Where everybody knows your name... April 17, 2008 10:49 AM   Subscribe

Team Fortress 2 Metafilter Server

So you're on the least aggravating public server, trying to avoid the porn sprays, the sailor talk (and I'm not talking nautical), and ear-cleaving yells that someone has indeed, owned you; not only because you are newer to the game than he, but because your sexual orientation is something he fears and denigrates.

You might think to yourself. Well, a few things.

1) I wonder if there is a nice cozy server that's all passworded up the wazoo with 128 bit encryption to keep me safe from the unwashed masses?

2) Wouldn't it be nice to make a snide comment on the server about Edgar Rice Burroughs only to be rebuked in a style best described as Irate Lovecraftian.

3) Where have all the friendly people gone? Do they no longer play video games? Are they holed up play Settlers of Catan or Risk or some other highly geeky yet ultimately socially unacceptable game? They might even be fans of Diplomacy. Or, Ganesha forbid, Go.

4) Give me a place where I can call home. Where people do silly things for silly reasons, and every so often, they actually have serious games where the TEAM in Team Fortress actually means something.

5) Damn games to heck, I just want to be able to rub cyber shoulders with Stavros the Wonderchicken! That DaShiv guy! Or that fellow who made that short lived but ever amusing HL2 comic, "Concerned". GIVE ME E-CELEBRITY OR GIVE ME DEATH!


Well, we have the place for you. herr.doktor and Stavros the Chicken and some others I'm sure I've missed has amassed their internets, weaving together the series of tubes to create a veritable basket of gaming goodness!

A metafilter member only TF2 server! Password protected! With like, set game nights! Tournaments! PRIZES! And, most holiest of holies, a FORUM TO BLATHER INCESSANTLY ABOUT MEDIC CHANGES!

So come on over, we don't bite. Hard.
posted by eurasian to MetaFilter Gatherings at 10:49 AM (184 comments total) 31 users marked this as a favorite

THE SEKRET IS OUT!
posted by absalom at 10:56 AM on April 17, 2008


Nice, I have signed up for the forum and next time I feel like TF2ing this will be my first port of call.
posted by Artw at 11:00 AM on April 17, 2008


Join us and stuff!

Hey, remember when cortex used to play with us?
Both of those times were great.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 11:15 AM on April 17, 2008 [6 favorites]


Yippeeyo caayeeh!
posted by Happydaz at 11:18 AM on April 17, 2008


Is this platform specific, or can I play using my PS3?
posted by slogger at 11:18 AM on April 17, 2008


Double.

Just kidding. We west coasters are especially looking for others in our time zone, since the east coasters are always heading off to bed just when we're hitting our stride.

Join us or die! Join us and die!
posted by notmydesk at 11:19 AM on April 17, 2008


PC only I'm afraid.
posted by betaray at 11:19 AM on April 17, 2008


Is this something I'd have to play some stupid game to appreciate?
posted by jacquilynne at 11:24 AM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]


As an avowed non-FPSer before TF2, I'd highly recommend the game, and the Mefi clan in particular. It's rotato-licious!
posted by adrianhon at 11:26 AM on April 17, 2008


2nding adrianhon... TF2 is the only game I've played regularly in the last 10 years. It's the Mac of computer games.
posted by mpls2 at 11:29 AM on April 17, 2008


Not that it has fuck all to do with anything, but I'd adore the ability to set certian (well, 1) users to 'ignore'. I'd come over to any side for that power. I like love.
posted by dawson at 11:29 AM on April 17, 2008


Aw man, I wish they had one of these for Warhawk on the PS3. Then I wouldn't have to mute-all, and the team aspect would be much more fun! Hm....
posted by Grither at 11:29 AM on April 17, 2008


dawson: You can mute players in the game.
posted by tittergrrl at 11:31 AM on April 17, 2008


Grither: I've actually been thinking of getting Warhawk for my PS3. There's hope yet!
posted by tittergrrl at 11:32 AM on April 17, 2008


tittergrrl , thanks, I just had a brief fantasy lapse into this spilling over in to R/L land.
posted by dawson at 11:33 AM on April 17, 2008


#6 on the list: "Why am I still connected to this public server with two pre-pubescent jerks disparaging my sentry placement? Surely there's a better way."

And if by "stupid" you mean "dream-encroachingly addictive", then yes.
posted by assoctw at 11:35 AM on April 17, 2008


Somewhere in the misty halls of time, Archimedes looks at a potato. Such a wonderful little food. but the skin - ye gods - the SKIN. One could peel it, sure, but with dull bronze wedges? It would take all day! No, no, that's just no good. He pondered and wondered and floundered. He became the laughing stock of Syracuse, wandering around the city in a daze, eyes fixed on his glorious tuber, oblivious to all else.

When he finally looked up, his eyes fell on the mighty Archamedes screw that pumped fresh water up to the tallest buildings. The elegant turning, that was the secret. How could he have been so blind?!? He ran home, dismantled his Antikythera Mechanism, and set to work on the greatest of all devices. A steam driven, clockwork operated potato peeling machine.

Thank God for that famed adventurer, Ron Popeil, who found the coral encrusted device onboard an ancient Roman shipwreck and divined its true purpose. Without him, there would truly be no ROTATO!

And, from this came the famous saying: Give me rotation, and I will PEEL A MOTHERFUCKING POTATO.
posted by absalom at 11:40 AM on April 17, 2008 [10 favorites]


rotato-licious!

Damnit what the hell is rotato.

dawson: I'd adore the ability to set certian (well, 1) users to 'ignore'.

:(
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 11:43 AM on April 17, 2008


Grither: I've actually been thinking of getting Warhawk for my PS3. There's hope yet!
posted by tittergrrl

I highly recommend it. And if you see me on there (I'm Grither there as well), feel free to bludgeon me to death with a wrench.
posted by Grither at 11:43 AM on April 17, 2008


And if by "stupid" you mean "dream-encroachingly addictive", then yes.

