Left 4 Dead 2
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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.
Left 4 Dead 1 & 2 to feature cross-platform play between Mac & PC
The initial announcement of Steam for Mac conspicuously omitted the inclusion of the first Left 4 Dead game. The Left 4 Dead blog, however, confirms that the original game will migrate to Mac along with the rest of the announced Valve games in "late Spring." The post makes it sound as if both games will be added at the same time, but that remains unconfirmed. Because of Valve's Steam Play technology, you'll be able to play either game on either Mac or PC, with the ability to share your progress between the two platforms. Even better, you'll be able to play with other people across platforms! "Mac and Windows players can go head-to-head," Valve notes in the announcement, "since both Left 4 Deads are cross-platform compatible. Mac owners can even host their own servers and create their own maps, just like Windows users." Cross-platform play means that all of these new-to-you Valve games are going to come with massive built-in communities.
Valve confirms Mac support for Steam and Source Engine
In today's completely shocking and unexpected bit of news, Valve has announced Mac support for its Steam digital distribution platform and Source -- the engine that powers Half-Life 2, amongst others. In fact, Portal 2 will be Valve's first simultaneous release across PC and Mac. "Steamworks for the Mac supports all of the Steamworks APIs, and we have added a new feature, called Steam Play, which allows customers who purchase the product for the Mac or Windows to play on the other platform free of charge," said Valve's Jason Holtman. "For example, Steam Play, in combination with the Steam Cloud, allows a gamer playing on their work PC to go home and pick up playing the same game at the same point on their home Mac. We expect most developers and publishers to take advantage of Steam Play." If that doesn't get you all kinds of giddy, then you may just be dead inside. Steam and Valve's lineup of games (including "including Left 4 Dead 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike, Portal, and the Half-Life series") will be available to Mac users this April, but from here on out, simultaneous cross-platform releases should be the norm. "Checking in code produces a PC build and Mac build at the same time, automatically, so the two platforms are perfectly in lock-step," said Josh Weier, project lead on Portal 2. "We're always playing a native version on the Mac right alongside the PC. This makes it very easy for us and for anyone using Source to do game development for the Mac." So, who's got the champagne and noise makers? %Gallery-87236%
Modern Warfare 2, Assassin's Creed 2 and L4D2 all $40 on Amazon
Are you looking for an addictive multiplayer shooter with a rabid, unimaginably skilled player base that will simply eviscerate you, a first-time player, during your first hundred matches? Good news, masochist: Amazon has discounted Modern Warfare 2 for the Xbox 360 down to a cool $40 (the PS3 version is selling for $50). The zombie apocalypse sim Left 4 Dead 2 has also had its price reduced to a couple of Jacksons, as have both versions of Assassin's Creed 2. Update: You can also score a copy of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 for only $20. Wait! We know you're excited about these delicious deals, but allow us to play the devil's advocate: Would you rather purchase all three, or -- for roughly the same price -- buy the entire series of Miami Vice on DVD? We're sorry to put you this position. We expect your decision by the end of the day.
BAFTA video game award nominees announced
The BAFTA awards represent a rare opportunity to get the thrill of watching your favorite high-profile games rack up more plaudits long after the end of the year. They also represent the opinions of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, but whatever. The nominations for the 2009 awards have been released, with mostly unsurprising games occupying the "Best Game" category -- Batman, Assassin's Creed II, Modern Warfare 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Joystiq.com Game of the Year 2009 Uncharted 2 -- and FIFA 2009. In the "people's choice" GAME Awards, all of the Best Game nominees but Left 4 Dead 2 make repeat appearances, joined by The Beatles: Rock Band, GTA Chinatown Wars, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Street Fighter IV, and Wii Sports Resort. "Everyone's" tastes are much more diverse! See more nominations for specific genres and achievements at the BAFTA site. The winners will be revealed in an award ceremony on March 19.
