Left 4 Dead single player - can't save games?

[MichaelD]

I bought L4D not knowing it was mainly a multiplayer game. I'm not into multiplayer so I was relieved to see it had a single player mode.

I loaded it up last night and played for two hours and was happy. Being that the "safe rooms" function as checkpoints I though I was good to go.

I loaded the game just now and there's no "load save" or "continue from last checkpoint option. :Q

I really hope I'm missing something...I tried F5-F10 (no effect). Is there REALLY no saving your progress in the single player campaign?

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
I bought L4D not knowing it was mainly a multiplayer game. I'm not into multiplayer so I was relieved to see it had a single player mode.

I loaded it up last night and played for two hours and was happy. Being that the "safe rooms" function as checkpoints I though I was good to go.

I loaded the game just now and there's no "load save" or "continue from last checkpoint option. :Q

I really hope I'm missing something...I tried F5-F10 (no effect). Is there REALLY no saving your progress in the single player campaign?

Then you shouldve bought something else lol.

Um, you can start off at any of the saferooms if that helps, but theres no save like halfway during a level. The levels are short anyway its not that big a deal.

 

[MichaelD]

I totally agree with you; I should've read the game description more carefully. I knew it was "a zombie shooter" but didn't know it was 99% mutliplayer. My bad.

That said, HOW do I start off in a safe room at any point in the level? I.E. in the first level there are 3 or 4 saferooms; how do I choose which one to start in? I'd be very happy with that.

 

[MikeyLSU]

once you make a level to start, you can edit it to start on a certain chapter while in the lobby.

Each board only lasts about an hour so saving isn't that important.

 

[brencat]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
That said, HOW do I start off in a safe room at any point in the level? I.E. in the first level there are 3 or 4 saferooms; how do I choose which one to start in? I'd be very happy with that.

Play Single Player ---> Campaign ---> (Pick One)

Then click Chapter ---> (Select your starting point)

Easy.

By the way, don't be so quick to poo-poo multiplay on L4D. It is fricken awesome. You will get pwned hard the first few times you play versus especially, and probably even get booted and yelled at by the experienced players a bit initially, but stick with it. Incredibly addictive and fun, especially with friends you know that won't be dicks in the beginning.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: brencat

Originally posted by: MichaelD
That said, HOW do I start off in a safe room at any point in the level? I.E. in the first level there are 3 or 4 saferooms; how do I choose which one to start in? I'd be very happy with that.

Play Single Player ---> Campaign ---> (Pick One)

Then click Chapter ---> (Select your starting point)

Easy.

By the way, don't be so quick to poo-poo multiplay on L4D. It is fricken awesome. You will get pwned hard the first few times you play versus especially, and probably even get booted and yelled at by the experienced players a bit initially, but stick with it. Incredibly addictive and fun, especially with friends you know that won't be dicks in the beginning.

Yeah and dont face off against clannies, if they all have [n00bEaTr] in their names or they are all called like "Steak" "Chips" "Pie" and "Fish" and just happen to be all on the same team find a new game. Unless you are a better person than i am and arent a really sore loser heh.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks, Brencat for the detailed directions; greatly appreciated! :beer:

Brencat & Maximilian: You guys hit the nail on the head as to why I don't play multiplayer; I'd get owned and then kicked off the team.

I work a lot of different hours so I don't have a set time to play every day like many online players do. Waaaay back when I played the original UT online a great deal (and I was pretty good too) then I took a multiyear break from online gaming. I tried Counter Strike and got completely owned and nobody gave me a chance to learn...and that turned me off to multiplayer.

I'd love to play a LAN of this game with n00bies like myself...that would be fun. But nobody my age that I work with games. I'm old but I refuse to grow up.

Thanks again.

 

[Sacraster]

you can join the anandtech L4D group and just play with people from anandtech

 

[brencat]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
I'd love to play a LAN of this game with n00bies like myself...that would be fun. But nobody my age that I work with games. I'm old but I refuse to grow up.

If almost 40 counts as 'old', then I refuse to grow up too! :evil:

Seriously though, now is a great time to get into Versus multiplayer on L4D. I have been playing nightly for 6 weeks now, 3 hrs per night this game almost exclusively, and have maybe taken 5 nights off total in that time -- that's how addictive Versus mode is.

Since Steam had the 1/2 price sale on the game a little over a week ago, a LOT more noobs have joined in and us experienced folk have just had to deal with it. This is your window of opty pal...

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: brencat

Originally posted by: MichaelD
I'd love to play a LAN of this game with n00bies like myself...that would be fun. But nobody my age that I work with games. I'm old but I refuse to grow up.

If almost 40 counts as 'old', then I refuse to grow up too! :evil:

Seriously though, now is a great time to get into Versus multiplayer on L4D. I have been playing nightly for 6 weeks now, 3 hrs per night this game almost exclusively, and have maybe taken 5 nights off total in that time -- that's how addictive Versus mode is.

Since Steam had the 1/2 price sale on the game a little over a week ago, a LOT more noobs have joined in and us experienced folk have just had to deal with it. This is your window of opty pal...

Also the easier difficulty levels are very easy, so joining random servers on easy/normal will allow you to get used to playing with random humans online.

 

[MichaelD]

Ahhhh, I didn't know that the online play "engine" attaches you to servers based on the setting of your difficulty level! That's encouraging news.

I'm currently playing the Single Player campaign; not cheating at all. I start a new game right where I saved last...thanks to you guys. I'm on the next to last (fourth?) level, at the airport. I think I'm in the last Safe Room on that level.

Wow...the game went by quickly! It's a fun game, but more than a bit repetitive. It's essentially a dungeon crawl-type game. No new enemies as you progress thru the levels...that's very disappointing. Though they do seem to move faster and with greater purpose.

Overall, a decent game and good use of the Source Engine. Definitely on it's last legs at this point, but the game looks good and runs GREAT (at least on my rig). No hiccups or crashes. Based on the age of the Source Engine, I'd expect nothing less. All the bugs better be worked out by now.

I really need to get some sleep. I could keep playing until I have to leave for work but I'd be one ugly wreck if I did that.

Later, guys.

ps @ BRENCAT: I hit the dreaded 4-0 last year. Nice to see another old guy not only gaming, but playing the same game. :thumbsup:

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Sacraster
you can join the anandtech L4D group and just play with people from anandtech

Ya, stick with the Noobs.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Co-op the campaigns online, its definitely a more enjoyable experience, the game isn't completely about the Vs. play. Co-op really cuts down on the elitism aspect because its strictly humans vs. AI. You don't have to be amazing player in co-op, just a selfless team oriented one and you'll be fine.

 

[apoppin]

Yeah, MP .. i'd love to but not on:


1) Dial-up 56K .. great ping [below 100ms] but no bandwidth

or

2) Satellite - great bandwidth but crap ping [800-1200ms]

any workaround; is L4D even playable on dial-up?


yes, Vista will allow both connections together .. but ping goes even more to hell
- i am able to play MMORPGs .. but not shooters

 

[Jabbernyx]

Co-oping the campaigns really help you get used to the game.
The names of the achievements got me killed more than once though (eg. tongue twister).

 

[Eeezee]

I really love the co-op campaigns. You should give it a try

 

[MichaelD]

Co-op sounds really good. I'll give that a try this weekend sometime. The elitism of online MP games really takes the fun out of it for me. Thanks for the help and suggestions. I'm on the last level now. Fun game...not terribly interesting but definitely a good time.

 

[n7]

Join the AT L4D group

I haven't even played more than a few minutes of the single player...well, other than with hax enabled to test certain things out.

L4D is a purely MP game really.

It's like playing UT's single player stuff lol...few bother, as it's horrible & not why you get the game.

It doesn't take too long to get decent at MP though.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: n7
Join the AT L4D group

I haven't even played more than a few minutes of the single player...well, other than with hax enabled to test certain things out.

L4D is a purely MP game really.

It's like playing UT's single player stuff lol...few bother, as it's horrible & not why you get the game.

It doesn't take too long to get decent at MP though.

sure .. how is it on 56K dial-up or satellite broadband


anyone play on either of those kinds of internet connections?

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: n7
Join the AT L4D group

I haven't even played more than a few minutes of the single player...well, other than with hax enabled to test certain things out.

L4D is a purely MP game really.

It's like playing UT's single player stuff lol...few bother, as it's horrible & not why you get the game.

It doesn't take too long to get decent at MP though.

sure .. how is it on 56K dial-up or satellite broadband


anyone play on either of those kinds of internet connections?

I would guess very badly. Based on my experience with an 8mb down 1mb up connection i dont think 56k can cut it for L4D. I dont really get lag free play, it lags occassionally, and also i cant host my own game because it lags horribly, none of my friends can host games either and we're on 1-8mb connections.

 

[Sacraster]

i dont think it will be playable on 56k. it will be really laggy. and you will see bunch of zombie teleporting right in front of you

 

[duragezic]

Originally posted by: Maximilian

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: n7
Join the AT L4D group

I haven't even played more than a few minutes of the single player...well, other than with hax enabled to test certain things out.

L4D is a purely MP game really.

It's like playing UT's single player stuff lol...few bother, as it's horrible & not why you get the game.

It doesn't take too long to get decent at MP though.

sure .. how is it on 56K dial-up or satellite broadband


anyone play on either of those kinds of internet connections?

I would guess very badly. Based on my experience with an 8mb down 1mb up connection i dont think 56k can cut it for L4D. I dont really get lag free play, it lags occassionally, and also i cant host my own game because it lags horribly, none of my friends can host games either and we're on 1-8mb connections.

I only have a 5mbps down, 384kbps up (it might be 512kbps up) and I host games okay when needed. They have some lag at times and aren't as good as a good dedicated server, but almost always work for most of the connecting players. With the last few games I've played, there are like no dedicated servers, so I had to do them locally more recently.

I'd have thought a slightly better connection than mine would bring it to the point it would be pretty darn good. I'm sure there are lots of factors though. And maybe our tolerance for lag is different.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

I'll have to join up the AT L4D group. Give me something to do during the WoW Tuesday Patch days.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Sacraster
i dont think it will be playable on 56k. it will be really laggy. and you will see bunch of zombie teleporting right in front of you

yeah, i figured that .. thanks for giving it to me straight

i DO have a decent broadband connect - for satellite - 2 mb/s down, 256kbps up -
but ping is awful .. from the 'best' 800ms to ~ 1200ms

of course, my 56K ping would be good - like ~100ms
- i was able to solo Hellgate: London and most any MMORPG

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
I don't play multiplayer; I'd get owned and then kicked off the team.

Honestly, that doesn't seem to happen a lot in L4D online. People I play with, even random drop in games with strangers, are usually pretty laid back and as long as you don't Take a Break for half an hour while people are trying to slog through on expert, you're generally not going to get kicked. I actually have almost as much fun when everyone dies, because it's usually something completely absurd and comical, like all of us running around in the red, no moltov, and then a tank spawns.

Left4Dead is almost the equivalent of a casual game like Peggle from a time commitment stance, the levels are bite sized, so even if you all get wiped in the church, it doesn't take more than 10 minutes to get back to that point.