Valve: Left 4 Dead pre-sales outpacing Orange Box

by Ross Miller { Oct 16th 2008 at 11:30PM }

While we still believe that nothing beats a crowbar for self-defense, the gun-toting quartet in Left 4 Dead seems to be doing pretty well for itself. According to Valve's Doug Lombardi (via GameDaily), "With just over four weeks until launch, Left 4 Dead is showing every sign of topping The Orange Box on both the PC and Xbox 360, at retail as well as on Steam."

Lombardi said that retail pre-sales are 65% greater the Half-Life 2 mega-pack at the same proximity to launch. We're sure the 10% off pre-order deal helps a bit. Left 4 Dead will arrive November 18.

Tags: left-4-dead, left4dead, steam, valve

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Einhanderkiller @ Oct 16th 2008 11:35PM

I never understand these Joystiq tags. Left 4 Dead is not going to be released on the PS3, yet this story has a tag for it, but L4D will be on the PC, yet this story does not have a tag for it. Doesn't make sense.

Ross Miller @ Oct 17th 2008 12:41AM

To make life even more confusing, I've removed PS3, added PC and also added driving and simulation. Because, y'know, it's simulating an actual zombie infestation. And there's cars in the game. I think.

Desert Eagle @ Oct 17th 2008 12:45AM

Ahahaha! God, you really gave me a good chuckle with that comment of your Ross! I wish I could + your comment, but for some weird reason, I get this message saying that my browser sent a request that this site's server can't understand. What's up with that?

And by the way, yes, I'm using Firefox.

Puffles @ Oct 17th 2008 1:19AM

Ross wins an internet for actually adding the Driving and Simulation tags. That's one of the funniest things I've seen all day! ^_^

Ihavepants @ Oct 17th 2008 1:20AM

It doesn't have driving!

B-(

Jack of No Trades 85 @ Oct 17th 2008 8:35AM

Oh, Poor baby! I didn't think it would have hurt your feelings that much. Grow up

Ihavepants @ Oct 17th 2008 9:27AM

Aren't you a friendly mature chap. I was doing the whole "har har har" thing. In happy town is where you are not allowed it seems.

WiiFTW @ Oct 16th 2008 11:36PM

I ♥ Valve

Too bad I have to wait 'til Christmas to get moar games...

Just Mr ESC. @ Oct 17th 2008 10:56AM

Me too...Too bad I have to upgrade my PC to play videogames.

Xbox version here we go ...I guess.

Arturo @ Oct 16th 2008 11:37PM

Can't wait!

Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 16th 2008 11:46PM

well durr. Its 100% original AND it has zombies.

Also, the first person to respond to this message telling me how cool I am will get a beta key for Resistance 2. The good folks at Sony keep sending me these things.

Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 16th 2008 11:49PM

oh, Also.

I'll send the code through the PSN, so please post your gamer tag or whatever they call it. No need to be throwing out email addresses and whatnot.

Bootes @ Oct 16th 2008 11:53PM

You're so cool! ;)

PSN: Bootez

Thanks. :)

Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 16th 2008 11:56PM

damn, that was fast.

You are da weiner sir. Check your message box in a few minutes

Kenny @ Oct 16th 2008 11:47PM

I'm a spammer who's been banhammered!

Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 16th 2008 11:50PM

you blog needs more boobies

Ross Miller @ Oct 17th 2008 12:44AM

*Swings the banhammer mightily over ze head*

That oughta do it.

Mmmm, that feels good.

theturtle363 @ Oct 17th 2008 10:40AM

i bet that's what it feels like to be thor

kevin @ Oct 16th 2008 11:56PM

Dead Space looked solid, and it turned out to be.
Mercs 2 I expected mediocre, and so it was.
Saints Row 2 landed right where its prequel did (83% meta)
This, I hope is good, but I see little reason to get it. Not much new, visually not so great, and it really just simply doesnt feel special.

DAK @ Oct 17th 2008 12:06AM

Isn't this because the Orange Box was also released on the PS3 and also the Orange Box got really popular after it was released because Portal became a cult hit once people discovered it after buying it for the other games?

Levi @ Oct 17th 2008 12:15AM

unrelated to the topic:

Your avatar rocks.

Obie @ Oct 17th 2008 12:12AM

The wait has been long for a proper zombie apocalypse game. I could only get one friend to get Orange box, now I have 6 lined up for Left 4 Dead...nuff said.

Levi @ Oct 17th 2008 12:23AM

I haven't followed this game since I don't have a high end comp and it's not coming out on PS3... but I just checked out videos, looks pretty good..

Looks like it could create a good sense of "get the hell up higher!!!" kind of like creepy underwater areas in games, where you just HAVE to get the hell out of the water... This game sounds like getting high ground will reward you the same safety

is there gonna be a demo? I could try it out with my measly GeForce 7800 AGP -_-

iofthestorm @ Oct 17th 2008 12:40AM

A 7800 was once high end, so you should probably be fine. Valve is pretty good with making their games scalable, I can play all the Orange Box games on my laptop with a crappy Geforce Go 6150, although at lowest resolution and settings. Obviously the experience is a lot better on my gaming PC, where I can max it out, but it's still playable with older cards.

Levi @ Oct 17th 2008 12:44AM

thats nice to know-- both about Left 4 Dead and the Orange Box on your laptop thing-- I've been thinking about getting a laptop, but I want one that can play Source games. Thx dude.

