HEY TF2 CHEATERS! Valve will be taking your hats away!

Brian Ambrozy 2 Sep, 2009 at 7:09pm ET Article published in Gaming

Sorry guys. You lose.

Ha! I WIN!

According to the Team Fortress Blog, anybody who used an external app to “fake idle” on TF2 servers to gain item drops will have their ill-gotten goods taken away from them.

In addition to that, those who preferred to get their goods the right way (I’m not naming names me) will be awarded a special hat for being a good citizen.

THE GOOD GUYS WIN IN THE END! Take that Caffranampersandidiotslayer!

Comments

1. 
   2 Sep 2009 ~ 7:11pm Koreish You forgot Preacher too. Although I doubt he has any hats yet. I'm super stoked to be getting my very first very special hat too.
2. 
   2 Sep 2009 ~ 7:40pm pigflipper w00t! w00t! Take that idlers!
3. 
   2 Sep 2009 ~ 7:47pm UPSLynx Yes! That's what we get!
   
   especially since I don't have a single hat yet :/
4. 
   2 Sep 2009 ~ 7:52pm shwaip I believe the "I didn't cheat hat" is a halo.
5. 
   2 Sep 2009 ~ 8:02pm Idiot_Slayer This does nothing to stop idle servers. I just want to point that out, and they can take their thirty sandviches back.
   At least the drop rate went up.
6. 
   2 Sep 2009 ~ 8:04pm Obsidian They're not even taking hats away from people that did it before today. I wanted to rub it in all my friends' faces =[
7. 
   2 Sep 2009 ~ 8:18pm shwaip

   Obsidian wrote:

   They're not even taking hats away from people that did it before today. I wanted to rub it in all my friends' faces =[

   
   yes they are.
8. 
   2 Sep 2009 ~ 9:28pm QuadyTheTurnip They're going through it over the next few days, so don't be surprised if your friends loose theirs soon.
9. 
   2 Sep 2009 ~ 9:29pm primesuspect I already got my Cheater's Lament It's a halo that can be worn by any class. It rules.
10. 
    2 Sep 2009 ~ 10:25pm Cliff_Forster I know this is going to come off a mildly rude, but seriously guys? If you are the kind of guy that is worried about his TF2 hat collection immediately exit your front door, find the nearest girl and kiss her. Don't question it, just do it..... now!!!
11. 
    2 Sep 2009 ~ 10:33pm ardichoke but... derp... there's people out there. STRANGE people. What if they don't wash their hands? They could give me the bubonic plague. omgihavetogosanitizemyselfnowahhhhhhhhhhhhh
12. 
    3 Sep 2009 ~ 2:55am UPSLynx

    Cliff_Forster wrote:

    I know this is going to come off a mildly rude, but seriously guys? If you are the kind of guy that is worried about his TF2 hat collection immediately exit your front door, find the nearest girl and kiss her. Don't question it, just do it..... now!!!

    
    
    bleh... she had a bit of a mustache! And then I remember where I live...
13. 
    3 Sep 2009 ~ 4:03am shwaip

    Cliff_Forster wrote:

    I know this is going to come off a mildly rude, but seriously guys? If you are the kind of guy that is worried about his TF2 hat collection immediately exit your front door, find the nearest girl and kiss her. Don't question it, just do it..... now!!!

    
    Likewise, if you have a halo and think yourself better than someone without, do the same.
14. 
    3 Sep 2009 ~ 8:01am Cliff_Forster

    shwaip wrote:

    Likewise, if you have a halo and think yourself better than someone without, do the same.

    
    Just to be clear, to the point that you would form some elaborate scheme so you can make sure you have the hats before everyone else. Just keepin it real, that is just lame. Valve apparently thinks so as well, and I believe the point of the article is to say that in a "nanny nanny boo boo" sort of way.
    
    Its not like they cheat for an uber cool giant cannon that can spell doom for every opponent you come across, its a virtual 3D fashion accessory. I guess I was in the dark, I did not realize there were people that would even waste valuable life energy and precious CPU cycles on such a thing, but what do I know?
    
    So Jeff Foxworthy style,
    
    If you are the kind of guy that hacks a video game just so you can get a new outfit, you might need to go outside more often.....
15. 
    3 Sep 2009 ~ 10:35am _k I still don't get why it even matters, especially when this is going to affect <5% of players. Who cares if someone idled their items? This would equate to resetting someone's TF2 account for farming achievements, a means which has arisen from the way that the TF2 team has decided to implement their changes.
16. 
    3 Sep 2009 ~ 11:50am Idiot_Slayer Its 10,000 people that used the idling program, on any given night TF2 had 35,000 active players. The 4.5% number is for people who own TF2 or the Orange Box.
    
    I just don't like that I'm being punished like I cheated. I didn't alter my game files or have a malicious intent.
17. 
    3 Sep 2009 ~ 12:04pm primesuspect NANNY NANNY BOO BOO
18. 
    3 Sep 2009 ~ 12:15pm shwaip

    Idiot_Slayer wrote:

    Its 10,000 people that used the idling program, on any given night TF2 had 35,000 active players. The 4.5% number is for people who own TF2 or the Orange Box.
    
