So, Left 4 Dead 2 is coming out, and people aren't happy. This is to be expected, since gamers tend to be entitled, spoiled, and miserable with anything and everything. Arguably the best co-op shooter in years gets a sequel, and people complain. That's the games industry for you.
Having wandered around the E3 showfloor and played the game myself, I've heard a number of complaints about the game. About how Valve is selling out, how the original Left 4 Dead won't get supported, and how it's simply too soon for a sequel. These people really should STFUAJPG. Seriously.
Read on as we discuss the BAAAAW'ing over Left 4 Dead 2.
I think it's incredibly ironic that Valve, the company famed for taking ten years to complete a sequel, is now being criticized for finally getting a sequel out in a timely fashion. Valve has taken so much shit over the years for its lengthy development time, especially over Left 4 Dead itself, and when it decides to throw something up quick, the community backlash is even worse.
Valve, of all companies, has earned the right to milk at least one franchise, at least once. The studio has taken years upon years to develop some of the best games in the world, and if it wants to try and shorten its development cycle and see if it can provide the same quality, I see no reason why we should try and discourage them. Do you seriously not want more Left 4 Dead?
Okay, people do want more Left 4 Dead, but they don't want a sequel. Instead, they complain that they aren't being given more shit for the original game. Well, you shouldn't be buying games with the expectation that you're going to have a load of free shit dumped on you from the outset. People knew what they were getting on the disc/file when they purchased the game. They were never told they'd be drowning in DLC after the fact. Valve never promised that, and is under no obligation to provide it. Oh wait, you say Valve did it for its other games? That's because Valve was spoiling you, son!
If it helps you, though, I heard a Valve rep on the show floor saying that Left 4 Dead would still get support, despite the sequel's release. This brings me to the other point: If you love Left 4 Dead so much, by all means keep playing it and just pretend Left 4 Dead 2 doesn't exist. We all know what Valve games are like -- servers will still be full of original L4D players long after the sequel's release, so you can live in Mr. Softee's Imaginary World of Happy for the rest of your natural days, unaffected by the evil sequel.
Another complaint, and one that I can quasi-understand, is that it'll just be more of the same. I played Left 4 Dead 2 this week, and you know what? I agree. There is a new Special Infected in the Charger, and you get special melee weapons, but it's pretty much the same game as before. I'm also bummed that, at the time of writing, there are no alternate character models for the Hunter, Smoker and Boomer.
However, while I agree the game is more of the same, I must add that I don't care at all. The very fact that this Left 4 Dead is set during the daytime is enough to justify its existence, as far as I'm concerned. Zombies are naturally scarier during the day, and the New Orleans settings look distinctly beautiful, in a post-apocalyptic way. Yes, Left 4 Dead 2 plays just like Left 4 Dead, but I couldn't give a shit. It's a great game, with a sexy new coat of paint, and I will swallow that shit with a massive silver spoon. Plus, the Horde member in a Hazmat suit is hoofin' brilliant.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the concern. It's surprisingly quick, especially for Valve, and with Electronic Arts casting an increasingly strong shadow over the studio, it's not hard to imagine Valve falling into the Activision trap of releasing endless sequels and spin-offs for the co-op zombie shooter. However, we are not yet at that point, and I believe it's probably wise to save up the bitching and whining until we arrive at such a stage.
Valve has the makings of a killer franchise on its hands, and I believe it deserves the chance to "sell out" at least a little bit, for once. If you had a hot property like Left 4 Dead and you knew that people would lap it up, would you not want to make more, and do so while things are still hot? Of course you would. Many of you still lap up every single Zelda game, despite them following the same format, and most of you lose your shit over re-released games like Marvel vs. Capcom. Don't pretend you won't lap this up either.
Most of the people complaining will be playing this and loving it when it's released. I'd put down some money on that wager, but I'm saving up for Left 4 Dead 2.
Contest:
4:00 PM on 06.06.2009
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So didn't happen.
Valve are well known for not releasing crap for money. If L4D2 is bad, they will take longer.
