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72 hours may seem like forever when you’re waiting to go on holiday but it flies by when that’s all the time you have to build, test and finish a map from scratch.  Fr0z3n from TF2maps.net joins us to explain what was involved in their first ever 72hr Winter Classic. Perhaps it’s good that they are following that competition with the comparatively more sedate Major Mapping Contest #10. This is in two parts; testing the metal of map makers’ layout prowess. Then the detailing stage, where the previously untextured maps are coloured in and made pretty.

Speaking of pretty, Robin Walker’s head has been removed from the game. And speaking of heads, Gaming Heads have a new item: The Engineer, yours for a mere $269.99.

Gabe is looking to raise some coins by racing cars. A donation of just $700 will get you a free t-shirt and that warm feeling you can only get from giving kids [your salary].

James McVinnie clears up some of the confusion surrounding his End of the Line update. You can buy a fully coloured 3D printed turret for €20 and lastly we welcome you to check out the glory that is Beard Fortress.

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More changes have been made to the Short Circuit. We still question if this weapon can be balanced as its new version makes a huge difference to the way engie is played. From the very same update we have started to receive strongboxes. Could this have to do with the end of the line update? Only time will tell.

In other news, 3A have shown off their new Machine Pyro figures for the first time. showing off that they look like they intend to do all (or most) of the Machine classes. We also found out the price tag for the Machine Heavy. Its too much for us to say outloud, click on the link to see for yourself.

Last weekend also marked CES, at which, many prototypes for steam machines were on display. We go through the look and feel of these machines and say which ones we would pick up and why. However, if its a pickup group your looking for, but TF2lobby is down. Then why not take a look at TF2center.com which is currently in open beta. We’ve talked about it before, but now anybody can jump in and give it a go.

Or maybe a Female Demoman is more what your looking for? These fantastic models created by Chemical Alia are her latest work on changing the gender on all of the classes in TF2. Then to top it all of, Sir grey has provided another video of an even larger Spy crab bet. this time worth over $16,000 in unusual hats. Wow.

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Our hosts on the show this week are not what you’d normally expect. Along with Tempest and Chronos we also have Heartsman, Sirgrey and Jimo. The man behind at least 1 of the steam guides you’ve read. But he is also lucky enough to be part of the steam machine beta. As such we’ve asked him onto the show to talk about his experiences with the machine and the controller. Its also a great time to get his impressions (along with that of SirGrey and heartmans) of the Smissmass Events.
However, Its not all good news. We talk this week about that fact that steam was Attacked on the last day of its sale, via DDOS. We chat about the flaws in the current system and the flaws in other people. So much so, that we talk about a claimed sharking case on TF2outpost. Instead of pointing fingers, we ask how could valve or the community prevent these things from happening?

Also featured this week is the first picture of the Vinyl merc….painted. They look so cute. Plus a fantastic SFM video that we felt the need to show you. Mainly because its nice to see people making SFM videos that aren’t for the saxxies.

Don’t forget to check out our post on Thenodi’s latest creation. A real life HoUWaR

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I know, I know. The Smissmas update was last week, but we didn’t talk about it last week, as we were to busy flipping through the archives of humor (see episode 252 for details). Now we have the time to digest the mass of Smissmass items, Festive weapons, and balances. Lots of weapon balances. As with any patch involving weapon changes, we talk in great depth about their effect in competitive, pub and mvm scenarios.

Outside of TF2, the rest of steam is still in the holiday sale. Featuring, sales, flash sales, Community sales, boat sails…..wait. Scratch that last part. But it does feature holidays cards that can be crafted into badges. But its when you do the crafting that you could end up with an exclusive TF2 cosmetic.

Over the month of December, TF2 Mixup have partnered up with Yogscast & the Humble Bundle to run another round of charity matches…..However, in a revolutionary move, its no longer between 2 teams, its against 4. A 4 team arena tournament. Featuring Team Yogscast, Team Star_, Team Captainsparklez & Team Nilesy. Watch all of the matches including the explosive final here.

Then to round it off is Hatmash. A great site trying to find the greatest hat of all time. you are presented with 2 cosmetics from TF2. You click on your favorite. Its that simple. Check it out here.

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Its the run up to Christmas, So we have no update to talk about this week. But that’s fine. I’m sure something will be dropped soon….please….Valve. But in the mean time, we decided to make content of our own. What am I talking about? I’m of course talking about our interview with Makani. She is the person responsible for drawing the latest comic series that were enjoying on TF2.com. We ask a whole host of questions in our stand alone interview, which you can check out here.

However, its not just us blowing our own trumpet on how good an interview we got, We also talk about the 300 Steam machines that have now gone out for beta testing. We’re a little upset that it turned out to be a US only affair, but laws are laws. If you want to have a look first hand at somebody uncrating (yes I mean uncrating) one of these, check out this video, or to see how TF2 plays on a steam machine, take a look at this.

Have you ever wanted the heavy to wish you happy birthday? Or the demoman record your voice mail message for you? Now you can. Gary Schwartz, the voice of said 2 classes and other valve characters, is doing a kickstarter for a project to help theatre actors be better prepared. What does that have to do with me getting a custom ringtone you say. Well, if you donate $50 to his kickstarter, he will record a personal message in the voice of one of his characters. Awesome or what?

Then lastly, its all about the raffles. Bazzar.tf’s crystal raffle has now ended, but you can still go back and check out the games that were available, including a little reference to our editor Doug doing a cooking show. Plus TF2r.com are holding a Christmas raffle where you can get your hands on a pile of items to make your friends jealous.

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I wanted to call this episode “Team Fortchess 2” but Doug got his way, and frankly I’m okay with that. This is after all a lovely episode. This week’s update was a simple one, Crates 75, 76 and 77 have been added along with the 2013 Naughty and Nice winter crates. There were a few new strange parts added too, best of which was the Unusual-Wearing Player Kills, something for the poor and Irish.

Just three months after the first, there’s a new Team Fortress comic out called unhappy returns. The covers look uncannily like some classic comics. Best of all we have had an interview with Makani, the artist who draws these comics and a quite a few of those that came before.

Raffles are getting pretty common place now but bazaar.tf have set their apart with their Crystal Bazaar; if you look very closely you can even see Doug getting a mention on The BZ quiz.

Vladar, more famous for his real-life Heavy’s minigun, has created the festive sandvich which we all seem to like a lot more than the TF2 Chess for which but for the love of Doug this episode would have been named.