    I just don't like that I'm being punished like I cheated. I didn't alter my game files or have a malicious intent.

    
    You weren't punished like you cheated. They only took away your ill-gotten gains. If you deleted weapons to make backpack space, and those were taken away, they will be returned if you have the achievements to back them up. If VALVE thought you cheated, you would have been VAC banned. You are simply back to where you would be if you didn't use the idler.
    

    Cliff_Forster wrote:

    Just to be clear, to the point that you would form some elaborate scheme so you can make sure you have the hats before everyone else. Just keepin it real, that is just lame. Valve apparently thinks so as well, and I believe the point of the article is to say that in a "nanny nanny boo boo" sort of way.
    
    Its like like an uber cool giant cannon that can spell doom for every opponent you come across, its a virtual 3D fashion accessory. I guess I was in the dark, I did not realize there were people that would even waste valuable life energy and precious CPU cycles on such a thing, but what do I know?
    
    So Jeff Foxworthy style,
    
    If you are the kind of guy that hacks a video game just so you can get a new outfit, you might need to go outside more often.....

    
    I don't understand what this means. My point was that all they were doing was getting worthless fashion accessories for a character. They didn't change the game. If the hats had given bonuses, then I would be more understanding of this anti-idler sentiment.
    
    I think both sides are taking it too seriously. I'll go enjoy my halo on my medic. It seems to go with the character.
19. 
    3 Sep 2009 ~ 1:01pm UPSLynx I read that there's been internal turmoil as a result of this on many pub servers. Like, medics refusing to heal a player without a halo, medics refusing to heal players with halos, snipers only shooting for people with halos, things like that.
    
    I haven't been out there, so I don't know if this is indeed happening. I can certainly see players being dicks about it and doing stupid thingsl like this because NO ONE CARES ABOUT THEIR INTERNET WHINING.
    
    Plus, steampowered forums were down yesterday as a result.
20. 
    3 Sep 2009 ~ 1:03pm Thrax I'll echo what I said elsewhere:
    
    I don't play TF2, but I had an academic interest in the idling program, so I ran it. I picked up a few hats and a few weapons, and that was probably more interesting to me than playing the actual game. But you know what? There wasn't a single time when I wasn't thinking, "Wow, wonder how long it'll take for Valve to shut <i>this</i> one down."
    
    It's so clearly an exploit, and I'm not sure how people can rationalize otherwise. Stop being butthurt and go play to get your achievements. Are idlers any better? No, they're not, but Valve is not yet able to deal with them, so get over it.
21. 
    3 Sep 2009 ~ 1:05pm Snarkasm There's no rage like net rage.
22. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 6:00pm primesuspect While I normally don't hold with Tim from Ctrl-Alt-Del, I will say that his thoughts on this whole "Hatgate" are spot on.
    
    There is most certainly a sense of entitlement with gamers nowadays, and this nerdrage is a result of it.
23. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 6:04pm _k I don't understand why they took hats away and gave the HALO, when just giving the HALO would have the same general effect to show who idled.
24. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 6:11pm fatcat The only thing that matters is the scoreboard.
    
    and yes I'm usually at the top, wearing my halo
25. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 6:12pm primesuspect They took the hats away because they were a reward gained by cheating...
26. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 6:20pm CB

    fatcat wrote:

    The only thing that matters is the scoreboard.
    
    and yes I'm usually at the top, wearing my halo

    
    Actually, the only thing that matters is whether or not you have fun playing, but even if winning mattered, it still wouldn't be the scoreboard, it would be the team-points. I've seen plenty of people get the top of the scoreboard and be on a losing team at the same time.
    
    Although, I might be biased, since I primarily play a class that scores low, even if he is instrumental to winning the round.
27. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 6:20pm _k "Over the next few days we'll be removing all TF2 items that were earned using external idling applications. We're going to adopt a zero tolerance policy for external applications used to manipulate the persistent item system. Due to us not having a policy in place prior to today, this time we're only removing the items earned through cheating the system."
    
    They are nuking some people's accounts that never idled and taking everything from those that did even though they said only the items that were gotten using that method. But since there isn't anything in the TOS and its merely a loop-hole in the system they built it would kind of like doing a temp ban on someone that uses exploits on a map until valve fixes them. Honestly I think this has more to do with valve being butt hurt and raging than the community. It just also really bugs me when companies make ex post-facto rules, if its illegal for the government no one should do it.
28. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 6:34pm CB It's not illegal for the government. People do get punished for things that the law did not state clearly previously. That's one reason we have judges, so they can look at what someone did, even if it's not explicitly called out in the law, and say "Yeah, you're going to jail for that." People don't get a pass just because they did it before the government thought to make a law.
    
    In fact, that's where most criminal laws start.
    
