Left 4 Dead 2 - Catch All

I wonder if they went with new survivors just to add an extra pun to the name Left 4 Dead 2.

I had a whole big post written up, but lost it. Damnit.
Anyways. I am excited for this game - my mind reads the previews and screams "FUN". And it will be, regardless of the externalities.

Deep down in my gut, though, I'm troubled. This is Valve - they take forever to make episodic content - how good/different can something they put together in one year really be? It's this schism - the 2+ years for a HL2 episode versus 1 year for a full-fledged sequel, that has me troubled.
This game just sceams "expansion pack!" to me, and I really think it should have been marketed as such, even if it's priced on the expensive side. Because this announcement makes Valve look a lot like Activision, regardless of the actual quality of the product. And that's a sad, sad thing.

All "perception" issues and whatnot aside, which is what I think the real hubub is about, the most legitimate problem with this announcement is turning the first L4D into a ghost-town ahead of its time. What I really, really want from this game is full-on integration, with L4D1 - so I can see all VS games spanning campaigns from both maps in the same engine. If that doesn't happen, L4D1 will be abandoned, as everyone will just naturally gravitate to the later. I still have fun playing maps like No Mercy and whatnot, and I feel like announcing a sequel to L4D without any support for the old game would just be "replacing" content rather than "adding" content.

Dysplastic wrote:

I had a whole big post written up, but lost it. Damnit.
Anyways. I am excited for this game - my mind reads the previews and screams "FUN". And it will be, regardless of the externalities.

Deep down in my gut, though, I'm troubled. This is Valve - they take forever to make episodic content - how good/different can something they put together in one year really be? It's this schism - the 2+ years for a HL2 episode versus 1 year for a full-fledged sequel, that has me troubled.
This game just sceams "expansion pack!" to me, and I really think it should have been marketed as such, even if it's priced on the expensive side. Because this announcement makes Valve look a lot like Activision, regardless of the actual quality of the product. And that's a sad, sad thing.

All "perception" issues and whatnot aside, which is what I think the real hubub is about, the most legitimate problem with this announcement is turning the first L4D into a ghost-town ahead of its time. What I really, really want from this game is full-on integration, with L4D1 - so I can see all VS games spanning campaigns from both maps in the same engine. If that doesn't happen, L4D1 will be abandoned, as everyone will just naturally gravitate to the later. I still have fun playing maps like No Mercy and whatnot, and I feel like announcing a sequel to L4D without any support for the old game would just be "replacing" content rather than "adding" content.

While it's a nice idea, I can't help but feel that what you'll see instead is L4D2 giving you access to maps from L4D1, not the other way around.

wanderingtaoist wrote:

I want a supermarket level.

Also, abbreviation L4D2 sounds like a name of a generic cute beeping robot from Star Wars.

Agreed. I would have preferred the title "Left4Dead: NOM NOM NOM"

Dysplastic wrote:

All "perception" issues and whatnot aside, which is what I think the real hubub is about, the most legitimate problem with this announcement is turning the first L4D into a ghost-town ahead of its time. What I really, really want from this game is full-on integration, with L4D1 - so I can see all VS games spanning campaigns from both maps in the same engine. If that doesn't happen, L4D1 will be abandoned, as everyone will just naturally gravitate to the later. I still have fun playing maps like No Mercy and whatnot, and I feel like announcing a sequel to L4D without any support for the old game would just be "replacing" content rather than "adding" content.

I am with you 100% on this.

Tannhauser wrote:

IMAGE(http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3176/l4d2theparish.jpg)

Now I have to get new posters.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

"You're really gonna shoot a guy in a $3,000 suit? Come on!"

Sold.

I'm really disappointed. I mean, they pretty much JUST FINISHED the game by adding the other two campaigns into versus. I'm having trouble believing that it's a question of technical limitations too if it's only taking them a year to make it.

This has EA's fingerprints on it. I'll be a sad panda if it comes out at full price... and I'm guessing it will.

Omg they put the Scout in this game.

I'll gladly shell out 50 bones for the new content. New characters, new weapons, new special infected, new levels, smarter Director, no more camping events, dynamically changing levels, fire-proof zombies, wandering Witches. All these are good things.

I just seriously doubt Valve will be able to make its November deadline. November 2010, maybe.

LobsterMobster wrote:

I'm really disappointed. I mean, they pretty much JUST FINISHED the game by adding the other two campaigns into versus. I'm having trouble believing that it's a question of technical limitations too if it's only taking them a year to make it.

This has EA's fingerprints on it. I'll be a sad panda if it comes out at full price... and I'm guessing it will.

You bet it will come out at full price, I have read a few articles stating that the first L4D was like a test run to see how it would play and everything. L4D 2 is suppose to be the real deal?? Don't know but the more i hear you guys talk about it the more it makes sense that maybe it is a bit early for this one to come one. Maybe they should have waited until later and maybe add more people to the mix. Like a 6 person party or something, or even integrate the two groups of survivors from both games for bigger online game play.

I think that the cost of L4D2 should be inversely proportional to the amount of time one spent playing L4D.

One intriguing idea I've heard speculated about is that this might be part of the Orange Box Mk. 2, bundled with Episode 3 and Portal 2. Which would undoubtedly propel everything back into the realm of "Valve is best company ever."

