TF2 for Mac

[Soviet Heavy]

I am not writing this to complain about Mac users, but rather, that I feel the Mac Update is insulting to Mac players.

The first problem is the headphones. I don't think Valve thought this one through. The rivalry between PC and Mac fanboys is very volatile, and giving Mac users an item to identify with has simply turned into a big target for PCs to aim at.

The next thing is the training mode. In a game that is solely dedicated to online play, why bother putting this in? I'm pretty sure most Mac gamers know what they are getting into with this game. The training just seems like it is patronizing them a little too much.

The third is connected to the second. Offline bot matches. This is a problem for both Mac and PC users. Again, TF2 is a multiplayer game. You are not going to get better against humans if all you do is practice against bots. A program is only as smart as the person who makes it. In an online game, you fight your way through the ranks to earn your place. This is by fighting people, not bots.

And finally, the new menu layout is really ugly. It is all over the place, the colours don't mix well with the background, and the layout covers up a lot more of the team dioramas in the background. I want the side list again, it was much simpler.

I just feel that in Valve's attempt to integrate Macs with PC gamers, they have inadvertently caused more hate between the two groups.

Thoughts?

 

[delet]

I haven't played TF2 since the updates, but I'll give you my opinion.

There's a training mode? Cool. There's still plenty of newbies to the world of TF2 that could use the help in learning exactly how to play without a possibly volatile community. Fighting against bots in a training mode could help prepare newbs to the general gameplay of TF2 or give someone a little fun when they gotta play offline (And help people have a false sense of being the best player ever, because bots tend to suck...)

As for the earphones: Boo hoo, get over it. It's all good fun and if anyone really cares that much, then mute them.

Also, I'm fairly certain you can make your own personalized background, so that's not an issue either.

 

[Irridium]

Well just coming from this new update with my brand new ear phones I got by stealing borrowing a friends macbook, allow me to weigh in my two cents.

1: Yes, there was a shitstorm. But after playing on quite a few public servers, I only encountered one that specifically targeted Mac players. It seems its the same thing as the Halo. People will ***** and moan about it at first, then two days later forget all about it and move on.

2: Training mode is good. It helps get new players acclimated into the game. I played it, and while I crushed it under my skills, it is a very good tool for new players. Plus, most gamers have PC's, so its logical to assume most Mac users aren't gamers (or at least they don't play games on PC's). This is an easy way of getting them into the game without them having to learn the hard way. The hard way being bitched out on public servers for being new.

3: Also related to point 2. It gives new players an idea on how the game plays, and the layout of a couple maps. Plus, the bots are actually very decent. Hell on the hardest setting they're better than some players. Point is, it helps new players try out each class in a "at their own pace" kind of way. Where if they tried it on a public server with players, they would bet bitched at for sucking.

And those are my thoughts.

 

[Snarky Username]

Personally, I rather like the new layout. Also, the training is to let people actually know what they're doing. I would have loved that training to get my bearings before just getting thrown into a game with no idea how to play the game. It's a nice touch. Also, you don't have to use the tutorial if you don't want to, it's just there in case you want a little info on how to play.

As for offline bot matches, again, they're just there for new players who want to get a little into before playing. It's hard getting started in a game that's been around for a few years because every other player is usually an expert at the game by now. They're not meant to improve your skills, they're there so you can get the hand of the basics before starting online play.

And for the earbuds, I agree that it really has no point, but I think you may be exaggerating the "PC vs Mac" thing slightly. I really doubt that more than a couple extreme PC fanboys will actively target Mac users and pretty soon, people will just stop caring.

 

[Waaghpowa]

As useful as the training would be to new players on mac, I don't think they're using it. Had some pretty terrible games last night and the worst players were wearing earbuds >.>

 

[guardian001]

The first problem is the headphones. I don't think Valve thought this one through.

)I think they thought this through far better than you think. This is what Valve does for fun. They troll us. The whole point of the headphones is to incite controversy. It's fun for them. Who knows, they might even be tracking the stats of headphones vs non-headphones, just for the lulz.

 

[Nalgas D. Lemur]

I wouldn't have minded training or bots when I started playing, because while it was a while ago, it wasn't right when the game came out, and I almost didn't bother playing because I would've been so awful compared to everyone who'd already had months to learn it. Luckily I found a good server with friendly people to help me learn and it all worked out.

The new menu really is pretty ugly, though. I get what they're trying to do with it, but I don't like the layout much.

I like wearing the earbuds just to piss people off, even if I'm playing on my PC, especially combined with the stupid halo, for double extra bonus obnoxious points.

My biggest issue with the Mac version has nothing to do with any of those things: it's that it's completely unplayable. It actually runs surprisingly well on my poor MacBook's 9400M, which I did not expect. Unfortunately it's still completely impossible to aim because of the mouse acceleration. I haven't tried yet, but hopefully something like USB Overdrive can fix that. If it can't, then I don't know if I'll even bother using the Mac version when I'm away from home and my Windows desktop. It's not so bad in Portal, because there are no other players and it's just a puzzle game, but it's hard to not get constantly owned when you can't even aim well enough to consistently hit people with the splash damage from rockets. Heh.

