Upvote Upvoted 35 Downvote Downvoted
1 2 3 4 ⋅⋅ 8
Lange's thoughts on the state of competitive TF2
1
#1
1 Frags +

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq-YDeEfZWY

What do you guys think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq-YDeEfZWY

What do you guys think?
2
#2
39 Frags +

It's true.

It's true.
3
#3
14 Frags +

the only interesting thing left about TF2 to me anymore is watching people play on new maps
it's all because of these shitty unbalanced weapons and a general unwillingness to support game setups where they don't break the game, so even that stagnates due to homogeny.
play new maps save TF2

the only interesting thing left about TF2 to me anymore is watching people play on new maps
it's all because of these shitty unbalanced weapons and a general unwillingness to support game setups where they don't break the game, so even that stagnates due to homogeny.
play new maps save TF2
4
#4
-14 Frags +

lf csgo buddy

edit:

tbh i feel his point was good, but i feel tf2 has come to a certain stalemate, i dont see it growing or shrinking. I feel the reason cevo has 22 players is because cevo is "less preferred" and people are moving back to ESEA. second of all, i really am cool with just the occasional casts of high level teams and a lan every now and then. I dont need the csgo level experience. Finally i feel like this question of "is tf2 comp dead?" can be better answered with statistics. Using sizzling stats or other services we can trace the popularity of comp tf2.

lf csgo buddy

edit:

tbh i feel his point was good, but i feel tf2 has come to a certain stalemate, i dont see it growing or shrinking. I feel the reason cevo has 22 players is because cevo is "less preferred" and people are moving back to ESEA. second of all, i really am cool with just the occasional casts of high level teams and a lan every now and then. I dont need the csgo level experience. Finally i feel like this question of "is tf2 comp dead?" can be better answered with statistics. Using sizzling stats or other services we can trace the popularity of comp tf2.
5
#5
-40 Frags +

YAOOOO

YAOOOO
6
#6
13 Frags +

UGC is still alive and very well, so there's still a large pool and influx of newer players that are already introduced to competitive. Even if there are older players that are getting tired of it, it doesn't mean newer players can't come in and revive the scene.

UGC is still alive and very well, so there's still a large pool and influx of newer players that are already introduced to competitive. Even if there are older players that are getting tired of it, it doesn't mean newer players can't come in and revive the scene.
7
#7
19 Frags +

Besides Valve's obvious lack of transparency with the community, the large underlying problem is that the people who actively search out sixes (already incredibly esoteric) are being turned off by the awful, awful state of UGC 6v6 (expanded on this thread that needs more discussion than it has). It's understaffed and it's often people's only choice because of its f2p nature. If there's one thing we're in control of in this slow death of TF2, it is how we introduce the players to the game - and right now we are tending to make pretty awful first impressions.

Besides Valve's obvious lack of transparency with the community, the large underlying problem is that the people who actively search out sixes (already incredibly esoteric) are being turned off by the awful, awful state of UGC 6v6 (expanded on [url=http://www.ugcleague.com/forum/showthread.php?28687-Quality-control-for-UGC-6s]this thread[/url] that needs more discussion than it has). It's understaffed and it's often people's only choice because of its f2p nature. If there's one thing we're in control of in this slow death of TF2, it is how we introduce the players to the game - and right now we are tending to make pretty awful first impressions.
8
#8
29 Frags +

i think lange's camera and microphone are ridiculously high quality and he's prettier than ever in this vid

also he's pretty much right. hl is the only thing that seems to have much life left in it nowadays.

i think lange's camera and microphone are ridiculously high quality and he's prettier than ever in this vid

also he's pretty much right. hl is the only thing that seems to have much life left in it nowadays.
9
#9
20 Frags +
plobsjust saying i did spark this topic on stream

and yes,
i am already hard

youre cool lol

[quote=plobs]just saying i did spark this topic on stream

and yes,
i am already hard
[/quote]
youre cool lol
10
#10
12 Frags +

Valve is a business and tf2 is a cash cow. It's a pretty amazing game considering the market place and the different dynamics of every class. They've probably made more money on tf2 than they could have imagined, but it probably doesn't make sense to keep adding features to a 7 year old game. They probably have a stat showing which games attracts the most new users, and tf2 is not near the top. If it is, then they don't know business. I don't know, if they're able to implement MvM which is literally matchmaking against bots, I don't know why they can't do it for two teams.

