With Left 4 Dead 2 out this week (review coming soon!), the notorious boycott of Valve's zombie apocalypse sequel is all but forgotten. Even so, Valve has been reflecting on the incident with Videogamer.com, talking about how it was like a "fight inside the family" and how they never wanted it to become an "us versus them" struggle like the gaming media (myself included, because it was great fun) did.
"But it was more like a fight inside the family," explains writer Chet Faliszek. "We have 3.5 million people playing Left 4 Dead 1. 40,000 said something. They are passionate about our games. They play our games. So we always take the feedback seriously, because we're gamers as well, and these are people who are playing our games and will probably play our games with us. So we always want to make sure we're listening and understanding the issues.
"... But honestly, that's fair, because I don't expect everyone to know the whole history of Valve. I don't expect anyone to know who I am. I don't expect anyone to know who Gabe is. I don't expect them to have played Half-Life. That would be arrogant to think that people know us that well."
Chet also talks about the E3 reveal that first soured gamer expectations: " ... There are always refinements we always do, and we always knew we were going to have all this. But you've got to show the game at some point, and that's what we did. We knew when we were first showing it that it was good and that we would be at this place now and be happy."
Left 4 Dead 2 hits stores on Tuesday and while I'm not allowed to say much about it right now, I can tell you one thing -- if you liked the first one, you want this.
Contest:
11:40 AM on 11.16.2009
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Plus he has a shitfaced grin on too.
I would buy this game Tuesday but I have so many tests this week I'm afraid to get it and then subsequently fail aforementioned tests. It looks like it's going to have to wait until Thursday or Friday.
I won't be getting it anyway since the network here has a tendancy to hate steam.
At any rate the game unlocks in 10 hours on Steam... can't wait.
Oh and if you guys remember the demo...and how us PC players got delayed 24 hours, I'm not getting my hopes up for a Midnight Release... Never the less, I will be playing this hardcore non-stop due to me taking Wed off work. BROFIST
Even if the game is nothing more than a glorified expansion pack that fixes the problems from the first game, why would you complain? The players are getting what they want. We're getting even more content than the first game when it was released at the same price. Valve can't release everything for free, someone needed to be paid to create it.
You do realise that LOADS of companies do that, right? In fact some of the most popular companies out there do it hugely. Hell, Valve admitted openly they didn't support L4D1 like they wanted to and plan to support 2 more.
And you come off as if Gabe just ate your dog in your post. Jus' sayin.
I'm just asking because you seem to have done some thought on the matter, and I would assume you're in the boycotter camp or are enjoying playing devil's advocate. And this is a totally serious question, not trying to be an ass here.
What would could they have added or changed where you would have thought "ok, thats an acceptable sequel"? Other than the price.
I respect most of your points, but what you just described is iteration and refinement, which is bread and butter of most game sequels.
If this were any other studio, no one would be surprised at all that they were being asked to pay full price for new content, especially when the original game was only 4 campaigns versus 5 in the new, and the addition of 2 new game modes on top of the existing and expansion content from the original. But because it's Valve, who has apparently spoiled some of it's community rotten with free content, it becomes an issue.
I'm not buying L4D2 either, but for other reasons.
'I respect most of your points, but what you just described is iteration and refinement, which is bread and butter of most game sequels.'
I'd go so far as to say it's the bread and butter of ALL good sequels.
Complaining about l4d2 is like complaining about Madden. Seriously, who cares, you'll end up buying it anyways and you'll enjoy it.
Did everyone forget about the interviews with Chet where he said that L4D would be supported like TF2? And that they would add nearly everything that they are putting into L4D2.
So am I being spoiled because I expected them to do something they said they would?
Wow, thanks for linking that, I am honestly stunned.
Still, since Jim is hinting he is the reviewer, if it is a PC review I will eat my hat.
On top of that, I've got MW2 and Borderlands if I want action or 4 player multiplayer, along with Dragon Age and Assassins Creed 2 coming up. Besides, L4D3 will be out this time next year.
Only one, maybe two, of the five levels are in daytime.
I do agree it seems more based on fun and crazyness than the original though... personally I like that, it means I have a reason to play both and that they are different games.
It really is an expansion pack billed as a sequel though... if I hadn't of been able to get the Steam preorder deal for $33 I might not have bit for a while.
Nice. I know that my question wasn't directed at you, but thanks for ignoring it just the same. Yes, Chet said that was their goal, THEN. And content has been forth coming. As much as TF2? No. But have they publicly stated that there would be no more L4D DLC?
Yes, to answer your question, you are indeed being a spoiled, petulant child for not understanding that plans change, shit happens, and oh yeah, the economy tanked, and tanked still more, and I would suggest growing up.
Valve is a company, with people that it does in fact, employ people. So yes, if they changed their plans somewhat due to the economic downturn and the fact that they don't ship many titles a year, I wouldn't blame them. We don't know the state of Valve's financial, as they are privately held, and here you are, acting like a child on Christmas morning, tears in his eyes saying "but you said, but you said," in the worst economic climate since the 1970s
Well, all that free DLC costs money to make, pal. Its nice when it is free, but TF2 is the exception, not the rule. And if you didn't get your money out of what's on the disc, you only have yourself to blame. I've gotten more fun out of that single disc than I have out of 3-4 AAA recent launches combined.
@ Nick Willett, if you're out there, I'd still like to hear your thoughts, unless of course your primary answer is something Chet or Gabe said to the press a handful of times, not a signed contract to you promising DLC in exchange for nothing, which warrants the above.
It will be a good thing to remember when they announce Left4Dead3, to be released next year =p
They released a bunch of content that should have already been in the game. Hell, how long did it take to get them to release Dead Air and Death Toll for versus? And don't tell me the development of L4D2 didn't contribute to the delay.
And to answer your question, nothing. Everything they added makes it deserving of a sequel. But that doesn't make the bad taste in my mouth go away from the half a game that was L4D.
L4D2 is the game that L4D should have been. What blows me away is how long it took to get L4D released and then they can turn around and crank out a sequel with twice as much in a year.
Your economic excuse can go both ways. And if the economy is their excuse they need to fire their accountant. Hell, all they would have to do is release Episode 3 and they would be set for the next decade. I would not have been upset in the slightest had they maid it paid DLC. L4D2 is worth no more than $30 to anyone who purchased L4D. And I such I refuse to buy until it drops to that price.
And 1 little comment on a lame blog makes me whiny?
And the bonus on survival mode and crash course campaign were good free additions if you play on PCs as god intended.
Is this tf2 level support? Like I said, no. Did L4D2 impact it in some way? Probably. But in these tough times, it's hard for me to fault them for changing their minds on support. And "firing their accountant" doesn't bring in revenue, shipping a good title during a holiday will.
And firing Episode III out the door prematurely would do more damage than good. Considering how little has been said on it, I suspect they've restarted the project from scratch at least once.
L4D was arguably pushed out the door before it was finished. Now imagine that, X 50 because of the expectations that are on it. If a little less L4D support means I get L4D2, and that Episode 3 comes out before I die, I'll take it, though obviosly that opinion isn't universal.
I also see it this way. L4d was finished eventually. I'm still waiting on a complete end to KotORII. Valve gave me my money's worth. If a bit late. And it was a blast.