Left 4 Dead

Infobox VG| title = Left 4 Dead


caption = Left 4 Dead cover art
developer = Valve Corporation
publisher = Valve Corporation
distributor = Valve Corporation (Steam)
Electronic Arts (Retail)
engine = Source
release = Steam
Retail

genre = Survival horror
First-person shooter
modes = Single-player, Multiplayer
platforms = Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360
media = DVD, Steam download
requirements = PCcite web|url= http://www.left4dead411.com/news/2008/09/l4d-system-requirements/|title=L4D System Requirements - L4D News|date=September 27 2008|accessdate=2008-09-25]
* 3 GHz Intel Pentium 4, Dual Core 2.0 or AMD64X2 CPU
* 1 GB for XP or 2 GB RAM for Vista
* DVD-ROM Drive
* At least 7.5 GB hard disk space
* 256 MB DirectX 9.0-compatible graphics card with support for Pixel Shader 2
* DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
* Windows 2000/XP/ Vista.

"Left 4 Dead" is an upcoming multiplayer co-operative survival horror first-person shooter game by Valve Corporation. The game has been built using Valve's Source engine and will be available on Microsoft Windows and the Xbox 360.

"Left 4 Dead" pits four human playable or AI controlled survivors of an apocalyptic pandemic against hordes of zombie-like, aggressive "Infected". The Survivors' goal is to help each other make it through various scenarios to safety. The Infected are controlled by an AI that dynamically balances difficulty and mood depending on the players' progress and situation. In an alternate game mode, human players can control up to four mutated Boss Infected with special abilities and cooperate to stop the Survivor players.

The expected release date for "Left 4 Dead" is November 19, 2008 in the U.S. and November 21, 2008 in Europe to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the release of "Half-Life".cite web|url= http://www.left4dead411.com/news/2008/08/correction-l4d-nov-18/|title=Correction: November 18th and 21st|date=August 25 2008|accessdate=2008-08-25]

Gameplay

"Left 4 Dead" is played in first-person perspective, [ [http://www.csnation.net/articles.php/article_240/ CS-Nation preview] ] where up to four players take control of the four main characters of the game; "The Survivors". If four human players are not available to play, the Survivors can also be AI-controlled bots. They play through the levels fighting off the Infected, which are humans who have been infected with a mysterious disease. "Left 4 Dead" is focused on cooperation and team play; Colored outlines are visible through walls to help players stick together and coordinate their movement, some prerecorded voice chat is automatic, and survivors can be knocked down by the Infected and only 'revived' with the help of a friend. Certain 'Boss infected' also command special attacks, such as a hunter's pin, which require assistance from a teammate to get out of. Survivors can also share health packs and help each other heal. However, "Left 4 Dead" has full friendly fire that can't be switched off, increasing the need for caution around other survivors, although the damage caused is less for already injured Survivors.

The Survivors communicate by automated voice commands that are accessed by quick menus, and some will also sound off automatically when doing such things as reloading or spotting Infected. Over 1000 unique lines have been recorded for each Survivor.

The game is experienced through four scenarios that take place in various urban and rural locales, such as a hospital, an airport and a murky countryside.Fact|date=August 2008 Each scenario is divided into several shorter sections marked by safe-house checkpoints, where players can heal, re-arm, calm their nerves, save their progress and have killed players returned. [http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=745 Shacknews Left 4 Dead Hands-on Preview] ] The levels are neither linear nor completely open-ended or free-roaming. There are a number of alternate routes to follow with more supplies and alternate objectives.cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/video/937407/6194927/videoplayerpop?|title=GameSpot Video: Left 4 Dead E3 2008 Stage Show Demo|work=GameSpot|date=2008-07-23|accessdate=2008-07-23] At the end of each scenario, the players must defend a position from an onslaught of Infected until rescue arrives. [http://www.left4dead411.com/left-4-dead-preview-pg1.php Left 4 Dead Hands-on Preview at left4dead411.com] ] Each scenario lasts between 45 and 75 minutes. [cite web
title = E3 2008: Left4Dead Interview. New Graphics, Weapons, and Steam Achievement Details
publisher = www.maximumpc.com
url = http://www.maximumpc.com/article/%5Bprimary-term%5D/e3_2008_left4dead_interview_new_graphics_weapons_and_steam_achievement_details?page=0%2C1
accessdate =2008-07-21]

