SPOTLIGHT
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There's been a big reshuffle and lots of
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Well I wouldn't say it has been the smoothest of launches I've seen from Valve over the years, but the Left 4 Dead 2 Demo has finally been unlocked on Steam. Be aware there will be chaos with servers for a while.
The demo will include the first two maps from The Parish campaign (The Waterfront & The Park), all available melee weapons and new special infected. Note the demo is only available to those who pre-purchased L4D2, the demo will become fully public from 3rd November. Go play and...
Kill all sons a' bitches
Also I'd like to mention that we have a YouTube group now, so you can upload your videos and submit them to the group homepage, so other members can vote and comment on your fail moments. Submit your gameplay videos here.
Valve has revealed the first Left 4 Dead 2 television commercial which is created in collaboration by Valve and GameStop. This TV Spot highlights the exclusive in-game melee weapon (baseball bat) offered to those who pre-order the game at GameStop.
It will start airing across North America this week. Watch this commercial on our channel on YouTube.
If you have pre-purchased L4D2 you will be eligible to play the demo on 27th October, this applies to both Steam & 360 players. To be ready for the 27th pre-load the demo now and it will be available immediately on Tuesday.
A reminder of the dates the demo will unlock for everyone else:
Xbox 360 LIVE Gold members AND PC players (who haven't pre-ordered) can play the demo from 3rd November. Lastly, all Xbox 360 LIVE members will have the demo available from 10th November.
Delay till 28th, latest Update: Please wait for more info - current source
A high quality trailer dubbed the Zombie Survival Guide has been leaked by an unknown source according to Shacknews. The trailer shows plenty of cinematic action with the four new characters, new infected and new weapons including the chainsaw. Check out the video below (also available in HD).
October 27th is when customers who have pre-ordered Left 4 Dead 2 will be able to play the demo. Today Valve have released details on what the demo will contain:
The Left 4 Dead 2 demo will feature gameplay taken from "The Parish" campaign, set in the New Orleans French Quarter. Playable by 1 to 4 players over local or Internet connections on both the Xbox 360 and PC (with two-player split screen available on the Xbox 360), the demo features all the new boss infected zombies and all the new melee weapons included in the full product.
If you have pre-ordered for PC via Steam or retail you should be playing on the 27th October. Xbox 360 LIVE Gold members AND PC players (who haven't pre-ordered) can play the demo from 3rd November. Lastly, all Xbox 360 LIVE members will have the demo available from 10th November.
Xbox360achievements.org revealed today the final achievements list for Left 4 Dead 2. The list confirms Hard Rain and Dead Center campaigns and also reveals a defibrillator to revive Survivors. Here's some of the achievements:
SHOCK JOCK: Revive 10 dead Survivors with the defibrillator.
THE QUICK AND THE DEAD: Revive 10 incapacitated Survivors while under the speed-boosting effects of adrenaline.
CL0WND: Honk the noses of 10 Clowns.
FRIED PIPER: Using a Molotov, burn a Clown leading at least 10 Common Infected.
GUARDIN' GNOME: Rescue Gnome Chompski from the Carnival.
From the news we've heard on Left 4 Dead 2 since it was announced, Valve have told us that it will ship with 5 campaigns (all of which will support versus). We saw Parish to begin with, then Swamp Fever and most recently Dark Carnival. The remaining 2 have been unknown (including the opening campaign) but it seems today the last 2 posters have been leaked on a Taiwan website. They are:
Dead Center - A mall campaign with the tagline - Prices aren't the Only things getting Slashed
Hard Rain - Industrial setting around a refinery with the tagline - Come Hell and High Water
Hard Rain is likely to utilise the new AI director's ability to control weather, whereas Dead Center is set to fill that much anticipated mall setting players have demanded. The campaigns are linked with a more developed storyline this time round, so can we work out the order in which they will play in? See the posters below.
Left 4 Dead 2 has been given an MA 15+ rating after it was refused classification last month.
according to the classification board report, the modified version removes amounts of gore from gameplay, it no longer contains depictions of decapitations, dismemberment, wound detail, or piles of bodies lying about the environment. And is now able to be accommodated within the MA15+ classification.
Valve are also appealing the original classification decision and still hope to release Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia in its original. The appeal ruling is expected to be made on October 22.
Scavenge - essentially combines Left 4 Dead's Versus and Survival modes. It has four survivors fighting to find 16 gas cans across the game map to use them to fill up a generator. While the opposing team (The Infected) will try their best to stop them.
