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Left 4 Dead 1 and 2 on sale for $10.19 on Steam for a limited time
Valve has extended a whole mess of offers for Left 4 Dead and its sequel on its Steam platform in honor of the release of "The Sacrifice" -- both titles (the latter of which just launched on Mac) are available for $6.79 each, or $10.19 together for "a limited time."
Left 4 Dead 2 coming to the Mac this Tuesday
This is it -- the rumors were true! The last non-Mac holdout of Valve's Source titles is Left 4 Dead, the zombie-killing shooter featuring four survivors and a whole lot of undead, but that's about to change. The official site for the newest Left 4 Dead 2 downloadable content, "The Sacrifice," confirms that the game's sequel is coming to the Mac this very Tuesday, October 5th. Left 4 Dead 2 will be released, as have all of the Source games, under the Steam Play banner. That means if you own it on the PC, you also own it on the Mac, so all you'll have to do is download and start shooting zombies. Anyone who buys the game on Steam will get all of the DLC for free, which makes for the original five campaigns plus the three DLC levels to play through. That's an excellent deal for sure. Unfortunately, the first game is not yet ready for the Mac; apparently, it's taking Valve a little longer than expected to get it OS X-compatible. But Valve promises that when it is released, Steam owners will get the same deal -- all the DLC with the game itself. That's good stuff. Of course, with Left 4 Dead finally coming to our platform, which game will we be stuck waiting for next? Civ V, where you at? Thanks, Ben H!
Give up a few minutes for Left 4 Dead's 'The Sacrifice' trailer
"The Sacrifice" DLC for Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 arrives October 5 on Xbox 360 and PC. The expansion will add a new campaign to both games, the L4D1 "No Mercy" game type to L4D2 and a new mechanic in which players can choose to sacrifice themselves for the team. While free for PC players, the add-on will cost 560 Microsoft Points ($7) on Xbox. To help you avoid confusing this with "My Sacrifice," the 2001 hit single by Creed, we've included some visual aids in the form of a trailer after the break and screens in the gallery below.%Gallery-103988%
Rumor: Left 4 Dead on the Mac by October 5?
Left 4 Dead is the last promised Valve title to see release on Steam for Mac, and yet we haven't heard anything about an official release date. Valve was moving along pretty well for a while there, releasing games for our platform every Wednesday. But they've petered out lately, leaving a lot of Mac gamers wondering if we'd ever get to shoot zombies along with the rest of the gaming world. But a slip found by our former cohort David Chartier, now at Macworld, hints that we'll be exploring the zombie apocalypse soon -- he notes that Valve is bringing the game's new downloadable content, "The Sacrifice," to all platforms, including the Mac, by October 5th. The Sacrifice is an extra level that's available for both the first and second games in the series, so there's still a chance that Valve will only give us the original Left 4 Dead, and save the sequel for later. But I'd guess the reason for the long delay is that they're bringing both games over, so we might see both of them released on Steam for Mac by then. Of course, this could just be a slip of the blog, with the Mac just accidentally listed as an available platform. But that doesn't seem likely -- Valve tends to be careful about what they say. To whet your appetite, check out the game's brand new comic, created just for the new DLC.
Left 4 Dead born from Valve's killed 'flying fairy' game
"We stabbed it," Valve project manager Erik Johnson tells PC Gamer of the studio's apparent "flying fairy game," as Gabe Newell puts it. The conversation with Valve, which includes marketing director Doug Lombardi, provides revealing insight into the creative process of one of the most respected developers in the industry. Described as an "action fantasy sort of role playing game" featuring fairies, the project went as far as a working prototype (with spells cast by mouse gesturing) and "it was so bad," says Newell. Still, it was "a useful failure," adds the Valve co-founder, "because It was so clearly dumb that it made us say, 'Okay, what are we actually good at that we can do instead?'" Cue the Zombie Apocalypse! [Image credit: PC Gamer]
15 Minutes of Fame: Cory Doctorow on gold farming
From Hollywood celebrities to the guy next door, millions of people have made World of Warcraft a part of their lives. How do you play WoW? We're giving each approach its own 15 Minutes of Fame. digg_url = 'http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/08/04/15-minutes-of-fame-cory-doctorow-on-gold-farming/'; A conversation with Cory Doctorow plunges into the matter at hand so quickly that it's almost impossible not to imagine yourself falling through an internet-era rabbit hole of pop culture and technology. Doctorow is all about synthesizing ideas and spitting them out in as accessible a fashion as possible, and the ground he manages to cover in a single stride can be mind-boggling; he's a science fiction author, activist, journalist and blogger, father, gamer ... A former WoW player and husband of gaming standout Alice Taylor (also previously profiled here in 15 Minutes of Fame), he's widely known as the co-editor of Boing Boing and author of the bestselling young adult novel Little Brother. Doctorow's latest young adult novel, For the Win, pries open the seams of the shady scene behind MMO gold farming. Its young protagonists are gold farmers and gamers themselves. Doctorow has woven his own experience and sensibilities with focused research to outline a world of gold farming that sprawls far beyond the lines of cartoon-image gold farmers that most of us have painted in our heads. We chatted by phone with Doctorow for this lengthy conversation on gold farming and game economies, plus a companion piece at our sister publication Massively.com on gaming culture and his recent fiction.