I certainly was a much better spy in my TF2 dream last night than I have ever been on the server...
posted by gemmy at 11:45 AM on April 17, 2008 [2 favorites]


PC only I'm afraid.

Crap. One of these days I'll buy a PC.

Speaking of, how is that Vista I keep hearing about? Is it as good as everyone says?
posted by slogger at 11:52 AM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]


I totally forgot about this server. Finally I can try playing that damn game.
posted by chunking express at 11:57 AM on April 17, 2008


CitrusFreak12 kills me so much I cry sometimes.
posted by cowbellemoo at 11:58 AM on April 17, 2008


Join us. The few, the proud, the [MeFi] clan.
posted by Big_B at 12:02 PM on April 17, 2008


I've been curious about this game. How would it play on an nVidia 6600 GT (128meg), AMD 2800, 512 RAM? CS: Source and HL2 run fine on my low-ish resolution monitor.
posted by starman at 12:03 PM on April 17, 2008


He's just citrusfreak to us.

It's an awesome experience; particularly the forum, where we hang out, post things, amuse each other, discuss forum policy...so great to have a place like that online.

And hearing mefites howl in frustration as you backstab them--I mean actually hearing them--well, that's fun.

I joined late, as a noob, and rapidly improved. Then others joined, and rapidly surpassed me in skill, rank, wit, and popularity. It was kinda like life.
posted by Phred182 at 12:09 PM on April 17, 2008


Do y'all play any maps without a rez timer? Having to wait to die again boils my blood.
posted by jmd82 at 12:12 PM on April 17, 2008


If CS: Source and HL2 runs fine, so will TF2. TF2 actually runs a lot better on my computer than CS:Source does.
posted by gemmy at 12:15 PM on April 17, 2008


jmd: most spawn timers are set on the map, and we just let em be. Trust me, playing with competent medics (of which we have about a dozen, at least) means you won't die nearly as much.
posted by absalom at 12:17 PM on April 17, 2008


When I say PC only, that includes boot-camped Macs. I know we've got several people who say it runs well on their Mac.
posted by betaray at 12:23 PM on April 17, 2008


That tears it... I gotta go get the Orange Box now.
posted by BobFrapples at 12:30 PM on April 17, 2008 [2 favorites]


I know we've got several people who say it runs well on their Mac.

Yes! It works fine on my new-but-bottom-of-the-range iMac with XP and some extra memory. I bought a new mouse, though – playing using a Mighty Mouse is just painful.
posted by liquidindian at 12:31 PM on April 17, 2008


Is this another boy game?
posted by Cranberry at 12:34 PM on April 17, 2008


Is this another boy game?

Yes.

(sorry!)
posted by cowbellemoo at 12:39 PM on April 17, 2008


Not PC only. Yesterday I managed to install and play TF2 in my 18 month old macbook pro. Just get Crossover Games for OS X. If you have an intel mac, it works pretty well. Get the 7 day trial for Crossover Games, it is based on Wine, and may or may not work on your particular setup.

Some problems I had:
After installing steam, the game store is empty: Close steam, close crossover, start again.
You get an error about permissions: Select Team Fortress 2 in the finder, command+i, in permisssions, set everything to read and write.
It screws up with a 2 monitor setup, or you get weird display issues: In steam, got to team fortress, and in the game's "launch" or "startup" setting, can't remember the exact name of the tab, add "-window", without the "".

I am registering in the forum, but be warned that I do suck. In my first 2 hours, i got 1 kill, and died 64 times.
posted by Dr. Curare at 12:40 PM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]


The advantage of crossover is that you do not need any Windows installation, unlike bootcamp. it runs a little bit better in bootcamp.
posted by Dr. Curare at 12:42 PM on April 17, 2008


In case no one mentioned it thus far, joining the MeFi Steam Group means you'll get a calendar of events and notifications when mefi matches are about to begin.
posted by notmydesk at 12:44 PM on April 17, 2008


Is this another boy game?

Though I hate to speak for them, I'm sure Tittergrrl and Gemmy would say no.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 12:45 PM on April 17, 2008


Is this another boy game?

Hey, we got girls and they consistently pwn.
posted by notmydesk at 12:46 PM on April 17, 2008


You don't suck, Dr. Curare, you're a team player! Selfless in your sacrifice for map objectives!!
posted by eurasian at 12:48 PM on April 17, 2008


Don't make the error of thinking that all people do on the server is fight and blow things up. Planned are town hall-type meetings, where MeFites can talk to each other and debate about current events using the game's built-in voicecomm, and matters can be settled through civil discourse.

The anonymity of MetaFilter encourages acerbic and haughty words. I believe that the next logical step to discussing the best of the web, with such a keen group of people, is to engage in real-time chat and to involve rocket launchers, fists, miniguns and wrenches.

Also in the pipeline is Arts & Crafts night (the crafting community has really blossomed!), Civil War night (re-enactments in FPS are my forte), and my favorite: "An Evening of Rotato."
posted by herrdoktor at 12:49 PM on April 17, 2008 [4 favorites]


So does everybody VOIP?
posted by Artw at 12:50 PM on April 17, 2008


Is this another boy game?

Though I hate to speak for them, I'm sure Tittergrrl and Gemmy would say no.
We often take CitrusFreak on our team to even out the rotato of boys:girls.
posted by herrdoktor at 12:52 PM on April 17, 2008


Please don't call it a boy game, because we have at least three women who play!

OUR LADY PARTS DESERVE TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS WELL!

Herrdoktor: Don't forget about the bi-monthly "MeFight Club Gives Back" where we find homeless people and let them play on our computers for very affordable fees. I know I'm going to heaven now!
posted by tittergrrl at 12:52 PM on April 17, 2008 [4 favorites]


Do I have to have a STEAM account to play?
posted by sciurus at 12:52 PM on April 17, 2008


D&D Online, people.
posted by waraw at 12:58 PM on April 17, 2008


Well, you can't play a girl character in game. (spy should have been a sexy east german to give the doctor some arm candy -- wait there I go making it sexist again...sorry)
posted by cowbellemoo at 1:07 PM on April 17, 2008


Damnit, I meant to play this last time it came up too.

