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Left 4 Dead DLC confirmed for spring News

PC Xbox 360 News by Oli Welsh

6 February, 2009

Valve has released details of the first downloadable content pack for its co-op zombie shooter Left 4 Dead - the L4D Survival Pack.

The release will include a new multiplayer mode called Survival and two complete campaigns for the game's versus mode, and be available for both the PC and Xbox 360 versions.

Also in the spring, PC users will get a free-to-download Software Development Kit allowing the mod community to start creating custom campaigns for the game - which, when completed, can be fully integrated with Left 4 Dead's matchmaking system.

All of this will be bundled into a Critic's Choice Edition of the game that will be commercially released at the same time.

No exact release date or pricing details were confirmed, and the nature of Survival mode remains a mystery for now.

"With Half-Life and Counter-Strike, and more recently Team Fortress 2, we've learned that we're no longer making stand-alone games but creating entertainment services," said Valve boss Gabe Newell, warming to one of his favourite themes.

"With Left 4 Dead we're extending that tradition by creating additional gameplay and releasing our internal tools to aspiring developers so they may also create and distribute new Left 4 Dead experiences."

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Comments: 1-43 of 43 in total

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Colin8703
06/02/09 @ 08:42
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Does this mean there will be new scenarios to go through?
CountFapula
06/02/09 @ 08:44
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No new content for the single/multiplayer non vs. campaigns? No new weapons?

Seems pretty weak, thus far. It's still early for details so we shall see but they will need more than that to get my money, as much as I loved the game.
bad09
06/02/09 @ 08:49
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Wicked! I only got this at the weekend, amazingly addictive little shooter and so simple to play. Playing as infected is endless fun!

Even Mrs bad09 has been enjoying L4D.
Colin8703
06/02/09 @ 08:54
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My wife plays no games but fucking loves this.

She cannot get enough.

I'm with you on the DLC Fabula as there should be more. Hopefully Valve won't let us down.

Also seems like the Mod scene will be supplying the additional campaign scenarios by the sound of it. I.e pick the best maps and port them to 360 for download.

Will wait and see though.
charliemouse
06/02/09 @ 09:17
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When do we get a shopping mall please?
Ignatius_Cheese
06/02/09 @ 09:23
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For a first DLC update, this isn't too bad. Bit late following launch, considering half of the DLC is purely enabling two of the existing campaigns for Versus play.

Would be guessing that any entirely new campaigns/scenarios will follow in Summer/after E3?

Edit - Oh, and Valve, get off your arses and patch the frickin' 360 version NOW! The exploits/no-second-tank-spawns are growing very tiring and ruining the EG tournament...
Edited 1 times, most recently on 06/02/09 @ 09:24
JusticeMoses
06/02/09 @ 09:33
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If that is all that is going to be included in the dlc I bloody well hope Microsoft don't even think of charging 360 users for it. On the other hand, if Microsoft are going to charge perhaps they'll put pressure on Valve to increase the amount of content?
optimusprym8
06/02/09 @ 09:39
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the missing two campaigns for versus should be free otherwise they're taking the piss. Don't mind paying a little bit for new stuff that extends the game but not what should have been there already, especially as the title is pretty expensive still for what it is.

+1 shopping mall campaign
Edited 1 times, most recently on 06/02/09 @ 10:08
CountFapula
06/02/09 @ 09:44
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If that's all there is, ie no new weapons and campaigns as promised, they definitly wouldn't get money from me for it.

I loved the game, but heck I'm not gonna pay cash for two maps in vs. that should have been playable anyway out of the box.
Katsumoto
06/02/09 @ 09:53
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It is possible to play the other two as versus right now if you fiddle in the console for a minute or two and they seem to work pretty well regardless. Top fun playing as 4 zombies against an AI team.

Survivor mode, despite there being no details, sounds ace.
SixFootHalfling
06/02/09 @ 09:56
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"Also in the spring, PC users will get a free-to-download Software Development Kit allowing the mod community to start creating custom campaigns for the game"

You mean custom maps like these?

http://l4dmapdb.wikidot.com/

Having the official SDK out though will hopefully make them faster to develop, which can only be a good thing.
LHH
06/02/09 @ 09:59
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Knowing Valve, it'll come out the same time as HL2 : Episode 3. Just got to let Gabe finish his donuts.
Mogs
06/02/09 @ 10:01
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Survival mode = extended siege mode complete with manual barricading of doors & windows etc?

Hope so.
kinky_mong
06/02/09 @ 10:05
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When do we get a shopping mall please?

When you buy Dead Rising. I want something a bit more original than a shopping mall please Valve.

