CATEGORY: Interview

On February 18 this year, Valve released an update to Source SDK Base, making the current Team Fortress 2 code publicly available. The community which has been creating its own TF2 content for nearly two decades can now make its own TF2 games (complete with Steam release). The possibilities are limitless, fitting to the tradition of the Fortress saga which started as a mod (of Quake) itself almost 30 years ago.

Major TF2 mods such as TF2 Classic and Pre-Fortress 2 that already existed off-Steam are preparing for their Steam releases * while the competitive community of TF2C has already kicked off its organization, CompTF2C, on whose soil this article is planted. These mods base their identities to the early (even pre-alpha) versions of TF2, they are searching for their places in the realm of Fortress games, and competitive TF2C is still figuring out its meta, the most viable game modes and the rules. There could be no better time to remember the early years of live TF2’s competitive scene, which were also full of chances, exploration, and innovation.

It has been five years since teamfortress.tv’s massive effort to review the previous decade of competitive TF2 (2010-2019), chronicling the era and its legacy.

This article aims to take it from its beginnings (2007-2009), with insights from a bird’s-eye view, then to the narrative of the period that followed after (2009-2011) with a depiction of its atmosphere and mentions of its milestones.

There is no viable competitive scene without its map makers, and its custom maps that get the best out of the gameplay mechanics. There is no better way for map makers to test their maps in a coordinated, high-awareness game, than playing it in a competitive setting. We know it. You know it. Therefore we deliver it: the HAMMER MONTH. A full month of playing the weekly CompTF2C PuGs (pick-up games) in TF2C Mapping Community maps every other week.

Find the dates, chosen maps, and surprise details of the finest collaboration between the two communities below. Followed up by an insightful interview with Damon, a renowned figure in the mapping community, and a relatively new member of Eminoma. Not only did we take a look at his journey, but we are also peeked some exciting bits from the upcoming Steam release.