Now this will show up in my recent activity to remind me.
posted by ODiV at 1:15 PM on April 17, 2008


Between lysoling my keyboard and bowing to acknowledge TG's girlparts it's a miracle I have time to get sniped by Chundo.
posted by Phred182 at 1:15 PM on April 17, 2008


Is this another boy game?

No.

CBM, next time I see you on, I promise to show you why "no" is the right answer.

Don't fret, boyo. I'LL BE GENTLE!!!!
posted by gemmy at 1:22 PM on April 17, 2008


Citrusfreak, including the phrase "I hate to speak" in your comment is technically a violation of the Mefight honor code.
posted by Phred182 at 1:32 PM on April 17, 2008


So does everybody VOIP?
posted by Artw at 12:50 PM on April 17


Er, no, herr.doktor was joking, mostly. Unless you are joking. And it's like a dry reply to a humourous post.. and then I get all mixed up in the mess of subtext and end up being the loud uncle with a penchant for leisure suits who explains the latest joke being emailed around in such detail that even Ed Mcmahon wouldn't laugh.



Do I have to have a STEAM account to play?
posted by sciurus at 12:52 PM on April 17


Yeah. You'll have to get off the WON network at some point, you know.
posted by eurasian at 1:40 PM on April 17, 2008


Pretty much just wanted to know to what extent people use voice communications in play. If I found a decent idiot-free server where people used voice a lot I'd probably invets in a decent headset, as it does dramatically improve play.
posted by Artw at 1:42 PM on April 17, 2008


We DO use quite a bit of voicecomm. Sometimes it's silly, when we have all talk on and everyone is trying to say something passably witty. Usually though, it's very much About The Game:

"Need a medic."
"Heavy, spy behind you, SPY BEHIND YOU DA--"
"I'll sap if you push through. Going Now. NOW."
"Need help, sniper is a spy, sapping stuff."

etc, etc, etc, etc.

If you do join us, then yeah, invest in a headset, IMHO.
posted by eurasian at 1:46 PM on April 17, 2008


Good stuff.

(Typing about spies is worthless, they're dead or done their business by the time you press return. Bastard spies. )
posted by Artw at 1:50 PM on April 17, 2008


Yeah, headsets make it much more enjoyable. If you don't have one, you'll want one after a few games on the MeFi server.
posted by chundo at 1:51 PM on April 17, 2008


Dear AskMetaTalk: Best headset under $30? Under $20?

T.I.A.
posted by Dr. Curare at 1:59 PM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]


Artw: Yeah, there is usually a good-to-great amount of voice communication.

The level of strategic communication becomes more silly and chatty when all-talk is on (which is usually on "off" days, before we reach a critical mass of players to turn all-talk off to play more serious, or when its at the tail end of a night and people are getting punchy as it nears bedtime), but even then you will hear a lot of planning and teamwork... you just hear it from both sides which is actually pretty fun and makes for a different sort of game plan.

When all-talk is off, there may be a little chattiness on the teams, but usually it is focused more on the objectives and teamwork. Additionally, we have been running a preliminary in-house tournament for the last month or so, and during those games the voice communication is all business with very little horseplay. Its awesome.

So we run the gamut of voice communication, depending on a variety of situations.

I honestly can say there are no idiots on the server. We've never had to kick anyone (and we have many admins), and only have had to warn a couple people due to inappropriate sprays. The age range of people I think goes from people in college to people in their late 30s/early 40s. Some people have young children, so we do a good job of being a more PG-13 environment over all.
posted by tittergrrl at 2:00 PM on April 17, 2008


I play occasionally, but I'd like to put the [MeFi] tag in front of my name - anything special I need to do for that? Will anyone care?
posted by backseatpilot at 2:02 PM on April 17, 2008


Suck it, gray.

I play on the server. That's all you need to know.
posted by lohmannn at 2:06 PM on April 17, 2008 [3 favorites]


Dear AskMetaTalk: Best headset under $30? Under $20?

I got this one, it's under $20. Works great, but the over-the-ear headband irritates me after a while. If you're used to and like that style of headphones though, you'll like it.
posted by chundo at 2:09 PM on April 17, 2008


I play occasionally, but I'd like to put the [MeFi] tag in front of my name - anything special I need to do for that? Will anyone care?

Feel free, there's no application process other than having to be a MeFi member. Just login to your Steam control panel and change your display name.
posted by chundo at 2:10 PM on April 17, 2008


Hey, remember when cortex used to play with us?
Both of those times were great.


Aw. I'll try and get back in there some time. Every time a little Steam alert pops up to say "event has started", I feel a little twinge of sadness that I'm not launching the game right then and there.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:20 PM on April 17, 2008


I really miss having a decent connection, in large part because I miss TF2 with MeFites.

(though I hear that watching me flicker across the battlefield is mildly amusing.)
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:21 PM on April 17, 2008


Please join us. I want to kill you so very much.
posted by enkiwa at 2:29 PM on April 17, 2008


Cortex knows he'll immediately have a target on his back.
posted by tittergrrl at 2:30 PM on April 17, 2008


Yeah, you should really play despite lohmann's presence. BOINK!

PS: Even though it LOOKS like there are no steam events, there are. I am notoriously last minute about throwing up the event reminders. FYI - regular games occur [all times EDT]

Sunday : 2pm and 8pm
Wednesday: 8pm
Friday : 8pm
Saturday: 2pm and 8pm

The last few weeks have had a few pick up matches, as well. When you have as many chiefs as we do, it's not hard to get the call to muster out.
posted by absalom at 2:36 PM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]


Dudes and dudettes, the server in question is so groovy sometimes I go over to Busithoth's and just watch him play. And drink his gin.
posted by vrakatar at 2:39 PM on April 17, 2008


you can take your pc servers and shove 'em where the red rings of death don't shine.
posted by shmegegge at 2:41 PM on April 17, 2008


starman

It runs fine on my 6600GT /Athlon 2100/1gig
If you can run HL:2 you can play TF:2
posted by Big_B at 2:48 PM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]


I play occasionally, but I'd like to put the [MeFi] tag in front of my name - anything special I need to do for that? Will anyone care?

