Game Problem: Missing or scrambled text in-game

http://support.steampowered.com/cgi-bin/steampowered.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=15

To fix this you will need to reset the following variables in your console (access using "~" at splash screen or in game)

These are the default values:

 hud_draw 1
 hud_drawhistory_time 5
 hud_saytext 1
 hud_saytext_time 5
 con_color "255 180 30"
 con_fastmode 1

If setting one of these doesn't help then try resetting your config back to the defaults from the game options menu (under keyboard - click on "use defaults") and see if the text is visible the next time you play.

You'll have to reset your keyboard settings after going back to your defaults.