It's official, it's coming. And for some messed up reason, it is a not a DLC but a product of its own. Epic fail by Valve in my honest opinion. Anyway, here are some of the vids out there.
Click here Content for L4D 2 known so far: * Left 4 Dead 2 development started shortly after the release of the original game. * More Special Infected to come, the next one they're working on is a "he". * Zombies with limbs blown off will die eventually, but are capable of surviving longer. (Seen in trailer.) * Melee weapons have a couple different classes - "blunt" and "chopping", for example. More weapons will be released in those types of classes. * Common infected have better sight at night time. * Witches can be crowned with the axe. * Wandering Witches' movements are erratic. * L4D will continue to be updated. Community maps for L4D1 will be "instantly" compatible with L4D2. * Story to be a bigger element, without cutscenes. * The development team wanted to do something bigger than just a "few maps", or a "half-assed tacked on story that just didn't make any sense". * In regards to storyline, "it's about the world, it's not about the character". Didn't want to be constrained to the same 4 characters. * Characters will "progress and change" throughout the campaign. * Rochelle works for a cable news network, (Not CNN) that covers a story in Savannah. It "doesn't work out well for them". * L4D1 campaigns were "re-ordered" to come up with a sensible storyline. There is mention of "people on the forums" figuring it out. ("Mapping the whole journey", etc.) * No "evil scientist" type backstory to the infected. * Weather effects will occur - mentioned to be similar (in visibility) to the cornfield of Blood Harvest. * Going to see conflict between humans and... humans. Mention is made of the military "testing" people for infection, and eventually shooting them. * No social commentary, such as comparing CEDA to FEMA, for example.
* Unnamed publisher (possibly EA) * Valve is aware of and hates shiva-stacking (mentioned yesterday, but worth repeating) * The Charger is a playable character in versus mode (rather than an NPC like the witch in L4D1) * Another special infected character is nearly completed and they have plans for a third new one * L4D2 started out as just a "bunch of cool ideas on a whiteboard" rather than a "product for the next quarter." Valve doesn't intend to create a new L4D game every year and aren't pressured by investors for the "next new product." * NEXT week they are going to "talk about" the community maps update (presumably a matchmaking update that allows you to find community-made maps) * SDK will be different from other SDKs with some features they are not currently disclosing to us * NO mention of additional L4D1 content, only 4v4/"Looking For 4" and SDK/Community Map matchmaking * No final decision has been made on how L4D2 will interface with L4D1 * L4D2 is a full sequel, so no discounts.. you'll pay full price * More than 20 "new" weapons/items; this doesn't mean 20+ weapons, it means "weapons AND ITEMS." * Dynamic weather will play a role in the gameplay.. going from sunny to low visibility (rain/fog/darkness?) * Apparently, AI Director 2.0 will decide on what to spawn and how it will attack you based on how you are playing the game. Presumably, this means it will intelligently spawn The Charger if it appears the team is shiva-stacking.
* Valve is well aware of the concern for balance in versus mode with the new special infected. They are spending a lot of time trying to get this balanced. * Valve didn't deny there being a mall level, even somewhat entertained the idea: "We'll see." * There will NOT be a flamethrower but fire effects have been improved; incendiary ammo must be Valve's answer to people wanting a flamethrower * In one map there is an area full of hazard suit common infected, meaning your Molotov will suddenly be useless * Chet and other Valve employees play on public servers under fake names to get a feel for the gaming community * Valve did research into ragequitting and their answer is 4v4/"Looking For 4" matchmaking, which should be out "probably this month." Recently it was mentioned that it would be out next week. Valve determined most ragequitting is due to pubstomps. * L4D1 campaigns could possibly be integrated into L4D2, but no final word on that * New pump-action shotgun for tier one; seems to be spray-painted white * Melee weapons do not appear to have melee fatigue (for now) * Melee weapons are picked up like a gas can/propane tank. They do not become part of your inventory. You can drop them. Switching to a gun or medkit causes you to drop the melee weapon. They appear as single weapons (unlike guns which can be picked up by everyone simultaneously). Being smoked or pounced causes you to drop your melee weapon.
* Incendiary ammo appears to work like a normal ammo pile. You can pick it up and it changes your current clip into fire-ammo. You can use it up, then go back and pick up more incendiary ammo after that clip runs out. * Incendiary ammo in the shotgun can set multiple targets on fire with one shot
Confirmed weapons/items from several gameplay videos (Valve says there are over 20):
1. Baseball Bat 2. Fire Axe 3. Frying Pan 4. Chainsaw 5. Pistol (can be dual-wielded) 6. More powerful pistol (can be dual-wielded with either pistol) 7. Pump shotgun (spray-painted white) 8. Combat/Auto shotgun (new model) 9. Silenced SMG 10. Assault rifle 11. Scoped assault or sniper rifle (presumably full-auto) 12. Pipe-Bombs 13. Molotov's 14. Incendiary Ammo 15. Propane Tanks 16. Gas Tanks 17. Medkit 18. Pills
Update: To be frank, this is just valve playing with our heads. They are not putting out a sequel of the game after one year of production. I think it is safe to say it is a marketing decision that will turn to be just DLC. You can bet against me on this but I am sure it is just a cruel joke by Valve. They done this before sadly with TF2. Knowing valve and how quickly they put out games, I can say for sure - it is just marketing.
Here are some groups you can join in steam to either support or boycott left 4 dead 2: Against:Click here - at the time of this writing, it has over 4000 people. In favor:Click here - at the time of this writing, it has 43 people