Feel free, there's no application process other than having to be a MeFi member. Just login to your Steam control panel and change your display name.
posted by chundo at 2:10 PM


Oh, please. Don't listen to chundo.

There are... Many, many things you'll need to do. One of the tamer ones involves a necrotic badger and parsley. The list is long, arcane, and written in sanskrit. I myself am only 12.9% through it. It's lead to my near divorce, a bone marrow transplant for my parakeet, and mouse that leaks a brown goo (but only if I lance the protective sheath).

A rough survey was done, and it found more than two thirds of gamers who legitimately sport the [Mefi] tag are criminally insane and/or have lost feeling on the left side of their face.

It's an arduous road backseatpilot, do not embark on it lightly.
posted by eurasian at 3:22 PM on April 17, 2008 [4 favorites]


This is the best server to play on. When started playing TF2 in Februrary, I was not very good. I learned alot by playing with this group and listening to everyone. Now I am AWESOME! Bring it MeFi Noobs!
posted by hugecranium at 3:26 PM on April 17, 2008


Just joined. It is fun times. I have no idea how to play properly yet. But I can build sentry guns!

chkkachkkachkka
posted by blacklite at 3:49 PM on April 17, 2008


Hurm. So I downloaded a trial version of CrossOver and am at a loss as to what to do next. It's asking for an install disk that I'm not sure I have.

Hope me, I scared.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:55 PM on April 17, 2008


Our secret is out, isn't it?

Someone is going to get a face full of L3 and/or flamethrower when they cross my path.
posted by dw at 3:57 PM on April 17, 2008


Well, you can't play a girl character in game.

It is my belief that the Pyro is, in fact, a butch lesbian with odd fetishes.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 4:03 PM on April 17, 2008 [2 favorites]


Oops.

In typical Murphy's Law fashion, the community message board thingy went wobbly during the night (Korea time), and about 60% of the functionality went down the inter-tubes. I have just awakened and fixed it, so if things were a bit weird there for a while, please excuse. All should be well again, with ROTATO and Edith Wharton conversations for ALL!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:05 PM on April 17, 2008


In case you didn't know,
stavrosthewonderchicken is the best bleary eyed, Korea based, TF2 message borad/community admin ever!
posted by hugecranium at 4:09 PM on April 17, 2008


crud...even with live preview...borad=board
posted by hugecranium at 4:10 PM on April 17, 2008


dawson: You can mute players in the game.

But then you would miss my renditions of variations on the Love Boat theme, and who would want to miss that?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:13 PM on April 17, 2008


But then you would miss my renditions of variations on the Love Boat theme, and who would want to miss that?
On kazoos, no less.
posted by eurasian at 4:18 PM on April 17, 2008


On kazoos, no less.

No, that's his real voice.
posted by Bearman at 4:30 PM on April 17, 2008 [2 favorites]


I wish there was an euro server.. playing at 160-190ms reminds of my good ole time as a Tribes 2 player, but seriously harms my brain and give me the impulse to crush my G15 with the fists.
posted by darkripper at 4:54 PM on April 17, 2008


Aieee. Nearly enough to make me buy a copy of Windows XP so I can dual-boot and play TF2. Argh stupid Mac.

(Ummm. Does TF2 work okay under Parallels by any chance? Just wondering.)
posted by WalterMitty at 5:08 PM on April 17, 2008


I wish there was an euro server.. playing at 160-190ms

Playing from Korea, I average 180-200 ping to the server, and I PWN! No, really, the netcode is really good, and that kind of ping is not really a hardship at all, once you get used to it.

Does TF2 work okay under Parallels by any chance? Just wondering.

We have a whole bunch of people running it with Bootcamp, I think it is. No worries. Come on over, sign up, and ask away if you need some tech help getting it working.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:34 PM on April 17, 2008


(Also, see Dr. Curare's comment and others upthread, which are crazy moon-man talk to me, but it looks like there are several Mac options available).
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:51 PM on April 17, 2008


It is my belief that the Pyro is, in fact, a butch lesbian with odd fetishes.

In the spawn areas, in the Pyro's locker, there is a lovely pink handbag in the upper compartment. This leads me to believe that at the very least, the Pyro is relaxed about gender roles, and is therefore a positive (if murderous) role model for us all.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:56 PM on April 17, 2008


Apologies for the derail, but do any of the assembled virtual-gun-toting MeFites play COD4 as well?
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 6:02 PM on April 17, 2008


We often take CitrusFreak on our team to even out the rotato of boys:girls.

I can't be certain, because I'm an idiot, but I'm fairly sure you just insulted me.
This is like the fourth time someone has made that joke too. Is there something I should know? ::bats eyelashes::

Citrusfreak, including the phrase "I hate to speak" in your comment is technically a violation of the Mefight honor code.

Dude, anyone who has been on the server for more than three seconds knows that I most certainly do not hate to speak, and often abuse the privilege. I'm trying to cut back though, honest.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 6:08 PM on April 17, 2008


not actually telling anyone what the password is kind of limits it though.
posted by sgt.serenity at 6:27 PM on April 17, 2008


That's alright, Freak, I'm taking up the slack. And it's all bitching, too, so it's like there's no change! *rimshot!*

IKBIL
posted by absalom at 6:30 PM on April 17, 2008


We need something exactly like the current system except notably different in that one doesn't actually have to pay for this 'steam' or indeed pay any hard won monetary units for the right to participate for varying time frames in this electronic simulacrum. Exactly the same, except different.

