Valve Opens Team Fortress 2 Public Beta

[Andy Chalk]

Valve Opens Team Fortress 2 Public Beta

Valve has announced that after years of waiting, the highly-anticipated online shooter Team Fortress 2 [http://teamfortress.com/] has finally entered beta testing.

Oh, I'm just kidding. We all know that Valve [http://www.amazon.com/Team-Fortress-2-Pc/dp/B00140S21O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291392923&sr=8-1] decided that internal testing wasn't providing enough data and thus threw the doors open to everyone who owns a copy of TF2.

The process is simple if you want to get involved. Open Steam [http://store.steampowered.com], head to your Library, find "Team Fortress 2 Beta" in the list and install it. You're in! Valve says the beta version of the game will be used to test things like class, item and weapon changes, map changes and variants, "higher level, game-wide experiments" and other new hotness, without the risk of breaking the game for people who just want to play.

The first beta version will include three variants of Natascha with adjustments to damage, health, spin time and slowdown effect, changes to the cp_granary and cp_5gorge maps, and a balance change that eliminates the slowdown effect on players who are being healed by a medic. Players who sign into the beta will automatically be given all "achievement-based unlockables" and any new items added for testing, but random drops and the store are both disabled.

Valve is running its own set of official Beta servers but says "it'd be great" if other admins want to help out with servers of their own. Instructions on setting up a beta server and other information about the new TF2 public beta can be found on the Steam forums [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1627376].

Thanks to AnarchistAbe [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/profiles/view/AnarchistAbe] for the tip.


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[Delusibeta]

Note that currently, the beta is testing:
1) A new map (cp_5gorge)
2) A modification to cp_granary
3) Three variations of Natascha.
4) A variation of the Saharan Spy set bonus.

And that's it, for now.

Also note this isn't the first time Valve has opened a beta version parallel to the "official" version (there's still a beta going on for Counter Strike Source).

 

[Woodsey]

Also note this isn't the first time Valve has opened a beta version parallel to the "official" version (there's still a beta going on for Counter Strike Source).

I was going to say, CSS's has been going on for a while now.

Seems like a good idea to me.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

I just tried it not too long ago, and it's really not that much different now. Then again, no Heavies on the server I was in were using the Natascha variants, so it kinda defeats the purpose of the whole thing. I played cp_5Gorge, and really all I can say is 'meh.' Basically plays like cp_granary or cp_well.

EDIT: Although I am a little miffed that the only Polycount weapons that are just given out are the weapons from the Saharan Spy pack (and the hat!). Dammit, I wanted my Degreaser and Powerjack.

 

[Simalacrum]

Sooo what, this is a kind of permanent testing ground for new stuff Valve want to put in TF2?

...Cool

 

[Harlemura]

All I'm hoping is they fix the motherflippin' Shortstop.
I want to know which nincompoop at valve suddenly decided the Scout needs a new Scattergun that has no downsides compared to the original.

 

[SomebodyNowhere]

I'll have to look into it. Getting a look at what could be coming to the main game could be fun.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

"and a balance change that eliminates the slowdown effect on players who are being healed by a medic"

WHAT? Since when are people slowed by a medic??????

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

Now nobody can ever complain about balance again!

 

[Crossborder]

anc[is]"and a balance change that eliminates the slowdown effect on players who are being healed by a medic"

WHAT? Since when are people slowed by a medic??????

It means being healed by a medic cancels the slow effect you get from stuff like Natascha.


I think I'm going to be playing this more than the regular game. I don't play often, and it's very annoying to get killed by people who have better stuff than me.

 

[qbanknight]

This is a very clever testing method rather than relying on surveys...see Activision? This is how you SHOULD test for your games, not your ass-backwards bullshit-logic customer surveys you conduct to find out what games SHOULD be made

 

[archvile93]

Great, now the game can test the stuff that I don't get because I'm not hyper lucky and don't screw over my team to get the achievements on a regular basis. Oh yeah, and I'm not paying for it.

 

[Outright Villainy]

4) A variation of the Saharan Spy set bonus.

Oh yeah? What's the change? I haven't had a chance to download it yet, and I haven't seen anything about that...

 

[fanklok]

I can't wait to beta test the meet the Medic and Meet the Pyro videos.

 

[Grufflenark]

I were preparing to say "wtf?" before I read the article.

K so I'm 2 hours and 30 min away from beta happyness. Oh wait the steam servers are over-used and I can't even start the download.

 

[Daemascus]

Valve is weird, but what ever works I guess. And 3 Nataschas? CRY SOME MOORX3

 

[Drop_D-Bombshell]

Still no content for consoles

Why can't they do a beta for the consoles, they'll get loads of downloads. I'm still waiting for new content on the xbox version.

 

[Grufflenark]

Still no content for consoles

Why can't they do a beta for the consoles, they'll get loads of downloads. I'm still waiting for new content on the xbox version.

I think they gave up on the Xbox. I mean, they announced it in 2007, said they were still working on it in 2008, and they have never been heard ever since.
They also said: "The xbox doesnt have enough memory, we don't want to sell the updates (because microsoft forces us" and some more stuff I have forgotten.

 

[gl1koz3]

Having played TF2 few years ago, I lol'd when reading the title. It now almost makes sense after reading it all, though.