l4d2
December 1st, 2009 at 02:00pm
Under Xbox 360
Valve apparently threw Boomer bile all over Left 4 Dead 2, because hordes of consumers gobbled up two million retail copies globally since its release a couple weeks ago. Valve won’t release the Steam digital distribution sales data, so that’s not included in the retail count. According to the developer, sales are currently double that of the original, with “Black Friday” helping to push copies into the hands of players (who now have their hands full with two Tanks, a Spitter, a Hunter, and a Jockey coming in for the kill).
Valve also noted that information about L4D2’s first batch of downloadable content would be coming very soon.
Left 4 Dead 2 sold 2 million at retail in 2 weeks originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: ea, fps, l4d2, left-4-dead-2, shooter, valve
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Left 4 Dead 2 sold 2 million at retail in 2 weeks
November 20th, 2009 at 09:43am
Under Xbox 360
When Valve announced Left 4 Dead 2 during Microsoft’s E3 2009 press conference — less than seven months after the release of the award-winning original — gamers were, perhaps rightfully, shocked. This was the same Valve that spent nearly ten years iterating on Team Fortress 2 and whose experiment in episodic gaming has forced us to reevaluate our expectations for future installments of Half-Life 2 using the “Star Wars-definition” of episodic.
So when Valve announced a direct sequel to the ground-breaking Left 4 Dead on what could only be considered an accelerated schedule for normal developers (and an impossibly accelerated schedule for Valve) we had every right to be shocked. Valve answered this concern with assurances that Left 4 Dead 2 was an entirely new game, with changes that could not be simply grafted onto the original. And the team was right! … But that’s the problem.
Continue reading Review: Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360)
Review: Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: ea, electronic-arts, l4d2, left-4-dead-2, valve
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Review: Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360)
November 17th, 2009 at 05:32pm
Under Xbox 360
We’d usually say it’s a
good thing when a zombie invasion gets postponed, but not when we’re talking about
Left 4 Dead 2 releasing in the UK a couple days after the rest of the world. According to Valve’s own
L4D2 blog, “copies of the game are still arriving” across the pond, with assurances from the developer that it will “have everyone in the UK playing
Left 4 Dead 2 by Friday morning.” Wait —
everyone in the UK? Whoa now guys!
While Xbox 360 owners and PC gamers who still buy physical copies of software are out of luck, Valve says that everyone in the region who pre-ordered L4D2 via Steam can play it right now. Of course, those left waiting can pretend they’re fighting to survive the scariest of all Left 4 Dead campaigns: “Delay of Game” (tagline: “Patience never killed anyone — until now!”).
Left 4 Dead 2 delayed in UK, due ‘by Friday morning’ originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: delays, ea, ea-partners, electronic-arts, l4d2, left-4-dead, left-4-dead-2, release-date, uk, valve
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Left 4 Dead 2 delayed in UK, due ‘by Friday morning’
November 5th, 2009 at 10:30pm
Under Xbox 360
As if blissfully dancing on the grave of its opposing and recently deceased boycott, Valve’s shambler-shooting sequel, Left 4 Dead 2, seems destined to surpass its predecessor. Speaking to CVG, Chet Faliszek revealed that pre-orders for the game had quadrupled those enjoyed by the original game. “As we get closer to launch we see the reaction to the demo, pre-orders are four times what Left 4 Dead 1 was, people’s excitement, the boycott itself and how it’s changed…” he said. “I think people are just excited now.”
Having tested what the power of the people can accomplish (most of all when wielding skull-smashing implements) Valve can finally let that excitement wash over them, content that fans have latched on to what’s in the game — and not what’s missing. “Honestly I made the joke and it’s true: If you put $20 in a box and charge $10 for it someone would complain you didn’t put $50 in a box,” added Faliszek. “Not to say some of the concerns raised aren’t valid, but you’re always going to have some kind of upset and that’s not how we work. We work at looking at the project and trying to get it out.”
Valve gets Left 4 Dead 2 out on November 17th.
