1) Valve have used content produced by community groups before such as the polycount pack but this is first time you’ve taken an unsolicited community project in its entirety. What made you choose the Robotic Boogaloo to release over things such as Night of the Living Update?
Robotic Boogaloo had a really nice comprehensive package.
LOOK AT IT.  I’ll wait, here.
Even before it became what it is now, the fledgling content showed much polish paired with some really well thought out decisions. Concepts like Night of the Living Update have done a great job of showing us and the rest of the Team Fortress community what is possible in a theme. I don’t imagine that RB would have come without Night of the Living Update. Some of the design restrictions in Robotic Boogaloo helped this be a palatable first choice for us to promote the RB Team’s work.
The stuff that the community is doing keeps getting better.  At this point, it’s impossible to ignore, and so we’re not.

2) The community produced more items for RB than actually made it into this update. What was your selection process? What factors meant some items were accepted and others rejected?
Since the robo-hats are based on other items, we wanted to make sure that didn’t destroy the value in some of the rare and mysterious items that already existed in the game in a limited form from promotions, events, etc.
Other designs were based on game play expectations, implementation, or craftsmanship. Some of the hats had multiple submitted versions and in those cases we judged them against each other and the better-looking item was selected.
Several of us got together and reviewed items based on those concepts, and the final list is the result of that.

3) The accompanying comic was created by Heartsman. Should Valve release another bound edition of the games’ comics such as “VALVE PRESENTS: THE SACRIFICE AND OTHER STEAM-POWERED STORIES” will his work feature in this too? On a further note, can President Kisses Von Butternubs now be considered to be canon?
Anything canon should come from the team here; we view the comic as a possible alternate universe. This comic may inspire more community made comics and other branches of the TF universe. While we don’t want too many people steering the canon for TF, we love to see where the characters are taken, and having a bound compilation of TF spin-offs would be something I would love to have on my bookshelf. Why no mention of the future engineer? He’s pretty much incredible

4) RB sees the largest number of cosmetic items added in a single update. Will Valve be focusing on huge updates of this nature in the future or was this a one off? Are we going to see more old hats discontinued to make way for these new items?
This is a new concept. Our players might love it. We think they will appreciate it, but that’s to be seen. We’d like to see the response. The import tool we used to help the RB come to fruition is designed to make updates like this more possible, and we hope to nurture even more events like this, should it bring widespread joy to TF.
Broadly speaking, we would like to release more content faster, and the RB update has helped us consider just what it takes to do it right.

5) The Team Fortress cabal at Valve has seen a fair turn over its lead players over the years. Is this move into further embracing community content something that’s come from its new members, or is this just an extension of previous policies?
Every time we get you guys (caring fans) involved in working with us, the result has been positive. Many of the members who helped create TF are still heavily involved. This update is a logical extension of things we’ve been doing — we have the best fans and we like them to get directly involved and whenever we can, and we’d like them to be rewarded for their work.

6) TF2 is starting to show its age when compared to more recent Valve titles. Dota2’s system is apparently a lot easier for computers to handle because it compiles all the models and textures for the hero and its items together as such there are less ‘draw calls’. Now that steampipe is in place, does this open TF2 up for some more dramatic changes?
TF2 has helped engineer systems like the ones Dota2 is using. We’re glad we had the opportunity to figure out how to improve cosmetics and packing them in to characters.  TF is constantly trying out new ways to outfit characters and evolving the software, but steampipe doesn’t have anything to do with the runtime performance of the game.
Because TF2 is around six years old, there are more limitations on what we can do, but these haven’t stopped us nor our fans from coming up with really novel and interesting ideas. The team here is constantly innovating and that experience improves future products. Valve gets a chance to see what customers want in their multiplayer games. Games like Dota 2 will only be better for some of the limitations we’re learning about through TF2.
Valve loves when our customers benefit from and enrich the games that they play.  We developed the Steam Workshop to promote this as a Steam-level concept, not something specific to Valve-made games.  Many of us got into making games by modding products, but now we are making it easier for the next generation to do it and get paid doing it.