FSK405K @ Oct 17th 2008 3:55AM

A GeForce2 was once high end too, so I should dig that thing out...?

Levi @ Oct 17th 2008 7:37AM

nahhhh.... go fo the VooDoo 2... if you're going to bust out the old school, ya gotta keep it real...

Just bask in the colored lighting... Quake 2 never looked so good XD

Haggard @ Oct 17th 2008 11:03AM

Holy shit, a 6150?!

Didn't they design that for playing Minesweeper on full screen..? :P

Desert Eagle @ Oct 17th 2008 12:52AM

Ooh, November is sure to be one of my favorite months of gaming for me and many 360 owners. With Gears of War 2, the B&K games and this around that month's corner, pretty much I going to consider this month as Christmas, far more than this year's December. Better start reuniting my cash!

Levi @ Oct 17th 2008 7:38AM

Your avatar, sir, is also pwn.!.

SanosukeGaiden @ Oct 17th 2008 1:16AM

Just thought it should be said, but you also got $5 off for reserving The Orange Box. I guess that makes this even more impressive...

Silicon Siren @ Oct 17th 2008 1:25AM

Only makes sense this is happening. Left 4 Dead is actually being advertised outside of the internet. Have seen ads on cable, billboards, posters in windows, etc. The Orange Box wasn't promoted well, and most fans of Valve are PC users or have already played Half-Life 2 and episode 1 & 2. Maybe if they had shown the "Meet the " videos on tv like on adult swim people would have clamored for the game.

Saria the Cat @ Oct 17th 2008 1:37AM

I enjoy Half-Life but it makes me really simulation-sick every time I play. :(

Christopher Grant @ Oct 17th 2008 2:00AM

You better pop some Dramamine and get back on it!

Anticrawl @ Oct 17th 2008 5:44AM

Gotta keep your eyes and mind on a single focal point. Not sure if Half-Life had crosshairs in the center of the screen but yeah, always a way to fight motion sickness is focus on a stationary point.

Saria the Cat @ Oct 17th 2008 8:26AM

@AntiCrawl: That's actually not a fix for simulation-sickness. Simulation sickness is unique because your inner ear does not sense any movement, yet your visual input (the TV screen) is describing movement to your brain. Since the two inputs don't match up, your brain assumes you're hallucinating, and it further assumes it is from a poison, thus the nausea.

But a focal point for ballerinas works because they are actually spinning and moving, and that particular movement is confusing to your brain. But we'll see how it works for Mirror's Edge, eh?

Saria the Cat @ Oct 17th 2008 9:00AM

@AntiCrawl: And, sorry, I probably sounded like a douche there, since you were just trying to give me advice. :) I do focus on the cross-hairs or whatever target system there is in FPS, but it still bothers me. Luckily newer FPS like Bioshock don't make me sick as often for whatever reason.

Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 17th 2008 12:39PM

have you tried putting an object on top of your tv/monitor? The idea is to have a stationary object in your field of vision. Maybe something shiny or brightly colored. I've also heard a candle works.

Saria the Cat @ Oct 17th 2008 12:44PM

@Titanium: I'll try that. :)

N4PALM @ Oct 17th 2008 3:01AM

L4D outpacing the Orange Box? And PC gaming is "dying"? Just goes to show that a good game will sell. That all other publishers business models are old fashioned.

I'm sick of seeing PC gamers getting a rough deal when you only have to look at Steam to see just how alive and flourishing the PC game market is and how many people are actually buying pc games.

TragicManner @ Oct 17th 2008 3:20AM

You know, this really is a special niche game. I think what a lot of people are saying about it seeming to lack a lot of content is very valid, but what I'm the most excited for is the fact that this is another Multiplayer Valve product, and so far they've done great in making products that take arguably simple aspects and a limited amount of initial content and make something very "immersive" and fun to play. Then, as the game matures, Valve delivers with awesome additional content (it's great to have a PC, isn't it?). It's refreshing to see a development group that keeps their focus on gameplay over so many other factors.

Also, I really think valve is awesome for throwing in pre-sales discounts. Lots of companies like to take advantage of people who want to get their copy reserved and charge more, and then Valve goes and reduces the price. If anything, I hope these pre-sales figures help other companies see where they need to improve.

CaramelZappa @ Oct 17th 2008 3:47AM

I haven't pre-purchased yet, but I will as soon as my paycheck clears. This game is one of my must buys, right next to Gears 2. (Starcraft 2 was formerly on that list, but not it's "we'll see")

Valve is pretty much the only PC developer I can count on these days.

jynxycat @ Oct 17th 2008 11:33AM

The draw is online play, so it's doubtful.

FSK405K @ Oct 17th 2008 3:53AM

Will it also set new records for piracy, or are they leaving that for EA and Crytech?

MatsJn @ Oct 17th 2008 5:11AM

Given that it's online only and that Valve has many supporters, I doubt piracy will be much of a problem.

Ihavepants @ Oct 17th 2008 7:31AM

Crytek*, also, Crysis sold fairly well so shush please.

Blazur @ Oct 17th 2008 9:23AM

Doubt the game will be pirated much, if any. Unlike EA, VALVe has an honest and reputable method of protecting their software with Steam. Plus they command respect with their legion of followers, and the very notion of pirating their games is unthinkable.