<a href="http://media.steampowered.com/steam/news/9825/Demo_and_Pyro_2.jpg"><img src="http://media.steampowered.com/steam/news/9825/Demo_and_Pyro_2_mast.jpg" width="100%" border="0"></a>

Hey, Scout superfans! Scout here. Some doll-makin' company called NECA told us they were gonna make action figures based on the <i>best, most popular team member in TF2.</i> Well, I just opened the box they sent us, and not to tell NECA their business, but MAN these two dolls do not look <a href="http://media.steampowered.com/steam/news/9825/Demo2_RGB.jpg">anything</a> <a href="http://media.steampowered.com/steam/news/9825/pyro2_RGB.jpg">like me</a>.

Don't get me wrong, logically they GOTTA be ME. Right? I just dunno why they didn't start with my traditional outfit, or at the very least Scuba Scout or Kung Fu Fortress Scout or whatever. I guess they're tryin' the most obscure variants first to whet your appetite for the good ol' Classic version.

Still, the way I see it, <a href="http://store.valvesoftware.com/product.php?i=FTF202">Chubby Firefighter Scout</a> and for some reason <a href="http://store.valvesoftware.com/product.php?i=FTF204">One-Eyed Black Scout</a> are better than no Scout at all. So be sure to hit up your favorite retail establishments (Toys 'R' Us, FYE and Hastings) or online (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/NECA-Series-Fortress-Deluxe-Action/dp/B009V0NS2C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359421725&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and the <a href="http://store.valvesoftware.com/index.php?t=2&g=7" target="_blank">Valve Store</a>) because these odd-lookin' Scout dolls are gonna sell like odd-lookin' hotcakes.

<b><i>—Scout</i></b>

Hey, Scout superfans! Scout here. Some doll-makin' company called NECA told us they were gonna make action figures based on the best, most popular team member in TF2. Well, I just opened the box they sent us, and not to tell NECA their business, but MAN these two dolls do not look anything like me.

Don't get me wrong, logically they GOTTA be ME. Right? I just dunno why they didn't start with my traditional outfit, or at the very least Scuba Scout or Kung Fu Fortress Scout or whatever. I guess they're tryin' the most obscure variants first to whet your appetite for the good ol' Classic version.

Still, the way I see it, Chubby Firefighter Scout and for some reason One-Eyed Black Scout are better than no Scout at all. So be sure to hit up your favorite retail establishments (Toys 'R' Us, FYE and Hastings) or online (Amazon and the Valve Store) because these odd-lookin' Scout dolls are gonna sell like odd-lookin' hotcakes.

—Scout

<a href="http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=9714"><img src="http://media.steampowered.com/steam/news/9714/saxlettermayo.png" width="100%" border="0"></a>

A letter from Saxton Hale has been posted to the TF2 blog. <a href="http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=9714">Click here</a> to read it.

A letter from Saxton Hale has been posted to the TF2 blog. Click here to read it.

<a href="http://store.tf2.com/?hidecarousel=1&appid=440#cat=1194199205&p=2"><img src="http://media.steampowered.com/steam/news/9661/stamptaunteffect.jpg?t=1356638708" width="100%" border="0"></a>

Though we think we’ve done a good job rewarding community contributors who make cosmetics and weapons, we could definitely do more for TF’s diligent, underappreciated map makers. With that in mind, we’re trying two new approaches to the problem.

<b>Map Stamp Improvements</b>

After taunting in a community map that you’ve contributed to, you now leave behind a trail of large stamps. The more you contribute, the longer the trail!

We’re now also tracking hours played in each map. In the “Maps” section of the in-game Mann Co. Store, you can see how many hours you’ve played each community map and how many times you’ve contributed to it. Plus, occasionally, on check out, you’ll be gently reminded that it might be nice to add a stamp to your cart for a map that you’ve played frequently but haven’t contributed much to. After you’ve seen this reminder once, you can have it show other map stamp suggestions by checking the “Support Community Map Mapers” box near the “check out” button.

<b>Map-Specific Strange Filters</b>

Sold in the store, these new filters let you set your strange weapons to only track events on specific community maps. For instance, if you only care about kills on “Yukon”, you can change the filter on your shotgun to just capture that. When filtering stats for a weapon, you’ll also get a custom rank modifier. So, in the aforementioned “Yukon” example, you’d now have a “Strange Canadian Shotgun”. The goal is to give players who really like specific community maps a way to both track their stats on those maps and broadcast their interest even when they’re playing on other levels.

Note that in both cases, 100% of the revenue (minus net taxes) goes to the contributor, so let’s get out there and support our map makers!

