Interview with Robin Walker

Apr 19, 2009
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Hello Folks. Here's the interview answers for the questions you asked me to ask. It's not everything by far, so if you'd like to ask for more, talk to me.


Quick Answers (Answers are paraphrased!) <----


Q- Poly Set Hats, why the set bonus then and not now?
A- Thier mistake. They're learning. Robin admits it probably wasn't a great idea the first time around.

Q- Update the Source Engine?
A- (Answer I was hoping for!) It is always updating. They might swing some new things together, but it's an engine, not a piece of concrete to replace. :D

Q- Expanded Trade Slots Again?
A- Possible, but they accomplished a lot of what they wanted to do by making it what it is today.

Q- Paintable Weapons?
A- Probably not.

Q- New Unusual Effects?
A- It's been tossed around currently it seems.

Q-HOUWAR Animation?
A- It's coming. This hat may be evil based on how many actually exist. Haha.

Q- Promo for Portal 2?
A- Cool Stuff Planned. Very cool.

Q- More NPC bosses such as HH?
A- They seem to want to do this. Based on their data, HH was a big success.

Q- VAC2?
A- No such thing really. Just updated versions of VAC.
Robin was nice enough to say we can call it "VAC2" if we want. Haha.

Q- Philosophy on Promos?
A- Promos have become something for status, but also... It's not really a way to create a cash flow as much as it is a nice cross-promotion for 2 games to have that may allow players to affliate themselves with another game they like that may not be TF2. As Robin said, it allows players to tell others what games they are interested in by wearing promos and etc. It's also a good way for Valve to include things they've wanted to include already. The Pyro RIFT axe is a very good example. The TF2 team wanted to add an axe with that ability, and it just so happened to work out with the RIFT promo.

Q- Opinion for dislike on the new weapons by some players?
A- As Robin said, none of the new weapons are game breaking, they just provide a way to keep the community interested (as well as the TF2 team), as well as provide a new challenge for long time players. Robin pointed out a good example being the huntsman. Although fundamentally not as great as the rifle, it allows a new challenge for players that have been playing sniper for a long time. It also allows for the sniper to be played differently to keep it interesting and new. Robin made one very solid point that I agree with quite a bit, "Skill will devastate over anything."

Q- Meet the Medic? It's done? Can we see it soon?
A- It might be a bit. Robin explained that in the Meet the Team videos, they have been adding more character depth with every video. The german doctor sociopath is just a bit more complex than some of the others. Some people have seen alternative versions or incompletes, but the bottom line = They'll make it worth the time.

Q- So Meet the Pyro then?!
A- Robin said they have a version of Meet the Pyro that they're pretty happy with and have been for years.... but... for some cryptic reason... They desire the Pyro to be shown last. Hmm.

Q- So what does Robin play as?
A- Soldier (as most of us know), and Huntsman Sniper, and DEMOKNIGHT.
(I told you all Demoknight was a real way to play Demo!)

All in all, Mr. Walker was very nice to set aside time for random community questions. He even had the courtesy to set aside his endless hats, and meet me hatless, to allow me to be more comfortable in my one-hatted nature.For all of you that wonders still.... yes... I left a jar of jarate there. It's in a giftbox. I'm pretty sure Corey Peters is the only one who found it so far. He said he'd "Leave it for someone else to find it."

:D

ALSO


I met with some other certain people too. In fact, one very important man. I'd like to take this opportunity to say that something REALLY cool is planned soon. You all have a lot to be excited for. Seriously. I was awestruck. (It's not DOTA 2, but DOTA 2 looks cool as well. :D)
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/nstrading/announcements/detail/216374784587712324

Shame he didn't ask about whats going on with the art style.
 

lana

Currently On: ?????
aa
Sep 28, 2009
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Nice of him to tell us exactly what robin said.
 
Jun 19, 2009
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Q- Paintable Weapons?
A- Probably not.

Thank god

Edit:
It's also a good way for Valve to include things they've wanted to include already. The Pyro RIFT axe is a very good example.

What? I understand weapon skins, but if I like the rift fireaxe because of it's stats, that doesn't necesarily mean I like RIFT. That is a terrible example...

The thanks was because of this:
Shame he didn't ask about whats going on with the art style.
 
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Mar 23, 2010
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;_; shouldn't have posted this. was supposed to be just for our group. guess it's too late now ;)

also
"I have A LOT more info as I said. I had to paraphrase because I kept running out of room, but I was very intent on keeping this on the page here. I can explain more about any of that to any who ask. :D"
 
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Duke Silas

L1: Registered
Jan 29, 2011
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The Houwar was granted when all 28 objectives in The Great Steam Treasure Hunt were completed. I only managed the bounty hat!
Backpack_Hat_of_Undeniable_Wealth_And_Respect.png

An animation for this would be pretty good.