Difference between revisions of "Account types"

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''Team Fortress 2'' offers two main '''types of accounts'''; "premium" and "free". On June 23, 2011, with the release of the [[Über Update]], [[Valve]] adopted the {{w|free-to-play}} (or "F2P") model for the game, creating a distinction in account types for players who purchased the game before June 23 and players who download the game afterward. Free and premium accounts only differ in restrictions on the system of [[items]], and as such, no restrictions for either type affect [[gameplay]] or offer particular players any advantage over others.
{{Move|Differences between Free and Premium accounts|2 weeks}}
 
  
Along with the [[Über update]] release on June 23rd, 2011, Team Fortress 2 adopted the {{w|Free-to-play}} formula, offering two distinct kind of accounts of play, referred as ''Free'' and ''Premium''.
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== Comparison ==
  
A '''''Free account''''' is a copy of the game activated on a Steam account without sustain any cost whatsoever. Even with limited features, the full gameplay experience is available to this type of account. A Free account can be upgraded to a Premium one at any time by spending any amount in the [[Mann Co. Store]], or by activating a retail copy of Team Fortress 2.<ref>[http://www.teamfortress.com/freetoplay/faq.php Team Fortress 2 Free to Play FAQ]</ref>
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The free account type defines all players who have activated the game on [[Steam]] on their respective account. In comparison to premium accounts, the free account offers players less capability to [[trading|trade]], [[crafting|craft]] and store items in their [[backpack]]. Free accounts only reduce the player's backpack size to only hold 50 items, and limit the amount of crafting blueprints available to them. In addition to this, the
It's worth nothing that while the cheapest item in the Mann Co store is about {{Item price|item=Crit-a-Cola}}, the minimum amount one can put into the [[Steam Wallet]] to make a purchase is still $5.00 / £4.00 / 5.00€.
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player can only receive items through trading and cannot send items through trading nor can they receive items that have been wrapped with [[Gift Wrap]]. A restriction on the type of items that a player can obtain through any means is also imposed on free accounts &ndash; only "Standard" items can be obtained and stored.<ref name="f2p-faq">[http://www.teamfortress.com/freetoplay/faq.php Team Fortress 2: Free-to-Play FAQ], tf2.com, June 23, 2011. Accessed June 26, 2011.</ref>
  
A '''''Premium account''''' is a copy of the game with all the features activated. All players who purchased Team Fortress 2 prior to the Über update had their game automatically upgraded to a Premium account and received a new cosmetic promotional item, the [[Proof of Purchase]] hat.
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A premium account is an account that has purchased a copy of ''Team Fortress 2'' when it was sold prior to June 23, 2011, and any free account that has activated the game and has made a purchase from the [[Mann Co. Store]]. The premium account type offers no newer restrictions on obtaining and storing items, nor on standard gameplay. Players who purchased ''Team Fortress 2'' prior to June 23 were also rewarded with the [[Proof of Purchase]] all-class [[hats|headwear]] item.
  
=== Account Type Comparison ===
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=== Item system restrictions ===
{| class="wikitable grid" align="Left" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 10px"  
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{| class="wikitable grid"
 
! class="header" | Feature
 
! class="header" | Feature
 
! class="header" | Free
 
! class="header" | Free
 
! class="header" | Premium
 
! class="header" | Premium
 
|-
 
|-
|align="left"|[[Backpack]]
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| [[Backpack]]
|Limited to 50 slots
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| Limited to 50 slots
|300 slots ([[Backpack expander|Expandable]] to 1000)
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| 300 slots (expandable to 1000 with the use of the [[Backpack Expander]] tool)
 
|-
 
|-
|align="left"|[[Items]]
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| [[Items]]
|Standard
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| Standard<ref name="f2p-faq" />
|Standard, Rare, and Cosmetic
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| Standard, Rare, and Cosmetic<ref name="f2p-faq" />
 
|-
 
|-
|align="left"|[[Crafting]]
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| [[Crafting]]
|Limited Blueprints
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| Limited blueprints
|All Blueprints
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| All blueprints
 
|-
 
|-
|align="left"|[[Trading]]
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| [[Trading]]
|Can only receive
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| Can only receive items
|Full Trading
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| Can send and receive items
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|-
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| [[Gift Wrap]]
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| Can only receive gift-wrapped items
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| Can send and receive gift-wrapped items
 
|-
 
|-
|align="left"|[[Gifting]]
 
|Can only receive gifts
 
|Can give and receive gifts
 
 
|}
 
|}
{{clr}}
 
  
==References==
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== Upgrading account type ==
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Players with free accounts can upgrade their account to premium by making any purchase of any amount from the [[Mann Co. Store]]. While the least expensive item on the Store at present is the [[Crit-a-Cola]] (priced at {{item price|Crit-a-Cola}}), the minimum amount that can be stored in the player's [[Steam Wallet]] is $5.00 / £4.00 / 5.00€. Upon purchasing any item, the player's account is immediately upgraded to the 'premium' type and all previously-imposed restrictions are removed.
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== See also ==
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* [[Items]]
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== References ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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== External links ==
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* [http://www.teamfortress.com/freetoplay/faq.php Team Fortress 2: Free-to-Play FAQ] on tf2.com

Revision as of 05:28, 26 June 2011

Team Fortress 2 offers two main types of accounts; "premium" and "free". On June 23, 2011, with the release of the Über Update, Valve adopted the Template:W (or "F2P") model for the game, creating a distinction in account types for players who purchased the game before June 23 and players who download the game afterward. Free and premium accounts only differ in restrictions on the system of items, and as such, no restrictions for either type affect gameplay or offer particular players any advantage over others.

Comparison

The free account type defines all players who have activated the game on Steam on their respective account. In comparison to premium accounts, the free account offers players less capability to trade, craft and store items in their backpack. Free accounts only reduce the player's backpack size to only hold 50 items, and limit the amount of crafting blueprints available to them. In addition to this, the player can only receive items through trading and cannot send items through trading nor can they receive items that have been wrapped with Gift Wrap. A restriction on the type of items that a player can obtain through any means is also imposed on free accounts – only "Standard" items can be obtained and stored.[1]

A premium account is an account that has purchased a copy of Team Fortress 2 when it was sold prior to June 23, 2011, and any free account that has activated the game and has made a purchase from the Mann Co. Store. The premium account type offers no newer restrictions on obtaining and storing items, nor on standard gameplay. Players who purchased Team Fortress 2 prior to June 23 were also rewarded with the Proof of Purchase all-class headwear item.

Item system restrictions

Feature Free Premium
Backpack Limited to 50 slots 300 slots (expandable to 1000 with the use of the Backpack Expander tool)
Items Standard[1] Standard, Rare, and Cosmetic[1]
Crafting Limited blueprints All blueprints
Trading Can only receive items Can send and receive items
Gift Wrap Can only receive gift-wrapped items Can send and receive gift-wrapped items

Upgrading account type

Players with free accounts can upgrade their account to premium by making any purchase of any amount from the Mann Co. Store. While the least expensive item on the Store at present is the Crit-a-Cola (priced at ), the minimum amount that can be stored in the player's Steam Wallet is $5.00 / £4.00 / 5.00€. Upon purchasing any item, the player's account is immediately upgraded to the 'premium' type and all previously-imposed restrictions are removed.

See also

References

  1. a b c Team Fortress 2: Free-to-Play FAQ, tf2.com, June 23, 2011. Accessed June 26, 2011.

External links