Updates to Team Fortress 2, Day of Defeat: Source and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:


Shared Changes (TF2, DoD:S, HL2:DM)

• Improved the performance and stability of the libraries used for in-game HTML display
  

Team Fortress 2

• Added new promo items
  
• Fixed hats sometimes appearing multiple times in incorrect locations when changing classes
  
• Fixed Demoman shields not reducing explosive damage in non-MvM games
  
• Fixed the tf_bot_add command using the same name for all of the bots when adding multiple bots simultaneously
  
• Updated the localization files
  
• Moved map descriptions into the localization files
  • Map descriptions will still be loaded from the maps folder first if they exist
• Updated Mann vs. Machine
  • Fixed a bug where players could only buy 1 upgrade at a time from the upgrade station
    
  • Fixed a bug where the Victory dialog would sometimes show during incorrect times

AirMech Beta Update + Moon Festival Event

New Units, Matchmaking, and a special seasonal Event highlight the most recent AirMech update. Still in closed Beta testing, players can gain early access by purchasing the Beta Bundle which unlocks much of the content and is retained after full release of the game.


Three new Units have been added: Turtle (walker), Aegis (turret), and Grinder (melee tank). Each one introduces new strategic options on the battlefield allowing players to develop more specialized roles. All new Units are included with the Beta Bundle, and will be added to your account the next time you log in.


A couple new Ultimates have been added as well. Ultimates are non-PvP variations of existing Units or Pilots which amplify their abilities to extreme levels. They were originally created as a response to Solo mode players who enjoyed having an advantage, and didn't mind that they could not use them against human opponents, so we thought this was a great solution. Ultimate Erik gains XP ingame at 150% the normal rate, giving him usually a 2x advantage in levels. Ultimate Money Maker generates credits ingame at 2x the normal rate, but it otherwise the same.


The first track from Front Line Assembly has been added as menu music! As a refresher, we teamed up with Front Line Assembly to create an original soundtrack for AirMech, which will be available for purchase on November 13th. We will be integrating the music over time by breaking down the tracks and making proper loops of everything. The music was authored with this in mind and there's a really wide range of styles in the album. It is a great finishing touch to the game!


It's Moon Festival time! We wanted to do something fun for the holiday so we are rolling out our "cake" social Achievements. Through October 4th, the Mooncake Item is available in your inventory and while it gives no bonuses, it does give you the Cake buff and makes you eligible to "share cake" with other players doing the same. You can only get credit for sharing cakes with Matchmaking.


Matchmaking! This is a big step for AirMech, the first implementation of matchmaking. Right now we limit games to 2v2 PvP games so we can keep games cycling fast and gather data for our next steps. We're finding bugs, fixing them, and we really appreciate everyone's help by using the Matchmaking system. We also have our first pass of Ranking added to the game. Playing matchmade games will enter you in this system and your score will be modified based on an Elo system. Both of these areas will evolve quickly over the coming weeks and we love getting feedback on them!


Here's a breakdown of changes for AirMech Beta version 12311:


- New Unit: Turtle (slow walking robot, retracts to protective mode)

- New Unit: Aegis Turret (shoots down missiles/rockets)

- New Unit: Grinder Tank (modified industrial driller)

- New Pilot: Ultimate Erik (Solo games only)

- New Unit: Ultimate Money Maker (Solo games only)

- New Pet: Husky Pup (designed by HuskyStarcraft)

- New Pet: Moon Rabbit (limited time only)

- New Achievements: Cake Sharing

- New flair items: Magenta and Cyan colored contrails

- Trial AirMechs/Units/Pilots changed around

- Grinder turret renamed to “Gatty”

- Contrail Flair now wider

- New music when in the Main Menu (first track from Front Line Assembly)

- New Loadout Slots - now more, work in all modes, can be renamed

Nuclear Dawn update 6.6

Gameplay and Balance
- Slightly lowered NX300 damage output against players.
- Slightly raised Sonic Turrent damage output to balance with Flame Turret's extra fire damage.
- Lowered Machine Gun Turret cost to 2500.
- Commanders now get points for a critical assist if player-initiated artillery strike kills an enemy.
- Empire commander ability poison is now differently colored to distinguish between it and Consortium's.
- Commander poison ability now matches description and no longer hurts teammates unless friendly fire is enabled.
- Fixed NX300 not hurting teammates with friendly fire enabled.

Client
- Updated Report a Bug link.
- Added invert mouse wheel zoom option to Options panel.
- Fixed bad password connect error box using lan server error text after a recent update.
- Fixed a bug that allowed malicious servers to execute restricted console commands on players.
- Fixed a bug that allowed malicious servers to prevent players from executing console commands.

Server
- Added sv_allow_addon_override (default 0) to block client addon vpks from overriding game files.
- Added mp_winlimit cvar.
- Added sv_namechange_cooldown_seconds, to throttle clients from changing their name too rapidly. (Defaults to 20 seconds)
- Added check to prevent player names from containing color codes.
- setinfo console command will now reject attempts to set / change convars with any unusual characters
- Tweaked team balancer logic to be smarter about when and whom to move.
- Fixed some exploits where a malicious client could intentionally crash a server.
- Fixed typo in name of research_complete event; added research completion logging.
- Added rate limiting for connections and added the following convars, sv_max_connects_sec, sv_max_connects_window, sv_max_connects_sec_global.

Other
- Fixed being able to use some weapons (mostly throwables) while on ladder or sprinting.
- Fixed in-chair commanders being unable to chat at round end.
- Fixed some issues with wall and barrier collision performance.
- Fixed a bug that allowed server browser network activity to continue after choosing a server.
- Fixed missing effect console error when reloading Avenger.
- Fixed sv_offline console error when going into Offline Practice mode.
- Marked mem_force_flush as a cheat to prevent client exploits.
- Fixed a packet injection exploit in the client/server streams.
- Updated localizations.

Mapping / Modding
- Added numerous functions to the vscript api (see https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/List_of_ND_Script_Functions).
- Added OnResearchUnlockedConsortium and OnResearchUnlockedEmpire outputs to nd_logic_custom ent.
- Added OnConditionAdded and OnConditionRemoved outputs to player. See wiki for value meanings.

Hydro
- Fixed commanders being able to deploy structures outside of the level in some areas.

Clocktower
- Fixed commanders being able to deploy structures in the parking garage.

Gate
- No longer in beta.
- Updated overview.
- Updated loading screen.