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This is what Left 4 Dead Looks Like at 3600x1920

Paul Lilly — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:30:21 -0600

Ever wondered what it would be like to game at 3600x1920? Of course you have! And lucky for your, [H]ardOCP has posted a screenshot of Left 4 Dead 2 running at just such a resolution courtesy of its Eyefinity setup running on a Radeon HD 5870. Check out the full sized pic here.

In case you haven't been following, AMD surprised everyone in September when it showed off a single videocard powering six 30-inch Dell dsiplays configured as a single, 7680x3200 resolution monitor. Will Smith took the whole thing in and has a writeup on it here.

Best of all, AMD is launching CrossFire Eyefinity support with its awesome HD 5970 videocard. Some 22 games are supported, with more on the way.

Image Credit: [H]ardOCP

Left 4 Dead 2

Will Smith — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:30:00 -0600

Does the world really need a Left 4 Dead sequel already?

We love killing zombies. When Left 4 Dead came out, we feared that eventually we’d tire of returning the walking dead back to the hell from which they spawned, but it turns out we didn’t. However, we did quickly tire of the lame “optimal” ways that hardcore gamers developed to beat Left 4 Dead campaigns in the most efficient—yet boring—manner possible.

Enter Left 4 Dead 2. The biggest change to the established formula is the redesigned finales and crescendos—those mid-level events that attract unending hordes of zombies. Instead of simply finding a good closet and holing up for 15 minutes, popping out only to kill the occasional tank, the crescendos now require you to keep moving—either to reach a goal or collect and deliver items. The zombie closet is no more, and we don’t miss it at all.

Additionally, the five campaigns are more connected—one picks up where the last left off—and more dynamic, with multiple paths through key bottlenecks in the levels. The available paths—as well as rain, fog, and other dynamic weather effects—are controlled by the improved AI Director. As before, the Director monitors the overall status of your party—health, weapons, ammo, and progress through the level—and automatically adjusts the challenge to maintain tension while not overwhelming your party. The Director does this by sending zombie hordes, limiting ammo and weapons, and spawning the special infected.

This lovable uncommon is ready to entertain the young ’uns by juggling, riding unicycles, and eating your brains!

And the special infected are back—with friends. In addition to the classic hunter, smoker, boomer, witch, and tank, Left 4 Dead 2 adds three new specials: the charger, the spitter, and the jockey—all designed to force players to keep moving and make it easier for infected to split up even good human players, which is important for both single-player and versus. Additionally, each campaign has a unique type of uncommon common zombie. These undead are not much stronger than garden-variety zombies, but each has a unique power, making the uncommon common more difficult to kill.

In Left 4 Dead 2, the zombie models are much more dynamic—taking damage, losing limbs, and acting much more ragdoll-y.

Naturally, there’s a host of new assault rifles, shotguns, submachine guns, and pistols; but L4D 2 also adds special ammo types, grenade launchers, and melee weapons. Whether you’re talking about the katana, machete, cricket bat, or chainsaw, we love the melee weapons. While you give up your pistol slot to carry a melee weapon, it’s dead useful for one or two members of your party to go melee to serve as the frontline against big hordes.

With a stomach full of deadly, deadly acid, the Spitter’s job is to put a stop to your forward progress.

Last but not least, there are a couple of new game modes. For aficionados of versus mode, which pits a team of human-controlled humans against a team of human-controlled zombies, there’s Scavenge mode. Scavenge puts the combatants on small maps with tight time limits. Human players must collect fuel and return it to a generator, while the zombies try to prevent that. Because the action is condensed in a relatively small area, it’s much more intense than more traditional versus battles we’re accustomed to. We also really dig the new Realism mode. Realism requires players to headshot zombies, while removing the auras that make it easy to identify friendly players, weapons, ammo caches, and other items from afar. Because you can enable Realism at any difficulty level, it helps bridge the jump from Advanced mode to Expert, although we don’t recommend turning on Realism if you’re not playing with your regular group.

Each campaign has a unique uncommon common zombie, which you’ll find mixed in with the rest of the horde.

Our only real complaint with Left 4 Dead 2 is that the Source engine is beginning to show its age, especially in areas where there’s any kind of ground cover, uneven ground, or foliage. While the new character animation system and ragdolls are amazing, it can’t hide the fact that this engine is approaching its 10th birthday. Despite some graphical shortcomings, the game is a blast to play, and delivers an experience whose only real rival is its predecessor.

The bad news is that finales in Left 4 Dead 2 force you into the open. The good news? Pyrotechnics!

Download of the Week: The Left 4 Dead Desktop, Rainmeter-Style

David Murphy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0600

Earlier this week, I took a look at a number of free tools designed to give your Windows 7 desktop a bit of a makeover. One of these, Rainmeter, is a comprehensive application that can substantially alter the look and feel of your desktop beyond anything you could possibly modify with Windows' default settings. Just how much can you mess around, you ask? If this week's "Download of the Week" is any indication, then the possibilities are near-limitless. For DeviantArt user UltraBE has transformed the plain ol' Windows desktop into a HUD from the popular zombie shooter Left 4 Dead--and this new look isn't just cosmetic. It's a fully-functional statistics engine for your system.

