then before I get to the topic at hand. I'm on a low/mid team called The Magic, we're currently not playing any leagues (as no leagues have actually started yet.) But we will be playing in TWL and CEVO (seasons 6 and 5 respectfully.) Next, I've been playing TF2 since the first minutes of the beta's release and have seen it grow as a game and become the best multiplayer experience out there (notice how I left out competitive, while it may be the best for competitive it's also the best for casual players too.) I'm a scout player so my main point of view is going to be that of a scout or utility player. Now that I've given a small intro of myself I'll get to the topic at hand.

The Alienware Arena Killer Edge Tournament comes to an end today. The finals will be starting at 4:00PM EST with coverage on Pwnage.tv and Alienware's site itself. Right now, only one team's presence in the finals is set in stone: Complexity.

The other spot in the finals is still resting on two matches, when they'll be played we don't know. But it better be soon! First off, Farmers Market is taking on Blight with the winner of that taking on EG. The team emerging from that battle will then be facing off against Pandemic for the final spot in the finals. The map for the final showdown will be cp_badlands, and no matter who shows up to face Complexity, it's guaranteed to be a vicious fight for the prize money.

The goal of this blog post is to provide Valve Software with a clear outline of changes we as a community would like to see implemented in regards to demo playback, filmmaking, and SourceTV capabilities for spectators and shoutcasters. I will be starting with the requests that should be easier to implement, before looking at more long term issues. Some of these requests are copied from my previous article published Late October 09. These are stated again here simply for the sake of completeness even though some of these requests have been acknowledged by Valve and are scheduled to be implemented. Please tack on your thoughts on needed changes in the comment section. (i r newb. Edits made to reflect realit. Also, shoutout to Decap, I added a note in the article from him)

Our competitive-oriented public server is now online courtesy of Apoplexy Industries. Hawkeye has customized the server so that it adjusts the map according to how many people are playing (he has also added a number of other changes that you can read about on the forums). Without further ado...the IP:

66.207.169.183:27015

If anyone is reading this from the UK, we have a server set up in London with the same exact settings (except 24 max players instead of 16) at the following IP:

85.234.148.3:29015

TGBF's re-emergence on the TF2 shoutcasting scene continues at 10PM EST tonight! eXtine and Wanderrful are alongside Schetter for tonights cast. Both teams are 7-2, with Rusty Buttholes losing earlier in the week to Detox while Vicious gaming only has a loss to Apocalypse Gaming and a FFL. With the season starting to wind down and only 5 matches left, this should be a very exciting game on cp_GravelPit tonight! Keep your fingers crossed, and maybe Schetter will have enough time to install his new HD Capture Card for this stream! See you then!

Check it out:

General

• Added 3 new hats that can be worn by any class
  
  • Towering Pillar of Hats"
  • Noble Amassment of Hats"
  • Modest Pile of Hat"
• Added Propaganda contest winners' hats for First Place, First Runner-up, and Second Runner-up
• Added "Edit Loadout" button to the class menu
• Changed the main menu background to randomly use the Red, Blue, and Soldier/Demo background images
• Fixed Snipers being able to shoot enemies through gates
• Fixed Linux servers not properly reconnecting to Steam when they lose their connection
• Fixed stickies being destructible before they're stuck to something
• Fixed the return progress bar above a dropped flag not animating if the return time on the flag is less than 30 seconds
• Fixed the CTF HUD not properly handling flags being disabled/enabled during the round
• Fixed player health panels sometimes using the wrong animations for buffed or low health values
• Updated the net_showevents convar to be marked as a cheat
• Updated the main menu news buttons to direct players to the most recent TF2 update and the TF2 blog
• Updated Italian localization strings
• Updated the custom TF2 fonts with Polish characters
• Updated CP_Gorge
  
  • Added more cover outside of the initial BLU spawn area
  • Added a forward spawn for the BLU team after Cap1 is captured
  • Added another access point to the upper level from the front of the RED base
  • Added more cover in the room just before Cap2
  • Decreased RED team's respawn time while they own Cap1
  • Fixed a few areas where players would sometimes become stuck

Community requests

• Added new options for the Invade CTF game mode flag. Default is 1
  
  • 0 : No neutral time
  • 1 : Flag goes neutral in 30 seconds (current behavior)
  • 2 : Flag goes neutral in 1/2 the return time
  Added scoring choice for the Invade CTF game mode. Default is 0
  
  • 0 : Increment score (current behavior)
  • 1 : Increment capture count
  Added new inputs to item_teamflag
  
  • ForceDrop : Force the flag to be dropped if it's being carried by a player
  • ForceReset : Force the flag to be dropped if it's being carried by a player, then reset the flag to its original location
  • SetReturnTime : Set the length of time (in seconds) before a dropped flag returns to base
• Added new output to item_teamflag
  
  • OnTouchSameTeam : Sent when the flag is touched by a player on the same team

The latest CommFT poll has given me an idea of what folks want out of the site this spring:

We will have the competitive pub up very soon with a ton of cool ideas being implemented by Hawkeye (read the discussion about it on the forums). Aside from that, the second and third most picked options involve writers. We have a good amount of writers but I would like to have at least 5 more active as we go into a busy spring season (I totally agree with the poll).

It seems that people want to read more critical pieces so if you have any interest in writing about competitive TF2, whether it's narrowly focused predictions or broad-view criticism, PM me on the forums. I wouldn't go as far to say that playing competitive TF2 is a requirement...but I would say that you need to know your stuff before you are granted credibility as a writer.

Stay tuned for information on the pub server!

In an effort to compete with the almighty Community Fortress's Top 10 Plays of the Month, Alienware has posted a news release saying they need submissions for their own highlight reel. Although Alienware / Dell is a powerful company, they are no match for us in the ungoverned realm of competitive TF2. They cannot take that which is ours. This is war...even big bad Rousseau agrees:

“It is conflicts over things, not quarrels between men which constitute war, and the state of war cannot arise from mere personal relations, but only from property relations. Private wars between one man and another can exist neither in a state of nature, where there is no fixed property, nor in society, where everything is under the authority of law.”

Just kidding. Check out their news release:

We’re excited to announce that a highlight video, featuring top plays from throughout the Bigfoot Killer Edge Challenge, is now under production by expert TF2 videographer Decap. We can’t make it without your help though! Please send us any and all replays you have from the tournament. Any method works – FTP, e-mail, file sharing, yousendit, etc.

FTP Address – ftp://alienwarearena.com
username: arena_demos
password: arena

E-mail: contact[at]alienwarearena.com

Remember that they are only accepting Bigfoot demos (duh!) so don't give them something from ESEA or TWL.