Friday "kickin' it old-school" keys giveaway (keys won, no more emails)

Tonight in retro-fashion we are giving away 2 keys to emailers #5 and #45 (we would have given away more tickets but alas, the store's waiting period has stymied our plans).  Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates). Contest details and answers to most of your questions are here.

Update: keys have been won, no more emails please.

Aidan and Juicy were tonight's key winners. They were emailers #5 and #45, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once. Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for the next key or ticket giveaway! Details are here. Some of you have asked questions that the answers to are right there in the link, including our email address. Take a moment to read it if you have questions and things should be more clear.

Tickets to a good Thursday (tickets won, no more emails)

We are giving away 2 Tour of Duty tickets right now to emailers #3 and #53. Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates). Contest details and answers to most of your questions are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

Update: tickets have been won, no more emails please.

Sanders P. and Ryan M. were tonights Tour of Duty Ticket winners. They were emailers #3 and #53, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once. Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for the next ticket giveaway! Details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key". Some of you have asked questions that the answers to are right there in the link, including our email address. Take a moment to read it if you have questions and things should be more clear.

Monday ToD tickets for two (tickets won, no more emails)

We are giving away 2 Tour of Duty tickets right now to emailers #4 and #44. Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates). Contest details and answers to most of your questions are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

Update: tickets have been won, no more emails please.

Aspire and Dqbert were tonights Tour of Duty Ticket winners. They were emailers #4 and #44, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once. Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for the next ticket giveaway! Details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key". Some of you have asked questions that the answers to are right there in the link, including our email address. Take a moment to read it if you have questions and things should be more clear.

Saturday night special: 2 more free ToD Tickets...(tickets won, no more emails)

will go to emailers #14 and #44. Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates). Contest details and answers to most of your questions are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

Update: Tickets have been won. No more emails please.

Doctor Pinkie and Tehpwnzorr were tonights Tour of Duty Ticket winners.  They were emailers #14 and #44, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once. Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for the next ticket giveaway! Details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key". Some of you have asked questions that the answers to are right there in the link, including our email address. Take a moment to read it if you have questions and things should be more clear.

2 Tour of Duty Tickets are going to...(tickets won, no more emails)

Emailers #21 and #46. Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates). Contest details and answers to most of your questions are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

Update: Tickets have been won.  No more emails please.

Taco Swag and Ergoman were the latest Tour of Duty Ticket winners. They were emailers #21 and #46, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once. Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for the next ticket giveaway! Details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key". Some of you have asked questions that the answers to are right there in the link, including our email address. Just take a moment to read it if you have questions and things should be more clear.

2 more Tour of Duty Tickets up for grabs (tickets won, no more emails)

Emailers #2 and #22. Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates). Contest details and answers to most of your questions are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

Tickets have been won, no more emails please.

Manu_97_coolio and SchizoidTeddyBear were the latest Tour of Duty Ticket winners. They were emailers #2 and #22, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once. Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for the next ticket giveaway! Details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key". Some of you have asked questions that the answers to are right there in the link, including our email address (which I forgot the link to originally). Just take a moment and things should be more clear.

New update...

Team Fortress 2

• Fixed matchmaking sending players to out-of-date servers
• Fixed the server browser showing an incorrect player count in MvM games
• Fixed a crash that could occur on map change if another player was being healed by the dispenser or payload cart
• Fixed a rare server crash when firing hitscan weapons
• Fixed MvM intro video not playing on some Macs
• Fixed the sound precache string table being nearly full in non-MvM games
  • This was causing the "error writing string table baseline" and "failed reading message net_SetConVar" errors

Undocumented Changes

• Updated the backpack icons for Archimedes and Battery Bandolier
• Added missing gib models for Spy and Sniper Bots.

Integrity of the spreadsheet

Unfortunately we've had to address these types of accusations before.  Running a site like this, it comes with the territory.  However, this time things have taken a pointed tone.  It seems that a particular reddit user has been monitoring my accounts trying to catch us doing misdeeds via this little spreadsheet.  He has done his digging for seemingly a long time and posted his attack on our credibility.  He found that we've bumped our own threads on Steam user forums via alternate accounts, said nice things about our own site, and not been so nice to a previously competing site.

However, the proof he offers up that we are the devil-incarnate and are only out for our own gain (ignoring that we've given away over 70 Keys and Tour of Duty tickets combined in the past 3 months alone) is that we purchased an item before the sheet was updated and profited 2 keys the next day.

