A big thanks for Fortress Forever
I'd like to congratulate the FF team on a very polished and playable game.
I've been following FF over the years (way back when there was only a few images on the 'media' section of this site).
Right from the start, the Devs have kept true to the TF formula, with Source graphic goodness thrown in. The models and their animations are great and the maps have benefited from the extra graphic boost the Source engine gives. I also like how the maps have ported the essentials from their original TF/TFC counterparts. Innovations (like the cloaked spy) have been done well and the balance of each class has been just about been nailed already.
I'm a TFC veteran who has played it since the first day it was released - (on Wireplay in the UK when you had to actually subscribe to their service to use their servers). In my opinion, FF is a damn good mod and is the obvious upgrade for TFC'ers - I, for one will be playing it for as long as there are servers out there.
There are a few minor issues with FF that should be fixed soon, these are mentioned in a number of other threads. TFC evolved over years as subsequent HL patches were released. FF will also need time to fine-tune its gameplay, so a bit of patience is needed for this to happen.
I have tried to get into TF2 for about a week now and its absolutely useless. This game might appeal to a 10 year old, but its gonna bomb big-time with older players and anyone who has played TFC for a while.
I remember the 'leaked' TF2 screen images from years ago - all military style figures and a lot of hype about the game play, the 'Commander Mode', in-game comms and a stack of other innovations. To be honest, Battlefield 2 has all those elements (and you can fly around huge maps in a jet if you want). TF2 is in reality just a watered down TFC with stupid looking graphics and mind-numbingly boring gameplay - not the much anticipated game we were all hoping for.
I'm no conspiracy theorist, but the way Valve have pushed the pre-order thing for the Orange Box package - and allowed players early access to TF2 - was probably accellerated by the release of FF.
All FF needs to do to blow TF2 away is to get itself noticed by the gamers out there. It looks like its already been noticed by Valve, and I don't think they are too happy about the high quality of this excellent mod.
If I worked on the production of TF2 I would be too embarassed to admit it to anyone.
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