You know what would be swell; we could all play The Sims 2 and later post about our humorous experiences. Like when they look at the new ant farm The Sims put their hands up on the head and pretend they have feelers and make crazy noises while looking at the ants. It's like a multiplayer game, except all the other people are more than usually imaginary.
posted by oxford blue at 6:36 PM on April 17, 2008


not actually telling anyone what the password is kind of limits it though.

It's kind of an intelligence test, sarge. In one of the four stickied threads at the top of the MeFight Club board, the one entitled 'Server Info and Other MeFight Links', the first post explains that the server password can be found here, in herrdoctor's profile, in the email field. (eurasian/Niteowl forgot to mention that in the original post, but that's OK)

It's a way of trying to make sure that only MeFites and their friends'n'family can join in the fun. By the way, 'cause it wasn't totally clear, herrdoktor runs the game server and I run the website, and together We Fight Crime.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:43 PM on April 17, 2008 [2 favorites]


Can I be your snooty but well meaning butler/maker of fine mixed drinks?
posted by oxford blue at 6:44 PM on April 17, 2008


(Ah, never mind. I see from the server monitor sidebar that you're in-game now, so you must have figured it out! Yay!)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:45 PM on April 17, 2008


Can I be your snooty but well meaning butler/maker of fine mixed drinks?

Oooh, I've always wanted one of those! YES!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:45 PM on April 17, 2008


I dunno, I'd kinda like to see some of the more obnoxious Mefites start playing so that I could shoot them repeatedly.

The current players are all pretty cool though. Not that that's a buzz kill or anything, heh.

Re West Coast times: yes definitely, I'm up fairly late most nights. I'd like to get into the organized matches sometime as well. I dunno if my account ever went through at Mefight, but I'll check again.

Anyway, good times. TF2 is great, the whole Orange Box is great, check it out if you haven't.

(I'm winters720 on there, hi)
posted by First Post at 7:10 PM on April 17, 2008


I take my scotch mixed with air, and more scotch!
posted by eurasian at 7:13 PM on April 17, 2008


The cut of your coat already told me as much, Sir.
posted by oxford blue at 7:20 PM on April 17, 2008


I dunno if my account ever went through at Mefight, but I'll check again.

So far I haven't had to turn on account vetting, so you should be able to log in immediately as soon as you register.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:21 PM on April 17, 2008


Well it looks like I was finally able to recover my steam account from whichever unsavory band of characters managed to make with the hijacking of it.

I should be back on again sometime this weekend.
posted by iamabot at 7:57 PM on April 17, 2008


I'm a total noob. I killed someone with a shovel and then we won. Please hope me.
posted by starman at 8:08 PM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]


It sounds like you're doing it right, Starman. Just do it more...

and holy hell, it FIGURES that NiteOwl (under disguise, even on the gray, what a fucking true-to-form SPY rat bastard he is) posts this when I'm on the road.

but yes, please, come all who may.
because I'm spending more time there than here, and I've yet to see gibs flying on the gray, and where the hell's the satisfaction there?

also, I bought a headset because of this server too.
all the better to hear Craptastico exclaim jibberish when exploded.
posted by Busithoth at 10:09 PM on April 17, 2008 [1 favorite]


Just had a very fun game of kill-the-dispenser-with-an-axe.

(Well, there were only two of us - does it always die down so quickly on weeknights?)
posted by Artw at 11:36 PM on April 17, 2008


It varies. Tonight wasn't a regularly scheduled game, it just happened that a bunch of people were online and felt like playing. Usually the matches go 4 or 5 hours I think, especially on the weekends.
posted by chundo at 12:14 AM on April 18, 2008


Oh, hai guys! Muah! I've been in sort of computer heck and life heck and what have you and yada yada yada just finally built a new rig this week.

I was impressed, upon (re)installing Steam just how many GD MeFi events there were. Like every other day! Beep bloop, MeFi event starting soon! Christ on a crickety cracker.

So, once I have the new rig fully online I will log the frak in and get pwned. I'm a little sad in my heart that brother Cortex is no longer rolling, I quite enjoyed the explosions this way and that between he and I...

But uh, why the seperate forum? Oooohhhhh, out of game shit talking? OOO! Sign me up!
posted by cavalier at 12:54 AM on April 18, 2008


Yeah, I wasn't able to play last night on account of the Lost dinner with the 'rents, but I imagine after this post, a game was inevitable. The weekends are the real money games.

And, since I have a Rock Band Cookout to go to earlier in the eve, I'll get to see how the Other Half Lives when I try to log onto the server around 11 pm.
posted by absalom at 5:11 AM on April 18, 2008


Oh, and Cavalier: Why the off site forum? It was discussed in the previous TF2 thread and stav jumped on it. Which is a good thing, because there is *way* to much traffic going on there for a single, rolling MeTa post. More than just trash talk goes on there: metagame discussion, strategy sharing, in-house tourney planning, and so forth. It's actually quite active.
posted by absalom at 5:14 AM on April 18, 2008


I played Team Fortress frequently many years ago, and always liked the medic or engineer - what a great game! I was convinced I'd have to play TF2 it through VMWare Fusion (doesn't work) or Boot Camp (I resent giving up space to Windows.) The Crossover Games solutions appears to work, thanks for the tip. Bring it, bitches!
posted by The Jesse Helms at 5:16 AM on April 18, 2008


*hugs Xbox 360*

It's ok baby, don't cry. Just because your version of Orange Box isn't compatible with theirs doesn't mean I love you any less.

*secretly loves 360 less*
posted by quin at 8:16 AM on April 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


Thanks absalom -- I ended up answering my own question and after registering I see that it is much more then shit talking. Thanks for the extra info :)
posted by cavalier at 8:34 AM on April 18, 2008


and holy hell, it FIGURES that NiteOwl (under disguise, even on the gray, what a fucking true-to-form SPY rat bastard he is) posts this when I'm on the road.

I've never been a spy in my entire life! (shimmers away under cloak).