Reloading! New Left 4 Dead Valentine cards
Ellis: So, this one time, me and my buddy, Keith, we saw these infected Valentine cards on the internet. And Keith was like, "Hey, we could make some money selling those." So he got out his little sister's box of crayons and made a couple. Then, I was like, "Keith, we ain't gonna make no money selling five cards." So he spent a whole year drawing, like, a thousand cards or something. Then we saw new versions of those cards, like, to download the next year and ... Rochelle: Ellis, sweetie. Not now. Ellis: Okay. [Thanks for the tip, Jesse!] Source - Valve Valentine 2010 [PDF]
You've killed 28,981,249,043 zombies in Left 4 Dead 2
You know how you always wonder for that split second what it would be like to murder the paperboy when he rides by on his bike? What? His undeveloped, childish arm can never get the damn paper on your porch! Well, according to figures from the Left 4 Dead Blog, you've killed him. A whole bunch. Or how about the in-laws? Oh man, you murdered them cold-blooded in Left 4 Dead 2. Basically, if every person on the planet was a zombie in the game, you've killed them -- 4.26 times. That would mean you've killed them, resurrected them, killed them again -- ah, you get it. Another interesting figure: if the average height of a zombie is six feet tall, you stacked enough undead corpses end-to-end to circle the globe 1,322 times. You know how that's in italics? That's because it's crazy. In short: you are really good at killing zombies. Hey, don't feel bad for so much genocide! That's how it goes in the zombie apocalypse.
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 gets bots and SDK fixes in update, 360 patch coming soon
Valve has followed through with its promise to bring bots to Left 4 Dead 2's Versus mode -- which was frantic enough before all the A.I.-controlled ghouls got added in. A recent patch added the functionality and made a few tweaks to the software development kit, which allows players to make awesome levels based on awesome Nintendo 64 games. Check out the full list of changes after the jump. The Steam blog post announcing the patch's release promises that the changes will be integrated into the 360 version of the game via an upcoming title update.
Alienware's 'Phantom' concept became M11x, cranks through Left 4 Dead 2 on video
It's turning out to be quite the day for Alienware, eh? First we see that the M15x and M17x are finally up for order (with their swank Core i7s within), and now we've got the first public video of the M11x doing its thang. If you'll recall, we only had enough time at CES to snap a few quick pictures, but now that the starting-at-$799 ultraportable (or "netbook," if you must) is said to be "coming soon," it seems that parent company Dell is feeling pretty good about showing it off. An employee recently had the chance to sit down with what was originally coined the Phantom (full story awaits you in the Source link), and even though it can be hidden behind a standard sized magazine, this diminutive monster is still potent enough to cruise through Left 4 Dead 2 with nary a hiccup. Don't believe us? Check the video for yourself after the break.
Fable 3, Halo: Reach and more to be shown at X10 event in February
Microsoft will hold its X10 event in San Francisco next month, giving us our first looks at Fable 3, Halo: Reach and Left 4 Dead 2 add-ons. The invite-only event will also include other games expected in 2010, including Alan Wake, Crackdown 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, Final Fantasy XIII and the Xbox Game Room. Microsoft's "X" events have been held for the last few trips around the sun by our health-insured brothers in Canada. We'll surely be in attendance for the February 11 event and get you info as soon as we can. We'd let you tap into our ocular implants, but the event won't have wi-fi for an uplink. Sorry.
Left 4 Dead 2's Versus mode getting bots, auto-spawn tweaks
Question: What's the only thing scarier than a looming horde of normal-speed zombies? Answer: A looming horde of normal-speed zombies with robot brains. That's the kind of nightmare we'll soon be facing once Valve puts the finishing touches on an update for Left 4 Dead 2, which will add Infected bots to the game's Versus mode to help balance out one-on-one games. In addition, Valve's doing some tweaking to the zombie auto-spawning which occurs during the finale events in Versus mode. Apparently, the developer decided that the average 34.56% chance of survival for the human team was a little too low, and is trying to balance things out by disabling auto-spawning during the campaigns' climaxes. Of course, none of that will matter when the human team is attempting to escape from robot zombies. %Gallery-64704%
Left 4 Dead 2 multiplayer, Last.fm available to silver subscribers this weekend
Microsoft has officially confirmed that the previously European-only Left 4 Dead 2 multiplayer event for silver members will now also occur in the US. The promotion begins this Friday, January 15, at 9AM Pacific and runs (screaming in horror) for 72 hours. During that same time, Last.fm will also be available to silver members. Now, if one does take advantage of this event, we have a suggestion: Please put on the Morrissey station on Last.fm and contemplate why you own Left 4 Dead 2 with a silver account? No need to answer now, just take your time and listen to some introspective tunes before answering.
