crash-course posts

It's the eve of the second entry into the Left 4 Dead franchise, and as a bonus (or perhaps consolation prize) to owners of the original, the campaign Crash Course was released on September 29th. While it is, overall, shorter than your average campaign, it's also tougher and is only comprised of two missions, both of which are extra long. If you don't know how to handle yourself, you can die extremely easily, and then you'll have to restart the level all the way back at the beginning. In case you are struggling, here's a handy-dandy guide to splattering those zombie brains and guts all over the alleyway walls.

It's really hard to complain about getting some new content for free for one of the best PC games released in the last few years. So we won't be doing that here. The just released new mini-campaign Crash Course represents the first major content update for Valve's zombie co-op shooter Left 4 Dead since last April's Survival Pack (which added the Survival Mode and one all new map). For Crash Course, Valve made an all new two level campaign for single and co-op play and those maps can also be used in Survival and Versus mode. It's the first time Valve has released a new official campaign since the title shipped to stores back in 2008.

Check out the jump for our impressions:

As promised, Valve has released their new (and free for PC owners) campaign for their hit zombie co-op shooter Left 4 Dead. The campaign, Crash Course, contains new campaign maps along with new Versus and Survival maps. 10 new Valve achievements have been added along with some matchmaking improvements. Valve has also decided to put the game on sale for 50 percent off its normal price for the next three days. That means you can buy the full version for a mere $14.99.

Valve has decided not to release any media from Crash Course before today so it should be interesting to see what the reaction is from players now that it is released. Valve has pledged to continue to support the game with new downloadable content even as it prepares to release its sequel, Left 4 Dead 2, in mid-November.

Update: Valve has also lowered the price of the Left 4 Dead Four Pack. You can now get four copies of the game (one for you and three for your buddles) for just $44.99 for the next three days.

After a very busy past few weeks for new PC game releases, things calm down a bit this week with just one major retail game, a downloadable title and a free major update to a popular shooter:

Risen: Developer Piranha Bytes, best known as the creators and developers of the first three games in the Gothic series, launch a new fantasy RPG franchise with this new title from developer Deep Silver. The game takes place on an volcanic island teaming with creatures in an open world environment. Risen has the dubious distinction of being part of a select group of games this year to be banned for sale in Australia.

While we wait for the demo and full Left 4 Dead 2 game to be released, Valve's next major content update for their original Left 4 Dead title has now been revealed as coming out for the PC for free on Tuesday, September 29. The "Crash Course" campaign will also appear on the Xbox 360 but folks with that console will have to pony up 560 Microsoft points (about $7) to download Crash Course.

In addition to maps for the new campaign, there will be new Versus and Survival maps added to the Crash Course add-on. It's set sometime in between the end of Left 4 Dead's No Mercy campaign and the beginning of the Death Toll campaign. So far Valve has not released any media of what the Crash Course add-on will look like.

We've already reported on the Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott organizers' trip to Valve to take a look at the game they don't really want to pay for (they have been taking some heat from other players for accepting Valve's invite, by the way). Now the organizers are apparently revealing that Valve still has downloadable content plans for the original version of their zombie co-op shooter.

Of course we already know about the new (and free for PC owners) campaign for Left 4 Dead, Crash Course, that's due out later this month. However, the L4D 2 boycotters have revealed that's not all Valve has in store for the game in the future. They state that Valve has plans for even more DLC, saying, " . . . it'll either be a new Special Infected, a new Campaign or new Weapon(s). It's definitely one of the three, perhaps more." Since this hasn't been confirmed by Valve we are putting this straight in our "rumor" box for now.

[Via Shacknews]

Remember all those folks complaining about Valve announcing Left 4 Dead 2 at E3 blasting Valve for not releasing more free DLC for the original game in the zombie co-op shooter series? Well it looks like they can open their mouth and insert their boot. Valve has just announced their plans for Crash Course, a new and free downloadable expansion for Left 4 Dead 1 that will be released sometime in September via Steam.

Crash Course is set sometime in between the end of Left 4 Dead's No Mercy campaign and the beginning of the Death Toll campaign. It will support both regular co-op and Survival modes but it's being made specifically so players can have "a complete Versus mode experience in just 30 minutes". In addition Crash Course will have "a recharge timer for infected teammates" along with changes to item spawns " for more balanced gameplay."