Also, don't feel embarassed on the TF2 board to ask ANY and ALL questions. Honestly. Except for personal ones, unless you are talking to metamonk, he likes to disclose all sorts of info. You can't stop him, really.
posted by eurasian at 10:02 AM on April 18, 2008


I sincerely, deeply, and truly wish the 360 players could play against the PC players.

I'd start hitting 20:1 k:d ratios, and I'd actually have more time to taunt them in global say.

On the downside: teabagging.
posted by enkiwa at 3:33 PM on April 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


I cannot believe we've expected people to *join* *us* when we haven't once mentioned the amount of dong pong we got going on in that there server. madness!

and to belie the true motives of NiteOwl here, by his continually stabbing people in the back, we're all a little paranoid, and he craves fresh blood, trusting blood.
He'll even complain if it spatters on his stupid suit.
posted by Busithoth at 4:36 PM on April 18, 2008


Blood is rather hard to get out of tweed.
posted by oxford blue at 8:55 PM on April 18, 2008


Metafilter: other people more than usually imaginary
posted by eritain at 9:31 AM on April 19, 2008


So, last night was the first time I've had to wait to play on the server.
Go gray! Helping me get the laundry done!

It also marked the first time that I've left the server with more than 3 other people on it. Huzzah! Welcome all. nice to kill meet you.
posted by Busithoth at 11:26 AM on April 19, 2008


Please join us tonight and every night. My shovel thirsts for the blood of innocents.

It is Morganti.
posted by enkiwa at 3:44 PM on April 19, 2008


Up over 170 members, hooray! Also, just for posterity's sake, the URL has changed to http://mefightclub.com, but the old one will redirect for a good long while.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:15 PM on April 19, 2008


I only have the 360 version of the Orange Box, but I'd thought I'd throw this out to you guys cause you might like trying it:

I joined a random game on a friday night on the 360 and before it started the game host kicked everybody without mics and explained that we were not goign to play the normal version of TF2 -- we were going to play TF2 Fight Club.

The rules are this --

1. You don't talk about fight club (woops)
2. No Spies or Medics (backstab and healing-- not fair)
3. You can only play on Granary or Well. (Control Point maps)
4. You only use melee weapons.
5. Both teams start the game by going to the center point and lining up in order from the bottom of their team listing to the highest. (lowest score to highest).
6. The first player from each team steps on to the control point.
7. You both press the medic call button to say you're ready, then you box until someone dies.
8. After you kill the other guy, you either press the medic button to tell the next guy you're ready to fight, or you go to the back of the line.
9. After you die, you can come back and watch, but you can't get back in line
10. When an entire team is dead, the other team captures the point and you go to the next point, and line-up and box again.
11. Game ends when all points are captured.

It was highly, highly entertaining, and it worked surprisingly well considering the fact that 40% of the players had just randomly wandered into the server.
posted by empath at 5:47 PM on April 20, 2008 [6 favorites]


empath, that is just about the coolest fucking thing I've heard all day.
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:12 PM on April 20, 2008


Once I get my tech issues sorted, pwnage will be visited upon you all.

And eurasian..."Irate Lovecraftian?"...I'd always wondered what to answer when people asked what religion I am, and now I know. Thanks!
posted by cosmonik at 11:14 PM on April 20, 2008 [1 favorite]


Dr. Curare: "Dear AskMetaTalk: Best headset under $30? Under $20?
T.I.A.
"

No, seriously!
posted by NikitaNikita at 10:06 AM on April 21, 2008


pope, if you try it, i want to hear how it went.
posted by empath at 10:20 AM on April 21, 2008


herr.dockter is the hax - someone stop him!
posted by The Jesse Helms at 10:24 AM on April 21, 2008 [1 favorite]


It’s probably considered totally n00bish and lame, but I have to say I just love the combination of Heavy + conveniently placed dispenser + enemy team spawn point.

(I imagine it was quite annoying for the other team though)
posted by Artw at 10:25 AM on April 21, 2008


I think it may be time to plug the gaming rig in and kick some ass have my ass kicked global stylee.
posted by asok at 12:59 PM on April 21, 2008


I am bleeder in the game, and I do bleed.

I have been reading and watching videos to try to become a better player, and I have a couple of questions:

1) How do you rocket jump? I have done the fire then jump, jump then fire, jump and fire at the same time, and all variations. I get a lot of vertical speed, but no horizontal speed. What is the right sequence? Can you control the direction of the jump while in the air?

2)How do you jump on top of stuff as an engineer? I have seen engies jump on top of dispensers and boxes, I can't jump high enough.

3)Which one is the best class? Why?

4) Just kidding on 3.
posted by Dr. Curare at 8:25 PM on April 21, 2008


Rocket jumping is timing and orientation and confidence. If you're getting good vertical, you're probably doing the timing well enough (I think of it as a jump-then-fire, super tight); if you're facing straight down when you execute, you'll carry whatever horizontal momentum you have at the moment of execution, which means that a dead run forward with a rocket jump thrown in gives you a nice flight forward.

It's easy to aim like 75 degrees down instead of 90, which will cut a bunch of your forward momentum. Be sure to snap all the way down.

You can try 75 degrees and backpedaling at the moment of execution to do a decent backwards jump, but that's trickier. See also: demo charges.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:30 PM on April 21, 2008


You know, asking questions about rocket jumping might actually be better done on, you know, the site we have devoted to talking about the game! In fact, I think there's an old thread where discuss that very thing in great detail.

Also: crouch-jump.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:05 PM on April 21, 2008


Are there other websites on the internet? That is weird.... maybe in Korea.

Thanks for the advice, cortex, I just OWNED in the mefi server. Captured all the bases, got all the glory.

I RULE TF2!1


1. When I am the only player there.
posted by Dr. Curare at 11:30 PM on April 21, 2008


I just picked up TF2 from Steam's oh-so-timely sale this weekend. Is there noob territory anywhere in this game? I'm still trying to learn the ropes without dragging down my team.
posted by Dr-Baa at 10:10 AM on April 22, 2008


Just log in to the mefi server and drag down your team.