This new mode (designed to be shorter than the traditional competitive) has four survivors fighting to find 16 gas cans across the game map. Using the cans, the goal is to fill up a generator to win the match. Split up over six rounds (three per team), each starts with 120 seconds; each gas can will add an additional 20 seconds to the overall time. If time runs out, yet one survivor is still holding a gas can, the game will go into overtime until the generator is up and running or an infected knocks it from their hands.
On the opposing team will be the Infected, who are doing everything they can to feast on human flesh and (of course) stop the survivors from restarting the generator. Not only can infected knock the gas cans from the hands of the survivors, but special infected like the "The Spitter" can light the cans on fire with its phlegm. Survivors must also watch their fire -- one stray bullet can set the can on fire as well.
Valve are planning to ship the "Scavenge" with 6 maps each, reconfigured maps from the game's campaign.
Update: G4TV have the first hands on preview of the new mode and they liked it!
My take? The mode is really fun, emphasis on really, and very different from anything we've seen so far. Each game last 3 rounds of each side taking turns at survivor and infected. Good communication is key and the fast game play will sate appetites that don't have the attention span for proper versus matches.
After asking the community to help him with The Fly Gabe Newell Fundraiser, Joe W-A managed to get Gabe Newell to agree to fly to Brisbane, Australia.
Today in Sydney, the great meeting took place. Gabe spoke about the value of a community and how it flies people to Australia, He was also talking about how Valve are part of the community and how they're always looking for feedback.
Joe is also planning to get Peter Molyneaux down there as he got "a few things to say to him". You can watch the meeting right here.
The Classification Review Board (formally the OFLC) have published a media release outlining a second bite at the cherry by Valve, to classify Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia. Originally the game was classified RC (Refused Classification) by the Classification Board on 15th September.
The Classification Review Board has received an application to review the classification of the computer game Left 4 Dead 2.
The Classification Review Board will meet on 22nd October 2009 to consider the application. The decision and reasons will later be published on www.classification.gov.au.
No word on any changes which may have been made to L4D2 in order for it to receive classification this time round. It seems likely there will have been a few. Thanks to Wonko for the news, see the media release here.
Valve announced today a $25 Million advertising plan for Left 4 Dead 2.
In the USA, the campaign will include Monday Night Football and UFC television broadcasts, roadside billboards, and popular lifestyle and gaming sites.
The European plan is also more aggressive than last year's with television advertising in all the major markets appearing during sports and lifestyle programming, plus strong outdoor investments in more cities, as well as online and print advertising.
Left 4 Dead 2 is expected to once again exceed everyone's expectations and be an industry best title on PC and Xbox 360 for the year," said David DeMartini, General Manager of EA Partners. "With Left 4 Dead and now Left 4 Dead 2, Valve has created one of today's most compelling video game experiences and leading entertainment franchises.
According to Lombardi Left 4 Dead 2 has already set the record for greatest number of pre-orders in the company's history, around 300% of Left 4 Dead's pre-orders numbers. Left 4 Dead 2 is coming November 17th on Xbox 360 and PC.
The next public showing will be at the London Game Show where we will be showing the as of yet unannounced new game mode. Only one clue from Chet...
We can give you one hint, the game is 4 v 4
After contacting Chet, we are able to clarify the event Valve will be present at is the Eurogamer Expo 2009, which will be in London on the 30th-31st October and I will be attending.
Valve have also just completed a showing at the Tokyo Game Show where Kim Swift gave an interview. See the full blog post here.
You can now pre-order Left 4 Dead 2 on Steam and from participating retailers and be a part of some special incentives Valve have given to those pre-ordering.
Starting now, those who pre-order L4D2 from participating retailers (PC, Xbox 360) or via Steam (PC) will receive early access to the Left 4 Dead 2 demo (currently targeted for October 27th) plus an exclusive in-game item - the American baseball bat, one of the 10 new melee weapons included in the game.
Also Steam and participating retailers are offering a 10% savings to those who pre-order. So after the discount L4D2 will be £26.99 / $44.99.
An update from Doug on Valve's progress towards acquiring ratings for L4D2 has been released. The majority of the globe have rated the game already, with the United Kingdom and New Zealand still in progress and expected in a few days. Meanwhile, the ruling in Australia from the OFLC has been appealed by Valve. Below is the progress so far...
Completed
PEGI (continental Europe) - 18+
ESRB (North America) - M
CERO (Japan) -Z (corresponds to Mature in US)
IFCO (Ireland) - Approved the title for classification.
USK (Germany) - 18+
Singapore - Mature 18
FPB (South Africa) - 18+
KGRB (Korea) -18+
Pending
OLFC New Zealand - In progress.
BBFC (UK) - In progress.
OFLC Australia - Refused to rate on September 19. Appealed September 23.
So a full 2 days since the appeal, hopefully we will hear some progress on the situation in Australia soon. More when we know.