The survival mode sounds like it could be fun and I imagine will be a good way to rack up kills towards Zombie Genocidest.
richardiox
06/02/09 @ 10:05
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Not really much new content then, enabling Versus on two maps that should have had it from day one anyway and a new multiplayer mode...is that it? No new game assets at all? After 5 months? Good old Valve.
roz123
06/02/09 @ 10:06
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Its not only 2 new maps its got a whole new multiplayer mode.

what it will be like is anyones guess but i here gametrailers.tv are doing a show on it tonight so maybe that will shed a little light on it
Tomo
06/02/09 @ 10:08
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Hmm. This isn't very good considering it's now down for a spring release. ffs. I'd assumed it was all pretty much done and dusted and just needed releasing. Sigh.

Doesn't even make it clear whether there are new maps, or what's happening to the existing maps that aren't Versus enabled.

A new mode sounds promising though - Survival... see how long you can survive various hordes of zombies and special Infected?
systems
06/02/09 @ 10:39
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Is this release going to be "real Spring" (i.e. Easter-ish) or "Valve Spring" (Summer)? So much for a Christmas release which was only delayed because everyone went home from Valve for Christmas. The 360 version doesn't even have the PC update yet does it (just the cheat patch).

The two campaigns are obviously the missing two from the retail package.

As for survivor mode, who knows? Whatever it is it has to run from the existing campaign maps so it could be something as interesting as a "constant finale" with moveable barricades etc., or it could be something as dull as playing through the campaign but with only one life allowed.
PrivateFloyd
06/02/09 @ 10:46
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Insta-buy for me irregardless of price.

Fuckin' love this game!!!
Artemus
06/02/09 @ 10:46
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Disappointing. I was also hoping for a couple of new campaigns. Better not charge on PC either because I won't be buying.
agparrot
06/02/09 @ 10:47
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Have to agree with the muted responses - Valve really could be doing better here, especially in terms of simply fixing the buggy and still exploit-laden 360 version.

You just start to get that whole Team Fortress 2 sinking feeling, all over again.

It was the announcement I *wanted* to dance a jig about, but waiting until April for this feature light squib is hardly inspiring the music in me.
Wickedbug
06/02/09 @ 11:05
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It HAS to be FREE on the PC. Valve has been releasin new maps, weapons, game modes and achievments for free in Team Fortress 2 so it wouldn't make any sense to charge PC users for a new game mode and two VS campaigns that should've been playable out of the box.
Burton2000
06/02/09 @ 11:10
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This update will most probably be free like all of valves other DLC thats been released for their other games. I would be very suprised if you had to pay for it.
CountFapula
06/02/09 @ 11:13
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You know it's so ironic- for ages I awaited DLC with baited breath, and when it comes, no new weapons or infected or campaigns to play with buddies, but what looks like GOW2's horde with zombies and two maps for vs that should have been on the disc day one.

It's gone from an absolute must buy (due to speculation on what great, wonderful things valve could bring to the game in terms of new scenarios and characters and weapons), to the reality that, as of now, it's looking like a damp squib.

I love this game, and I hope that I am jumping the gun a bit and that the final package looks better, but you would have to be a right mug to pay for two vs maps that should have been on the disc as it was shipping.

Two new vs campaign and this survival mode being the second coming might be worth the cash, or if it's free even the old new vs maps and mode, but as of now? L4D was barebones as it was, asking for money for this when half is old stuff refurbished is taking the piss.
optimusprym8
06/02/09 @ 11:17
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@systems "So much for a Christmas release which was only delayed because everyone went home from Valve for Christmas."

How fucking dare they have a life!?
Ignatius_Cheese
06/02/09 @ 11:20
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agparrot - "You just start to get that whole Team Fortress 2 sinking feeling, all over again."

But they did pwwomise to do right by the 360 this time... ;oP

/cough
iter
06/02/09 @ 11:41
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Why are the campaigns Vs mode only? Are they just enabling the other two existing maps for vs mode? If so, absolute fail. If it is two completely new scenarios, then awesome - but I go back to - why would that be Vs only?
roz123
06/02/09 @ 12:03
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It will obviously be revamps of the maps already there. Its definatly free on the PC, some guy on the steam forums sent a message to gabe newell and he said it would be free as always. There is no news on price on 360, i think it depends on microsoft.
lemonfist
06/02/09 @ 12:11
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It better be free unless this new Survival mode is totally mind-blowing.
TheMoonRat
06/02/09 @ 12:13
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The developer commentry described why only 2 campaigns were vs mode enabled from the start; they're actually different maps. They may look the same, but, as the flow of vs mode and campaign are completely different, for balance reasons they couldn't use the same map with the same settings with where the hoard spawned etc.
iter
06/02/09 @ 12:28
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@TheMoonRat

