Left 4 Dead Update News

I'm stealing Ocean't thunder just a bit here, but I wanted to discuss this:

http://store.steampowered.com/news/2223/

I don't like the sound of "L4D Survival Pack"....makes it sound like they may actually try to charge us PC customers for the updates, a la MS and the X-Box model of business....

Thoughts?

I don't like the fact that it won't be out until the Spring...and I don't much care for Gurtman either. BUUUUURN.

They haven't charged us for any TF2 update packs on the PC. I don't think they'll be doing it anytime soon. Pack meaning big update.

Bundy wrote:

They haven't charged us for any TF2 update packs on the PC. I don't think they'll be doing it anytime soon. Pack meaning big update.

I think Gurt's line of reason is, if we have to pay money now for updates which were free before this ... the spring update better be FUCKING AWESOME. Otherwise, it's going to be a huge disappointment. It will also depend on how much they charge. $5 isn't completely unreasonable, but anything more may feel like a rip-off if the update doesn't deliver something exceptional.

They talk about adding 2 VS maps and in my opinion, these had better be something other than Death Toll or Dead Air. If we end up getting charged for maps which should have been available in the initial release, I might hurt someone.

there's no fucking way they'd charge for an update.. put that in your pipe and smoke it!

I sure as hell hope so, I mean $50 up front for the game was a bit steep to begin with, considering TF2 could be had for $20 if you didn't get the OB. I'd say both had a similar amount of content at launch.

I've got a bad feeling....the way they worded the press release just seems odd:

"A Critic's Choice Edition of the game will be heading to retail stores this spring, and will include access to all the content introduced in the L4D: Survival Pack."

No mention of the PC version being free, like usual. Then they talk about the SDK:

"In addition, for PC gamers and aspiring developers, the first Left 4 Dead release for the Source Software Development Kit (Source SDK) will allow the creation of custom Left 4 Dead campaigns that will be discoverable via L4D's matchmaking system. The SDK update is also due for release this spring, and is free of charge to all owners of L4D on the PC."

They do specifically mention that it will be free. I mean, they don't throw these things together willy-nilly, everything they say and how they say it is carefully planned out. I'm going to go on record and predict that our beloved Valve is going to try and cash in on this one....

Gurtman, what are your thoughts on whether they're going to hype the new VS maps and wind up giving us Dead Air and Death Toll? The game is GREAT, but it needs more content to say the least in so far as the movies/stories are concerned. If they give us DA and DT (which they should have done upon or shortly after it's initial release), I'm going to be largely disappointed. That said, survival mode would have to be one helluva addition to get me excited for the update.

Lugburz wrote:

Gurtman, what are your thoughts on whether they're going to hype the new VS maps and wind up giving us Dead Air and Death Toll? The game is GREAT, but it needs more content to say the least in so far as the movies/stories are concerned. If they give us DA and DT (which they should have done upon or shortly after it's initial release), I'm going to be largely disappointed. That said, survival mode would have to be one helluva addition to get me excited for the update.

After finding out about the two new L4D VS maps I too thought about them just giving us DT + DA. Hopefully Valve won't pull something as stupid as that. What I expect Valve to do is release DT + DA a little before the "Survival Pack", whether it be a few weeks before or a few days. This will make it seem like they are releasing 4 maps instead of 2 in such a short amount of time.

My idea on "Survival Mode" is similar to survival modes in fighting games. Defeat as many opponents without being KO'd or in L4D's case, survive as many waves of zombies in one giant map. Scoring would be something as simple as how long the survivors were able to stay alive or how many waves they were able to defeat. No I didn't put any time into that idea, that's the first thing that pops into my head when I hear "Survival Mode".

HOWEVER, I REALLY hope that this isn't what "Survival Mode" will be like. In the beginning it will be fun, yes, but eventually the, "Perfect Spot" will be found and survivors will just stay in that one spot until they win. (Perfect Spot, i.g. the corner behind the ammo pile that is right in front of the elevator on No Mercy)

I could probably go on and on about how Valve could fix such problems because the few perfect spots that exist now are rather annoying, but I'd rather not continue to bore you guys by writing a book!




Anyone else have ideas on the new multiplayer mode added with this pack?

that's a cool idea tho for survival mode. start with the 4 player controlled zombies. then after 45 seconds or so, send in a wave. after another time interval send in 2 simultaneous waves. another time interval send in +1 wave and maybe put in a boss zombie. build upon each wave until survivors are gone. flip teams, repeat.

Valve just announced the Survival Pack will be free...and the 2 campaigns will be Death Toll and Dead Air as expected.

Thats cool..... and I was a little confused why you guys thought we would get other vs. maps. I expected them to go with Death Toll and Dead Air from the beginning. I think dead air will be insane for the finale because even the regular game is insane. So much going on in all different directions that you're never sure quite what to do, let alone having to deal a team of spawning special infected. There do seem to be a lot of gas cans laying around, so that helps with fighting the tanks

Survival Pack Will Be FREE

No worries.

Bundy wrote:

Survival Pack Will Be FREE

No worries.

Thank you Jeebus!

Mmmm.....crow =)