Survival Pack DLC coming April 21st?

[Ben]

http://kotaku.com/5147229/left-4-dead-survival-pack-unveiled

The long-talked-about, much-anticipated Left 4 Dead expansion pack, first mentioned on Kotaku, hits the PC and Xbox 360 this spring.

The L4D Survival Pack introduces a new multiplayer game mode entitled, Survival, plus two complete campaigns for Versus Mode, Valve announced today. They also say that a Critic's Choice Edition of the game is heading to retail stores this spring, and will include access to all the content introduced in the L4D: Survival Pack.

In addition, PC gamers will be able to get their hands on the first Left 4 Dead release for the Source Software Development Kit which will allow the creation of custom Left 4 Dead campaigns that will be discoverable via L4D's matchmaking system. The SDK update is also due for release this spring, and is free of charge to all owners of L4D on the PC.

Hells yeah. Might be a few more months before it actually hits but the promise of new campaigns (didn't actually say that they were Death Toll or Dead Air, so could be entirely new) and a new gameplay mode are really awesome.

I'm still going to put money on Microsoft forcing Valve to charge for the DLC on 360. PC users should get everything for free, as per normal, though.

[TravisTouchdown]

If Microsoft charges, we riot.

But it seems likely. But who knows, maybe it'll be a small amount like the Castle Crashers DLC or at least a moderate amount like Operation: Anchorage.

Any word on the TF2 DLC?

[Ben]

Any word on the TF2 DLC?
I wouldn't know, this isn't the Team Fortress 2 forum.

Anyway, there's another article at Edge-Online (http://www.edge-online.com/news/more-left-4-dead-content-spring) that has some interesting information.

Update: Due to a miscommunication, we had updated the original piece, stating that PC and Xbox 360 Survival Packs would be paid. However, Valve again contacted Edge to say that it hasn't ruled out the possibility of the price being "$0.00." Sorry for any confusion.Maybe Valve will find a way to give Microsoft a big "F*ck you!" after all.

[Scruffy]

Right now the big hangup seems to be Microsoft's reluctance to allow a third party have access to the Live servers. Valve doesn't want to charge users but Microsoft says since it's their servers and we use their bandwidth, they can charge for the download. Valve has come back with a willingness to host it on theirs, but that brings in the issue of allowing them access to Live's servers. It's really a pile of crap.

That aside, SDK and a horde mode. Freaking amazing.

[dimmerwit]

(didn't actually say that they were Death Toll or Dead Air, so could be entirely new).
It says wholly new campaigns, so hopefully it'll be 2 new ones.

I hope its free on PC. And on 360, although like Ben I'm pretty sure it'll be priced.

[mark HRR]

If Microsoft charges, we riot.

Ahmen!
Microsoft really p*ss me off when they over price map packs and other downloadables.

[Harris]

Great news. Although it would blow to have to pay for it, I wouldn't mind that much. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

[Ben]

Exclusive from Gametrailers (http://www.gametrailers.com/gametrailerstv_player.php?ep=48) confirms that the two new camaigns are Death Toll and Dead Air (not something new), and that survivor mode is simply "survive for as long as possible against hordes of infected."

[The_Game_Master]

Valve is claiming that they are holding out on the TF2 content because they want to make 100 % it worth it.

It was supposed to come out around Christmas of 08', but seeing as they did do an update on the PC version at that time... Am just going to guess they delayed that DLC to add that in.

Or the 360 dev team has ADHD...

[Ben]

I'm going to assume that you meant L4D and not TF2.

Valve didn't get anything done at Christmas because all of it's employees were on vacation. Which I can't really say I blame them.

[The Kittle One]

God I hope it is free on the 360. I am really looking forward to this, because versus mode is getting kind of dull on no mercy and blood harvest.

