OPM: EA developing Left 4 Dead for PS3

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 3rd 2008 at 7:00PM }

It's no secret that Valve's Gabe Newell isn't a staunch supporter of the PlayStation 3 -- well, that's putting it lightly. The Half-Life creator actually referred to the system as "a waste of everyone's time". PS3 owners were likely disappointed (though not surprised) to learn that Turtle Rock Studios' (a recent addition to the Valve family) upcoming zombocalypse survival sim Left 4 Dead would be console exclusive to the Xbox 360 -- though a recent blurb in the latest issue of Official Playstation Magazine contradicts this oft-repeated claim.

The one-sentence newsbrief reads, "Valve's survival horror game Left 4 Dead is coming to PS3, but EA will be taking on development duties in-house." That's it -- no attribution for the report or timetable for the title's release. We expect that EA will soon deliver more info about the project -- until then, we wait with bated breath, hoping that we don't have another Orange Box fiasco on our hands.

Tags: ea, ea-games, Electronic-arts, gabe-newell, left-4-dead, ps3, turtle-rock-studios, valve

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

stonexavier @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:09PM

He also worked for Microsoft for something like 10 years and became a Microsoft millionaire.

WhoMe @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:32PM

Yeah he's a ex MS fat cat, and you can take the fat literally.

Anyway, I find it beyond belief that a supposed triple A developer does business this way. Either you develop for one platform, and that's fine by me, or you put in the extra effort and develop for both platforms, properly. Sure it's a lot harder, but many companies succeed in doing this.

They're simply like "let some one else do the heavy lifting, while we make a quick buck off of it, never mind how this reflects on us".

Lawr. @ Aug 4th 2008 6:38AM

You mean Gabe "Xbox 360 makes my life worse" Newell? He likes to bitch because like all developers, they are whiny, whiny bitches. Also, don't forget that Gabe L-O-V-E-S hearing the sound of his own voice.

Xoviet chiK @ Aug 4th 2008 7:15AM

A bit unfair to call all developers whiney bitches. It seems that way because you only ever hear from one or two studio staff higher-ups, because that is there job. Don't forget about the 24-198 other developers at the studio who you probably wouldn't know existed had you chosen not to blink the split second their name flashed the screen during the staff credit roll.

Even as far as higher ups go, I've never heard Randy Pitchford whine. Among many others.

Faar @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:15PM

From what I seem to recall reading, Gabe Newell is in addition to being the world's greatest junk food afficionado - also an ex-senior employee of Microsoft. This might help to explain a thing or two of the man's dislike of Sony's system, as well as Valve's xbox marketplace-friendlyness.

He COULD simply be expressing his own honest, personal opinion, or he could be helping his old buddies by spreading some well-placed stealthy FUD about the opposing team's hardware...

As an 360 owner myself, seeing some of the games available on the PS3 I think it's pretty obvious the machine is NOT a waste of time. So...make up your own minds about the man's motives... :P

Ordeith @ Aug 4th 2008 2:26AM

PS3: not enough games available to play for it to truely waste time.

Obie @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:24PM

Kill 100 zombies at 10 FPS! That's 4-D gaming for ya!

I keed, I keed. But PS3 owners should demand EA for a better port than that Orange box disaster.

Nightvortez @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:53PM

I rented Orange Box on the PS3, it was far from a disaster, I mean I haven't played through the Episodes 3 but Portal, Episode 1 and 2 and Half Life 2 run fine, I mean, I've passed them all and don't remember one major slow-down. It was very underrated, far from unplayable, if the Left 4 Dead port is anything like it I'll probably buy it.

Joystiq and 1UP forgot to mention that this was in the rumor section of OPM though.

Obie @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:12PM

If I am correct, Team Fortress and Episode 3 had the most framerate issues. Still, it is inexcusable.

