New Medals Show Off Veteran Levels for Team Fortress 2 Players

Valve has launched yet another update for long running multiplayer game Team Fortress 2, initially launched in October 2007 as part of The Orange Box package. This time, it's less about the fixes and modifications made to the actual mechanics of the game but about the pride of the players who are engaging in multiplayer skirmishes on a regular basis. Valve is adding three new medals that will show off to all others how long a player has been enjoying the videogame.

Those who started enjoying Team Fortress 2 after October 28, even though grizzled veterans by now, will get a Bronze Medal saying Weekend Warrior, with those who started playing between 3 and 12 months after the launch date getting a Silver Medal and the title of Soldier of Fortune. The big winners are those who picked up Team Fortress 2 less than 3 months after The Orange Box was out, who get the Gold Medal and the title of Grizzled Veteran.

Valve is even adding to the internal mythology of the company and of the game by saying that, initially, this update, which was the 119th launched for the title, was planned to celebrate the 100th one but it took a little more time than originally thought.

The company could not resist fixing some bugs with this anniversary update, some linked with the SDK and some with the actual gameplay. The “Retire the Runner” achievement for the Scout has also been updated to “Kill a Scout while they are under the effect of Crit-a-Cola.”

At the same time, Gaming Heads, a firm that specializes in gaming-related memorabilia, has announced that, on May 3, it will put on sale a Heavy figurine, with Red and Blue variants and with special facial expressions. Apparently, a full line is planned, with Team Fortress 2 statues followed by the ones based on Half Life 2 and Left 4 Dead.