Valve is a business and tf2 is a cash cow. It's a pretty amazing game considering the market place and the different dynamics of every class. They've probably made more money on tf2 than they could have imagined, but it probably doesn't make sense to keep adding features to a 7 year old game. They probably have a stat showing which games attracts the most new users, and tf2 is not near the top. If it is, then they don't know business. I don't know, if they're able to implement MvM which is [i]literally matchmaking[/i] against bots, I don't know why they can't do it for two teams.
11
#11
4 Frags +
flatlineBesides Valve's obvious lack of transparency with the community, the large underlying problem is that the people who actively search out sixes (already incredibly esoteric) are being turned off by the awful, awful state of UGC 6v6 (expanded on this thread that needs more discussion than it has). It's understaffed and it's often people's only choice because of its f2p nature. If there's one thing we're in control of in this slow death of TF2, it is how we introduce the players to the game - and right now we are tending to make pretty awful first impressions.

Spitballing, but what if there was a single ugc 6s division and teams were assigned medals based on where they placed. Ex: 1-10 could be platinum, 11-20 gold, etc... Obviously it would be terrible the first couple weeks with "plat" players facing off against "iron" but I think it could even out really fast. Alternatively, move players based on their TER's or whatever UGC uses. I sent in my 6s admin app a long time ago and I'm sure there are other people who'd be willing to sort the divisions.

[quote=flatline]Besides Valve's obvious lack of transparency with the community, the large underlying problem is that the people who actively search out sixes (already incredibly esoteric) are being turned off by the awful, awful state of UGC 6v6 (expanded on [url=http://www.ugcleague.com/forum/showthread.php?28687-Quality-control-for-UGC-6s]this thread[/url] that needs more discussion than it has). It's understaffed and it's often people's only choice because of its f2p nature. If there's one thing we're in control of in this slow death of TF2, it is how we introduce the players to the game - and right now we are tending to make pretty awful first impressions.[/quote]

Spitballing, but what if there was a single ugc 6s division and teams were assigned medals based on where they placed. Ex: 1-10 could be platinum, 11-20 gold, etc... Obviously it would be terrible the first couple weeks with "plat" players facing off against "iron" but I think it could even out really fast. Alternatively, move players based on their TER's or whatever UGC uses. I sent in my 6s admin app a long time ago and I'm sure there are other people who'd be willing to sort the divisions.
12
#12
1 Frags +

I agree with his thoughts on it, I too got burnt out on the game a year or so ago.

It just wasn't fun to play or manage the things I did, all the while getting no return out of it (other than writing for ESEA).

However, it obviously wasn't all doom and gloom when I was active.

There was a lot of things I learned, experiences I had, and people that I met along the way which I probably wouldn't have had otherwise.

It's a shame at the way it's going down now, especially with all the hard work that people put into it, and not really getting much in return.

I agree with his thoughts on it, I too got burnt out on the game a year or so ago.

It just wasn't fun to play or manage the things I did, all the while getting no return out of it (other than writing for ESEA).

However, it obviously wasn't all doom and gloom when I was active.

There was a lot of things I learned, experiences I had, and people that I met along the way which I probably wouldn't have had otherwise.

It's a shame at the way it's going down now, especially with all the hard work that people put into it, and not really getting much in return.
13
#13
10 Frags +

http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/17/177240/2668087-1841005420-tumbl.gif

[img]http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/17/177240/2668087-1841005420-tumbl.gif[/img]
14
#14
-20 Frags +

tf2 is dead viva csgo

tf2 is dead viva csgo
15
#15
newbie.tf
39 Frags +

I think what I posted on the matchmaking thread still holds true. TF2 won't be a big esport if Valve doesn't want it to be. But that doesn't need to stop us from keeping it a sustainable competitive game. There are enough pubbers to keep this community alive for a longggg time, but we as members of the competitive community will have to work at translating a tiny percent of those pub players to become competitive players.

If you haven't coached newbie mixes and you complain about the game dying, go coach newbie mixes.

If you haven't ever ventured into the deep dark realm that is /r/truetf2 to answer some ugc/ sub-ugc players' questions, do it once a month or so.

