Depending on how well you have been following Team Fortress news recently, then you may or may not know of the “friendship” issue.
Apparently, in a recent update, some announcer sounds were added to the stock supply with no explanations. This, of course, led to wild speculation including the idea of red/blu cooperative play against the announcer.
Of course, Kotaku then reported that Valve has denied that and other rumors. Instead, they put extra emphasis on the subject of for whom the sounds toll.
Well, there has been another update and for a site like BWL it fits quite well.
The TF2 blog has been updated with a semi-explanatory teaser comic [which they linked to saying “Friendship ends in one day.”
http://www.teamfortress.com/war/administrator/
Three points stand out to me upon reading this comic. First, more game companies need to post comics for teasers to their new content.
Second, this appears to indicate that there will be a sort-of sub-competition with special rewards for playing and fighting your steam friends in-game.
Third, Valve is directly using fan-art for character designs now. Not really a surprise as they have always used that sort of community inclusion. They did already have the artist visit their home base and they did sort of hint at the use of the design once before Halloween.
What’s that? What do I mean by “fan-art for character designs”? You’re one of the people that hasn’t already heard this story or seen the original drawing?
Oh, I don’t know. It’s just a little something by an artist named makani.
And, as I said, it is to be expected given Valve’s tendencies for community “friendship”. Especially since other artists had already jumped on the concept to make their own Announcer/administrator images.
http://tabbykat.deviantart.com/art/You-have-FAILED-123640976
http://ren128.deviantart.com/art/Meet-the-announcer-125604619
http://cheiftainmaelgwyn.deviantart.com/art/FAN-ART-of-fan-art-134774732
UPDATE:
Okay, so the plot has thickened… again…
It seems the little update plan Valve came up with was a competition. Best stereotype wins.
Huh? Oh… okay…
The idea is for players to choose either demo or soldier and try to kill the other class. This will determine which class, demo or soldier, gets a new “EXCLUSIVE, SECRET EXTRA WEAPON UNLOCK” during a new double update.
Check the war page for more details… sort of.
