List of references

Due to the comedic style of Team Fortress 2 and Valve's humor, the game includes references, usually in a humorous fashion. There are many different types, from games to movies and even jokes that have developed within the game and its community have been included.

General References

• The Australium Gold paint can is most likely a reference to the spray-on tan "Australian Gold".
• The Icarus Airline refers to a Greek myth about a boy called Template:W trying to fly with a pair of wings made with feathers and wax, who fell to his death when he flew too close to the sun.
• 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.

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 series

• 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.

Killing Floor

• The Pyro's hat Foster's Facade and miscellaneous item Stockbroker's Scarf are what Mr. Foster wears in Killing Floor.

Left 4 Dead series

• 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.
• The Frying Pan is a melee weapon used by the survivors of 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.

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.

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.

Worms

• The Soldier's hat, the Lumbricus Lid, has the "Steal" weapon icon from Template:W, complete with Holy Hand Grenades.

TV and Film

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 '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, it's 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.
• 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.
• 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 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 has a level in the Cotton Alley world called Spinal Tap. The Dark World version of the level is called Organ Grinder.
• 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