[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507186561″ 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 Valve has given us a glance into what they are planning for the rest of the year. When i say glance, i really do mean just a glance. Their biggest piece of news is that they are working on something big, but they can’t tell us what. The rumor mill is full of potential projects it could be. Not only do we go through some of the most common one, we also talk about how they have confirmed that this will be the year we will finally have meet the Pyro in our hands, More Saxxy awards and big things happening in the workshop.

But that’s all what valve are planning on doing in the coming year. This week however, they still managed to put out an update, featuring a brand new user created item The Conquistador. But if you want some new items right now, You might consider Pre-ordering Jagged Alliance. If you do, you’ll get the Battle Bob, Bushman’s Boonie and the Merc Medal.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for this coming Saturday. That will be when the Communities vs Pros III event will be going live. If you want to get any details or watch it live, EOReailty is the place to look. In the mean time, why not get hold of the new Steam mobile apps we talked about last week. Whats new you ask? This week is open and free for all to try.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507186495″ 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 is the week that steam took a huge leap into the mobile market. This week Steam launched a beta version of its app for Iphone and Android. We managed to get our way into the beta to be able to tell you all the features coming your way. Steam chat, steam groups and even player profiles all accessible while on the move. We even has a 45minute video demonstrating it all.

But valve didn’t stop there. They also patched TF2, adding in a new community made item, Aladdin’s Private Reserve. But it was in the Beta version of TF2 that the big changes happened. Both the heavy and the spy get nerfs that don’t have people calling out injustice, but actually smiling with intrigue.

Then you’ve got gamingheads taking pre-orders for the medic statue. Yes we talked about the statue before, but now you can actually get hold of one, instead of just pining over valve copy. Announced this week was the official line up for the next Communities vs Pro event. The apply named Cold War, will be happening on February the 11th. If you want to watch it live, just head over to eoreality.net/events

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507186378″ 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” /]

We have been flooded with items in TF2 promoting a new pre-release on steam. Actually, when I say flooded what I really mean is we’ve got three of them. Two helmets and a badge are available in genuine quality if you wish to pre-order the upcoming RPG Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.

The TF2Maps.net item we mentioned last week has finally been placed into the game. The Mappers Medallion is now not only in the game, but up for grabs for the winners of their latest contest, any previous winners and if the stories prove to be true everyone who entered the Artpass contest. That’s a bucket load of winners.

Meanwhile, over in the world of eXtelevision, eXtine has started his own Video show about the state of the game and the US competitive scene. He’s managed to take the considerable feedback he received from his first green-screen experiment and made this second episode into something very interesting. The still as-yet untitled, “Show with no name” is well worth checking out.

The TF2CSA (Competitive South Africa) currently have sign ups open for their first, foundry Cup. The odds of winning are still pretty good, so if your ping to this corner of the world is low enough sign up for fame and glory.

It seems like this show is all about competitions and prizes. Facepunch are hosting a series of quick draw modding competitions. In this first one they asked teams of two (see link for random team names) people to make an item for TF2 in the theme of “Retro futureistic”. If steam punk is your thing keep tabs on this site. If you want to give it a go yourself take heed of Pogo’s Resources and Tutorials post.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507186243″ 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 we all got up at 6am to do this extra long episode. Actually, only one of us did that. WM from Oz fortress fame, joined us this week. Not only is he a great person to talk to, he is also the best person to talk about not only Oz Fortress, But the Kritzkast Lo-Fi Offclass Cup too. Yes that’s right, Another chance for people to win a Lo-Fi Longwave, if you live in the Australasia.

But lucky for him (and us) There is still a lot more to talk about this week. Valve must have returned to the office after the holiday break, because this weeks update has been cleaning up after the christmas update. To celebrate this we let Sic Semper loose on our blog to point a few things out to Valve.

We also wanted to make you guys aware of an update to the white list generator, that lets you have multiple presets and a shiny search bar. Then we have our last time, the TF2Maps.net are hosting their latest Map making Contest. The Dynamic Payload Contest. This one is going to be good.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507183939″ 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” /]

The Magnificent 2012 Lo-Fi Give-away ended right before this week’s show was recorded so we were all still glowing with internal philanthpist light. That was until we discovered exactly how many Saxton gifts our player of the week had given out. For the record, it is a long way over 9000!

The good news for those seeking to wear shorts or thongs is that Valve has decided that winter is over already. As such they have called back all the Winter Crates, but as our guest host Ruskeydoo found out, they’ve not been replaced with normal crates. I sense an update to the update soon.

In the meantime we have a couple of YouTube videos for you. The Booty O’Saxton Hale! tells a Demoman’s story though in-game footage, a Machinima style little used with TF2 given the options of SourceFX and Gmod.

The second video is 51 seconds of frags in the Super 8 style of early colour cinema with a strolling sound track. Ain’t no Sunshine – Murder has never sounded so relaxed.

The geek art of CGHUB artist, SLiD3, depicts the cast of TF2 as super-deformed miniture characters and lends our conversation to making a collectable series of toys.

Finally John Patrick Lowrie is cornered at MagFest2012 and made to read a letter from Red Sniper to MLP’s Princess Celestia.

While we’ve got Ruskeydoo here we weren’t going to get away with not talking about the new UGC seasons and Wireplay Team Fortress 2 6v6 League (Season 10). We’re fine with this as we have our own Cup to talk about. KritzKast has teamed up with OzFortress to bring you OzFortress Presents: KritzKast Lo-Fi Offclass Cup or OPKLOC for short.

The letters section is brings us news of an excellent TF2 webcomic; <<IFA>>Rickbobby‘s impressive generosity and involvement in Community vs Pros; and the fake Sentry update. Brought to you by the same guy who created the fake Guard Dog update.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1507182352″ 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” /]

Happy New Year everybody! This is our first episode of 2012, recorded on new years day. It may be 2012, but we still have to deal with the last events of 2011. There was a second update before christmas we didn’t get a chance to examine last time. So we take the time now to chat about Saxton’s Own Spirit of Giving and how special it is to us [edit: and KatieKillz too, apparently] . Not to mention all the festive gifts and treats valve has shared with us. If you’re thinking some of them look very familiar you may have seen Hideous’ Weekly Warehouse on our blog.

But not only have they thrust more festive treats into our hands, they have also added in a very special item, for a very special someone ….. we just have no ides who it is. But we have a good idea as to which gender she is.

On top of that, we have a very sneaky peeky or a possible new gaming heads statue of the medic. Where did you get this picture? you might ask. It was spotted by somebody while on a Valve tour .. hmmmmm. If that doesn’t keep you entertained, we have a twitter contest to win a Lo-Fi Longwave, Ruskeydoo’s UGC Medals being snuck into the game and an absolute Mass of emails from you guys.