Left 4 Dead

[Spike88]

Left 4 dead 1 and 2 are both now on sale for 6.72 a piece, or 10 dollars together.

I have yet to actually play through either campaigns despite having both games for a while now. Just because I do not really know anyone who owns them.

So if anyone gets them, add me on steam so I can finally do so. :haha:

[Raptor1]

Think I'll get the first one or both, been wanting to try it for a while.

Wonder if there are any mods that remove the special zombies and only keeps the classic ones...

[Dowly]

I have never quite grasped the fascination that seems to surround L4D. Anyone care to explain what makes the game so good? I mean, surely it's the coop MP that is the selling point, but doesn't it get, you know, boring after awhile? :hmmm:

[Spike88]

I have never quite grasped the fascination that seems to surround L4D. Anyone care to explain what makes the game so good? I mean, surely it's the coop MP that is the selling point, but doesn't it get, you know, boring after awhile? :hmmm:


Part of the Co-op MP is the Game director, which is pretty much the AI for the enemies. The better you do, the more zombies the game throws at you. If you start to fail, less zombies spawn, etc.

Here's exactly what the director does:
The artificial intelligence of Left 4 Dead features a dynamic system for game dramatics, pacing and difficulty called the "Director". Instead of fixed spawn points for enemies, the Director places enemies and items in varying positions and quantities based upon each player's current situation, status, skill and location, creating a new experience for each playthrough. The Director also creates mood and tension with emotional cues, such as visual effects, dynamic music, and character communication.Also a MP server always has 4 characters playing. No matter how many actual players there are. So lets say we have a group of 4 playing, and one of us has to go. When the 4th person drops out, the AI automatically kicks in, without the player model disappearing, or moving. Same thing happens if someone takes over an AI controlled character.

On top of the Co-op there is regular MP where its 4 survivors vs 4 special zombies, plus all the other zombies.

There is also other modes, but I haven't been bothered to look into them.

All in all it's a well rounded Co-op experience where you blow through hordes of zombies.

Plus Valve releases free campaigns expanding the story every so often(well there not free if you own the 360 version)



At Raptor, there probably is a mod that removes the Special Zombies, but the game would lose part of its challenge. Also if you decide to try one, its still a better deal to get both at the same time.

[Weiss Pinguin]

Part of the Co-op MP is the Game director, which is pretty much the AI for the enemies. The better you do, the more zombies the game throws at you. If you start to fail, less zombies spawn, etc.

Also a MP server always has 4 characters playing. No matter how many actual players there are. So lets say we have a group of 4 playing, and one of has to go, when the 4th person drops out, the AI automatically kicks in, without the player model disappearing, or moving. Same thing happens if someone takes over an AI controlled character.

On top of the Co-op there is regular MP where its 4 survivors vs 4 special zombies, plus all the other zombies.

There is also other modes, but I haven't been bothered to look into them.

All in all it's a well rounded Co-op experience where you blow through hordes of zombies.
This.

Multiplayer is always interesting for longer than singleplayer since you're playing with people (who are unpredictable), but when you throw in a sort-of unpredictable AI it can get really crazy. And if you play versus mode with people vs AI and people it can get crazy awesome.

By the way, anyone have L4D on Xbox?

[Biggles]

Survival mode is great fun. Really challenging. Not the sort of thing they have in Word at War, Survival in L4D means that you're very good to survive 10 minutes! Even 5!

[Ducimus]

That and a love for zombie movies. :haha:

[Raptor1]

Alright, I bought both L4D and L4D2, can't go too wrong with $10...

[Dowly]

That and a love for zombie movies. :haha:

Heeey, I like zombie movies! I even own the Romero's Trilogy of the Dead. :smug:

Guess I can spare 10€ for the pack. :hmmm:

Left 4 dead 1 and 2 are both now on sale for 6.72 a piece, or 10 dollars together.

Another ~$4 more we Euro users have to pay because Valve can't do simple currency math. :nope:

[Spike88]

We're one man short of a full Left 4 Dead Subsim party.

[Ducimus]

Have to add, i really like the co op aspect of L4d. It's "real" in the sense that you really won't make it without your team mates. Where the game really kicks you in the balls is in advanced or expert. When im serious about L4D, i prefer at least advanced games. You (and everyone else )really have to be on your game. Expert, kicks me square in the balls during finale's. Dead Air's finale on expert is an ass kicker the instant the first tank appears.


