How TF2 Nurtured its Community - LOVEWEB 

Please check out the detailed credits here! Lots of awesome peeps helped with this: pastebin.com/j8UtWyXv Check out Open Fortress now with LOVEWEB themed cosmetics: openfortress.fun/blog You can also download a Cybermare announcer mod for Open fortress: gamebanana.com/sounds/74499 btw 90% of the episode was done before #fixTF2 was even a thing so it's gonna go weirdly unmentioned in this episode (this has been in the works for over half a year) ALSO HerbiTendo and GammaGuy's fanart credit got mixed up, sorry!

I got surprised when Mr Open Merc Fortress appeared in the video!! It is a shame what has happened to Valve, it sucks, I still remember the modded servers with Zombies and the first WarioWare. Lovely like always Shadok!! I really enjoyed the end!!

This episode was basically the average tf2 discourse online. >someone says something nice about tf2 >random guy appears and say game sucks actually I remember getting into it in 2023 after the update and having the best time of my life. I loved Zombie Fortress so much

I find it so interesting that for these videos Shadok basically has to embody two COMPLETELY OPPOSITE perspectives and have an internal conversation with herself. It really shows how great of a writer she is, it's very tricky to pull of writing like this without making one character "the idiot" and the other "the obviously right one which is also a self insert". The fact that she gives both sides of the debate due respect and empathy for each other is great. Great work shadok, can't wait to see what you're cooking up next!!!

Can’t wait for cyber to mention fempyro

OMG the video turned out awesome!! Thanks again for havin' me, I had so much fun writing and voicing my purple fella!!

Damn. Valve sucks so much that Cybermare stopped getting censored so she could speak the truth

They are the 2 points of view that will be had about tf2, "I love tf2 for its characters, the memes, and its gameplay" and "I hate valve because it never did anything for it, and it is only there for easy entry." well defined between the two. and the mercenary cameo, it is pure AUSTRALIUN!!!

The fact that tf2 survived after MYM is an achievment. Any other game would have died after such a catastrophic update

Switching to actual VA's was definitely the right call. Playfulpretense and Vera breath a lot of life into Manon and Cybermare

TF2 is like an old friend group drifting apart, you rarely hear anything from them anymore and it seems like they are stuck in the past, only ever hearing when they lose their accounts to bots and all you are left with is their corpse animated by something they hated

This video feels relatable as I was once a person who lived in the 2013 days of TF2. I've felt the same that the game begin to feel neglected when it came around meet your match as it changed everything of what TF2 was supposed to be, eventually I quit the game due to the amount TF2tubers quitting the game and mentioning how the bots will take over. I believed these videos and assumed that TF2 would die out so I sold my items and eventually quit around 2017. Years later, I've heard of movements of restoring TF2 and how the community is still somehow alive even with TF2's worst update and bot's running among them. It made me realize that, yeah even with the horrible state TF2 is left with. It really is a timeless masterpiece and I decided to get back into it. I can't get my old items back but it's just pixels with no value, the real value was the game itself.

7:19 For anyone wondering, the appeal of Vscript is that the map and gamemode work out of the box. The gamemode and it's custom code are packed directly into the map file. That means all you have to do is download one file and the boom, new custom gamemode. No exterior downloads, no mods, no plugins. Simple plug-and-play map behavior. Previously, one of the only real ways to host custom gamemodes was through the use of Server Plugins running on Sourcemod, which are difficult to work with for newer users, and makes hosting custom gamemodes pretty much a non-factor for new hosts. The upside is that server plugins are usually designed around vanilla TF2 features, so they work on almost any map using the features it was designed around. For example, Sourcemod Versus Saxton Hale works on nearly any map that is running the Arena Gamemode, while the VScript VSH only runs on that specific map because it's packed in. This doesn't stop the VScript from just being packed into a different map, but that map would need to be adjusted accordingly to support the custom content.

I misread the title as how tf2 neutered its community and i was gonna be like "didnt expect this show of all shows to be complaining about the bot chrisis"

new loveweb? NEW LOVEWEB?! EVERYONE REMAIN CALM, THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!

