Major Update Speculation V31: Gamechanging Edition - Games

[QUOTE=Johnny Joe;50219766]Didn't it also turn out that the guy who made that big exploit hack-pack found a way for it to bypass sv_pure 1 anyway so now sv_pure does nothing but hinder honest skin users?[/QUOTE] I looked it up a while ago, and I think that was a temporary thing. First, he tampered with the items_game.txt, which was fixed by adding a signature check to it. Then he redirected the schema file's adress in the hosts file, which got patched as well. I don't think there's any way to circumvent sv_pure at the moment, besides for some sounds. Unless someone uses some kind of hacks, but that's VAC's job to catch from that point.

[QUOTE=Jetamo;50219635]So you're saying you're fine with players knowing where you are as a spy at all times? Or hell, as any class?[/QUOTE] 1) Skins can't show disguised or cloaked spies, you need actual cheats for that. 2) The only reason wallhack skins still exist is because Valve is blatantly unaware and/or too lazy to fix issues in their own engine, using sv_pure as a catch-all "fix" instead. Everyone seems to be utterly ignorant that wallhack mods utilize a VMT parameter called $ignorez. Wallhacks aren't just some magical thing that come as the price to modding. $ignorez has legitimate uses such as HUD materials, but on models it can give an xray effect. Valve noticed this years ago, and supposedly fixed it. However due to bad coding, shit engine or both, it can still work if you use mat_reloadallmaterials before joining a server, effectively bypassing whatever Valve did in the past to block it. For all they know, they think it's still fixed since 2011. So let me be clear. It [i]is[/i] possible for mods to exist in this game without them letting in blatantly unfair wallhacks. All it would take is proper code to block this $ignorez parameter. Unfortunately, Valve just isn't interested in the modding community like they used to be. Take a look at how neutered CS:GO is compared to CS:S, things have clearly changed. I'm surprised they haven't gotten rid of sprays in TF2 yet. Remember all the exploit packs on Gamebanana in late 2014? Around a month later, all Valve servers coincidentally turned on sv_pure for the first time in 2-3 years. Instead of actually fixing the wallhack workaround in their engine, they disabled mods indefinitely. Valve seems to favor this route now, just look at what happened to community servers. HTML MOTD exploits everywhere? Just block community servers from showing up by default. Way to go, devs! Wait, you didn't actually fix anything. I feel bad for the guy who has to pay the TF Team's salaries. About sv_pure, it's just cancer. The only time it's remotely useful is during competitive games, not in a Degroot Keep pub. Do I even need to mention the constant crashes and audio crackles as well? It's not just a "fuck you" to innocent modders (and the whole Emporium community, I should add), it's terribly coded to make your game fuck up if you even dare install a mod. TL;DR It's terrible crap pile of code that barely works, is exploited every week, has no noticeable effect on pubs, shuts out the mod community, and just screams complete laziness. There is no way you can justify it.

someone should at least try to message eric with this info, as optimistic as it is - maybe they'll actually consider fixing it

[QUOTE=Croc Shock;50220185]someone should at least try to message eric with this info, as optimistic as it is - maybe they'll actually consider fixing it[/QUOTE] Fixing it is one thing. Getting them to take sv_pure off of Valve servers is another. Ideally I would like to see sv_pure turned off in public Valve servers while private ones such as Competitive (maybe even Mann Up?) have it on. Who knows if they will ever do this.

to be fair they've been more open to community stuff lately, they even got the DR bodies fixed, so getting sv_pure 0 back might not be so far fetched?? I'd love to see it again

[QUOTE=Snowshoe;50220146]1) Skins can't show disguised or cloaked spies, you need actual cheats for that.[/QUOTE] Is this 100% accurate? I remember installing a skin/mod about 2 years ago that replaced a Heavy cosmetic with a neat coat, but it wasn't made quite right so if a Spy disguised as a Heavy and cloaked I could see the coat hovering around the battlefield. At least I assume the mod was the issue so I ended up uninstalling it and never saw it happen again.

