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Eminem has a NSFW message for Left 4 Dead players

by Justin McElroy { Jan 15th 2009 at 9:38AM }

We've asked Griffin, we've implored him, we've threatened him with the loss of his video game blogger license, but it's all to no avail. The kid just won't stop shooting the witch when we play Left 4 Dead. He knows what happens, he knows that someone always ends up endeadened when he does it. He just. Doesn't. Care.

So, we've brought in the big guns: Our sentiments are being relayed to Griffin after the break by rapper Eminem, who's employing not only sheer star wattage to get the message across, but also persuasion's best buddy: Profanity. Pass it along, and get the word to someone you love.

Continued →

The best thing you'll play today: Left 4K Dead

by Ross Miller { Dec 24th 2008 at 12:22PM }

Normally we'd save this for Free Game Club, but it's Christmas Eve and we know a lot of you are reading this with family, away from your gaming PC and / or console of choice. If you need an outlet to vent your frustration, check out Left 4K Dead, an entry into the 2009 Java 4k Competition and, as the name suggests, a project no larger than 4KB in size.

Unlike its high-end Valve doppelganger, however, you must face the zombie horde by your lonesome and armed with only one nondescript gun. The Director AI is also a bit loopy here, so think of the zombie and power-up placement as being ... random. And if you end up ignoring your loved ones today, don't say we didn't warn you.

[Thanks, Josh]

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is Left 4 The Living

by Ross Miller { Nov 16th 2008 at 3:30PM }

16 November --Dear Diary,

Manny here. Meche and I decided to go visit Stubbs in the city, ran into a few ne'er-do-wells harassing a quartet of the living. Far be it for me to get in the way of schoolyard play, but these half-living mobs -- they weren't even well dressed! -- were being big bullies. Savages these days.

I saw the four not-yet-departed heading toward a nearby theater, so I decided to leave them a shotgun and assault rifle. Hope that helps clear the crowds. I'm not in the travel business anymore, but I'm always for new neighbors in the Ninth. It raises the value of my condo.

Time to go, Stubbs is here and he's got tickets for the off-broadway performance of Nightmare Before Christmas.

How We Used to Do It (CAD Comics)
No Escape (MNC)
Limitless Adventure (Penny Arcade)
Discontent (Castle Vidcons; context)
Guilt Ridden All Over His Face (2P Start)
It Takes Two (VG Cats)
Crash Test Crummy (Sidescroller)

Gallery: Weekly Webcomic Wrapup logo designs

Continued →

Outbreak reminder: Left 4 Dead demo is now public

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 11th 2008 at 1:22PM }

Not just for the pre-order folks anymore, the Left 4 Dead demo is now ready to infect the general population. Try to survive one level in Valve's zombocalypse simulator with up to three other friends online across Xbox Live (1.21 GB needed) or PC.

The demo also includes the panic-inducing intro cinematic that sets the stage for the action FPS. The full game will have us running and gunning for our lives starting Nov. 18. Remember, when playing the demo: Stick together or die alone.

[Via X3F]

Left 4 Dead TV spot upsells the zombocalypse (bring friends!)

by Christopher Grant { Oct 30th 2008 at 2:44PM }

With Left 4 Dead's zombie apocalypse scheduled to touch down in just a few short weeks, Valve's eager to spend all its lunch money before the undead invasion plunges our global financial system into (even worse) disaster. With $10 million in hand, it's buying up billboards, web sites, and even TV commercials in a coordinated effort to open our eyes to our impending fate. Here's the checklist: Zombies. Check! Four player co-op. Check! Apocalypse. Check!

Wait a second, what kind of checklist is that? We'd have blown some of that coin on important things, like crates of ammo, health kits, and totally convincing military surplus garb for just the right veneer of wholesome veteran mixed with fringe survivalist.

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.

Valve's Left 4 Dead box art, now with more puns

by Ross Miller { Oct 1st 2008 at 6:30PM }

Realizing that the original Left 4 Dead box art was lacking an obvious pun, Valve has "corrected" the error by mirroring the previously right-handed image to the left. To recap: The box art is a Left hand with 4 fingers left, with the thumb likely bitten off by the reanimated Dead. The pun-to-word ratio is now a remarkable 1:1. L4D will take a bite out of your social life November 18.