You might think I'm joking; you might even think that this amalgam of a gaming interface and the Windows desktop is just too far from reality to make sense. Still, you can't deny the sheer coolness of this comprehensive skin. Instead of a list of Left4Dead survivors and their health, the people-in-your-party boxes transform into usage meters and battery life indicators for your system. The individual icons representing gear that your party would be holding are now buttons that can be customized to launch programs, folders, registry keys, or Rainmeter add-ons, amongst other options. The system clock and computer uptime is integrated into the desktop as if it was a countdown before your helicopter to safety takes off.

According to UltraBE, the skin itself is super-customizable to better recreate the Left 4 Dead experience on your desktop. Ten separate wallpapers are included with the Left 4 Dead HUD Desktop and, a nod to detail, you can even change the icon of the gun on the right-hand side of the screen to reflect what's being used in the real screenshot. Although the entire Rainmeter-based display adjusts to fit your specific resolution, UltraBE warns that the design isn't made for desktops below a resolution width of 1280 pixels--sorry, tiny netbooks.

As you would expect, you have to first install Rainmeter to benefit from this zombie-charged interface. Selecting the new look is as easy as hopping into the newly released RainBrowser utility, which allows you to select, configure, and preview new Rainmeter skins prior to applying them.

Download Left 4 Dead HUD Desktop here

Every Wednesday, Maximum PC picks a new free or shareware download as its favorite of the week. Have a nifty application that you can't live without? Twitter David Murphy @acererak with your latest suggestions.

No BS Podcast #123: The Toledo Effect

The Maximum PC Staff — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:11:01 -0600

Remember, remember the fifth of November! Topics discussed this week: On a slow news week, Will fueled Gordon's rage by briefing him on the Call of Duty PC controversies, then the guy discussed Left4Dead 2 a bit more, and closed the show with an extra-long Doctor section and another vitriolic episode of Rant of the Week!

Do you have a tech question? A comment? A tale of technological triumph? Just need to get something off your chest? A secret to share? Email us at maximumpcpodcast@gmail.com or call our 24-hour No BS Podcast hotline at 877.404.1337 x1337--operators are standing by.

Subscribe: http://feeds.feedburner.com/maximumpc/1337

The Game Boy: Killing Millions Since 1857

Nathan Grayson — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:30:31 -0500

Batman’s a bit of an odd case, even as far as videogame characters are concerned. I mean, aside from the tight-fitting latex suit and bat fixation (or should I say Bat-bat fixation), he doesn’t kill anyone. Ever. Oh, sure, occasionally he’ll twist people’s arms for info by breaking their legs, but when it’s all said and done, Batman’s enemies come away relatively unscathed.

Of course, when distilled into videogame form, this strict moral code results in a number of strange, oftentimes chuckle-worthy discontinuities. “So let me get this straight: I hit him with a barrage of pointy metal projectiles, stuck him with a grappling hook and reeled him in Scorpion-style, and then proceeded to jump up and down on his chest like it was a trampoline? And his heart rate sits at… something above zero?!” Doesn’t make much sense, does it? And here I was, all ready to talk about suspension of disbelief and how games still have a long way to go before they create truly believable experiences when I realized something:

At least Batman – a purported “good guy” – doesn’t wantonly murder thousands of people like, you know, every videogame character ever.

I mean, I don’t know about you, but it’s just as hard for me to buy an average Joe mindlessly slaughtering a decent portion of the human population as it is Batman improbably beating criminals within an inch of their lives. Yes, the Dark Knight’s method seems nigh-impossible to actually pull off, but at least his character is somewhat believable. At least he’s not a homicidal maniac in sheep’s clothing.

Now, I’m not saying videogame characters should start aiming exclusively for kneecaps instead of headshots, but I think that – when the enemy’s losses start piling into the thousands – games should try harder to justify their body counts. Short of making your main character a criminal (Grand Theft Auto) or a war hero (Call of Duty, Halo, too many other games), developers have crafted surprisingly few characters with dispositions to match their penchants for wholesale slaughter.

And even in the aforementioned sub-genres, few games have managed to walk the fine line between character personality and death. Gears of War comes to mind as one particularly egregious example, with characters alternatively tearing up over the loss of a companion (“He had a kid!”) and – shortly after -- bumping chests over football, bro. Grand Theft Auto IV, similarly, tried to depict a character molded by constant exposure to death and murder, but eventually, Niko Bellic dropped the “I just want to start a new life” act and reveled in his self-drawn bloodbath.