If you see someone saying something blatantly false about this game, correct them. Don't let ignorance be the way this fantastic game dies.

Have you ever recommended a good pubber in your server try competitive? Do it, they'll be fucking FLATTERED.

Seriously, if 5% of this community put forth like 10 minutes of effort a month into recruiting for this community/ helping these new players, this game can last for years and years to come. Will it ever grow to be a huge esport? Nah. But it will still be a fun one that we can always find a scrim or pug for.

Also saloon.tf, please. it's been months.

I think [url=http://teamfortress.tv/thread/8952/how-to-get-to-in-game-comp-lobbies/?page=22#638]what I posted on the matchmaking thread[/url] still holds true. TF2 won't be a big esport if Valve doesn't want it to be. But that doesn't need to stop us from keeping it a sustainable competitive game. There are enough pubbers to keep this community alive for a longggg time, but we as members of the competitive community will have to work at translating a tiny percent of those pub players to become competitive players.

If you haven't coached newbie mixes and you complain about the game dying, go coach newbie mixes.

If you haven't ever ventured into the deep dark realm that is /r/truetf2 to answer some ugc/ sub-ugc players' questions, do it once a month or so.

If you see someone saying something blatantly false about this game, correct them. Don't let ignorance be the way this fantastic game dies.

Have you ever recommended a good pubber in your server try competitive? Do it, they'll be fucking FLATTERED.

[b]Seriously, if 5% of this community put forth like 10 minutes of effort a month into recruiting for this community/ helping these new players, this game can last for years and years to come. Will it ever grow to be a huge esport? Nah. But it will still be a fun one that we can always find a scrim or pug for.[/b]

[size=10]Also saloon.tf, please. it's been months.[/size]
16
#16
17 Frags +

You know whats really really interesting. We split the community in half with cevo and esea. We all got upset with esea because it did all this stupid shit but in the end they provided a service and lan albeit a shitty service it was still a service that we needed and used. I feel like if we had never had that retarded cevo vs esea shitstorm that happend before the season began this game might have had atleast another year couple years or atleast would have made us a bit stronger as a community.

You know whats really really interesting. We split the community in half with cevo and esea. We all got upset with esea because it did all this stupid shit but in the end they provided a service and lan albeit a shitty service it was still a service that we needed and used. I feel like if we had never had that retarded cevo vs esea shitstorm that happend before the season began this game might have had atleast another year couple years or atleast would have made us a bit stronger as a community.
17
#17
-14 Frags +

More and more I am now considering GXL to have been a nice climax and finale

More and more I am now considering GXL to have been a nice climax and finale
18
#18
-4 Frags +

game's dead.. u never divide 1 into 0.5.

game's dead.. u never divide 1 into 0.5.
19
#19
17 Frags +

I've probably been one of the more optimistic people when it comes to the state of the game. There hasn't been that much time for me to be jaded when I only really learned about the competitive scene last year during Tip of the Hats. I've only really started contributing since May, which is when I started writing StatusSpec. Personally, it feels really amazing that I've been able to make an impact - however small - on bringing this game to new heights.

The last day or two has been brutal for me.

I knew that Classic Mixup would die eventually, but I had hope that they had it in them for one last season. I knew that CEVO was not going to be able to outcompete ESEA as the situation currently stands, but I thought it had at least one more season in it. Suddenly, both of those things happen at the same time, and much sooner than I had expected. It's a wakeup call to the fact that this game is slowly heading towards its demise, and ESEA is what keeps high-level afloat for now.

Nothing hurt more than that End of the Line update, though. Valve's now pulling maps for being too hard to understand. They're putting in an event in the game that is completely pay-to-play. They're not communicating at all, even to let us know that an update won't be what we expect it to be. It's gotten to the point where the TF2 community put on their best Dota impression, albeit briefly.

Suddenly I am very much scared for what competitive matchmaking is. It definitely isn't ducks, but part of me wonders whether it's just going to be another blatant cash grab. Part of me wonders whether they'll actually consider how to make the community better and not just how to make their bottom line better. Part of me wonders whether they'll ever deign to speak to us, to hear our impassioned pleas.

I'll continue helping out TeamFortress.TV until the bitter end. But I wonder if that bitter end is sooner than later.

