The reason for hats in TF2

[Dutch 924]

I been playing TF2 for a while now (before the F2P thing) and I understand the general value for hats. What I don't understand is why they're so important. If I'm going to get something, I'd prefer it if I could use it. Hats are purely cosmetic (apart from those setups, but they don't do much either).

Anyone care to explain why people like hats so much?

 

[Versuvius]

Just because. why do people like tattoos and piercings and certain styles of clothes? Just cus. Otherwise we would all be in grey jumpsuits with crew cuts.

 

[Versuvius]

We do what we must.


Because we can.


I wanted a Towering Pillar of Hats on my nine classes, so I got a Towering Pillar of Hats on my nine classes. 'Tis that simple.

He who has the biggest hat is the most important. 40k has taught me that much.

 

[Strain42]

It gives people a semblance of character customization. People like having some personal control over what they have. It makes them feel like they're expressing themselves somehow, no matter how small.

A good example would be the avatars we have here on the Escapist. Imagine that instead of choosing our own, we were just given about 12 Escapist themed ones and that everyone had to use one of those 12 and that was it.

We'd feel pretty restricted, wouldn't we?

That's my hypothesis on it anyway.

 

[Evil Top Hat]

The hats are there to produce revenue, and keep adding new things to an old game. TF2 is an old game, the mann conomy update (and the free to play malarkey actually) was introduced just to give the game an extra breath of life to stop the player base from getting too bored.

 

[notebook_holder]

I just want some new weapons. But they need to come up with better stats not +20 damage and such. I rather like the Disciplinary actions stats, found that to be interesting.

 

[Smertnik]

Hats make you a better person. It's a proven and widely known fact.

 

[Outright Villainy]

your guess is as good as mine but what im woundering is why arnt all the extras on PS3 as well.

Because EA made that port, it had nothing to do with Valve.

Which also explains why it's so god damn awful. Seriously, I found tf2 on PS3 nearly unplayable. And tf2 is my favourite game ever.

 

[EHKOS]

It's marketing. Oh look, that guy looks cooler than me! I must have his hat! Then VALVe makes it available for $10 per new hat. And once you are done raking the leaves, scrubbing the floor, and taking out the trash, you don your new awesome hat proudly...and then realize everyone can see it but you. Then, crestfallen, you return to playing the game normally, until you see the most epic hat YET. And that is how VALVe get's it's money.
Positive renforcement also plays a role here. You play and play and you GET FREE STUFF! (See George Carlin for more info) and sometimes....even a HAT! So you play more, and get more invested in the game. And then you're willing to spend money to complete that set of demo weapons you so dearly need.

 

[Dott]

Because TF2 is the best hat simulator on the market.
It just so happens to also contain traces of an online multiplayer class-based first person shooter.

 

[Zhukov]

Because they are readily visible.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

The reason is simple:

Money, dear boy.

 

[kebab4you]

Because hats! What other reason do you need?

 

[Freakzooi]

The reason is simple:

Money, dear boy.

Agreed. Hats + ??? = Profit

 

[Fayathon]

Hats are there so that people who don't really care about them can use them to buy games like Skyrim without paying a dime.

I don't really see what the big fuss about hats is, honestly though. I have a few that I like, but I'll be damned if I ever spend a dime buying the stupid things (barring ownership bonuses and the like, I love my Pip-Boy and Apeture hard hat). I find the fact that they kinda are a legitimate form of currency on Steam highly amusing though.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Gamers are spoiled brats who want everything and want to feel special and therefor want to collect all the hats to feel special and and to lord it over everyone.

Valve is just exploiting that like no one's business. (I'd rather play a game for the fun and spend my money on other things).

 

[Nico III]

People crave them so much because they are/were such rare drops and cost so much in the Mann Co. Store.

 

[Space Spoons]

Because they look cool, I guess? Not completely sure, myself. I like neat hats as much as the next guy, but I don't obsess over them the way some players do. At least, not the way I obsess over items that actually have some effect on how I play the game.