Team Fortress Classic (lost build of cancelled Xbox port of PC multiplayer first-person shooter; existence unconfirmed; early 2000s)

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Revision as of 13:31, 24 April 2024 by SpaceManiac888 (talk | contribs) (Love Team Fortress 2, but it seems the series' most notable pieces of lost media have already been covered on the Wiki. Still, I came across this alleged port of Team Fortress Classic that was discussed in articles and videos about the also-cancelled Teebo & Kai. That said, I am not entirely sure about its existence... personally, I think sources are confusing it for Counter-Strike's Xbox port. But seeing as some (like Tyler McVicker) have claimed it exists, it warrants further discussion.)
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Tfccoverart1.jpg

Cover art for Team Fortress Classic.

Status: Existence Unconfirmed

Team Fortress Classic is a PC multiplayer first-person shooter game. It was initially released as a Half-Life mod in April 1999, having served as a Valve-developed port for an independent Quake mod known simply as Team Fortress. In the early 2000s, following the cancellation of Valve's platformer title Teebo & Kai, it was alleged that an Xbox port of Team Fortress Classic was under development. Had it not faced its own cancellation, the port would have marked the first instance of the Team Fortress series receiving a console release.

Background

The genesis of Team Fortress began in June 1996.[1] Team Fortress Software, consisting of Robin Walker, John Cook and Ian Caughley, harnessed the Quake Engine utilised by id Software for its 3D first-person shooter Quake.[2][1] According to Walker, Team Fortress was originally a "pure deathmatch" experience; its class-based conceptualisation arose after the team wanted a multiclass mod which would enable players to adopt and solidify their ideal playing style, allowing for compelling gameplay experiences.[3][1] Thus, the mod, released on 24th August 1996,[4] incorporated the nine classes that formed the series' backbone.[1] Whereas some classes like the Scout and Heavy Weapons Guy were established early in-house, others, most notably the Pyro, arose as Team Fortress Software experimented with other Quake mods.[1] The mod's popularity caught Valve Corporation's attention,[5][6] who themselves had modified the Quake Engine for its own GoldSrc engine used for Half-Life.[7][1]

During the production of Half-Life, Valve employed Walker and Cook in March 1998 to help finalise the game's development and finish up other projects like Half-Life SDK.[1] Following the release of Half-Life in November of that same year, Walker and Cook spearheaded a GoldSrc port of Team Fortress.[1] First announced in June 1998 and ultimately released as a free Half-Life mod on 7th April 1999,[6][5] Team Fortress Classic received critical acclaim.[8] However, its development forced the postponement of its sequel, Team Fortress 2.[1][5] Consequently, this commenced Team Fortress 2's troubled development and spawned a variety of missing builds.[9]

But interestingly, Team Fortress 2's early builds were not the only casualty linked to Team Fortress Classic.[10][11] In the early 2000s, Teebo & Kai, a 3D platformer, was in development for the Xbox by a company called Escape Factory.[11][10] The project, commissioned by Valve as part of a joint venture with Microsoft, was abruptly cancelled by Valve's president Gabe Newell not long into its development.[11] According to the game's lead 3D artist, as well as games journalist Tyler McVicker in his video on Teebo & Kai, Newell firmly believed an Xbox port of Team Fortress Classic was a more lucrative endeavour.[12][11] The logic appeared sound for two reasons; firstly, Team Fortress Classic was cited as among the most popular Half-Life mods by GameSpy, its prior success demonstrating its potential for a console release.[13] Secondly, the shooter was simply a safer choice in general.[11] By the early 2000s, landline connections slowly declined as alternatives like broadband began to be widely adopted.[14] Still, landline connections remained the dominant option for most console gamers seeking online gameplay.[15][11] Therefore, according to McVicker, a brand-new online cooperative game like Teebo & Kai was a risky business endeavour for the period,[10] as its unknown quality may not have appealed to the predominantly landline-utilising Xbox consumer base.[11]

