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'Dead Center' and 'Hard Rain' are final Left 4 Dead 2 campaigns [Update: They're real!]
Update: A Valve representative has confirmed the veracity of the two posters as official, saying simply, "They're legit."Original: It is with much necessary reservation that we bring you the two purported Left 4 Dead 2 campaign posters for "Dead Center" and "Hard Rain" that you see above, completing the set of five campaign missions. Found over on Taiwanese website GNN, we're highly skeptical of their veracity for the time being, but felt their quality at least bared mention -- if this isn't real thing, it's damn impressive. Being Danny Doubters though, we're still a bit thrown by consistency differences when compared to the game's other three posters. We've sent a note to Valve for comment, so until we hear back, the images will remain strictly in our "unconfirmed" pile. In the meantime, ponder this: "Dead Center" translated by Google from Mandarin Chinese is "Death Marketplace." Fact![Thanks Lockwolf!]%Gallery-75297%
Left 4 Dead PC patch reclosing doors in 'Crash Course' DLC [update]
Aside from fixing pressing issues like "campaign image not updating correctly when creating a lobby" and increasing "the reliability of the Steam Group server display," Valve's recently released PC patch updates a crucial issue with Left 4 Dead's latest DLC: keeping doors closed. Apparently, during Versus mode in the game's "Crash Course" DLC, players were able to release teammates from "rescue closets," assuredly stopping rampant R. Kelly syndrome. The game may be fixed, but will that cure your urge to micturate on people? Only time will tell.%Gallery-22771%
Newell pays way to Australia, donations go to Child's Play
Despite the internet's best efforts to pay Valve prez Gabe Newell's way to Australia, the man simply won't take it. Posting on Fly Gabe Newell, the now infamous Australian Left 4 Dead modder "Joe W-A" says that not only are Newell and Valve project manager Erik Johnson heading down under next week, but they've paid their own way. "All the money accumulated will be going to the Child's Play charity," which Joe W-A tells Joystiq totals $3,099.54 from 233 donations. Said Valve's Newell in an official statement, "The power of the gaming community and their ability to rally around a cause -- be it serious or fun in nature -- is amazing." And Newell's no stranger to both sides of it, having recently invited the creators of a Left 4 Dead 2 boycott to visit Valve's studios, sparking the joke email thread between Newell and Joe W-A that eventually resulted in the trip to Australia.We'll have more on the visit next week; hopefully including a promised video from the Australian modder hosting Newell.
Games for Windows certification streamlined for Windows 7 launch
You'd think that owning and operating the world's most ubiquitous operating system would make Microsoft popular with PC game publishers, that they'd be jumping at the chance to have the company's 'Games for Windows' nomenclature. For the software giant, this hasn't been the case so far, with major publishers like EA and Valve sticking with their own distribution services for PC gaming. Microsoft hopes to change that with its recent announcement of a streamlined approval process for GFW-labeled games, just in time for the launch of Windows 7 -- the "Games for Windows Self Certification Site."By opening up a website that advertises the various marketing benefits of bringing titles to the GFW label, it appears that Microsoft is putting forth at least a minimal effort to keep its PC gaming business running. We've reached out to Microsoft for more information on the new self certification process and will update this post when we know more.[Via Big Download]
More Left 4 Dead DLC after 'Crash Course,' says boycotter
When Left 4 Dead 2 boycott co-leader Walking_Target visited Wonka's chocolate factory Valve Software recently, he saw the most fantastical things. Though he can't go into too much detail per a verbal agreement with Valve, the lucky gent drew upon his inner Keighley to deliver a few scant details about "more DLC for Left 4 Dead coming after Crash Course" on his blog.According to Walking_Target, the upcoming content could be "a new special infected, a new campaign, or new weapon(s)." Considering the fact that the Crash Course DLC lands this month, and Left 4 Dead 2 shambles into stores on November 17, that leaves one empty month in between for this mystery content -- that is, unless Valve plans on releasing it after L4D2. This would of course put us in a compromising position: Buy Left 4 Dead 2 and potentially miss out on the original game's DLC, or download the first game's DLC and maybe permanently delay a purchase of the sequel? We've contacted Valve for more details to help us (and you!) solve this particularly problematic predicament.%Gallery-22771%[Via Shacknews]
Tired of boycotts? Donate money and fly Gabe Newell to Australia! [update]
