News Valve responds to Left 4 Dead 2 boycott

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2009/06/11/valve-responds-to-left-4-dead-boycott/1

Valve has responded to the Left 4 Dead 2 boycott, pledging on-going support for the original game.

 

"We also agree with our customers that there needs to be an interoperability plan for players of L4D1 and L4D2, as multiplayer games are driven by the cohesiveness of their community."

... great, but how is he going to make sure the cohesion remains? I don't hink he answered the point did he?

 

That didn't really add anything we didn't already know. And leaves us with the same concerns as before.

 

What's the point of updating two almost identicle products seperately instead of bringing them together?

Also we know that UI enhancements such as 4x4 mach making are being marketed to us as a considerable content update. There are no details of anything else planned for L4D.

Feels like they may test some L4D2 UI ideas in L4D before releasing it.

Shocked as they were by the deserved response to L4D, I don't think Valve want to/can back down now. You can already pre order this game in some stores.

 

I totally agree! They REALLY should make a upgrade path for L4D(1) > L4D(2) for existing owners and just release L4D2 to new customers.

And what about new campaigns for L4D(1) ? Ooh wait! They want us (the community) to make campaigns for L4D. But guess what happens if L4D(2) is released, do you think anyone wants create mods and still want play L4D(1)

 

I really do not see the issue here.
If they want to release another version then they can. People may be saying to release it as content, but there is obviously a reason for not doing that (not for MOAR money, this is valve afterall not EA). There may be major updates to the engine and gameplay that would not be compatible with the "old" game. If they were to add all the weapons and new gameplay dynamics to the original then it would be a massive overhaul.

I will get L4D2, if you don't want to get it then its your problem. Almost every sequel is just the same game with updates and different levels/weapons and people don't go crazy about them. Yes its a bit soon after L4D but you would moan if they took 3 years about it.

Edit: with a seconds worth of reflection I will concede that some sort of upgrade path needs to be made, but not by making L4D2 an addon for L4D, but the other way round. Like how you can get all the original rockband songs on rockband 2. Then these maps be playable with owners of L4D. But I stand by my point, stop moaning. You bought a game, a bloody good game and you want more. Yes they may have promised support but its not a contract with you to do so, and even if it was, much like a UK political party's manifesto, they do not seem to stick to them. That's life...

 

I havnt got round to picking up left 4 dead yet and now wondering if I should. I dont want to pick it up and then find all the players have moved to left 4 dead 2. I think im going to have to skip the first one and get the sequal which is exactly the same game with different levels and different player skins.

 

It all comes down to how Valve market their games - telling people that their games are a service and not a product in the traditional sense.

If you buy a game that is marketted as a one-off product with no promise of support, you likely wouldn't have a problem with this. You'd probably welcome the new game.

Because it's been marketted as a service however, people have bought Left 4 Dead thinking not that they'll get 10 or 12 hours of play out of it, but that they'll get potentially YEARS out of it thanks to the promised support and extras. As a product, you only expect what's there. As a service, you're buying into what else will be coming in the future too.

 

L4D1 is still an amazing purchase, and you will definitely get your monies worth by the time L4D 2 comes out...

Christ... its like £25... peanuts really considering the hours of fun you will get out of it before L4D 2.


Then Im sure you will get countless hours more fun from L4D2 for another £25... well worth it in my opinion. There are a lot of cheapskates around here who think the world (or valve in this case) owes them lifetime entertainment simply because they spent a measly £25.

Bring on L4D2... Im in.

 

I agree, this either needs to be released as premium content, or function like the CoH expansions where if you have the original game it unlocks all of the original features (effectively merging it into one game anyway so this is essentially premium content that you wouldn't have to own the original to get).

No, we think Valve owe us what the promised, it's not really too much to ask for is it? As Joe said, we didn't buy L4D simply for the game but the extras we'd get with the game afterwards. If you look at the content of the game (not how long you play said content for) it's pretty measly in comparison to a lot of games. But we were happy to pay it because we knew valve would release more stuff later on for it. Essentially we bought a half finished game, and now we've been told we're going to have to buy the other half.

 

Gabe Newell: Saying nothing while talking for over a decade.

Honestly, this is a no surprise no news 'answer' to a boycott.

I wouldn't be shocked if this is one of the last few 'official' announcements or statements regarding L4D/L4D2.

 

haha I was right in my comment for last weeks L4D2 article. People did get pissed.

 

Valve knows what they are doing. I respect them more than any other Dev and their decisions seem to play out well. It is a bit soon but they seem to care more about their gamers than EA for example and I think they have a right to do this. Oh and that boycott is BS. They would buy it anyway

 

Therein Lies the problem. While gamers have matured and gotten older, we are still one of the few communities reluctant to vote with our wallets against Developers/Publishers. Every year EA takes a beating in the PR department, yet all their sports franchises sell millions. It's funny listening to a friend walk out of the store with a new copy of Madden in hand complaining that it's BS for EA to charge full price every year for a roster update in their sports games.

 

Your telling me. HURRY UP AND FINISH EPISODE 3 GODDAMMIT! >.<

 

"We aren't changing our plans for L4D1."

Good, then I look forward to my new maps and special infected

One of the problems I have with L4D2, is the fact that I actually don't like the look of it. They add all this new stuff and it seems so unnecessary to me. I don't care about new characters, throwing in a bunch of new weapons will just mean balancing issues for months, and now there are weather effects...
The only part that looks fun is the running to turn off the alert rather than camping, and a variety from the usual spawn of infected. Both of which don't need an overhaul of an engine or AI.
That and additions of items like incidenary ammo look like poor design choices. You can dodge molotovs as a tank (satisfying), but you certainly can't dodge bullets (removal of any strategy bar charging).

I guess it's because I'm solely a vs player, but even design choices like randomised levels seem unfair to me so I would just prefer for them not to be there. Simply put, I won't be removing myself from the boycott L4D2 group just yet, as not only am I yet to be convinced I'll even enjoy it, I will apparently now be getting the content promised. This supporting 2 of the same game at once is a little weird though, it'll be interesting to see how it pans out.

I guess they're making L4D2 for all the coop players out there, it's too bad the competitive players seem to have been the most vocal.

 

L4D 2 its comming just way to soon, even more if you consider the great posibilities of expanding the first game and have not yet being done.

1. Its a game we all have enjoy for hours, and the game only contains 4 campaings, imagine how many of extra hours of entertainment an expansion pack with a couple of new campaings would give us.

2. This game is also based in achievements, and part of the fun is winning this achievements with you buddies. just adding new achievements would add even more hours to play this game.

I dont see the point of making a second release when there's still to much room for the first one.

 

+1
so true! .. shame really

 

Some type of integration would be nice. But, I purchased LFD1 for 24.99US. AND....... like I always do I will buy LFD2 for the same price or less when it comes down. To me.... What a steal!

I'm a little disappointed with the lack of support and delay in releasing the SDK. You have to recognize LFD was a break through in gaming. They were probably on a role with ideas and after the test release of the first one and it's success they probably took their new and better ideas and immediately started on the second to amaze us again.

I say their innocent with good intentions. With change comes some sacrifice. I bet they will make it up to us.

 

Left 4 Dead TWO means you will pay AGAIN.