Team Fortress 2 Idler Program Banned, It's Official

[JC175]

If you're a regular TF2 player you would have realised that a minor update was released today. As pointed out by some of the guys at the Steam Forums [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=953306], the following was added into the game:

<spoiler=from tf_english.txt>"TF_CheatDetected_Title" "WARNING"

"TF_CheatDetectedMinor" "Your account has been flagged for circumventing the item distribution system. We have removed the items that were illegally obtained.\n\nFuture violations will result in the loss of all your items."

"TF_CheatDetectedMajor" "Your account has been flagged for circumventing the item distribution system. We have removed all items in your inventory.\n\nFuture violations may result in your account being disabled."

It's all speculatory at this stage, but the assumption is that Valve has decided to act upon the large use of the idling program used by many to gain items. There's no direct comment from Valve as yet, but I'd warn everyone using the idling program to hold off on their use of the program until they do.

Thoughts?

UPDATE: It's official. [http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=2787] Valve have decided to act, and apparently those that have used the idler will have the relevant items removed, those that have not used the idler apparently will receive an exclusive free hat. Future use of the idler will result in your backpack being completely wiped.

EDIT: Here's a link to some information on the new hat given to those who chose not to idle. [http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/09/team-fortress-2-non-cheaters-get-halos/] Nothing like a new Halo equippable for those that were "incorruptable", it's called the Cheater's Lament.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Valve are cunts, they built the shitty system and now they're trying to punish people for attempting to get the items they actually want?

 

[Fenixius]

Interesting. I've not gained any items in this way, but I've considered it. Really, though, this makes me think they're treating a symptom, not the disease, here. Figuratively speaking, of course - I don't mean to imply all the negative connotations that go with the word 'disease'.

Still, if they don't want people to have hats, why did they put them in?

 

[pffh]

Valve are cunts, they built the shitty system and now they're trying to punish people for attempting to get the items they actually want?

Or ya know they could do the achievements it's not like they are hard I've gotten all the item achievements from just playing the game normaly.

 

[TunaKing]

Valve are cunts, they built the shitty system and now they're trying to punish people for attempting to get the items they actually want?

I agree but my idle program doesn't work so i can't say i'm not a little bit happy about this

Valve are cunts, they built the shitty system and now they're trying to punish people for attempting to get the items they actually want?

Or ya know they could do the achievements it's not like they are hard I've gotten all the item achievements from just playing the game normaly.

can't earn hats from achievments

 

[NeutralMunchHotel]

Valve are cunts, they built the shitty system and now they're trying to punish people for attempting to get the items they actually want?

Nice. Making a halfway decent point then peppering it with swears, making me disregard it completely and make you seem like an idiot.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Valve are cunts, they built the shitty system and now they're trying to punish people for attempting to get the items they actually want?

How dare they punish people who cheat! It's almost like they were trying to make the game fair for all.

 

[Christemo]

Valve are cunts, they built the shitty system and now they're trying to punish people for attempting to get the items they actually want?

agreed. this is just stupid. the random item generator is a piece of shit on a white towel. Valve has kicked themselves in the nuts by removing the Milestone achievements. before the generator came in, i just went to an achievement server and got all the items. now, i have to waste time just playing and playing hoping for an item that isnt something i already have.

 

[Booze Zombie]

How dare they punish people who cheat! It's almost like they were trying to make the game fair for all.

Fair indeed, I mean, all they do is give items out on a random basis! Fair!
Nobody wants the regular items, they're just idling for hats, because they look cool.

 

[Zac_Dai]

The item unlocking system has been botched since day one, I remember the first unlock update where you could go in console and unlock all achievements thus all the unlocks.

I reckon they'll probably change how you earn items yet again in another 6 months.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Nice. Making a halfway decent point then peppering it with swears, making me disregard it completely and make you seem like an idiot.

Well, I'm so bloody sorry I offended your anti-swearing sensibilities.
It's not like Valve just took away my only means of getting the stupid hats they put in the game, whilst giving me all the crappy weapons I already have, and then removed the one way I was sure I might get one of these hallowed hats.

Heck no, sunshine.

 

[leeloodallasmultipass]

now, i have to waste time just playing and playing hoping for an item that isnt something i already have.

yeh... just like me and my 10 BackBurners... i only need one! stop giving them to me and give me asomething else!