J @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:21PM

EA's been kicking ass. They've had a great deal of experience, since the Orange box, working on the ps3 hardware. I would be surprised if the 2 versions had any noticeable differences.
And considering the latest report which indicates that ps3 owners make them the most money, I don't think they would want to let us down.

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/07/30/ps3-raking-in-the-big-bucks-for-ea/#comments

Funny we didn't see this story posted in joystiq considering it's relevant to all the systems.

forestofdeath @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:01PM

erm, episode 3?

can i haz your time machine?

Nightvortez @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:32PM

Haha, shit, I didn't even notice that, I meant I played through the first episode but didn't get to the second.

Si @ Aug 4th 2008 3:11AM

Clearly Joystiq are a bunch of clueless idiots that have not actually played Orange Box on PS3. Yes it has some frame rate dips, yes load times can be annoying, but the 360 has the EXACT same issues.

There is nothing to choose between the 360 and PS3 ports, anyone that thinks otherwise, is clearly braindead and passing on Microsoft FUD.

It's also clear what Gabe's plan is here, being ex-Microsoft, anyone that kills half their target audience just to keep an ex-boss happy is also clearly a moron.

The_Punisher @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:28PM

People keep saying it was a disaster on PS3, and it's just not true, so stop your bitching. Itwas worse than the PC, sure, but it wasn't unplayable.

In unrelated news, i have to post this link to enter a contest for a free Monster Madness PS3 game (you can too by clicking the link), so uh....

http://www.gamenewshq.com/monstermadness/

Obie @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:30PM

Go peddle your junk somewhere else, nublet!

The_Punisher @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:35PM

:-(

.....but it's free....i'd buy Red Steel for Wii if it was free

(ok, maybe not)

WRE: I own all 3! (4 if you count the DS.) @ Aug 4th 2008 1:37AM

You would "buy" something if it were free? Did you get left back in the first grade or something?

J.Goodwin @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:42PM

I advise you not to attempt to get that game for free. Battle for Suburbia was the kind of experience that would have left you poorer just for playing it.

I'm sure that given the extra year or whatever, EA's people have managed to do some sort of tweaking to the source engine for PS3. Beyond improving the performance of the engine, it's not like the port takes up a lot of time on anyone's behalf now that the heavy lifting is basically done.

Newell says what he thinks. If he was as fascinated with Microsoft as you think he was, their titles would be published by MGS instead of EA. I seem to recall him bitching about the 360 as well, but that may have been Carmack. There was a lot of PC developer bitching about anything with multiple processors until their dev tools came with decent profilers and enhanced threading support in the compilers.

Maybe Sony should get off their ass and provide the same type of support to their third parties instead of ignoring the problem so much that their 2nd parties decided that the best thing to do to improve sales of the platform in general, and therefore their own exclusive titles was to release their own targeted toolkit to everyone.

Maverick Saturn @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:13PM

There is only so much support you can offer, don'y you think that if Sony could it wouldn't have Sony officials dotted in every gaming company to ensure each developer KNOWS how to use PS technology, so what do you mean?

Sony is doing all it can, that won't stop developers from getting frustrated with the technology, even with Sony's several attempts at teaching people and providing them with dev kits. And after all that, look what happens, they only go and kick Sony in the balls and announce multiplatform direction, lmao, so all Sony can do at this point is offer help to who so ever they can, and concentrate on first parties, and I would do the exact same thing, because if Sony relies on third parties this gen, with production costs hitting the cealings and Microsoft's never ending river of money to pay of devs, Sony would have faced the chop ages ago.

J.Goodwin @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:31PM

I disagree. The commitment of a few high profile third parties, and Square/Enix and Hideo Kojima in particular, is pretty much all that's keeping the PS3 afloat right now. Metal Gear Solid releases and the PS3 has it's first profitable quarter (or at least a loss small enough that PS2 and PSP were able to make up the difference). Coincidence?

It's great to say that first party is where it's at, but even Sony only has so many developers on their staff, and third party royalties are the major source of positive margin to offset all those hardware losses.

