Today's second Scorched Key (June 30th) has been won.

Well that was easy wasn't it?  Many of you got the code to us very quickly but Gmail says there is only one winner and that's numero uno.  CommunistManifesto has won today's second free Scorched Key.  He was the first to send us the code which was "Old Guadalajara".  The code was written in a picture file on the bottom left hand side of the screen and said "Ze text you seek is "Old Guadalajara".  Congratulations to CommunistManifesto for winning today's second free Scorched key (and taking part in capitalism).  Good luck to everyone on tomorrow's next free Scorched key (details here and here). In short, we are giving away a Scorched key every day (today there were two) until 7/11/12.

Today's first Scorched key (June 30th) has been won.

TurboSaxophonic is the winner of today's first (1/2) Scorched key.  He was the first to send us the correct code which was "Levar's LaMent".  It was the correct answer to the previous blog post which was a scrambled character name related to Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek the Next Generation).  The character name unscrambled was Geordi La Forge who was played by LeVar Burton.  Searching the Steam Workshop for LeVar would yield the pyro misc item Levar's LaMent.  Alternatively one could search pyro misc items and the item similar to Geordi La Forge's goggles could be found.

Congratulations to TurboSaxophonic for winning today's first Scorched key.  Good luck to everyone on today's next free Scorched key (details here and here).  In short, we are giving away a Scorched key every day (today there are two) until 7/11/12.

Today's first Scorched key (1 of 2) goes to:

The first person who sends us the correct name of the pyro misc item from the Steam Workshop that the following scrambled character name would love:

EGIROD AL REFOG (3 scrambled words)

Hint: Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes co-starred with the person who played this character.

* update: this scorched key has been won.

Today's Scorched Key (June 29th) has been won.

ADTR1958 was today's free Scorched Key winner. He was the first to send us the code which was "From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire" which was hidden in the text of the 2nd to last blog post on the front page. The full text of the hint read "getting a scorched item that opens boxes requires one to send something to us and it is [From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire]". Congratulations to ADTR1958 for winning today's Scorched Key and good luck to everyone else for tomorrow's two (that's right, we're doing two different codes tomorrow on Saturday) free Scorched Keys. If you're new to the contest read more here and here.

In case you were wondering the text comes from Robert Frost's poem "Fire and Ice" which you can read in full here.

New patch, Teddy gets assists!

Team Fortress 2

• Added sd_doomsday to the mapcycle files
• Fixed exploit that allowed Beggar's Bazooka to indefinitely hold rockets in the chamber without misfiring
• Fixed hatless hats not not-drawing correctly
• Fixed bugs with The Hitman's Heatmaker
  • Headshot kills now properly decapitate
  • Bodyshot damage penalty is properly applied
  • Fixed sound issues while in focus
• Fixed missing DX8 particle effects
• Fixed seeing through Sniper fences in 2Fort when using Pyrovision
• Fixed the second style for the Robot Chicken hat
• Teddy Roosebelt can now get assist credits
• Updated sd_doomsday:
  • Players can now fall into the launch pad after the rocket lifts off
  • Optimized some prop_dynamics to reduce server hitching
  • Engineers can no longer build teleporters behind the spawn
  • Players will no longer get pushed through the terrain if the elevator falls on them
  • Death pits now kill dead ringer Spies
  • Lowered the frequency of announcer lines

Undocumented changes

• Decapitated Pyros wearing a custom head will now show the stump as the custom head, not Pyro's default head.

Today's Scorched Key (June 28th) has been won.

Humfuzz was the winner of today's free Scorched Key.  He was the first to send us the correct 10 descrambled words plus the correct descrambled code word which was "Infernal Orchestrina".  Congratulations to Humfuzz for winning today's free Scorched Key and good luck to everyone tomorrow (new to this?  read this and this).  In short we are giving away a free Scorched Key every day until July 11th.

Also, the term "in play" means that something is happening now.  I'll use "code active" from now on to have less confusion.  More than a few of you sent me "in play" and your steam id.  I'm sure I'll get many "active" emails too!

The 10 words unscrambled were:


embers
kindle
inferno
bonfire
conflagration
combustion
blaze
flare
smoke
ignite

Free Scorched Key for 6/28...

Today's puzzle is fire-inspired.  Below are 10 fire-related words or phrases.  All letters that form each word/phrase are included but you will need to unscramble them.  You will need to solve all 10 to get today's code which is pyro-inspired and is the last word that is scrambled from the letters of the previous 10 words.  No hints!  First one to send us the correct 10 words as well as the code word made from their letters (and their steam id) wins today's free Scorched Key.  Do not send us a jpg or picture of the completed puzzle, just an email with all 10 words plus the code is enough.  Email us here. Difficulty level: medium-hard.

PSA: Steam trade no inventory fix

So you've been trying to trading those Bazookas and Balloonicorns and Scorched Keys and (&$!@)&!! no TF2 inventory comes up!  Be patient.  Hit "F5" until you see it pop up in the list.  This may take a minute or two but it does work.  Tell the friend you're trading with the fix also.  Enjoy!