The Reticule

Demos are wonderful things, they give us a glimpse into what a game is like and, in turn, whether the game is worth purchasing or not. I used to live on demos in the olden days, they were my link to the gaming world. There have been some demos which stand out above the rest, they may have introduced me to a game series, a new genre or were the entrance to what would be one of my favourite games of all time. These are some of the demos which stick out in my mind, and always will.

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I’ve been debating what to talk about in my latest blog, I thought I might just talk about some of the games I have been playing, but something else came to mind. The generosity of Valve. (more…)

Friend of The Reticule Glenn Lawrence was down at Eurogamer London this past weekend, he had the chance to meet up with Valve’s Chet Faliszek to talk about all manner of Left 4 Dead topics. Here we go!

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The Survival Pack for Left 4 Dead has, after months of waiting, been released. If you haven’t downloaded it already, then boot up Steam and start updating Left 4 Dead so you can get in on the action.

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There was a bit of stir in the comments section when DuBBle talked about the new Left 4 Dead DLC last week about whether Valve will be charging us for it. Thankfully Valve must have heard all of our nervous chatter and have declared that the DLC pack will be free for both PC and 360 gamers.

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Finally – a reason to keep unliving! Blue’s News reports they woke up this morning and opened their curtains to a fresh layer of green ooze covering the desolate urban wastes. In short, our fleshy beings are to be spoiled rotten with the L4D Survival Pack – which is said to be transmitted via a series of tubes. Once infected, and after a brief patching period, the new content is said to have a transformative effect upon standard choc-chip L4D. Early symptoms include two new Versus Mode campaigns (assuredly Dead Air and Death Toll), a new game mode dubbed Survival (begin speculating now!) and a Software Development Kit for those most succulently-minded modders out there. Here’s the full text:

February 5, 2008 – Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life, Portal, Team Fortress, and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced a series of content and development releases for its latest title, 2008′s best-selling new game property for the PC and Xbox 360, Left 4 Dead (L4D).
The first L4D DLC – dubbed the L4D Survival Pack — is due for release this spring and introduces a new multiplayer game mode entitled, Survival, plus two complete campaigns for Versus Mode . A Critic’s Choice Edition of the game is also heading to retail stores this spring, and will include access to all the content introduced in the L4D: Survival Pack.
In addition, for PC gamers and aspiring developers, the first Left 4 Dead release for the Source Software Development Kit (Source SDK) 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.
“Since Half-Life launched in 1998, Valve has made continuous efforts to expand the offering of its products beyond what’s included on the day of launch,” said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. “With Half-Life and Counter-Strike, and more recently Team Fortress 2, we’ve learned that we’re no longer making stand-alone games but creating entertainment services. With Left 4 Dead we’re extending that tradition by creating additional gameplay and releasing our internal tools to aspiring developers so they may also create and distribute new Left 4 Dead experiences.”
Left 4 Dead is a survival action game from Valve that blends the social entertainment experience of multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike and Team Fortress with the dramatic, narrative experience made popular in single player action game classics such as the Half-Life series of games. Released in November of 2008, L4D has earned over 25 industry awards from outlets around the world.
For more information, please visit www.l4d.com

Randay Savage was a bit before my time, but back in the day he was a pretty big thing in the wrestling business. Now with a new Left 4 Dead mod you can play along with the infected horde shouting out some of his famous phrases.

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The long-frozen liquids of last night’s excitement slumber beneath the sheet of briny vapour which chokes thoroughfare and lung on this windless Winter morning. Savage revellers put respectlessly to rest, the four drift in the still air of Paragon Square – at the choke-point of Hull’s central business district. Beleaguered, bruised and withered, the manured breeze of the Humber Valley won’t be scented for another three days of tentative traipsing, and just as many nights of dealing with the crowds. This is the mod I believe Left 4 Dead deserves.

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