Here's what occurred: we were gathering pricing information, particularly the botkiller weapons.  There were no prices updated at that point on the sheet.  A particular user appeared to be quickselling his botkiller medi gun at a low price of 8 keys, as opposed to the 10 to 14 keys on average (up to a buds) everyone else was asking.  We bought this item for 8 keys.  Updated all prices to the ranges we found (10-14 keys).  The next day, we re-updated the prices to their current (9-10 keys) number and sold it for 10 keys.

Look.  Only the reddit poster truly knows his motivations.  We update this site daily, spend money to keep it running and upgrade it, hold contests where we give away 90% of our items.  I trade not for profit but to keep current on what's going on, I check our contributors prices against multiple sources.  We view his accusations as illogical but wanted to let you know about them since we don't want this to be just a reddit witch-hunt.  Questions and comments welcome, positive or negative but keep it PG.

Update: We exchanged some calls and emails about this.  Going forward no one associated with this site will trade any newly released items before there is a price in the guide.  Bad form on my part, no malice intended but I understand why it was not the right thing to do.  Rare or glitch items, low craft #'s, unusuals, are exempt.

Update to the update: I will no longer be trading.  We believe it is a better policy.  My contributors will continue as discussed above but we agreed with our Steam API trade analysis software running it isn't necessary for me to trade anymore.  Lurking however, is still fair game.

Hindsight is 20/20:  This accuser stacked what he presented as "evidence" without the bulk of asking prices for the item which were much higher, cherry-picked one trade we did out of thousands he witnessed, mis-stated the timing of events, and never answered questions about his own reason for being disgruntled nor his  affiliations.  Reddit labeled my accounts as "scammer", likely retribution for pointing out the inexperience of their own redditor's defunct pricing site.  Meanwhile, I've stopped trading and we've continued giving away many dozen keys, tickets, hats, and more.  We use Steam API trade-scanning software, as well as our contributors, to provide the most accurate pricing available.

How fast can you hit 'send'? (tickets won, no more emails)

The weekend's final 2 Tour of Duty Tickets go to emailers #2 and #12. Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates). Contest details and answers to most of your questions are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

This weekend's last two tickets have been won.  We will have more ticket giveaways ongoing so keep checking back.

DrHurt and Conperani were this weekend's final Tour of Duty Ticket winners. They were emailers #2 and #12, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once. Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for our next ticket-giveaway! Details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".  Some of you have asked questions that the answers to are right there in the link.  Just take a moment and things should be more clear.

2 Tour of Duty Tickets go right now to...(tickets won, no more emails)

Emailers #25 and #52. Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates). Contest details and answers to most of your questions are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

Tickets have been won. No more emails please.

Lavalampkap and FLO4W were the latest Tour of Duty Ticket winners. They were emailers #25 and #52, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once. Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for the remaining 2 tickets to be given away sometime by the end of today! Details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".  Some of you have asked questions that the answers to are right there in the link.  Just take a moment and things should be more clear.

2 Tour of Duty tickets go to...(tickets won, no more emails)

Emailers #2 and 52.  Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates). Contest details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

Tonight's tickets have been won.  No more emails please.

Blooglspash and A Flaming Fridge were tonight's Tour of Duty Ticket winners. They were emailers #2 and #52, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once. Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for the remaining 4 tickets to be given away tomorrow! Details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

2 more Tour of Duty Tickets right now go to (tickets won, no more emails)

Emailers #12 and #32. Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates). Contest details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

Tickets have been won.  No more emails.

Zanshin and Timoteo2000 were this morning's Tour of Duty Ticket winners. They were emailers #12 and #32, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once. Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for the remaining 6 tickets to be given away this weekend! Details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

2 Tour of Duty Tickets go to...(Tickets won, no more emails)

Emailers #22 and #42.  Email us only once, include a link to your steam profile (many names have duplicates).  Contest details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

Tickets have been won.  No more emails.

Buttercup and Trollzor were tonight's Tour of Duty Ticket winners.  They were emailers #22 and #42, sent a link to their steam profile and emailed only once.  Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone for the remaining 8 tickets to be given away this weekend!  Details are here, just substitute "ticket" for "key".

Ticket giveaway for Mann vs. Machine (was key-giveaway)

So we know you are probably buying and/or trading for tickets in order to play the new cooperative game-mode called Mann vs. Machine.  We know you are doing it solely for the glory of your team and not for personal enrichment (ie. new items).  For that reason we are replacing our key-giveaway (details here) to be ticket-giveaways instead.  Until further notice, all giveaways will be ticket-giveaways where we donate tickets to you, the TF2 gaming community.  Same rules apply from the key-giveaway (again, details here).   Don't send us an email until the MOTD reads "ticket giveaway active".  We're going to give away 10 of them from today until Sunday night!