A few months ago I got into TF2C after being disillusioned with Valve for so long and I cannot express how glad I am that I checked it out. Everyone was so friendly and nice even though I was new and had no clue what was going on in stuff like four teams and VIP. TF2C has such a tightly knit community that it reminded me of old TF2, where you'd find a "home" server and play there all the time, seeing other regular players and hanging out. The new weapons they added, like the dynamite pack for demo, are extremely fun too and really grabbed on to my attention with the interesting gameplay you do with them. The devs are awesome too! You might actually see some of them in your matches, and they're so receptive and clearly have a passion for the game. Now I hardly play live TF2 anymore, except when community MvM missions drop cause those are always a treat, and when I have the money I try to donate to the causes they sponsor. Cybermare speaks pretty closely to my heart, as a player who's been invested in the game since 2012. I've watched it change and evolve over time, sometimes for better, but often times for the worse. It hurts me to see how Valve treats the game, and how bitterly cold they are to community projects like TF2C and Openfortress. I understand that Valve has had situations that were not favorable in the past with the community, like the controversy with the Invasion update and the changes brought on by MYM, but I feel like that shouldn't condemn the community as not worth their time. I also understand that the code for TF2 is wonky, but there are many people in the community that know the code extremely well and would post fixes for common bugs and errors should Valve be more open. I'm starting to ramble though, in short, I love TF2 and I want it to continue to live on, and in some small way, TF2C and Openfortress capture that magic that once shone through the game and bring it back, and I would encourage anyone else who's curious about TF2, or tired of Valve's treatment to try these mods.

This video represents a lot of how I feel about the game, I really like what Tf2 was made to be, dislike how Valve neglected it, and am optimistic about the modding scene. I mean, I think it’s worth noting Team Fortress was a mod once, who’s to say, the mods as they are now could evolve into that form someday. Also, thanks for having the two characters represent the various views on the state of the game. I don’t really know how else to say it resonated pretty heavily with me.

amazing episode Love the back and forth between a pessimistic view of an old tf2 fan vs a new one that got into it more recently really feels like you love the game just as much!

i love the new voices, i know it might cost a little more than before, but it's worth the cost

now the voices are there.

Fantastic little love letter to a game that kinda shaped the internet (or at least Meme Culture). On one hand, Valve DOES kinda shit on their fans a lot of the time (especially the Modding scene); on the other, the amount of fanmade projects and the influence the gane has is ASTOUNDJNG!

I was so happy to play a small part in this it was an honor! Fantastic work Shadok, this is the best episode yet!

I thought the title said nuetered instead of nurtured for a second

We are so back Edit: what a nice trailer Edit 2: cause trailer is going to be gone it's just the tumblr Manon waving gif with the hallo in the background

16:09 - 16:17 Well, Mare, as someone who has consistently played this game for more than 12 years now, here's my answer: I don't "line Valve's pockets" and give them "easy cash"! I didn't spend any dime on this game in a decade (the last time I did was a Mann Up tour sometime in 2014?), I only have 3 or 4 stranges gifted to me by friends that I barely use, the only war paints I have are the Smissmas ones, and I've got no unusuals despite my 5000 hours on this game (well, except the Headtaker...). I know Valve is never going to give this game an update on the level of Blue Moon again. I find it of course unacceptable that Valve lets the game rot away with bots despite them still making money off of it. And I never cautioned the horrible crate/lootbox system which sadly spread to other games. But at least this frustration is not personal to me, because I can already follow the calls to boycott buying items by continuing to play how I do, with no trading or buying. And I just... like the game, y'know? Of course, part of it is nostalgia, but there's a certain charm to it I struggle to find anywhere else. It's actually kind of a miracle I still enjoy it after all these years, and despite the bots. It's lightning in a bottle, and Valve being a shadow of its former self will never change that. MvM is still there, Randomizer and x10 are still there, heck even Orange is still there. You can still hear funny micspams like in 2009, or join group taunts like in 2014. And I am blown away by the quality of fan content like GMod/SFM videos which continue to this day. As long as you keep your head cool, manage your expectations and customise how you want to play, maybe you can find enjoyment in it like I am. That applies also to newer fans (and Manon too, I guess?): don't let things get to your head and enjoy the game for what it is. I do not exclude trying out mods, but I fear they may end up like competitive TF2 for me: something I enjoy watching on the side, but struggle to get into. I'll eventually see what's up with them, I suppose... Good video, nicely balanced and well analysed. And it was nice seeing dm_mariokart again. i doo rhemnmmembhur.

I have no fucking idea what loveweb is but that was exceptionally well made and I enjoyed every aspect of this video. Thank you.

this is technically the first piece of open fortress lore 😭😭

NO COCONUT PNG MENTIONED :(

Thank you SO MUCH for bringing attention to tf2. can't wait to watch the video!

I love your videos so much I wish they got some more attention they definitely deserve it

Absolutely Peak. Still love how the duo represents each era of the web, still find cybermare using gen z slang kinda terrifying tho. Really appreciate how this shows both sides of the tf2 argument without stating a clear right one. Also impressed y'all managed to get ahold of the vc for the merc. Really excited to learn more about the duo itself too, dunno if it was mentioned before but it's interesting to know cyber doesn't like physical contact.