Right now im kinda bored with everything else ive been playing so i might go back to L4D very shortly considering valve released an update today.

We're one man short of a full Left 4 Dead Subsim party.

Here's my profile.
http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197973221458

[Spike88]

Andddd... that's four.


We'll most likely start this chaos tomorrow, as I believe most of you are asleep/going to sleep around now.




Also, there goes installing NTW anytime soon. Back down to 25.9 gigs. :haha:
I need to beat ETW before anyways.

[darius359au]

My sense of timing could be better ,I bought Left4Dead 1 and 2 last week for $20us each on steam and now they bring out the special :wah::wah:

[Spike88]

I know how you feel. I could have waited a couple months for ETW/NTW and these two games and got both ridiculously cheap. Especially with the fact I haven't played much of either up until this point(Although I did acquire 30 hours of ETW when I got it.)

[Biggles]

My sense of timing could be better ,I bought Left4Dead 1 and 2 last week for $20us each on steam and now they bring out the special :wah::wah:

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/2882/owned9wz.jpg

Sorry, that was the first thing that popped into mind! :haha::haha:

[Falkirion]

Unfortunately for me I've got the goreless version of L4D2, damn OFLC censoring L4D2 for no reason. Its not anywhere near more gorely than 1 and we got that uncut.

Anyway vs and survival are the 2 main reasons I play L4D anymore. Always more fun with humans as special infected.

[Dowly]

Can't believe I've missed on this, fun game. :up:

Ow and that music when you get near to a Witch? Jebus, that's creepy. :o

[Raptor1]

It looks quite fun, from what I've seen so far. I like the movie atmosphere it has, though I still think it could be better off without the special zombies.

[Dowly]

Aye, don't like the special zombies that much. Would be nice to have a "classic" mode which would only have normal zombies. :hmmm:

[Spike88]

Can't believe I've missed on this, fun game. :up:

Ow and that music when you get near to a Witch? Jebus, that's creepy. :o


With her sobbing. EEEEENNNHHHH

[Dowly]

Meh, sobbing is used in trillion games already.

[Falkirion]

*sob sob sob* WITCH!

They dont scare me. Charge them, auto shotgun to the face always works.

[Spike88]

Two left 4 dead parodies that I saw ages ago.

Left 4 speed 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnRVIC7kS4s

Left 4 Speed 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1uVi41I1oc

Warning: highly crude.

[Ducimus]

Well, i just logged in and played with Spike88 and Raptor 1 for a few minutes. Need more people me thinks. I should have logged in last night, but tried to play Dragons Age again.. and again got bored. Bioware games are great, but they really don't have much replay value... they just leave you wanting more, but without the satisfaction.

I'll make a concious effort to play just L4D or L4D2 when i play. It's been awhile, and ive always loved this series. Time to get back into it me thinks.

As to the special zombies, they're what really give the game the twist. One thing i recommend doing, is somewhere in L4D's credits, options, or somwhere in some obscure sub menu, there is an option to play the first chapter with developer commentary. It's really interesting hearing their throught process behind the game design.

How to handle special zombies in L4D1....

The boomer, If i hear one, i try and look for him, to pop him at a distance. If you hear one close, and its behind a corner or something, WATCH OUT. If you are close, and he's visible, melee him away, back pedal, then pop him.

Smoker.. If you see one, you probably should nail him as soon as you have an opportunity to. They will stalk the group until their successful. If you hear one scream, he's about to use his tounge. I MOVE at that point. Break line of sight. I dunno where he's at, but i immediatly go around a corner, or duck behind a car and watch my 6, since the car breaks line of sight on my 12.

Hunter....Sometimes they creep around and you can hear them behind the corner. YOU CAN SHOOT THROUGH WALLS in this game. If you tag him, he immedatily backs off. Also if a hunter is on someone, somtimes it is better to melee them off because its faster then trying to kill them while they are pounced on someone. Depends on how close you are to the player being pounced.

Horde events..... usually best if the people in front kneel, while the people in back shoot over their heads. Preerbly shotguns in the front row, rifles in the rear. Also, somtimes its best to just forget about shooting, and continually melee the mobs off while the people in the rear shoot them. You acutally lose less health that way.


