[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507241239″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Yeah I know the picture is a bit over the top, But it finally happened. Over 2 years worth of waiting and Robots (or Tobar) have finally made it into TF2 in the form of Mann vs Machine.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, You’ll know that Mann vs Machine is TF2’s first Co-Op Mode, letting 6 players team up against an onslaught of Robots modeled after the TF2 Characters. But its less like a horde mode and more like MOBA. With upgrades, Canteens and loads of loot. Its less of a game mode and more of a new game. Really. We tried our hardest to cover it all, But first watch the promo video, play it for yourself and then come listen to our opinions of it.

Somehow, that was not the only thing Valve did this week. They added in the AWPer hand for the sniper, but only if you pre-order CS:GO. But more excitingly, Valve announced  the new version of Steam and let all Tf2 Fans a sneak peak via the TF2 Game Hub. Wow, valve. Can’t you give us 2 minutes to take it all in.

Apparently not. Because they also Officially announced the dates for this years Saxxy awards. Featuring some very interesting changes: everything must be submitted via SFM, A category called “best Original Universe” and The winners being shown on Spike TV. Plus ruskey has a little contest of his own to get your ideas for a medal into TF2. Intrested in taking part? Then head over to ugcleague.com

How did we manage to get through it all in one episode? Because we are so hyped for i46 this coming weekend. Remember to tune in over the weekend for mountains of footage. Now if its alright for you, i’m going to go pack the car and head off.

 

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507241212″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

AAAAARRRGGGH! Tempest isn’t here and Ruskeydoo has taken his role. He’s not got an easy job either. There are huge list of updates ranging from Kong King the new map, some exploits a name change for the Hou-Long Heatermaker, and Carrier Tanks appearing across your favourite maps. This can only mean one thing; the start of the Mann vs Machine ARG.

This time the Alternate Reality Game seems to revolve around capacitors. It was cracked in a day to reveal the first Blood Bothers comic book. In which Grey Mann makes his first appearance, unless you count his dubious simularity to Half-Life’s GMan.

We’re splurging on the hats this week. Not only does the player of the week get one, but another four go out to the winners of our GamersUN/Hypernia competition.

Also taking home the prizes are the competitors of the Ready Steady Pan Tournament. Each win a pin designed by Ruskeydoo himself.

The ETF2L Highlander Nations Cup draws to a conclusion with Germany fighting France for first place. This as The Reddit Round Robin begin their fifth event.

Something for the ladies as they get their own sub-reddit page Team Fortress 2X. And then there’s your emails to take the team off on random tangents. Lastly a big shout out to Joaquin for providing us with the SFM background for this week’s show.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507241161″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

It’s going to be another six years before the Chinese get to celebrate Year of the Dog but then when has sticking to a calendar ever been on Valve’s priority list? Team Fortress has a massive crossover with the SQUARE ENIX game, Sleeping Dogs in the form of The Triad Pack. Unlike usual crossovers, this has provided us with 4 rather unique weapons. Want to know how we feel about them? Well this week we talk in length about The Red-Tape Recorder, The Huo-Long Heatmaker, The Flying Guillotine, The Neon Annihilator.

We wouldn’t hold it against you if you thought that was all that happened this week. But actually there was another cross over promotion with Awesomenauts. But also the appearance of TF2sounds.com and the awesome Retro TF2 Server. But for us, the real news (for us at least) Is that we have new servers. Along witht hem, we have 2 different ways to get your hands on Lo-Fi’s Plus Beta keys and event FULL GAMES ON STEAM. Head over here to find out how

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507241044″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Don’t mind the little things. TF2’s update was small in size but could have far reaching changes with a both the Name Tag and Description Tags falling in price. TF2 is looking to roll out quick joining servers as a group. TF2 MixUp unleashes all the videos from event 4. I think The outtakes are the best (Agro).

Gabe Newell has something to say about Windows 8 and it’s not very complimentary or hopeful.

James McVinnie, a cinematic designer at BioWare shows what can be done with SFM and a couple of Kinects. Then he shows us how it was done.

Team Fortress 2 models that NECA has been working on for ages are spotted at the San Diego Comic Con and the SPUFfer, Huff, gets a tour of Valve Studios.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507241005″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

This week its all about Highlanders, Lans and Merchandise….weird. I think i only mentioned 2 of them in the episode title. But oh well, here it goes. We start by keeping up to date with all the changes in TF2 world. This week the word “Fixed” creeps up a lot. But you can also have a look at the new steam beta and possible change your status to “Looking to play” or “Looking to Trade”

But then the show really starts. Firstly You can now see all of the TF2 Mixup Videos. Each of them featuring celebrities from across gaming and gaming culture, playing in 1 epic Highlander game. Head over to TF2mixup.com for all the details and to help donate some money towards Child’s Play, the charity the whole event was created for.

Or if you’d rather give your money to TF2, then head over to eXtines sponsorship drive. What is the drive for you ask? Well its to get 2 of the best US teams over to UK’s i46 Lan party. Just imagine. The best in europe and the best in the US, finally get to go head to head. Don’t you want to see that? Or maybe you’d like to see the Medals Ruskydoo and Comedian Made for the winners of i46’s highlander cup

Then to round it all off, valve have put loads of more merchandise for us to buy, 2 t-shirts, One with a ballonicorn and the other with…..shall we say both sides of the pyro. But as usual the fans have trumped valves merch with their own.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507240936″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

It’s official, Pyromania is over. The little piles of cocaine have all vanished, the scorched keys and crates have returned to their normal state. To celebrate?? the items released over the last few weeks are now all available in bundles at the Mann Co. store.

But that’s really not the biggest thing that’s happened this week. That esteemed prize goes to Steam’s GreenLight initiative. Valve is turning over the role of finding and rating new games for the steam platform to the steam community at large.

The Summer sale is in effect. We’re all buying every game there ever was at hugely discounted prices, so that we can have them and install them when we finally get bored of Team Fortress 2. If you’re anything like us, that means your pile of shame is just going to bigger. At least we now have Steam badges. And why would you be playing games when you could be making your own films now that the Source Filmmaker we talked about last week is available for everyone?

Before you start thinking we’ve forgotten about TF2 for a week, we haven’t. There’s the return of FortTeamCharlie, the pre-SFM TF2 video episodes. The sneak peek of the next episode is below or you could find it on our YouTube channel.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u0Ij1i7UA8]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507240864″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

After everything that happened last week, its kinda hard to think that we’d have much to talk about this week. But sure enough there is plenty. Mainly because we didn’t cover everything last week. We missed out Source film maker. In fact we wanted to cover it properly, so we invited MaxofS2d to join us and explain exactly why is so damn amazing. of course we know, But he knows better, faster and harder than we do.

But if you thought that was all we could muster, you are so very wrong. We also want to show you a sneak peak at a game called Hero’s Academy. When you see the TF2 characters making an appearance, then you’ll know why we want to show it to you. Just in the same way we want to tell you about Notch (creator of minecraft) being on the Swedish team for the highlander nationals.

If you’ve ever thought that we the TF2 community were unlike any other community, you were right. Plus, we have proof. a blog post by Yanis, Valves economist, reveals that the level of charity in TF2 is so high, that it makes pricing item very hard for Valve, due to statisics being hard to read. Damn us for being so charitable.

Finally to top it off (besides your emails) we have three great things to show you in community corner. A Lego scene depicting Pyro vision, The Robot chicken hat coming to the real world and Leon being turned into TF2 (see above).