When Valve announced Left 4 Dead 2 during Microsoft’s E3 2009 press conference — less than seven months after the release of the award-winning original — gamers were, perhaps rightfully, shocked. This was the same Valve that spent nearly ten years iterating on Team Fortress 2 and whose experiment in episodic gaming has forced us to reevaluate our expectations for future installments of Half-Life 2 using the “Star Wars-definition” of episodic.
So when Valve announced a direct sequel to the ground-breaking Left 4 Dead on what could only be considered an accelerated schedule for normal developers (and an impossibly accelerated schedule for Valve) we had every right to be shocked. Valve answered this concern with assurances that Left 4 Dead 2 was an entirely new game, with changes that could not be simply grafted onto the original. And the team was right! … But that’s the problem.
We’d usually say it’s a good thing when a zombie invasion gets postponed, but not when we’re talking about Left 4 Dead 2 releasing in the UK a couple days after the rest of the world. According to Valve’s own L4D2 blog, “copies of the game are still arriving” across the pond, with assurances from the developer that it will “have everyone in the UK playing Left 4 Dead 2 by Friday morning.” Wait — everyone in the UK? Whoa now guys!
While Xbox 360 owners and PC gamers who still buy physical copies of software are out of luck, Valve says that everyone in the region who pre-ordered L4D2 via Steam can play it right now. Of course, those left waiting can pretend they’re fighting to survive the scariest of all Left 4 Dead campaigns: “Delay of Game” (tagline: “Patience never killed anyone — until now!”).
You’d be forgiven for thinking Aion would’ve fallen off the Steam and DIrect2Drive top ten sales charts, what with the fire hose blast of new PC releases. Fortunately for NCsoft, that isn’t the case as the game is still clinging to said charts in the face of games like Dragon Age: Origins, Borderlands, Torchlight and Left 4 Dead 2. Boldness!
Actually, the game is pretty darn good — if you don’t mind your peanut butter with extra grind — so that’s not a huge surprise all things considered. It’s always a good sign when an MMO can stay on the top ten after its launch, moreso when it does so against high profile, high pedigree releases. So, rejoice Aion players, you’ve likely got a strong community! (We could’ve just told you that, but now numbers vindicate said observation.)
In what is no doubt part of the 25 million dollar advertising machine of L4D2, Jimmy Fallon just started a rumor by saying L4D2 is coming to “Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.” Have a look for yourself.
I’m going to go ahead and guess that they messed up with script on the teleprompter. He says it will be available on the 2 consoles and PC on November 17th. As of right now we know that L4D2 is only coming to 360 and PC on the 17th. While I’m sure this is just a simple mistake, what a great way to start a rumor Jimmy Fallon. I’m sure you’ve angered a lot of fanboys. You have to wonder though, why did they write in PS3?
Review: Left 4 Dead 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
