Below are frequently asked questions and their answers for Left 4 Dead.
- What is Left 4 Dead?
Left 4 Dead is a multiplayer co-operative survival horror shooter currently in development by Valve Software. Like other current Valve titles it is based on the Source engine and will be released for the PC and Xbox 360 on November 18, 2008 in the U.S.A. and November 21, 2008 in Europe.
- Who is developing Left 4 Dead?
Left 4 Dead was formerly in development by Turtle Rock Studios, which was a separate company whose work included Counter-Strike: Condition Zero and the Xbox version of Counter-Strike. On January 10th, 2008, Valve acquired Turtle Rock Studios, absorbing the company.
- How will the game be released?
The game will be available on PC and Xbox 360 on Steam and in retail stores.
- When will Left 4 Dead be released?
Left 4 Dead will be released for the PC and Xbox 360 on November 18, 2008 in the U.S.A. and November 21, 2008 in Europe.
- Is there a demo for Left 4 Dead?
Yes. The demo is released on Steam from the 11th November 2008.
- How many players can play?
The game is designed for 1 to 8 players. There are four spots on each 'side' that can both be controlled by AI or human players. You can go for the full on 4 vs. AI or a 4 vs. 4 with real players on both sides. If you feel brave you could always go lone-ranger against the AI hordes!
- How long will maps last? The initial game release version will have
four scenarios with around five maps each. Each scenario lasts between 45 and
75 minutes.
- What happens if you die?
As Survivors, when your health goes down to 0, you fall on the ground and start to "bleed out". While you're laying on the ground you get a new temporary health bar that ticks down quickly. You still have access to your pistol to shoot but if no one rescues you, your health runs out and you are dead and kicked to spectator mode. When you're on the floor a survivor can hold their use key on you and help you up.You can be helped back up two times and be just fine, but on your "third strike", when you get helped up you get only 25 temporary health that slowly ticks down. If you get knocked down during this time, you will die. After you do get killed you are booted to spectator mode. There are two ways you can respawn. One is when remaining survivors reach a checkpoint (with half health). The other way is that scattered throughout the maps are closets. The survivors can hear you screaming for help and see your body banging up against the door wanting out. All somebody has to do is open the door and you are spawned back into the game, alive and well. If you are playing as Infected, you simply respawn every time.
- What type of weapons are in the game?
Survivors are given weapons as diverse as dual-pistols, assault rifle, shotguns, M60 Heavy-Machine gun, standard grenades and even Molotov cocktails to burn the undead to death. They can also use their weapons to do melee attacks.The Infected have melee attacks and special abilities.
- Is there a storyline?
Imagine that you live in a major city during a time when a new and highly virulent strain of the rabies virus emerges and begins spreading rapidly among the human population. Those infected become dangerously psychotic and attack all noninfected on sight. You are one of the lucky few who seem to be immune to the virus, but are trapped in a city teeming with thousands of extremely violent infected. Banding together with a few other survivors, you try to escape.
- Are there different difficulty modes?
Survivors can choose from four different levels of difficulty - easy, normal, advanced, and expert. These levels affect the amount of damage given from being hit by the Infected and the amount of friendly fire the Survivors take.
- Do Valve plan any future updates?
Valve have ideas for additional missions, features, and content that they hope to ship in future releases/updates to Left 4 Dead. In addition, an L4D-specific update will be made to the Source SDK so members of the community can make their own missions, characters, and L4D mod content. Left 4 Dead 2 the sequel is also due to be released soon.