Left 4 Dead 2 goes free-to-play on Xbox Live next weekend
If you've been sitting around on your hands waiting for the next free opportunity to play Left 4 Dead 2 on Xbox Live with your friends, well, we think you're a bit strange and should likely find a better habit. That being said, you'll be happy to hear that the game will be free-to-play for all Xbox Live members (even you lower class Silver folks) next weekend, starting promptly at 12:00PM ET on Friday, January 15, and finishing up on Monday the 18th (also at noon, as confirmed to CVG by Microsoft). We can't imagine that those of you still holding out will be convinced of an Xbox Live Gold account's worth after just one weekend, but it certainly can't hurt, now can it? Update: The free weekend has been confirmed for Europe only. A Microsoft representative tells Joystiq the company has "nothing to announce at this time" about a North American promotion. When asked if they had a timetable to announce something, the representative politely said that we'll hear something soon one way or another. %Gallery-64704%
Razer and Sixense hook up for motion sensing PC gaming peripheral (video)
Razer's already solidified its presence here at CES, but it obviously left the best for last. The peripheral outfit has hooked up with Sixense to bring motion sensing controls to PC gaming, and it utilized a wild demo of Left 4 Dead 2 to showcase the device. We hate to link everything to the Wiimote, but if you're desperate for a quick n' dirty explanation of this, it's sort of like a Wiimote / Natal mashup, but just for PCs. Users will find one-to-one tracking, and while further details were few and far between, we're told that devices based around the tech would be launched later in the year. Enough chit chat -- hop on past the break for an unashamedly gory clip of this thing in action.
Final day of Steam Holiday Sale wraps up the best-sellers
Okay, this is it: The penultimate batch of offers in the long-running Steam Holiday Sale. For the final day of the long-running promotion, Valve has elected to re-encheapen some of the games that sold like hotcakes in the sale's earlier one-day discounts. Until 9 a.m. PST tomorrow, the following games will be available for the following prices: BioShock - $4.99 Grand Theft Auto IV - $7.49 Torchlight - $4.99 Left 4 Dead 2 - $33.49 Killing Floor - $4.99 Defense Grid: The Awakening - $2.49 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl - $2.00 (Yes, two American dollars.)
Best of the Rest: Xav's Picks of 2009
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Upon release, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars immediately found its way on my top five games of 2009. With its style, humor and variety it's clear Rockstar was trying to shine a new light on the popular franchise. Not only that, Rockstar took chances in hopes to attract a similar audience to a handheld GTA as it has on consoles. From a new class of criminal, fighting for honor and turf in Liberty City to an addictive (albeit, mostly cloned from Drugwars) illegal narcotic mini-game, Chinatown Wars felt like a breath of fresh air. Sadly, the game was a commercial disaster, relative to its console-based siblings. Be that as it may, Chinatown Wars was not only my favorite on-the-go game of the year, it was easily one of the best games to release across any platform in 2009.
Best of the Rest: Dave's Picks of 2009
Resident Evil 5 I've long been a fan of the Resident Evil series, and while the campaign here has problems and should never be played solo, the Mercenaries mode is what kept me coming back. Those action-packed levels spent trying to survive while running low on ammo and health were some of my most chaotic, yet highly enjoyable, experiences of 2009.
Left 4 Dead 2's Midnight Riders wish you a Merry Christmas
We were far too busy a-wassailing yesterday to notice, but Valve released a soon-to-be-holiday-classic that we think is going to catch on like wildfire. It's the latest track from Left 4 Dead 2's quartet of bearded troubadours, the Midnight Riders, titled "All I Want for Christmas (Is To Kick Your Ass)." It's a lot like that one song with the similar title, only ... with more ass-kicking, we guess. Unsurprisingly, it's not suitable for work -- but incredibly suitable for your family gatherings. Click past the jump to rekindle that holiday spirit.
Valve releases Left 4 Dead 2 PC SDK just in time for the holidays
Left 4 Dead 2 on PC has just received a massive update, with both authoring tools for custom campaigns and a support package for those who just want to play custom games coming down the internet's chimney. That second part might not be so exciting if it weren't for the glorious detail that it "allows running ANY map [their emphasis], including custom maps made for the original Left 4 Dead." All your old favorites like the Mushroom Kingdom (with zombies) and Lego (with zombies) -- totally playable in Left 4 Dead 2. The only thing that the Left 4 Dead 2 Team asked for in return was "to get to play your custom maps" in their game, so let's all do them a favor and get right on that. We're personally hoping to see a Back to the Future 2 (with zombies) mod by the weekend. %Gallery-64704% [Thanks, Cj]