[Ben]

The benefit to the PC version is that you can already play Death Toll and Dead Air on vs with a little tweaking. All the update is going to do is make it easier to set up for everyone. Sorry 360 buddy. :(

[dimmerwit]

Exclusive from Gametrailers (http://www.gametrailers.com/gametrailerstv_player.php?ep=48) confirms that the two new camaigns are Death Toll and Dead Air (not something new), and that survivor mode is simply "survive for as long as possible against hordes of infected."
Hmm. I guess that's ok, at least we won't have to resort to exploits to play those two maps on versus and there'll be pubbies to fill empty spaces. Although I still don't understand why they didn't do it in the first place.

Survivor mode looks fun. Is it just an endless finale or something?

[The Kittle One]

The benefit to the PC version is that you can already play Death Toll and Dead Air on vs with a little tweaking. All the update is going to do is make it easier to set up for everyone. Sorry 360 buddy. :(

I would have gotten it on pc if mine wasn't a piece of crap.

[Spiner202]

I just spent quite a bit of time playing Versus and I have to say that choosing not to include Death Toll and Dead Air makes absolutely no sense. It seems really limiting in versus because everyone loves No Mercy and I don't like Blood Harvest so I've played No Mercy way more.

Looking forward to the Survival Mode thing. I loved Nazi Zombies in COD, so hopefully this will be similar but better.

[dimmerwit]

I would have gotten it on pc if mine wasn't a piece of crap.

It's a Valve game. Any piece of crap can run L4D. Even a GeForce 6200 can.

[The Kittle One]

My computer hasn't been able to run any other valve game I tried.

[Ben]

Looking forward to the Survival Mode thing. I loved Nazi Zombies in COD, so hopefully this will be similar but better.
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter had a mode which was basically continuous streams of terrorists coming at you on a map. It really brought out the cooperative team gameplay element when you had to make sure someone was covering a staircase while you reloaded, so it didn't get swarmed in the meantime.

It could make L4D a little more tactical, which I wouldn't mind.

[Harris]

Good news for 360 owners, it appears the Survival Pack will be free (http://kotaku.com/5151646/left-4-dead-survival-pack-will-be-free) for us too.

I'm also stoked for the survival mode. The crescendo events are by far my favorite part of this game, so if this turns out to be one huge standoff, I'd love it.

[Spiner202]

That's great to hear. I mean we really shouldn't have had to pay for this anyway (at least not for the maps). Versus gets kind of stale on only No Mercy (No one plays Blood Harvest).

[Ben]

That is good news, and I'm glad Valve found a way to swing it for free to Xbox users.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

That is good news, and I'm glad Valve found a way to swing it for free to Xbox users.

You and me both. This is the best news I have heard in a long time. I hope Valve has gotten pull over Microsoft similar to Bungie.

[TravisTouchdown]

So it's official. Up Yours, Microsoft!

Hopefully the trend'll spread. They probably leveraged the fact that they're easily the best developers around right now (quality-wise) and that gives some damn heavy clout.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

Also, I don't know for sure if this has been mentioned, but...

I assume 'Spring' is fiscal, meaning that it is between April 1 and June 30? Anyone know?

[Harris]

That sounds about right.

The bad news is I doubt the 360 will see the same update the PC got anytime before then. I'd be surprised if Valve didn't just release the fix for all the glitches at the same time this Survival Pack comes out, as an all in one kind of thing.

And Spiner, you can get a good game on Blood Harvest if you want to wait a little bit. Lately I've been searching specifically for Blood Harvest lobbies or starting my own, and I've had some good luck the past few days.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

That sounds about right.

The bad news is I doubt the 360 will see the same update the PC got anytime before then. I'd be surprised if Valve didn't just release the fix for all the glitches at the same time this Survival Pack comes out, as an all in one kind of thing.

And Spiner, you can get a good game on Blood Harvest if you want to wait a little bit. Lately I've been searching specifically for Blood Harvest lobbies or starting my own, and I've had some good luck the past few days.

Yeah, I am usually the only one capable of hosting in our groups, and I will make the lobby on No Mercy until it fills up then swap it over to Blood Harvest. Usually people roll with it, but some might drop out.