Left 4 Dead 2: now with 4 times as many pre-orders originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: chet-faliszek, fps, l4d2, left-4-dead-2, pre-orders, valve, zombies
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Left 4 Dead 2: now with 4 times as many pre-orders
October 8th, 2009 at 01:29pm
Under Xbox 360
We’re going to break this post down into three distinct (and clichéd!) categories: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
First, the Good: The suddenly puritanical Australian government — by way of The Office of Film and Literature Classification — has seen fit to grant the previously unclassified Left 4 Dead 2 an MA 15+ rating, paving the way for millions of impressionable minds to be programmed into zombie-killing machines.
Next, the Bad: The version of Left 4 Dead 2 that the OFLC approved was an “edited version” that “no longer contains depictions of decapitation, dismemberment, wound detail or piles of dead bodies lying about the environment.” In other words, it’s nothing like the real zombie apocalypse. And when the inevitable human-vs-zombie war reaches Australia’s isolated shores, her people will be ill prepared for what they encounter. “Gross, these zombie corpses don’t disappear when you kill them! And, what’s this? Blood?”
Valve and publisher EA are still hoping to launch an unmodified version, pending the October 22 review by the OFLC board.
Lastly, the Ugly: 1UP noticed a “special modifier” in its Scavenge Mode demo last night: “Realism mode.” Valve’s Doug Lombardi explained that it was for the serious player: “Take Portal for example: We had our best internal players who could blow through that game in about 30 minutes, but within weeks of launching it we had people on YouTube beating [the testers'] times by 10 minutes or more. Realism is for those players.” In other words, it’s training for the real zombie apocalypse. If our imagination is any indication, expect Realism mode to feature plenty of realistic pants crapping.
Source – “Left 4 Dead 2 Secures Australian Release” [Edge Online]
Source – Realism mode detailed [1UP]
Left 4 Dead 2 twofer: ‘Edited version’ approved for Australia; ‘Realism mode’ revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: l4d2, left-4-dead-2, Realism-Mode, valve
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Left 4 Dead 2 twofer: ‘Edited version’ approved for Australia; ‘Realism mode’ revealed
October 7th, 2009 at 03:00pm
Under Xbox 360
Valve is working two angles to get Left 4 Dead 2 on Australian consoles and PCs, following the Aussie ratings board’s refusal to classify the zombie shooter. One version of L4D2 making its way through the OFLC is an “Australia specific” (i.e. edited) take on the game, while the other is the gore-lovin’ original, which Valve currently has on appeal.
Gamespot spoke with Valve’s Gabe Newell, who explained that the next step for the unedited version won’t occur until October 22, which means the timing gets tight in terms of manufacturing and other hurdles before a November 17 launch. Valve project manager Erik Johnson finds the OFLC’s issues with the sequel to be “inconsistent” because of Left 4 Dead’s unedited release in the region. We wish Valve (and the gamers of Australia) all the best in working out those Michael Atkinson issues.
Source — Valve to resubmit two versions L4D2 (Gamespot)
Source — Newell discusses ban on video (Gamespot)
Left 4 Dead 2 trying 2 approaches 4 sales in Australia originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: australia, fps, l4d2, left-4-dead-2, oflc, valve
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Left 4 Dead 2 trying 2 approaches 4 sales in Australia
September 10th, 2009 at 06:00pm
Under Xbox 360
The two Steam users (Walking_Target and Agent of Chaos) who kick-started a Left 4 Dead 2 boycott, soon after the game was announced at E3 2009, were recently invited to Valve’s offices to play the game and interview members of its development team. While both users (pictured above invading Valve boss Gabe Newell’s personal space) vow to continue boycotting the upcoming title, they reported Left 4 Dead 2 “seemed balanced and ‘tight’ and did not feel like a rushed job.”
Ironically, since visiting Valve’s office the two boycott leaders have been forced to defend themselves against accusations of “corruption,” a position not too removed from the one Valve now occupies in relation to the boycott. Some Steam users have asked the pair to relinquish admin duties of the boycott group, but the Valve visitors maintain the effort has progressed “well beyond what most people thought we’d get done.”
The Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott group on Steam currently has over 40,000 members and requests (demands?) that Valve offer the sequel as either a free update or as a discounted expansion pack to owners of the original Left 4 Dead.
[Via Shacknews. Image credit: L4D2 Boycott Group]
Left 4 Dead 2 boycotters flown to Valve; boycotters boycot original boycotters originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: boycott, gabe-newell, l4d, l4d2, left-4-dead, left-4-dead-2, left-4-dead-2-boycott, valve
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Left 4 Dead 2 boycotters flown to Valve; boycotters boycot original boycotters
September 9th, 2009 at 01:14pm
Under Xbox 360
Speaking to Valve’s Chet Faliszek at PAX, we asked how many melee weapons will make it into Left 4 Dead 2. At the time, Faliszek told us he wasn’t sure, but he knew there were more melee weapons in Left 4 Dead 2 than there were guns in the original game. We followed up with Faliszek after the show and we can now share all ten of the game’s melee weapons. Without further ado, they are:
- Baseball Bat
- Cricket Bat
- Crowbar
- Electric Guitar
- Fire Axe
- Frying Pan
- Katana
- Machete
- Tonfa (police baton)
- Chainsaw
The question you have to ask yourself: Which one of these would you abandon your teammates for? Remember, a teammate constricted by a Smoker is a teammate that can’t pick up that katana over there.
All 10 Left 4 Dead 2 melee weapons over here! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: chet-faliszek, l4d2, left-4-dead, left-4-dead-2, pax, pax-2009, valve
By Mister-X
Continue Reading All 10 Left 4 Dead 2 melee weapons over here!
July 27th, 2009 at 09:15pm
Under Wii / Nintendo
Last week’s San Diego Comic-Con was one crazy ride. The Joystiq representatives in attendance were trained in advanced interrogation tactics and managed to extract information on a variety of subjects. We’ve got an update from Peter Jackson himself on the Halo happenings, first footage of South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play! and a new game mode for Uncharted 2! Friend, you missed one heck of a week.
But, that’s okay! You can get caught up right here, right now. Simply head past the break for a complete summary of all the headlines.
Continue reading That’s a wrap: Comic-Con 2009
That’s a wrap: Comic-Con 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue Reading That’s a wrap: Comic-Con 2009
Tags: 5th-cell, bioshock, bioshock-2, bioware, capcom, comics, dantes-inferno, ea, fifth-cell, gears-of-war, halo, l4d2, left-4-dead-2, lost-planet-2, mass-effect, movies, Neill-Blomkamp, Peter-Jackson, resident-evil, resident-evil-the-darkside-chronicles, scribblenauts, SDCC-2009, splinter-cell-conviction, tatsunoko-vs-capcom, the-rock, uncharted-2, valve, visceral-games, Wii / Nintendo
By Mister-X
Continue Reading That’s a wrap: Comic-Con 2009
July 24th, 2009 at 09:00pm
Under Xbox 360
Electronic Arts hosted a studio showcase in San Diego yesterday, just before the start of Comic-Con. Inside the Onyx Lounge were bright cheerful lights, colorful pastel colors, fresh-baked cookies and … The Littlest Pet Shop. However, if you headed downstairs to the basement, it was very dark, mysterious and crammed with things like Brütal Legend and Left 4 Dead 2. We couldn’t resist the siren call of more zombie slaying, so we plunged straight into the new Swamp Fever level being shown off.
Head on beyond the break for our writeup. Later, look for our interview with Chet Faliszek, writer for L4D2 at Valve, where, according to him, “everyone is a designer!” But for now, it’s time to find out why you’ll want to catch “Swamp Fever.”
Continue reading Comic-Con 2009: Left 4 Dead 2 Swamp Fever hands-on
Comic-Con 2009: Left 4 Dead 2 Swamp Fever hands-on originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: horror, l4d2, left-4-dead-2, SDCC-2009, Swamp-Fever, valve, zombies
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Comic-Con 2009: Left 4 Dead 2 Swamp Fever hands-on
