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We've seen the Left 4 Dead SDK be used to create some truly impressive, zombie-infested levels, but this one might just take the cake. —Griffin McElroy (www.joystiq.com)
Sep19

Imbroglio

Posted by Nicolas in Lamentation, Progress

Hey people, it’s not because we’re not posting any news that we’re not working. I bet a lot of people don’t understand how hard it is to come up with a campaign like this one, when you’re not paid for it nor supposed to work on it everyday for 7+ hours. Let me explain…

One regular single map can take up to one year of work to be fully finished and polished to the max (I even saw more). Imagine the work involved in building five of these at the same time. We may be three, but three is still not a huge team. On the other hand, don’t misunderstand us, we don’t want to be more. The wider the team, the poorer the management.

Also, because there’s already a certain quantity of campaigns released since the launch of Left 4 Dead and its SDK, many believe we’re just lazy. But excuse me, we played these campaigns together, and I’m not going to comment out on their quality. When you’re forced to play in god mode to finish a campaign and it still takes you more than two hours and a half to finish it… I’m not calling it fun.

Anyway, on a more positive note, here’s the progress of the campaign. The first 3 maps are finished… we played them a lot and it seems pretty solid (until the beta tests I guess). The fourth and fifth maps are in progress, approximately at 75% each. We perfectly know that Left 4 Dead 2 is coming, Marc even played it yesterday in Paris. I won’t spoil you by saying he wasn’t really impressed by the game… but let’s give them a little more time to polish it up.

Well… that’s it for the moment. There’s a lot of campaigns still under development. Just be patient, it’s not really a piece of cake to work on something like this. And if Left 4 Dead 2 comes before our campaign and people move on, well… we’ll just move on too.

 

30 Responses to “Imbroglio”

  1. Anonymous says:

    I think i speak for many when i say that i also prefere you to take your time and deliver an outstanding piece of work then to cater to the impatient crowd and release something that is less polished then it could be. Quality takes time, that has always been the case. You have done great things in the past, so i am confident you will do great things this time round.

  2. Zecomm says:

    Take your time guys, Im sure it will be outstanding. I am shaking with anticipation.

  3. Anonymous says:

    While I understand it isn't easy, I do hope that you at least have it out before October 27th. By that time, the Left 4 Dead 2 Demo will be out and people will largely have moved on.

  4. Soviet says:

    Take your time guys. Like people said above me, all we want is a nice finished product.

  5. Nicolas says:

    @Anonymous:
    Then, we'll just move on too.

  6. AK says:

    Thanks for the update.

  7. Anonymous says:

    "We perfectly know that Left 4 Dead 2 is coming, Marc even played it yesterday in Paris. I won't spoil you by saying he wasn't really impressed by the game…"

    Meh, due to all your hard work on IHM (for L4D1), I'm sure you guys are still a little bitter about L4D2's quick turnaround (which you've expressed concern over here before), and thus, your team is pre-disposed to not even WANTING to like it methinks, lol.

    Cuz, guys, it's clearly going to be amazing.

    But I say, embrace it! L4D1 maps/campaigns are still going to work with L4D2. :)

  8. I don't want you to finish this awesome campaing quickly. I posted it in other forums: there are a lot of campaings with huge maps but with bullshit gameplay. I hate mountains is diferent, that's a fact. I know it because of the updates. We can se that you campaing is more than repetitive situations connected by repetitive halls with lots of uneusefull props.

    Buy that doesnt' mean I don't wanna see new updates!

    Cmon you've got a lot to show us, I just wanna see a little more!

    pd: sorry because my bad english

  9. Gamer_Z. says:

    I have never made an L4D campaign, but I do know how long making a good map can take. Please take your time. I would rather wait for an awesome campaign than get a terrible one today.

  10. Jago says:

    After the tone of the last update, I'm glad to hear this is still being worked on! Take your time guys, if this is like Prelude was to Portal then it will be wroth waiting for!

