FF Steamworks/Orange Box/etc. Discussion

[Ihmhi]

Since we've had a lot of discussion about FF and the Orange Box etc., all of the discussion should now go in this thread.

Here's the basics.

Five mods were brought onto Steamworks. Steamworks is basically what Valve promised Steam would be doing five years ago - allowing mods to update via Steam just like supported games.

Fortress Forever hopes to one day be on Steamworks so its easier to improve and update the game. Steamworks would solve a whole bunch of our problems, like a stats system, getting patches out, etc.

For now, we're not. Proceed with conspiracy theories and such herein.

[squeek.]

As an aside (not really), it's likely we need to be on the OB engine before we get Steamworks support.

[reaper18]

Originally Posted by squeek.

As an aside (not really), it's likely we need to be on the OB engine before we get Steamworks support.

But wouldnt it be better to at least try to get noticed by Valve? Especially with the new patch out and the increase in the games professionalism/playability/looks/originality and player base?

[KubeDawg]

Honestly, I don't think this mod is quite ready for a release like that, despite how badly I'd like to have it on Steamworks. There are key quirks with almost every class that are IMO still being messed with to hopefully come to a compromise that is fit for most players.
Without getting into a huge list of what a lot of people think needs to be improved, I think the few most important things to make this mod better is to get decent and seasoned modelers/animators on the dev team so we can improve the player models/skeletons.
Having more options, better usability, would greatly improve this mod. Who wouldn't want to be able to customize their HUD or add a cool custom lightning effect to their conc blast when it goes off? Player/world customization is what all HL based games have been about, and unlocking the ability to do such things will be better for people on all sides.
The third and probably most important thing I think this mod needs to improve overall gameplay, is the release of a training map or in depth training guides to get people more familiar with how to play. This could also break down a lot of barriers where some people complain about newcomers not doing their objectives.

On a final note, I think FF has great potential to have a ginormous player base, I just hope everyone is willing ad able to do such things to take it to that next step. Oh and we need better servers out there. It seems like a full server of 20 people lags quite a bit. I know about all the explosions and such, but I honestly believe Gameservers and other companies should provide options to upgrade to higher fps servers, 500fps, 1000fps, etc.

[Shadow00Caster]

There are motions in the works to start getting on the track for this.

[Thormier]

This would really help the mod out

[s0undch4s3r]

Originally Posted by KubeDawg

I think the few most important things to make this mod better is to get decent and seasoned modelers/animators on the dev team so we can improve the player models/skeletons.
.

yes. i agree. probably the most important thing that FF needs. needs shadows too if applicable.

[reaper18]

Shadows are bad at the moment.
You can see them through the floors for the most part, and it looks very cheaply done. Imo shadows were better off disabled

[Credge]

Originally Posted by reaper18

Shadows are bad at the moment.
You can see them through the floors for the most part, and it looks very cheaply done. Imo shadows were better off disabled

Yes.

This is a problem in TF2 as well.

[Circuitous]

Originally Posted by reaper18

But wouldnt it be better to at least try to get noticed by Valve? Especially with the new patch out and the increase in the games professionalism/playability/looks/originality and player base?

Valve is well aware of us. Lack of notice is not the issue.

Originally Posted by KubeDawg

Honestly, I don't think this mod is quite ready for a release like that, despite how badly I'd like to have it on Steamworks. There are key quirks with almost every class that are IMO still being messed with to hopefully come to a compromise that is fit for most players.

This is also the case with every mod released on Steam. All of them need work - some of them need a lot.

Originally Posted by KubeDawg

Without getting into a huge list of what a lot of people think needs to be improved, I think the few most important things to make this mod better is to get decent and seasoned modelers/animators on the dev team so we can improve the player models/skeletons.

While I agree, it's not the sort of thing we'd hold up going onto Steamworks for. The models aren't great, but look at Zombie Panic or Age of Chivalry. Animation isn't exactly their winning points.

Originally Posted by KubeDawg

Having more options, better usability, would greatly improve this mod. Who wouldn't want to be able to customize their HUD or add a cool custom lightning effect to their conc blast when it goes off? Player/world customization is what all HL based games have been about, and unlocking the ability to do such things will be better for people on all sides.

How is that what HL modding has been about? That's what making a mod has been about, yes, but not playing one. Customization was a neat little extra, and a lot of customizability with regards to models and textures is already in the game - note the modding forum.

Originally Posted by KubeDawg

The third and probably most important thing I think this mod needs to improve overall gameplay, is the release of a training map or in depth training guides to get people more familiar with how to play. This could also break down a lot of barriers where some people complain about newcomers not doing their objectives.

This has been an objective for ages, and doesn't need to be restated.

If it seems like I'm picking on you, it's because I am.

[s0undch4s3r]

I know this has been talked about. Why won't Steam/Valve post
FF as a third party mod on the "My games" Steam GUI?
Does Valve feel threatened by a FREE third party TF mod over their precious
money making TF2? FF is worthy and should be on the list. Can we petition FF
to be on Steam?

On a side note...whoever made the map FF_2fort, gets an A+.
Thank you...it kicks ass, extremely spammable and I get ton's of LOLZ playing it.

Dev's are kicking ass with the updates. 2.1 is great.

Good game.

[greenday5494]

um dude. look on the steam website. been there since september.

[MatiZ]

I'm sorry but i got small question... Will be there any release between 2.1 and OB?

[Gator-]

That's the plan if I'm not mistaken to patch up some urgent settings. Perhaps you'll see more than one patch from here to OB.

[Ihmhi]

Originally Posted by MatiZ

I'm sorry but i got small question... Will be there any release between 2.1 and OB?

It's a possibility.

Right now it basically comes down to what gets done first: the current slew of new content we are (always) working on, or the Orange Box conversion.

As it stands, trepid_jon apparently has a lot of the OB stuff working on his personal build of FF. Of course there's bugs and stuff like that, but it's not ready to even be tested. I'd say it's pretty likely that you'll see a patch before the OB conversion, although we can't quite say what will be in it just yet. It's not because we're being secretive or anything like that; we really have not yet decided what's going to go into the next patch and which WIPs can be fit into the next one in a reasonable timeframe.

[MatiZ]

Ok, will be the next version released on Steam? I think it will grow FF community.

[Gator-]

Originally Posted by squeek.

As an aside (not really), it's likely we need to be on the OB engine before we get Steamworks support.

There's a possible answer...

and YES! It would help the community grow...I'd expect hundreds of pubbers 24/7 when this happens. If not thousands.

[CaLeB-]

Originally Posted by Gator-

and YES! It would help the community grow...I'd expect hundreds of pubbers 24/7 when this happens. If not thousands.

lolololololololol

[Lt Llama]

As a total OB noob, in what way will the transition to OB influence mapping? What's the main differances and will there be problems with EP1 maps?

[Firefox11]

Ask GigaByte, he seems to be angry at OB Hammer mapping ;D