The TFI Team was a group of creators from the Beta community brought together to collaborate on the development of Team Fortress 2 Invasion. This collective effort was formed to enhance and push forward the game's development with the skills and creativity of passionate community members.

Team Fortress 2 Invasion

Team Fortress 2 Invasion was an FPS/RTS hybrid that combines RTS elements with classic Team Fortress gameplay, The original code was leaked onto the internet and was compiled into a semi-function build by Team gabeN.

In the beginning, I knew little about the Source Engine, let alone the leaked, unfinished version of it, which differed significantly from the final release. However, that only fueled my curiosity about this infamous cut version of Team Fortress 2, inspiring me to explore and experiment with it despite the challenges.

Original Logo

TFI Team "Final" Logo

The original build of the game was highly incomplete, with much of it undocumented, leading to a development process that relied heavily on trial and error.

Since this was a precompiled build, I didn't have access to the actual source code, limiting my ability to make significant edits or changes to the game. This added an extra layer of complexity to the project.

The most valuable resources I had to work with were old concept art pieces, either shared online or discovered deep within the portfolios of the original developers. These were essential when I needed to create assets from scratch.

Team Fortress 2 Invasion had a mix of unique features as well as similarities to the retail release of Team Fortress 2. For example, all the classes in Team Fortress 2 Invasion were equipped with a PDA, allowing players to select class-specific buildable objects for either offensive or defensive purposes, adding an extra layer of strategy to the game.

Medic Class with PDA and Power Pack Buildable Object

Power Pack Model Recreation WIP

Power Pack Model Recreation Final

Power Pack Model with Laser Turret Buildable Object

Power Pack Model with Placeholder Rocket Turret Model

Human and Alien Commando Class

The only original models in the build were the Alien and Human Commando models. Team gabeN had recompiled the view models from Eternal Silence, a popular Source mod at the time, and used various placeholder models from other Source Engine games.

With a significant portion of assets missing and no available concept art, the project offered an opportunity to bring fresh life and a new art direction to the game. However, as I was nearing the end of secondary school and life became more demanding, it became increasingly difficult to balance development with other responsibilities.

As I faced challenges in development, I formed the TFI Team, a group of creators from the Beta community, to collaborate and support the progress of Team Fortress 2 Invasion. Their combined efforts helped push the project forward during a challenging time.

As development gained momentum, a growing following began to form. In response, I created the TFI Team Website to host project updates, and launched a YouTube channel to post Update Logs and showcase progress. As Team Fortress 2 Invasion continued to attract attention, I established a Discord server as a central hub for the fanbase, providing a space for the community to connect and engage.

TFI Team Update Log #1

TFI Team Update Log #2

Rocket Turret Model

Defender Class Concept Art (Valve)

Defender Class Model Recreation WIP

Defender Class Model Recreation Semi-Final

Selection Menu

Alien Tripod with Alien Commando Concept Art (Valve)

Alien Tripod Model Recreation WIP

A rather late cancellation announcement on the Moddb page

End of an Era

By 2019, development had slowed to a standstill as I became the last active member of the TFI Team. Having started this journey back in 2015, it was difficult to halt development—it felt like saying goodbye to an old friend. However, I knew it was necessary in order to move forward and focus on bigger and better projects. Despite the challenges, this experience laid the foundation for future growth and creativity.

Unlike many other groups that had come and gone, I chose to preserve our work by uploading the final build of Team Fortress 2 Invasion to GitLab. This way, others could not only play the game but also pick up where we left off, potentially continuing the project’s development. It was my way of ensuring the effort and creativity that went into it wouldn't be lost, even as I moved on to new ventures.

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