[Scruffy]

http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/left-4-dead/preview/left-4-dead-survival-pack-hands-on/a-2009030594445612035/g-20061120155139282079

Highlights include video previews and a tentative release date of April 21.

[Ben]

http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/left-4-dead/preview/left-4-dead-survival-pack-hands-on/a-2009030594445612035/g-20061120155139282079

Highlights include video previews and a tentative release date of April 21.
Interesting. Not only was I unaware that they had any new maps at all (even if only for survival mode), but I wasn't expecting that they'd be throwing more than one special infected of each type at you at the same time. There were definitely two smokers at the same time in that first video.

The DLC should pump a fair deal more life into the game, since as it stands things are just stagnating and even whacky fun like low-grav is getting tiresome. Getting to mow through endless waves of zombies and try to beat other people's times should keep the game afloat long enough for the user created maps to start pouring out.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

I hope that they are making a real set of DLC that would include the new campaign they have talked about. They had an idea for a campaign revealing how the infection started. They also have discussed a new infected and more weapons.

Survival looks fun and all, but they need to add more to the meat of the game. In the meantime, we will be running through No Mercy until then.

[TravisTouchdown]

I'm not sure why everyone's been so up in arms (no pun intended) about new weapons. I think the very basic weapon setup does plenty, and aside from maybe an alternative set of handguns, any more would be unnecessary, really.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

I don't know what I love more. The fact that the zombies will be non-stop going full throttle, that there will be 16 map variations for Survival, or the fact that it will be survivors only and no crap opponents. I am excited for this now! Move over Horde.

EDIT: I only think some new weapons would be interesting add on for multiplayer really. Nothing crucial, just some more weapons to add more as playing as survivors.

[Scruffy]

I'm not sure why everyone's been so up in arms (no pun intended) about new weapons. I think the very basic weapon setup does plenty, and aside from maybe an alternative set of handguns, any more would be unnecessary, really.

Truer words have never been spoken.

The last thing the game needs right now is more crap to imbalance the current gameplay. The weapons are fine. The idea of adding more infected is border lining ridiculous. If you're bored with the game, find a better group to play with or find a server that you can mess around in.

I'd also like to know when valve said anything about a new campaign. SDK is coming out so you could see user-generated campaigns but nothing has been said about releasing a new official campaign.

After looking through all the stuff, I'm looking forward to the later stages where stuff like double tanks happens.

[TravisTouchdown]

I don't know what I love more. The fact that the zombies will be non-stop going full throttle, that there will be 16 map variations for Survival, or the fact that it will be survivors only and no crap opponents. I am excited for this now! Move over Horde.

EDIT: I only think some new weapons would be interesting add on for multiplayer really. Nothing crucial, just some more weapons to add more as playing as survivors.

What other weapons could you need though?

[KyleKyle Bensen]

Like I said, nothing is needed. It would just add some variety is all. The flamethrower idea is lame in my opinion, but just some variety. Maybe if they added an AK variation that had a sacrificed rate of fire for more power. I think they should add an RPG to help get rid of tanks now that they are super. One shot RPG and it takes the place of your main weapon. So you are stuck with pistols and you get one shot but it'll drop the tank.

The interview I read was with the game's creator. I think it was Mike Booth. He said that they had the whole story for the world of L4D in their mind and they would like to explore it in the future through a new campaign. It is something they wanted to do. I cannot find the interview on GameInformer.com tho.

[Jawneh]

I hope there's something more to Survival than just sitting in a closet or a corner and shooting zombies. Sure, you wouldn't get any or only one med kit per survivor, but I'd be kind of dull still.

[Jofish]

survival looks like it could turn into some truly grueling epic sessions. I like the weapons the way they are. This is going to be great

[Ben]

I hope there's something more to Survival than just sitting in a closet or a corner and shooting zombies. Sure, you wouldn't get any or only one med kit per survivor, but I'd be kind of dull still.
Well it's pretty much impossible for Valve to make a map that has absolutely no corners or flat surfaces at all. The best they could do is give an advantage to the open areas that prevent closet camping, such as on top of the lighthouse tower where it's open on all four sides, rather than in a cramped corner where you'll easily get swarmed.