Update: A Valve representative got in touch with us and confirmed both the legitimacy of Newell's conversation with "Joe W-A" and that he would fly to Australia should the money be raised. Looks like this thing just got really real!Valve's Gabe Newell has been getting all kissy-face with the Left 4 Dead 2 boycott leaders recently, and one man is (jokingly) mad as hell about it. Enter Brisbane, Australia resident "Joe W-A," entrepreneurial Left 4 Dead campaign modder and buddy of Gabe Newell, who recently started a (presumably) tongue-in-cheek blog to collect donations based on an email exchange with the Valve Software head. "Joe W-A": Why the hell haven't I been flown to Valve? I mean, you guys need to preview my campaign."Newell: We are boycotting your campaign."Joe W-A": Does that mean I have to fly you here?Newell: Me and Erik [Johnson, Valve project manager].And just like that, donations started piling in. Though we've contacted "Joe W-A" for more accurate numbers, our calculations put the dollar amount just over $700 as of this morning. He assures readers that if Newell and Johnson do in fact back out from visiting, he'll refund as much as possible and donate anything left to Penny Arcade's Child's Play charity. We know it's selfish, but the YouTube video that "Joe -W-A" promises to create of the visit has us hoping that Newell and Johnson will go through with it. We've asked Gabe Newell for comment and will update this post when we hear back.[Via Rock, Paper, Shotgun]
An amusement park full of zombies, care of Left 4 Dead 2
How exclusive is this footage? So exclusive it's not even named yet! At least that's what Valve's Chet Faliszek told Geoff Keigley about Left 4 Dead 2's amusement park campaign on the most recent episode of GTTV. If you skip past the first half of the episode found after the break (which, inconveniently enough isn't available as a standalone video), you'll get a few minutes of new gameplay from the upcoming zombie-murdalizin' sequel. As you might imagine, there are zombies. There are also amusement park rides. As if clowns weren't terrifying enough! Come on, Valve! %Gallery-64704%
Thwack! Left 4 Dead 2 survivors play a bit of cricket
Click image for a closer view of the zombie bashing There's a cricket bat in Left 4 Dead 2, and after pondering how such an instrument could find its way to the southern United States (we certainly don't make them here, and every American knows that we don't allow people with them to enter the country), we've come up with a few theories: Someone smuggled the bat and full set of gear (notice how the zombie is dressed to play?) into the country, akin to how Snake Plissken was smuggled into Manhattan in Escape from New York Zombies really like sports The United States was chosen as a neutral place to hold a competition between two rival teams in cricket, and the zombie infestation happened during the game A wizard did it It's an homage to Shaun of the Dead Valve just felt like it We asked some folks at Valve about it, but they wouldn't divulge any info. What do you guys think?[Via IGN]
Valve and Arkane's The Crossing 'on hold'
click for gallery of The Crossing Bad news for those of you anticipating Arkane Studios' and Valve's "crossplay" FPS The Crossing (and for those of you with good memories). After the two-year anniversary of the game's debut passed earlier this year, we renewed our attempts to get some information on the innovative shooter. In case you don't remember, The Crossing promised to merge single-player and multiplayer gaming (hence the "crossplay" moniker). Two years ago, the premise seemed impossibly ambitious; now, after the success of Valve's Left 4 Dead (and, specifically, its Versus mode) we're a lot more confident the approach could work. So, what happened to the project? "We ran into an unexpected financial challenge some months ago and we had to put The Crossing on hold," Raphael Colantonio, CEO and creative director of Arkane Studios, told us. "Since then, we shifted our efforts to other very good projects." Two of those projects are reportedly underway at Arkane's Austin studio, an FPS RPG and a "casual strategy game" for the iPhone, under the direction of Deus Ex-alum Harvey Smith.
Valve jokingly tips hat to MMOs in latest Team Fortress 2 update
Team Fortress 2 from Valve is one of the more MMO-like first person shooters running. It's only played online, is class-based, has achievement unlocks which open up new gear possibilities, and after the last update there's a backpack with room for 50 items and mention (read: unconfirmed) of tradeable items. In some ways, TF2 is an FPS for MMO lovers -- or just those who use way too many acronyms. The comparisons between Team Fortress 2 and MMOs aren't lost on some of the more inventive TF2 players out there like goldenhearted who's made Garry's Mod mockups of a fictional "Team Fortress 2 RPG". Valve also got in on the fun in a slightly sneaky way in the latest game update. Steam users found this programmer's tip of the hat to MMOs in the game code:
Left 4 Dead 'Survival Pack' lunges for Xbox 360 on April 21
Valve has revealed that its upcoming DLC pack (which is free, by the way) for Left 4 Dead will be available to Xbox 360 gamers on April 21. For the unaware, the pack includes a new Survival mode, which pits the human survivors against wave after wave of attacking zombies. The update also includes Versus campaign support for two more maps: Death Toll and Dead Air. Let the undead griefing begin!
Hand balm over here! Left 4 Dead gets erotic
Okay, we're not going to sugarcoat this: Somebody decided to make the worst porn parody ever. It's called Left 4 Head and, as one might imagine, is based on Left 4 Dead. It stars the game's only female survivor, Zoey. We're not sure why someone would want to combine zombies and copious amounts of gettin' it on (death isn't exactly sexy, amirite?), but, hey, "dead" and "head" rhyme, so we can understand how someone came up with the idea. The thing that we're still stuck on is the why.For a full breakdown of the plot, you'll want to check out our synopsis here.[Note: any and all comments containing links to the *ahem* "film" will be deleted -- so don't even think about it. Hugs and kisses, Joystiq.]