I've probably been one of the more optimistic people when it comes to the state of the game. There hasn't been that much time for me to be jaded when I only really learned about the competitive scene last year during Tip of the Hats. I've only really started contributing since May, which is when I started writing StatusSpec. Personally, it feels really amazing that I've been able to make an impact - however small - on bringing this game to new heights.

The last day or two has been brutal for me.

I knew that Classic Mixup would die eventually, but I had hope that they had it in them for one last season. I knew that CEVO was not going to be able to outcompete ESEA as the situation currently stands, but I thought it had at least one more season in it. Suddenly, both of those things happen at the same time, and much sooner than I had expected. It's a wakeup call to the fact that this game is slowly heading towards its demise, and ESEA is what keeps high-level afloat for now.

Nothing hurt more than that End of the Line update, though. Valve's now pulling maps for being too hard to understand. They're putting in an event in the game that is completely pay-to-play. They're not communicating at all, even to let us know that an update won't be what we expect it to be. It's gotten to the point where the TF2 community put on their best Dota impression, albeit briefly.

Suddenly I am very much scared for what competitive matchmaking is. It definitely isn't ducks, but part of me wonders whether it's just going to be another blatant cash grab. Part of me wonders whether they'll actually consider how to make the community better and not just how to make their bottom line better. Part of me wonders whether they'll ever deign to speak to us, to hear our impassioned pleas.

I'll continue helping out TeamFortress.TV until the bitter end. But I wonder if that bitter end is sooner than later.
20
#20
newbie.tf
34 Frags +
GetawhaleMore and more I am now considering GXL to have been a nice climax and finale

a bunch of dudes said this about i46 so i wouldn't count on it

[quote=Getawhale]More and more I am now considering GXL to have been a nice climax and finale[/quote]

a bunch of dudes said this about i46 so i wouldn't count on it
21
#21
-11 Frags +

That makes 2 you moron.

That makes 2 you moron.
22
#22
-7 Frags +

i didn't get to meet my spirit animal so it wasn't

i didn't get to meet my spirit animal so it wasn't
23
#23
14 Frags +

i said 1 into 0.5, not 1 by 0.5
as an asian, i am offended.

i said 1 [u]into[/u] 0.5, not 1 [u]by[/u] 0.5
as an asian, i am offended.
24
#24
10 Frags +
GoobledegakUGC is still alive and very well, so there's still a large pool and influx of newer players that are already introduced to competitive. Even if there are older players that are getting tired of it, it doesn't mean newer players can't come in and revive the scene.

I don't feel like having original thoughts at the moment so I'll just send you a tidbit from another doom and gloom thread. UGC is at its low water mark since 2011.

KarlThis thread gave me the idea to add up approximately how many NA HL teams completed each season.
s14 ~ 194 teams finished season
s13 ~ 233
s12 ~ 222
s11 ~ 240
s10 ~ 286
s9 ~ 257
s8 ~ 216
s7 ~ 185

EDIT:

But honestly, it is getting more and more obvious that we need to create a decent, free NA 6s league and doing this will be the only way to save TF2. The reason so few new players are entering open is because there isn't a good way for to step up to it from a lower div. UGC is in disrepair for the reasons flatline talked about above, and there are no other options right now.

Nobody sane will shell out $50+ in league fees until they are much more confident in their skills than the high-ugc players that people in the CEVO happenings thread are talking about somehow converting; making that idea attractive to lowish players is a pipe dream.

[quote=Goobledegak]UGC is still alive and very well, so there's still a large pool and influx of newer players that are already introduced to competitive. Even if there are older players that are getting tired of it, it doesn't mean newer players can't come in and revive the scene.[/quote]
I don't feel like having original thoughts at the moment so I'll just send you a tidbit from [url=http://www.ugcleague.com/forum/showthread.php?29734-Throwback-Classic-Showmatches-anyone/]another doom and gloom thread[/url]. UGC is at its low water mark since 2011.

[quote=Karl]This thread gave me the idea to add up approximately how many NA HL teams completed each season.
s14 ~ 194 teams finished season
s13 ~ 233
s12 ~ 222
s11 ~ 240
s10 ~ 286
s9 ~ 257
s8 ~ 216
s7 ~ 185 [/quote]

EDIT:

But honestly, it is getting more and more obvious that we need to create a decent, free NA 6s league and [b]doing this will be the only way to save TF2[/b]. The reason so few new players are entering open is because there isn't a good way for to step up to it from a lower div. UGC is in disrepair for the reasons flatline talked about above, and there are no other options right now.