Frankly, I think that Sony's internal studios aren't doing a particularly good job these days. Three of the top four retail games that they've published under the Sony moniker for PS3 were developed by teams that (at the time) were external developers (I'm thinking Resistance, Motorstorm, and Ratchet here, maybe you have a different perspective, and the internal one is Uncharted, Motorstorm's team was bought out by Sony in fall 2007 after Motorstorm released in Winter 2006/2007).

Maverick Saturn @ Aug 3rd 2008 11:34PM

I think this is why Sony has the ability to concentrate on its first parties, its extremely difficult to gamble on third parties these days and I think Sony is taking the view that if Nintendo can do and still be selling so well, then what is the harm?

Yes, they may have been external, but the fact remains they now belong to Sony, giving Sony that opportunity to work on its first party games, Sony has in fact got the most exclusives next to 360, but the fact still remains few are of high calibur, which is why they are often disregarded. But the thing is, developers who spend more time focusing on one console, using all its assets and using its power to their advantage get the best out of the console and thus the game, this is why we see the likes of MGS4 doing well. I think Sony takes that view as well, what is the point in focusing all attention on third parties, third parties control the game, they decide who they want to go with and who is offering more money, and if Microsoft or Nintendo drops the big wad of cash on the table, they will consider that option instead, and devs are looking to make back the money they have spent, which means HIGH price exclusive rights, or multiplatform, its as simple as that, its just luck that MGS4 didnt go multiplat, maybe its simply Konami and Sony's relationship, who knows.

Yeah, back in PS1 and PS2 days it was preferable to push third parties, but then development was far cheaper, you must have seen those figues, developing games now can hit millions compared to the hundreds and thousands back in the days, and thus securing exclusives was far easier. This generation its all or nothing, and with the likes of Square going multiplat, Sony has no choice but to push first party games, and make them better and do things with those first parties that would not be seen on the 360, thus attracting consumers. Pushing third parties is second or third priority.

But then we will always have different opinions, so I won't press the matter further :)

Rodrigo @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:56PM

i dont know why people says that the orange box was a disaster.... i played the game and my only complain was the long ass loading times, out of that the game ran fine.

Cigol @ Aug 3rd 2008 7:56PM

Gabe has made disparaging remarks about Microsoft, and he certainly doesn't support their 'initiatives' on the PC regarding gaming. Basically; he's not a Microsoft fanboy, although I wouldn't like to pretend I know or understand his stance on anything in great detail it's clear, to me at least, that he's very much his own man with regards to SONY vs MICROSOFT.

His criticism of the PS3 is hilariously over the top but it's not without merit in the sense that the PS3 is obviously harder to develop for and that Sony DID make mistakes (note; I actually hate the 360 and own a PS3)

Someone already mentioned the whole 'passing the buck' mantra they have regarding the PS3 and that's basically the issue as far as I can see it. They don't have people familiar with PS3 development and more importantly they aren't interested in PS3 development - ergo they aren't going to waste their time. They are PC developers and it just so happens the XBOX is remarkable for being derivative of the PC.

ExMcCloud @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:07PM

Wow you hate a system? lol...What did it do to you? And hold the RROD jokes they are so last year......All I want to know is does the 360 and PC versions support cross platform play and if they do will the PS3 owners get left out to dry.....

Ihavepants @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:04PM

No they don't support Cross platform.

Intangible 360 @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:03PM

I can't help but laugh at how pathetic these people insulting Newell sound. Insulting him based on his weight like that has anything to do with anything. I hope it makes you feel better, if not maybe you should insult Miyamoto based on how little he can weightlift.