[QUOTE=Razi The Red;50220240]Is this 100% accurate? I remember installing a skin/mod about 2 years ago that replaced a Heavy cosmetic with a neat coat, but it wasn't made quite right so if a Spy disguised as a Heavy and cloaked I could see the coat hovering around the battlefield. At least I assume the mod was the issue so I ended up uninstalling it and never saw it happen again.[/QUOTE] First question: Was the spy on your team? Spies don't go completely invisible when cloaked if they're friendly. That's regardless of any mods. As for the cosmetic, it sounds like it had missing cloak proxies. Which probably explains why it never cloaked with the Spy. Enemy spies always go 100% invisible when they cloak, no matter if they have cloak proxies or not. It's hard coded and can't be changed without hacks. [editline]derp[/editline] C_TFPlayer::DrawModel checks if the player is fully invisible and stops drawing them. [url]https://github.com/LestaD/SourceEngine2007/blob/master/src_main/game/client/tf/c_tf_player.cpp#L2358-L2373[/url] C_TFPlayer::GetEffectiveInvisibilityLevel checks for friendly players and sets their invisibility level slightly below max, meaning friendly players don't meet the criteria for being hidden in the above function. Thus, the end result is enemy spies are always hidden completely, while friendlies aren't. [url]https://github.com/LestaD/SourceEngine2007/blob/master/src_main/game/client/tf/c_tf_player.cpp#L2305-L2347[/url] Skins can't change this code no matter what; you would need LMAOBOX or similar memory hacking programs. It's out of the scope of typical exploit packs and whatnot.

[QUOTE=Croc Shock;50220213]to be fair they've been more open to community stuff lately, they even got the DR bodies fixed, so getting sv_pure 0 back might not be so far fetched?? I'd love to see it again[/QUOTE] Why I are you commending them for fixing something that wasn't supposed to be broken in the first place? Isn't that their job to fix bugs in their game?

im not saying "thanks for fixing something thats been broken for 10 years", im saying "thanks for listening to the community again" its a small start (and a late one) but a start nonetheless

[QUOTE=Snowshoe;50220146]BIG FUCKING WALL OF TEXT[/QUOTE] deep breaths man, deep breaths. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Why reply" - postal))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=cha0s;50220960]deep breaths man, deep breaths.[/QUOTE] that isn't even that big and it's relevant discussion, what are you doing

[QUOTE=Croc Shock;50220949]im not saying "thanks for fixing something thats been broken for 10 years", im saying "thanks for listening to the community again" its a small start (and a late one) but a start nonetheless[/QUOTE] Remember when everyone was lauding Valve for the 2013 blog post detailing their plans for the year? "It's a step in the right direction!" They said. "It's a start!" They exclaimed. "Finally, Valve is communicating!" They cried out with jubilation. Yes, it certainly ushered in a new age of communication and transparency, one that lasted all of five minutes. Oh, and the plans they delineated in the post? They still haven't come to fruition three years later.

Remember the TF2 map beta testing initiative? Neither do they

[QUOTE=Lord Exor;50221394]Remember when everyone was lauding Valve for the 2013 blog post detailing their plans for the year? "It's a step in the right direction!" They said. "It's a start!" They exclaimed. "Finally, Valve is communicating!" They cried out with jubilation. Yes, it certainly ushered in a new age of communication and transparency, one that lasted all of five minutes. Oh, and the plans they delineated in the post? They still haven't come to fruition three years later.[/QUOTE] What are you talking about? Not only have we gotten more communication blog posts from Valve, but we also have 2 members of the TF2 team posting on the TF2 subreddit now. Also the TF2 team communicates with key members of the community, they've worked with B4nny and other members of the competitive community on comp matchmaking and they have worked with Fr0z3nr on with issues related to community maps. They also seem much more receptive to the community providing fixes for things then they have in the past.