OK, I get that they have to make adjustments, but they do have a pretty good basis to start off with, they aren't the same as 'new maps'. I just don't feel that enabling VS mode on existing maps is all that great. :( I suppose if it is really cheap (e.g. under 400MSP) then fair enough. However, two entirely new maps would be far more desirable and 800MSP would be probably nice for something like that.

edit - used a less than character - forgot it would be interpreted as a tag!
Edited 1 times, most recently on 06/02/09 @ 12:52
Chufty
06/02/09 @ 12:46
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What do you mean PRICING? As if Valve would dare charge for DLC for a PC game. Although with the state that L4D and its Matchmaker were released in, I wouldn't be suprised.
tesco
06/02/09 @ 12:49
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Getting a little sick of this "I expect the world owes me" attitude from people. Why SHOULD the game have shipped with the other 2 campaigns as versus? We have all had fun with the first 2 and if Valve now gives us newly BALANCED versions of the other 2 for free then they get my vote. I would even pay for the other 2 as it will extend my enjoyment of an already very enjoyable game.
To be honest there aren't many games that release new content as often as this and I have had just as much fun with them. Try and look on this as a bonus and not something that for some reason you think you deserve. Welcome to the real world kids. Someday mummy wont be around to cater to your every whim.
iter
06/02/09 @ 13:04
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@tesco I don't think people think they are owed anything. Perhaps they are just disappointed that the DLC for this great game doesn't seem to be offering up much extra and really just addressing a glaring omission from the original release. Also, it is highly unlikely that the content will be free on XBL.
Dabs
06/02/09 @ 14:01
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This DLC is free (for the PC, at least). Gabe Newell confirmed it in a an email. So stop whinging.
skillian
06/02/09 @ 14:25
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Welcome to the real world kids. Someday mummy wont be around to cater to your every whim.

WTF are you talking about? Valve have been around for years and years and have always had a tradition of providing free extra content for pretty much all their games. This is why people are expecting no charge, not because of some unjustified sense of entitlement.
Buztafen
06/02/09 @ 14:30
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And where is the 360 patch? Honestly, it might be a lols valve time etc but the pc versions been patched for fuckin weeks!!
tesco
06/02/09 @ 15:04
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People are "expecting" content (work, time, resources) for free. That's not unreasonable.....
Its either going to be free anyway which makes me sick that people are complaining about what they will get FOR NOTHING! or it will be a nominal charge that you have a choice whether to pay.
Regardless of the game why moan about paying for content? if you don't want to then don't. You haven't lost anything, it isn't like they fooled people into buying part of a product and then forced them to buy the rest later.
roz123
06/02/09 @ 16:23
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lol dont blame valve blame microsoft. They are the ones who are delaying your patch so it can go through pointless tests
SomaticSense
07/02/09 @ 17:36
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Let me guess, it'll be Dead Air and Death Toll as the two extra versus campaigns? With no properly new campaigns?

For a game that was seriously lacking in content to start with (the AI director excuse doesn't wash, frankly), it's shit.

@ Dabs

It may be free on the PC, but what about those of us who haven't got it on PC? We are perfectly entitled to whinge.
devilfinder000
08/02/09 @ 15:05
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Just watched the video feature on GameTrailers.com and (as predicted) the DLC includes opening up of Dead Air and Death Toll for versus and the new survival mode which has 12 maps and sounds like horde on Gears.

BTW no footage of the new mode in the GameTrailers spot.
Fleisch
08/02/09 @ 23:34
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I'm pretty sure they're just doing this as a small DLC bundle before releasing new maps and new every-things. Think about it, Gabe has already been talking about how he wants to release stuff free on the 360 but MS will only let them do that through patches and you can only release 3 or so a year. This announcement seems to feature stuff that could be delivered in a patch (unlocking two maps already on the disk with AI routines/spawn points and releasing a new game mode [ai routines and spawn points again].).

So, I suspect this will be free on the 360 and we'll be seeing a paid DLC with those new special infected that were hinted at by a valve employee a while ago.

Also, there needs to be a finale in a stadium of some sort where you have to hold the playing field down till rescure arrives, would be awesome!
SomaticSense
10/02/09 @ 18:59
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It's more than just Ai routines and spawn points though. The versus modes of No Mercy and Blood Harcest are slightly different geometrically than the Campaign counterparts, because of the potential for cheap kills on the part of the - now player-controlled - infected. Hence Valve's use of the term "balancing issues" as the reason as to why the other two weren't already there. They'd need to be added in as entirely different maps.

What you've said is a nice idea. But seeing as it looks like the stuff would be unavailable in a mere patch, and if what you've said is true about MS stating that free content is only available in patches, then we certainly won't be getting it for free.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 10/02/09 @ 18:59

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