I've been doing it and no one seems to mind. :)
posted by ODiV at 10:13 AM on April 22, 2008


BTW : i agree with stavros, this is EXACTLY the sort of thing we like to talk about AD NAUSEUM on the forum.



2)How do you jump on top of stuff as an engineer? I have seen engies jump on top of dispensers and boxes, I can't jump high enough.

You can either jump on one of your lower structures first (teleporters, sentries), or just try crouch jumping to the top of it.


3)Which one is the best class? Why?
Spy! Actually, it's very dependent on what your team needs, what their team has, and how good you are on any given class.


cosmonik : who knew TF2 could offer spiritual insight!? Or Lovecraft! It must be the tentacles.
posted by eurasian at 10:15 AM on April 22, 2008


I’m not sure there’s really a subject Metafilter can’t drag around to Lovecraft eventually. It’s one of the great commonalities, like LOLCATS.
posted by Artw at 10:21 AM on April 22, 2008


LOLCRAFT!

- I CAN HAZ TENTAKLZ
- INVISIBLE SANITY
- LONG CTHULU IS ARRRRNNGNGNGNUUUGH
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:14 AM on April 22, 2008




Where's the cheapest place to buy TF2?
posted by inigo2 at 12:22 PM on April 22, 2008


Probably as part of some kind of bundle on Steam. I don't really see the point to buying it elsewhere, sicne you'll need steam to run it.
posted by Artw at 12:45 PM on April 22, 2008


$30 sounds kind of steep for standalone.
posted by Artw at 12:48 PM on April 22, 2008


$50 for Half-Life 2, HL2 Episodes 1 and 2, TF2, and Portal is pretty shiny though.
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:52 PM on April 22, 2008


I find the package with Garys Mod a bit weird - people play money for Garys Mod? Isn't it just a piss-about level-editor/sandbox type thing?
posted by Artw at 12:56 PM on April 22, 2008


Gary's Mod basically gives you the ability to play with the physics engine, build things, pose people, and so on. It's tremendously fun, and an absolute necessity if you want to, say, make poser comics.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:52 PM on April 22, 2008


But $10?
posted by Artw at 2:00 PM on April 22, 2008


May I point out the true genius that can be wrought from Gary's mod?

And $30 for a standalone? How is that steep? Isn't the going rate for a normal game ~$50? Although, I guess if you are comparing it to the free mods, then, yeah, it is steep.

And what Pope Guilty said.
posted by eurasian at 2:02 PM on April 22, 2008


well, tf2 is a multiplayer only game with only 5 maps. It's hardly the same content or amount of work that went into, say, half-life 2 itself. Further, the original map designs that these maps are updated versions of are almost 10 years old, and the original version itself was free.

So, $30 for a standalone that comes in a package for (if you give each part of the package equal share of the overall cost) approximately $10 of the total cost is a teensy bit high. That said, it's an outstanding game, and worth the cost one way or the other.

But yeah, the whole orange box is an outstanding value.

Also, gary's mod used to be free, and the amount of work that represented for Gary, and the number of people who used it meant that Gary (bless his soul) was getting hosed. Now he gets a piece of the action, and more power to him for it, imo.
posted by shmegegge at 2:09 PM on April 22, 2008


On top of that, it's my understanding that older versions of GM are still available for free (just like now-ancient versions of CS and DoD).
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:15 PM on April 22, 2008


man, even the newest CS versions are ancient. 1.6 stretches beyond human memory.
posted by shmegegge at 2:19 PM on April 22, 2008


In my day all of this wer trees, and everyone in CS was left handed. Actually, isn’t kind of weird that we’re playing TF2, and that TF2 is an actual real released thing? We’re living in the future! Duke Nukem Forever is around the corner!

I’d pay money for a source version of Action Half-Life. That would be sweet.
posted by Artw at 2:23 PM on April 22, 2008


It's hardly the same content or amount of work that went into, say, half-life 2 itself.

I think this is a) untrue on the face of it and b) irrelevant anyway. I've logged a few hundred hours in TF2 so far, and this is way less than most hardcore game-types I know. It's not about how much time they put into it, it's about how much value you get out.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:10 PM on April 22, 2008 [1 favorite]


I think this is a) untrue on the face of it

how? I can see how someone would think that if you consider the first iterations of tf2, which WERE supposed to be a standalone game on its own engine. But the current incarnation uses existing engineware created for hl2 and maps from tf1. I'd be very surprised if the equivalent of a game with less than 1/3 of the generated content (5 maps and characters as opposed to hl2's dozens of characters and well over 15 maps) that actually depends on the work of hl2's team in order to function took even remotely as many man hours to complete. I know that they were working on it way back when tfclassic first came out, but they were also working on hl2, back then.

It's not about how much time they put into it,

what I understand of economics teaches me that it is, in fact, partly based on the cost in man hours they put into it.

it's about how much value you get out.

I agree. This is why I said "That said, it's an outstanding game, and worth the cost one way or the other."
posted by shmegegge at 6:08 PM on April 22, 2008


Sometimes I weary of the arguments about fucking everything on the ol' Metafilter.

Fine, you're right.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:41 AM on April 23, 2008


Well, I dunno, there are characters that one can script and make do stuff. And then there are characters that are played by humans, taht are played against other humans. These characters must be different but balanced. Some characters must be easy to pick up, some, not so much. Now multiply that by the many weapons each character has.

I dunno, for amount of brain power/balancing/tweaking/working, HL2 seems like LESS work.
posted by eurasian at 10:35 AM on April 23, 2008


Sometimes I weary of the arguments about fucking everything on the ol' Metafilter.

Fine, you're right.


What's up, stavros? You come at me with this "bitch, no you di-in't!" attitude about tf2, and then get grumpy with me for writing a civil reply back? all I did was say why someone might sere $30 bucks as a tad high a cost, even though I personally thought it was worth it. what's bugging you?
posted by shmegegge at 10:38 AM on April 23, 2008


It’s not like anyone is in disagreement that it’s a great bargain when you get it in one of the big bundles.

