Team Fortress 2 Has Randomized Map Generation

Given the amount of time that gamers have been playing the original Team Fortress, it's no wonder that Valve has designed the upcoming Team Fortress 2 with longevity in mind. One aspect of that design process is map layout: a randomization algorithm will reconfigure the map every time a game is launched. The result will be a multiplayer game requiring much more than simple map memorization and sniper rifle spawn camping. The post on Computer and Videogames offers a video featuring project lead Robin Walker describing the complicated process of making every random map work well.
"As for how the dynamic maps work in practice, that was hard to judge. The match we played on Hydro, the first map to use this special game mode, was enormous fun. But as extensive as our playtest was, they didn't let us play on the map for three years, and that's the kind of heavy use under which this system should flourish. What we did notice is that this is not just a Battlefield type system with some control points 'locked'. When a point is not in play, routes to that section of the map are physically blocked off, so the physical shape of the map is different for every combination of points. That forces you to revise your mental picture of the map, and see it as fresh again."

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl...

Sounds like fun.

Valve seems determined to be the greatest game developer of all time and things like this certainly don't hurt that cause.

Awesome

Sinatar wrote:

Valve seems determined to be the greatest game developer of all time and things like this certainly don't hurt that cause.

They'd have to invent a new genre and create the most successful MMO of all time to win that title from Blizzard. But they're a damned close second.

It's not true random map generation, the geometry is the same and some points are blocked off depending if the weapon or objective in that area is in use. Great, great addition to the formula.

Team Fortress 2 keeps climbing my "anticipated" board.

Nothing will unseat BioShock, but TF2 is currently stabbing Halo 3 in the heart, repeatedly.

I hear it can also make you steak. Delicious, juicy steak.

It's also a wonderful singer.

The result will be a multiplayer game requiring much more than simple map memorization and sniper rifle spawn camping.

Weapon spawn camping was never a problem in TF since there weren't any weapon pickups. If I remember correctly, the weapon kit your class has in the beginning is the only one you get.

Still, TF can't get into my hands fast enough.

. completely open field
+ tree
X flag

Iteration 1:

...........................
...........................
.X.....................X.
..............+...........
...........................

Iteration 2:

..............+...........
.X........................
.......................X..
...........................
...........................

Revolutionary!

It's funny how these simple things can mean so much though.

And by sniper spawn camping, Crouton, he just means that people has the maps so memorized out in their heads that they could always easily get to a place where they coudl shoot you on the face and you wouldn't know they were there. This will have less of "hey, memorize this map to be good" and more of "hey, think on your feet to be good."

Just to clear something up, everyone is getting this for PC and not 360..right?

Still won't top the best MP shooter with random map generation: Soldier of Fortune 2. I think the first five minutes of every round was spent trying to figure out where in the hell we were.

I didn't think anyone still had a 360 that worked.

Gumbie wrote:

Just to clear something up, everyone is getting this for PC and not 360..right?

Heck yes for the PC. I'm one of those old crabby gamers that is stuck in the old ways and refuses to play FPS games on console. Never will switch. I hate that so many games are being dumbed down for the whole connection between Windows live and Xbox live (Shadowrun, I'm looking at you)

Gumbie wrote:

Just to clear something up, everyone is getting this for PC and not 360..right?

I'm not sure which version I'll get. I want the PC controls but the 360 community.

Gumbie wrote:

Just to clear something up, everyone is getting this for PC and not 360..right?

I'm on the fence.

360 or PC? I'm so torn on this...I would like to say PC, since I've only played HL on the PC and like the controls. On the other hand, Live is on the 360 on a large high-def TV, and I haven't played a game on my PC in like 8 months.

Both?

Considering it will be impossible to play on my PC, i'm getting this for 360.

1Dgaf wrote:

I'm not sure which version I'll get. I want the PC controls but the 360 community.

Community, you say?

I'm with 1Dgaf on this one.

I want the largest group of Goodjers to play with possible, but I want it to run well. I'm assuming the system requirements are going to be much steeper than HL2.

Legion - I'm barely anticipating Halo 3 as a multiplayer title, so I'm right there with you. Come to think of it, I'm barely anticipating it in any fashion. Funny, I was DYING for Halo 2 back in the day.

Gumbie wrote:

Just to clear something up, everyone is getting this for PC and not 360..right?

I am leaning towards the PC version. Valve gives out free maps for their games. I'm not sure Microsoft will let them do this on the 360.

I've got HL 2 and Ep 1 on PC, but the 360 version is tempting to my achievement point whoring self. Plus, I never finished either of them (and the pile of shame grows), so it's not like I wouldn't get my money out of the purchase. Also, my couch is much more comfortable than my desk chair.

See that right there, I enabled myself to getting the 360 version in just one post.

I'm getting it for the 360, since I don't have a gaming PC in any shape or fashion.

360. Live and dual analogs equal fun.

Own for PC and rent for 360.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Legion - I'm barely anticipating Halo 3 as a multiplayer title, so I'm right there with you. Come to think of it, I'm barely anticipating it in any fashion. Funny, I was DYING for Halo 2 back in the day.

Fed, I might go one step further and say I'm dreading Halo 3 MP arriving. I'm still having such fun with Gears, that I sorta' dread going back to a game with a jump button and (presumably) no cover...and I feel H3 will suck a lot of people away from Gears. Oh well, that's still 6 months away or so...I'll just have to get all my chainsawing in before then!

I am, though, looking forward to the single player portion of H3.

Halo has always had cover.

Hemidal wrote:

Also, my couch is much more comfortable than my desk chair.

I just got a TV dinner tray table thingamabob for just this reason, and it's AWESOME! I can now play BF2 (or whatever) on the couch without my laptop scorching my legs (I'm sure it works fine for flatscreen monitors as well - wait, not yours, I've seen it and...uh...I'm not handing people a free OoCT here.).

My wife is scandalized - she thought I wanted the tray table to EAT on. Now she says she feels like an enabler.

360, of course.

Excitement builds!

360 purchase. My aging work laptop is fine for some Dawn of War and Civilization but I have to scale back the details pretty dramatically to get any of the Valve software to run.

Guys, it's a cel-shaded style, I wouldn't be surprised if the requirements were lower or equal to Half-Life 2's. Given the HL2 Toilet Toss contingent, I'll likely go PC.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Legion - I'm barely anticipating Halo 3 as a multiplayer title, so I'm right there with you. Come to think of it, I'm barely anticipating it in any fashion. Funny, I was DYING for Halo 2 back in the day.

I know I'm going to get Halo 3 and enjoy it online. There's just too many people I know that play Halo.

But other than that, I'm with you, but not as a slam on Halo itself. It's just that 2007 is the most kick-ass gaming year in, like, forever. BioShock, Mass Effect, Quake Wars, UT2007, Frontlines, Team Fortress 2 (with HL2:E2 too!), Left 4 Dead, GTA4, Spore, Forza 2. Halo 3 is just one of a crap-ton of games this year, not counting any under-the-radar stuff that ends up being great, or the great stuff that's already come out this year.

As for which system to get Team Fortress 2 for, I am definitely getting it on the 360, so that my wife and I can play together on our two 360s. I could get it on PC too, and I just might if for no other reason than to play Episode 2 on the PC.