And it sounds like more of the same, which is a good thing if they get that "New Left 4 Dead Feeling" about it, where you don't know all the maps little bits, where you walk through the metal detector without knowing, where you don't turn a game which has an amazing ability to make every playthrough a bit different into "You stand there, I take the Minigun, you two cover me" eight times.
They can do all this (new character new campaigns and weapons) in DLC and it would make it easier to find games and bring the old characters and weapons to the other campaigns.
Still buy it of course. Valve are Infalible.
As for this notion that they're "selling out", well, that's just retarded. They already "sold out" when they charged you money for games. Do people think Valve is some special company that's trying to change the world or something?
THEY EXIST TO MAKE MONEY.
If they didn't make money, they wouldn't make games just for your enjoyment. I'm sure they'd like to, but they wouldn't because they couldn't. They're a business.
So let them make some money. God knows they could have made a hell of a lot more over the years had they simply acted like 98% of the development and publishing community already does.
And besides this, at least they didn't just sell you new campaigns with the same characters and themes.
They put moar black people in.
That's always good, right?
There's also the "you don't HAVE to buy it" argument, but that applies to absolutely fucking everything. XD
L4D was such a good game despite its relative shallow content. I put about 100 or more hours into the first game, which no matter how little content it has is freaking outstanding for $60. I think Valve spoiled people with TF2 and now they expect all sorts of stuff for free or even as DLC. If L4D2 has just as much content as the first game and more, how the hell could that be DLC?
Never.
L4D2 has new maps, new versus mode, MORE weapons, MORE special infected and most importantly a NEW AI Director 2.0 which changes campaign's routes, weather settings and horde's aggressive levels. And I am SURE there will be more to be announced on this well-deserved sequel that we ALL wanted ever since we got our hands on the first.
Ungrateful brats, anne frank had a diary, you kids get free dlc. Fucking hate you.
On the contrary, they DID say they would be releasing content afterwards. Mentioned were Characters, Maps and Weapons.
I'm not complaining about Left4Dead2, I fully intend to pick it up. But before Left4Dead 1's release, they DID promise DLC which was not delivered on adequately, to a lot of people. I'll try and find the interview with Gabe.
Day of the Dead is my favorite zombie movie, and those motherfuckers are out in force during the daytime.
If they don't want another game to come out, that's fine, they don't have to buy it. I will, and I'll be having a blast with all of the other people who aren't all pissy about this too.
Though - it IS to quick. And I don't talk free DLC, but mods and community. Whatever grew will be uprooted very soon and not all of it will survive the process.
If it was big expansion, even one that costs like the original, but lets you continue everything, play old maps and play mods from the L4D1 - it'd be much better.
There are some player crafted campaignes nearing completion. Lets guess how much energy will these projects get now, if they get outdated and incompatibile this soon.
Exhibit A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u4rNH9cqIM
He says, "New missions, new weapons, new achievements and new characters."
Now, I'm not going to completely boycott the game. I've played a ton of L4D and I'm definitely looking forward to the second one, but I did expect the sort of DLC he mentioned in that video.
Now they've also started saying that L4D2 will be the real platform for DLC, but how do I know that they'll stick to it and it won't just end up like the original?
My hands on time with the game was great (even though I only got a half hour because some GameTrailers noob took forever setting up video equipment). This game is damned fun, and that is what will sell copies in the end.
Seconding the fact that they certainly did mention additional content on top of the released stuff.
the steam group url is: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/L4D2boycott
youll find many interviews that show the two face nature of this
http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/left_4_dead/news/valve_details_post_left_4_dead_launch_plans.html
"So we'll do the same thing with Left 4 Dead where we'll have the initial release and then we'll release more movies, more characters, more weapons, unlockables, achievements, because that's the way you continue to grow a community over time."
I only bought this game, with what scarce content it had, because Valve said that they would add more content to it like with Team Fortress 2. Half a year later all we have is a time based mode that is basically small parts of existing levels + 2 maps for versus that should have been in the game to start with and they are working on a sequel. I ONLY bought the game thinking they would properly support it like TF2 and like they said they would. THAT's why I'm complaining.
