Robin Walker: "The random drop system is only good for some types of things" - Games

[quote=Kotaku]To try and make things easier on newer players, Valve recently instituted a "random drop" policy regarding rare items in Team Fortress 2. It was a bad idea. One they regret, and are looking at changing in the future. Valve's Robin Walker has said "I think we've learned that the random drop system is only good for some types of things, like the rare cosmetic hats". "It's good for delivering items to newer players over time", he told CommunityFortress, "so they're not swamped with choices when they're starting out, and they're not required to grind achievements to get them once they reach the point where they want to start making strategic choices. For competitive players, it's obviously a bad way to deliver items." So that's a bad way. What, then, is a good way? "At the very least", Walker offers, "future packs will allow you to use achievements to get the new items, but we might move to a mode where we just give them to you. As part of our goal of supporting tournaments more, I think we'll probably add better tools for them to control exactly what players can and can't use within matches". You know, for all the company's success, I wouldn't trade places with Valve for anything. Having to deal with all these irate fans all the time? Must drive them bonkers.[/quote] Source: [url]http://kotaku.com/5319975/valve-rethinking-team-fortress-2-item-drops[/url]

Well at least they're honest enough to admit that they fucked up.

I don't mind the new system. It makes players focused on playing the damn game and not achievement whoring.

[QUOTE=John Locke;16191087]I don't mind the new system. It makes players focused on playing the damn game and not achievement whoring.[/QUOTE] Yeah, it makes them join idle servers instead...

[QUOTE=Vinh255;16191224]Yeah, it makes them join idle servers instead...[/QUOTE] Yeah I guess. I just play the game and I've got almost all of the unlocks plus a few duplicates and also two hats.

I like the new system. But they should just have random drops for the hats and shit.

I agree with Rammaster,drop out the drop system,but keep the drop system for hats. (I have the Demo's Fro)

I play this game for hours a day. I have yet to get a single hat. Even then i didn't get two sniper unlocks. I got the milestones before i got the random unlocks. To this day i still have yet to find the razorback.

I love when Valve fucks up. BECAUSE THEY LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES, AND THEY IMPROVE THE GAME WITH WHAT THEY LEARNED.

I think it's fine the way it is. Like Robin said, it gives hardcore players that chance for rare aesthetic items (the hats) and the newer, more casual players the ability to gain items while not being so stressed about grinding Achievements. And who cares if there's idling? At least they aren't actively grinding. Idling is for when you're away and not playing, and it's easier than ever with steamstats.exe. I can have a chance at getting a hat 24/7 and I'm not wasting any time actively grinding. I play at my own leisure, continuing to have that special hat chance while playing normally, and idle when I'm not. On top of this, it keeps the hats a rare sight. If everybody had all the hats, then it'd be a rare sight to see somebody WITHOUT a hat. They're a fun new sideshow element to the game and it should stay this way.

Valve wanted to fix" New player joins game New player sees 20000000000 achievement servers New player goes "Well fuk dat shiz mon" New player emails for a refund Valve ended up with: New player joins game New player sees 200000000000000000 idle servers New player goes "well fuk dat dis is wers then last tiem" New player emails for a refund I'd prefer idle = hats, rather than idle = 10 kritzkreig unlocks that you don't have any fucking use for.

FFS Valve stop listening to competitive players. Not about this but all around. TF2 isn't meant to be a competitive game.

[QUOTE=OutOfExile;16191908]FFS Valve stop listening to competitive players. Not about this but all around. TF2 isn't meant to be a competitive game.[/QUOTE] Hmm yep lets just completely ignore the only people who will be playing this game in a years time.

[QUOTE=GetCatTonight;16192018]Hmm yep lets just completely ignore the only people who will be playing this game in a years time.[/QUOTE] I don't competitive play and I'm sure I'll be playing in a year. PUT A SOCK IN IT.

6vs6 is p cool i mean no engis and no pyros and no sandman cuz its op only soldiers and medics fuck yeh

I hate the new drop system. I have 7 razorbacks and no hats.

[QUOTE=Batmoutarde;16192150]6vs6 is p cool i mean no engis and no pyros and no sandman cuz its op only soldiers and medics fuck yeh[/QUOTE] you forgot snipers and sometimes maybe scouts but no fucking fan And actually, there's a reason competitive players don't play Engie much, and that's because a sentry is, believe it or not, actually very easy to take down if you can work together at all. Sure you can OFFENSIVE ENGINERD but in the end you're better off launching crockets at some assholes.

