PSA: Run! Left 4 Dead's Tank now bats 1000
by Xav de Matos 
{ Mar 15th 2009 at 7:30PM } 
Of course the repercussions of such an evil act will mostly be felt in the game's Versus Mode but we can't help but wonder which side Valve is on. Is it their aim to ruin survivor morale for the actual (and inevitable) zombie apocalypse? Perhaps Left 4 Dead was designed by zombies, for zombies, to test the human spirit and to see how resilient we really are. We don't know your little game Valve but we're watching you. Oh, and stop asking us to web cam you pictures of our skulls -- it's weird. Wait a minute...
- Fixed sv_search_key appearing in server browser
- Fixed issue where changing the sv_search_key did not update the master correctly
- Fixed master server issue with Linux fork mode that affected availability of Valve dedicated servers
- Tank melee attack can now hit multiple Survivors in one swing
- Missed from the previous list changes: Fixed acheivements to match stats. Past achievements not previously awarded will be shown in the game UI
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Obie @ Mar 15th 2009 7:35PM
I love the tank, one of the funniest things actually happened to me once while my capture card was running...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ8MXUNJKF4
Mortifiedocalot @ Mar 15th 2009 7:52PM
Now that was awesome.
Foetoid @ Mar 15th 2009 8:13PM
Funniest and greatest L4D video of all time. Thank you!
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Mar 15th 2009 8:26PM
I didn't know you had a channel.
Obie @ Mar 15th 2009 8:33PM
I have had a channel for years, but the Youtube DRM Nazi's deleted a lot of my vids. Including a 15 minute machinima film. Now I just upload gameplay clips and such.
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Mar 15th 2009 8:49PM
5'd, and fav'd. Good one, Obie.
Colonel Radec (PSN: slycooper_rocker) @ Mar 15th 2009 9:15PM
omfg that was way too funny. oh god. now i wish valve wouldn't be so damn stubborn and release L4D on ps3!
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Mar 15th 2009 9:27PM
Oh yeah I forgot to vote,BRB 1'd for fad whoring.
Keke just kidding is just that BPMomega reminded me of my YTMND days.5'd as well.
incubeezer @ Mar 15th 2009 10:42PM
Something like that happened to me the other day, except it was at the end and a previous tank had shoved that same luggage thing in front of the door. As we were all getting into the plane, another tank came around and smacked that luggage holder up into the plane and incapped us all.
ZaxCG2 @ Mar 16th 2009 12:17AM
5 STARS.
But you need PC version for the epic win.
Lee @ Mar 15th 2009 7:41PM
Filler post? anyone who plays Left 4 Dead would see the updates when Steam boots.
mgsrocks1 @ Mar 15th 2009 7:52PM
Oh, I'm sorry Lee. Not everyone plays Left 4 Dead everyday. You know, some us have jobs and college to worry about. Thanks for the info Xav. By the way, is Xav short for something? I've never seen your name before.
Turd Ferguson @ Mar 15th 2009 7:52PM
I'm one of the few who hasn't picked up Left 4 Dead. I have the Orange Box, and enjoy reading about Valve's updates, even if they are for Left 4 Dead.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Mar 15th 2009 8:23PM
I got L4D as a gift and it is awesome as long as you have a good connection and friends or family to play with.So if you fill both or one of the requierements you should totally buy it for PC.
But is just me or Blood Harvest plays a little too much like Dead Toll.
Lee @ Mar 15th 2009 9:05PM
You don't even have to play lol. just load up Steam and gaze your eyes to the right where it says Updates - Left 4 Dead.
Lee @ Mar 15th 2009 10:41PM
And you mean Death Toll. But I disagree, Death Toll is a more industrial area for the most part. Blood Harvest is just trains and farms.
No difference to how both No Mercy and Dead Air are both set in residential areas.
ssuk @ Mar 16th 2009 3:55AM
I see it as a look into the future and see what us unloved 360 users will get in about 3 months time.
Not that it matters me much at the moment, bloody RRoD. =(
gcountach @ Mar 16th 2009 6:07PM
@ssuk, you can thank Microsoft for your tough love. Every patch that gets posted on the 360 has to go through some certification process (which I'm pretty sure the developers/publishers have to pay for). It's easier for every developer, including Valve, to just make one big update instead of little ones here and there.
Also read that game patches can only be ~8mb, so if you have >8mb of patch work to do, you better spring for some mandatory free DLC.
MLS @ Mar 15th 2009 7:48PM
As long as they can be allowed to huddle in a corner and spam melee until the Tank arrives, I still say survivors have the advantage.
Einhanderkiller @ Mar 15th 2009 8:55PM
This update should counter that tactic. If a Tank comes and the survivors are all huddling in a corner, then each swing from the Tank should hit all four survivors, knocking them down, only to get back up and get hit by another swing.