 

[NeutralMunchHotel]

Nice. Making a halfway decent point then peppering it with swears, making me disregard it completely and make you seem like an idiot.

Well, I'm so bloody sorry I offended your anti-swearing sensibilities.
It's not like Valve just took away my only means of getting the stupid hats they put in the game, whilst giving me all the crappy weapons I already have, and then removed the one way I was sure I might get one of these hallowed hats.

Heck no, sunshine.

I'm not anti-swearing at all. It's just that calling Valve 'cunts' makes you seem immature and just having that in makes your point seem less credible.

 

[Knight Templar]

How dare they punish people who cheat! It's almost like they were trying to make the game fair for all.

Fair indeed, I mean, all they do is give items out on a random basis! Fair!
Nobody wants the regular items, they're just idling for hats, because they look cool.

So if I were to cheat a poker it would be ok because I'm just trying to get the cards I want? I'm aware that idling for a hat and cheating at cards are diffrent, but the same logic is applied.

 

[JC175]

Valve are cunts, they built the shitty system and now they're trying to punish people for attempting to get the items they actually want?

How dare they punish people who cheat! It's almost like they were trying to make the game fair for all.

The trouble I'm seeing is that even if this update is what the Steam Forums think it is, its not going to stop the idlers at all. I can't see a way in which Valve can stop people from joing random servers and spectating indefinitely - which has the exact same results as using the idle program. At least with the idle program it stopped the clogging of public servers with people idling for items, as it had its own dedicated servers.

I personally don't know where I stand on the issue, but either way I think its going to be a tough ask to assume that it can be policed effectively.

 

[Booze Zombie]

So if I were to cheat a poker it would be ok because I'm just trying to get the cards I want? I'm aware that idling for a hat and cheating at cards are diffrent, but the same logic is applied.

You shouldn't have to randomly HOPE AND PRAY for an item, the hats should be tied to achievements.

 

[JC175]

So if I were to cheat a poker it would be ok because I'm just trying to get the cards I want? I'm aware that idling for a hat and cheating at cards are diffrent, but the same logic is applied.

You shouldn't have to randomly HOPE AND PRAY for an item, the hats should be tied to achievements.

I'd agree with you if the hats had any real purpose, but they're purely cosmetic. Achievements can be exploited just like anything else, I don't see any problem with the hats being relatively rare. If everyone had them nobody would care about them in the slightest.

I got my first hat a week or so ago, trouble was it was the Hatless Scout. Scout is by far my worst class.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

So if I were to cheat a poker it would be ok because I'm just trying to get the cards I want? I'm aware that idling for a hat and cheating at cards are diffrent, but the same logic is applied.

You shouldn't have to randomly HOPE AND PRAY for an item, the hats should be tied to achievements.

You could just play the game. I know it's a crazy idea. I mean, far be it from me to defend people who are giving away free stuff to a game they spent eleven years on, by now. Especially as so many other companies give away free stuff to a game where there's no subscription.

 

[Booze Zombie]

You could just play the game. I know it's a crazy idea. I mean, far be it from me to defend people who are giving away free stuff to a game they spent eleven years on, by now. Especially as so many other companies give away free stuff to a game where there's no subscription.

I do play the game constantly, the idler was racking up the annoying numbers for me whilst I was sleeping, but now instead of conveniently just starting up a program, I have to go around locating an idle server, taking up space and probably annoying other people.

And I don't care how many years they spend on the game, they added a broken feature.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

You could just play the game. I know it's a crazy idea. I mean, far be it from me to defend people who are giving away free stuff to a game they spent eleven years on, by now. Especially as so many other companies give away free stuff to a game where there's no subscription.

I do play the game constantly, the idler was racking up the annoying numbers for me whilst I was sleeping, but now instead of conveniently just starting up a program, I have to go around locating an idle server, taking up space and probably annoying other people.

And I don't care how many years they spend on the game, they added a broken feature.

Seriously man, take a good calm look at what you just said.

You admit to using a cheat program to get free stuff early and now you're furious because Valve may be doing something about it (which is actually in their EULA). And now you're annoyed because you might have to spend a minute finding another cheat server just so you can get more free stuff. Which doesn't change anything, and you won't see for 95% of your playtime.

At any point, don't you think you're being just a tad unreasonable?