What are [I]you[/I] talking about? Where's this outpouring of communicative blog posts you speak of? I see requisite posts for major updates and certain select events, and that's about it. Nowhere have we gotten anything teasing, hinting at, or explaining upcoming projects. Closed-doors discourse between Valve employees and select members of the community also doesn't count. So essentially, par for the course.

yep totally expecting this game a happy future with overwatch around the corner and entire months between tiny updates that fix some hud stuff in matchmaking Jill finds when reading /r/tf2 while taking a shit. fucking rip

[QUOTE=ComodoreBluth;50221526]What are you talking about? Not only have we gotten more communication blog posts from Valve, but we also have 2 members of the TF2 team posting on the TF2 subreddit now. Also the TF2 team communicates with key members of the community, they've worked with B4nny and other members of the competitive community on comp matchmaking and they have worked with Fr0z3nr on with issues related to community maps. They also seem much more receptive to the community providing fixes for things then they have in the past.[/QUOTE] You should honestly just stop trying to reason with Exor. He's obviously not going to be satisfied until the TF Team tells him everything he wants to hear. Like, it's one thing to be cautious about this sudden surge of communication from Valve, but it's another to constantly whine and moan about how they're not actually communicating and how they're not discussing upcoming events (even though they've been bitched at before for doing that exact thing,, because you know, things can happen that prevent updates from being pushed through, and it's usually better to not say anything until it's all finalized).

Or they can simply tell us when they hit a snag. You know, actual transparancy. We still know next to nothing about their development process.

[QUOTE=HOUSE MASTER;50221576]yep totally expecting this game a happy future with overwatch around the corner and entire months between tiny updates that fix some hud stuff in matchmaking Jill finds when reading /r/tf2 while taking a shit. fucking rip[/QUOTE] yeah i'm sure that the $40 competitive shooter is going to drain all the players away from the free pub shooter that consistently has 50,000+ people playing at any given time

[QUOTE=HOUSE MASTER;50221576]yep totally expecting this game a happy future with overwatch around the corner and entire months between tiny updates that fix some hud stuff in matchmaking Jill finds when reading /r/tf2 while taking a shit. fucking rip[/QUOTE] Overwatch made me appreciate TF2 much more, and when it comes out you'll feel the same trust me.

Personally I'll be playing both occasionally. I've never been a fan of dedicating myself to solely ONE game. This is the part where Exor brings up my playtime in TF2 over the last two weeks. Again.

I don't get why people think TF2 and Overwatch can't exist in the same reality as fun, popular shooters. Like, you'd think people would be excited that the games have such an overlap, since that means people that first start playing through Overwatch could experience TF2 and be pulled in, and vice-versa for TF2 players. I mean, it's not like TF2 players people actually like and want to keep around would see Overwatch and go "ANOTHER Team-based FPS? That's it, I'm fucking done with TF2! I'm sick of this bullshit!" I'm moving over to Overwatch, but it's not like Overwatch was the straw that broke the camel's back - I'm just burnt out after 7 long years of playing TF2, which I would imagine would be understandable, and it's not like I'm never gonna touch the game again, I still have every item I own and I still really like Prophunt/Dodgeball/Surf/pub servers.

petition to lower wristband equip region for spooky sleeve combos [T]http://i.imgur.com/uW48Gpf.png[/T]

[QUOTE=Rajikaru;50221990]I don't get why people think TF2 and Overwatch can't exist in the same reality as fun, popular shooters. Like, you'd think people would be excited that the games have such an overlap, since that means people that first start playing through Overwatch could experience TF2 and be pulled in, and vice-versa for TF2 players. I mean, it's not like TF2 players people actually like and want to keep around would see Overwatch and go "ANOTHER Team-based FPS? That's it, I'm fucking done with TF2! I'm sick of this bullshit!" I'm moving over to Overwatch, but it's not like Overwatch was the straw that broke the camel's back - I'm just burnt out after 7 long years of playing TF2, which I would imagine would be understandable, and it's not like I'm never gonna touch the game again, I still have every item I own and I still really like Prophunt/Dodgeball/Surf/pub servers.[/QUOTE] I'm not pissed at Overwatch for being good competition for TF2, I'm pissed at Overwatch for not being good competition for TF2. It's weird but I kinda feel you there, playing TF2 for so many long years. I realize that I can't get excited over the updates anymore, no matter what they bring. I want a new game like TF2, and if anyone could deliver, it was Blizzard. But apparently, even they are not up for the task. They are so obviously new to FPS, making so many obvious and less obvious mistakes of varying impact, there's just not that much to be excited about here. Like I said, you can try Overwatch, you may find it fun at first, but most likely it won't keep you in for that long. Even when Blizzard realize their mistakes, the game's not built on a such a solid foundation and they can't change that now.