From interviews since the game was launched, it appears to me that all they'll be adding to L4D1 now is patches and new matchmaking features. Knowing Valve though, they could still surprise us - so I may be jumping the gun.
I'd like to add that I'm still a huge fan of Valve, but I certainly will not be purchasing Left 4 Dead 2 (at least until a massive sale on Steam).
And what's wrong with the free DLC we've already gotten for it? And the promise of more future content? It's not impossible for Valve to have grown and hired on more talent, allowing them to work on *gasp* multiple projects at the same time. It's not like once L4D came out, the TF2 support dried up.
To me, this outrage can only mean good things for the people that don't care. There's clearly going to be a community entrenched in L4D1, so if Valve does continue to support it as they claim, there will still be plenty of public servers, and custom maps, etc. And a new L4D2 community will rise up. It's not like if all the talented mappers and modders end up staying with L4D1, there won't be new ones to replace them.
you guys really dont understand the idea of programming. these melee weapons are just skins + new animations + new damage % . and oh shit, any half ass mod could do that. look around and find how they have just split the community apart
wah wah wah
I'm guessing he put it at the start because of clowns like you. Don't re-buy the game - as you put it - and just shut up. Pfft check out our group, check out your sad little life.
And to the people moaning they aren't getting things for free, your just as bad, if not worse.
Valve did fuck us in the ass hard. Simple as that, they get to fuck us hard because they are the best out their right now in the PC gaming market.
It's Valve so we will take it, even if Gabe came up behind me in a gimp suit about to rape my asshole, I would be like "Oh crap, this is bullshit" but take it all the same.
Too fucking bad. The people on the side that's angry need to get a life.
At the very least they should give L4D1 players a discount on getting L4D2 or at least fully intergrate L4D1 into the sequel.
Very poor article.
I cannot wait to run around the French Quarter shooting the ex-residence of that filthy excuse for a city.
As for splitting the community apart, it's already been said, but it apparently bears repeating. There will still be thousands of people playing L4D1 at any given time. Considering you can only play with up to eight people at a time, I don't really see the issue. Of course, you are probably referring to the modding community. Now, since we know nothing about simple programming, maybe this is way off base, but don't you suppose that any mod made for L4D2 could pretty easily be tweaked to work with L4D1 (or vice versa)?
I am not saying you don't have a right to boycott this. You can do what you want, for whatever reasons you want to. You want to boycott it, fine. But if you think all of this whining to Valve is going to get them to stop making L4D2, just so they can give you all of the new content as free DLC, then please, don't hold your breath.
Also, how much are you going to be paying for this game?
When I got L4D, I wasn't expecting DLC. I knew that there was DLC for TF2, and that was great, but I wasn't expecting DLC for L4D. Just to get one new free game mode is pretty good.
Some say "L4D was too short for a full priced game! And now Valve want to release another! How Dare They! As a gamer, I demand the right to tell Valve how to run their company, because the $60 or less I spent buying a valve game gives me shareholder rights!"
Listen - you knew what L4D contained. If you read blogs like Destructoid, how could you NOT know what was going to be on the disc? Personally, I found the opening price a little steep for 4 maps, so I waited until it was cheap as chips to buy and I'm happy about it.
If you don't like what Valve is making...... THEN DON'T BUY IT GENIUS! No one is holding a gun to your head and making you buy it. You don't HAVE to buy it! Games are luxury, not a right. Unlike food or water or electricity, you don't need games to survive! Thus, games are a CONSUMER item, and the game company has every right to release whatever game they want, at whatever price they want. Don't like it!? READ A BOOK! Gamers are NOT charity cases who have "rights" other than warranty and tech support.
Valve are a great company. They go far beyond most when it comes to taking care of their customers and fans. Surprisingly, this as led some gamers to feel that Valve must thus bend to their every wish. It's like if someone did something good for you, you get mad because they didn't fulfill your every desire. What a weird way of thinking.