Many gaming websites have been told of a possible pre-purchase, and a demo has been announced to release roughly 2 weeks before the full release, this may involve Single and Online Co-op play for PC and Xbox users, possibly containing 2 maps from the hospital scenario. [cite web
title = EXCLUSIVE - Left 4 Dead Demo Details
publisher = De-Frag.com
url = http://www.de-frag.com/node/309
accessdate =2008-09-29]

AI and the Director

The AI of "Left 4 Dead" features a dynamic system for game dramatics, pacing, and difficulty called the "Director". Instead of set spawn points for enemies, the Director will spawn enemies in varying positions and numbers based upon each player's current situation, status and location, thus creating a new experience each time it is played. It will also balance action and moments of tense calm. The players' progress, skill and status is used to create balanced and rewarding resistance for players of various skills.

Multiplayer

In the deathmatch "Versus" mode, four additional players can take control of powerful Infected with unique abilities, amongst the other AI-controlled Infected. The playable Infected numbers are limited so players must select their preferred Infected and wait for it to spawn, with the Tank as the exception — it's only playable a few times during each scenario. The Infected have the ability to see survivors through the walls at a certain range if the survivors are running, with the flashlight on, or talking. The Infected can also see in the dark, unlike the Survivors. Infected spawn ahead of the Survivors and can, if they stay still, see a marker for their likely path of advance so they can set up ambushes. Throughout levels, Infected-only ways up buildings are marked with symbols. These can be climbed and used for ambushes, especially with the Infected immunity to falling damage.Fact|date=August 2008

Award system

"Left 4 Dead" will include Steam's achievement system, recording players' accomplishments and mishaps. Survivor players receive merits for accomplishments such as completing a scenario without using any health packs or helping a fellow injured Survivor. Demerits are given for mishaps such as shooting a teammate or walking into friendly fire.

The Infected receive merits for accomplishments such as killing or wounding a survivor, combined attacks on Survivors, or causing a swarm of AI-controlled Infected to kill a survivor. Demerits are received for mishaps such as harming a teammate, avoiding the survivors for a certain period of time, or purposely helping the survivors.Fact|date=August 2008

Xbox 360 version

The Xbox 360 version of "Left 4 Dead" has the same game modes as the PC version — co-op (2-4 players), and Co-op versus (4 versus 4). The game supports split screen and system link play. [cite web
title = Left 4 Dead
publisher = Xbox.com
url = http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/l/left4dead/
accessdate =2008-07-08] Players can mix split screen and online play in the same game. The quick key voice commands have been removed in favor of the Xbox Live headset.Fact|date=July 2008

Valve will run dedicated servers on Xbox Live for "Left 4 Dead".cite web
title = Left 4 Dead for Xbox 360 Using Dedicated Servers on Live
publisher = 1UP
url = http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3169669
date = 2008-08-28
accessdate =2008-08-28]

Characters

The Survivors

There are four playable human characters in the game (hence the "4" in the title).cite web |url = http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=922 |title = Left 4 Dead E3 Preview: New Characters, New Weapons, New Details | publisher = ShackNews| accessdate = 2008-07-21 ] Each player is randomly assigned a character when they join the server and each character has the same abilities and may use the same weapons.

Louis is a business man in a shirt and tie. Francis is a tattoo-covered biker. Zoey is a young woman. Bill is an old Green Beret Vietnam veteran.

Survivors are armed with various firearms divided into two tiers. The first tier is available to everyone when the scenario starts, and players can select between a pump-action shotgun and the Uzi. Weapons in the second tier can be found throughout the maps and at the end of the scenario, just before the final fight. Second tier weapons are the M4 Carbine, a Ruger Mini-14 modified with a scope, and the Benelli M4 Super 90. In addition to these main weapons, Survivors also can carry a Molotov cocktail or a pipe bomb, as well as one or two handguns as backup. The handguns are the only weapon that can be used when they are knocked down by the Infected. All weapons and any other item the survivor holds can be used to make a close range melee attack.cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/video/937407/6194927/videoplayerpop?|title=GameSpot Video: Left 4 Dead E3 2008 Stage Show Demo|work=GameSpot|date=2008-07-23|accessdate=2008-07-23] This attack can push targets back to make space, beat off fellow survivors or to gain time to reload. A one hit kill can be performed by a bash if the infected is unaware of the attacking Survivor.Fact|date=July 2008 In addition to these weapons, machine guns can be found mounted in defensible positions in some areas of the game.Fact|date=July 2008

The Infected

The Infected are "Left 4 Dead's" foe of the Survivors, and they are partly inspired by the infected from the 2002 film "28 Days Later" [ [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=151399 PC Gamer preview] ] The Infected, as opposed to the slow, shuffling types associated with "Night of the Living Dead" or "Half-Life", are fast and agile, creating quite a formidable foe. They will however go down with a well-placed gunshot, meaning they can be dealt with easily on their own, but in great numbers are difficult to handle. In addition, there are five mutated Infected who have their own special mutant abilities and are more powerful than the regular Infected.