Nobody sane will shell out $50+ in league fees until they are much more confident in their skills than the high-ugc players that people in the CEVO happenings thread are talking about somehow converting; making that idea attractive to lowish players is a pipe dream.
25
#25
8 Frags +

honestly I do see the game surviving a good while longer because of people who just enjoy playing the game without investing huge amounts of time in it, but when the community figures give up when we already have no dev support it really is the start of the slow death

honestly I do see the game surviving a good while longer because of people who just enjoy playing the game without investing huge amounts of time in it, but when the community figures give up when we already have no dev support it really is the start of the slow death
26
#26
2 Frags +
KevinIsPwnGetawhaleMore and more I am now considering GXL to have been a nice climax and finale
a bunch of dudes said this about i46 so i wouldn't count on it

Fair enough, good point

[quote=KevinIsPwn][quote=Getawhale]More and more I am now considering GXL to have been a nice climax and finale[/quote]

a bunch of dudes said this about i46 so i wouldn't count on it[/quote]

Fair enough, good point
27
#27
2 Frags +
thesupremecommander
I knew that Classic Mixup [[1]] for now.

Nothing hurt more than that[[2]]on, albeit briefly.

Suddenly[[3]] Part of me wonders whether they'll ever deign to speak to us, to hear our impassioned pleas.

I'll continue helping out TeamFortress.TV until the bitter end. But I wonder if that bitter end is sooner than later.

1: Mix^ has been edging it for a few seasons now, part of the reason 4g has been so dominant is because mix^ hasn't been playing as seriously as they used to

2: CS:GO has this too, and the functionality in it is fine. This is a great thing altogether, it allows valve to fund things, without putting actually important content behind a paywall. I pray that we keep the dumb journal thing because if its at all like CS, you'll get free maps in the map pool without having to pay for shit.
2.5: Valve has always had a focus on accessibility. The commentary for HL2 mentions a maze getting cut because it was too confusing. While stuff like trains and planes is easy for people with thousands of hours to grasp and adapt to, it is possible that newer players might not fully understand the objective. Since it would've been a public focused game mode (6s and HL are so insular that I doubt valve considered we'd be interested in it), anything that would've been difficult to pick up would've exacerbated the common pubbie problem that everyone experiences.

3: Matchmaking will probably be some sort of HL with an awful MMR system that is still workable and a decent boost to the HL side of the game. or it could be scrapped
who knows!

ESEA hasn't started yet, and I+my team did not know CEVO would even be running this season, so I think CEVO might've dropped the ball on that. Last few seasons we had sign up drives a week or two before the season started, but apparently CEVO has already come and gone and I never saw anything for it.
im probably done with this game tho valve is fukken permabanning me for being reported on the steam community or something rip

[quote=thesupremecommander]

I knew that Classic Mixup [[1]] for now.

Nothing hurt more than that[[2]]on, albeit briefly.

Suddenly[[3]] Part of me wonders whether they'll ever deign to speak to us, to hear our impassioned pleas.

I'll continue helping out TeamFortress.TV until the bitter end. But I wonder if that bitter end is sooner than later.[/quote]
1: Mix^ has been edging it for a few seasons now, part of the reason 4g has been so dominant is because mix^ hasn't been playing as seriously as they used to

2: CS:GO has this too, and the functionality in it is fine. This is a great thing altogether, it allows valve to fund things, without putting actually important content behind a paywall. I pray that we keep the dumb journal thing because if its at all like CS, you'll get free maps in the map pool without having to pay for shit.
2.5: Valve has always had a focus on accessibility. The commentary for HL2 mentions a maze getting cut because it was too confusing. While stuff like trains and planes is easy for people with thousands of hours to grasp and adapt to, it is possible that newer players might not fully understand the objective. Since it would've been a public focused game mode (6s and HL are so insular that I doubt valve considered we'd be interested in it), anything that would've been difficult to pick up would've exacerbated the common pubbie problem that everyone experiences.

3: Matchmaking will probably be some sort of HL with an awful MMR system that is still workable and a decent boost to the HL side of the game. or it could be scrapped
who knows!