7) Do you think the RB update will have any effect on the what has become known as the artstyle of TF2? Are you expecting to see an influx of ‘robotized’ weapons in the steam workshop as result of this update?
I do believe there will be more robotized pieces of gear, but I’m looking more forward to seeing what else the community will do. The guys and girls on the team are constantly passing around great fan-made things. Prop replicas, hand knit dolls, artwork, movies, lego sculptures, paper craft – I expect and hope to see more complete ideas. Maybe it’s not enough to just pitch a new item – build a reason for people to understand why it exists – weave it into fiction or contextualize it. If the only thing we saw from this update was an increase in the production of robotic wearables, I would be disappointed. This update should empower players to go bigger with their ideas in a more complete way than just modeling and texturing.  Again, the production value on what the RB team did is incredible.  I would love for another team of artists, animators, and designers to come in and challenge that.  Or perhaps it will come to be that some robots will come up with the next hot update.  I wouldn’t mind.

8) There have been screen shots released of development versions of TF2 that seemed to suggest the possibility of equipping more misc items at once. Is this something item creators should be aware of; to shift their focus from hats to belt accessories?
What? TF2 fail to keep all of its contents secret? That’s unpossible.

9) RB is being released alongside a revamped workshop submission tool. Was the timing deliberate, “Look what these guys have made! Here’s a new tool to help you do the same.” Or was it a happy coincidence?
The import tool is a really important tool for the future of shipping user generated content. Previously we could see something in the Workshop, see that everybody loves it, and download it – only to find out that the item was absolutely insane. Poly counts could be through the roof, LODs were really weird, or the item was as expensive to render as the characters.
The Workshop is the wild west and the importer is a sheriff. We’ve designed the importer with technical limits so that we will know that an item coming from the import tool must be of reasonable budget. Should we fill the game with items built under those restrictions – performance will hold up. With these technical restrictions in place, we’ve also done a bunch of work behind the scenes to make getting content into the game much more efficient for members on the team. Together, these changes mean that we can ship more content more quickly, and with fewer concerns about performance, etc.
Once we saw what was being done with the update, we decided to get the tool to the RB team. It’s given us a good sample size of external perspective and testing. Their team has had to retrofit some of their art and were subject to re-exporting a few times. We thank them for that and hope that it has been worth their trouble.  Our intention is to keep working on the tool and improve it – to make it easier or change constraints if things go one way or another.  Much like TF, we expect it will evolve with the will of the community.

10) There’s rumor of a taunt submission process tool coming out in the near future as well. Have community contributors been trying to make taunts for you, or is this a reaction to fan requests for more variety in the characters animations?
Taunts are awesome! We would like more of them, but there are animation-specific issues that we haven’t solved yet. There are more things that can go wrong with them and the quality level for taunts is much harder to hit. We haven’t seen enough submissions or desire to make this worthwhile.

11) Some of the crates contain hats with new unusual effects. Will these effects be available on previous and future hats, or are they limited to the RB release hats only? Are community made unusual effects now going to be considered from the workshop?
The RoboCrate unusual effects will have a chance to end up on previous and future hats, but only on unusuals from this crate. We’d like these effects to be special and landmark the Robotic Boogaloo. We are really interested in seeing that the community response to the RB effects are beloved before committing to a whole new system.

12) Are you hoping that the community will both come up with and action ideas into final products like this again? What would you look for in a project of this kind? Likewise, what would be the deal breakers?
Yes, we absolutely want to see more fully fleshed-out concepts turned into something concrete. Our hope is that the community will look at this as an example of success but won’t stop there.
TF is a much stronger game now than it’s ever been, thanks largely to the incredible community it has, players and content creators. We’re constantly impressed by the creativity and capability of the community, and so we’re hesitant to provide a specific direction. Instead, we’d encourage the community to do what inspires them. Enjoy this update then show us what you want to do next.

KritzKast wishes to thank both the Robotic Boogaloo team and Andrew Wilson for sparing us their time. The Source Filmmaker image for this post was created by Patrick Jr.

So long as there is Team Fortress 2 there will be KritzKast.

Do you remember “Hatgate”? Yep, that the name of the Skullgirls incident. Now it seems like their promised hats may actually be added to the game. If we the TF2 Community like them. They have been added to the workshop for people to view and if they get enough attention they might just make it in the game. We give our opinions on them, but if you wish to see for yourself, have a look here.

