VanillaTF2

The folks over at TF2maps.net have announced the entries for their sixth contest based around (a)symmetrical maps. Previous winners of the annual competition, excluding last year’s artpass contest where the winner was guaranteed to be an official map, have gained notoriety ranging from being added to the game (plr_nightfall, winner of contest #3) to being used in competitive leagues (ctf_wildfire, winner of contest #4 and used in last years Wireplay 7v7 season) so the results of this contest maybe of some interest to you.

The maps are predominantly single and multi staged attack/defend maps – with a small contingent being 5-CP. It should be noted that the contest’s entry requirements stated maps should be playable on 32-man servers meaning most, if not all, maps may potentially be too large for 6v6, although some may be of use for highlander matches.

Read more…

Update: Apparently the fixed broken demos from before the hatless update. Thanks to Honeymustard for the heads up.

The Replay System that was earlier implemented in the Team Fortress 2 Beta has seen the public release. For the aspiring movie makers, the replay system makes things heaps easier as you can easily record and upload footage of your epic gameplay and share it with others. The system allows for multiple-POV and camera angles, so you too can make “Meet the…” esque videos now!

Never again will you have to resort to grunts and potentially lewd hand gestures. Replay-enabled servers record every round of the action, allowing you to make movies of your awesome performance (and the embarrassing performances of others) in the Replay Editor, using different camera angles, sexy motion blur and antialiasing.

To commemorate this occasion, Valve has announced the “The Saxxy Awards” which allows you to submit your moment of glory (Shout to eXtine!) to Valve and earn some online prestigious. There are 20 categories in total, ranging from Most Epic Kill to Best Pwnage. Check out the micro-website for the event here for more details. Detail regarding entry is given below;

Please keep entries to under a minute, and at a resolution of at least 720p. Only entries created between 12:00:00 AM GMT, Thursday, May 5th, 2011 and 11:59:59 PM GMT, Thursday, May 19th, 2011, and submitted by 11:59:59 PM GMT, Thursday, May 19th, 2011, will be considered.

The update also adds new Hats and Achievements. So don’t wait, fire up Team Fortress 2 and get going! Check the full update log here and the FAQs and full details for the contest here.

- a.

Ah, the ever generous Valve, churning out content update and fixes like there’s no tomorrow! Well pre-pubescent boys and fat girls in their mid 20s, Valve has released a special Halloween update for Team Fortress 2 — including two custom maps and goody Halloween-exclusive stuff! Put that razor blade away and read on, here are the interesting changes:

• Added TF2Maps.net Art-pass contest winners:

1. Mountain Lab
2. Mann Manor

• Significantly improved engine vertex compression (large reduction in per-model memory usage)

Halloween 2010 Event -

• Mann Manor is haunted by the Horseless Headless Horsemann.
• Random gift drop in Mann Manor.
• 4 new Halloween achievements.
• Added new Halloween hats.
• Added a new Halloween weapon.
• Added Gift Wrapping of gifts to the store.
• Added a health penalty to the Rocket Jumper.
• Added the Sticky Jumper for Demomen to practice jumping.

CP_Coldfront also gets a slight facelift with some tweaks from the creator, Icarus.

A complete changelog can be read here. As always, launch Steam to acquire the update.

- Abhorrence

Custom PC heavyweight Alienware has teamed up with MovieVault to bring together a movie contest with some excruciatingly good prizes. Provided your 90second clip gets selected, you have a chance to win an Alienware M11x Gaming Notebook.

The Movie Vault and Alienware are excited to announce the latest Movie Vault contest, The Best Damn Intermission.

Producers from the United States, Canada, UK, Russia, Germany and France are invited to submit their ultimate gaming videos for a chance win over $1,500 in prizing provided by Alienware, including the grand prize: an Alienware M11x gaming laptop!

Full details about prizes, eligibility and rules after the jump.

Made for the Sapphire Tek-9 Movie contest, this incredibly slick movie features the Russian team – XEN. Directed by grid. Check it out below, aside from some minor color issues, the movie is a blast – featuring some impressive 3D visuals and great frags.

XEN Team Movie -
Directed by: grid
Featuring:
howcanwewin
spirit
edisan
NOLF
West
Kira!

PLDX Link

- Abhorrence