View source for Team Fortress Classic (lost build of cancelled Xbox port of PC multiplayer first-person shooter; existence unconfirmed; early 2000s)

{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Team Fortress Classic (Xbox port)</center>
|image=Tfccoverart1.jpg
|imagecaption=Cover art for ''Team Fortress Classic''.
|status=<span style="color:grey;">'''Existence Unconfirmed'''</span>
}}
'''''Team Fortress Classic''''' is a PC multiplayer first-person shooter game. It was initially released as a ''Half-Life'' mod in April 1999, having served as a Valve-developed port for an independent ''Quake'' mod known simply as ''Team Fortress''. In the early 2000s, following the cancellation of Valve's platformer title ''Teebo & Kai'', it was alleged that '''an Xbox port of ''Team Fortress Classic'' was under development'''. Had it not faced its own cancellation, the port would have marked the first instance of the ''Team Fortress'' series receiving a console release.

==Background==
The genesis of ''Team Fortress'' began in June 1996.<ref name="shack">[https://www.shacknews.com/article/103827/threading-the-needle-the-making-of-quake-team-fortress ''Shack News'' interview where Walker, Cook and Caughley discussed the development of ''Team Fortress'' and ''Team Fortress Classic''.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> Team Fortress Software, consisting of Robin Walker, John Cook and Ian Caughley, harnessed the Quake Engine utilised by id Software for its 3D first-person shooter ''Quake''.<ref>[https://www.pcgamer.com/the-legacy-of-quake-20-years-later/ ''PC Gamer'' detailing the legacy of the Quake Engine, including for ''Team Fortress''.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref><ref name="shack"/> According to Walker, ''Team Fortress'' was originally a "pure deathmatch" experience; its class-based conceptualisation arose after the team wanted a multiclass mod which would enable players to adopt and solidify their ideal playing style, allowing for compelling gameplay experiences.<ref>[http://barad-dur.mordor.ch/1997/GAMES/TF/guild.html#DESIGNERS ''TeamFortressMapCreator'sGuild'' where Walker summarised the inspiration for ''Team Fortress''.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref><ref name="shack"/> Thus, the mod, released on 24th August 1996,<ref>[https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/happy-belated-birthday-team-fortress-2-122682/ ''IndieWire'' noting ''Team Fortress'''s release date.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> incorporated the nine classes that formed the series' backbone.<ref name="shack"/> Whereas some classes like the Scout and Heavy Weapons Guy were established early in-house, others, most notably the Pyro, arose as Team Fortress Software experimented with other ''Quake'' mods.<ref name="shack"/> The mod's popularity caught Valve Corporation's attention,<ref name="sierra">[https://web.archive.org/web/20010111004200/http://www.sierrastudios.com:80/games/tf1.5/news.html Archived ''Sierra Studios'' various announcements of ''Team Fortress Classic'''s development and release.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref><ref name="spot">[https://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-fortress-full-speed-ahead/1100-2463316/ ''GameSpot'' reporting on the development of ''Team Fortress Classic'' (then simply known as ''Team Fortress 2''.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> who themselves had modified the Quake Engine for its own GoldSrc engine used for ''Half-Life''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070301012630/http://collective.valve-erc.com/index.php?go=q1_or_q2 Archived ''VERC Collective'' summarising the engine used for ''Half-Life'', commonly referred to as GoldSrc.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref><ref name="shack"/> 

During the production of ''Half-Life'', Valve employed Walker and Cook in March 1998 to help finalise the game's development and finish up other projects like ''Half-Life SDK''.<ref name="shack"/> Following the release of ''Half-Life'' in November of that same year, Walker and Cook spearheaded a GoldSrc port of ''Team Fortress''.<ref name="shack"/> First announced in June 1998 and ultimately released as a free ''Half-Life'' mod on 7th April 1999,<ref name="spot"/><ref name="sierra"/> ''Team Fortress Classic'' received critical acclaim.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131102223654/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/562917-team-fortress-classic/index.html Archived ''GameRankings'' providing an 85.43% aggregate score for ''Team Fortress Classic''.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> However, its development forced the postponement of its sequel, ''Team Fortress 2''.<ref name="shack"/><ref name="sierra"/> Consequently, this commenced ''Team Fortress 2'''s troubled development and [[Team Fortress 2 (partially found original builds of PC multiplayer first-person shooter sequel; 1999-2006)|spawned a variety of missing builds]].<ref>[https://www.svg.com/305945/the-truth-about-team-fortress-2s-turbulent-development-cycle/ ''SVG'' summarising ''Team Fortress 2'''s troubled development.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref>