OG_slinger wrote:

I'll gladly shell out 50 bones for the new content. New characters, new weapons, new special infected, new levels, smarter Director, no more camping events, dynamically changing levels, fire-proof zombies, wandering Witches. All these are good things.

I just seriously doubt Valve will be able to make its November deadline. November 2010, maybe.

Yeah... as much as I'm disappointed, I know I'll buy it.

Six wrote:

Maybe they should have waited until later and maybe add more people to the mix. Like a 6 person party or something, or even integrate the two groups of survivors from both games for bigger online game play.

Would be nice.

I'm not really sure about the characters. It feels like Bill, Francis, Louis and Zoey are generic enough to project on to, yet unique enough to be interesting. That the new ones are all painted with a Southern brush makes me wonder if they'll feel more... I don't know... specific?

Though looking at the picture again, it does look like a decent cross-section. I don't know. Guess we'll all find out soon enough. Too soon enough.

Tannhauser wrote:

One intriguing idea I've heard speculated about is that this might be part of the Orange Box Mk. 2, bundled with Episode 3 and Portal 2. Which would undoubtedly propel everything back into the realm of "Valve is best company ever."

Hell yes, but is there any support for that, or is it just speculation? Besides, if they bundle it with Episode 3 there's no way they'll make 2009.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Hell yes, but is there any support for that, or is it just speculation? Besides, if they bundle it with Episode 3 there's no way they'll make 2009. :P

Absolutely none, just an interesting idea that would be awesome and clear up any problems people have.

I'm still thinking that Portal 2 is HL Ep 3.

ragin_redneck wrote:

Where is my redneck character? It's set in the Southern US. Maybe they'll meet him along the way sitting on his front porch cappin zombies a mini safe room to resupply ammo and health. I've got my stash of ammo.

Check out the Garden Maze video, near the end. The "scout" is a redneck, and can be heard saying "Man, I wish we had a horse. I love horses. Hey look, guns! Who ain't right in the head now?"

On the question of whether this is too early...

Honestly, considering how many hours of L4D I've played since it came out? I'm pretty sure I've got my money's worth from this game. The thing to think about with the campaigns and how we've played them to death and need another one is... We've really played them to death. Like, a lot. Adding a new campaign would be a heck of a lot of work for not much return (and I don't just mean from their point of view--also from ours: how long would it take us to play another campaign into the ground?) Better to get the development tools out there and see what the community can do, while Valve works on the stuff (i.e. L4D2) that will dramatically improve the game but require major changes. (Adding more dynamic stuff, etc.)

ragin_redneck wrote:

Where is my redneck character?

Well, the big tank like zombie was wearing overalls

Hypatian wrote:

"I love horses. "

Bizarro Francis?

Hmm..... Ahhh.... ahhhh...

(off to change his pants)

IUMogg wrote:
wanderingtaoist wrote:

I want a supermarket level.

Also, abbreviation L4D2 sounds like a name of a generic cute beeping robot from Star Wars.

Agreed. I would have preferred the title "Left4Dead: NOM NOM NOM"

Or how about simply Brains! You can put in additional i's to signify the number in the franchise, just like Goblins used to do. Looking forward to this Braiins! game.

Jonman wrote:

While it's a nice idea, I can't help but feel that what you'll see instead is L4D2 giving you access to maps from L4D1, not the other way around.

That would be totally fine. So long as I still have access to the old content from within the new game, at least it will feel like the old content is part of the whole "L4D Experience" rather than just "last year's news".

Mystic Violet wrote:

I'm kinda torn about L4D2. I want it, badly, but it seems too soon. L4D didn't even get a new campaign.

Oh what the hell. CHAINSAW!

This is word for word my thought process as I clicked the video link, wtf really, already? ... chainsaw!

LobsterMobster wrote:

I'm not really sure about the characters. It feels like Bill, Francis, Louis and Zoey are generic enough to project on to, yet unique enough to be interesting. That the new ones are all painted with a Southern brush makes me wonder if they'll feel more... I don't know... specific?

I know it was primarily for gameplay reasons but there were some noticeable changes to the characters' appearances in L4D1's (it feels odd to put the '1' at the end of L4D) development cycle. The original concept for Louis looks very different from the Louis we all know and love.

IMAGE(http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/left4dead/images/thumb/c/c8/Picture2.jpg/399px-Picture2.jpg)

I think we will have to wait and see how the new survivors evolve.

Tannhauser wrote:

video

I'll be in my bunk.

evilseed wrote:
Tannhauser wrote:

IMAGE(http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3176/l4d2theparish.jpg)

John Cusack, Rutina Wesley, Reginald VelJohnson, Casey Affleck

Soldier, Demoman, Heavy, Scout

I play TF2 way too much

Mex wrote:

Sniper, Pyro, Heavy, Scout

Fixed that for ya.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

"You're really gonna shoot a guy in a $3,000 suit? Come on!"

bahahahahahahaha

Just watched the video....yeah, I'm sold. Lets kill some zombies.

Tannhauser wrote:

One intriguing idea I've heard speculated about is that this might be part of the Orange Box Mk. 2, bundled with Episode 3 and Portal 2. Which would undoubtedly propel everything back into the realm of "Valve is best company ever."

Yes, yes it would. I would buy that. So would nearly everyone else, and we'd be freakin' delighted with it.