Who'd have thought, this old TF2Wiki staff member would be back (moi)!
Given that I happen to also be a TF2C dev and that this has become a contentious issue, I recently did a deep dive and discovered all of the old Facepunch threads, went through them and documented the original sources in an internal timeline of sorts, summarizing the authors and contributors and how that then evolved into Team Fortress 2 Classic as we know it today.
I will try my best to port and summarize the internal document using the same citations:
1. 31 MAY 2014 - VIP REVIVAL PROJECT IS FORMED
THREAD CITATION: https://web.archive.org/web/20160810092658/https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1397838
Along with initial gamemode scripting, many launch assets are developed here, including (but not limited to); The Civilian, various weapons/items, several maps including what would eventually be renamed to “Harbor”, textures, voice acting, some writers (VA script), etc.
DEVELOPERS:
- Blaholtzen/Badgerpig
- Sparkwire
- Benjamoose
- VernoGuy
- Gadget
- NassimO
- evil knevil
- WhyNott
- Hecates
- Dr. Pyspy
THREAD & STEAM GROUP HOSTED BY:
- Blaholtzen/Badgerpig
- Sparkwire
2. 23 NOV 2014 - “TF2 2007 (ORANGE BOX)” IS MADE PC-READY
THREAD CITATION: https://web.archive.org/web/20160810093701/https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1438572
This launch-version of TF2’s Source engine was ripped from the console versions of TF2, a version lacking updates since launch. It was then ported, fixed and updated to work on PC by Nicknine, with DLL fixes by Firebeast, and some testing done by TheRubberFruitFace.
DEVELOPERS:
- Nicknine
- Firebeast
- TheRubberFruitFace
THREAD HOSTED BY:
- 404 UserNotFound (AKA TF2CutContent)
3. 09 JAN 2015 - “VIP REVIVAL” & “TF2 2007” MERGE AND “TF2 CLASSIC” IS FORMED
THREAD CITATION: https://web.archive.org/web/20160829201949/https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1445480
The developer list below contains the combined list of both V1 and V2’s thread. The reason for this is that the majority of these names were on V2’s very first post, due to contributing during the many pages of the V1 thread. 404 failed to update the OP’s credits section during the V1 thread’s life, but a large amount of the developers below can be seen in the V1 pages contributing assets (including members of the VIP team, who at this point have agreed to contribute the VIP mode). For simplicity's sake, for this reason they have been merged. Additionally, V1 largely contains feedback and back and forth over a largely empty base port of the launch version of TF2. It’s not until V2 launches that it starts to be built upon and starts adding new assets.
There may be missing names that contributed within the thread, but didn’t make the OP due to oversight. I have yet to confirm this.
NOTE: While the developers of the previous two projects form the basis of what would become TF2 Classic, all of the developers on this particular list, in my personal opinion, would also be considered “Founding Developers”.
Without this thread or these users, TF2 Classic as a project is just a renamed clone of TF2 2007 (launch TF2), largely fixed by Nicknine & Firebeast. This is where TF2 Classic forms an identity and starts actually adding and developing content.
DEVELOPERS:
- Danielmm8888
- MacD11
- MrModez
- TheRubberFruitFace
- Jesus Crits/Digivee
- Chowder
- Stachekip
- WhyNott
- ~Kiwi~v2
- Blase005
- Aichten
- Rage
- NassimO
- FissionMetroid101
- OneForth
- Trotim
- Th13een
- Iiboharz
- Snowshoe
- Dr.Pyspy
- Berry
- Rummy
- Benjamoose
- Adp
- Ynders
- Mystc Cheez
- Phi
- Maxxy
- N-Cognito
- SedimentarySocks
- Pie_Savvy
- Sexy Robot
- Nitronik
- Game Zombie
- Hot Pocket
- Arxin
- Frying Dutchman
- Blaholtzen/Badgerpig
- Stachekip
- KibbleKnight
- VernoGuy
- Omniary
- Billy2600
- PistonMiner
- Iamgoofball
THREAD & STEAM GROUP HOSTED BY:
4. 01 APR 2015 - “TF2 CLASSIC V2” POSTED
THREAD CITATION: https://web.archive.org/web/20160810092942/https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1458694
TF2 Classic begins to resemble a unique mod for the first time. After largely being a cleaned up base-port of launch TF2, this thread is where we see most things developed (the logo, VIP mode, etc).
DEVELOPERS:
THREAD & STEAM GROUP HOSTED BY:
From what I could ascertain from going over the Facepunch pages, TF2CutContent (404) hosts a few threads and a Steam group, but their replies throughout the threads and even in the first posts in the ones that they hosted continually and freely state that they refuse to accept credit for the project or contributions and that they hope to eventually learn some coding to potentially contribute in the future. They are then no longer listed at all after they stop hosting threads themselves and ultimately never do.
Additionally, while Danielmm8888 has more credibility regarding an authorship, TF2Classic had no central author in its overall creation. It's largely the result of two different project threads colliding on a thread with a cool name. To which Danielmm8888 also acknowledges this and TF2 2007 in their original posts.
The VIP project contained most of the original assets that started TF2C, and TF2 2007 did the bulk of the coding work of fixing the original base to be built onto. TF2Classic starts as essentially a copy of TF2 2007 with nothing in it, to which all three projects then collide and start building onto as of the V2 thread.
That said, Danielmm8888 is 100% the first Project Lead though as a result and deserves a bunch of respect for helping to shepherd the initial project overall.
Long story short; it's important to acknowledge all of these names in the origins of the project, but there is ultimately no singular "creator" of TF2C, and from what I can see from the threads (and again, please check them for yourselves), the current claim that TF2CutContent was such, is erroneous as they were already unlisted and no longer hosting threads by V2, where the bulk of merged development started.
Edit:
TF2C Author Claim Dispute Citation
TF2C Author Claim Dispute Citation