List of references

Due to the comedic style of Team Fortress 2 as well as Valve's humor, the game includes references, usually in a humorous fashion. There are many different types, from games to movies. Jokes that have developed within the game and its community have been included. Below are references that are not specific to one class.

Bill's Hat, a reference to the game Template:W.

General References

• The Australium Gold paint can is most likely a reference to the spray-on tan "Australian Gold".
• The Ferguson system is a Template:W of tractors established in 1934.
• Badwater Basin is a Template:W located in Death Valley National Park, California.
• The Soldier and Demoman often reference Greek myth in their taunts of each other, especially concerning the Template:W.

Valve Games

Counter-Strike

• An in-game bot has a name referencing Counter-Strike:
  • Hostage - A hapless citizen held up by the Terrorist team.

Half-Life

• Some in-game bots have names referencing the Half-Life series:
  • Black Mesa - The main setting of Half-Life.
  • Crowbar - Template:W's weapon of choice.
  • Dog - The name of Template:W's pet robot from Half-Life 2.
  • The Combine - The primary antagonists of Half-Life 2 and its episodic sequels.
  • The Freeman - The nickname Gordon was given to by the Vortigaunts of Half-Life 2.
  • The G-Man - A mysterious recurring character in the Half-Life series.

Left 4 Dead

• Bill's Hat is the beret worn by Vietnam war veteran Bill in Template:W.
• Ellis' Cap is the cap worn by Mechanic Ellis in Left 4 Dead 2.
• Some in-game bots have names referencing Left 4 Dead:
  • Boomer Bile - A substance produced by a Special Infected known as the Boomer.
  • CEDA - The Civil Emergency and Defense Agency is the government agency responsible for the control of the Infection.
  • One-Man Cheeseburger Apocalypse - In The Dark Carnival, Coach tells the Survivors his intentions if he finds a "real" Burger Tank.
  • TAAAAANK! - A warning shouted by the Survivors when a Tank is spotted.
  • WITCH - One of the Special Infected types.
  • ZAWMBEEZ - Pronounced "zombies", the primary enemies in the Left 4 Dead series.

Portal

• The all-class Misc. items Resurrection Associate Pin and Companion Cube Pin feature Portal's companion cube.
• Some in-game bots have names referencing Portal, another Valve game:
  • Aperture Science Prototype XR7 - Aperture Science Laboratories is the main setting for Portal.
  • Chell - The name of the protagonist of Portal.
  • Companion Cube - An in-game object from Portal used to solve Test Chamber 17.
  • Delicious Cake - The "reward" of subsequent testing.
  • GLaDOS - The main antagonist of Portal.
  • Still Alive - The name of the song played during the end credits in Portal.

Mortal Kombat

“

Flawless Victory, now do it again! Click to listen — The Administrator

”

• A reference to the Mortal Kombat announcer's famous "Flawless Victory!" line.

TV, Film, and Literature

Get Smart/James Bond/The Avengers

• Team Fortress 2 carries a heavy retro 1960's style, drawing heavy thematic and musical inspiration from famous Spy films and series such as Template:W, Template:W and Template:W. The Spy's achievements' titles also heavily draw from these references to 1960s spy movies and tv shows, for example; Die Another Way, Dr. Nooooo, The Man from P.U.N.C.T.U.R.E, On Her Majesty’s Secret Surface and You Only Shiv Thrice.

The 'Wilhelm Scream'

• One of the stock sound effects used in Trailer 2 is the infamous Template:W, a well known movie scream sound effect. The Scout can also scream this way sometimes, usually when he is falling to his death or killed with a Critical hit. It was also the death scream used for the Civilian class, when it was originally accessible via console commands.

The "Unobtainium" World Traveler's Hat

• Should a player contribute enough to obtain 200 stamps for their World Traveler's Hat, its rank will change to "Template:W", a reference to a reoccurring alloy in science fiction and speculative science.

References in Other Games

Due to its high popularity, references of Team Fortress 2 can be found in other games as well.

• Template:W has an arcade game called "Team Buttress 2" which advertises that now comes with "TWO FORTS!", a reference to 2Fort.
• Template:W has many hackable computers containing information, one specifically referring to a Red Spy infiltrating the Blue's base.
• Killing Floor features the Pyro as a playable character for players who own Team Fortress 2.
• Template:W has a cereal box in the first level of No Mercy, that offers Team Fortress 2 toys can be seen in the first building the survivors venture through. Oddly enough, the box reads "10 to collect" despite there being only 9 Classes, possibly referencing to the tenth class.
  • In the Sacrifice comic, Louis has one of the Heavy standing on his desk.
• Left 4 Dead 2 has a voice clip of Ellis in which he remarks "This is just like Team Fortress 2".
  • The Pyro and Heavy appear as mascots for "Pyro's Hamburgers" and "Heavy Gulp".
    • There is also a brand of soft drink labeled "MANNS" found in a safe room.
• Template:W contains a level which references TF2. You start in a supply room, and have to fight through a western area full of enemies based on various TF2 classes, and even includes the Meet the Spy announcement room.
• Template:W took a jab at the Mann Co. Store for April Fools Day 2011 with in-game "Steve Co. Supply Crates" which can only be unlocked with "Steve Co. Supply Crate Keys" bought from a (fake) micro-transaction service which is presented with the Team Fortress 2 font.
• Monday Night Combat contains a variety of items that relate to Team Fortress 2 like the Demoman's Hat and eyepatch and the Heavy's Chain Belt of Ammunition.
• Poker Night At The Inventory features the Heavy as an opponent, along with many references to Team Fortress 2 made in conversations with other characters.
  • There are also Team Fortress 2 themed card decks and table covers which resemble other TF2 classes and characters.
• Portal 2 features hats from Team Fortress 2 that can be used in the Co-op campaign if you own them in Team Fortress 2.
  • These include the Mann Co. Cap, Prince Tavish's Crown, Pyro's Beanie, Fancy Fedora, Master's Yellow Belt, Tyrant's Helm and Aperture Labs Hard Hat
• Sam & Max Season 3 Episode 4 Beyond the Alley of the Dolls has a cameo appearance of a level 1 BLU Dispenser, referred as a "curious dispenser".
• Template:W's add-on content 'Prejudice' has an achievement named 'Use More Gun' Which is a quote of the Engineer in his Meet the Team video.
• Template:W contains an achievement called "Meet the Spy", an obvious reference to the official Meet the Spy video.
  • Also the achievement "Professionals have standards", that involves the "snipe" ability, is an obvious reference to Meet the Sniper.
• Template:W features a quest involving a large goblin pushing a cart down a track and at some point will say "We must push little cart!", a reference to the Heavy's voice clip.
• Worms: Reloaded contains customizable headgear which can make Worms look like TF2 classes, with forts that contain key features from many TF2 maps.

See Also

• Meet the Team
• Classes
• Hats
• Bots