Going to visit Valve

Apr 19, 2009
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1,722
Last week I sent an email to Gabe and Robin about if I would come to Valve over my spring break and naturally they said yes. However, in the effort of full disclose I am posting a screenshot of every email to prove that this is really happening. I will also be updating these as new emails pop up.

The Thad Warton Emails
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thad2.PNG

The Robin Walker Emails
robin1.PNG

robin2.PNG


Now if you neglected to read those emails I will give the short version; I am going to Valve on Monday the 21st of March at 10 A.M. and at some point during that I will have an interview with Robin Walker about TF2.

The interview will revolve around 3 main questions running the gambit from balance to hats to the Mann co. store. From each of the 3 main questions the interview would branch off to more specific questions like the balance of 1 class or why did you add that color of paint. After all of that if we still have time it would move into more obscure and less serious questions like why does the Pyro have a purse in his/her/it's locker or what are the specs of the computers that Valve use to test TF2 on.

The question tree so far is:

screen-capture-13.png


Now this is were you the community steps in. Don't like one of the main questions? Speak up and provide me with a better one. Want to add in a sub-question? Post in the thread and I will add it to the list.

One last thing before you guys go off and post your questions, the rules:

1. Take some time and think about the question, don't give me dumb questions like "why is this game so horrible now." Ask about what they were thinking when they added this weapon or this paint.
2. If I pick your question I will add it to the OP.
3. Please post all questions in the thread. Any questions sent using PM will be ignored. I want every question to be publicly seen for transparentness.

Now go ahead and post your questions!
 
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Aug 10, 2009
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I'd love to see if they would answer why they introduce new content so often (assuming it's to keep TF2 fresh), were there any other alternatives they considered, and how often they plan to keep introducing items into TF2.
 
Mar 23, 2010
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Do they think slate paint is too blue? Perhaps another version of team spirit?
Do they group the fists of steel in with natascha/sandman in the "never should have been added" pile?
Please remove heavy picking up his own sandvich, it is like a fucking dead ringer.
 
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Moose

L6: Sharp Member
Nov 4, 2009
312
616
You should ask whether or not they're planning to add more map bundles to the game!

Or maybe some other form of support for custom maps.
 

Mr. Wimples

L6: Sharp Member
Jan 27, 2010
276
226
You should ask whether or not they're planning to add more map bundles to the game!

I'm sure they intend to add more maps, there's just so many good ones out there.

Additionally, however, I think the quality control on maps should be a bit tighter. I noticed a few commonplace aesthetic issues on Fronteir, like a displacement lifted above ground level, and not to mention the fact that it could use a bit of optimizing.

Either way I'm excited to hear the results.
 

Fruity Snacks

Creator of blackholes & memes. Destroyer of forums
aa
Sep 5, 2010
6,394
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I'm sure they intend to add more maps, there's just so many good ones out there.

Additionally, however, I think the quality control on maps should be a bit tighter. I noticed a few commonplace aesthetic issues on Fronteir, like a displacement lifted above ground level, and not to mention the fact that it could use a bit of optimizing.

Either way I'm excited to hear the results.

I think this would be a good thing too, but maybe ask what they are looking for in a map when they choose, i'm sure people would want to know this...
 

Lord Ned

L420: High Member
Feb 11, 2008
421
174
Are they ever going to do another Behind-the-Scenes/Artbook like Raising the Bar?
 

Moose

L6: Sharp Member
Nov 4, 2009
312
616
I'm sure they intend to add more maps, there's just so many good ones out there.

Additionally, however, I think the quality control on maps should be a bit tighter. I noticed a few commonplace aesthetic issues on Fronteir, like a displacement lifted above ground level, and not to mention the fact that it could use a bit of optimizing.

Either way I'm excited to hear the results.

I'd assume they intend to release more maps too, but in the past they haven't done so very often. Also, there really aren't all that many great maps out there. When you consider maps that are serious contenders for making it into the game, you really don't come up with much.
 