Thanks to ArgonBorn for the suggestion.

New update...Mann vs. Machine is live

Team Fortress 2

• Added Mann vs. Machine
• Added Archimedes
• Added The Soldier's Stogie
• Added The Robro 3000
• Updated The Helmet Without a Home to be paintable
• Fixed some clipping issues with The Salty Dog
• Removed player penetration from The Pomson 6000 and boosted the damage to compensate

Undocumented Changes

• Mann vs. Machine startup music added.
• Added Mann Up cosmetics ^[1]
• Added Botkiller and Gold Botkiller weapons
• Added The Deflector
• Added The AWPer Hand
• Added music and minor graphical tweaks to the class select screen
• Added new voice lines for Medic, Heavy, Soldier, Engineer, and the Administrator

Notes

1. ↑ U-clank-a, Stealth Steeler, Pyrobotics Pack, Medic Mech-bag, Tin Pot, Battery Bandolier, Robot Running Man, Bolted Bushman, Tin-1000

Key-giveaway: 4 keys going to...(all keys won, no more emails)

We are giving away 4 keys right now. They will go to emailer #'s 4 and 24, 34, and 54. Send us one email, include your steam name/id.  Not sure how this works?  Look here.

All four keys have been won.

The four winners of this weekend's last key-giveaway are: DJY4P3, Sgt. Mcmuffin, Mr. Splediferous, and Tehraven666.  Congratulations to all 4 winners and good luck to everyone for the next key-giveaway.

New update, capacitors have their day?

Team Fortress 2

• Added the .nav file for Kong King
• Fixed the missing Kong King map stamp image in the Mann Co. Store

Undocumented changes

• The Barely-Melted Capacitor is now equippable by all classes, though is not visible due to having no model.
• New hashes added to the Item schema.

Patch 2

No patch notes

Undocumented changes

• The Barely-Melted Capacitor can no longer be equipped in both miscellaneous slots.

Giveaway notes and rules (updated)

1. Contests run every day at random times of the day.
2. Whenever a giveaway is occurring, it will be read "giveaway active" or some similar note in the message-of-the-day below the main banner (the same line that currently reads "The TF2 Spreadsheet...").
3. Each day starts at 12:00 AM and ends at 11:59 PM that night. Days go by US Eastern Standard Time, see clock on right side of page for local time here.
4. There are 2 types of giveaways: 
• Winning # email: this means to email us and that whatever that # email in our inbox in order wins.  For example: if "emailer #10" is the request, then if your email happens to be the 10th in order during that round you win.
• Puzzle or scavenger hunt. In this case simply follow the directions posted.
5. Winner will be notified via email and can collect the item/key anytime we are both on Steam. Your steam name will be published after each contest is won in a blog post.
• All emails equal to and before the winning # or #'s will get a reply with their #.  For example, if the winner is #6, and your email is #5 we will tell you your number even though you didn't win.  However if you were #7 we would not notify you.
6. You can win more than once (this rule subject to change at any time if we detect cheating), however not on the same day.
7. Only email us when the MOTD says "giveaway active" or message announcing that a contest is running.   When there is no giveaway occuring do not email us randomly trying to win.  Once by mistake we will overlook it.  More than once and you will be blocked from then on and unable to contact us or win anything in the future.
• MOTD = Message of the Day.  Always has "Sheet last updated...."
8. When a giveaway is active, 
• do not send more than one email.  We check and anyone sending multiple emails is disqualified.
• do not send an email without your steam name/id.  No steam name/id = you will not win.
9. Our email address will be posted each time a giveaway is active via a link but in case your browser doesn't allow you to send us emails that way, the email address is tf2spreadsheet at gmail dot com.

(updated 1/18/13)

Our first weekend key giveaway (1/?) (both keys won, no more emails)

We are giving away 2 keys right now.  They will go to emailer #'s 5 and 55.  Send us one email, include your steam name/id.

Our two winners this morning were Stealthbox and Rawiiman.  Congratulations to them and good luck to everyone on the next key(s) giveaway this weekend.  Who knows when it will be? Keep checking back.  Price update coming soon and a repeat of key-giveaway instructions also.

New update...