Despite Newell's backing, an Xbox port of Team Fortress Classic also never materialised.[11][10] In the end, only two Valve products were published for the console; this included a port of Counter-Strike released in November 2003 under the development of Ritual Entertainment.[16] This version harnessed a single-player mode featuring bots, an exclusive feature most likely added to circumnavigate the aforementioned issues surrounding early online play.[17][11] Meanwhile, the Xbox became the only sixth-generation console to feature Half-Life 2 in its library, released in November 2005.[18] Though it is unclear whether or not either game replaced Team Fortress Classic, McVicker theorises Half-Life 2 was most likely hastily added to honour Valve's contract with Microsoft following the prior demise of two promised games.[11] However, this theory makes less sense considering that Valve ultimately partnered with EA to publish and distribute this port.[19] Regardless, Team Fortress 2 instead became the first Team Fortress title ported to consoles, released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 as part of The Orange Box.[20]

Availability

During his research on Teebo & Kai, McVicker contacted several sources who asserted that the project was indeed replaced by Team Fortress Classic.[11][12] But whereas some screenshots of Teebo & Kai have become publicly available,[21] this is not the case for its replacement's obscure Xbox port. Because of this, it is unknown whether a build was ever established prior to the project's cancellation. An alternative theory suggests that the sources were actually referring to the Counter-Source port. Not only was the port published by Microsoft Studios,[16] thus potentially honouring any contract between the two companies,[11] but it was also an online multiplayer game developed and released not long following the supposed cancellation of Teebo & Kai.[10] As of the present day, the existence of Team Fortess Classic's Xbox port remains unconfirmed.

Gallery

Videos

Tyler McVicker summarising the cancelled Team Fortress Classic Xbox port (2:03-3:39).

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Shack News interview where Walker, Cook and Caughley discussed the development of Team Fortress and Team Fortress Classic. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  2. ↑ PC Gamer detailing the legacy of the Quake Engine, including for Team Fortress. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  3. ↑ TeamFortressMapCreator'sGuild where Walker summarised the inspiration for Team Fortress. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  4. ↑ IndieWire noting Team Fortress's release date. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Archived Sierra Studios various announcements of Team Fortress Classic's development and release. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 GameSpot reporting on the development of Team Fortress Classic (then simply known as Team Fortress 2. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  7. ↑ Archived VERC Collective summarising the engine used for Half-Life, commonly referred to as GoldSrc. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  8. ↑ Archived GameRankings providing an 85.43% aggregate score for Team Fortress Classic. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  9. ↑ SVG summarising Team Fortress 2's troubled development. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Unseen64 article on Teebo & Kai, including how it was cancelled in favour of an Xbox port of Team Fortress Classic. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 Tyler McVicker summarising the cancelled Team Fortress Classic Xbox port (2:03-3:39). Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Baker Artist portfolio of Teebo & Kai's lead 3D artist, who claimed the game was cancelled in favour of an Xbox port of Team Fortress Classic (p.g. 27). Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  13. ↑ Archived GameSpy declaring Team Fortress Classic as among the most popular Half-Life mods of the era. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  14. ↑ Ipsos reporting on the slow decline of landline in favour of broadband by 2004. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  15. ↑ TechRound reflecting on the popularity of landline during the fledgling era of online gaming. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Kotaku summary of the Xbox version of Counter-Strike. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  17. ↑ GameSpot review of the Xbox port of Counter-Strike. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  18. ↑ IGN review of the Xbox port of Half-Life 2. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  19. ↑ Eurogamer reporting on Valve signing a contract with EA for the latter to publish and distribute Half-Life 2 for the Xbox. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  20. ↑ Eurogamer reporting on Team Fortress 2 being released as part of The Orange Box on consoles. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
  21. ↑ Valve Archive providing available materials for Teebo & Kai. Retrieved 24th Apr '24
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