Left 4 Dead receives massive patch on Xbox 360
Valve just informed us that a patch has been released for the Xbox 360 version of Left 4 Dead, just in time for the soon-to-be-released downloadable content.The patch, applied via a mandatory title update over Xbox Live, fixes a bunch of bugs, attempts to balance online gameplay and generally improves the Left 4 Dead experience. View the entire list of changes after the break.(Oh, PSA: Be sure to take extra care staying away from Tanks. We don't remember asking for reduced auto-shotgun damage against them.)
PSA: Steam did not just gift you Far Cry 2
Multiple members of Team Joystiq received a weird email this morning, which stated that Valve, the beloved developers behind PC's great platform, Steam, had gifted us Far Cry 2. With an email address originating from the Steam URL, you could imagine how (almost) convinced we were. Turns out it was all a hoax.The activation link in the very convincing email (seriously, it looks legit!) goes to a third-party site. We can only imagine the malice awaiting us on the other side of that link, so if you were also the recipient of this email, know that IT'S A TRAP!
Gabe Newell to keynote D.I.C.E. Summit
When the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences kicks off this year's D.I.C.E. Summit in Las Vegas it will do so with opening remarks and a keynote address by Gabe Newell. The Valve supreme commander will join the show's laundry list of other industry luminaries when the event takes over Sin City's Red Rock Casino the week of February 17.Among the more interesting scheduled talks include a presentation by Resident Evil 5 creative director Jun Takeuchi, who plans to address the challenges devs face when creating games for a global audience. Another by Ensemble's Bruce Shelley will see the game designer look back on the studio's history as well as discuss what may have led to the company turning out its lights for the final time. As for what Newell himself will be talking about, nothing has been announced, though our Magic 8-Ball says it will be PC-centric and not particularly flattering towards DRM.
Mario Kart Source: made by fans, for fans
If you're a fan of PC games, then of course you've heard of the Source engine. It powers Half-Life 2, which is the bee's knees. Well, an ambitious bunch has decided to use the Source engine to code a new Mario Kart racing game, Mario Kart Source. The best part about this project is that the team is looking at all of the previous games in the series and is attempting to take just the best bits for their new game. Our verdict? Awesome.Sadly, Nintendo won't likely be as excited to hear about the project, so we're sure they'll step in at some point or another and intervene. [Via Go Nintendo]
Big changes headed to TF2, Xbox update still in the works
In a fairly exhaustive article from The Escapist, a few details regarding the future of Team Fortress 2 have been revealed. As players might expect, class updates -- akin to the previous updates to the Medic, Heavy and Pyro classes -- are foremost on the list. Specifically, the Scout is the next up for tweaking. Other updates include a new map for the Payload game type and possibly even an entirely new game type, which the article refers to as "very different."Sadly, the article doesn't detail when (or if) these updates will ever make it to the ailing Xbox version. Perhaps tellingly, the article refers to the upcoming 360 update, which is set to include all the PC updates released so far, as one of "a number of side projects" Valve is currently working on.[Via Joystiq]
Left 4 Dead update hits 360 "in the coming weeks"
Valve sends word that an update for the PC version of Left 4 Dead is now available, with an update for the 360 version planned in "the coming weeks." The update includes lots of bug fixes as well as many improvements to the versus multiplayer mode. As a general improvement, the Infected HUD now shows the status of other Infected teammates, which is nice. Several changes and improvements have been made to the various Infected classes, including increased pounce damage for Hunters, changes to the Smoker's tongue mechanics -- sounds like it's harder to melee the tongue now -- and reduced autoshotgun damage against Tanks. Perhaps most notable to those that play a lot of versus, the percentage chance that either a Witch or Tank will spawn is now the same for both teams. Hopefully that will quell the constant cries of "no fairsies!"Find the complete list of fixes and improvements after the break. We'll be sure to let you know when the update hits the Xbox 360.
Left 4 Dead patch released, safe rooms are safe
You'll be pleased to know that on top of the server-side patch, Valve has just released a title update for Left 4 Dead that's a client-side patch for stopping hackers and exploiters. You know, because nobody likes dealing with a dozen witches while in a safe room. Safe rooms are meant to be safe. Valve confirmed with Joystiq that patch not only fixes all the cheats from working online, but also prevents the L4D shenanigans from working on system link.
Metacritic roundup: Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead, Valve's intense cooperative zombie experience, just made its way to retailers and has been put in front of the review jury. So, how has it fared? Not too bad, seeing that its average metacritic score is hovering around 89 as reviewers gush over the game's cooperative brain splattering fun. Check out what the industry has to say about Left 4 Dead: OXM (95/100): "It's the same thing over and over - but when simple ingredients are perfectly prepared, what could be a mere snack becomes a feast. This one just happens to be on human flesh." Team Xbox (91/100) "It's so immersive and satisfying to sling lead at an infinite number of creepy, crawly zombies!" Edge Magazine (90/100): "Valve has taken something unscripted and dynamic, and seeded it with the right amount of narrative flavour, pacing and spectacle." GameSpy (90/100): "Out of all the titles that have shaped the Year of Living Cooperatively, this may be the best experience of them all." IGN (90/100): "There's absolutely no doubt that Left 4 Dead is one of the most social and exciting multiplayer games that we've ever played."
