The Great Crate Bonfire

Tek7

Tek7

CGA President, Tribe of Judah Founder & President
Staff member
I'm planning to leisurely collect crates, wait until I have a critical mass of crates, then delete every single crate in my backpack. I plan to record this event then upload the video to YouTube.

So far, I've received 13 crates from Gerbil, 15 crates from Patriot, and 1 crate from Generalsaudi. I am planning to list all crate donors in the video description and dedicate the video to Corp.fox. (See this post for my reason why.) I also plan to post a brief explanation why I decided to create the video, explain why I disagree with the key/crate system, and disable comments for the video.

The current crate count (as of Dec. 21, 2010) is: 50.
 
Keero said:
I got 12 I can pass along. Rarer ones, even! :p
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Excellent! Next time we're both on Steam or in TF2, I'd be happy to take those off your hands and add them to the pile of driftwood.
 
I've received 6 more crates for the bonfire from Grey.

Current crate count: 66.
 
I received 12 crates from Keero.

The total number of crates is now 81.
 
Bird of Pray has a bunch more crates for you so be sure to contact him before the great bonfire.
 
The Mighty Gerbil said:
Bird of Pray has a bunch more crates for you so be sure to contact him before the great bonfire.
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Roger that.

I'm thinking I'll hold the bonfire after obtaining 100 crates. That means I have less than 20 left to collect...
 
A donation of 19 crates from Bird of PrAy earlier tonight brings our total of crates for the bonfire to 100.

I plan on recording the Great Crate Bonfire Video #1 and uploading it to YouTube in the next few days.

Why Video #1, you ask? Well, with only 100 slots allocated for crate storage, I'll have to collect and destroy 100 at a time. There may very well be a follow-up video in a few months. :)
 
Tek7 said:
A donation of 19 crates from Bird of PrAy earlier tonight brings our total of crates for the bonfire to 100.

I plan on recording the Great Crate Bonfire Video #1 and uploading it to YouTube in the next few days.

Why Video #1, you ask? Well, with only 100 slots allocated for crate storage, I'll have to collect and destroy 100 at a time. There may very well be a follow-up video in a few months. :)
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Wondered if you have any music to play during this crate smiting bonanza. I have heard of You tube legalities getting some videos removed due to a song used in them (though IDK if it's true I've never posted a video). If you want I can extract and send you one of the Team Fortress songs in mp3 format. One of those should be fine considering it's showing TF2 anyway.

Also if you disable comments on youtube we can still like/dislike the video right (I've never posted a video so IDK)?
 
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The Mighty Gerbil said:
Wondered if you have any music to play during this crate smiting bonanza. I have heard of You tube legalities getting some videos removed due to a song used in them (though IDK if it's true I've never posted a video). If you want I can extract and send you one of the Team Fortress songs in mp3 format. One of those should be fine considering it's showing TF2 anyway.
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My plan is to post the video with stock audio and allow others to "remix" the video as they see fit. That way I can keep the time spent on the project to a reasonable minimum. (Recording, encoding, uploading, and typing the description for the video will occupy a chunk of time as it is.)

The Mighty Gerbil said:
Also if you disable comments on youtube we can still like/dislike the video right (I've never posted a video so IDK)?
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I think so, but I've only uploaded gameplay videos to my channels prior to this, so I've always disabled the like/dislike (formerly ratings) feature because it's been irrelevant. If it's possible to disable comments AND enable like/dislike, I'll definitely do both. But if it's a package deal, I'll disable both features as I don't want to deal with the YouTube comment flaming.
 
I'm planning to record the crate bonfire video this coming week. I'll post the link to the video once it's uploaded to YouTube.

In other news: I received 23 crates from pliskin today and 50 crates from Bird of PrAy.

Total number of crates: 175.

At this rate, I'm going to have to record a second video almost immediately after I post my first!
 
I want a 200 crate bonfire not some weak 100 crate hotfoot. If you don't do it all at once it will be slightly difficult to tell the videos apart (not impossible though). Let the crate'ening consume all with the glorious deletion button!

If you do it in parts make sure to label the first video part one. I mean because you know before time there will be a continuation.
 
