Unlocks Explained and Bonus Map

[Hectic Glenn]

We all want to play with the new toys, but how can we get our hands on them? Achievement grinding wasn't much fun, lets be honest...so what is the new system based on? Its simple, its time. How much time do you play TF2? The more you do, the more items you are going to find.

That new system watches the amount of time that players are playing TF2, and gives them a chance to find items at regular intervals. They aren't guaranteed to get the item at those points, but they have a pretty good chance. We based the system on granting items on the amount of time played because we don't want players to have to do weird things like join achievement grinding servers to get new content. Basing it off time also has the benefit of ensuring that if you play a lot of TF2, you're going to get more items than players who don't.

Using average times players play TF2, Valve are still tuning the period between getting new items. The work isn't finished yet however, new things are to come.

• Item trading. This is why you're finding duplicates.
• Giving players a method to influence the system so they can work directly toward getting specific items.
• Adding more rare items like the hats.

Hoodoo, a popular community made payload map has also been added to the update, as well as a quick preview of some of the hats we will be seeing on the Bonus Day update page. Valve are also already working on the next class pack!

[Shakermaker]

Originally Posted by Hectic Glenn

Item trading. This is why you're finding duplicates.

Thanks for clearing that one up, Glenn.

Also, rare drops and hats tickle my fancy.

[TimoJay]

There are several schedules of reinforcement that can be used in Operant Conditioning. The most basic is a fixed interval schedule, and the rat in the Skinner Box is rewarded every 5 minutes regardless of whether it presses the lever. Unsurprisingly, this method is not particularly effective.

Another kind of reinforcement schedule is the fixed ratio schedule, and the rat is rewarded every time it presses the lever 5 times. This schedule is more effective than the fixed interval schedule.

The most effective method is a random ratio schedule, and the rat is rewarded after it presses the lever a random number of times. Because the rat cannot predict precisely when it will be rewarded even though it knows it has to press the lever to get food, the rat presses the lever more consistently than in the other schedules.

yay random rewards!

[Au-heppa]

Nice hat, Demoman!

[Shakermaker]

Originally Posted by TimoJay

5char

lolled

[TimoJay]

wanna fight about it?

[Shakermaker]

Originally Posted by TimoJay

wanna fight about it?

lolled at the Skinner part. So true.

[Hectic Glenn]

Originally Posted by TimoJay

yay random rewards!

Oh dear, didn't I read Valve hired a game psychologist a while back? Seems they got an office right next door to the TF2 guys

[Samon]

At least I have something to do with my three Ambassador's then.

[Nibwoddle]

The Spy's hat is my favourite. Pyro's is pretty cool too.

[Narcolepsy]

Anyone else ever just completely lose faith in humanity after spending too long on gaming message boards? I've been addicted to the stupidity of the TF2 Steam boards since the update - people reacting as if Valve killed their own mother with this new unlock system. Posts start as whines and crescendo into capital letters, exclamation marks, and profanity where profanity doesn't even make sense! It's sickening, I tell, you, sickening!

[kacation_man]

I guess this explains why i got the medics unlockable gun with out even playing as the medic? was troll'n with teh spy and all of a sudden i unlock the medics gun... ? i found this to be odd.. decided to come in here and ask why this might be.. a glitch or something.. no.. guess not.. this explains it i suppose.. awesome.. thanks valve

[Somefool]

Trading? Rares? How long before RMT groups moves in?

[nurizeko]

We need to form a raid to get the world first kill on Newell the Betrayer end boss.

[beam]

So sick of getting flare guns and ubersaws. I guess we just have to wait until they fix it? This can't be working as intended.