ESEA hasn't started yet, and I+my team did not know CEVO would even be running this season, so I think CEVO might've dropped the ball on that. Last few seasons we had sign up drives a week or two before the season started, but apparently CEVO has already come and gone and I never saw anything for it.
im probably done with this game tho valve is fukken permabanning me for being reported on the steam community or something rip
28
#28
8 Frags +

If anything, this was just something that was a long time coming and it's finally here. People are getting tired of playing the same game with the same bunch of people for a shot at 15 minutes of fame for years on end, and I'll be damned if it even is the same game it was 7 years ago. Lord knows the community of TF2 in general certainly has changed for the worst.

What the future of 6s TF2 seems to hold lies in what happens to all old games with competitive communities; they hang on for dear life with a double or barely triple-digit playerbase (depending on the size of the game) that ends up learning how to do a lot of its own footwork. If anything, I see competitive TF2 in general becoming a larger version of die-hard communities like CPMA and UT2k4/99, and what I saw when games like Republic Commando began to enter their last stages. These bring along with them a whole slew of problems considering that #tf2mix still has trouble finding people to captain and play medic and lobbies are still inconsistent in starting/ending with 12 people even with 12 people in the webclient, but there's a reason to at least try to make this better now. Honestly, people should have dropped the notion that TF2 was ever going to be a big "esport" years ago; that gravy train left with what sponsors we had, but now's as good a time as any for the community to come together and try to at least make what this game has left good.

If anything, this was just something that was a long time coming and it's finally here. People are getting tired of playing the same game with the same bunch of people for a shot at 15 minutes of fame for years on end, and I'll be damned if it even [i][b]is[/b][/i] the same game it was 7 years ago. Lord knows the community of TF2 in general certainly has changed for the worst.

What the future of 6s TF2 seems to hold lies in what happens to all old games with competitive communities; they hang on for dear life with a double or barely triple-digit playerbase (depending on the size of the game) that ends up learning how to do a lot of its own footwork. If anything, I see competitive TF2 in general becoming a larger version of die-hard communities like CPMA and UT2k4/99, and what I saw when games like Republic Commando began to enter their last stages. These bring along with them a whole slew of problems considering that #tf2mix still has trouble finding people to captain and play medic and lobbies are still inconsistent in starting/ending with 12 people even with 12 people in the webclient, but there's a reason to at least try to make this better now. Honestly, people should have dropped the notion that TF2 was ever going to be a big "esport" years ago; that gravy train left with what sponsors we had, but now's as good a time as any for the community to come together and try to at least make what this game has left good.
29
#29
13 Frags +

Well, to be honest, the same people (such as Lange) can't be expected to pour their hearts and souls into the game for their entire lives.

Honestly the fading-away of some of these big names in competitive TF2 sounds like it's calling for some generational succession here. The community is just too comfortable where it is to try changing things up a little and to try some newer ideas out. (New maps are always great, and this arena respawn thing is pretty cool.) TF2 cannot stay afloat on its big name stars forever. Eventually new stars will begin to show themselves and TF2 will experience the seasonal revival Lange spoke of. I think the community just needs to be open to that.

Or we could just keep sitting here brooding about how our game will never be as big as CS:GO and Dota, and end up our own downfall. Pessimism is pretty much normal nowadays after all.

Well, to be honest, the same people (such as Lange) can't be expected to pour their hearts and souls into the game for their entire lives.

Honestly the fading-away of some of these big names in competitive TF2 sounds like it's calling for some generational succession here. The community is just too comfortable where it is to try changing things up a little and to try some newer ideas out. (New maps are always great, and this arena respawn thing is pretty cool.) TF2 cannot stay afloat on its big name stars forever. Eventually new stars will begin to show themselves and TF2 will experience the seasonal revival Lange spoke of. I think the community just needs to be open to that.

Or we could just keep sitting here brooding about how our game will never be as big as CS:GO and Dota, and end up our own downfall. Pessimism is pretty much normal nowadays after all.
30
#30
0 Frags +

valve is being not cool in a lot of ways …
edit: not being sarcastic, forum cynics

valve is being not cool in a lot of ways …
edit: not being sarcastic, forum cynics
1 2 3 4 ⋅⋅ 8
Please sign in through STEAM to post a comment.