[QUOTE=GetCatTonight;16192018]Hmm yep lets just completely ignore the only people who will be playing this game in a years time.[/QUOTE] What does playing competitive have to do with that? I'll probably still be playing in a year.

[QUOTE=GetCatTonight;16192018]Hmm yep lets just completely ignore the only people who will be playing this game in a years time.[/QUOTE] I don't competitively play ANY game and I've still been playing Opposing Force multiplayer for several years now. That game's not exactly dead but it's not getting any support anytime soon, if ever. I played Aliens vs. Predator 2 from launch to Sierra taking down their servers. Team Fortress 2 is still receiving updates, and will possibly undergo a second wave of unlockables, which will be several years in the making. Your logic is flawed.

The new drop system sucks.

I hate everybody whining about not having hats. If EVERYBODY HAD HATS, THEY WOULDNT BE SPECIAL

[QUOTE=Cidem;16192721]I hate everybody whining about not having hats. If EVERYBODY HAD HATS, THEY WOULDNT BE SPECIAL[/QUOTE] You're not special at all for having the hats because you did nothing to earn them. You just get them. You're only special because random chance said so.

[QUOTE=Evil_Toaster;16192746]You're not special at all for having the hats because you did nothing to earn them. You just get them. You're only special because random chance said so.[/QUOTE] Somebody's butthurt he didn't get a hat

Adding more hats/cosmetics and taking away random drop items should make the drop system perfect. Even though I don't have a single hat after playing for so long I still don't want them to increase the chance.

[QUOTE=Batmoutarde;16192791]Somebody's butthurt he didn't get a hat[/QUOTE] I have two.

[QUOTE=OutOfExile;16191908]FFS Valve stop listening to competitive players. Not about this but all around. TF2 isn't meant to be a competitive game.[/QUOTE] This right here. When I read the full interview and noticed that it was being hosted by a competitive group asking about tailoring the game to competitive players, I got seriously worried. Especially when Robin started agreeing with them. If they're going to listen to competitive players and actually implement everything those players want into the game, what will happen to everything that was FUN about TF2? Competitive players think the Sandman is overpowered and "stupid", so what if Valve removes/nerfs it hard? Competitive players don't like critical hits because it's a semi-random element. Valve already put in a command just for them to remove crits and now it's rather annoying finding no-crit servers. As "fair and balanced" as having no crits is, I think TF2 is a lot more unique and fun when I'm rewarded boatloads of crits for doing lots of damage. What about weapons that RELY on critical hits like the Syringe Gun? I really hope they keep their philosophy about catering to BOTH "casual" and "competitive" players equally, because I, for one, am going to keep playing this game for years and I want it to stay as fun as it ever was. I didn't get into TF2 for ULTRA SERIOUS WE HAVE TO WIN play. It's just not my thing.

i dont even get drops anymore, even though i need a flaregun. also wheres my trading >:(

[QUOTE=Shugo;16192844]This right here. When I read the full interview and noticed that it was being hosted by a competitive group asking about tailoring the game to competitive players, I got seriously worried. Especially when Robin started agreeing with them. If they're going to listen to competitive players and actually implement everything those players want into the game, what will happen to everything that was FUN about TF2? Competitive players think the Sandman is overpowered and "stupid", so what if Valve removes/nerfs it hard? Competitive players don't like critical hits because it's a semi-random element. Valve already put in a command just for them to remove crits and now it's rather annoying finding no-crit servers. As "fair and balanced" as having no crits is, I think TF2 is a lot more unique and fun when I'm rewarded boatloads of crits for doing lots of damage. What about weapons that RELY on critical hits like the Syringe Gun? I really hope they keep their philosophy about catering to BOTH "casual" and "competitive" players equally, because I, for one, am going to keep playing this game for years and I want it to stay as fun as it ever was. I didn't get into TF2 for ULTRA SERIOUS WE HAVE TO WIN play. It's just not my thing.[/QUOTE] Hey smart pants, did you read all the way through? they are not trying to combine fun with competition, they are trying to SEPARATE them to appeal to both fanbases. So the fun aspect won't be ruined, you can play competitive modes if you choose them.

i hate the drop system, cant it give me a fucking übersaw some goddamn time

Only thing I don't like is that I crit every 3rd leapyear, while others can crocket me three times in a row! (yes, that happened and it wasn't cheats because the scoreboard showed also other that weren't nuked to death) and that I've gotten atleast 30 FUCKING KRITZKRIEGS! (Yes, I'm butthurt over not having a hat)