Survival horror = a day in the life
Would you describe your life as a survival horror excursion? I’m not talking about the horror of facing down unpaid bills. Yes, a payday loan can provide the extra cash needed to avert such monstrosities. No, I’m talking about the video game genre of survival horror. Thankfully, most of us do not live in a world where we are constantly search for more shotgun shells to beat back a zombie invasion. For most of us, phrases like “Resident Evil,” “Silent Hill” or “Left 4 Dead” mean a fantasy escape and not a way of life (or death).
But wait! It’s E3 2009 time in Los Angeles, which means that for anyone with the G4 television network or a broadband Internet connection, the e3 live stream is on the air. Finding out what new video games and related technologies are in store for gamers is like waking up on Christmas morning. It’s an exciting time for fans of most any type of video game, but there are few that will receive the hype of survival horror gem Left 4 Dead 2.
You’ve been left for dead again?
It’s been quite an opening day for E3 2009, as evidenced by the announcement of the Left 4 Dead 2 project. Norman Chan writes for Maximum PC that game makers Valve and Electronic Arts have announced this sequel to the original multiplayer zombie shoot-em-up. Left 4 Dead 2 will be released on November 17th, 2009 for Xbox 360 and PC, complete with a rich plate of new features. Chief among these will be five new campaigns that follow the story four zombie apocalypse survivors. Because we must know.
According to the PC Gamer preview of the survival horror game, the action is set in the deep south – specifically Georgia and Louisiana (the latter of which doesn’t need zombie intervention these days, but perhaps its repayment for a lot of bad juju). Pick up your controller and take charge of infected characters or valiant fighters. Go to war against the scourge to the homelands of Blind Willie McTell and Stormy Daniels. Fight alongside Boomers, Smokers, Hunters and Tanks from the original game.
Weapons will include the old anti-zombie standbys, as well as some new tools like a fire axe, chainsaw and frying pan. If you played the previous Left 4 Dead title, you likely will be able to port your character over, although this hasn’t been confirmed by Valve as yet.
Check out IGN’s preview
IGN has a preview with more details. Some of the highlights include this “five alive”:
- Daylight missions
- Pre-zombie infection mission in the Savannah heat
- More engaging stories that link the individual zombie survival campaigns
- Ability to change the map layout via the Director feature
- Instead of a Last Stand-type finale, survivors may have to fight through a hazard-filled highway
Left 4 Dead 2 ain't set in THIS Savannah…
Some juicy bits from Valve’s press release
Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2) will be coming exclusively to Xbox 360 and PC. According to Valve, L4D2 “promises to set a new benchmark for co-operative action games and become one of 2009’s marquee titles.”
Valve President Gabe Newell feels that the AI Director feature was what made the original game such a success in 2008. “With the knowledge gained from creating the original, new technology, and a passionate team, L4D2 will set a new benchmark for cooperative action games.”
Let’s talk about that Director
Left 4 Dead 2 will debut the AI Director 2.0. It will give players the ability to change weather effects, world objects, movement pathways, zombie behavior and other audio and visual effects. The result is a unique game every time you play, depending upon your preferences, claims Valve.
Heavy marketing bucks
If you didn’t already know, video games are big business. Considering how much money is spend in the development of top flight games like Left 4 Dead 2, it pays to market the work accordingly. Thus, Valve and Electronic Arts are behind a $10-plus million advertising campaign. It seems that there’s little doubt that L4D2 will fly by the 2.5 million-copy sales of the original since November 2008 (which was tremendous in itself). The sequel will launch worldwide with an ad campaign that covers television, print, outdoor and online, according to Valve VP of Marketing, Doug Lombardi.
Remember: spend wisely
Video games like Left 4 Dead 2 can be a great catharsis for gamers who need to blow off steam from the pressures of the day. Surely, it will be an outstanding product. However, please keep in mind that the subject matter will be violent, so it will not be appropriate for younger children. Furthermore, video games are expensive. If you are depending upon instant cash loans for money now to help a budget shortage between paychecks, think. Buying a video game may not be the best thing at the moment. However, L4D2 will wait for you. You will survive to fight the horror another day.
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