guide posts

We are writing this guide from inside a padded cell, as last year's TF2 Halloween update drove us positively insane. After all, with all the spooky ghosts, draculas, exploding pumpkins, and horrifying masks, we just couldn't handle it anymore. We assure you, though, that our love for TF2 is as pure as our hair is white. From being spooked! While you may dismiss such supernatural notions, we have a list of tasks for you that we know will prove the existence of something beyond our realm. Such things as crazed Horsemenn, spooky gifts, and even a mask of Saxton Hale!

Much like The Passing about six months ago, Valve has released a new campaign for Left 4 Dead 2. Please excuse the blatant self-reference, but we felt it relevant, as The Sacrifice feels very similar to The Passing. It's set in the same area, has a the same finale, and features throwbacks to the original Left 4 Dead. If you're struggling, however, there's a few tips and tricks you can use to get through the zombie hordes to survival. And despite being very similar to the last official campaign, it does change things up with new gameplay mechanics.

Achievements are always a controversial addition to any game, and Starcraft 2 is no exception. Blizzard has fully embraced the achievement craze that is sweeping game development, and the result is a massive amount of achievements for Starcraft 2. They range from the super easy to the super difficult, and it's out goal to make sure that everyone can get these achievements at some point. After all, some of them are essential if you are going for completionism! The inner compulsive inside every gamer demands 100% completion!

Many people are terrified of heaving, all-consuming biological masses of spikes and venom, which is why the Aliens movies are so effective at scaring us. The Zerg fall straight into this principle of "scary natural weapon aliens," and their tactics definitely reflect it. Combining a mixture of speed, swarming tactics, and heavy usage of macromanagement, the Zerg are a force to be reckoned with if played well. Their strategies in Starcraft 2 are a mix of old and new, and thanks to some new units and abilities, they are as strong as ever. Unfortunately, they are fairly difficult to handle, which makes them the least played of all three races in Starcraft 2.

The Protoss are the bruisers of Starcraft 2 with their expensive and hard-hitting units. They tend to be slow, but once they get going, it's a nightmare for the opponent. They've got a lot of utility powers (arguably more than any other race) and reward excellent micromanagement. Thus, many of the strategies that most players choose for Protoss revolve around these two strengths. This isn't to say they don't have any weaknesses, though. Here are just a few of the most common strategies of the moment for Protoss.

The Terrans are the primary race of Starcraft 2, and it shows. In the single-player campaign, they get access to tons of units that they don't in multiplayer, whereas the Zerg and Protoss have only a few single-player exclusive units. It is also a common complaint on the Blizzard forums that the Terrans are overpowered compared to the rest of the races. While we certainly don't think this is true, the Terrans are significantly easier to pick up and play than the other two races, and lend themselves well to a wide variety of strategies.

So you've bought Starcraft 2 and you've decided to delve into the rather considerable multiplayer component. However, you are getting stomped flat over and over by players that seem to get better units in a quicker time frame than you. Sounds like you need some education on the basics of Starcraft 2. While Starcraft 2 is hardly a casual strategy game, it's basics are easy and simple to learn, and the de-emphasizing of micromanagement of units has made it much more newbie friendly! No more worries of getting steamrolled at 3 minutes into the game.

Well howdy! It's been a while since y'all have come callin' ta us. Not that we mind, it's always nice ta extend our hospitality. That bein' said, y'all ain't here for a pleasure visit, are ya? Ya wanna know how to get them fancy new gadgets that TF Industries is promoting. Well, I'm sure if ya do the tasks laid out, y'all will get your goodies soon enough. Maybe I can help, too. After all, before I retired, I was quite tha Engineer, and I know how ta get things done. Y'all follow along, and try not ta lose your place. I may have a drawl, but I talk fast!

Much like Crash Course about six months ago, Valve has released a new campaign for Left 4 Dead 2. Those that have been starved for new experiences in one of the best co-op shooters ever will be delighted to know that this expansion is completely free! It adds a number of new goodies alongside the new campaign, which makes it more than just the two-map experience that Crash Course was. However, with all this new stuff, it's easy to get overwhelmed and not see or experience everything. Thankfully, there's a guide for all of this, and it's right here!

Laddy! Yeah, talkin' ta you! I see ye've got a chip on ye' shoulder regardin' the whole eyeball thing. Don't worry 'boot it, 'm sure ye'll find a way to get back at all those lazy bloody nuisances with their eyes all intact. However, I canna stress enough that ye've gotta be usin' smart strategy, aye? Ye canna just waltz onto the battlefield with yer knickers in the air shootin' grenades all over the place. Tha's why I've got ye this great big list of things that need doin'. Ye get 'em done, I'll teach ye all I know about the fine art of blowing bloody betrayin' Soldiers ta pieces. HQ will even give ye some goodies for all yer hard work. So get out there and kill 'em all! Ye can see me first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sets of tasks if ye lost track of them too.