Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 is a team-based multiplayer first-person shooter developed by Valve Software as part of the game bundle The Orange Box. It was first released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 on October 10, 2007. A PlayStation 3 version then followed on November 22, 2007. Following suit, it was released as a standalone title on April 9, 2008, and on June 10, 2010, Team Fortress 2 was released for Mac OS X. The PC and OS X versions of Team Fortress 2 adopted a "Free to Play" model on June 23, 2011, with all revenue being generated from microtransactions in the In-game Store. After several months of closed beta, Team Fortress 2 was finally released for Linux operating systems on February 14, 2013.

The game was first announced in 1998 as a sequel to the original Team Fortress mod for Quake (a first-person shooter video game, developed by id Software), but has since been through various concept and design periods. In 1999, the game appeared to be abandoning the art styles of the original Team Fortress Classic by transitioning toward a more realistic and militaristic style of gameplay. However, the design continued evolving over the game's nine-year development period and game engine switch. The final art style rendition of Team Fortress 2 resembles that of the original Team Fortress and Team Fortress Classic games, and also features a cartoon-like visual style based on the art of Dean Cornwell, J. C. Leyendecker, and Norman Rockwell. Team Fortress 2 follows a popular trend in recent CGI films, in particular, films recently made by Pixar, such as The Incredibles.

Team Fortress 2 has won several awards since its release. In its "Best of 2007" awards, IGN.com honored the game with an award for "Best Artistic Design" for the PC. Additionally, Team Fortress 2 received awards for "Best Multiplayer Experience (PC)," and "Best Artistic Direction (PC)" from 1UP.com in its 2007 editorial awards. The game also won "Best Multiplayer Game of the Year" both on the PC and on any platform in GameSpy's 2007 Game of the Year awards along with an award for "Most Unique Art Style."

Team Fortress 2 does not attempt the realistic graphical approach used in other Valve games using the Source engine such as Half-Life 2, Day of Defeat: Source, and Counter-Strike: Source. Rather, it uses a more stylized, cartoon-like approach "heavily influenced by early 20th century commercial illustrations." The effect is achieved using a unique Valve in-house rendering and lighting technique making extensive use of 'Phong shading.' The development commentary in the game suggests that part of the reason for the cartoonish style was the difficulty in explaining the maps and characters in realistic terms. The removal of an emphasis on realistic settings allows these questions to be sidestepped. The game debuts with the Source engine's new dynamic lighting, shadowing and soft particle technologies, among many other unannounced features, alongside Half-Life 2: Episode Two. Team Fortress 2 was also the first game to implement the Source engine's new Facial Animation 3 features.

Story
We begin in 1850 when a wealthy Englishman, Zepheniah Mann, owner of Mann & Sons Co., is convinced by his idiot twin sons - Redmond and Blutarch - to purchase land in the United States to expand their company. Zepheniah Mann discovers that the gravel pits and dustbowls he purchased were useless and on top of that, he contracted various illnesses traveling to the United States. With his last will, which he wrote on his skin, he left his sons equal halves of his land, ensuring that they would fight over it for the rest of their lives. To capture his brother's half, Blutarch hired 9 mercenaries but unbeknownst to him, Redmond had ALSO contracted exactly 9 mercenaries to do exactly the same thing. And for the next 40 years, they would engage in an endless war because neither brother was bright enough to, perhaps, hire more mercenaries. Blutarch, nearing death from old age, contracts expert craftsman Radigan Conagher to build a machine that would extend his life. However, Radigan was also convinced to build the same machine for Redmond by a stranger offering Australium, a rare and powerful element only found in Australia that turned a nation of savages into hyper-intelligent beings. Fast forwarding to 1968, Builders League United and Reliable Excavation & Demolition, once again, recruit 9 mercenaries, the Scout, Soldier, Pyro, Demoman, Heavy Weapons Guy, Engineer, Medic, Sniper, and Spy to continue the war for the land left behind by Zepheniah Mann. Helen, known as The Administrator, oversees the conflict between RED and BLU with the help of Saxton Hale who provides weapons and headgear to each side. Just remember, EVERYONE is a Spy.