The Left 4 Dead promises thread

[SFtheWolf]

In another effort to keep everyone focused and debunk some myths I invite everyone to use this thread to cite specific cases of Valve making promises concerning Left 4 Dead updates, particularly (but not limited to) those which have not/will now never be followed through upon.

Whenever you see someone expressing disbelief in the fact that Valve made promises concerning L4D updates, link them to this thread.

Edit: I'm going to try and compile the best ones here in the first post.

http://www.videogamer.com/news/valve...nch_plans.html

Originally Posted by Gabe Newell

So each time we've released one of those 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.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...adable-content

Originally Posted by gamesindustry.biz

Valve: we won't charge for downloadable content

"You buy the product, you get the content," Team Fortress 2 designer Robin Walker told our sister site Eurogamer.net. "We make more money because more people buy it, not because we try and nickel-and-dime the same customers."

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3166784 (Not specifically a L4D quote)

Originally Posted by 1up.com

He goes on to point out the Valve credo of free content after a game's release, saying that "once [the customer is] in the park, they can ride any ride they want in the park. So, for us that's been the philosophy." He also pointed out that even though DLC takes time and resources to develop, free content helps promote a positive image of the company. "For us, we see it as an investment on our next product," he said. "Gamers won't hesitate when they see a game coming out from Valve."

http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/turtle-r.../902345p3.html (Article has been removed)

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3170080

Originally Posted by Gabe Newell

It really feels like we're in this transition between entertainment as this packaged-goods phenomenon and entertainment as an ongoing service. TF2 is our product that's furthest along down this path -- we've been doing these updates every four to six weeks where we release new maps, new Achievements, new unlockables, new weapons, the movies like "Meet The Sniper," and so on. The response has been very strong. Each time we've done it, our multiplayer numbers and our sales have gone up by about 20 percent. So it's a way of growing an audience and developing an audience -- having those regular releases and thinking more of yourself as providing ongoing content streams seems to work really well. We fully intend to do that with Left 4 Dead as well -- [make] movies about each of the characters and how they came together as a team; what happened with the world when everything became Infected; [and] release new characters, new weapons, new campaigns -- and just view it as an ongoing audience-development content stream.

Originally Posted by Gabe Newell

That's what we really worry about -- [it] is how to do those sorts of things. Community services -- it seems like those add to the community, which is the thing that drives sales to your products in the long term. It's not where you want to end up charging.
...
If you want to think of your existing customers and the existing members of your community as your most potent advertising force, charging them for the privilege of that doesn't seem like a good business strategy.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3169669

Originally Posted by 1up.com

Keeping on the online bonanza, writer Chet Faliszek said that Valve plans to get the DLC rolling much more quickly with Left 4 Dead than it has been able to for Team Fortress 2. Plans already in the works call for new campaigns, weapons, and boss infected (the game's zombie enemies). In addition, there were strong hints at a flamethrower coming not long after launch.

[Chaotist Razor]

On the subject of promises that were made and never kept:

-Invisible Hunters
-Witches that attacked all survivors
-Smokers that not only pulled faster, but also converted their victim's HP into temporary health.
-Two Tanks at the same time during finales.
-Rescue vehicles with miniguns on them.
-Boomers that dealt damage when destroyed.
-Designs of the survivors changed.
-Pipe Bomb changed to attract zombies.
-Being able to give weapons to teammates.

Most of which can be found documented here. Of course, I don't remember hearing nearly the same amount of rage when these "promises" weren't kept, but there's nothing I can do about that.

[Stagger Lee]

They can still add some of these things. The fact is that some of these things shouldn't be added to L4D. L4D is pretty complete as is. All I would really like in addition to MM 2.0 to fix the lobby system is another Valve created campaign or 2.

For extra guns, melee weapons etc we will have L4D2. I will be playing both for the changes within the 2.

[SFtheWolf]

Originally Posted by Chaotist Razor

On the subject of promises that were made and never kept:

-Invisible Hunters
-Witches that attacked all survivors
-Smokers that not only pulled faster, but also converted their victim's HP into temporary health.
-Two Tanks at the same time during finales.
-Rescue vehicles with miniguns on them.
-Boomers that dealt damage when destroyed.
-Designs of the survivors changed.
-Pipe Bomb changed to attract zombies.
-Being able to give weapons to teammates.

Most of which can be found documented here. Of course, I don't remember hearing nearly the same amount of rage when these "promises" weren't kept, but there's nothing I can do about that.

Uh, you're mostly listing changes from beta to the final game. I'm pretty sure you know the difference between that and what I'm talking about.

[DESIDEvivix]

Please add the following to the list:
-laser sights for melée weapons
-ectoplasma shotties
-magical flying unicorns
-♥♥♥♥ load of ungrateful kids who will ♥♥♥♥♥ and moan about an awesome game

Oh wait, take that last one off. We got plenty of those...

[Sickness]

Also add these

http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/turtle-r.../902345p3.html
http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3170080

And here valve admits there wont be more valve created content for the game
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=23911

[Chaotist Razor]

Originally Posted by SFtheWolf

Uh, you're mostly listing changes from beta to the final game. I'm pretty sure you know the difference between that and what I'm talking about.

I'll hear none of it. BROKEN PROMISES!

Edit: And hey, it might just be my computer, but your first two links are popping up 404 to me.

[DuckOfDeath]

Originally Posted by Sickness

And here valve admits there wont be more valve created content for the game
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=23911

From that link: Quote" Leonard declined to commit to there being more Valve-created content for the game, instead pointing out some upcoming functionality tweaks and the potential in user-created levels for the PC version. "We are doing updates across the summer, adding new matchmaking features, and new features to facilitate user maps after the SDK is out," he said. "Certainly, user maps will be part of the ongoing Left 4 Dead 1 experience."

"Additionally, those maps can be transported into Left 4 Dead 2. With regard to more content, it's hard to say, because the timeline for Left 4 Dead 2 is so sensitive, and the team has a head of steam right now for the game."

Ummmmmm. Where does he admit no additional content will be given? The writer is biased in my opinion. He wrote "Leonard declined to commit to there being more Valve-created content for the game, instead pointing out some upcoming functionality tweaks and the potential in user-created levels for the PC version." People associate a decline to comment as someone with something to hide. Leonard did comment though, "With regard to more content, it's hard to say, because the timeline for Left 4 Dead 2 is so sensitive, and the team has a head of steam right now for the game." Valve probably knows better than to mention anything specific by now. At least I hope they learned their lesson.

[Sickness]

Valve never tells anything clearly so they cant be accused.
They say l4d 2's timeline is sensitive blablabla this is their way of saying we get nothing till the release of l4d 2 and l4d 1 players should use the sdk to make content for themselves. But we all know then they will be busy fixing bugs and updating L4D 2.

[SFtheWolf]

Originally Posted by Chaotist Razor

I'll hear none of it. BROKEN PROMISES!

Edit: And hey, it might just be my computer, but your first two links are popping up 404 to me.

Weird, I could have sworn I checked them the other day. They're 404 for me too.

[Airandius]

Uhm, your link does not work I get this error:

De URL bevat een video-id met een onjuiste notatie.

So the link has an invalid video-id.

[Deyna]

Thanks, fixed!

[GoDMiN]

For the record I got that video from someone else, don't remember who though

Edit: Also I'm going to wait to see if this gets locked before I start posting links.

[hangender]

Originally Posted by SFtheWolf

Weird, I could have sworn I checked them the other day. They're 404 for me too.

Try linking to google cache version.

[gH0sTy]

Promise starting at 4:50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wf3dcHxCs4