1UP VIDEO PREVIEW!

[squerl]

1UP just posted an AWESOME video preview of Left 4 Dead! GO WATCH IT! (http://www.left4dead411.com/left-4-dead-vidanalysis.php) I'm sure you'll all be watching it over and over, and it's worth it. Take time to notice how the infected run and mob you. They show mostly the first third of the Hospital mission. You can see the Hunter (the one that jumps and you can see creeping along the side of a building) and Boomer, I didn't notice any other boss infected.

Everything they said in there was very accurate. I just want to point out something I enjoy.. near the end at the 7 minute mark (it's a total of 8:28) when the female reviewer is explaining what had happened to her, that's how it always is. There are ALWAYS "oh shit" moments every time you play. You come out of every playthrough with some new and amazing story that you can share. It's that awesome :D.

You get to see Mike Booth talking about the game a lot. The first few times we played, and I'm sure this'll happen to everyone, you DO revert back to your old way of thinking and check the same corners where mobs were last time, but more often then not they're not there, and it's just a really weird feeling.

We've posted a transcript of the video and timeline of events. (http://www.left4dead411.com/left-4-dead-vidanalysis.php)

If you guys have any questions about anything you see just ask.

[dontleave]

So why did Mike let you guys play Infected Bosses and not them?

[A DUCK]

this makes up for part 2 not being out yet :)
take extra time now that we have this to hold us over lol

[dontleave]

Nah, part two will be better, its got infected info... That was just awesome though, I love the melee animations and it looked like it felt just right

[Stupoider]

So why did Mike let you guys play Infected Bosses and not them?

From what I know... they played both.

[A DUCK]

From what I know... they played both.
frog and squerl did but the ppl at gameplay vids/1up only got to play survivors

[PoplarSantiago]

Hey, I have been recently reading up on the interviews, and then I saw the movie, here's my one question: From the looks of the street part of the gameplay clips it looks alot like you just running backwards, basicly what I am trying to ask is are you going to be doing this the whole game? Am I just going to be running backwards, and none of the awsome stand your ground gameplay I was thinking about when reading the interviews?

[sir monster]

From what I know... they played both.
He says in the video they didn't get to play the infected. I guess maybe thats reserved for fan sites. or the price of video.

[Stupoider]

Oh, misread dontleave's message, my bad.

[sir monster]

Hey, I have been recently reading up on the interviews, and then I saw the movie, here's my one question: From the looks of the street part of the gameplay clips it looks alot like you just running backwards, basicly what I am trying to ask is are you going to be doing this the whole game? Am I just going to be running backwards, and none of the awsome stand your ground gameplay I was thinking about when reading the interviews?
we've seen only glimpses, im sure theres plenty of hold your ground fighting.. say if you get cornered. or have to save someone who has fallen down, or trapped in a closet.... and wont come out of the closet.. (bet that joke will get used in game a lot) not to mention the finally.. spread these events across 5 large maps for 4 different campaigns and youre talking a lot of standing your ground. but in massive hordes like in the video in open space like that, its probably a BETTER tactic to stay on the move.. and keep them at a distance. in more confined areas where numbers count for less, its probably easier if you hold your ground in a hallway, or in an alley.

[dontleave]

Stand your ground if you want to, im running like hell. In the interview they already mentioned that sort of instance, when one guy got boomer puked and they kept him behind and mowed down infected coming through the door.

[squerl]

As you can see in the movie, the zombies are faster than you. You CAN try to dodge and run back like they did a few times, which is common, but more often than not when you do that, you're going to run straight back into even more zombies! You won't be backtracking like that a lot.

[sir monster]

As you can see in the movie, the zombies are faster than you. You CAN try to dodge and run back like they did a few times, which is common, but more often than not when you do that, you're going to run straight back into even more zombies! You won't be backtracking like that a lot.
i cant wait to play this.

[dontleave]

Me neither, summer release right?

[defth]

Dam!...i feel good after watching that video..the game play is faster than i though..nice

[porc epic]

wow.

[Puscifer]

lol after watching this preview video i get a whole different feel to the game its a lot faster paced then i originaly thought.

i have a question about the character/infected models/actions

1, the infected and character models seem to be a bit thin and jagged compared to the likes of css models.

2, when the grl was in "bleed out" the women infected was just booting her and stommping on her, does this mean the virus they are infected with makes them want to simply kill other ppl or do they hunger for flesh and try biteing u?

[squerl]

1. That's due to the horrible resolution of the video. The game looks AMAZING when you're actually looking at it instead of a bad video.

2. Not sure. They DO want to kill you though!

[Puscifer]

well a mob of infected running after u growlings good enough reason to shoot anyway, i have another question. Do the infected models bump into each other a lot or kind of go through each other at all? if so what happens if they do bump into each other?

[JohnnyBeverage]

I got the "creeps" from watching the trailer. I am going to be jumping out of my seat alot when I first play this game.

[Reguile]

Everything seems kinda "weightless" in the video, like how the zombies like the fences, or how players move around. It kinda reminds me of quake 3 on how everyone moves around.
To be honest, I wasn't really that impressed, just looks like one of those games where you keep running backwards and shoot the zombies off and an auto weapon.