J @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:19PM

*WRONG*

You're just cherry picking the insults. We've said much more about him than just his weight. The post right above you by Cigol pretty much proves you're just a whiny bitch. "WAAAA LEAVE GABE ALONE!!!!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc

Aside from his heftiness, the rest of us have been calling out Newell's bullshit. We'd appreciate it if you acknowledge the other mean stuff we've been saying. ;)

If EA, originally notorious for bad ports, has developed and are continuing to release some of the best quality MULTIplatform games, and Crytek studios, developers of still one of the most graphically intensive games, compliments the ps3 hardware, then it would be wise if defensive 360 fanboys stop hanging on Gabe's every word.
Cause THAT'S pathetic.

Intangible 360 @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:55PM

I'm criticizing the part of your whining that is clearly an Ad Hominem attack. All I am commenting on is this childish behavior, hence why the rest is ignored. What I wrote is obviously not suggesting that simply criticizing Newell is in some way wrong, that should have been obvious.

J @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:45PM

You are full of shit. Get off your fucking high horse.

"All I am commenting on is this childish behavior, hence why the rest is ignored"

How convenient! So someone can make a very valid point, and because he adds some silliness to it, you ignore the whole thing? How stupid! Ad hominem's are usually used to upstage a lack of good arguments. HOWEVER, if your arguments ARE legitimate, ad hominems are just the icing on the cake. The insult to injury. The arguments are still there.

BY THE WAY, not everyone insulted his weight, and you STILL ignored THEIR critical comments. "Hence" why I say you're cherry picking.

Besides, this is a video game blog. We don't have to be so serious when making a point. You'd understand that, if you weren't such a fat pig.
!*!*!**!*!AD HOMINEM ALERT*!*!**!!**!*!

Ihavepants @ Aug 3rd 2008 11:55PM

RE: J

Just because you're typing louder doesn't make you right.

J @ Aug 4th 2008 12:27AM

I completely agree with you ihavepants.

Emphasizing certain words doesn't make me right. It's meant to help the readers understand me. I'd rather use Italics or Bold, but I can't. So INSTEAD, i use caps like this.

I don't try to be right by being loud, though. I point out the statements I disagree with, and explain why, though they are not necessarily wrong or right. You, like Intangible360, however, disregard the points people are making and easily get distractED with the FLASHY TEXT and insults. Kinda makes you shallow.

"Just because you're typing louder doesn't make you right."

I'm sure it took some insight to think that up. Now, intangible360, this is a good example of part non sequitar, part ad hominem. According to him, because of the usage of CAPS in certain parts of my argument, my points are moot, and he presumes that I only relied on those CAPS alone to try to sound right, and not the actual statements.

To put it simply, he is a douche.
Someone correct me on the adhominem and non sequitar part though. That shit's confusing.

He's still a douche, though. OH NO INTANGIBLE360, AND IHAVEPANTS!!
!*!!*!**!ADHOMINEM, CAPSLOCK ALERT!**!!**!*!*!

Intangible 360 @ Aug 4th 2008 1:11AM

I believe you have proved my point, as I have stated I wasn't arguing to the point of whether or not Newell deserves criticism or whether or not this criticism is valid, just that childish name calling is clearly not the way to go about it and beside the point. You yourself have admitted as much, but are justifying it as acceptable because you apparently take pleasure from it. That attitude is childish and quite frankly pathetic but I will not bother wasting more time demonstrating this point.

J @ Aug 4th 2008 2:25AM

I get it.

You frown upon childishness. How grown-up of you.

"Insulting him based on his weight like that has anything to do with anything."

You give too much thought to those insults. No one implied "He is overweight, therefore he has no credibility."
It's more like "Many other credible developers would disagree with him... oh and he's fat."

Then again, after reading through your past comments, you seem like a matter-of-fact kind of person, so NOW I see where you're coming from. I mistook your comments as arrogant. So nevermind everything I said, then, like you had already intended. Sorry ;)

ihavepants still sucks.

Ihavepants @ Aug 4th 2008 2:39AM

Maverick Saturn @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:14PM

Newell is just a critic, like any, its up to him what he decides he likes and doesn't like, why insult him?