And, of course, you’ve also got guys like the Prince from the latest Prince of Persia and Nathan Drake from Uncharted (who, incidentally, even share the same voice actor) with their rough, roguish charms. When thrown against outrageous odds – like, say, a gatling gun-equipped helicopter – they say exactly what we’re thinking: “Oh crap.” And it’s charming! I love this archetype. But right after flashing a cocky grin in the camera’s direction, these same characters transform from loveable lugs into ruthless murder machines. It’s such an odd disconnect; how can men who’ve caused so much death pretend to be normal, slightly naive people?

Fortunately, a few developers have managed to nip this thorny issue in the bud. Most obviously, Gearbox Software tackled the issue of death head-on with its Brothers in Arms series. Sergeant Matthew Baker and co. witness the brutal sacrifice of a very important ally, and it shakes their whole squad to its very core. (Granted, Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway also has a slow-mo kill cam that glorifies the notion of in-game death just as the game’s story is trying to subvert it, so maybe this is more of a case of one step forward, two steps back.)

Left 4 Dead and Halo 3: ODST also at least divert your attention away from the fact that you’re capping enemies right and left by throwing your character – and by extension, you – into sensory overload mode. Through sheer enemy numbers and unsettling aural cues (your character’s beleaguered breathing and shouts of terror, for instance), you never really feel like an empowered killer. Instead, at the end of each level, you just thank your lucky stars that you made it out alive. So yeah, your character may have pulled off an awesome triple-headshot, but you were probably too busy hyperventilating into a paper bag to notice. Now, obviously, both of these games take place in very fantastical situations, but I’d love to see their ideas applied to other slightly more grounded settings.

So, what are your thoughts on death in relation to videogame characters? How do you think the tenuous ties between the two topics could be strengthened? Know of any games or characters that put the examples I listed to shame? Comment! Or I’ll kill you. Haha – just kidding. Or am I? (Yes, I am.)

Valve Putting Hopes, Dreams, and $25 Million into Left 4 Dead 2’s Ad Campaign

Nathan Grayson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:16:02 -0500

With Left 4 Dead 2, Valve’s showing its full hand. It’s going all out. After all, with no other major franchise to help line the developer’s pockets, what other choice does it have?

"We'll be supporting Left 4 Dead 2's launch with a $25 million campaign," said Doug Lombardi, Valve's vice-president of Marketing. "Left 4 Dead 2 has already set the record for greatest number of pre-orders in our company's history, and we're still over a month out from shipping."

"Based on the strength of pre-orders, Left 4 Dead 2 will be the fastest-selling product in Valve's history," said Gabe Newell, president of Valve. "Left 4 Dead 2 has consistently run at 300% of Left 4 Dead's numbers."

So yeah, Left 4 Dead 2 – no pressure.

Now if only Valve tried its hand at building up another series – perhaps something with, say, physicists and small crablike creatures that reside on or around the head. They could be called… cranium crustaceans! Too bad Valve hasn’t been keeping a sequel to a crazy idea like that under wraps for nearly three years.

Left 4 Dead 2 Demo and L4D “Crash Course” DLC Dated

Nathan Grayson — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:59:54 -0500

If you’ve played Left 4 Dead to death, Valve’s just made a pair of announcements that are sure to brighten your day.

First up, Left 4 Dead’s “Crash Course” DLC will finally walk among the living on September 29. It’s free, of course, and includes a new campaign, new survival maps, and a few other tweaks and balances.

Then, just in time to catch you on the rebound after you’ve kicked Crash Course to the curb, Valve’s dropping a Left 4 Dead 2 demo on October 27. Preorderers will apparently gain early access to the demo, though, and since you’re probably already going to buy the game anyway, you might as well.

As for what the demo actually contains, it’s anyone’s guess at this point. We’ll let you know as soon as Valve finally spills its guts. Our highly advanced torture techniques – known as “extreme nagging” in some circles -- break everyone eventually.

Valve: L4D Crash Course DLC Was Planned to Launch before E3

Nathan Grayson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:32:51 -0500

Ever since Valve announced Left 4 Dead 2 at this year’s E3, it’s been in the doghouse with many fans of its first undead slaughterfest. Believe it or not, though, Valve never intended on ruffling any feathers. Crash Course, as it turns out, was on a crash course with Left 4 Dead right from the start. Extenuating circumstances, however, prevented the L4D DLC from sealing Valve’s promise of free updates with a nice, crusty zombie smooch in the nick of time. And by then, well, it was too late.

“I think in this case we just didn't message correctly. We didn't make it clear that Left 4 Dead was still going to be updated. We just didn't think to mention it, we were focusing on other stuff. We, internally, always knew we were going to do cool new stuff, so we didn't say anything about the original game,” Valve’s Chet Faliszek told Offworld.

“Of course we also intended to get the Crash Course DLC for L4D out before E3, but some things held us up. I think if we had that out before the Left 4 Dead 2 announcement, then it would have been clearer for our intentions. Losing the opportunity to get that right hurt us, but I think we made the right choices otherwise.”

Well, that’s that, we think. The case of Valve vs. The Fans is officially adjourned.