Valve: Left 4 Dead 2's pre-orders are four times that of original

Posted Nov 6th 2009 12:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: FPS, Multiplayer, Modern Warfare 2

Looks like the so-called "protest" by a group of gamers against the release of Left 4 Dead 2 had just about zero effect on pre-orders for Valve's zombie shooter sequel. According to Computer and Video Games' Valve's Chet Faliszek stated that pre-orders have come in at "four times" the amount of the original game released just a year ago.

And what about those protesters who feel that releasing Left 4 Dead 2 just over a year after the original would split the community and is simply a way for Valve to get more money? Faliszek states that there will always be someone complaining about something and adds, "Honestly I made the joke and it's true: If you put $20 in a box and charge $10 for it someone would complain you didn't put $50 in a box."

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2 Screenshots

Tags: left-4-dead, left-4-dead-2, valve, valve-software

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

OK, I see like many other media outlets you largely miss the point of the people that were upset with how L4D2 was handled.

When L4D shipped, one of the few criticisms with the game was that there really wasn't much to it. In an attempt to overcome this criticism Gabe Newell/Valve told anyone that would listen, that they were going to add a lot more content to the game. Because of Valve's past history of doing the same thing with previous games, many people took them at their word.

The only real question here comes down to, "Did Valve deliver on their promise?' Personally, I feel they haven't. Sure, some extra content has been delivered (no doubt some of which came about because the uproar). And they may indeed delivery more in the future. The problem is that they now have split the market for online play. Many will switch to L4D2 and the L4D community will shrink making games/players harder to come by.

Most people don't have a problem with how Valve is handling L4D2. I don't think that is unreasonable. However, I also don't believe it is unreasonable for a person to believe Valve has not delivered on what they, themselves promised.

After playing the demo, it also reinforces by belief that the game is not even close to being a new game. The new melee weapons add little or nothing to the game play and the other new weapons are rather dull. Regardless of the controversy, this is a $19.95 game/upgrade at best.Posted at 1:20PM on Nov 6th 2009 by kpluck

I would also like to add, the premise that the protest had no effect pre-orders because they are 4 times the original is silly. There is simply no logic to that statement.

Are you really saying Valve couldn't have possibly sold more pre-orders? Maybe if the situation had been handled differently, pre-orders would have been 5 or 6 times that of the original.

I actually don't think that the protesters had much effect on pre-orders, that is not my point. My point is that just because there are a lot of pre-orders doesn't mean there could not have been a lot more. With the information you have provided, there is simply no way to tell.Posted at 1:37PM on Nov 6th 2009 by kpluck