Mrblonde @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:38PM

Exactly

ogvor @ Aug 3rd 2008 11:34PM

Rational thought doesn't apply to fanboys.

Si @ Aug 4th 2008 3:15AM

It's quite clear what he likes and dislikes:

Likes:
Cheeseburgers
Cream Cakes
Lard

Dislikes:
PS3
Anthing not Microsoft.

j.howlett @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:31PM

it have to be a damn good port for me to get it on the ps3

FAMAS @ Aug 3rd 2008 8:49PM

I honestly can't recommend getting this game for any console. If Team Fortress 2 is any indication, console gamers will miss out on A LOT of content (including user generated content such as maps), bug fixes and so forth. If you have a capable PC, don't waste your money and tell your friends not to either.

Jacksons @ Aug 4th 2008 12:06AM

No kidding. Now that it's coming to PS3 (if this is true, of course) all the people with common sense who state that Valve games on PC are always superior to their console counterpart won't be labeled as PS3 fanboys. That was annoying.

DustoMan @ Aug 3rd 2008 9:59PM

This was posted in the rumor section of OPM. Lame Joystiq.

mhb772 @ Aug 3rd 2008 10:32PM

this will be a shitty port. expect offline LAG.

Cox Attack @ Aug 3rd 2008 11:42PM

You guys are a bunch of jackasses. Not only is Gabe Newell one of the greatest developers ever(he fucking made Half Life for christs sake) but he isn't a Microsoft fan boy at all. In the same interview where he blasted the PS3 he also expressed his disappointment in Vista when he couldn't get it to work on any of his computers. He made a valid point about a system. And you guys do sound childish for making fun of the guys weight considering that, you know, you're posting comments on a gaming blog. There goes your integrity.

Personally, I can't imagine the port being THAT bad for the ps3. I think it was blown out of proportion. It was just the first time when a cross system release for the ps3 and 360 was actually that much inferior this generation that it affected the overall game. I never played it for the PS3. I'm just going by what I assume, which is probably true since the gaming community is well known for blowing things way out of proportion.

Vii @ Aug 4th 2008 1:29AM

Hold on a second there, Cox. Gabe never actually qualified any of his comments in that interview. He basically shot some insults at the PS3 without actually providing any real reason that his points were valid. To me this is a testament to his arrogance. I mean you said it yourself, "he fucking made Half Life for christs sake." But that's like saying that just because Kojima made MGS4 he can talk shit about the 360 without an ounce of valid evidence to back up any of his claims. And whats more, that because of his reputation we should believe him. I don't know about you but doesn't that just scream stupidity on Newell's part?

Look I love Half-Life. Lord knows its a great game and one that was very open to some really great mods (Team Fortress and Counter Strike to name a few). However, even with a mammoth reputation like that he can't just go around making unsubstantiated claims about hardware without adding some kind of evidence to back up his statements. If someone bad mouthed the 360 I would say the same exact thing.

Jacksons @ Aug 4th 2008 12:18AM

The graphics aren't winning any beauty pageants when compared to the likes of Gears/Resistance 2, but that doesn't mean it can't be a ton of fun. I sure hope it is!

Purple Haze @ Aug 4th 2008 1:54AM

They have definitely said, as I'm sure some one else has already mentioned, that Left 4 Dead would come to the PlayStation 3 if somebody else was willing to develop it, so it isn't too surprising.

Whoppy @ Aug 4th 2008 4:22AM

PS3 - Orange box on metacritic = 89% Fiasco?

Having said that I will always get any Valve game on ma PC. Games are usually cheaper and look better than either console.

LaughingTarget @ Aug 4th 2008 6:22AM

Review scores these days are fiascos, too much inflation. The point is the 360 version is superior. I'm not shocked because it is a PC engine, the 360 shares PC design, the PS3 is in grand Sony tradition an attemp to dramatically change how things are done.