And anyway, I think with enough zombies even the most right-clickiest of survivors is eventually going to get overpowered and brought down. Those little chips of damage add up eventually.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

Well it's pretty much impossible for Valve to make a map that has absolutely no corners or flat surfaces at all. The best they could do is give an advantage to the open areas that prevent closet camping, such as on top of the lighthouse tower where it's open on all four sides, rather than in a cramped corner where you'll easily get swarmed.

And anyway, I think with enough zombies even the most right-clickiest of survivors is eventually going to get overpowered and brought down. Those little chips of damage add up eventually.

Good point. Besides, corner camping doesn't kill nearly fast enough. You will be stuck in that corner as wave after wave tries pummeling on you. Then the tank will come and you will still be trying to get those last 5 or 6 annoying infected off when it is too late. If you watch the video, you will see that the infected break through every wall. Even the brick wall! No where is safe. Those poor guys lasted a record of less than 7 min.

[Jawneh]

All the outdoors levels have been good though. There's only some rocks and trees to find cover from, unless people decide to find the edge of the map and stay there... But like I said, I hope it's something more than just plain carnage. Some kind of a waypoint system or something that forces you to move from one place to another. I dont know.

One thing that would be fun to see... A big wide space with more than one tank. Heh.

... Actually the idea of a tank appearing if you camp at the same spot for too long should keep people moving.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

All the outdoors levels have been good though. There's only some rocks and trees to find cover from, unless people decide to find the edge of the map and stay there... But like I said, I hope it's something more than just plain carnage. Some kind of a waypoint system or something that forces you to move from one place to another. I dont know.

One thing that would be fun to see... A big wide space with more than one tank. Heh.

... Actually the idea of a tank appearing if you camp at the same spot for too long should keep people moving.

Well the guys that played in the videos were halted at less than 7 min by two tanks, lol.

It would be very ill advised to find the edge of the map for camping. When the game stops you from moving in one direction, usually the AI can continue well beyond that barrier and beat you in the back.

[Ben]

Well the guys that played in the videos were halted at less than 7 min by two tanks, lol.

It would be very ill advised to find the edge of the map for camping. When the game stops you from moving in one direction, usually the AI can continue well beyond that barrier and beat you in the back.
Yes and no. There are some areas such as back against the runway on Dead Air that infected simply cannot spawn onto.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

Yes and no. There are some areas such as back against the runway on Dead Air that infected simply cannot spawn onto.

Right, but I was meaning that if you count on an invisible wall to help you out, it won't. A zombie could get hit and move around to the side of you or a hunter could miss and get you from behind. My only point is that AI is not hindered by the maps geometrical limits like the player.

[Jawneh]

Heh, well I never knew that. :P I'm usually against camping unless the opposition is clearly harder to beat or really skilled that it pretty much has to be done or else we lose.

[Ben]

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/left-4-dead-survival-pack-lunges-for-xbox-360-on-april-21/

Valve has revealed that its upcoming DLC pack (which is free, by the way) for Left 4 Dead will be available to Xbox 360 gamers on April 21. For the unaware, the pack includes a new Survival mode, which pits the human survivors against wave after wave of attacking zombies. The update also includes Versus campaign support for two more maps: Death Toll and Dead Air. Let the undead griefing begin!

I believe it was to be released on the PC before the 360, so although I don't have a date on that, it's likely to be earlier.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

Let's hope Valve does the job right the first time. After the Fallout 3 fiasco with Bethesda, I have been jaded.

UPDATE
I must apologize. Apparently, the DLC problems for Fallout 3 is Microsoft's fault in their uploading department.

[dimmerwit]

I just want to try out the survivor mode!

Although this (http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/03/05/left-4-dead-dlc-coming-before-april-21-will-have-only-one-new?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_joystiq) dampened my spirits a little.

