This TV spot for Left 4 Dead 2 features the American Baseball Bat pre-order bonus offered by Gamestop.

This video shows off the intro video for the game; Left 4 Dead 2.

OXM and Joystiq are revealing that the upcoming controversial sequel to Left 4 Dead will try and entice players who maybe aren’t quite as enthused about the quick turn around between last year’s initial release and this year’s Southern bound sequel with some nice demo shaped cookies..

It seems that the upcoming demo of the game will be available to players who pre-order the title before it hits general outlets. The details are sparse at the moment but this early access will likely be to the same content the rest of the world will get when the multiplayer demo hits Steam and Xbox Live, just a teensy bit earlier.

I understand Valve wanting to feed the L4D 2 hype, but as far as pre-order incentives go this one just seems to be a bit too lame duck to me. Offer an exclusive level or weapon or heck, maybe give us access to a member of the original game in our L4D 2 play, but giving out the same demo just earlier seems like an epic undersell of a much anticipated/debated sequel.

You probably remember Steve’s post where he talked about the L4D2 ‘boycott.’ Now everyone’s favorite irate TV host, Adam Sessler, is weighing in on the controversy.

I haven’t really weighed in on this one yet, but it’s about time.

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? Quite simply, you’re nothing more than a bunch of over-entitled babies.

Read the full article »

While the controversy regarding Left 4 Dead 2 continues to fester and fans and haters alike debate the merit of Valve’s choice to continue the series in a full game rather than as downloadable expansions or free updates, its still nice to watch the future of Zombie slaying, survivalist nightmares in action.

Earlier today gaming blog Kotaku posted a five minute preview segment of gameplay from Left 4 Dead. The footage includes the melee weapons in action, some new special infected footage and more suntanning zombies than you can shake a stick at.

I previously commented on why I think this was a bad move for the developer but I’ll likely be the first to admit I’m “jonesing” for some new L4D options, the original offerings are growing stale so like a zombie smack junkie.. well Valve you’ve got me on the hook for the next one as well if this video is any indication.

Grab your chainsaws because Valve wowed gamers this morning with promises of more intense cooperative zombie killing in Left4Dead2. The sequel to the wildly popular FPS adds new survivors and zombie bosses as well as weather effects, but the addition I’m looking forward to is melee combat with improvised weapons. Players will be able to pick up baseball bats, frying pans, and chainsaws of course. Left4Dead2 promises to be a game you can really sink your axe into.

Of course L4D2 is a mature rated game so I’ve put the new video after the jump. Check out the Left4Dead2 E3 teaser trailer after the jump.

Read the full article »

I’ll likely get hung for this post but I’m going to vent a bit anyway. Today during the Microsoft Press Conference at E3 2009 there was a reveal trailer for the next Left4Dead installment. Normally I’d be ecstatic about such an announcement, and initially I was – when I watched the trailer along with the Crackdown 2 teaser – but once the high faded a bit I realized how not OK I am with this whole sequel concept.

Left4Dead is less than a year old. It shipped with a very slight amount of content, only got added value with the later Survivor patch and is only now getting mod support from the community and rather than expand it and give us a more reasonably sized game.. we’re being fed a sequel.

More Zombie killing is a goal I subscribe to religiously. I love Left4Dead, I played the heck out of it for months until the 4 basic scenarios wore dry and even the injection of new content with the recent patch didn’t work to vary or sate that apathy much. The original gang isn’t done, I want more adventures, more maps and scenarios and frankly more value from that initial purchase – just as Valve promised.

The trailer and accompanying press release also worry me because the features they tout for the upcoming continuation don’t seem earthshaking or innovative, or like additions that don’t belong in a patch for the original game. What I’m referring to is the addition of more melee-centric weapons and combat, and an upgraded AI Director. Then there is this statement:

“Featuring new Survivors, boss zombies, weapons, and items, Left 4 Dead 2 offers a much larger game than the original with more co-operative campaigns, more Versus campaigns, and maps for Survival mode available at launch.”

Who is responsible for L4D not having a great selection of content, modes or characters?

Well the same people who are now expecting us to shill out full price yet again to support their hype machine. I’m an ardent supporter of Valve over the years but this move really bugs me. We’re still waiting on Half-Life 2 Episode 3 to wrap that story up – 4 years later – and yet they can crank out another money grab in the form of an L4D sequel. Valve doesn’t patch or fix problems with the 360 version of the Orange Box, yet they can produce an entirely new L4D product? Something smells here and while the “freeness” of the Survivor patch is a great move in an industry increasingly based on selling you parts of their completed game after release as a continued revenue stream, I am afraid with the current information in hand I may have to change my position on Valve and its formerly consumer friendly posture.

The new title is scheduled to ship on November 17th for Xbox 360 and PC, just in time for the Christmas rush, and features an apparent Southern US setting and characters including “Inbred Tank” and a multi-ethnic survivor team. I’m sorry but I think I’m going to take a pass here.. until I see something that shows a sequel was needed to the game, and this is not just more than a simple tech upgrade with new maps and re-skinned characters. You can view the full details of the press release after the jump.
Read the full article »

I’m sure you saw the story about the free play in Valve’s zombie shooter, Left 4 Dead, today. Well, Valve’s apparently enjoying watching all of you check it out, because they’ve extended the event through 5 PM GMT (1 PM EST) tomorrow. That’s about 23 hours from now.

You’ve still got just under a day to check it out, so get out there and survive the zombie apocalypse!

Oh, and if you decide that you like Left 4 Dead so much you want to purchase it and continue playing after this event ends, Valve’s offering discount as well. If you purchase L4D this weekend, you’ll get it for 40% off. That’s $23.99 for one of the best co-operative experiences available on PC.

If you are not prepared for the inevitable zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead is a good primer to get you on the road to preparedness. Seriously, go check it out. After all, it is free!

If you haven’t tried your hand at surviving the zombie apocalypse in Left 4 Dead yet, Valve’s giving you a chance to try it for free. Starting at 12:01 AM GMT tomorrow (8:01 PM EST tonight), you can play L4D for free for 24 hours.

This isn’t just a demo, this is a fully functional copy of the game. It even includes the recently released Survival patch, and all four Versus maps.

I can tell you from experience that if you plan to try this out, you had better not make any plans for Friday night. Left 4 Dead has an addictive quality that I can personally testify to. Plus, the satisfaction of setting a crowd of zombies on fire, or running through them firing a smoking auto-shotgun, well, that’s just great.

For details on how to take advantage of this promotion, as well as a copy of the press release, check after the break.

Read the full article »

Like so many other people, I was smitten with Valve’s zombie shooter, Left 4 Dead. There’s something viscerally satisfying about gunning down hordes of zombies, especially when you feel that you’re the last hope for the survival of humanity. Earlier this week, Valve graced us with the first major update for Left 4 Dead. This update included not only Versus mode for the two maps that were previously unavailable, it also included the long-awaited Survival Mode.

The basic premise is a simple one. The players are up against a wall, facing off against never ending waves of zombies, including a number of special infected. There are plenty of supplies, ammo, and explosives, but there’s absolutely no way out. The goal, as the name would suggest, is to survive as long as possible.

But does it actually work as a game mode?

Read the full article »