[ArsenaI]

Think some of that might be the way the vid was edited (the speeding up and slow motion bits). Made movement seem a bit strange imo.

As squerl said above, hard to tell realy how the game looks and feels with a low resolution video.

[Puscifer]

well a mob of infected running after u growlings good enough reason to shoot anyway, i have another question. Do the infected models bump into each other a lot or kind of go through each other at all? if so what happens if they do bump into each other?

[Shroom]

well a mob of infected running after u growlings good enough reason to shoot anyway, i have another question. Do the infected models bump into each other a lot or kind of go through each other at all? if so what happens if they do bump into each other?

good question.

It has been stated if you bash one of the infected into more of them it will knock them back too. So id guess they can bump into each other but the AI will keep them from looking dumb, probably, that or you would have other things to worry about like the horde of infected running at you from all directions! ;)

[agenthenry]

To be honest, I wasn't really that impressed, just looks like one of those games where you keep running backwards and shoot the zombies off and an auto weapon.

squerl said:
As you can see in the movie, the zombies are faster than you. You CAN try to dodge and run back like they did a few times, which is common, but more often than not when you do that, you're going to run straight back into even more zombies! You won't be backtracking like that a lot.

:]

[MuddyWaters]

To be honest, I wasn't really that impressed, just looks like one of those games where you keep running backwards and shoot the zombies off and an auto weapon

Well...running forward, backwards, up-side-down...I don't care...I just want to ran away from the zombies ;-)

But you don't ran backwards all the time, if that whats you mean.

[mailor]

fTo be honest, I wasn't really that impressed, just looks like one of those games where you keep running backwards and shoot the zombies off and an auto weapon.

Exactly what I thought. The backwards running just looks totally awkward (way too fast for my taste). Too bad, I finally had big hopes for a nice zombie-themed computer game. This doesn't seem to be it...

Why do developers always think zombies and realism don't mix ;)

[frogopus]

For those who worry that this is just going to be a run and gun game:

We've said before that accuracy is going to be affected by movement. If you've heard us ramble about this enough go ahead and skip past this part.
1) The strength of the shotgun (both pump and auto) is its ability to be accurate on the move, although clearly it is only accurate at short range in any situation.
2) The uzi is similar to the shotgun, in that a spray is going to be effective due to the sheer mass of bullets released. That being said, one who is crouched and spraying will mow down hordes easier and at longer distances.
3) The M16 is even more effective at long ranges, which encourages standing and crouching, although it can be useful as a spray (as the upgrade to the uzi, it is fair to assume that it does what the uzi can do, but better)
4) The hunting rifle cannot hit a bloody thing when you move. It's a very powerful weapon, that many of you will be using.

In most situations, running backwards is asking to find yourself dragged down by a group from behind. Or you're going to cross into friendly fire and get a demerit. DON"T RUN BACKWARDS! There are few times where this is going to be a useful move, and most of them involve being on your own, when you're pretty screwed as it is.

Watching the TRS guys play as the Survivors was amazing. Actually, Mike was just plain scary. And the one thing that stood out about their play was when the zombies came, they would stop, cover each other, and handle the threat without panic.

The speed of play is largely controllable by the team. We experimented with both run and gun, fast paced play (which only really worked well when playing on easy) and slower pace, trying to walk and sneak around. For the most part, the game is going to force you to decide just when you need to move and when you need to stand, but it's a very interesting balance. This isn't Counter Strike. You're team will need to move together, cohesively. There are other elements that come to play here that will be covered in part 2, so until then, you just have to trust us.

That all being said, if you're looking for a game that fits into the traditional undead or Dungeons and Dragon's style zombie, then go home. These aren't your daddy's zombies :P These zombies are fast, relatively intelligent (although they only have one focus), and everywhere. The pace of the zombies is the real difference, and its a welcome one to me. I've never felt more drained after playing a video game because, quite simply, no game has caused that much tense, adrenaline pounding action before. No, you're not running around, circle strafing, and running backwards constantly, but you can if you'd like. On easy maybe.

[Puscifer]

ffs thats got me even more exited now! i know exactly how its going to work, realising what position u are in in the group (far left, far right, middle left, middle right, etc) l u should know ecactly what part of the horde to attack, for example when a horde come running at u if u crouch or stand knowing ur fellow survivours got the right side coverd with u and the others taking care of different points of the mob, u could all bring them down realy fast, then can all finish of the last few straglers once the bulk are down! yeaaa! what u think?

[frogopus]

For some reason I liked situations when we'd be firing through a tight space, like a doorway, with those in front crouched and those behind firing overhead. Little elements like that just happen constantly without having to think about it. Thing's that you later realize you just don't see in other games.

[Puscifer]

yea that will be cool, the fact you must be aware of the others in the group the whole time will add a lot to the immersion of the game. Going back to what i said earlier is that the case? is it better u all fire at different points of the mobs or at the closest infected in sight?

[frogopus]

Absolutely, if you figure how easy an individual goes down, you don't want to all waste bullets firing into one thing. Other times, you'll want to focus your fire (bosses in particular). Sometimes, especially if you've lost a Survivor or two, you'll want to alternate fire to make sure cover can be provided while someone is reloading. All depends on the situation.

[Hiina]

when coming left4dead out ?

[sir monster]

when coming left4dead out ?
the future.