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Left 4 Dead 2 Demo - Finally available for PC
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What exactly is L4D2 not doing over L4D1 that Halo 2 did over Halo 1 for it to not be worthy of being a "new" game but Halo 2 was? What about Gears 2 and 1? CoD 5 and 4? Both use the same basic gameplay mechanics, some same weapons, some new, some same bad guys, some new, completely new campaigns... What exactly is a sequel to you guys? L4D2 is to L4D1 as what pretty much every sequel game was to their original games.
This whole "L4D2 should've been free" or L4D2 is just an expansion pack and not a new game is just ridiculous.
This whole "L4D2 should've been free" or L4D2 is just an expansion pack and not a new game is just ridiculous.
zerocool84
Lifer
Umm Halo 1 and Halo 2 or Gears of War didn't only have 4 maps and only multi-play on 3 them of them when it came out. Those were infinitely bigger games than L4D is. Can't even compare them to each other. Try harder. Also they didn't come out only one year after each other when millions of people were complaining that they first one felt unfinished.
Zenoth
Diamond Member
I thank Valve that for once, they don't seem to plan on removing the demo, like they did when L4D was released. I can still find ten years-old game demos on well known hosting gaming web-sites, but the very day L4D was released Valve told themselves: «Alright, it should have been enough now? Those who have a life and didn't know of the demo's existence or didn't feel in a hurry to try it now are going to suck it down.» The very goal of a demo, when well done (because there are very small and basically useless demos out there) is to provide the gamer with enough meat to make sure if he or she, or they won't waste money on the full product. More importantly that there should be no "deadline" on a demo before it gets entirely wiped out off the face of the Internet, I think Valve learned a lesson for L4D2's demo, at least I'm crossing my fingers.
I for one will try it eventually, maybe. I'm not very interested by L4D2, but I'll try it with an objective mind, the best I can. If I don't like the demo I won't buy it, bargain or not. And if the demo "isn't good enough", too bad for Valve, my job isn't to make "good demos", it's to try them and make up my mind. I must say however that, so far the general consensus on L4D2 seems positive, I'm not ignoring that blindly either. If I do eventually buy it I will wait for its price to be considerably lowered since I really feel abandoned by Valve for the original, it will be my silenced unnoticed and unaffecting way to give them a message about it, a message that will go by unheard of by a mere Mr. Joe everyone who keeps his integrity alive, so instead of posting useless ranting posts on their forums I'll speak with my wallet.
I for one will try it eventually, maybe. I'm not very interested by L4D2, but I'll try it with an objective mind, the best I can. If I don't like the demo I won't buy it, bargain or not. And if the demo "isn't good enough", too bad for Valve, my job isn't to make "good demos", it's to try them and make up my mind. I must say however that, so far the general consensus on L4D2 seems positive, I'm not ignoring that blindly either. If I do eventually buy it I will wait for its price to be considerably lowered since I really feel abandoned by Valve for the original, it will be my silenced unnoticed and unaffecting way to give them a message about it, a message that will go by unheard of by a mere Mr. Joe everyone who keeps his integrity alive, so instead of posting useless ranting posts on their forums I'll speak with my wallet.
bunnyfubbles
Lifer
Except the boycott group that topped out around 40,000 people had a higher % of players preorder L4D2 than L4D1 owners in general.
zerocool84
Lifer
Which is fine. They obviously didn't care enough to take a stand. I'm voting with my wallet.
Red Storm
Lifer
The reason why so many say it "should've been free" is because Valve themselves said exactly that before L4D was released. I'm too tired to find the link to the interview (I posted it in one of the previous L4D2 threads), but in it they were describing their approach with Team Fortress 2 and how the continuous free updates prolong the life of the game, and in that interview they said they were going to do the same thing with L4D.
Now, they obviously said it to hook people into buying the game. Going by their previous track record, I believed them since I could see how my favorite game - Team Fortress 2 - was being constantly updated. So it's easy to see why so many feel lied to. They went back on their word after everyone made their non-refundable purchase. Valve used to be on another level compared to other developers before this fiasco. That's what ticked people off.
Having seen what it's in L4D2, it's obvious there's enough content to justify a price tag (since they withheld it all to release as a new game). However, it's no where near full retail game price. I will just forget all about it and give it another look when it's under $10. I'm sure many people will gladly buy the game at full price. And as Valve sees the easy money roll in, it greatly increases the likelihood that the kind of support we get with Team Fortress 2 will be long gone for their future projects.
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Indeed L4D2 isn't as "big" content wise as some $50 games, but it will get more hours of playtime from the average customer than many existing and upcoming $50-60 single player only titles(There are tons of 8-12 hour $50 games on the market that players will have no desire to play through again). So it's not the biggest $50 game, but it's not the smallest either. I don't get all of the hate.
As for leaving L4D1 behind, hasn't Valve released two sets of DLC for it already?
If you don't think it's worth $50, then don't buy it or wait for a price drop. People who do think it's worth it will buy it.
As for leaving L4D1 behind, hasn't Valve released two sets of DLC for it already?
If you don't think it's worth $50, then don't buy it or wait for a price drop. People who do think it's worth it will buy it.
bunnyfubbles
Lifer
They probably cared more than you, because most players in the boycott group actually liked L4D and obviously realized that the efforts put forth into L4D2 more than justify spending money on it
Maybe you were let down by L4D but the game it is now after the DLCs and with custom content is quite a change from what was available upon initial release. If you still don't like it you probably won't like L4D2, but that's probably because the game just doesn't fit you.
Boycotting a sequel because you liked the first one but feel entitled to more for free is silly, boycotting the sequel because you didn't like the first is fine.
zerocool84
Lifer
So just because something is going to sell means no reason to boycott it? I guess all these people boycotting anything in all of history to take a stand were just stupid.
crownjules
Diamond Member
Not to mention saying that a company doesn't care about lost sales is a stupid thing to say. Game companies are businesses first and foremost. They care about the bottom line as much as anyone else. They want to retain past customers, not drive them away. That's why they invited some of the L4D2 boycott group members to try the game out.
Jschmuck2
Diamond Member
Ooooook - and you're talking about a videogame. Not a social movement or a protest against tyranny. You're talking about a game. A flight of fancy. A fictional, escapist piece of fluff. A whimsical, fantastical roller-coaster into an alternate universe.
You are not Ghandi or Martin Luther King. So please, take this sanctimonious boycott nonsense and work on inventing longer lasting batteries or a cable box that switches channels faster. Or just kindly blow it out your ass 😀
Not what I am saying. In fact, I signed the MW:2 petition.
The problem with the L4D2 crowd is that they pretend that Valve didnt already have 2 free DLC releases, one as recently as a couple weeks ago, adding new maps, and a new game mode.
They didnt have to do that. People would have still bought L4D2 en masse if they hadnt.
I've played through the demo, and believe me, the $33 I paid for the game (split a 4-pack) will be well worth the hours and hours of entertainment I will get out of the game.
marmasatt
Diamond Member
Ah, got it. Thanks.
No, the logic doesnt suck, because nobody is forcing you to pre-order the game to get the demo a few days earlier. You will have time to review the demo and decide if the game is worthy of your $$$$ before the release date.
AznAnarchy99
Lifer
Demo was eh. Game is the same thing but different variations of weapons. Instead of an m16 we have an ak that fires the same?
fatpat268
Diamond Member
My exact thoughts. I got tired of L4D fairly quickly (steam says I logged 23hrs 29min of the game) and this game feels exactly the same. Sure, you have melee weapons, you have new special infected, but it's still the game that I've grown to hate. I loved L4D at first, but there's just something about the game that pushes me away.
Not only that, the level design in demo is confusing as hell. I think I went around in circles a couple of times in the second stage. Granted, this isn't a problem once you know the level, but the design seems to be lacking. Daylight is a welcome addition, but it just doesn't interest me like I thought it would.
I'd rather buy and play MW2 anyway.
TJCS
Senior member
This is what Red Storm was referring to:
Statement by Gabe Newell, Valve co-founder and managing director:
For me it's not about the money (I am actually looking for a couple of good games to buy over the holidays). I thought Valve stood for value and quality, but I guess the money they can make for L4D2 is worth more than their reputation that they worked so hard for the past decade.
Statement by Gabe Newell, Valve co-founder and managing director:
"So each time we've released one of those[updates] for Team Fortress 2 we've seen about a 20% increase in the number of people who are playing online. And that number is really important because it determines how many community created maps there are, how many servers are running, and so on. So we'll do the same thing with Left 4 Dead where we'll have the initial release and then we'll release more movies, more characters, more weapons, unlockables, achievements, because that's the way you continue to grow a community over time."
Source: http://www.videogamer.com/news/valve_details_post_left_4_dead_launch_plans.html
For me it's not about the money (I am actually looking for a couple of good games to buy over the holidays). I thought Valve stood for value and quality, but I guess the money they can make for L4D2 is worth more than their reputation that they worked so hard for the past decade.
Nov 2008 - L4D released with only 2 playable verse campaigns. Where are the other two?! (OK! We believe in you to finish it and provide continuous game content Valve!)
April 2009 - Final 2 verse campaigns in L4D finally finished.
June 2009 - L4D2 Anounced at E3! (Valve says what game content updates are you talking about? Get in the freakin pre-order line you Jackass! :awe🙂
Counting from the date when L4D was finished, L4D2 is released 6 months later. But there is a bright side to all of this... you can buy L4D3 again next May! Unless they didn't finish more stuff in L4D2 then... hahah
Zenoth
Diamond Member
I promised it to myself, I have to try it with an objective mind, I'm downloading the demo as I type this. I'll give it a few tries, and I'll make up my mind. If I end up liking it I will wait until the price is reduced, it shouldn't take too long judging by other games on Steam often getting week-end deals only about two months or so after they are released.
It also reminds me that I had bought Empire: Total War (not at release day however) when it was at full price, only to see a 50% price reduction the FOLLOWING week-end, needless to say, I was pissed. I won't be the victim of such a thing again, especially not for L4D2. But, all that only if I like the demo, time will tell.
zerocool84
Lifer
I'm not saying I'll never buy the game but I'll buy it for when it goes cheap on one of the weekends and I'll obviously play the Demo as I'm dl'n it right now.
AznAnarchy99
Lifer
Definately not worth the 50 bucks. Id tend to agree with you on the weekend thing, but I blew it on MW2. It took MW2 for a 40% drop on MW1.
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