Left 4 Dead's 'Tank' figure unveiled, busting through bank accounts
We've got some mixed emotions about the just revealed Tank mini-statue (statuette just doesn't seem fitting for a giant terrifying zombie), created by Gaming Heads for Valve. Sure, its detail is marvelous and it comes with a totally sweet, albeit miniature, pump-action shotgun, but it's also 325 real-life actual dollars for the "exclusive edition". At 15 inches tall, you'd better have a real special place in your heart (and in your house, preferably a cage) to shell out that kind of cash. If you'd like to save yourself a bit of money, there's a less-exclusive version (limited to a run of 750) for $300, but unfortunately it comes with no mini pump-action shotgun. And frankly, we both know that's completely unacceptable. How else will you fight off the little monster when he goes after your throat? Hmmm? Interested parties will be glad to know that orders appear to be open as of right now, though the statue won't be set free until "Q1 2011."
New L4D2 Mutation: Hard Eight (more like 'Just Hard')
At first, we really liked the idea of Left 4 Dead 2 "mutations." They promised fun tweaks to the gameplay to keep it interesting and fresh. In practice, however, they seem more like an excuse for Valve to make the game even harder. For instance, this week's mutation is "Hard Eight," which doubles the maximum number of active special Infected from four to eight. Eight. What's that? You just killed a Boomer? Well, don't worry, because there are seven more standing right behind you.
Day of Defeat now available for the Mac
One more classic Steam title has been added to the Mac lineup -- Day of Defeat is now available on the OS X version of Steam. It's a Source-engine WWII multiplayer shooter that's not quite as popular as Counter-Strike or Team Fortress 2 (both of which are also available on the Mac at this point), but still provides some Axis and Ally-style fun. Personally, I think I prefer Enemy Territory, but Day of Defeat makes use of the Steam Play feature, so if you already own the game on Windows, you can download and play it on your Mac without paying any extra. If you've never played it before, you can pick it up for just $10 or (even better) buy it along with a few other classic Source titles for $30. That just leaves the Left 4 Dead line as the last big Valve title yet to be released on the Mac. They've been pretty faithful with their weekly releases, so by this time next week, you could finally be killing zombies on the Apple OS. Stay tuned! [via Joystiq]
We don't hate 'I Hate Mountains,' a fan-made Left 4 Dead campaign
We've seen the Left 4 Dead SDK be used to create some truly impressive, zombie-infested levels, but this one might just take the cake. Three modders recently published a full-length, five-chapter campaign for Valve's original Zombocalypse survival sim, titled "I Hate Mountains" -- a quote from the game's lovable, vested contrarian, Francis. The campaign, which took over one year to develop, takes players through a number of eerie, lovingly crafted environments, such as a lumber yard and a (likely structurally unsound) mansion. You can check out a trailer for I Hate Mountains after the jump, or download it from the mod's official website. Download: I Hate Mountains (266MB) [Via Shacknews]
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.