Vincent

&#128296 Grandmaster Lizard Wizard Jedi &#128296
aa
Sep 5, 2009
912
684
Do they plan on ever revisiting TC, maybe with the possibility of a new map or maybe even a slight tweak to the mode to make it better?

Or maybe even consider adding a custom TC to the game, not that there is very many custom TC.
 

Fruity Snacks

Creator of blackholes & memes. Destroyer of forums
aa
Sep 5, 2010
6,394
5,571
Do they plan on ever revisiting TC, maybe with the possibility of a new map or maybe even a slight tweak to the mode to make it better?

Or maybe even consider adding a custom TC to the game, not that there is very many customs.

There are only 3 TC's i've seen since playing tf2.

Meridian, Strata and Great Plains... Meridian looked finished, Strata is in developement, and I have no clue what happened to great plans...

Ironically, i was looking at a KoTHTC map design I made a couple days ago..
 

nik

L12: Fabulous Member
Aug 14, 2009
987
564
Can you get me a signed picture of Gabe that says "To nik"

I would literally love you forever

EDIT: My questions are:

What do you think the future of PC gaming will bring?
When can we expect to see source in Linux?
What do you think is the viability of abandoning restricted development for consoles, and sticking to more demanding PC-exclusives?

What kind of music do you guys listen to at the office?
Does Valve run any fun company events?
When can we see a walkthrough of Gabe's knife collection?
 
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Vincent

&#128296 Grandmaster Lizard Wizard Jedi &#128296
aa
Sep 5, 2009
912
684
There are only 3 TC's i've seen since playing tf2.

Meridian, Strata and Great Plains... Meridian looked finished, Strata is in developement, and I have no clue what happened to great plans...

Ironically, i was looking at a KoTHTC map design I made a couple days ago..

TC has always interested me yet I hear it constantly being bashed, kinda saddens me. I fumbled with a tcplr_ idea but that fell pretty flat.

An official ctftc_ or even another regular cptc_ would be awesome to me. I don't think Valve has a lot of incentive though, maybe I'm wrong.
 

Mr. Wimples

L6: Sharp Member
Jan 27, 2010
276
226
An official ctftc_ or even another regular cptc_ would be awesome to me. I don't think Valve has a lot of incentive though, maybe I'm wrong.

Or make a TCTC; Each territory is split up into a 6 territory mini-TC match.
3-5 HOURS OF FUN

More ontopic, you should totally ask if they plan on releasing some sort of polycount for the Engie soon.
 

Zhan

L5: Dapper Member
Dec 18, 2010
208
244
Very cool, I was actually also considering visiting Valve sometime, but my spring break is several weeks later so I wouldn't be able to meet up with you. Do you live in the Seattle area?
 

Terr

Cranky Coder
aa
Jul 31, 2009
1,590
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Hmm. Is anybody else going to be there? I'm sitting a few blocks away right now.
 

Exist

L6: Sharp Member
Oct 31, 2009
306
136
IMO,
I would like to hear why they continue to pump crap into tf2.
I would like to know why VALVe went in the art direction they did. I mean really, that was such along shot for an art direction. VALVe was lucky it worked
I would like to know VALVe's stand point on model optimization with the increasing power of graphics cards and processors.
I would like to know why VALVe has such hat fetish.
I would like to know where Ep3 is
I would like to know the exact shipping date of Portal2
I would like to know how VALVe plans to incorporate PS3 and XBOX into to Steam.
I would like to know when hats will be added to CS:S
I would like to know VALVe's standpoint on North Korea
I want to know how VALVe is preparing to innovate with Ep3 or later titles
I don't want to know why Gabe thinks he's funny
I would like to know when the next Mann comic is coming out.
I would like to why VALVe released Alien Swarm. I would have preferred AS without VALVe's stamp
I would like the exact amount of money it would take to buy out VALVe
I would like to know the amount of players VALVe generated for Minecraft
I would (on a personal note) like to know how Gabe proposed to his wife.


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