Loveweb is one of my favorite series on the internet. So much personality!

especially with the new FixTF2 movement happening right now, this seems like such a perfect topic to cover on loveweb!!1

The ending got me a little emotional :'3

This is so well done and I love the 2 points of view! Great job and of course amazing voice acting!

YIPPEE NEW LOVEWEB awesome work as always!! the voice actors did an amazing job :>

Thank you for inviting me along on the ride to make this video!

The part where Cybermare and Manon talk about playing tf classic is so wholesome ❤️

I love this so much and i am gonna show this to my brother [hes gonna freak out] and the voice actors did amazing on this good job to everyone!

Always a joy to find a new episode of LOVEWEB on my dash.

LETS GO!!!

New voices are growing on me. They lost the janky vocaloid charm but the new voices are more dynamic.

Ah yes, my favorite webseries featuring the two voices in my head

Yes I've been waiting for a month. Im so happy it's finally here.

Oh my god, i relate so much with cybermare, i didn't expect that. I've become pretty disillusioned with Valve and how they are desperately want to act like a small company despite being worth billions.They can't fix the bot crisis and ban hackers because of "treadmill work", they have abandoned multiple sections of Steam like hubs / groups and Valve has no problem with showing us the "What's New" tab with no way of removing it without editing text file that will break regularly because it probably increases their revenue, directly or indirectly. Despite those, were supposed to just accept the crumbs they sometimes give us and be okay with them popularizing loot boxes and taking down fan games because they made some good games. I know it's a rant but man, i had to get that out of my head. EDIT: Forgot to mention the community servers. Like it was said in the video, they are pretty much better in every way to "official servers" so it sucks that Valve fucked over them with the Meet your Match update. It's unfortunately not something talked about enough, especially since FixTF2 is only about official servers, but it seems that MYM centralized the player base so much that people started forgetting about community servers.

PEAK CINEMA !!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SHADOK

I love how Manon and cybermare are two different sides of the same coin in the current tf2 community

Great video, love the focus on the dedicated big mods scene! (Manons new voice is great!)

YESSIR, ANOTHER EPISODE 🎉🎉🎉

Stoppp this is the cutest episode 😭😭

Genuinely great video that somehow makes the usual toxic conversations both palatable, entertaining, and actually useful. Thanks for spotlighting the ancient memes alongside the incredible mods.

Love this, absolutely fantastic video.

I've played TF2 for years and my only knowledge about the heavy modding scene was some sparse mentions of TFClassic. I had no idea there were others. Thanks Loveweb! And the production value on these just keep going up. I'm so glad you've managed to stick with it and accrue so many subscribers

BONK! Had to comment to show support hey manon! Hey cybermare!! Glad ur back I listen to ur music shuffle when I have time to chill Keep the original internet spirit alive, it's all we have left lol

LETS GO A NEW EPISODE

Idk why but this video got me really emotional. Thank you for going deep into this game and bringing two different kinds of perspectives of it. TF2 is a really loved by it's community.

I actually had no idea about the TF2 modding scene. I'll definitely have to go check them out

stellar work from everyone involved, seriously. there really aren't any other channels doing this kind of internet digging, and having it all chronicled here is really well done. keep it up!!!

I never knew about Open Fortress! I'm actually tempted to play that instead of actual TF2 now, though it'll be hard to give up on playing backburner pyro as though i was a spy. Still! I really would've expected better from Valve considering they should have just let Open Fortress and TF Classic be on Steam publicly much like how Terraria has tModLoader available as a mod to download. Nevertheless, i really want TF2 and its wackiness to persist against all odds. Plus, if the item servers can be redirected to community made servers if and when valve shuts down its official servers we can have all the customisation fun we want and it won't even be paywalled to sh%t! oh i live for the day when that'll be a thing >w< Community Servers FTW!

That ending was so cute AND HOLY CRAP THE STUFF IN OPEN FORTRESS LOL

I love how Cybermare has such a strong sense of morality despite her laid-back demeanor. And that heart-to-heart moment with Manon was really sweet.

i love the fact that cybermare gets censored in the audio but not in the captions lmfao

I love the amount of work was done to this video

Probably the realest take on tf2, love the effort that went into this and a cosmetic crossover with an announcer pack to boot! Great work!

Holy awesome open fortress plug

I didn't expect such a well-balanced and researched deconstruction of the game to just suddenly appear in my recommended given the discussions the community has been having recently. Thank you for spitting straight facts.

This hit hard. My favourite Loveweb ep sofar!

