[Official] Left 4 Dead

[Mathachew Veteran]

Still no word on cost for the 360 version :(

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

I'm actually thinking it might not even be free on pc either. Valve don't usually call them "expansions".

[shakey]

uggghhh, from the wording of this, looks like its not going to be free. If this is true, I might lose hope in valve. No way should I have to pay more for something they should have had in the game in the first place.

All the levels should have had VS mode access. Having to pay to get the other 2 are just stupid. Valve, dont charge or you will lose your customers. The good thing about Valve games is that you paid a fair price, and you expected that the game would be kept up to date. Thats what Valve has been. A company that you want to buy the games from because they didn't nickle and dime you to death. If they start this up now, we will be seeing the beginning of a downfall.

[Mathachew Veteran]

Not sure why people think Valve is going to charge for the PC content. I don't recall them ever charging for extra content.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Well because the word choice tbh, they've never called any of the content an "expansion" before from what I remember. It's always been updates.

[Mathachew Veteran]

Weren't they considering charging monthly fees for CS:S and there was a huge uproar about it, so they changed their minds? Maybe that was just a rumor.

[azz0r_wugg]

I'd pay a small monthly fee if we were guarenteed new maps, weapons, fixes and models constantly.

Or maybe a small fee every 3 months for one big update.

...the problem is Valve takes wayyyyyyyyyyyy to long to produce things.

[Denis W. Veteran]

If they can release a giant load of updates for a $19 game, I can't see them charging for the PC's content for a $49 game. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

We've never had a recession before in Valve's life time though iirc?

You can't exactly afford to give away things for free today, no matter what your past ethics were.

Who knows, maybe it will be free, it just seems odd they are using the term expansion this time around imo.

[Ayepecks]

Valve never called it an expansion. Kotaku did.

Although this line was interesting: "They also say that a Critic's Choice Edition of the game is heading to retail stores this spring, and will include access to all the content introduced in the L4D: Survival Pack."

[+shift. MVC]

Here's the link to the article from Steam News.

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

Valve's Zombie Thriller Expanding In 2009

February 5, 2008 ? Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life, Portal, Team Fortress, and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced a series of content and development releases for its latest title, 2008's best-selling new game property for the PC and Xbox 360, Left 4 Dead (L4D).

The first L4D DLC ? dubbed the L4D Survival Pack -- is due for release this spring and introduces a new multiplayer game mode entitled, Survival, plus two complete campaigns for Versus Mode . 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.

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.

"Since Half-Life launched in 1998, Valve has made continuous efforts to expand the offering of its products beyond what's included on the day of launch," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. "With Half-Life and Counter-Strike, and more recently Team Fortress 2, we've learned that we're no longer making stand-alone games but creating entertainment services. With Left 4 Dead we're extending that tradition by creating additional gameplay and releasing our internal tools to aspiring developers so they may also create and distribute new Left 4 Dead experiences."

Left 4 Dead is a survival action game from Valve that blends the social entertainment experience of multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike and Team Fortress with the dramatic, narrative experience made popular in single player action game classics such as the Half-Life series of games. Released in November of 2008, L4D has earned over 25 industry awards from outlets around the world.

For more information, please visit www.l4d.com

[Samn9]

How about we stop blaming Valve for charging for new content until we actually know they will be charging for new content.

[Denis W. Veteran]

We've never had a recession before in Valve's life time though iirc?

You can't exactly afford to give away things for free today, no matter what your past ethics were.

Who knows, maybe it will be free, it just seems odd they are using the term expansion this time around imo.

I think there was a small recession earlier this decade. I could be wrong though... and back then Valve was still a small company under the wings of Sierra/Vivendi Universal.

Let's reuse TF2 as an example. When they had a large class update, they also added a free weekend right after or on its release. For each update they released, they saw a spike in TF2 sales from newcomers who played through the free weekend and liked what they saw.

That keeps everyone happy. Loyal customers are kept happy and look forward to their future products, and Valve gets sales from newcomers. It has worked for them three times before, so why not try out the same model for Left 4 Dead?

That said, I believe what Ayepecks said is right. About the Critic's Choice Edition: it's probably optional. Epic did the same for UT2004, releasing an Editor's Choice Edition, but otherwise all the extra content was freely downloadable for all.

[Samn9]

I think the critics choice edition will mainly be for the 360

[Denis W. Veteran]

I think the critics choice edition will mainly be for the 360

Possibly. Since they have to pay for the DLC anyways, newcomers to L4D on the 360 can just pay a one-time fee for the Critics Choice edition and get everything right from the start.

If it was for the PC it'll be nothing more than a collectables item. :p Besides, I'm willing to bet that a majority of L4D PC gamers got a digital-only copy of the game.

[Ayepecks]

I think the critics choice edition will mainly be for the 360

I can see it being both -- PC games always get GOTY additions with extra content and such.

[shakey]

How about we stop blaming Valve for charging for new content until we actually know they will be charging for new content.

Don't think anyone has really blamed Valve yet. It's just speculation so far, and I'm sure we are all awaiting in anticipation to figure out exactly what this all entitles. Valve has been a great company to its customers, and I have never known them to charge for any update. But when the word Expansion is used, that's normally a sign of something extra to purchase :(

[Samn9]

I don't think they mentioned that the content would be free in that press release because then they'd also have to say the 360 content would not be free, and I don't think they want to draw too much attention to differences between the two versions.

[StealMySoda]

I'm quite sure that the content will be free. If not, I'll probably still buy it as I'm sure everybody else will.

[Srugie Veteran]

I can't wait for the new multiplayer mode!

[StealMySoda]

I can't wait for the new multiplayer mode!

Is there any details on the actual game play?

[Srugie Veteran]

Is there any details on the actual game play?

Not yet although I just read that there will be footage of the new L4D DLC on the next episode of GTTV which will be tomorrow night.

[Draigo]

Bringing this back up!

I was thinking of getting L4D, but I'm not quite sure if my laptop can handle it.

Specs ;

Intel Pentium M 1.73 Ghz

Ati Radeon X700

1 GB RAM

If it's of any help I can run TF2 and CoD 4 perfectly smooth on this machine, and I'm not looking to run it on highest settings.

[Mathachew Veteran]

Bringing this back up!

I was thinking of getting L4D, but I'm not quite sure if my laptop can handle it.

Specs ;

Intel Pentium M 1.73 Ghz

Ati Radeon X700

1 GB RAM

If it's of any help I can run TF2 and CoD 4 perfectly smooth on this machine, and I'm not looking to run it on highest settings.

L4D should run fine methinks if TF2 and COD 4 do.

[ViZioN]

L4D will run fine. It has some engine improvements that TF2 doesn't have so if anything it should run faster.