Edge has an extensive and rather interesting look back at the development of Left 4 Dead that touches on design philosophy and how people behave while playing.
"Some people would declare themselves the leader and bark instructions, whether they were qualified to or not," said Mike Booth, then CEO of Turtle Rock Studios, where the game originally began development. "Other guys just wanted to help out and make sure everyone had health kits. A few would just wait for the moment to stab you in the back." Other interesting anecdotes include a foursome who decided to just end it all by jumping off the rooftop at the opening of "No Mercy," and the Counter-Strike veterans who protected a gaming-illiterate father.
The article also looks at how Turtle Rock and Valve initially got together, the technology that produces the 30 zombies populating the game world at any given time and, our personal favorite, the evolution of Louis from "a religious nutjob" to the likeable office worker based on Faliszek and Wolpaw's pal from Cleveland. "I remember helping him move house," said Faliszek. "He dropped something, ruined it and still made a joke about it. That's the perfect guy you want in the zombie apocalypse." Who else is going to help you find all those pipe bombs?
Reader Comments (18)
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 9:25AM ddealss said
No link to this article?
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 9:29AM The Tim said
Is it just me, or whenever you decide to be a random character you end up as Zoey? Apparently that's her last name, Zoey Random.
I like Bill personally, he's a crotchety old bastard with an uzi
I like Bill personally, he's a crotchety old bastard with an uzi
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 9:30AM DasMadHatter said
PILLS HERE
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 9:35AM foxhound said
@DasMadHatter
"When things go back to normal... Zoey, Bill, I'm giving you both jobs. Francis, I'm gonna teach yo ass how to read!"
Definitely the best zombie series out there, with ZOMBIES ATE MY NEIGHBORS being a very close second(and highly deserving of a sequel or L4D mod).
Reply
"When things go back to normal... Zoey, Bill, I'm giving you both jobs. Francis, I'm gonna teach yo ass how to read!"
Definitely the best zombie series out there, with ZOMBIES ATE MY NEIGHBORS being a very close second(and highly deserving of a sequel or L4D mod).
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 9:43AM Uncle Jesse said
No, no, no. You don't end it by jumping off the roof at the very beginning. That's not how you go out. You have to fight all the way to the end and when you become overwhelmed in the finale, THEN you jump off the hospital rooftop as all the zombies chasing you fall off the edge with you. Or you can always toss a molotov at your feet as they surround you.
The worst feeling int he world is having everyone survive as the helicopter comes roaring in, only to get smokered over the side of the building on your way to the helipad. I just tell them to keep running and go on without me. It's pretty selfless of me. I guess you could call me a hero or something. No big deal.
The worst feeling int he world is having everyone survive as the helicopter comes roaring in, only to get smokered over the side of the building on your way to the helipad. I just tell them to keep running and go on without me. It's pretty selfless of me. I guess you could call me a hero or something. No big deal.
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 10:13AM cheeky said
@David Hinkle maybe linking to the CMS is not the best idea. Sony called, they want your security practices :-)
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 10:18AM LoopyChew said
I hate making-of featurettes.
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 10:19AM LoopyChew said
...a </francis>, even. I forgot the RIGHT HTML escape.
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 10:35AM psycros said
A shame the sequel didn't quite measure up. Characters weren't as good, it practically rained weapons, zombies standing in almost every room waiting to be mowed down. Just another mindless FPS. Would love to see a new one that's more like the original, with more environmental interactions. I wanna be using a crane to smack zombies around.
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:36PM 343 Guilty Fart said
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I prefer the original. Fewer weapons and pick-ups make a more refined experience IMO.
Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:36PM jsowers said
I enjoy both Left 4 Dead titles. Got to say they're great social gaming experiences.