I think you're over exaggerating its flaws or just overthinking the game in general. It's an FPS made by a reputable gaming company with a pretty good history backing it. It's already insanely popular and isn't even open to the public yet. It's unique and does a lot of interesting things that even TF2 hasn't done, it has very deep and varied gameplay, and it's a very promising game. Games that have way worse flaws have gotten to be popular as well, just look at games like League of Legends, Smite, GTA online, et cetera.

Maybe Overwatch could draw attention to character/class based fps games from non fps players, boosting both the player base of tf2 and Overwatch

[QUOTE=Rajikaru;50222099]I think you're over exaggerating its flaws or just overthinking the game in general. It's an FPS made by a reputable gaming company with a pretty good history backing it. It's already insanely popular and isn't even open to the public yet. It's unique and does a lot of interesting things that even TF2 hasn't done, it has very deep and varied gameplay, and it's a very promising game. Games that have way worse flaws have gotten to be popular as well, just look at games like League of Legends, Smite, GTA online, et cetera.[/QUOTE] My reasons for not trusting Blizzard here are quite pragmatic. I see something that doesn't work, I point and scream. Like everything about Mei, you just don't do that in a game like this. It's already being criticized, too. That's the most obvious example, there are more little design decisions which aren't the end of the world, but add up to make a bit of a mess, like headshots for everyone, no distance falloff, same (slow) movement speed for everyone. These things don't necessarily ruin the game, but they make it less about fighting and more about being the right hero since you can be very effective without necessarily being in the right spot or aiming too well. And besides, once a meta emerges, that part becomes redundant as well, so Blizzard will have to shake things up with new heroes that will just shuffle the team composition a bit without adding any depth. And from a historic standpoint, yes, Blizzard has a good track record, hence I trusted them initially. But there is a reason why Titan failed, and now the same people are making Overwatch. It's not much to worry about, but it's still there. And I'm not saying it won't be popular. Just not something worth abandoning TF2 for, just like LoL, GTA or Smite. Shame, really.

i'm expecting a flood of dumb ratings from the hiveminded tf2 community but i'm looking forward to overwatch a lot more than tf2's current future tbh overwatch is optimized more variety more balance and more importantly, it's a fresh new game that will get it's own set of updates. tf2 at this rate is just a literal lawn mower that you have to rip start just to get into a server. i believe that overwatch will semi kill tf2 (at LEAST blow it out of the water), but in all honestly valve needs to fucking step it up before i can even consider playing tf2 again.

[QUOTE=Rageguy;50222572]i'm expecting a flood of dumb ratings from the hiveminded tf2 community but i'm looking forward to overwatch a lot more than tf2's current future tbh overwatch is optimized more variety more balance and more importantly, it's a fresh new game that will get it's own set of updates. tf2 at this rate is just a literal lawn mower that you have to rip start just to get into a server. i believe that overwatch will semi kill tf2 (at LEAST blow it out of the water), but in all honestly valve needs to fucking step it up before i can even consider playing tf2 again.[/QUOTE] TF2 has vastly larger competitive capability from a skill standpoint, matchmaking providing the best tools for valve to start committing to rebalancing weapons and if all that works off better optimization would be an ideal future expectation All that said OW no doubt will be a breath of fresh air and offer a lot more to someone that has burned out on TF2. I just wouldn't place it in the throne of being a TF2 killer or a somehow 'superior competitior' in the market

Overwatch being $40 was the real deal killer IMO