 

[vallorn]

training? this i have to see. (and may use to)

earbuds? look at the Halo, noone cares about it now so in a couple of weeks the Mac players will have gotten better and the PC gamers probably wont care anymore.

 

[Harlemura]

I just kind of ignored the training, jumped into a server and continued as per usual.
Only difference being some people had extra white on them and weren't as good as some who didn't.

I think I was too busy wondering WHAT THE HECK the Engineer's holding at the end of the trailer thingy.

Spoiler: Said trailer thingy

 

[DeadlyYellow]

You complain about a non consequential object they give away in support of their new market. Then complain about offering basic tools for new players, as well as adding the same features present in every other tournament shooter.

Perhaps the real problem here is people looking for insubstantial things to complain about. But that's pretty on-par with the general gaming community.

 

[vallorn]

I just kind of ignored the training, jumped into a server and continued as per usual.
Only difference being some people had extra white on them and weren't as good as some who didn't.

I think I was too busy wondering WHAT THE HECK the Engineer's holding at the end of the trailer thingy.

Spoiler: Said trailer thingy

looks like a new shotgun, (WITH A SCOPE!?!)

 

[masher]

They did boast on how their TF2 bots are so much better then their past bots

 

[Sir Kemper]

Actually, the only people i've seen wearing the earbuds are PC's user's...

Go figure.

 

[vallorn]

one thing i dint like in the trailer was how the Macs all looked... smug. it was kind of annoying.

 

[vallorn]

Actually, the only people i've seen wearing the earbuds are PC's user's...

Go figure.

to this i say LOLWUT!?! or maybe SENSE MAKE NONE!

or if you speak English, then i mean that its confusing.

 

[Commissar Sae]

Actually, the only people i've seen wearing the earbuds are PC's user's...

Go figure.

to this i say LOLWUT!?! or maybe SENSE MAKE NONE!

or if you speak English, then i mean that its confusing.

Quite, since pc users can't actually unlock them unless they also installed the game on a mac via their steam portal. Which sounds like a huge pain in the ass just to look like a tool.

OT: I don't really mind the update that much. I don't use the training grounds or really care about the earbuds. My one complaint is the flood of newbies who need to be shown the ropes. Once they get the basics down though there should be some solid gaming for all.

 

[Harlemura]

I just kind of ignored the training, jumped into a server and continued as per usual.
Only difference being some people had extra white on them and weren't as good as some who didn't.

I think I was too busy wondering WHAT THE HECK the Engineer's holding at the end of the trailer thingy.

Spoiler: Said trailer thingy

looks like a new shotgun, (WITH A SCOPE!?!)

I'm guessing it's a kind of "Shoot guy, sentry shoots that guy" kida thi-
WAIT NO OFF TOPIC BAD!

 

[Sir Kemper]

Actually, the only people i've seen wearing the earbuds are PC's user's...

Go figure.

to this i say LOLWUT!?! or maybe SENSE MAKE NONE!

or if you speak English, then i mean that its confusing.

Quite, since pc users can't actually unlock them unless they also installed the game on a mac via their steam portal. Which sounds like a huge pain in the ass just to look like a tool.

OT: I don't really mind the update that much. I don't use the training grounds or really care about the earbuds. My one complaint is the flood of newbies who need to be shown the ropes. Once they get the basics down though there should be some solid gaming for all.

Actually, the only people i've seen wearing the earbuds are PC's user's...

Go figure.

to this i say LOLWUT!?! or maybe SENSE MAKE NONE!

or if you speak English, then i mean that its confusing.

Irridium earned himself a pair of Earbuds by playing TF2 on his firends Mac (I belive he logged on useing his Steam account) I've also heard of people torrenting the OSX system to their computer, getting the earbuds, then going back to their original operating system.


:|

 

[ShadowDude112]

I like the earbuds, I think they look cool. Although, I'm on he same boat as FreelanceButler, what the hell was the Engie using? Anyways, I don't mind the update, I just want to play the game. I mean, it is a game right?

 

[Commissar Sae]

Actually, the only people i've seen wearing the earbuds are PC's user's...

Go figure.

to this i say LOLWUT!?! or maybe SENSE MAKE NONE!

or if you speak English, then i mean that its confusing.

Quite, since pc users can't actually unlock them unless they also installed the game on a mac via their steam portal. Which sounds like a huge pain in the ass just to look like a tool.

OT: I don't really mind the update that much. I don't use the training grounds or really care about the earbuds. My one complaint is the flood of newbies who need to be shown the ropes. Once they get the basics down though there should be some solid gaming for all.

Actually, the only people i've seen wearing the earbuds are PC's user's...

Go figure.

to this i say LOLWUT!?! or maybe SENSE MAKE NONE!

or if you speak English, then i mean that its confusing.

Irridium earned himself a pair of Earbuds by playing TF2 on his firends Mac (I belive he logged on useing his Steam account) I've also heard of people torrenting the OSX system to their computer, getting the earbuds, then going back to their original operating system.


:|

Wow, then that makes them all tools, and not the good kind thats used to build things like turrent neither. Seriously, thats a lot of effort to unlock one lousy item that was basically supposed to be an incentive for mac users in the first place. (and a handy newb spotter at the same time)