TO JOIN TF2CHUDRUP

Do it for the community!

I apologize for the quietness of the project. You may think by now that this was a joke, but I had no intention of this being just a whim. With only one review only written, no posts on updates for over a month, no major activity in the group, and no signs of growing, I feel so sorry for this project. But I won’t let it die on us; not yet. Once the Mann vs. Machine update smooths out and most of the custom HUDs have time to update, I’m getting right back on the project! Don’t give up hope!

First part

And that includes this review project. I’m so sorry for such a slow start, but I promise to make it a full project and have it full of reviews and demonstrations to help you find that one perfect custom hud. Till then, I just need some more time to myself right now. Like I said, any kind words you have are greatly appreciated.

Later,

R64, Creator and owner of TF2CHUDRP

…*sigh* Look, I’m sorry for no video reviews or new written reviews. Work has been pretty stressfull for me and, well, just haven’t been motivated to do anything recently. No reviews, skins, or drawings…I feel horrible right now. I hope to get back into the swing of things soon so don’t think I’m dead. I’ll do my best to keep you updated.

Also, e.v.e. HUD has been updated to 2.4.0! Check it out!

http://code.google.com/p/eve-tf2hud/

I’m sorry for the lack of updates recently.  I do plan on making a video version of my e.v.e. HUD review and getting started on my frankenHUD review soon.

The one issue I know a lot of users won’t be happy about is how the layout isn’t friendly to some custom HUD mods. Well, here’s how to edit so you’re custom health meters won’t look so tacky:

Delete the following sections in ‘tf>resource>ui>HudPlayerHealth.res’ *use Notepad to open and edit the file*:

“PlayerStatusClassImageBG”

“PlayerStatusClassImageBG2”

*Note: make sure there’s still 2 lines between the the branches of “PlayerStatusHealthBonusImage” and “PlayerStatusHealthValue” or unwanted resluts can happen.*

    This is a nice, streamlined HUD. With a well organized main menu, compatable for both widescreen and 4:3 users,  uses the extra space for widescreen users very nicely, and has a very clean in-game HUD.

-In depth Review-

    The main menu is very organized and grouped nicely for each section. For example, joining a server that the game finds and the training/offline practice button in one and finding specific servers and creating one on the other. There are a quite few differences from this HUD’s layout and the vanilla, but the only issue is getting used to it. It’s very well organized and when you do get used to it, getting to the right part is very easy to find for whenever the situation arrives.  It’s aspect  ratio is 4:3 by default but there’s an option for widescreen players to extend the menu to the screen edges, beautifully making  use of the extra space and cleaning up the middle so the view past it in game is more clear and you can see if anything sudden happens while you’re on the menu and something happens that you need to react to.
    The loading screen and sever starting windows are made of nice, condensed boxes surrounded by a white, rounded border  and uses half TF2 font and half serif-styled font, giving it an organized look and removes any unnecessary box space and is easy to read. The team select is  basic with boxes like the ones on the loading screen and has the shortcut keys next to them to help you quick select them easily. The same goes for the class select which is in a nice, phone-dial-like style. Just added after the “meet the pyro”  update was a button to open the inventory, allowing you to change the loadout without you having to select a class and look afk in spawn before getting the desired weapons which is a nice touch.
    The in game HUD is well done as well and uses widescreen ratio as the default, but you can use the included options for  4:3 users for their screens. The health bar includes your class profile, a team-colored shadow around the health so looking to  quickly remind yourself what team you’re on is a lot easier. Custom health meters, however, aren’t so friendly with this custom  HUD, but can be edited easily with the help of the group. The ammo is basic with a nice  shadow for a off-the-screen look.
    The meters are all placed above the ammo and is labeled clearly in case you have more then one weapon that uses the  meter.  One part I felt should have been an option was to have the demoman’s stickybomb count and meter in the middle but looks just fine on the right. The engineer’s build and destroy menu comes with lined or lineless options and is in the middle of the screen but can be on the right in minimode. The spy screen is in the middle in both modes yet doesn’t go past the default spy  cigarette case model so it doesn’t obscure anything the model already does. I’d love to see a option to have the menu in a  dial-like style on the side like the engineer’s build menu in minimode.  The Medic’s Ubercharge meter could use some work, however. In  basic, it’s just fine. But in minimode, it shows the ubercharge bar in the middle, right above where the player info would be AND shows the Ubercharge percent on the small bar and the right. A bug, I assume. Targeted players show the player’s name, health, and other info clearly in a small window near the middle of the screen.  As a spy, the person and class you are is clear next to your health with the name of the player disguise and weapon held in the same style window as the targeted player window.
    The scoreboard is a nice, semi-translucent window with 12 players visible per team and everything clearly seen. It’s semi-translucent so you can still keep an eye on the game in case anything fishy happens. In minimode, it lists 6 players per team.  The scoreboard can be changed with additional options to fit your desires for either mode you prefer.  The game objectives are clear at the bottom of the screen and the timer is the default. This HUD is also tournament compatable.

-Pros-

    - Uses widescreen very well and can be edited to work on a 4:3 screen.

    - Very clean and organized. Efficiency is the key of this HUD.
   
    - Menus are easy to read, use, and don’t block your view.
   
    - Updated regularly and has a Steam group for easy to find info about updates and links to the HUD website.
   
-Cons-

    - By default, some personal HUD customization may be hard to do or gone, but can easily be edited with help from the Steam group members.
   
-My Two Cents-

    - The engineer’s build menu and spy’s disguise menu could have more options and the option to have it placed on the side or minimized between the health and ammo
   
    - The demoman could have an option to have the stickybomb count and meter in the middle between the health and ammo.
   
-Overall-

    10/10

    Despite the small issues, half of them are nit picks. It changes from the original layout slightly yet does it well. This is an amazing custom HUD and is highly recommended.
   
Steam Group

HUD’s Website

Screenshots

Download

Steam Forums Thread

-Corrections-

    - The 2 Ubercharge values is not a bug and is intentional. According to the creator, it is to ensure that the player can see their ubercharge incase they cannot see the one in the middle bar. In my opinion, this still sounds like an issue and looks tacky, but that is what the creator told me. It is NOT a bug.