The development of TFC may have set the release date of TF2 back a bit (it's currendy slated for fall), but Newell says it also gave the team an opportunity to make TF2 a much better product. For example, the heavy-weapons guy is loaded down with artillery, but he moves much slower-markedly so, when firing-than the lighter-armed scout or spy. The weapons and character-specific skills are also different depending on which of the nine classes you select, you'll be armed according to your skills and responsibilities. First off, TFC uses the Half-Life engine, so it looks great. In addition to the mass variety of modes, differences between original TF and TFC abound.

How about six maps and several different team modes from Capture the Flag (including Two Fortresses and an excellent rendition of the well-balanced Quake TF map, 2Forts) to football (similar to Quake's Kick mod) to escort/ assassination and more. The TFC mod contains near-limitless team-play possibilities. Plus, it gives Half-Life mod authors a lot of motivation.' TEAMING WITH ACTION 'It was also a great way to help keep the Half-Life multiplayer community growing by leaps and bounds, and to help us test the Half-Life software. 'Prior to shipping TF2, TFC was the best way we could think of to say to people 'Check out this type of game-it's a lot of fun,'' Newell says. Gabe Newell, managing director and co-founder of TFC and TF2 developer Valve, says the release of TFC will help introduce gamers to the team play they feel is critical to multiplayer gaming.

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