Obie @ Mar 15th 2009 7:48PM
And I like the tank update. In VS he has been nerfed significantly. It is all good, I am happy Valve keeps tweaking as they go along.
The question is will we have to wait 2 months for this update on the 360?
mgsrocks1 @ Mar 15th 2009 7:56PM
I'm hoping Microsoft loosens up their Xbox Live rules a bit. PS3 users are able to share user generated content. Why can't Xbox360 users? I'm glad Valve is attempting to side with the players.
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 15th 2009 7:55PM
they must have updated the graphics or something too, because neither the tank nor the shotgun look like that in gameplay
HiiamPhil @ Mar 15th 2009 8:05PM
Hmm.
Foetoid @ Mar 15th 2009 8:11PM
Thats how they look on my screen. I don't understand the issue. Perhaps the detail isn't so high running the game on a 486.
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 15th 2009 8:17PM
no it's not even the detail, it;s just, the shotgun isn't shaped like that, and I can run it on max settings and then some
Lee @ Mar 15th 2009 10:43PM
Everything is on max here on my GTX 2-something card and my tank has nowhere near the same detail as that. maybe its just a promo shot? or maybe the game moves too fast to realise lol.
Xav de Matos @ Mar 15th 2009 11:34PM
Old screenshot is old.
dphizzle @ Mar 16th 2009 12:52AM
um... im pretty sure its the xbox version?
Sam @ Mar 15th 2009 8:04PM
the tank is completely broken. He's way too overpowered now.
wicko @ Mar 15th 2009 10:42PM
No, not even close. There are many cheap ways to fight the tank, such as totem poling as mentioned below, or hiding in vents. Now people have to fight the tank the way it was meant to fight them.
Ghede @ Mar 15th 2009 8:04PM
The tank AOE was to counteract the "Toteming" strategy, where survivors would pile on one another in a corner and all auto-shotty the tank. Even after the damage reduction, the autoshotty did unbelievable damage to the tank. Since he could only knock back one survivor, he would be taking POINT BLANK damage from 3/4 survivors most of the time. He would die before he could punch twice.
In open areas, survivors would be screwed, but there are no shortages of small rooms in L4D.
This update makes survivors do what they are supposed to do: RUN AND SHOOT.
Ghede @ Mar 15th 2009 8:05PM
Also note that the Tank attack range hasn't changed, so don't expect a 90 degree attack arc to swipe everyone off a roof.
Ihavepants @ Mar 15th 2009 10:10PM
What? Open areas are the best way to take a tank down...
Ihavepants @ Mar 15th 2009 10:45PM
Best example I can think of is the finale of Blood Harvest. You get the hell out of that house into the open area as soon as you hear a tank coming.
Ben @ Mar 15th 2009 8:09PM
"We don't know you're little game Valve"
>>you're
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Mar 15th 2009 9:14PM
>reaction image.jpg
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Mar 15th 2009 9:29PM
>Inserts Hello.jpg
*ahem Gentlemen.
(Pro Tip:Search Hello.JPG in google images with safesearch off,wash eyes with acid)
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Mar 15th 2009 9:37PM
>RAAAAAAAAAAGE.png
Xav de Matos @ Mar 15th 2009 11:34PM
Fixed.
Linkario @ Mar 15th 2009 8:13PM
Don't f*&king shoot the f$%king witch
Brucie_K @ Mar 15th 2009 8:44PM
*BANG*
Oops...
What now...? OH SHI-
RUNNNNNNNN
Vcize @ Mar 15th 2009 9:29PM
Don't worry, I can get it in the head. I swea...
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Mar 15th 2009 9:31PM
Accidentaly the whole alarm,is this bad?
Quattro @ Mar 16th 2009 3:09PM
I always pull the witch, can't help it.
Mazrael @ Mar 15th 2009 11:56PM
that explains that then.. when I cornered 2 survivors & could only hit one.. it doesn't explain why a lot of the time the tank is far too slow to even catch anyone to even hit them when your playing as one, yet it always gets someone when it's AI controlled..
I'm wondering if anyone else get's headaches after a while playing this game..
I played 4 or 5 games with mates, on Live, felt fine, yet I can barely manage 2 games in single player without feeling like crap..
Rob Bourne @ Mar 16th 2009 9:44AM
Hopefully this'll come to the 360 with the DLC update...*crosses fingers*
EtOH @ Mar 16th 2009 11:16AM
Always excited for L4D comments cause you never know when they will drop the release date of the upcoming title update (or DLC, however it may be released). Can't wait.
343 Guilty Fart @ Mar 16th 2009 2:35PM
Was playing a game yesterday where the Tank hit me so hard I flew out of the map and couldn't get back in. Had to start over, very frustrating.