L4D Chat Over, Gabe Newell Article - 11/21/08

The Eurogamer live chat with Chet is now over, click here to read the transcript. We were expecting more meaty and game-focused questions, but were a little disappointed. We have the most useful questions/answers below:

wilsonwiz asks: Have you any idea when the Source Development Kit will be released?

Chet Faliszek: Shortly. I know we are working on it and want it out as soon as possible. I really think this is a game that brings back that urge to make maps like Doom did back in its day. You want to make your place of work and unleash the zombie apocalypse on it. When we release the SDK we will also be releasing tutorials for level makers, from newbies who have never used hammer to experienced mappers.

phoopipe asks: Will the 360 version be as supported as the PC version with regards to DLC/map packs? As that was not the case with TF2.

Chet Faliszek: We understand that concern and want to make sure we address it with the 360. So we will be looking at trying to coordinate major updates across the two platforms.

Gamma asks: I'm sure a lot of people have been wondering this, but why can only No Mercy and Blood Harvest be played in Versus?

Chet Faliszek: Versus maps, while appearing near the same, are actually different versions of the maps. So for L4D we shipped with a total of 30 maps. The versus maps have to be split off so we can playtest and adjust them specifically.

In co-op, a section that is hard for Infected is easy for the survivors, it isn't unfair, it's just how that map plays. In versus, though, it becomes unfair, or just isn't fun for the Infected.

At least they didn't pick any "EP3 INFO PLZ!!1" questions.

Gabe Newell posted at Edge Magazine on procedural narrative, issues in developing Left 4 Dead, and a few lessons they learned. Apparently, Valve wants to hook you up to a machine:

We want to take that even further in the future. One of the areas that we're really interested in is testing biometrics on player state.

Right now we have to filter our observations of players by simply by watching them and then we have to guess as to how certain things are affecting the player. But there are new technologies where we can wire players up with EEGs and actually have direct exposure to their physical reactions to the games.

We can know for sure of something is actually frightening the player - their heart rate is going up, their respiration stats are peaking, appropriate parts of their brains are being activated. Direct measurement of players' arousal states and responses to the things we're doing is super exciting. It just will allow us to be much more analytical about the decisions that we're making and the roller coaster ride we're trying to create for the player.

Ultimately, statistics are guiding stories and generating narrative, but they are all based on actual, real-world, human experiences of playing the game.

Finally, Shacknews has posted that retailer Target will be giving away a $5 gift card with the purchase of Left 4 Dead Xbox 360 this Sunday, November 23.