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The Mighty Gerbil said:
I want a 200 crate bonfire not some weak 100 crate hotfoot. If you don't do it all at once it will be slightly difficult to tell the videos apart (not impossible though).
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Oy, maybe I should accept the Backpack Extender Bird of PrAy offered. I just didn't want to send mixed messages by using a paid item from the item store to protest a different item in the item store.

On the other hand, the Backpack Extender (unlike hats) is reasonably priced, non-essential to gameplay, and a sure thing (i.e. not a gamble). I don't really take issue with the Backpack Extender or the concept of an item store populated by reasonably priced items that do not give players advantages. I take issue with the crate/key system, which is effectively gambling.

I'll think it over. I have to admit, destroying 200 crates does sound more impressive than destroying 100.
 
Change of plans: We're not going to be destroying 100 crates.

We're going to be destroying 300 crates.

Stay tuned for further details.
 
Yes, I destroyed 300 crates.

Before (Jan. 5): http://www.tf2items.com/profiles/76561198034229809?time=1294215363

After (Jan. 11): http://www.tf2items.com/profiles/76561198034229809?time=1294777790

Video recorded and uploaded to YouTube, but private until I finish writing the copy for the video description.

EDIT: If anyone has anything they'd like to see posted to the video description, please post your request in your thread. I'm already planning to post a paragraph or two explaining why I recorded the video, the cost for 300 keys ($747.00), and what I'm asking Valve to change.
 
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I'm not expecting a response, but I've sent the following to the ESRB:
Valve introduced online gambling into its popular shooter Team Fortress with a game update. Players can purchase in-game items with real money to unlock "crates" for a chance (not guaranteed) to win rare items. (See http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Mann_Co._Supply_Crate ) There is precedent for a game that features real gambling to receive an AO rating (see: Peak Entertainment Casinos). Will the ESRB consider re-evaluating the rating for Team Fortress 2 since the game introduced real gambling?
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Okay, here's my first draft for the Great Crate Bonfire video description:
I gathered and deleted 300 crates to protest the crate-key system introduced to Team Fortress 2 in the Mann-Conomy update.

According to the Random House Dictionary, the word "gamble" means "to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance." Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gambling

The crate-key system introduced real gambling to people who would not purchase lottery tickets, visit gambling establishments such as casinos, or gamble otherwise.

Users have reported spending over $2,000 on keys: http://www.cgalliance.org/forums/showpost.php?p=408018&postcount=12

I am calling for players to do the following:
Refrain from purchasing keys from the Mann Co. item store
Delete all crates
Post similar "crate bonfire" videos as video responses
Post "before" crate deletion and "after" TF2 Backpack Examiner links as comments (See below for an example)
Send an e-mail to Robin Walker at robin@valvesoftware.com with a link to this video and a request to remove gambling from Team Fortress 2
Share the link to this video with friends
Post the link to this video on forums

I am asking Valve to do the following:
Allow players to craft scrap metal using crates
Add keys as random drops with a reasonable drop rate
Allow players to craft keys

I would like to see Valve phase out the crate-key system entirely, but I understand this is highly unlikely. The changes listed above are what I feel to be a fair compromise for both players and Valve.

Note that I am not protesting the introduction of an item store. I understand it takes time, effort, and money to continue creating and publishing updates for Team Fortress 2.

An item store is a valid method of making continued updates a financially viable strategy; however, I take issue with Valve introducing gambling via the crate-key system.

Before (Jan. 5, 2011) http://www.tf2items.com/profiles/76561198034229809?time=1294215363

After (Jan. 11, 2011) http://www.tf2items.com/profiles/76561198034229809?time=1294777790

The following people helped gather crates for the creation of this video:

The Mighty Gerbil: Donated 13 crates
Patriot: Donated 15 crates
GeneralSaudi: Donated 1 crate
Whon: Donated 10 crates
Grey: Donated 5 crates
Keero: Donated 12 crates
pliskin: Donated 23 crates

Bird of PrAy donated 69 crates and gathered additional crates. I had originally planned to record a video where I deleted 100 crates. Bird of PrAy's assistance helped me expand the scope of this project and delete 300 crates.

The Mighty Gerbil, GeneralSaudi, Whon, Grey, Keero, Bird of PrAy, and I are all members of Tribe of Judah, a Christian gaming group with a Team Fortress 2 chapter and server. You can learn more about Tribe of Judah at http://www.toj.cc

Total cost for 300 keys: $747.00.
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