In the rest of the TF2 Community we have the Game changing realization that SNSD are not the best HL team in ETF2L. In our backyard, we host a raffle, giving away far over 27 hats. The guys at Teamfortress.tv help with the i49 Fundraiser by putting on 2 showmatch’s of hypertheical Lan Finals. Plus, we find out what its like to make a bot that gathers you over $10,000 worth of TF2 loot, only to have it deleted from your account.

Steampipe

While we’re still on the comp side of TF2 there’s a few stories for you. Cbear and Mr Slin have the livestream up for Comp vs Pros 5. We’ll not spoil it for you by telling you who won. Our server providers, Hypernia are partnering with ETF2L. The 8bit 2D fan made version of TF2, Gang Garrison 2 is running their own 3v3 single elimination tournament. Redditor, renalucario captures blow by blow the nightmare that was ESEA incorporating a bitcoin farming botnet into their anti-cheat client.

Geel9 (co-creator of scrap.tf along with Jessecar) has agreed to being interviewed by KritzKast. We’re asking for your help coming up with questions for him. Even if you can’t think of a good question there’s still a chance to win hats by voting on other peoples’.

Lastly we’d like to share with you this beautiful video explaining what happens between teleporters.

Speaking of unholy abominations, MisterMulluc has combined Futurama and SFM to bring you the GentleBot Hell video.

In other crate related news the Refreshing Summer Cooler and the Festive Winter Crates have both had their descriptions updated. There’s a new filter for client downloads to ”Only allow map files” rather than all those other pesky media files that many servers use to set themselves apart.

A quick reminder to set your alarms on StarWars day so you don’t miss the Comp vs Pros match. And a shout out of joy to the Ducks for their 2nd place win in the UGC EU Platinum League.

Trading news and there’s a new tool for checking the highs and lows of items over time courtesy of Trade.tf

Lastly, what do you get if you combine an Oculus Rift with an the Virtuix Omni? Well, other than a fully immersive game on an omnidirectional treadmill? Game porn. And like the real thing you don’t want anyone watching you while you’re playing because you may be having fun but you look like a right dick.

This week also revealed how people can get their hands on one of the reddit hats. Actually, your chance to get one has already passed. You needed to participate in the reddit April fools event. But if you did you can now redeem it by going to This Link. Their methods have caused a bit of confusion and to a certain degree, anger. But we were guilty of that when we released the Lo-Fi right?

A Public Service Announcement comes next in the form of a date for Steampipe’s release. April 30th is the day it will be unleashed on the world. Make sure you have the space on your computer and if your a server admin, make sure you mark that date in your calendar to update all of your servers.

After that we talk about the ESEA season 13 finals between High Rollers Gaming and Classic Mixup. As always, it was an intense match with crazy moves being played all over the place. Check out the VOD and see for yourself. Or maybe you’d like to enter a 1v1 soldier Ladder. No? What if i told you the prize was a Fully working Arcade Machine? Suddenly its more appealing. Check out MWEB’s Page for all the details.

Lastly we have our player of the week. RedXM. He created a Fantastic Add on That changed your Healing beam’s floating plus’ with Kritzkast Logos. We Love it. If you check it out, we’re sure you’ll love it too.

We couldn’t have a show this week with out talking about all the toys. Yes thats right, more of the NECA series of action figures have started to pop-up for pre-order. However NECA have made no announcement about these figures…or the July release date that seems to be attached to them all. If you can’t wait til July, Then why not head over to the TF2 and get yourself a Plushie Balloonicorn. This beckons the question…isn’t it actually a plushicorn?

If that isn’t enough, The fans have also been hard at work making toys for us. If you head over to Psychobob Arts Shapeways shop, you’ll see he has created a fully upgradeable Sentry gun. As awesome as it looks, is it legal? Over in the prop world, we have been treated to a collection of great looking TF2 replica weapons by HVD Props. They are planning on creating at least 1 weapon for each class. To follow their progress head over to their facebook page

Though it’s too late to vote, you can still see someone from Valve’s staff in a kilt.

