First, someone found a few strings in the TF2 server.dll:

item_quality_chance_unique
item_quality_chance_rare
item_quality_chance_common
Percentage chance that a random item is unique
Percentage chance that a random item is rare
Percentage chance that a random item is common

These strings don't appear in the old version of server.dll. Could be related to the method of unlocking the coming sets of weapons. Look like they might be cvars.

Next up (bolding the important crap):

.rdata:1039B0F4 aItem_quality db 'item_quality',0 ; DATA XREF: sub_1024AE80+235 o
.rdata:1039B101 align 4
.rdata:1039B104 ; char aMax_ilevel[]
.rdata:1039B104 aMax_ilevel db 'max_ilevel',0 ; DATA XREF: sub_1024AE80+219 o
.rdata:1039B10F align 10h
.rdata:1039B110 ; char aMin_ilevel[]
.rdata:1039B110 aMin_ilevel db 'min_ilevel',0 ; DATA XREF: sub_1024AE80+200 o

.rdata:1039ACD0 aCh_item db 'ch_item',0 ; DATA XREF: sub_102E89B0+11 o
.rdata:1039ACD8 aGenerateARandomItem_WithNoParameterWill db 'Generate a random item. With no parameter, will generate an item '
.rdata:1039ACD8 ; DATA XREF: sub_102E89B0+7 o
.rdata:1039ACD8 db 'of random item level, between 1-100. Specify the item level as th'
.rdata:1039ACD8 db 'e first parameter if desired. If the ch_item_name convar is set t'
.rdata:1039ACD8 db 'o an item name, ch_item will only generate items with that name.',0

Digging deeper, they found even more evidence of the change:

Freshly decrypted script files regarding the new rare/common/unique weapon drop system:

http://billdoor.googlepages.com/attr....ctx.decrypted
http://billdoor.googlepages.com/item....ctx.decrypted
http://billdoor.googlepages.com/item....ctx.decrypted

So bottom line:

They're from the TF2 GCF file, decrypted with a key from the server.dll executable. It looks like the "alternate" way of getting new weapons well be some kind of randomized drop system.

The weapons released with the current patch for medic would be the unique ones but there will also be "rare" or "common" randomized ones availabe, with attibutes like +4 clip size or +1.16% damage.

How is this going to work with a game where all the game servers are essentially untrusted by Valve? It's not, of course. Welcome to bnet open for FPSes.

Evidence 1: Translation of new Heavy voiceovers in foreign GCF files.

heavy_specialweapon01: My fists are made of steel!
heavy_specialweapon02: A new weapon!
heavy_specialweapon03: I got a new weapon!
heavy_specialweapon04: They will cry infront of my gigantic weapon!
heavy_specialweapon05*:
heavy_specialweapon06: This weapon is oversized compared to my tiny enemies!
heavy_specialweapon07: I am heavy weapons guy, and this is my new weapon.
heavy_specialweapon08: This new weapon is good!
heavy_specialweapon09: Yes, I like this new weapon.

lol that fatty has the same keyboard as me

dont call him like this! he's SPECIAL ^.^

mh...let's see what will happen... (:

Or then they are taking the piss out of all no-lifes that dig into the files

Very likely. ^^

Like I said: don't speculate too much until something is released. TF2 has been scraped and re-made as a game like 3 times so you never know what the guys at Valve are testing. Maybe it IS some left-over code from a RPG-like gameplay mode they were testing but found to be a steaming pile of crap.

The code was found since the last update by some guys on steampowered.. I hope that they dont turn this into a MMORPG.. that would be a bummer

Heeeello? Anybody home? Haven't we agreed that this piece of code might mean absolutely nothing? =)

Yeah - the next time somebody finds e.g. a reference to dick.png in some .dll file we'll be hearing texts like "Oh God! All skins will be replaced with a photo of Gabe Newell's dick!" and we all know how likely this is to happen.

Yeah - the next time somebody finds e.g. a reference to dick.png in some .dll file we'll be hearing texts like "Oh God! All skins will be replaced with a photo of Gabe Newell's dick!" and we all know how likely this is to happen.

if this would happen...it will be very hard to find the classes... (coz of his lil penis)

u get it?

huh?

huh huh?

HUH!? GET IT!?

...

When VALVe will make a MMORPG will be the day ants are the size of a whale.

It would kinda make sense...especially if you consider that the unlockable weapons already have levels.
Perhaps it's something entirely different...Valve is experimenting alot.