Team Fortress 2

• Added new map Koth_King
• Added the Ready Steady Pan tournament medals
• Added new promo items^[1]
• Fixed a Medigun exploit that could leave players indefinitely invulnerable
• Fixed Sentry Guns sometimes placing wrong, being rotated into the ground and pointing upward
• Renamed "The Huo Long Heatmaker" to "The Huo-Long Heater"
• Updated the localization files
• Updated the Neon Annihilator
  • Materials now animate
  • Damage penalty only applies to players (not buildings)
  • Can damage sappers

Undocumented Changes

• Added Map Stamp - Kong King
• Adjusted the way that the Flying Guillotine is held in the Scout's hand.
• Added a Carrier tank to the skyboxes in 2Fort, Badwater, Doublecross, and Granary.

Notes

1. ↑ Void Monk Hair, Grenadier Helm, Tribal Bones, Ninja Cowl

A few things to talk about today...

So first off a few items we wanted to cover on trading etiquette.

1. When you are actively buying something from someone, be prepared to make an offer.  If you want something in particular and are offering something other than liquid (keys, metal, buds) TF2 currency you will probably have to overpay.  A seller who isn't looking for your dirty Batter's Helm isn't necessarily going to give you the full value.  Why should they?
2. Actively selling something while only saying "offer" and "I know the price" and threatening to report lowballers (very humorous) just makes you appear silly.  If you don't know the price, for example of a low craft # item or an unusual just say you're not sure and are looking for offers.  The marketplace will price your item if you've offered it to a wide-enough audience.
3. The spreadsheet is average values.  Anything within a range of the prices indicated is around the market price.  There is no exact price for anything.  A buyer/seller in a hurry may go above or below the range indicated.  Someone who has a popular item or lots of time may not make discounts while selling.  If people tell you we're baloney, feel confident that the majority of our prices are from actual trades.  We use actual humans as well as an automated system that records trades.

Also, here's a free PC game we found today that is played through the OnLive service.

Finally, we hear on the street that there are going to be keys given away this weekend.  Hmmmm.

Today's second key goes to...(update: won, no more emails)

emailer #20 in out inbox.  Send one email, include your steam name, and put #20 in the subject.

Jacob8185 was today's second key winner.  He was emailer #20, sent one email with his steam name and had #20 as the subject.  Congratulations to Jacob8185 and good luck to everyone for the next key giveaway.

We will be having more random, multiple-key giveaways rather than the one-key-every-day event from now on.  So keep checking back for your chance to win.  We'll put out an official blog post on the new prize format and site update information soon.

Today's first key (1 of 2) has been won.

Well that was an epic one, thanks again to Terry for contributing the puzzle.  Here's how it came down.  Stenten was the first to get all the words, however being first as you know was not the 'key' so to speak.  Good for him though being #1.  Then 2 people who will remain nameless had submitted answers.  One decided only to do the last phrase, which he got correct but he didn't get the other 10!  Then we got another email with all but one answer correct!  Didn't count!

Our winner was Jwutheheadcase.  He was the 2nd person to send all the correct answers.  Congratulations to him and good luck to everyone for today's second free key.

Answers:


1. the mobile feline
2. the heart breaker
3. united states constitution
4. the blood agent
5. le crabe
6. the apple-a-day
7. the mine layer
8. the vending machine
9. lil' robin
10. ze bodybag


voodoo pin

Today's first free key (1 of 2) goes to...

You if you are the second person to email us all 11 words or phrases correctly taken from items in the Steam Workshop (along with your steam name/id).  The first person to send in the answers correctly does not win, neither does the third person nor everyone else thereafter.  Thanks to Terry for submitting today's puzzle.  Anyone emailing without without following the instructions will be disqualified from all contests.

2 free keys today

There will be 2 free keys today.  They could be at the same time, they could be at different times.  They could be to one person or two.  Keep checking back for a "code active" signal for your chance to win.  Otherwise the same rules from before apply, more details here.  Do not send emails until "code active" is displayed in the message-of-the-day above.

New update, themed items and promos

Team Fortress 2

• Added new items:
  • The Red-Tape Recorder
  • The Huo Long Heatmaker
  • The Flying Guillotine
  • The Neon Annihilator
  • The Triad Trinket
  • The Champ Stamp
  • The Marxman
  • The Human Cannonball
• Added new promo items^[1]
• Fixed sappers attaching incorrectly to teleporters that are still building
• Improved reliability for finding a coach
• Fixed Engineer training shotgun and pistol images being swapped
• Fixed GetPlayerItems web APIs not respecting inventory privacy settings
• Quickplay beta: Fixed bug causing game servers to sometimes stop receiving traffic upon victory condition
• Quickplay beta: Added more status information while in the matchmaking queue

Notes

1. ↑ Russian Rocketeer, Lone Star, Awesomenauts Badge