The healing is not as rewarding as the hurting!

[Sokrates]

[QUOTE]The healing is not as rewarding as the hurting!
August 24, 2010 - TF2 Team

Since our recent TF2maps.net Art Pass Contest, our level designers have gone back to their default state at the TF2 offices, which is to say, doing nothing, taking naps, eating lunch, and complaining. This has become a bit of a poison pill for the rest of the TF2 team, all of whom possess strong opinions about working (against it), naps (pro), lunches (very pro) and complaining (big fans).

As part of the fallout, this morning the writing team refused to do their work for the month, which was to write today's blog post and name some hats. At first we weren't terribly concerned—partly because most of the team wasn't even aware the game had writing in it, but mostly because everybody here, unlike the writers, knows how to perform a skill AND write words. (Here's a pro-tip for you youngsters: Build your career on a skill that isn't something five-year-olds can do.)

But then someone pointed out that, even though writing's incredibly easy work, it's still technically work. So we reached into our comprehensive bag of solutions, and pulled out our well-worn one-trick pony: Community Contest Time!

Fans have been mailing us for some time now, asking for a contest that didn't involve modeling or level design. So now they get their wish. That's right: you'll be competing over who can describe hats the best. Introducing the first ever TF2 Hat Describing Contest. In it, you can compete with other fans to write fictional missives about the glory of your favorite TF2 hat, with the prize of getting your words right into TF2 itself. The text will show up in the item descriptions, so it should be short and fun. Check out the FAQ for the full breakdown.

You probably thought we were done for the day too, but we've barely started this blog post. The fine folks over at Team 17 are about to release Worms Reloaded this week. Being massive fans of their work, all the way back to the original Alien Breed, we thought it'd be fun to do something with them. So, we approached them and politely asked if we could include an iconic element of their game in TF2. The conversation was going swimmingly until they said that the best item to use would be the Holy Hand Grenade. We shuffled our feet and nervously explained that some soon-to-be-fired idiot had removed all of TF2's grenades.

But luckily, we were saved by our own shoddy workmanship. While we removed grenades from the game during early development, we left two of them dangling on the front of the Soldier as a teasing reminder of what once was. So, to celebrate the release, we're going to give a nifty Soldier visual update to anyone who buys Worms Reloaded before Thursday, September 2nd, allowing him to sport two Holy Hand Grenades and a new Soldier helmet. Here's what it looks like in-game:

Finally, a couple of quick competitive notes:

* At 11am PST on Thursday 2nd, we're going to embarrass ourselves in front of the world by playing in an exhibition Highlander match. Six Valve TF2 members are going to join six pros and 6 pub players for a match that will be filled with triumph and heartbreak, most likely a lot of cheating, and maybe even some TF2. LaroLaro has created a nifty poster for the event, because winning the Polycount contest wasn't enough for him.

* The Electronic Sports League's Season VI Signups are up. Members of their team have also helped us track down a variety of client exploits and file hacking tomfoolery over the years, so give them a hug for us.
[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://www.teamfortress.com/images/posts/hat-contest.png[/IMG]
[url]http://store.steampowered.com/app/22600/[/url]

[Exilion]

Oh shit I get a soldier helmet and the holy hand grenades!
Fuck yeah!

[Maurice]

Why do neither of your threads include the soldier bit?
Either thread sucks.

[Overacheiver]

These ninja-ing blog post threads are getting to me. And also, the title got my hopes up. :smithicide:

[Populus]

Another pre-order item?

Come on Valve..

[Dachande]

i am disappointed that i waited all day for this

[Maurice]

[QUOTE=Populus89;24326594]Another pre-order item?

Come on Valve..[/QUOTE]

But it's an actually good game this time.
(Sorry to all sam and max lovers)

[Ian]

I bought worms reloaded before this blog post, because of nostalgia.

[Lt Kyle]

Worms Reloaded reminds me of the game Territory Wars.

[Akasolidus]

I'm not sure about the worms reloaded. But oh well. Neither affects me.

[Mega Tuna]

Was expecting meet the medic, I was disappointed.

[Albatross]

Well, I don't need this one, that's for sure.

[AshtonArdoin]

I predict this thread will be full of complainers about the BONUS item that DOES not affect gameplay WHATSOEVER.
Just do what you did with the halo, replace it with something that you want to kill more. For me, I put UberMunckin's old avatar.