    Your analogy is invalid.
29. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 6:39pm _k .....So if they change the speed limit to 35 and I drive 40 today I could still get a ticket. There is a difference between interpret and administration, judges have room to interpret the law thus when a jury is not used(even in those cases) you can appeal to a higher court to make sure THE LAW was followed and not bent.
30. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 6:46pm fatcat

    CB wrote:

    Actually, the only thing that matters is whether or not you have fun playing, but even if winning mattered, it still wouldn't be the scoreboard, it would be the team-points. I've seen plenty of people get the top of the scoreboard and be on a losing team at the same time.
    
    Although, I might be biased, since I primarily play a class that scores low, even if he is instrumental to winning the round.

    
    The scoreboard ALSO shows the TEAMSCORE.
31. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 8:47pm Cliff_Forster Cheater cheater pumpkin eater!
32. 
    4 Sep 2009 ~ 11:31pm Cliff_Forster I have a brilliant idea, cheaters should be forced to wear a dunce cap for a few days...
    
    Lets run that up the flagpole, see if Valve can make it happen.
    
    http://doroteos2.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/dunce-cap.jpg
33. 
    5 Sep 2009 ~ 12:00am UPSLynx Good link prime.
    
    I hate Ctrl Alt Del.
    
    That was a spot-on blog post.
34. 
    5 Sep 2009 ~ 12:16am QCH

    UPSLynx wrote:

    I hate Ctrl Alt Del.

    Really? I rather enjoy it...
35. 
    7 Sep 2009 ~ 12:31pm UPSWeezer halo rulez
36. 
    7 Sep 2009 ~ 12:54pm Myrmidon Just for you, weezer. skip to 1:49.
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJrGYpYx8CQ&
37. 
    7 Sep 2009 ~ 1:16pm UPSLynx

    QCH wrote:

    Really? I rather enjoy it...

    
    Well, it's mostly the art. I swear Tim doesn't even try with the art. Every character wears the same face in 90% of the panels he draws, and it looks like 'BU' if it were an emoticon. Plus many of his comics get way to wordy for me.
    
    He does have some really funny stuff, but mostly the art just drives me insane.
38. 
    7 Sep 2009 ~ 1:18pm lordbean I can't believe people are seriously upset about hats. And not even a hat you can put on and go outside with, a digital hat. Which you can only use in one game.
    
    I guess some people really have nothing better to do.
39. 
    7 Sep 2009 ~ 1:59pm shwaip

    UPSLynx wrote:

    Well, it's mostly the art. I swear Tim doesn't even try with the art. Every character wears the same face in 90% of the panels he draws, and it looks like 'BU' if it were an emoticon. Plus many of his comics get way to wordy for me.
    
    He does have some really funny stuff, but mostly the art just drives me insane.

    
    
40. 
    7 Sep 2009 ~ 7:14pm UPSWeezer

    Myrmidon wrote:

    Just for you, weezer. skip to 1:49.
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJrGYpYx8CQ&

    
    LOL! Not quite the halo I meant, but it was still awesome.
41. 
    7 Sep 2009 ~ 8:48pm ardichoke

    _k_ wrote:

    .....So if they change the speed limit to 35 and I drive 40 today I could still get a ticket.

    
    No because that's a strictly defined limit. However, if you found some new way to con people out of money that isn't explicitly prohibited, a court could still rule that you broke the law even though the actions you took weren't specifically prohibited. Plus, have you read the EULA for TF2? I'm willing to bet they have a catch-all clause in there that they could use to justify this. Most companies write said clauses into their terms. Things along the lines of "anything we deem to be counter to the intended use of the service is prohibited." In fact, a quick Google Search has turned up this gem.
    

    Valve may terminate your Account or a particular Subscription for any conduct or activity that Valve believes is illegal, constitutes a Cheat, or which otherwise negatively affects the enjoyment of Steam by other Subscribers.

    
    There... right in the ToS that EVERYONE playing TF2 on PC have to agree to. Quit being butthurt.
42. 
    8 Sep 2009 ~ 12:11am RyanFodder Internet fight PEW PEW!!!
43. 
    8 Sep 2009 ~ 1:38am Myrmidon

    cannonfodder wrote:

    internet fight pew pew!!!

    
    oh goddammit that was my ship
    
    charge the laz0r and prepare to fire on my mark!
44. 
    8 Sep 2009 ~ 1:50am Koreish
45. 
    24 Jun 2010 ~ 11:51am Saxton Hale Wow the ignorance of the author of this little article is terrible - even today.
    
    Has no idea what cheating is, jealous of hat owners and is one of those sad pathetic players that need to feel like they are better than other players.
    
    Lucky I don't visit this site. Real TF2 players know how to be Gentlemannly - I'm going to go destroy the server for this site and the author with MY BARE DAMN HANDS and then go and bask in the glory of my pile of hats.
    
    -Saxton Hale-
46. 
    24 Jun 2010 ~ 12:24pm Garg
47. 
    24 Jun 2010 ~ 1:46pm Snarkasm I'm confused. Using the system against its intended purpose is gentlemanly?
    
    I suppose for Saxton Hale, that's true. GIVE US AWESOME THINGS, SAXTON!