Latest L4D2 mutation is for gnome lovers
Valve has announced the latest mutation game mode in Left 4 Dead 2: Last Gnome on Earth. In order to win, the survivors simply have to carry the garden gnome through any of the single-player campaigns. There's a catch though: the Infected will immediately swarm on anyone carrying the gnome. Valve also warns players to be careful setting the gnome down as "a boomer explosion will send him flying." The mutation is only available in campaign mode. Valve also added that Realism Vs mode, as promised, will become permanent starting next week for everyone that owns "The Passing" DLC. Furthermore, one of the mutations released so far will make a comeback next week, with Valve noting that the mutation will be voted in by players. The candidates include Follow the Liter, Bleed Out and this week's mutation, Last Gnome on Earth. Finally, Valve will be playing Left 4 Dead 2 with the community this weekend. Check out a list of Steam and Xbox Live gamertags the team will be using after the break.
Left 4 Dead 2 gets permanent Realism Vs mode, new weekly Mutation
You guys really liked that Realism Vs mode in Left 4 Dead 2, huh? Lucky for you, Valve's Left 4 Dead Blog passes along word that it's been made into a permanent game type. Valve reports the final results of the in-game poll show 68 percent of those voting wanted it to be permanent, while only 21 percent of those voting didn't want it hanging around -- the final 11 percent really had no opinion. Apathy doesn't help kill zombies, people. And because it's past Thursday, there's now a new Mutation to enjoy: Follow the Liter. In this Scavenger variant, the gas spawning is limited to a solitary can in one location known to both the Survivors and the Infected. Sounds like Mad Max -- you know, but with zombies. The Left 4 Dead Blog offers more details and teases us with next week's Mutation title: Last Gnome on Earth. You think that's a The World of David the Gnome reference?
Adorable, nightmarish Left 4 Dead Boomer plush toy on sale
If you're attempting to ween your teenage offspring off their collection of stuffed animals, we suggest investing in a line of plushies which are capable of scaring them out of their adorable addiction. Valve is releasing a set of five Left 4 Dead plush toys which should suit your needs quite well, the first of which -- based on the digestivally challenged "Boomer" special infected -- is currently available on Valve's online store for $49.99. That price is a tad steep, though each toy comes with a sound chip that can emit ten of the Boomer's in-game grunts and belches. Just think of it like a premium you're paying to really place your child's psyche deep within the nightmare zone. [Via Big Download]
Gaming Heads to create lineup of collectibles based on Valve properties
It's as if millions of wallets cried out and were suddenly silenced, stripped of their precious cash money and left hollowed out and dead. We imagine that ringing in our ears has something to do with Valve and Gaming Heads, who just inked a deal to produce a line-up of collectibles based on hit Valve franchises. Pictured above is The Heavy, which will be the first in its Team Fortress 2 series -- available in Red and Blue varieties, of course. Gaming Heads will also produce statues based on other popular Valve properties, such as Half-Life 2 and Left 4 Dead 2. And if some decorative shelf or desk items aren't really your thing, there's the promise of "life-sized props," meaning there's a possibility you could actually own a Portal gun without having to make it yourself sometime in the future. Just imagine: you'll be the hit of the Halloween party! The Heavy will be available for pre-order on Monday, May 3. [Via Team Fortress 2 Blog]
Steam for Mac beta set for May 12
Steam for the Mac has been given a date: May 12th. We were hoping to see it by the time April ended, but they've pushed back the date to just a few scant weeks from today. So come the second Wednesday in May, you the public will be able to go and pick up the beta and see what the biggest digital distribution system in the world looks like running native on your Mac. Keep in mind that you'll have to have an Intel Mac running 10.5 or higher (and you might even need a more current OS for some of the games on the system), and of course this is the Steam platform, not all of the games along with it. But at the very least, the official Valve games will be Mac-ported, including the Half Life and Left 4 Dead series, and the very excellent Portal. Should be fun!
Waiting for Left 4 Dead on the Mac? Wait a little longer
Back in March, the Mac gaming world got excited when Valve announced their Steam gaming software was coming to the Mac -- along with Left 4 Dead 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike, Portal, and the Half Life series. The same day, Valve said Steam would ship in April, to be proceeded by a beta test in late March. The call for beta testers did go as planned with a late-March timeline, but with only four days left, it doesn't seem like Valve is going to make their second deadline. Over the weekend, Valve put this message up on their Steam for Mac beta site: "Sorry! This stage of the Steam on Mac beta signup is now closed. Applicants will be chosen in the coming weeks. If we open the beta to a larger audience we will let everyone know!" We've sent an email to Valve asking if they have a new public release date planned, but have yet to hear back from them. As soon as we do, I'll let you know!
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!
