Team Fortress 2 Beta Finally Launches, Lovingly Embraced by Shack Community

Those who pre-purchase The Orange Box via Steam can now experience Valve's colorful class-based multiplayer shooter. Hooray!

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After several hiccups and unexpected delays, the beta for Valve's Team Fortress 2 (PC) launched late last night.

Anyone who pre-purchases the $44.99 Orange Box compilation via Steam can now play the colorful class-based multiplayer shooter, which officially releases alongside Half-Life 2 Episode Two and Portal on October 10 in PC and Xbox 360 varieties. The bundle also packs Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2 Episode One, and will hit PlayStation 3 a bit after the other two versions arrive.

Multiple password-protected Shack servers have been set up by caring and generous Shackers for Shackbattle skirmish love. Members of the Shacknews Steam Community are instructed to hop in Group Chat for the password and more details. Those interested in joining the Shacknews Group are urged to respond to this post with their Steam ID.

The first of many Shackbattles has been formally scheduled for this evening. Scope out the Shacknews Group page for exact details on tonight's match, and keep checking back for future events.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    September 18, 2007 8:41 AM

    Working on shack servers now. Fortunately they did release the linux ded last night so I can have as many going as we need.

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      September 18, 2007 8:49 AM

      Sweeet- passwords in the usual place?

    • reply
      September 18, 2007 9:09 AM

      you roxor

    • reply
      September 18, 2007 9:19 AM

      Good stuff, tell me how the Linux server performance is like.

      My Windows srcds on a 2800+ Athlon is pushing 50% with 18-20 clients. The Dual Xeon 1.7ghz in the back maxes out at 18-20 clients per CPU. It's still not multi threaded. :(

    • reply
      September 18, 2007 9:21 AM

      how many servers do you think will be needed?

    • reply
      September 18, 2007 11:15 AM

      how does one go about finding out how much running a server costs? maybe I'll get one if its not too bad...

    • reply
      September 18, 2007 2:54 PM

      Where is the Linux software? Does a tarball download along with everything else through your steam client, or do you have to grab it elsewhere?

    • reply
      September 18, 2007 3:17 PM

      Do you have to go into the Shack group chat to get the passwords - the damn thing is full all the time and I can never get in... Why is there even a limit on how many people can be in a chatroom?

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