14 DAY TRIAL // Team Fortress 2 has just received a brand new update that stops rewards from being given to players who just run the game minimized (aka idling) instead of actually playing it on a server with others.
Team Fortress 2 has a robust system that rewards players for the time they spend in the game and for the things they achieve within it.
Sadly, this led to a lot of players just starting the game and minimizing it into the taskbar, thereby accruing in-game time and rewards without actually playing it.
Valve decided to put an end to this practice and has posted a fresh update that's designed to alter the reward system and implement certain requirements.
Check out quite a few official details in a special FAQ below, via the TF2 blog.
What is the definition of “actively playing” Team Fortress 2? From an item drop perspective, a player is considered to be actively playing if they meet all of the following criteria: - Is connected to a VAC secured server. - Is responding to in-game drop notifications while not utilizing external programs to do so. - Is running only one instance of the game. - Is not in textmode.
A player who meets all of those criteria is earning time towards random item drops (subject to the weekly cap).
Will I be VAC banned for not actively playing the game, also known as ‘idling’? No, you will not be banned for just idling. You may be banned if you use external programs to circumvent idle detection.
Will I lose my drops if I'm idling? Will it affect my weekly drop cap? No, drops are not lost and the drop cap remains unaffected. Players will simply have their item drops paused. Item drops will return when normal play is resumed.
Why are you changing how the Item Drop System works? This change is designed to make the TF2 experience equally rewarding for all players. The previous system had flaws that allowed players to collect rewards without actively playing TF2.
I don’t idle. How does this impact me? The new system ensures you won’t become disadvantaged for playing TF2 the way you always have.
Idling has become quite popular, especially for games like Team Fortress 2, but also for the new Steam Trading Cards, although it's unclear if Valve will change that system as well.