Never seen this channel before today, everything is so cute I love it, and very well researched at the same time? Youve got me hooked

im writing this before the episode comes out, but this came at the perfect time, i have been consistently internally conflicted with tf2. i love the game and its a big part of my life, but i also have infinite respect for valve. theyre so cool and revolutionary with everything they make, theyre pretty much my idols. so when i see all those fix tf2 images that portray them as greedy people sitting on piles of money, i dunno what to think anymore. i love tf2 but i cant villainize a company that has done so much good due to one thing i hate saying this, but sometimes i wonder if maybe this is just... it? games have to die eventually, and tf2 has had a much longer lifespan than most other online games. its on an outdated hard to use engine and valve wants to move on to other projects. i dont know, and im just as upset writing about letting tf2 die as it is to read, and the fact that im siding with the big corporation and not the people is not something im fond on im not concrete on anything and im just very confused and conflicted, and from the thumbnail alone it seems like itll cover some of these things, so im excited to see it! maybe itll put some of my anxieties to rest (or at least show im not alone)

I understood nurtured for nuttured, mostly how Valve has no plans whatsoever to deal with the bots.

Yayy!! I’m so excited for this loveweb episode Shadok!! Never give up on your passions!! :D

There is so much effort, holy cow. Congrats!

the voice acting is wonderful, really makes the characters feel so much more alive :3

the smear frame of manon at 0:52 brings me so much joy

You depicted the friction between new n old fans oh so well. Ive had the same convo Manon and Cybermare had from either or side depending on the community.

I love how if you don't even know anything about TF2 or any topic discussed in the video, the form that Shadok makes these videos introduces all the history behind so friendly, like a friend talking to you in two different points of view, I love it.

I appreciate the nuanced take on the state of TF2. Valve deserves both a lot of credit and criticism for what became of the game.

Love your work! good to see more and I hope life’s going alright

AWWWW YEEAAAHH!!! I missed this channel a lot, even though I'm a newb fan! The voices are pretty good, and your writing and perspective always makes the most of the very limited time you have to discuss each topic. Great job, and will happily wait for the next one.

This is such an amazing video I think it hits a lot of details both hit and missed!

Oh my gosh! My art is in the end art real! Thank you so much for featuring my silly fanart! Love your videos so much as they help me understand aspects of the internet I didn't know or understand before.

7:55 ITS THEM The HomSutck

Even for all of its problems and even though I don't play it anymore, TF2 will always represent the best online multiplayer experience I'll probably ever have in my life. RIP kitty0706, I'll probably be on my deathbed and still remember how much I loved his jokes

I cant believe the real mercenary is in this video, kinda swag.

i absolutely LOVE the character designs, their personalities, even the way they teach, you did an outstanding job with this!!

Yo this video is actually really good! I love how detailed they get on the lore and backstory behind everything.

Awesome video, you talked about a lot of things I didn’t even know about TF2, really interesting, I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with next.😊👍👍

YES!! I was praying that Loveweb would cover tf2 in some way

Super stoked!!

i like how...calming this video is felt like how it felt back when i was a kid

Dude I love LoveWeb. Genuinely one of, if not my favorite, series I've been watching over the years. I really enjoyed the voices used in this video even if Manon gave me flashbacks to Pinkie Pie. Still, great video discussing something I wouldn't have had any desire to look into otherwise ❤ Look forward to more ^♡^

As an avid TF2 player still goin strong, as well as an ally of the FixTF2 movement, I'm happy that one of my favorite little unkempt nuggets of a game is being covered by your channel. It's good to spread the word, even if this video was made before the movement. Just seeing that others still appreciate it warms my soul to no ends. More than any oven or deep fryer could! Keep up your amazing work Shadok, can't wait to see what you guys cook up next!

"Why you all booing me? I'm right!" - Cybermare, probably

This was so sweet!!! Wnderful vid, and the voices are amazing!

Awesomee! (I lack the ability to express myself in a meaningful way, but the tf2 related content + the fact that its a Shadok upload has me excited xD)

Another Loveweb Episode? i thought you stopped making them, but the fact you just made it better in everyway is amazing! the dedication is crazy! Congrats! 👍👍

I liked that you gave this Loveweb a unique focus! Great job hittin' me in the feelz (⁠^⁠^⁠) (also UB Funkey's spotted!!1!)

I love the characters and visuals on screen it was easy to keep up with all that information! I’m a newer tf2 fan and all my older fan friends are jaded, I can’t imagine what it must be to see a great game fall from grace so hard.

11:08 12:30 So surprised to hear my music! 😂 Awesome animation, I feel like I've traveled back to 2012. Definitely subscribed!!

I can't imagine how long this took, but i can imagine how good this will be