Save molitov cocktails (aka "molly's) for tanks if you can. Hit the tank with the molly, and just run your ass off while he burns. It is possible to "kite" him like this until he dies. Or horde events if the **** hits the fan. Just be careful where you throw them.


If you start playing survival mode, (or just love shotguns), use your pistols more. They're more powerful then youd think they'd be, and you can also fire them as fast as you can mash your fire key. Saves ammo for when you REALLY need it later.

L42 special zombies are a PITA, because they were designed to fill "holes" in l4d1. The spiter for instance, was specifically designed to break the party up when it hunkers down in a horde event. In L4d1, once you hunker down in a good spot, it's really hard for the game to break you loose from it.

Best bunker spot in the game i think, is the hallway before you get to the rooftop in the first campaign in l4d1. One big honking chokepoint and a narrow corrdor, its like a shooting gallery.

Anywho, running late, gotta get to work.

[CCIP]

I'm away until next week, but if you guys will still be playing this next week, do let me know! My steam ID is otohikoamv.

[Takeda Shingen]

I am also thinking about joining you all on this.

[Ducimus]

Cool beans!

I just discovered i'll have to resintall L4D2. I forgot i ran some mods on there, and when steam tried to update it with the latest DLC, it screwed it all up. Oh well.

One other tip with molly's that just hit me. If you get swarmed and can't move, getting beat down. Throw it at your feet. It instantly breaks all the zombies off you and you can then run. At least that's what i do. Yeah you'll get burned from the fire, but it seems like you take less damage then from the horde beating down on you.

edit: Jumping seems to help with reducing damage. This tactic isn't always the best thing to do in advanced or expert however. Friendly fire is MUCH more damaging. I'll do it anyway if i know im as good as dead. Take a few of them with me.

edit: Oh, and don't do it next to team mates. Ppl tend to not like being incapacitated by ones sepeku by fire.

[Ducimus]

Two left 4 dead parodies that I saw ages ago.

Left 4 speed 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnRVIC7kS4s

Left 4 Speed 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1uVi41I1oc

Warning: highly crude.

You missed this one:
LEFT 4 LOL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OjcRBoCbSg

[Biggles]

Never play Expert. Just...no. The FF is way to harmful...realistic obviously, and only for experts. Not for me, then! :O:

[Dowly]

You missed this one:
LEFT 4 LOL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OjcRBoCbSg

Hahaha, so true. :har:

[Biggles]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haWGGlxd_ZE&feature=related

:o

[Spike88]

As Ducimus stated, he, Dowly, Raptor1, and I made our ways through the first 2 campaigns. (Although Number 2 is rather short)

Almost died in the first part of Campaign 2. Made it to the safe house while my pain killers slowly wore off. Really close call.

[Ducimus]

As Ducimus stated, he, Dowly, Raptor1, and I made our ways through the first 2 campaigns. (Although Number 2 is rather short)

Almost died in the first part of Campaign 2. Made it to the safe house while my pain killers slowly wore off. Really close call.


Damn, wish i joined earlier. By the time I joined I guess Dowly had already logged. Didn't know you guys played through all of No mercy. The 2nd campaign (crash course) was a DLC that was added later. It sort of plugged a story gap of what happened after No mercy.

Your comment on pain killers (aka pills) reminded me of something, though i hesitate to say anything cause i think im starting to sound preachy after my last post of "helpful hints". But.. this is just what I do.. as to health. Personally, just speaking for myself now.. I prefer to NOT use health kits until im "seeing gray". If your incapacitated and scooped off the ground twice, your vision goes gray the 2nd time. That means the next time you go down, Your dead. No more helping up.

So until i get to that point, i just use pain pills. When playing in groups i try to keep track of who's dropped more then once. Or if someone says their "gray". Then ill use my medkit on them. Some people in public games get in a real tiff if you don't heal them right away, and you don't always have the time to explain to them that, "well guy, you really didn't need it yet". This kind of micromanagement isn't really neccessary until you play on advanced or expert, and there just doesn't seem to be enough med kits.


Another item i just remembered. A coworker who i played with in the past, is pretty sure that the AI director rewards teamplay. IE If the players never heal themselves, but always others, the game will spawn more health kits. Not sure if its true, though.

