Epic Mistakes: Valve's broken weapon unlock system

Gamer Limit writes "While Valve's intentions seem to be good, I can't help but think that this new system is irrevocably broken."

[syvergy]

It's completely random, and broken.

I saw a guy in game get the same item 11 times in the space of a single match. Crazy.

[AcesAndEights]

Yeah, the old system had some flaws, but completely random? I'm not even the least bit interested to log on for that. That's going to be my protest, and I urge all you who don't like it to do the same. If you protest by idling like others, how will Valve notice? If they see a mass decrease of people logging on, then they're bound to sit up and take notice.

[njr]

I don't think the old system had any real flaws. All you had to do was unlock achievements to get your weapons. The only problem was that Valve didn't mention that when you play the game, so some people didn't know how to unlock them.

[Proxy]

All the achievement whores are going to stop playing?

I like this update just keeps getting better and better! :)

[evrfighter]

Im with Proxy.

What is broken though is making a dedicated server logging in with two friends and unlocking new weapons within an hour via statpadding. Sounds ridiculous but that's how I got my Pyro weapons.

[Voozi]

So who else is sitting in achievement_idle right now?

After 3 days of farming, I've gotten the following....

- KGB
- Kritzkreig
- Bonk! Energy Drink
- Ubersaw
- Blutsauger
- Axsinguisher

All stuff I already have...AWESOME

[xlx-russ_92]

dude i've been playing for 40-60 hours, and i didnt get anything new. i only got stupid scattergun which i already had. Valve u disappoint me.

[Voozi]

Woohoo just got flare gun!

At this rate I'll have a 2nd pyro set just like I have a 2nd medic set...so I guess I need to get 2nd scout & heavy set before I start getting Spy/Sniper stuff. AWESOME

[-MD-]

I played normally from thursday-sunday and got 5 duplicate items so last night decided to rack up some hours sittin idle in a server and got an additional 3 duplicate items.

Still nothing new with about 30 hours play.

[stevedawonder]

This sounds like another reason not to buy TF2.

[v1c1ous]

the core game is still entertaining, i don't know ANYONE in their right mind who buys a game based on the DLC...

that's like saying "i'm not going to buy oblivion cause shivering isles expansion has bugs"

[Pandamobile]

TF2 is the deepest multiplayer game around. Good luck finding one with more depth than TF2.

[chrisjc]

I hope it changes back...

[narked]

i hate the random thing, been working my ass of with the pyro and then some player gets the achievement randomly :/ sucks tbh.

this proves something i have been saying, most games are becoming more noob friendly.

[Proxy]

Like to "pwn noobs" just because you've played 12 hours a day for the last 8 weeks? A MMORPG just might be the answer.

And don't worry, your "leet wares" wont be given away to anyone who has a real life.

[Voozi]

But Proxy, TF2 is a MMO now. We're now grinding/farming for weapons ;)

[TheIneffableBob]

The reason they implemented this system is because an assload of people complained about unlocking through achievements. Now this is their punishment.

[narked]

proxy i am not saying im better than anyone, or that i spend hours and hours of gaming, actually i dont, they are just removing the challenges from games cause they are 'hard' to get.

what is the fun of playing a game were achievements are random? what is the purpose of an acheivement then? like saying wow i got the acheivement of killing someone who killed me at the same time... ye so what? but getting that achievement and it leads to something bigger it's nice.

i got 7 unlocks in 1 map today :/ and i hated it.

the way you are seeing things, a rank system is useless in a game, because the people who play a for an hour a day cant compete with players who game for 8 hours a day.

the idea of a reward system is to actually reward you for what you have accomplished, not doing it randomly. At least do it randomly but not so frequently. Like it happens one in a million.

and you mention MMORPGs, yes to be honest i used to play mmorpgs, and one thing I liked about it is that when you raid there is only 1 or two drops of an Epic item for a 24 man raid. not a whole bagful of epics which makes the point of acheiving that item useless.

it would be better in this case to just include all stuff from the beginning, if you want equality and you are against a reward system.

but if like me you like rewards for your efforts then let us go back to the acheivement scheme.

[Proxy]

If you DON'T want TF2 to be a MMORPG, then give everyone every weapon.
If you want TF2 to be a LITTLE like a MMORPG, use random unlocks.
If you want TF2 to be a LOT like a MMORGP, give the weapons to acheivement whores and nobody else.

Maybe I'm old fashion, but I like those FPS where everyone has the same weapons and abilities, and then it all comes down to skill. MMO's and single player games are great for unlocks. I don't want TF2 to be a MMORPG, so the new system is a step in the right direction IMO, but they could do better by giving everyone every weapon.

Today, everyone clamors for recognition from random faceless internet people, "look at my achievements," or "I've unlocked this gun and you haven't." Congratulations. If your lucky, your "achievement" may bring you a hollow compliment, from someone you'll never see again.

[narked]

what i dont agree is that currently tf2 is in the middle. and this system is not working. you cannot have unlocks based on both achievements and randomness.

if you are going for a reward based system then some weapons have to be restricted, take as an example battlefield 2 or 2142, (i havent played bc). the game is based on a very deep reward system and for people who like that scheme then yes you should have weapons unlocked as you level up, or perform some action.

if you want a heavy competitor game were it boils down to ONLY skill, then go for an all weapon scheme, like UT3.

but this really going according to preference mate.
what i said regarding the noob thing is that team fortress 2 began using the achievement scheme at first and it worked for some people. others found it too hard and started complaining (they have every right to do so). currently valve are testing out this system so they try to please both ideologies but i think that in that aspect its failing. IMO if they want to do this random thing, it is better to just give all weapons to everyone but then they would have to scrap the achievement scheme.

personally i think that the acheivements and unlocking weapons by achievements is fun. its not comparable to an MMO im sorry. just because you have to study to get a degree at university doesnt mean that you compare it to an MMO. its a reward scheme, if people do not like it they can go to other games which don't have it. hell ut3 is an amazing game which does not use this system.

[nightelfmohawk]

They take forever to release games, and they mostly only know how to do FPS or first-person perspective games.

/yawn

I did like Portal though.

[-MD-]

Everything you say is pure garbage go shoot yourself.

[Dimly]

Wow, I can't believe they would have that happen

[RAAAAAGE]

All the stupid achievment whores playing sniper and spies all the time is ruining the game. Hopefully it'll be better in two weeks. They should just release all this stuff at once.

[thematrix1298]

just bought the game at 50% had so much fun playing on the weekend

[thematrix1298]

I agree some what they are bunch of assholes who praise M$. They only know how to make FPS. But they do make great FPS for PC.

[nightelfmohawk]

Otherwise I'd start to wonder what it is they're doing during the 10 years between games.