[Arsonist]

[url=http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=960]Where you submit your entries[/url]

[Akasolidus]

TF2 Hat Describing Contest* Rules
Submission Rules
Give a brief, interesting description of the item in 50-75 words or less.
You must be the sole author of the description and the material must be original to you.
The winning descriptions for each item will be determined by the TF2 team and may be used in game.

*This isn’t really a contest—you aren’t going to win anything. You may receive a hearty handshake or a slap on the back, but that’s not guaranteed either. But we might put your entry in the game, and isn’t that cool?

--------- FAQs ---------

Question: How do I participate?
Answer: Reply to a thread with your suggested description for that item.

[Dachande]

[QUOTE=Mega Tuna;24326646]Was expecting meet the medic, I was disappointed.[/QUOTE]

wow really

people still expect that? they even released official word that valve didn't like it

[Spiderface]

-snip, im an idiot-

[Maurice]

[QUOTE=Dachande;24326675]wow really

people still expect that? they even released official word that valve didn't like it[/QUOTE]

Yes, and that's why they're remaking it.
What are you thinking

[I Am The Walrus]

[QUOTE=AshtonArdoin;24326655]I predict this thread will be full of complainers about the BONUS item that DOES not affect gameplay WHATSOEVER.
Just do what you did with the halo, replace it with something that you want to kill more. For me, I put UberMunckin's old avatar.[/QUOTE]DL?

[Sparkwire]

[IMG]http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/underwire/images/2009/03/23/holygrail189.jpg[/IMG]

GOD YES
/caps

[HazeFyer23]

I need to get Worms Reloaded now!

[Minilandstan]

Damnit valve.
Get your head out of your wallet.

Do you really need MORE cash?
You own one of the most major game distribution services of ALL TIME.
Every game you make is 100% quality and awesome.

And you sold out.
I am disappointed.

But on the bright side I could write fan fiction for the first time.

Reminds me of the "why I love my mother in 25 letters or less" contest.
I always won second place.

[Sparkwire]

[QUOTE=minilandstan;24326750]Damnit valve.
Get your head out of your wallet.

Do you really need MORE cash?
You own one of the most major game distribution services of ALL TIME.
Every game you make is 100% quality and awesome.

And you sold out.
I am disappointed.

But on the bright side I could write fan fiction for the first time.

Reminds me of the "why I love my mother in 25 letters or less" contest.
I always won second place.[/QUOTE]

if they really wanted to sell out like that they would have done the hat from the start, not a day away from release.

[Maurice]

[QUOTE=Sparkwire;24326785]if they really wanted to sell out like that they would have done the hat from the start, not a day away from release.[/QUOTE]

It's still running for a week. And the game will be more expensive from release on.

[AshtonArdoin]

[QUOTE=I Am The Walrus;24326719]DL?[/QUOTE]

not unless people ask for lul

props if you get it

[Mazakrov]

[QUOTE=minilandstan;24326750]Damnit valve.
Get your head out of your wallet.

Do you really need MORE cash?
You own one of the most major game distribution services of ALL TIME.
Every game you make is 100% quality and awesome.

And you sold out.
I am disappointed.

But on the bright side I could write fan fiction for the first time.

Reminds me of the "why I love my mother in 25 letters or less" contest.
I always won second place.[/QUOTE]

Chill the fuck out.
It's just visual and they are just trying to help the developers have a bigger success.

[Enth]

Oh man, they're forcing us to make accounts on SPUF to submit ideas. :ohdear:

[NOT King Shit]

Oh man I did a bunch of descriptions before now. Time to dig through my own post history.

[AshtonArdoin]

[QUOTE=minilandstan;24326750]Damnit valve.
Get your head out of your wallet.

Do you really need MORE cash?
You own one of the most major game distribution services of ALL TIME.
Every game you make is 100% quality and awesome.

And you sold out.
I am disappointed.

But on the bright side I could write fan fiction for the first time.

Reminds me of the "why I love my mother in 25 letters or less" contest.
I always won second place.[/QUOTE]
Valve probably arranged this as a free deal between Team 17, I wouldn't doubt it.

A Bigger Company having compassion and helping a smaller company?
NONSENSE

[Venomousbeetle]

[QUOTE=minilandstan;24326750]Damnit valve.
Get your head out of your wallet.

Do you really need MORE cash?
You own one of the most major game distribution services of ALL TIME.
Every game you make is 100% quality and awesome.

And you sold out.
I am disappointed.

But on the bright side I could write fan fiction for the first time.

Reminds me of the "why I love my mother in 25 letters or less" contest.
I always won second place.[/QUOTE]

You are an idiot.

Valve asked if they could honor them.

READ. :frog: