Man, you guys freaking hate zombies. In the first two months since Left 4 Dead 2 launched, players of Valve’s undead-filled first-person shooter have shotgun blasted, cricket batted and frying panned a grand total of 28,981,249,043 zombies.

Yes, it may seem like an ultimately pointless stat to you, but it gives me an excuse to show off screens from “The Passing,” a brand new Left 4 Dead 2 campaign coming in March. No price revealed for this downloadable campaign yet, but we do know that it will involve the L4D2 cast (played by you) meeting up with the survivors (as non-playable characters) from the first game. Bill shall return!

There’s also a new uncommon common infected, the Fallen Survivor, who will occasionally shed a useful item, like a badly needed health kit, for example. Oh, and the first Left 4 Dead game will get an add-on about a month later.

All clear? Good. Now have some “The Passing” screens:

[Via press release]

Left 4 Dead 2 players have killed 28 billion zombies is a post from: The Inquisitr

Since Left 4 Dead 2 got released, its performance in Xbox 360 online matches has been … let’s say it’s been variable.

Indeed, my own experiences reflect this. On my second night of playing the game online with friends, I encountered lag that left the game an unplayable mess (and we tried both dedicated and local servers). The very next night, online play was buttery-smooth.

Fortunately, developer Valve has already responded, whipping out its laser-sighted shotgun to shoot lag dead forever.

Writing on the Left 4 Dead Blog today, the company revealed it had “upgraded its network infrastructure to better accommodate the huge response to L4D2,” adding, “360 players will now have lag-free servers. We’ve also added more dedicated servers.”

As usual, Valve pretty much rocks.

[Left 4 Dead Blog, via VG247]

Valve upgrades Left 4 Dead 2 servers, blasts lag away is a post from: The Inquisitr

Well, this sucks. As I’m in the UK, I’m yet to receive my copy of Left 4 Dead 2 (hurrrry up, Royal Mail), but already people are complaining about an enemy feared by every gamer: lag. BOYCOTT!!

Specifically, it seems to be happening in the Xbox 360 version of the game. Has Valve underestimated how many people want to try and survive the zombie apocalypse?

Played online, the first Left 4 Dead ran with nary a hitch, but MTV’s Locke Webster reckons the 4v4 versus campaign is truly lagalicious:

“Every single person in the room displayed the lowest possible latency rating, and we were all jumping about and shooting rather aimlessly. We quickly exited and started up a new match, and that worked just fine.”

Yikes. Webster went on to reveal that he encountered seriously bad lag while playing a campaign alone: “I’m talking about at least a second between my input and response on screen.” Valve has apparently already released a patch for the game – possibly to deal with poor latency, nobody knows for sure – but here’s hoping it continues to address this issue.

Like, before I play, please.

[Via MTV Multiplayer]

Left 4 Dead 2 more like Lag 4 Dead 2, amirite is a post from: The Inquisitr

A recent CVG interview with Valve produced an interesting comment regarding online gaming etiquette: apparently, British gamers are “notorious non-talkers.”

Valve’s Chet Faliszek has urged British gamers to “[...] communicate. Don’t be scared of a microphone. You guys are notorious non-talkers on both 360 and PC. Americans are just chattering away, working together as a team. If you want to work together as a team you’ve got to talk!”

Faliszek’s comments come just two weeks before the global launch of Left 4 Dead 2, a game where success often depends on good communication between players.

But is he right?

As a Brit and a regular Left 4 Dead player, I feel I should stick up for my fellow British gamers. While I agree that Americans are more vocal while gaming online, American players often spout less … well, let’s say less useful conversation. When Brits do speak, it’s usually for a good reason.

That’s just my own personal experience speaking, by the way. Put simply, I find Brits to be more unassuming. I’m not sure it’s a “courage” thing, Chet. Being reserved is a part of our national psyche.

[Via CVG]

Valve: Brits are too quiet in online games is a post from: The Inquisitr

Valve today announced release plans for the Left 4 Dead 2 demo, revealing that those who pre-order the game from retailers or Steam will get it first, on October 27. Looks like the Left 4 Dead 2 boycotters ended their lil’ foot-stomping session just in time.

It’s due to be set in “The Parish” campaign, and will even support four players online or via local play. That’s how you do a demo.

If you forget to pre-order the game, then you’ll be able to try your hand at zombie-slaughterin’ a week later on November 3, so long as you’re a Xbox Live Gold member. Impoverished non-Gold subscribers will be left waiting until November 10, with the full game due on November 17.

And I can’t bloody wait.

[Via press release]

Pre-order Left 4 Dead 2 now and get the demo early is a post from: The Inquisitr

And hurray for that. Yes, the most pointless boycott in history is over.

Back in June, a group of Left 4 Dead fans announced plans to boycott Left 4 Dead 2, on the grounds that developer Valve was abandoning the first game, and the sequel was releasing too soon. Valve subsequently flew two of the boycotters out to its Seattle HQ, and continued to support the game with updates and bug fixes.

Now, however, it’s all over. The boycotters have decided to call it a day. Not that their organized hissy fit had much effect, obviously, because pre-orders for the sequel are through the roof. Anyhow, here’s boycott leader Agent of Chaos:

“The recently released Crash Course was just the start. Future updates will continue to roll in, and 4v4 matchmaking is first in line. Valve has confirmed to us that it’ll be available before the release of L4D2. Also don’t forget, we have another DLC pack confirmed for sometime in the near future and of course, there will be bug fixes. This is as good as it can get people.”

And here’s my translation:

“Look guys, I hate to say it, but Left 4 Dead 2 looks like the cat’s pajamas, and if you think I’m seriously ignoring it, think again. I’ve got my free tour of Valve and, despite our claims, Valve defied my expectations by supporting Left 4 Dead after all. Oops!”

[Via Steam]

Left 4 Dead 2 boycott officially brought to an end is a post from: The Inquisitr

When I switched on my Xbox 360 to play Left 4 Dead earlier today, I was invited told to download a new update for the zombie shooter. This patch, I later learned from my L4D-playing friends, seemed to fix several of the game’s minor glitches, and provided the odd visual tweak to the game’s heads-up display.

More interestingly, it also added ten as-yet-unnamed new Achievements. Why is this interesting? Because any day now, Left 4 Dead is supposed to be getting a brand new stage, and it looks like these new Achievements could be linked.

That’s right: after almost 12 months of playing through the same four (admittedly giant) campaigns, we’re finally getting a downloadable fifth level, entitled “Crash Course.” This was announced as a September release a couple of months back, and now this latest update seems to pave the way for its imminent arrival.

Furthermore, Microsoft has announced that a “Game With Fame” session (like this one) will take place on September 23, with players getting the chance to play through Crash Course with Tennessee rock band Paramore.

Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but to play through Crash Course with Tennessee rock band Paramore, you need Crash Course, which inevitably leads to only one conclusion: Crash Course is coming. On September 23. I know, I’m the goddamn Master of Logic.

[Via Steam forums]

Left 4 Dead gets patched, new stage to arrive September 23? is a post from: The Inquisitr

“You must be this tall … TO DIE!”

That’s the awesome slogan for new Left 4 Dead 2 campaign “Dark Carnival.” Having already wowed us with reveals of “Swamp Fever” and “The Parish,” Valve showed off this new stage at the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, exposing us to new weapons and enemies.

It looks hot, not to mention full of potential giggles. Eurogamer got its foot in Valve’s office door for a brief preview, and revealed you can:

- Whack the undead with an electric guitar.
- Fight off zombies dressed as clowns (who can in turn call other infected to the fight).
- Whack the undead with an electric guitar!!
- Earn an Achievement for honking a clown zombie’s nose.
- WHACK THE UNDEAD WITH AN ELECTRIC GUITAR!!1!ONE!

The new Special Infected enemy is simply known as “the Jockey.” He’s a tiny zombie who can hop on a survivor’s back and steer them towards dangerous areas. This, observes Eurogamer, means “the Jockey can ride them further and further away from the main group, potentially costing the team even more vital time, health and ammo.” In a nice touch, some of the parlor games you’ll find at the overrun carnival actually work, and the finale takes place on a merry-go-round.

So yeah, it’s official: anybody still boycotting this game is a madman. Soak up some carnival atmosphere in the screens below, and hurry up November 20th!

[Via Eurogamer]

New Left 4 Dead 2 campaign enjoys all the fun of the Carnival is a post from: The Inquisitr

Half Life developer Valve and the PS3 have had their ups and downs. And by “their ups and downs,” I mean “only downs.” The PS3′s version of The Orange Box fell some way below Valve’s usual impeccable standards, and Valve head Gabe Newell had this to say about the console in 2007:

“The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels.”

But hey, that was 2007. Surely Valve and Sony’s console have talked through their differences by now, suggests GameTrailers TV host Geoff Keighley in this interview (at 19:22). Water under the bridge and all that? Well, Gabe?

