the-passing
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Parts 1 and 2 of Left 4 Dead 'The Sacrifice' comic now online
Honestly, we would never have thought that [redacted] would be the character to bite the dust in "The Passing," but there it is. Sure, we could've pictured [redacted] dying, or [redacted] -- heck, even [redacted] -- but [redacted]? Life's a trip, qué no? Thing is, we never figured out how that particular survivor perished -- not until now. The first two parts of Valve's four-part, 150-page digital comic primer for "The Sacrifice," the upcoming DLC for Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2, is now online. Give both issues a read by heading over to the Left 4 Dead Blog.
Latest Left 4 Dead 2 mutation: more like Left 1 Dead
Valve's latest "mutation" gametype for the Left 4 Dead 2 "The Passing" DLC takes three survivors out of the equation. "Last Man on Earth" is a single-player mode in which the player is the only Survivor left in the world, and must face nothing but Special Infected without the help of other players or even bots. In other words, it might has well have been called "The Player is Murdered Immediately." Instead of an opportunity to play with developers (since, you know, it's single-player), Valve is encouraging players to record sixty-second clips of gameplay and upload them to YouTube with the tag "L4D2LastSurvivor." If you want to see lots of footage of player characters being torn apart by Special Infected, now you know where to go.
Dead Rising's Frank West passively in Left 4 Dead 2's 'The Passing' [update]
Left 4 Dead's eerie atmosphere was made exponentially more engrossing by the warnings scrawled on the walls of each safe house by other survivors. Left 4 Dead 2's downloadable chapter "The Passing," released earlier today, features the above note, apparently written by another down-on-his-luck Zombocalypse veteran. Located by the sharp-eyed bloggers of Destroyed Controller, It reads: "Otis, Out of film, no helicopter. Zombies are too fast. Not going to make it. - Frank West." It's a real shame that West's had to suffer such misfortune. We doubt he'd be in such an unfavorable position if he possessed the ingenuity of his spiritual successor. Update: We snapped some pics of our own, like the one above. Head past the break for a few more.
Left 4 Dead 2's new Mutations explained; Francis and Rochelle find a common interest
You don't just stumble upon a kindred spirit every day. In a new promo video for The Passing -- Left 4 Dead 2's new chapter available today on the Xbox 360 and PC -- it takes an apocalypse to bring Francis and Rochelle together. Well, that and their shared "glass is half empty" outlook on life. The Passing also kicks off a brand new weekly event in Left 4 Dead 2: Mutations. These are one-off custom game types created by Valve, with a different game type available each Thursday. Today introduces Realism Versus: a match of Versus with Realism enabled, making it much tougher to play as a Survivor and a heck of a lot easier to play as an Infected. In this mode, Valve anticipates the Jockey will be one of the most effective Specials. %Gallery-85283%
Left 4 Dead's 'The Passing' Achievements unveiled, spoilery
We've had to walk on eggshells to avoid spoiling the twists and turns of Left 4 Dead 2's imminent content expansion, "The Passing," due out this Thursday on PC and 360. This post is ... well, it's no different at all. Posted after the jump is the list of Achievements included in the DLC, a handful of which may ruin certain plot points you might want to avoid until you get your hands on the new chapter. You've been warned!
Left 4 Dead 2's 'The Passing' rolls into town next week
All right, so the Left 4 Dead/Left 4 Dead 2 crossover DLC "The Passing" passed March by. Valve just announced it'll be available for download next week! We're sure the content will still be fresh, and the zombies still putrid, in April! Valve promised to update the official blog next week with more details. Additionally, in the spirit of crossover ... ing ... ness ... the Left 4 Dead blog announced that two songs by the fictional Midnight Riders band have been added to the Rock Band Network. For just one dollar each, you can play "Midnight Ride" and "One Bad Man!" It would be appropriate to gather three friends to play the songs with. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Left 4 Dead 2 'The Passing' DLC pushed back, priced at 560 Microsoft Points
We're not exactly used to finding out hot scoops on Valve's game projects from Xbox Live's "Inside Xbox" feature "SENTUAMESSAGE," so it was especially odd to us when we heard that Left 4 Dead 2's upcoming Left 4 Dead 1 crossover DLC "The Passing" got an official price (560/$7) -- and an ambiguous new release date of "Spring" -- from the feature. But that's just what the latest episode told us, not to mention a handful of new deets on the DLC, including info on new variations of enemies and a few new weapons. Back at X10 in February, Valve told us that the content was set to arrive on Xbox Live/Steam by "late March," though it seems that the window has been extended a few more months. We've fired off an email to Valve to see if a more solid release date exists, and we'll keep you updated if we hear anything back. In the meantime, we've embedded the Inside Xbox clip after the break. [Via Kotaku]
Details surface about Left 4 Dead series' upcoming expansions
We never thought we'd have to slap a spoiler warning on a post about downloadable content for the Left 4 Dead franchise -- and yet, here we are. The latest episode of GameTrailers TV revealed an intriguing plot point about the pair of new chapters for the original game and sequel. We respect that some of you might want to remain in the dark about the DLC until you finally get your hands on it. For the rest of you, check out the details just past the jump.
X10: Left 4 Dead 2 'The Passing' DLC in March, L4D1 tie-in DLC to follow
So what's the appropriate greeting for when you pass another survivor in the zombie apocalypse? We'll find out next month, when Valve plans to release the first Left 4 Dead 2 DLC campaign, "The Passing," on Xbox 360 and PC. The Passing will feature non-playable appearances by the original Left 4 Dead cast (those shadowy figures in the background there), who will aid L4D2's four survivors during the third act of the new campaign, which is set in rural Georgia. Not one to leave holes in a good story, Valve will explain the original survivors' frantic journey to Georgia by way of -- yes, it's really happening -- a new DLC add-on for Left 4 Dead 1 (not compatible with L4D2). No additional details were provided about the upcoming L4D1 DLC by Valve at X10 today, but it will follow the release of The Passing campaign and a digital comic (illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming) that will tie together the two DLC stories. Additionally, Valve confirmed that The Passing will also include new arenas for Survival, Versus and Scavenge modes, and a new co-op challenge mode. Players will also encounter a new "uncommon common" infected, dubbed the Fallen Survivor, which can drop random items when killed. The Passing is currently on track for a "late March" release. %Gallery-85283%
Left 4 Dead 2 DLC 'The Passing' to feature L4D1 cast
Not content with unleashing a full-blown zombie apocalypse, Valve has come up with the second most socially awkward event imaginable: inviting characters from the original Left 4 Dead to hang out in the sequel's first DLC campaign. Bill, Louis, Zoey and Francis will meet with the stars of Left 4 Dead 2 in "The Passing," which Valve VP of marketing Doug Lombardi calls "the most important campaign in the Left 4 Dead story, as all the Survivors are being called together in one campaign." It's targeted for release in early 2010 on Xbox 360 and PC. In addition to a co-op campaign (set in rural Georgia) and a new "co-operative challenge mode of play," The Passing will offer new content for Survival, Versus and Scavenge modes. Playing as the L4D2 cast, you can also expect to encounter a new melee weapon, firearm and "uncommon common" zombie. We can't wait to meet up with last year's survivors again ... oh, assuming they really are still survivors.
