Who do I email in Valve to make a request

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XFunc_CaRteR

L5: Dapper Member
May 14, 2009
248
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I'd like to get a Red payload trainwatcher entity - a trainwatcher that displays the payload cart owned by Red being pushed to caps that are defended by Blu. I've tried all kinds of different ways to make it, but Valve didn't set up payload that way. I was wondering what email I could send such a request to in Valve.

(Please no comments on, "Why don't you just make the payload Blu, like normal?" That defeats the whole point of my map, Blu Industries.)

Any help greatly appreciated.
 

Dr. Spud

Grossly Incandescent
aa
Mar 23, 2009
880
854
To be perfectly honest, if the point of your PL map is simply to make Red attack just for the sake of switching the teams, then it's a bad point! All it does is create an extra layer of confusion and break away from established TF2 rules.

And the thing is, whoever sees your email at Valve probably thinks so too. You'd be asking them to code a new feature for you that only serves to break basic game conventions - I somehow don't see that ranking very high on their to-do-list.

I mean I hate to burst your bubble here, but it's like making a CounterStrike map and thinking, "Oooh, what if the CounterTerrorists planted the bomb and the Terrorists defused! Awesome!" No... not awesome.
 

XFunc_CaRteR

L5: Dapper Member
May 14, 2009
248
17
This is how things evolve in creative undertakings. They start simply because someone wants to try something different. Always has been that way. Always will be.

In my case, I am tired of playing payload maps where the world is always a red-tinted abandoned mine out in the desert.

I wanted to do it, and I don't have to justify why. It's a game. Games are not to be judged based on the criteria of "necessity". It would be absurd to do so.
 
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(-TN-) Ben2

L4: Comfortable Member
Apr 10, 2009
172
15
you can have the map a bluish looking color, and still keep the blu attacks red defends setup.

as stated before, it is would be absolutely pointless to do this and worse than pointless it would cause confusion, and whenever someone strays away from basic set-up of maps, people don't like.
 

XFunc_CaRteR

L5: Dapper Member
May 14, 2009
248
17
you can have the map a bluish looking color, and still keep the blu attacks red defends setup.

as stated before, it is would be absolutely pointless to do this and worse than pointless it would cause confusion, and whenever someone strays away from basic set-up of maps, people don't like.

"Pointless" is a judgement. Never judge artistic efforts with the criteria of necessity. There is no "point" whatsoever to playing Team Fortress 2 to begin with. It is purely an exercise in desire - in having fun. Likewise, it was my desire to play with the normal payload scenario and do something fresh. I do not have to justify this to anyone.

Besides, you haven't played the map now have you?
 
Jan 20, 2010
1,317
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I agree with Carter on this one, just with a little less animosity. :p

There's no reason in having red attack blue instead of blue attack red. The only confusion it might cause is someone joining a team and thinking they're attacking instead of defending for a few seconds. It might be a game convention, but I don't think it's an entirely set in stone one.

Also, Carter, if you want to see an example of a blue attacking red map that does not look like an abandoned mine in the desert, take a look at Gorge. You could certainly make a gorge style PL map with blue still attacking red.

Either way, I don't see this as pointless, just somewhat unnecessary. But it's his choice whether or not he wants to do it, and emailing valve can't do any harm.
 

XFunc_CaRteR

L5: Dapper Member
May 14, 2009
248
17
Thank you.

The animosity comes because I've taken so much grief and flak over this.

If people don't want to play it, don't play it. But I can't stand people telling me that I shouldn't have created something I wanted to create.
 
Jan 20, 2010
1,317
902
Thank you.

The animosity comes because I've taken so much grief and flak over this.

If people don't want to play it, don't play it. But I can't stand people telling me that I shouldn't have created something I wanted to create.

Being defensive as such doesn't really help, just makes people want to prove you wrong more. Just keep on doing what your doing and ignore anyone who says otherwise.
 

lana

Currently On: ?????
aa
Sep 28, 2009
3,075
2,778
Thank you.

The animosity comes because I've taken so much grief and flak over this.

If people don't want to play it, don't play it. But I can't stand people telling me that I shouldn't have created something I wanted to create.

I can see what you're trying to say. You want to make it so that Red's attacking because it's different. Unfortunately, as Spud's pointed out, it's a bad idea. It's not that you shouldn't have created it (hell, you can use the same map and just switch sides,) it's just that the premise of having Red attack and Blu defend goes against what players have already learned.

You're saying that most creative visions start when someone decides to think different, but if I were to tell you that two plus two is twenty-two I'd be doing basically the same thing as you're doing here. It's different and nothing's stopping me, but it's just not the right way to do it.

We're approaching this as designers giving you advice. The greatest response to your map will be, "Why is Red attacking? I wanted to defend!" or "Why is Blue on the defense? I wanted to attack!" I'm not saying it's a bad map, but please just listen to us and keep the roles as is. You won't regret it.
 
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Ninjilla

L420: High Member
Sep 13, 2008
445
116
I don't see why Red attacking and Blu defending is necessary for a blue tinted level, honestly.
 

Jakkarra

L4: Comfortable Member
Aug 26, 2009
167
36
Just have it so RED has captured the area from the BLU's similarly to Takeback Mountain.

Fixes all of your problems.
 

Keonyn

L2: Junior Member
Mar 27, 2010
56
17
I don't see any problem with him making the map this way if that's how he wanted to make it. The only real problem is that the system isn't set up to do so. Changing it to allow it to be done the opposite way wouldn't be that big of an alteration either if Valve decided to listen to his feedback (which I doubt they will to be honest).

If that's how he wants to make his map, then that's how he can make it. If it fits his aesthetics better then so be it, it is his map and his creative endeavor after all. I highly doubt much confusion will result from the switch, since the objective windows and the setup time generally makes your role quite obvious. So, if he wants to try it, then more power to him as far as I'm concerned. I'm not going to give someone grief just because they're not going to do it the way I'd do it.

Ultimately, I don't see Valve making the change necessary anyways, regardless of how easy it'd be to do so. Still, if he wants to try and that's how he wants his map designed, then go for it man, and best of luck.

Anyways, the question's been answered and now it's just being used as a soapbox for people who don't want to help, but just want to attack the concept. I say lock the thread.
 
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grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
aa
Mar 4, 2008
5,441
3,814
BLU attacking RED is a game mechanic. This is why teams switch on A/D maps.

Players know that BLU attack and RED defend, they are accepted game rules to help players understand their role.
 
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Psy

The Imp Queen
aa
Apr 9, 2008
1,706
1,491
To be blunt; don't waste your time. The convention of RED defending and BLU attacking has been set in stone since the game was released. Changing it for the sake of being unique is not a valid reason for what will result in mass confusion from players in the map.
 

zpqrei

Theme Changer Extraordinaire
aa
Oct 19, 2008
1,067
1,150
To be blunt; don't waste your time. The convention of RED defending and BLU attacking has been set in stone since the game was released. Changing it for the sake of being unique is not a valid reason for what will result in mass confusion from players in the map.

This, basicly.