  11. Zac says:

    Don't worry yourselves guys, I know exactly what you are refering to. Maps require a lot of work I will agree with you there, and It takes a long time for the creator to be pleased with the results, especially when ideas and new concepts are being introduced you only want to make it the best you can.

    I'm looking forward to playing the campaign, I have respect that over whatever period of time it takes that I will enjoy it, and if people cant honour that, it doesnt matter. They may run through the map and go "wow" but you can take confidence that other developers and video game organizations will see how well it has been put together, as well as enjoy it.

    Good Luck

  12. jibaycx says:

    Sorry, I speak too badly English.

    Donc, merci pour ces nouvelles, et bonne chance pour finir cette campagne :)
    (et j'ai pas été impressionné non plus par le L4D2, mis à part les uncommons en y jouant vendredi :/).

  13. smokeyoliv says:

    Thanks for the news.
    Like it has been said before, the wait is intense, but just becaude, we're shure you'll deliver a perfect Campaign, so time doesn't matter.
    Thanks for what your doing.

    My French Team is vy your side ;)

  14. JPC says:

    I'm eagerly patient with this mod and the Dead Before Dawn mod, no one's bashing you guys for taking your time. Infact believe it or not, this campaign and the mod Dead Before Dawn, are the only reasons why I'm still considering having L4D installed on my computer.

  15. DEFme says:

    Thanks for the update.
    Forward progress on this campaign seems to be pressing on. Awesome.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Heaven Can Wait, Night Terror, Death Aboard. Nuff said.

  17. DCLXVI says:

    Comme je devine que vous parlez Français, je dirais : Continuez à bien bosser les gars, on préfère attendre et avoir un truc nickel, qu'avoir rapidement un truc mal fini comme c'est le cas de la majorité des maps déjà sorties…

    Keep Up The good work.

  18. doktor10 says:

    Thanks for your effort! Here in l4d.es we've been following your project during long time, take your time to make a good finished product.

  19. Ankhareon says:

    You know L4D2 will be fully back compatible with L4D custom campaigns?

    It's release means you'll be able to have a mod for two games in one, and not to mention the fact L4D2 is banned in Australia – I highly doubt a lack of audience will be a problem.

    That said, keep up the great work!

  20. I'll be playing this campaign regardless of when it is released. Just because L4D2 comes out, I don't plan to abandon L4D.

  21. stocker says:

    You sound very upset. I will not be buying l4d2 so dont think i am moving on. i am not paying 100 dollars for one complete game. I hope that you do realize that i hate mountains is likely the most anticipated custom campaign. Please finish it. The quality looks so amazing that it looks even better than valves own creations.

  22. Anonymous says:

    don't worry about l4d2, there will be still at least 40k people playing l4d ^^
    And i look forward to your campaign, like my whole group.

    I'm not surprized that marc wasn't impressed by l4d2, i saw some video and after some time (video in a small window), i figure out it was cell shading…

  23. Anonymous says:

    ah i forgot,

    yeah most other fanmade campaigns suxxx, already talked about it in another news. DB 7.0 is the law atm. The others are mostly craaaap

  24. Ben says:

    This campaign of course looks quite awesome. It's going to be free and you guys aren't getting paid for it so we can't complain. The other released campaigns available aren't too bad, a little buggy though. I am looking forward to the Cold Case Campaign – these guys have been, and still are, working hard to get it out by Halloween. They have been working on this campaign for a year so its got to be good. Anyways, keep up the good work and don't let this piece of work die before you complete it. Take as much time as it takes to polish it up.

  25. Slade says:

    Il n'y a aucune impatience agressive. Au vu de ce que j'ai joué sur Portal : Prelude, je préfère attendre de voir un bon mod comme celui-ci sortir plutôt qu'un machin bâclé.
    Je vous souhaite un bon courage pour finir et détailler chaque partie de la campagne ! Vous verrez, une fois le produit fini, vous vous ferez encore une fois remarquer :).