A Look at TF2’s Unused Content; Part 4
Since Pyrit reminded me I actually should really get this article actually done, here it is, Dracula Guy looks around using GCFScape to find neat stuff and maybe some weird stuff too. Part 4. Valve seems to have removed the most neat thing which was the material of a head that didn’t belong to any of the classes.
Found in the materials GCF under “models/buildables/spawn_room”
This one is pretty obvious. If you remember awhile back I found some old turret models that were probably for protecting the spawn rooms? Well, it seems there were some newer ones at some point that actually fit in with the current TF2 style. It appears only the textures survived though. Under the names, in order here, “turret_gun”, “turret_mount” and “turret_mount_glass”. But “turret_mount_glass” was just a gray circle, so it’s not here. Yes, I was being lazy.
Found in the content GCF under “models/props_vehicles/”
So, these are “proto_train001″ and “proto_train002″. Yes, the texture for them was just a white image. I assume this is some sort of prototype payload cart. Kinda reminds me of Frontier’s cart, with the attachment.
Well, most of you know that the soldier’s rocket launcher used to look like this. You would load the rockets like in TFC, I assume. It seems Valve left an animation used for this rocket model. Video time!
/neatstuffthatyoumighthavealreadyknown
Stumble it!
Combyne responded on 15 Jul 2009 at 11:25 am #
Nice finds once again, Dracula.
Jesse responded on 15 Jul 2009 at 11:25 am #
I already know this neat stuff!
Xriloku responded on 15 Jul 2009 at 1:48 pm #
Nice stuff!
I bet someone on FPS banana is gonna make a “TF2 Beta Style” rocket launcher with that animation.
Campin Carl responded on 15 Jul 2009 at 3:24 pm #
The payload cart is one of the early payloads, which where supposed to be so large that you could build on it and have it as a small base. But they skippsed that due to balancing issues I think.
Alex responded on 15 Jul 2009 at 8:17 pm #
Sure the proto train is the train god in well? The first model resembles it very well
Alex responded on 15 Jul 2009 at 8:17 pm #
*surely
ExAstris responded on 16 Jul 2009 at 2:15 am #
Interesting stuff!
Lawlingbawl responded on 16 Jul 2009 at 4:59 am #
Neat stuff, although “refrence” made me cringe. Spell check is still necessary in videos D:
Deepsmeg responded on 16 Jul 2009 at 8:52 am #
It is the Train God, and don’t call me Shirley
Sinister Minister responded on 16 Jul 2009 at 4:27 pm #
@Lawlingbawl: Wow, a minor error made you cringe? Words like “ur” must make you puke.
Deepsmeg responded on 16 Jul 2009 at 10:03 pm #
Your going too have 2 work on choosing the write whirred four watt it is ewe want too say sew as knot two cause undue confusion. A spell cheque can offer help inn this regard.
Corodan responded on 17 Jul 2009 at 4:06 am #
Huh. Never knew about the animation.
MAXinsanity responded on 17 Jul 2009 at 2:26 pm #
Perhaps the unused animation will end up used as the reload animation for one of the soldier’s unlocks…
Then again that’s just a thought.
HelisPoe responded on 19 Jul 2009 at 11:21 am #
Like the Soldier needs anything other than his Rocket Launcher.
HelisPoe responded on 19 Jul 2009 at 11:23 am #
On second thought, maybe a rocket launcher that does less damage to yourself while rocket jumping while also allowing a much greater height? Does less damage to enemies but has 5 rockets (One to RJ, 4 to attack).
Seeing how the unlocks are supposed to encourage different play styles I think a RJ friendly rocket launcher wouldn’t be that too far off of what Valve is planning.
/endramble
Gamer responded on 21 Jul 2009 at 3:11 am #
Very nice, but i dont think what we will see this weapon in future update…
gelugon2105 responded on 21 Jul 2009 at 4:38 pm #
I speculate that, based on the animations that you have unearthed, the Soldier was supposed to be THE Communist character for this game. Note his odd uniform in that image containing the prototype Rocket Launcher, which very much resembled said RPG.
Besides, remember when each of us just started playing TF2, or was just starting to know about TF2? One would never have expected at first glance that the Heavy is actually Russian, and a (purported) Communist. The Minigun is not, stereotypically, a Commie-associated weapon too, but the RPG certainly is.
Furthermore, the Heavy has an American football helmet headwear item and he likes boxing. All of these suggest that his prototype design was hardly Russian Commie at all, but rather an ox of an American who aspired to be an athlete yet somehow got mixed up in the TF Industries mercenary business.
Silencer responded on 21 Jul 2009 at 11:32 pm #
@gelugon2105
Maybe they gave the heavy a football helmet due to his size and strength -_-’ Just a thought.
And I’m pretty sure this rocket will be in the game, IF the soldier gets an update. There will be a new rocket, so why not this one ?
gelugon2105 responded on 22 Jul 2009 at 5:23 pm #
I prefer to keep speculation on Valve’s official forums, but those places have practically become pits of flaming bile, so I will insert my speculation here.
It kind of looks like an RPG. A Commie RPG. I doubt the Soldier would want to wield it.
Considering that Valve does not want to produce alternative weapons with too similar functions, as were the case with Natascha (which Valve, initially, really messed up the programming for), the Backburner (which had been nerfed and whose original counterpart, the Flamethrower, has received major upgrades), the Blutsaugher and the Ubersaugh (which practically every veteran Medic would wield over the substantially less reliable/useful originals), Valve would probably design the Soldier’s alternative primary weapon in the same way they did for, perhaps, the Sniper.
The Soldier’s Rocket Launcher is the most greatly used primary weapon, notwithstanding the Heavy’s, in the game. The other classes (perhaps except the Heavy) happen to use their secondaries and melees more proportionately, compared to the Soldier, whose primary is useful at any range – even point blank, as hey, a crit rocket is going to kill that Pyro who is in his face anyway. And that Spy behind him, too.
The Soldier also has quite a lot of people with grief and grudge against him, just like the Sniper had, no thanks to occasional rocket spams that turn critical and obliterate a bunch of opponents. Even the Demoman wasn’t that unpredictable, due to his slower explosive munitions. Yet, unlike the Demoman, Valve cannot nerf the Soldier too much without making him entirely useless.
Hence, I think he just might get some hardware that functions differently, akin to the Huntsman for the Sniper.
He is most likely to have a WWII weapon, and a recklessly engineered one too, considering his background. I am thinking of an assault rifle, similar to the BAR, but that would be too plain.
Perhaps a bolt-action rifle, but with an alt-fire mode that attaches a grenade to the muzzle, so that the rifle can still be occasionally used like a rocket launcher – somewhat. Moreover, with a little change to the above unused animation, said animation can be used for this alt-fire mode. That would be cheaper and faster for Valve. But again, there is a snag of how much of an incentive the use of this weapon would be. The loss of always on-hand splash damage is just too great. I would put headshot bonus damage in, but that would just put another contender for the headshooting job, just like the Ambassador did.
P.S. The current Demoman still can dominate, really, if in the hands of a very skilled veteran.
gelugon2105 responded on 22 Jul 2009 at 5:31 pm #
Um, sorry Dracula Guy and any ubercharged.net site managers, if the above speculation is a bit too long. But I do believe that my two-cents (or more) above would be quite appropriate as a comment to Dracula Guy’s article.
FullMetalMC responded on 24 Jul 2009 at 12:53 pm #
nice I love this kind of stuff