There’s a bit of a cross over with the real and fake when it comes down to the proper update. Reddit hats, the Conspiracy Cap and the Public Accessor have been added to the game, though no news on how to actually get them yet. In addition there was a secret Easter egg on the April 1st blog post. Clicking the full stop at the end of the post takes you to The Teufort Reader and series of Adverts for Lecture Valley and Mann Co. products. Included in this may-be-fake-may-be-real line up are a medieval teleporter, Dispenser costumes and lots of nutmeg.

Good news for VR fans, the HUD on the Occulus Rift we talked about in eps.213 week has been updated, along with new input parameters for Razer’s Hydra controller.

It’s been a long enough wait but Poker Night at the Inventory 2 is finally available as pre-order. That means new TF2 items and luckily enough we have the creator of those items in our hosts list. We grill Ruskeydoo about the  Bloodhound, Dapper Disguise, Necronomicrown, Samson Skewer and the Long Fall Loafers. He didn’t make the loafers, but four out of five aint bad.

There’s manic gameplay on the eSports front too. Starting with a Ready Steady Pan Semi-Final. Ruskeydoo and Agro casted this match between itsallgood and Goon Partchers. We did such a good job they’re letting us cast the final next week too.

Agro joined Khalesi and Commedian to cast the final round of the Round Robin‘s 7th EU Mentoring Tournament.

Finally, there’s and epic competition ahead in the 5th  Community Vs Pros. 9 communities are represented to fight against the pro team of AG.

In ‘the future’s brighter’ news, there’s to be a new TF2 comic coming in a month or two, sadly not to be linked to a major update. Despite what you may have heard Valve’s secret meetings at GDC were simply an inelaborate troll.

A Pomona College senior writing an Economics & Psychology thesis is paying for people to play on his server then answer a 10min survey. Sounds brilliant but the reality is that the most you can expect to get it $2 for your time and chances are you don’t qualify anyway. You’ve got to be a pure free to play user with no experience of buying or trading and 10hours of TF2 on your account. That rules me out, and pretty much everyone I’ve ever met.

The Round Robin are looking for casters for their seventh season. Everyone is welcome to give it a try. It may be daunting to think of yourself in that role but if you’re willing to give it a try they’re more than happy to help you fulfil that dream.

The update also features the usual bugs that only 2 people noticed and a change to the upgrade to premium item. Now it looks like a copy of the game.

We also have a bit of Public Service announcement for everybody. TF2outpost.com have a phishing mirror site at TF2outpost.net. Do not be fooled by how similar the site looks, it is in fact a way for phishers to steal your login details for steam. so be very careful when logging in. Remember, if in doubt, use steam guard.

Steam also updated and added a few features to the game hubs. Now you should be able to upload artwork you may have made for any game on steam. Team Fortress 2′s Artwork page has exploded in a flood of artwork from past and present.

We also have something that we believe to be a promo in the making. Head over to Thekeyparty.com and see who’s keys are currently in the bowl. Not making any sense? We believe that this is the hype machine for Poker night at the inventory 2. We also believe, looking at the recent promotional items from last weeks episode, that they correspond with some of the characters possibly in the game. Only time will tell if we are right.

If you purchased Valve’s soundtrack CD, Portal 2: Songs to Test By then it’s time to break the seal and look inside the case. That code will earn you an Ap-Sap. If you bought the songs over any of the e-stores, you’re SOL. The good news is that you can still buy it and retroactively claim the device which will talk to you in Wheatley’s psychotically depressed voice. Just what you’ve always wanted.

While the indie title Don’t Starve! is still in pre-release it’s possible to get your hands of a Ham Shank (teehee) and your head on a Wilson Weave. In related news several new hats and items have been added but not yet identified. Some say they are to become part of a promo pack for Poker Night and the Inventory 2. A game yet to be announced. Ruskeydoo may have some inside knowledge but he’s not saying. Actually he mysteriously disappears to make a nice cup of tea around about the time we started to talk about it. Funny that. Still, we have some news from our own BubbleBobbler that the Dapper Disguise will be facial distorted when the spy speaks his lines. Now I want to see it too.

Two more things on the updates, I think we’ve figured out what sb_filter_incompatible_versions does and the TF2 beta has been brought up to date so they can run further tests on the Steampipe update… whenever that will be.

If you’ve been following the hardware news you may be under the impression that Xi3′s new Piston box is a steam box. Apparently Valve don’t think it is. Xi3 unsurprisingly dispute this.