Left 4 Dead 2 Much 4 Whiners
Posted in Left4Dead News
Fantastic news for fans of fun and enemies of annoying whiners: Left 4 Dead 2 pre-orders are beating the boycott groups! Beating them up, stealing their lunch money and pulling their pants down in front of the cheerleading squad. It’s nice to know that the eternal internet battle between “People who actually make or do things” and “Probably spherical inaccurate-criticism machines” sometimes goes to the side of the angels. Where here “angels” means “People who give us gravity guns and rooftop Tank battles.”
For those not in the know on internet idiocy, over thirty thousand people signed up for a “Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott” when the sequel to one of the best zombie games ever made was announced. And even in a magical fantasy land where people so involved in the game that they discuss their feelings on it five months before release (on the official developer forum) are actually capable of not getting it, we wouldn’t have to worry: L4D2 pre-orders are twice that of Left 4 Dead. And both numbers kick the hell out of the whiners.
The interesting aspect is that none of the complaints - sequels instead of downloadable content, cash-extracting minor upgrades, the generally audience-insulting tone of sequels - are actually applicable to Valve. It’s a cyber-Stockholm syndrome. After decades of abuse at the hands of EA and other franchise-squeezers, releasing new team lists every year at fifty dollars a pop, many gamers simply can’t believe good things are coming. Even though they come from a company who only makes good things, and once delayed Half Life 2 for over a year rather than release a game which wasn’t ready.
Valve are even understanding in victory, addressing one or two actually valid points included in the web-whiners demand (possibly by accident). They’re working out how to integrate Left 4 Dead servers with the sequel, technically letting those who boycott the sequel enjoy it anyway - but most likely making sure they buy it, as you’re unlikely to see a Charger bisected by a Chainsaw and say “I don’t want to do that.”
(And if you don’t think Chainsaw should be capitalized, thanks for reading this despite never understanding anything about zombie movies.)
Valve’s explanation for the early sequel is that their planned improvements aren’t simple tack-ons (exactly what the worriers were wringing their hands over), but fundamental improvements to the engine. The sort of thing you in fact always want from a sequel. It remains to be seen whether Left 4 Dead 2 will convince the complainers to come quietly, but only in the same way it remains to be seen if the sun will rise in the East tomorrow. With the added advantage that the sun will keep quiet about it.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Agreed. There are to much whiners in our Generation. For any Boycotter’s reading, This may clear up some of your reasons of why this ‘Sequel’ Cannot be What you want it to be. First of all the boycotter’s complain of not enough content being released for Left 4 Dead, Yet Valve has released a game mode titled “Survival” along with the release of two campaigns added to the “Versus” game mode. Later on this month, Valve will be releasing another Campaign for Left 4 Dead titled “Crash Course” which will be a bridge between No Mercy and Death Toll. Once Left 4 Dead 2 is released, Valve will still be adding content for the original Left 4 Dead. I don’t see why they complain about the “Lack” of content. When you bought this game, You bought it to play the game, Not for the content that will be released in the future, Valve dosen’t need to release any Content if they do not wish to, and that “Promise” of content they made to you is the very same thing your Boycotting. If this much Content comes out, Then you must pay for it, Things in life aren’t Free. Second, Left 4 Dead 2 can not be released as Downloadable Content for these reasons: (1) Left 4 Dead 2 now runs with AI Director (2.0), Which is superior to the AI Director (1.0). AI Director (2.0) will Change many things in the game, Including the games whether, The games routes that are taken to reach a safe house, and tailor every ‘zombies’ clothing, In every spawn the zombie has. That alone, To be added as Downloadable Content would take over 4 monthes, For a system like the XBox 360, Not including the other features the AI Director (2.0) has. Reason (2) There will be 5 New Campaigns, 4 New Survivors, A new ‘Secret’ Multyplayer mode, Over 20+ New Weapons, Including Melee Weapons, and 3 New Special Infected. These new Modes/Tools/AI would take a very long time to convert into something small enough that it could be Downloadable Content, Maybe only 1 Campaign could come out at a time, Which is pointless if were getting them all together, Including the weapons and the Special Infected. Clearly you see why this cannot be “Free” as the boycotters wish it to be. They also complain about the Release date of the game (November 17th 2009) not being enough time to polish content or make gameplay changes? Well, Of the Gameplay I have seen of Left 4 Dead 2, I can say that they have definetly made many changes to the environment, Which is another thing they complain about.. Being to colurful? This game takes place in another area of the world, The environment changes throughout the world, Which I think we ‘Should’ all know. Heh at this point I think they are just adding Ridiculous reasons to the list. They complain of the music of when the Horde attack being Disliked? Do you mean disliked by you, yourself? (Author of Boycott list) because then that would be perfect to say, I in the other hand love the music, Along with almost the 3 million members of the Left 4 Dead Commmunity. Well if they complain about the characters being bland, I might agree alittle bit, But many people don’t care who there playing as, aslong as they enjoy fighting endless hordes of zombies.They also say that It will Split apart online communities of both Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2? Well If that was the case then I guess the Developers of Any game shouldn’t be allowed to make a sequel. There will still be many people on the original Left 4 Dead, Along with many of L4D2. Most of the Boycotters will be first in line the day of release, Which I find amusing. I think that we can all agree that 60$ Is a small price to pay for the sequel of one of the greatest Multyplayer Games on the market.