The Team Fortress staff looked on in horror this morning when confirmed Australian Robin Walker showed up with a reindeer skull on his head and a board with a couple of nails in it, demanding presents. After a few initial attempts to find out what the hell he was talking about, leading to some superficial puncture wounds in Corey Peters' forehead, we figured it'd probably be easier for everyone if we just went and got him some presents.
After he'd unwrapped the tenth potted plant -- "This looks just like the ones in the lobby, too!" he exclaimed in happy surprise -- he calmed down enough to tell us about Australia's little-known but most celebrated holiday, Australian Christmas.
After he'd unwrapped the tenth potted plant -- "This looks just like the ones in the lobby, too!" he exclaimed in happy surprise -- he calmed down enough to tell us about Australia's little-known but most celebrated holiday, Australian Christmas.
On December 18th, 1788, less than a year after the first settlers colonized Australia, an old cutthroat named Nicolas Crowder arrived on a boat with some other new settlers, took one look at the heat and privations, said "screw this," commandeered the boat, and set course on a one-man voyage to conquer the South Pole. Legend tells that he lives there still.
Every December 18th, "Old Nick" returns down under to find out if Australia's children have been naughty or nice. The nice children are given the greatest gift of all -- they are not abducted along with the naughty ones and carted off to the South Pole.
For the next twelve months, the naughty children make toys to Old Nick's exacting specifications. Then, on December 17th, the presents are gift-wrapped, placed in a sleigh, and driven to Old Nick's mansion, where he opens them. Naturally, given the sheer number of hats and weapons Old Nick receives, there are bound to be duplicates -- and every December 18th, he posts them online, selling them at prices so low that he's practically giving them away.
Every December 18th, "Old Nick" returns down under to find out if Australia's children have been naughty or nice. The nice children are given the greatest gift of all -- they are not abducted along with the naughty ones and carted off to the South Pole.
For the next twelve months, the naughty children make toys to Old Nick's exacting specifications. Then, on December 17th, the presents are gift-wrapped, placed in a sleigh, and driven to Old Nick's mansion, where he opens them. Naturally, given the sheer number of hats and weapons Old Nick receives, there are bound to be duplicates -- and every December 18th, he posts them online, selling them at prices so low that he's practically giving them away.
"But I haven't even told you the best part of Australian Christmas!" said Robin, rocking a ficus plant back and forth in his arms.
"You haven't told us any good parts of Australian Christmas," said Brandon Reinhart, feinting to the left to dodge a clumsily-thrown ficus plant.
"Festive Crates!" said Robin, his eyes rapidly unfocusing. "And they can only be unlocked with a Special Festive Key!" He brandished a set of special keys to his house and car.
"Are you drunk?" asked Tom Bui, taking Robin's special car keys away from him.
"Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Robin agreed.
"You haven't told us any good parts of Australian Christmas," said Brandon Reinhart, feinting to the left to dodge a clumsily-thrown ficus plant.
"Festive Crates!" said Robin, his eyes rapidly unfocusing. "And they can only be unlocked with a Special Festive Key!" He brandished a set of special keys to his house and car.
"Are you drunk?" asked Tom Bui, taking Robin's special car keys away from him.
"Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Robin agreed.
In this old-tymey Controlle Pointe map, players will battle through an ancient castle. How did the menly men of Team Fortress appear at a tenth century battlement? Simple. The Soldier angered a magician.
Team Fortress creator Robin Walker recently watched The Terminator, and so demanded that weapons could not be brought back in time. That's right: it's melee-only! Against Robin's strenuous wishes, however, clothing can go back in time, which is one way that Medieval Mode is different from The Terminator.
So grab your swords, and keep your clothes on, because things are about to get clothing-non-optional Medieval on your fully clothed ass!
Team Fortress creator Robin Walker recently watched The Terminator, and so demanded that weapons could not be brought back in time. That's right: it's melee-only! Against Robin's strenuous wishes, however, clothing can go back in time, which is one way that Medieval Mode is different from The Terminator.
So grab your swords, and keep your clothes on, because things are about to get clothing-non-optional Medieval on your fully clothed ass!
KINDLY COMMUNITY MAP MAKER BOB CRATCHIT: Please, sir, could I have Christmas off to starve at home with my family?
BILLIONAIRE HAT MAGNATE SCROOGE: No! Eat this candle!
CRATCHIT: But it's my only source of light to make maps by!
SCROOGE: Okay. Eat your own hand, then. Not the map-making one!
CRATCHIT: Okay. [weeps, eats own hand]
Don't let this chilling Christmas drama become a reality again this year! Stop the madness and give a little charity to TF2's hard-working, selfless community map makers, using our new Map Donation feature in the Mann Co. Store!
BILLIONAIRE HAT MAGNATE SCROOGE: No! Eat this candle!
CRATCHIT: But it's my only source of light to make maps by!
SCROOGE: Okay. Eat your own hand, then. Not the map-making one!
CRATCHIT: Okay. [weeps, eats own hand]
Don't let this chilling Christmas drama become a reality again this year! Stop the madness and give a little charity to TF2's hard-working, selfless community map makers, using our new Map Donation feature in the Mann Co. Store!