Though we think we’ve done a good job rewarding community contributors who make cosmetics and weapons, we could definitely do more for TF’s diligent, underappreciated map makers. With that in mind, we’re trying two new approaches to the problem.

Map Stamp Improvements

After taunting in a community map that you’ve contributed to, you now leave behind a trail of large stamps. The more you contribute, the longer the trail!

We’re now also tracking hours played in each map. In the “Maps” section of the in-game Mann Co. Store, you can see how many hours you’ve played each community map and how many times you’ve contributed to it. Plus, occasionally, on check out, you’ll be gently reminded that it might be nice to add a stamp to your cart for a map that you’ve played frequently but haven’t contributed much to. After you’ve seen this reminder once, you can have it show other map stamp suggestions by checking the “Support Community Map Mapers” box near the “check out” button.

Map-Specific Strange Filters

Sold in the store, these new filters let you set your strange weapons to only track events on specific community maps. For instance, if you only care about kills on “Yukon”, you can change the filter on your shotgun to just capture that. When filtering stats for a weapon, you’ll also get a custom rank modifier. So, in the aforementioned “Yukon” example, you’d now have a “Strange Canadian Shotgun”. The goal is to give players who really like specific community maps a way to both track their stats on those maps and broadcast their interest even when they’re playing on other levels.

Note that in both cases, 100% of the revenue (minus net taxes) goes to the contributor, so let’s get out there and support our map makers!

<a href="http://www.teamfortress.com/mechaupdate/"><img src="http://www.teamfortress.com/images/posts/mechaupdateislive.jpg" width="100%" border="0"></a>

This is not a test blog post! You are not dreaming! This is actually happening! Go get it! There is nothing more to say! We’re still talking! Amazingly, you’re still reading! This is getting weird! Well, we’re going to end this blog post now! You can keep reading it if you want, we guess, but we’re going to stop writing! Okay, we’re still writing! And you’re still reading. You don’t feel remorse or fear or eye strain and you will never, ever give up until all these words are read! You are the greatest reader of ALL TIME and this is the “300” of reading! Only instead of getting killed by Persians, we’re going to suggest you simply go check out the brand new, incredibly convenient <a href="http://store.teamfortress.com/">Mann Co. Online Store</a>. There’s a bunch of words there that need reading. Plus pictures.

This is not a test blog post! You are not dreaming! This is actually happening! Go get it! There is nothing more to say! We’re still talking! Amazingly, you’re still reading! This is getting weird! Well, we’re going to end this blog post now! You can keep reading it if you want, we guess, but we’re going to stop writing! Okay, we’re still writing! And you’re still reading. You don’t feel remorse or fear or eye strain and you will never, ever give up until all these words are read! You are the greatest reader of ALL TIME and this is the “300” of reading! Only instead of getting killed by Persians, we’re going to suggest you simply go check out the brand new, incredibly convenient Mann Co. Online Store. There’s a bunch of words there that need reading. Plus pictures.

<a href="http://www.teamfortress.com/mechaupdate/"><img src="http://www.teamfortress.com/images/posts/blog_mechaupdate.jpg" width="100%" border="0"></a>

That's right, December 25th is almost here, and that means the Smissmas season is once again upon us. Now we know some people will be celebrating a different holiday next Tuesday, and for all of <i>you</i>, let us be the first to say: Happy Constitution Day, China! But regardless of what event you're planning to honor, whether it's Quaid-e-Azam's Day, the 1837 Battle of Okeechobee, or <i>Star Trek: Deep Space Nine</i> producer Rick Berman's sixty-sixth birthday, rest assured that, on the inside, we're all celebrating the same thing. And that thing is Smissmas. Because it's the best holiday. Need proof? <a href="http://www.teamfortress.com/mechaupdate">Check out all the new stuff we're shipping</a> <strong><i>soon</i></strong> in a joyful, dangerous explosion of Smissmas updating.

That's right, December 25th is almost here, and that means the Smissmas season is once again upon us. Now we know some people will be celebrating a different holiday next Tuesday, and for all of you, let us be the first to say: Happy Constitution Day, China! But regardless of what event you're planning to honor, whether it's Quaid-e-Azam's Day, the 1837 Battle of Okeechobee, or Star Trek: Deep Space Nine producer Rick Berman's sixty-sixth birthday, rest assured that, on the inside, we're all celebrating the same thing. And that thing is Smissmas. Because it's the best holiday. Need proof? Check out all the new stuff we're shipping soon in a joyful, dangerous explosion of Smissmas updating.