[Spike88]

-snip-


I had actually gone down, and no one had health kits. :haha:
I had shot a gas tank sitting in a truck with the howitzer attached. Would have worked better if I wasn't also standing in the truck. Dowly had tried to give me more pills, but ended up taking them himself.


I have to say, I prefer L4D2 over L4D just for the chainsaw you can find.

[Dowly]

Dowly had tried to give me more pills, but ended up taking them himself.

:D

@Duc

I only played the first level of Crash Course, so there wasn't much of an window to catch me. :O:

Thanks for the tips, guess the one seeing grey will most likely be me... I have the bad tendency to charge an incoming horde with akimbo pistols, sort of burrow in and then cry for help when I'm surrounded and eaten alive. :haha:

[Dowly]

May I remind that we got the "Subsim Tactical Armed Bastards" Steam group too. Might be an easier way to be in touch instead of throwing friend invites back and forth. :hmmm:

http://steamcommunity.com/groups/SubsimBastards

[Arclight]

And of course I only pull my head out of my bottom after the special expires. :shifty:

[Spike88]

And of course I only pull my head out of my bottom after the special expires. :shifty:

You snooze you lose :O:

I would have thought they would have the deal for longer though.

As a side note we really need a smartphone version of the forums. Silent hunter is on the iPhone, so subsim should be too.

[Ducimus]

Just have to say, i think its cool valve added the orginal L4D characters into L4D2 along with the No Mercy campaign in addition to the new "sacrifice" campaign. I don't know what it is, but L4D2 never seem to have the same...... flair? spirt? Immersion? level of fondness? as L4D1. I do like the improved special effects, weapons and the like in L4D2, but the characters and the campaign environments in L4D2 never really grabbed me like L4D1 did.

edit: trailer for new DLC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wl2E35uuvw

[Dowly]

^

Only have played the first campaign in L4D2, but yeh I kinda agree. It doesn't feel the same. :hmmm:

Like I care in the end as long as I have my Katana. :haha:

[Raptor1]

L4D2's campaigns and characters seem a lot more trivialized than L4D, I think they tried to give it more of a horror comedy-style atmosphere compared to L4D's classic horror atmosphere. Either way, I liked L4D more in that regard as well.

[Spike88]

I think our strategy for the Sacrifice needs to go something like this:
Turn on the 3 generators in any order, fighting anything that comes at us. But saving 1 pipe bomb.

Once we get on the bridge, someone mans the machine gun. The person with the pipe bomb runs towards the generator, and throws the pipe bomb. We need to do this before the 4 tanks spawn/rape us.
The person on the machine gun, and whoever else is on the bridge gives covering fire, while the person who had the pipe bomb restarts the generator.

Hopefully the pipe bomb will allow us to get the generator started without getting raped.

We all get away safely! Except for the person who had to start the generator. He's screwed.

[Raptor1]

Whoever designed the last part of The Sacrifice should be shot...

Also, what the hell sort of smiley is :woot:?

[Spike88]

It is funny how Dowly wanted to try playing on Advanced. And we got our asses kicked 3 times on Normal. :haha:

But then again, I don't think it's possible to actually kill all 4 tanks. I think it's more of a sense of hurry up and sacrifice someone before they destroy the team.


Edit: And the smiley is a "party" smiley.

[Raptor1]

Edit: And the smiley is a "party" smiley.

So it's only showing as the 'Bilge Rat' avatar on my end?

EDIT: Ah, nevermind, fixed it now.

[Dowly]

Left 4 Dead Hunters in Toy Story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSw0fz-qiCg

Left 4 Dead Witches in Toy Story 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6la2BJEYVbc

:har:

[Oberon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMjTzc_QMwc

[Arclight]

:haha:

TF2 bit was the best, gets a little old after that. But funny. :haha:

[Spike88]

Left 4 Dead Hunters in Toy Story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSw0fz-qiCg


This one was great. :har:

[Dowly]

We all get away safely! Except for the person who had to start the generator. He's screwed.

Yes, this is the way it is mean't to be done, one must go and start the generator and thus sacrifice him/herself for the team.

[Spike88]

Yes, this is the way it is mean't to be done, one must go and start the generator and thus sacrifice him/herself for the team.


After looking into it, it only takes 2-3 seconds for the generator to restart. :hmmm:

[Dowly]

After looking into it, it only takes 2-3 seconds for the generator to restart. :hmmm:

From what I gather, the ending cutscene starts as soon as the generator is restarted.