Valve's Newell confirms Left 4 Dead demo

by Ross Miller { Sep 11th 2008 at 2:30PM }

Fear not, 1% of the world that isn't convinced fighting hordes of zombies with three gun-toting friends is totally awesome. Valve managing director Gabe Newell has confirmed with VideoGamer that a Left 4 Dead demo is coming. The demo, for both Xbox 360 and PC, will include single-player and online co-op options to try out. Said Newell, "I don't know what the date is for release on that, though. I think it's going to contain the first part of one of the campaigns. I think it'll probably be [the] Hospital [level] but I'm not sure." We've contacted Valve hoping for more information. Left 4 Dead is coming for you November 18.

Rumor: Left 4 Dead coming to PS3 via EA in-house development

by Alan Tsang { Aug 4th 2008 at 9:00AM }

According to the latest issue of the Official PlayStation Magazine, the survival horror/first person shooter title Left 4 Dead is heading to the PlayStation 3 after all. In a one-liner, OPM states the following: "Valve's survival horror game Left 4 Dead is coming to PS3, but EA will be taking on development duties in-house."

No other information is given. All we are saying is, if EA wants us to give their port of Left 4 Dead a chance, it better be nothing like the "slideshow" version of the Orange Box that PS3 owners got.

[Via Joystiq]

Valve reveals new cast for Left 4 Dead

by Ross Miller { Jul 15th 2008 at 2:00AM }

At the Electronic Arts press conference, Valve's Gabe Newell revealed that Left 4 Dead sports a new cast of main characters. Here's your quartet, shown above, with bigger pictures in the galleries. Left 4 Dead will leave you stranded in November.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead

Left 4 Dead 4 November

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jun 24th 2008 at 11:10AM }

You've been 4-warned. Valve's PC and Xbox 360 zombie apocalypse sim, Left 4 Dead, will be overturning store shelves in a frantic search for essential supplies on November 4th. We highly recommend that you and three of your best friends shoot through the throbbing, mindless masses of a dilapidated modern society, if only so you can get home quicker and load up the game.

Be sure to read our hands-on impressions before you brave the undead hordes. And for heaven's sake, never go back for the dog. That's just stupid.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead

Valve: Left4Dead will come to PS3 if another dev wants to port it

by Ross Miller { May 5th 2008 at 7:00PM }

Valve's multiplayer survival-horror romp Left4Dead is due out later this year, but it won't be coming to the PlayStation 3. Said Valve's Doug Lombardi, "We're not PS3 developers -- we're doing PC and 360 like with Orange Box" (Via CVG). He said that Valve would consider a PS3 port if L4D ends up a success and if another dev wanted "to take on that investment and risk" to port the game.

Lombardi explained that the PS3 port of Orange Box came about after Electronic Arts offered to do the port -- and we've all heard the story of that one.

Valve acquires Left4Dead dev Turtle Rock Studios

by Ross Miller { Jan 10th 2008 at 11:55AM }

Valve Corporation today announced that it has acquired Turtle Rock Studios, developers of the upcoming zombie survival game Left 4 Dead. The company has also contributed various maps for Counter-Strike: Source, including a remake of cs_militia. Given Turtle Rock's close relationship with Valve, we're not too surprised by this move. Previously, Valve has hired developers of Counter-Strike, Team Fortress and Narbacular Drop, the latter title serving as a spiritual precursor for Portal.

Left 4 Dead, originally announced November 2006 and utilizing the Source Engine, is a four-player co-op game where a team of survivors take on a horde of zombies and four player-controlled "super zombies." It is slated for release later this year.

Yahtzee travels to America, visits Valve

by Scott Jon Siegel { Nov 22nd 2007 at 2:01PM }

We all know that Yahtzee -- of Zero Punctuation fame -- has a bit of a skewed view on American culture. So perhaps it's fortuitous that Valve invited him to fly out to Washington to visit their studio, fire guns, and witness the wonder that is modern American airport security.

No video this time, folks. Yahtzee takes it all in through the ancient medium of travelogue, with a few pictures mixed in for good measure. Still, the tone is undeniably his, and you can practically hear the dulcet rhythms of his accented vulgarity. Check out the piece for some new tidbits on Valve's survival horror title Left 4 Dead, as well as some keen insight into the team's design process.

Today's most zombified video: Left 4 Dead 'Subway Outbreak'

by Ross Miller { Sep 9th 2007 at 12:01AM }

Zombies are fast. Zombies are hungry. Just remember that it you don't have to be the fastest person out there -- you just need to be faster than the guy next to you. This direct-feed footage from Left 4 Dead show four survivors (sorry, no footage of someone playing as a super zombie) making their way through a bloodied, abandoned subway system. It looks intense; it should make for an interesting team game when it hits Xbox 360 and PC in early 2008.