[Majin]

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/left-4-dead-survival-pack-lunges-for-xbox-360-on-april-21/



I believe it was to be released on the PC before the 360, so although I don't have a date on that, it's likely to be earlier.

Stalin has said they are going for simultaneous release, why it has taken so long.

[Jawneh]

I just want to try out the survivor mode!

Although this (http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/03/05/left-4-dead-dlc-coming-before-april-21-will-have-only-one-new?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_joystiq) dampened my spirits a little.
Well, they never promised to give ANY new maps. Only to add the other two into versus and bring out survival mode. I'd take this as an extra on their part.

[Celtic]

Well, they never promised to give ANY new maps. Only to add the other two into versus and bring out survival mode. I'd take this as an extra on their part.

When the games was released they said that they were going to add more compains. And you cant have new compains with out new maps.

[Jawneh]

When the games was released they said that they were going to add more compains. And you cant have new compains with out new maps.
Did they ever say they were going to give that with the survival package? Not that I know off.

They're converting the two maps for versus, like they said, and bringing out survival, like they said. None mentioned a new campaign or new maps.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

They have mentioned the desire to explore the L4D world with a new CAMPAIGN. They never said that it would be a part of the Survival Pack DLC. They have not even said they are working on a new map or new campaign. They just said that they would like to do something like that. I doubt Valve will do it.

[Jawneh]

SDK!

Saves them the trouble.

lol360

[KyleKyle Bensen]

SDK?

[Jawneh]

Software Development Kit. Reading the first post helps.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

I see that now. Still had no idea what that acronym could mean.

[mark HRR]

My friend has told me that the content for the 360 will now be free. Apparently Valve has won the fight against Microsoft. Not quite sure if it is true though.

[Jawneh]

Yeah. I think Valve confirmed that in an interview last week or something.

And for those 360 owners who dont know, you'll be getting the updates, or at least most of them that PC owners have gotten, with the DLC package along with the rest of the goodies. They'll continue doing the same thing later on as well. Much easier for them to bring one big package like that for the console.

[KyleKyle Bensen]

My friend has told me that the content for the 360 will now be free. Apparently Valve has won the fight against Microsoft. Not quite sure if it is true though.

That was made clear when it was announced over a month ago. The reason it is free is because they opted to leave out achievements. If it had had additional achievements, Microsoft would have charged for it. So instead, Valve is paying the fee for adding an additional "update" pretty much.

Yeah. I think Valve confirmed that in an interview last week or something.

And for those 360 owners who dont know, you'll be getting the updates, or at least most of them that PC owners have gotten, with the DLC package along with the rest of the goodies. They'll continue doing the same thing later on as well. Much easier for them to bring one big package like that for the console.

Xbox has already gotten ever update that the PC has. We got that almost a month ago. Things like the beefed Tank, additional HUD elements for Infected, and Infected cannot block the progress of survivors anymore.

[Ben]

That was made clear when it was announced over a month ago. The reason it is free is because they opted to leave out achievements. If it had had additional achievements, Microsoft would have charged for it. So instead, Valve is paying the fee for adding an additional "update" pretty much.



Xbox has already gotten ever update that the PC has. We got that almost a month ago. Things like the beefed Tank, additional HUD elements for Infected, and Infected cannot block the progress of survivors anymore.
Yeah, but have you gotten the updates from the last month too?

[KyleKyle Bensen]

Yeah, but have you gotten the updates from the last month too?

I was unaware that there were even more updates. Wow, they keep this things updated. What did they update this time on the PC?

[Ben]

I was unaware that there were even more updates. Wow, they keep this things updated. What did they update this time on the PC?
You know, you could check the thread that I've updated every single time they've patched the PC version...

http://forums.gamewinners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=577410

[Jawneh]

Mmhm. Valve has even said it in their blog that they'll keep on updating the PC version more constantly and then update 360 when there's a bunch. Next time should be April 21th with the DLC.