But interestingly, ''Team Fortress 2'''s early builds were not the only casualty linked to ''Team Fortress Classic''.<ref name="unseen">[https://www.unseen64.net/2021/04/09/teebo-kai-xbox-pc-cancelled/ ''Unseen64'' article on ''Teebo & Kai'', including how it was cancelled in favour of an Xbox port of ''Team Fortress Classic''.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref><ref name="mcvicker">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuDGHidwlpw Tyler McVicker summarising the cancelled ''Team Fortress Classic'' Xbox port (2:03-3:39).] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> In the early 2000s, ''Teebo & Kai'', a 3D platformer, was in development for the Xbox by a company called Escape Factory.<ref name="mcvicker"/><ref name="unseen"/> The project, commissioned by Valve as part of a joint venture with Microsoft, was abruptly cancelled by Valve's president Gabe Newell not long into its development.<ref name="mcvicker"/> According to the game's lead 3D artist, as well as games journalist Tyler McVicker in his video on ''Teebo & Kai'', Newell firmly believed an Xbox port of ''Team Fortress Classic'' was a more lucrative endeavour.<ref name="baker">[https://bakerartist.org/sites/default/files/resumes/not%20yet%20assigned/Ian%20Wilmoth%203d%20generalist%20resume.pdf ''Baker Artist'' portfolio of ''Teebo & Kai'''s lead 3D artist, who claimed the game was cancelled in favour of an Xbox port of ''Team Fortress Classic'' (p.g. 27).] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref><ref name="mcvicker"/> The logic appeared sound for two reasons; firstly, ''Team Fortress Classic'' was cited as among the most popular ''Half-Life'' mods by ''GameSpy'', its prior success demonstrating its potential for a console release.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100710010541/http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/april03/hlmods/ Archived ''GameSpy'' declaring ''Team Fortress Classic'' as among the most popular ''Half-Life'' mods of the era.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> Secondly, the shooter was simply a safer choice in general.<ref name="mcvicker"/> By the early 2000s, landline connections slowly declined as alternatives like broadband began to be widely adopted.<ref>[https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/communication-and-entertainment-proliferate-over-internet ''Ipsos'' reporting on the slow decline of landline in favour of broadband by 2004.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> Still, landline connections remained the dominant option for most console gamers seeking online gameplay.<ref>[https://techround.co.uk/tech/2025-landline-switch-off-online-gaming/ ''TechRound'' reflecting on the popularity of landline during the fledgling era of online gaming.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref><ref name="mcvicker"/> Therefore, according to McVicker, a brand-new online cooperative game like ''Teebo & Kai'' was a risky business endeavour for the period,<ref name="unseen"/> as its unknown quality may not have appealed to the predominantly landline-utilising Xbox consumer base.<ref name="mcvicker"/> 

Despite Newell's backing, an Xbox port of ''Team Fortress Classic'' also never materialised.<ref name="mcvicker"/><ref name="unseen"/> In the end, only two Valve products were published for the console; this included a port of ''Counter-Strike'' released in November 2003 under the development of Ritual Entertainment.<ref name="strikekotaku">[https://kotaku.com/games/counter-strike--1?startIndex=10 ''Kotaku'' summary of the Xbox version of ''Counter-Strike''.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> This version harnessed a single-player mode featuring bots, an exclusive feature most likely added to circumnavigate the aforementioned issues surrounding early online play.<ref>[https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/counter-strike-review/1900-6083702/ ''GameSpot'' review of the Xbox port of ''Counter-Strike''.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref><ref name="mcvicker"/> Meanwhile, the Xbox became the only sixth-generation console to feature ''Half-Life 2'' in its library, released in November 2005.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/12/half-life-2 ''IGN'' review of the Xbox port of ''Half-Life 2''.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> Though it is unclear whether or not either game replaced ''Team Fortress Classic'', McVicker theorises ''Half-Life 2'' was most likely hastily added to honour Valve's contract with Microsoft following the prior demise of two promised games.<ref name="mcvicker"/> However, this theory makes less sense considering that Valve ultimately partnered with EA to publish and distribute this port.<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/news-190705-valveea ''Eurogamer'' reporting on Valve signing a contract with EA for the latter to publish and distribute ''Half-Life 2'' for the Xbox.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> Regardless, ''Team Fortress 2'' instead became the first ''Team Fortress'' title ported to consoles, released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 as part of ''The Orange Box''.<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/valve-explains-ps3-orange-box-delay ''Eurogamer'' reporting on ''Team Fortress 2'' being released as part of ''The Orange Box'' on consoles.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref>

==Availability==
During his research on ''Teebo & Kai'', McVicker contacted several sources who asserted that the project was indeed replaced by ''Team Fortress Classic''.<ref name="mcvicker"/><ref name="baker"/> But whereas some screenshots of ''Teebo & Kai'' have become publicly available,<ref>[https://valvearchive.com/archive/3rd%20Party%20Developers/Escape%20Factory/Teebo%20And%20Kai%20The%20Search%20For%20Awl%20%28Cancelled%29/ ''Valve Archive'' providing available materials for ''Teebo & Kai''.] Retrieved 24th Apr '24</ref> this is not the case for its replacement's obscure Xbox port. Because of this, it is unknown whether a build was ever established prior to the project's cancellation. An alternative theory suggests that the sources were actually referring to the ''Counter-Source'' port. Not only was the port published by Microsoft Studios,<ref name="strikekotaku"/> thus potentially honouring any contract between the two companies,<ref name="mcvicker"/> but it was also an online multiplayer game developed and released not long following the supposed cancellation of ''Teebo & Kai''.<ref name="unseen"/> As of the present day, the existence of ''Team Fortess Classic'''s Xbox port remains unconfirmed. 

==Gallery==
===Videos===
{{Video|perrow  =1
  |service1     =youtube
  |id1          =PuDGHidwlpw
  |description1 =Tyler McVicker summarising the cancelled ''Team Fortress Classic'' Xbox port (2:03-3:39).
}}

==See Also==
*[[Electric Playground "Team Fortress 2 Beta" (lost episode of online video game news show; 2007)]]
*[[Escape from Team Fortress (found cancelled web series; 2014-2015)]]
*[[Get Your Free TVs! (partially found "Half-Life 2" tech demo; 2000)]]
*[[Half-Life (found Dreamcast port of first-person shooter; 2000-2001)]]
*[[Left 4 Dead 2 "The Cabin in the Woods" (lost build of cancelled movie tie-in DLC campaign for first-person horror shooter sequel; 2009-2010)]]
*[[Team Fortress 2 (partially found original builds of PC multiplayer first-person shooter sequel; 1999-2006)]]
*[[Team Fortress 2 "Expiration Date" (partially found screenplay and extended cut of animated short; 2012-2014)]]
*[[They Hunger: Lost Souls (found builds of unreleased sequel to "Half-Life" game mod; 2005-2008)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lost video games]]
[[Category:Existence unconfirmed]]