GEOFF KEIGHLEY: “Are you guys working on PS3 now, trying to understand it, trying to get better at it?”
GABE NEWELL: “Uh, no. Not in any real way.”

Buuuurn.

On the plus side, Newell did apologise to PS3 owners, and admitted that they could have “legitimate beefs” with the developer. Sadly, it looks like PS3 owners may be waiting a while for their own version of Left 4 Dead, or … anything from Valve, really. Talking of which, the interview I linked above contains snippets of footage from both Left 4 Dead 2 and new downloadable content for the original title.

[Via GameTrailers]

Valve on PlayStation 3: “Meh” is a post from: The Inquisitr

Despite the (wholly premature, if you ask me) outrage of a vocal minority over Left 4 Dead 2, Valve will be shilling its zombie shooter at this week’s Comic Con convention in San Diego.

This means we’ll be seeing another stage from the brains-hungry sequel: the murky Swamp Fever. This bog-based campaign contrasts sharply with the blue skies seen in the previously revealed The Parish; you can see just how gloomy things get in the new screens below.

There’ll also be a peek at the “Spitter,” one of the new special Infected (also pictured below, and she’s a real looker). Apparently, she’ll be able to gob great clouds of acid over the Survivors, infuriating anybody who’s developed the habit of camping in corners (guilty as charged). She’ll be joined by “Mudmen,” essentially common Infected who scamper about on all fours in the swamp, aiming for a chomp on your delicious, fleshy knees.

Oh, and attendees will get to try out a bunch of new weapons, including an AK47, a grenade launcher, and the potentially hilarious cricket bat.

[Via Rock, Paper, Shotgun]

Catch Swamp Fever in Left 4 Dead 2 is a post from: The Inquisitr

When was the last time you ever heard of anyone wanting to boycott a company because they wanted to bring a new product to market?

Well apparently this is the situation that Valve is finding itself in with some pretty serious gamers who are really angry that the company is bringing the next version of the popular game to market only a year after the original Left 4 Dead was released. They have even set up a Steam Group within the Steam (Valve’s game store and community) Store community pages.

The opening paragraph of their statement to both the gaming community and I would image to Valve itself is this

The Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott is a group of individuals who have pledged to boycott Valve’s upcoming release of Left 4 Dead 2 on November 17th, 2009. We have assembled a manifesto outlining the basic concensus of many members of our community. (Note: this manifesto is a new version, which we have recently posted to keep our manifesto in line with the middle ground of our members. This is the correct group for the boycott)

They go on to list out their whole – for a lack of better words – manifesto.

WE RECOGNIZE:
-Valve is a company with financial needs and cannot be expected to survive without the release of new games.
-Judgment cannot be passed on the quality of Left 4 Dead 2 until its release.
-Left 4 Dead was, and is, a quality game which deserves the praise of the entire gaming community.

WE ARE COMMITTED:
-To holding Valve to its promise of free, continual updates to Left 4 Dead in order to build and sustain the community.
-To keeping the Left 4 Dead community together in order to improve the quality of online gaming.
-To supporting the model of continual updates Valve has set forth with its staple products like Team Fortress 2.

WE BELIEVE:
-The release of Left 4 Dead 2 as a stand-alone sequel will split the communities and decrease the quality of multiplayer gaming.
-The announced content of Left 4 Dead 2 does not warrant a stand-alone, full-priced sequel and should instead become updates (free or otherwise) for Left 4 Dead.
-Left 4 Dead has not yet received the support and content which Valve has repeatedly stated will be delivered.
-The release of Left 4 Dead 2 will make Left 4 Dead an obsolete purchase and inferior piece of software after only one year since release.

WE REQUEST:
-That Valve honor its commitment to release ongoing periodic content for Left 4 Dead.
-That Left 4 Dead 2 not be released as a stand-alone, full-priced sequel but as either a free update to Left 4 Dead or an expansion with full compatibility with basic Left 4 Dead owners.
-That Left 4 Dead owners be given discounts for Left 4 Dead 2, should it be released as premium content.

Therefore, we – the members of this Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott – promise to abstain from the purchase of Left 4 Dead 2 until our requests are addressed.

I got to admit this is the first time I have ever heard of anything like this – especially when it comes to gaming. Talk about passionate.

[hat tip to Technologizer]

Gamers pissed at Valve, boycotting Left 4 Dead 2 is a post from: The Inquisitr