[Spike88]

From what I gather, the ending cutscene starts as soon as the generator is restarted.

It does. The game wants someone to blitz the last generator, before the team is screwed.

[Biggles]

From what I gather, the ending cutscene starts as soon as the generator is restarted.

I read somewhere that in the console version, the player who sacrifices himself/herself gets to do a "final stand", that is, the it ends when that player gets beaten down for real. So you can actually go out in a real blaze of glory!

[Ducimus]

It is funny how Dowly wanted to try playing on Advanced. And we got our asses kicked 3 times on Normal. :haha:
.

Dowly might get a kick out of verses play. 8 player game where It alternates rounds where you play as the survivors, and then as a special infected.

[Dowly]

Dowly might get a kick out of verses play. 8 player game where It alternates rounds where you play as the survivors, and then as a special infected.

Most likely, yes. L4D is almost identical to Alien vs. Predator games in terms of gameplay and the concept of the multiplayer, so yeh, I think I'd like to try the versus mode. :yep:

As for the advanced thingy, I was just thinking about to mention it aaand of course the next level was the goddamn sewer thing. :DL

[Biggles]

Let it be noted, that Biggles bravely let himself be pounced by a junkie on steroids to let the others escape from the mall!

(And that the others bravely stood their ground and didn't try to help him...)

That's what you get for playing Rochelle :haha::har:

[Dowly]

Let it be noted, that Biggles bravely let himself be pounced by a junkie on steroids to let the others escape from the mall!

(And that the others bravely stood their ground and didn't try to help him...)

That's what you get for playing Rochelle :haha::har:

That's what they do in horror movies and everyone ends up dead, so we decided to cut our losses and get the hell out. :D

[Spike88]

You were too far away. :haha:


Whenever I get around to installing Windows Move Maker, and combining the two videos(Need to reinstalling FRAPS so it records all at once) I got from The Sacrifice I'll put it up.

[Ducimus]

Most likely, yes. L4D is almost identical to Alien vs. Predator games in terms of gameplay and the concept of the multiplayer, so yeh, I think I'd like to try the versus mode. :yep:

As for the advanced thingy, I was just thinking about to mention it aaand of course the next level was the goddamn sewer thing. :DL


I never played any of the later AvP games. Played the original way back when, but thats about it. As to advanced. I acutally prefer to play on advanced. Normal is pretty easy most of the time. I rarely have to use med kits on normal. Basically everything gets ramped up.. things like friendly fire. Our last game i was a bit peeved at my FF score. Usually i have the least amount. On expert, one "oops" will drop a player. Tanks are a buttload harder to kill too.


Theres other modes besides Campaign and Verses. There's survival mode in L4D1 and 2 (survive the map as long as you can for time). L42 has realism mode (never played it, but its supposed to be pretty hard), and scavanger mode. (also never played it, but it amounts to get the gas cans and start the generator while Player controlled infected gank the crap out of you, or vise versa).

[HunterICX]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMjTzc_QMwc


:har: LMFAO!

Those G-Mod Idiot box flicks are hilarious:haha:

I just love that random humor :har:

HunterICX

[Ducimus]

Is there gonna be a game tonight? Just curious. :O:

[Dowly]

Is there gonna be a game tonight? Just curious. :O:

We had a game 3 or so hours ago, that'd be 10PM my time. See, get your arse onto the steam group I mentioned few posts back and you get notified via event thingy when we have a game. :O:

[Ducimus]

My problem is i work swing shift in the pacific time zone. 3 hours ago, i was getting ready for work. DOH!

But yeah, ill join the steam group. :salute:

[Dowly]

Aye, it's a bitch when trying to organize something with people coming from all around the world. :-?

[Spike88]

And.... After 9 hours of uploading(internet was being slow today), and another 4 hours waiting for Youtube to finally process the video, here is Raptor and I's attempt at the sacrifice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8-WMkL9oJQ

Note, you can watch it in HD.


Edit: Just realized that around the same time the video lags up, the audio un-syncs.

[HunterICX]

w0000t Bumper Threads!

L4D Fanflick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGC-_o6QteU

HunterICX

[Ducimus]

w0000t Bumper Threads!

L4D Fanflick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGC-_o6QteU

HunterICX

Hilarous!