It's quite amusing how much we still don't understand our past, much like discovering new loot in a game.
It's quite amusing how much we still don't understand our past, much like discovering new loot in a game.
I was tuning in to the WAN broadcast on April 28th when discussions emerged about TF2's current status. It led to a debate on whether Valve should still support the game through servers. Luke mentioned it’s acceptable for them to rely on community servers since they no longer profit from them, a practice they’ve maintained for years. One might imagine that such a stance would be well-known among his peers, especially given their strong opposition to loot boxes. In my view, TF2 is likely the first title to introduce a loot box system that uses player money and randomizes rewards. I don’t claim to personally support loot boxes, but it’s surprising most people aren’t aware of this history. It would have been harder for Valve’s reputation to be damaged during the loot box controversy around 5 to 6 years ago with Battlefront 2.
I've been enjoying TF2 since 2007, especially after The Orange Box launched. From what I recall, the loot box feature was added once the game transitioned to free-to-play. Back then, community servers were the main focus, with official servers arriving later when Valve integrated CS:GO's matchmaking into TF2.
Do you believe players mainly engage with TF2 to chase loot boxes or vice versa, driven by the thrill of controlling a joystick? While I find the loot box criticisms exaggerated, I also acknowledge their widespread presence and the way they tap into gambling tendencies.