* The Boomer is a hugely obese Infected that can spew projectile vomit at The Survivors, blinding them and attracting swarms of nearby Infected to them. Boomers blow up when they die, spraying nearby Survivors with blood that also attracts the Infected.
* The Hunter is an agile Infected who can climb walls and jump over rooftops, similar to "28 Days Later" Infected and "Half-Life 2's" Fast Zombie. Crouching for some time gives the Hunter access to a powerful pounce attack that pins a Survivor down until the Hunter is knocked off.
* The Smoker has a long, whip-like tongue that can strangle Survivors and drag them away from their team mates, similar to "Half-Life's" Barnacle and "Resident Evil's" Licker. When in danger, it can leave a haze of black smoke, distorting the Survivors' vision.
* The Tank, a huge, muscular but noisy Infected, is capable of throwing large items - such as cars - or blocks of concrete. The Tank can take a large amount of damage before dying, but when played by a human player it must keep on the move not to become vulnerable.
* The Witch is the only mutant Infected that cannot be played by human players and appears in the hardest difficulty mode. They are normally passive and can be avoided by careful players, but flashlight beams, physical contact, and loud sounds such as gun fire or car alarms in their vicinity rouses them. Witches can strike a Survivor down in one hit and can take a large amount of damage.

Development

Development on "Left 4 Dead" started in mid-2005.]

Graphics

Left 4 Dead uses the latest version of Valve's Source engine, with improvements such as multi-core processor support and physics-based animation to more realistically portray hair and clothing.cite web|url=http://www.firingsquad.com/games/left_4_dead_interview/default.asp|title=Left 4 Dead Interview
author=John Callaham|work=FiringSquad|date=2007-03-22|accessdate=2008-09-01]

Many kinds of post processing cinematic visual effects have been added to the game, each intended to elicit responses from players and guide them through the game. These include situational color correction, contrast and sharpening, film grain and vignetting.

Wet surfaces and fog are used to create mood.cite web|url=http://www.valvesoftware.com/publications/2008/GameFest08_ArtInSource.pdf|title=How Valve Connects Art Direction to Gameplay|author=Valve Corporation|date=July 2008|accessdate=2008-08-02
cite web|url=http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2008/07/indepth_how_valve_makes_art_to.php|title=In-Depth: How Valve Makes Art To Enhance Gameplay|author=Simon Carless|work=GameSetWatch|date=2008-07-31|accessdate=2008-08-02]

Audio

"Left 4 Dead" has dynamic ambient sounds and music unique to each player, changing depending on their actions and status.Fact|date=August 2008

History

The game was first revealed in the Christmas 2006 publication of "PC Gamer UK" with a six-page article describing a playthrough at Valve's headquarters. A teaser was released with The Orange Box. The game was first playable at the Showdown 2007 LAN in San Jose and at QuakeCon 2007. [ [http://news.filefront.com/first-left-4-dead-in-game-footagepics-caught-at-shadowlan-2007/ First Left 4 Dead In-Game Footage/Pics Caught At Showdown LAN 2007] ]

Turtle Rock Studios announced "Left 4 Dead" on November 20 2006 [ [http://www.shacknews.com/docs/press/112006_left4dead.x Turtle Rock and Valve Announce Left 4 Dead] ] , and was acquired by Valve Corporation on January 10, 2008 because of the game and long-standing relationship between the companies.cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Valve Acquires Turtle Rock Studios | date=2008-01-10 | publisher=Valve Corporation | url =http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=news&id=1401 | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-10 | language = ]

On February 4 2008, Certain Affinity announced that they are assisting with the Xbox 360 version of the game. [ [http://www.certainaffinity.com/news.htm Cat Outta The Bag] ]

References

ee also

*List of undead-themed video games

External links

* [http://www.l4d.com/ "Left 4 Dead" Official Website]
* [http://l4d.com/blog/ "Left 4 Dead" Official Blog]
* [http://www.valvesoftware.com/ Valve Corporation Official Website]