I feel sorry for the people who shelled out full price for Episode 1. Episode 2 is alright but Episode 1 kind of drags, and would have been a total rip.
posted by Artw at 10:43 AM on April 23, 2008


I didn't like Episode 2 at all, and didn't finish it. The last battle sucks.
posted by empath at 12:36 PM on April 23, 2008


I'm precisely the opposite way- I really enjoyed the last battle of Episode 2, but I thought the last battle in Episode 1 was horrible.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:06 PM on April 23, 2008


I have never played any of the Half-Life single player campaigns. I feel poorer for it.
posted by eurasian at 1:09 PM on April 23, 2008


The episode 2 fight was a lot more fun when I figured out you could kill the hunters by running them over. Go Mad Max muscle car!
posted by Artw at 4:25 PM on April 23, 2008


Man, the server is full.

Thank Valve for auto-retry on the servers though. Saves me a lot of clicking.
posted by JDHarper at 6:35 PM on April 23, 2008


what's bugging you?

Nothing, really, other than, like I said, getting weary sometimes of arguments.

Tone is difficult in text, and I think we both misinterpreted one another's. No biggie.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:34 AM on April 24, 2008


I just wanted to offer my thanks to all the Midwest Meetup folks last night. I had a great time-- see you next time!
posted by Dr-Baa at 6:39 AM on April 24, 2008


I just wanted to say thanks to JDHarper for keeping me on my (burnt) toes last night. 'Twas a pleasure trading kills with you (and all, for that matter, but I remember you fucking with my captures the most).
posted by Busithoth at 6:53 AM on April 25, 2008


Damn pyros.
posted by eurasian at 11:13 AM on April 25, 2008


Just a quick note for those that might be interested -- the Major Update we've all been waiting for is out, and Valve is allowing a free-play weekend for anyone who wants to try TF2 from May 2 to May 4. Install Steam, grab the game for free (warning: it's big and may take some time to download, and may result in addiction), and give it a try for a couple of days!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:49 PM on April 29, 2008


Hmm... am I the only one worried that the unlockable items will introduce even greater tilt towards players who spend their whole damn time on the thing?

/still regards indepth knowledge of custom maps to be vaguely "cheaty"
posted by Artw at 9:27 PM on April 29, 2008


the horror...
the horror...

actually, Artw, it's not so bad playing with a buttload of medics.
unfortunately the tend to be a bit DEAF as to helping people, but you can still find some who are trying to get achievements and will heal you. try shooting and yelling at them. RESULTS!
posted by Busithoth at 7:24 AM on May 3, 2008


I used to be a medic, but since the patch I often switch to demoman because of the number of medic students popping on the servers since the patch. However I must admit than on Goldrush three or even four medics on attack can do the job, especially if they know what they are doing (or are guided by a medic veteran). More often then not, sadly, I don't see a lot of ubercharges deployed.

On defense the king is only one and can make advancing the cart a *sticky* job.
posted by darkripper at 6:48 AM on May 4, 2008


I just wanted to say thanks to JDHarper for keeping me on my (burnt) toes last night.

Bwa-ha-ha!

Glad to. Hopefully I'm getting better at this game. I usually avoid FPS games, and I just got this one a couple weeks ago.
posted by JDHarper at 8:08 AM on May 5, 2008


Notably, the medic swarm has mostly subsided.

Hopefully future weapon side-grades will not be tied to achievements.
posted by enkiwa at 3:05 PM on May 12, 2008


Those who wanted to become the ultimate medic in the universe have mostly gotten it out of their system. It was especially short on this server (and mostly limited to a small group at late hours).

But I'd just like to make sure that Gordon Frohman's thanks to the server get archived in this thread.
As well as a wide audience.

He turned us all (read: me) to mush with it. It was a tender moment of complete awesomeness for a time...

...and then we resumed the unrepentant killing
posted by Busithoth at 4:36 PM on May 13, 2008 [3 favorites]


Hopefully future weapon side-grades will not be tied to achievements.

Isn't the plan basically to do the same thing in turn with each class?
posted by Artw at 4:45 PM on May 13, 2008


Who do I contact about a lost password? Vanilla isn't sending me the promised reminder.
posted by muckster at 10:58 AM on May 15, 2008


Isn't the plan basically to do the same thing in turn with each class?
It was the plan, but Valve has supposedly been listening to the players, who are not particularly happy with the way the medic stuff happened, so it may change.

Who do I contact about a lost password? Vanilla isn't sending me the promised reminder.
Send a MeFi Mail to Stav, or email him @mefightclub.com.
posted by gemmy at 5:00 PM on May 15, 2008


For future reference if anyone has problems like that, I run the site (new URL). MeFi Mail received and password reset. Not sure why Vanilla didn't mail you correctly, but I'll look into it!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:01 PM on May 15, 2008


Jinx!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:02 PM on May 15, 2008


rotato.
posted by herrdoktor at 10:38 PM on July 25, 2008


What the fuck is a rotato?
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 10:42 PM on July 25, 2008


TWENTY DOLLARS EVEN, WHICH, YOU WILL FIND IF YOU MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS, IS THE SAME PRICE ASKED BY MOST RETAILERS IN TOWN
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:52 PM on July 25, 2008 [2 favorites]


Haha. I meant to flag someone's snarky comment, but I flagged one of Citrus's instead. Take that, Finchy!
posted by BeerFilter at 1:19 PM on August 21, 2008


we are totally poopsocking this thread
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:06 PM on August 21, 2008


is poopsocking like the new longboating or is this one of those things I'd have to have not fallen off the face of the TF2-Playing-Mefites version of earth to understand
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:21 PM on August 21, 2008


poopsocking

ps come back cortex all is forgiven we didn't like that puppy anyway
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:24 PM on August 21, 2008


dongpong.
posted by herrdoktor at 10:41 PM on September 3, 2008


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