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.

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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