Left 4 Dead Sequel

[Jinx_Dragon]

How do you have a sequel to a game that has no plot?
Wouldn't it just be an add-on or a remake in a new better engine?

Not that your title is bad, I liked it, well done.

Guys there won't be a sequel.

...I don't know what else to say about this, but there won't. Left 4 Dead is just not the sequel kind of game.

Yes, we know, but we are and will continue to deny it.

I'd say that I have two suggestions, but I have 10:

1. Finite numbers of weapons and amounts of ammo in the piles (At least during versus)

2. Stat tracking (so that you know if you're with an inexperienced person before the game)

3. Character Customization (For both survivors and Infected, with perks and custom "classes" [Note: Same types of abilities for survivor/infected type, but bonuses to be added {Boomers: Longer vomit range or greater explosion or longer bile time, Hunters: Greater leaping distance or greater damage or faster running speed, Smokers: More health or longer range or greater damage, Survivor: Greater speed or greater accuracy or greater damage or greater stealth or more carrying slots, ect.}]).

4. "Survival" Mode (Holding out in a house or some other setting for as long as possible with unlimited waves of zombies coming at you [especially good in versus]. Points scored for time survived.)

5. More Levels

6. Custom Levels (FOR THE CONSOLE!!! [Too many games only have construction sets for the PC])

7. Comes with a free microphone (Nothing more annoying than not being able to yell at people [and have them hear] when they screw up)

8. The ability to play as a common infected while waiting to respawn as a zombie (kudos to Yahtzee)

9. "HAL 9000" difficulty setting (The AI starts out on expert level but learns how you play as you move through the level, figuring out how to beat your every move)

10. Ability to play as Infected against only NPC survivors (with easy, medium, hard, expert, and HAL 9000 difficulty settings running them)

Edit: Melee weapons (Baseball bats, pry bars, 2x4's, ect.)

1) Agreed, I still would like more varied weapons but they could be a random and dependent on difficulty. One new weapon in each cache if your on the hardest setting, four if you are on the easiest. Then you can make two caches on every map after the first and it won't be overpowering, unless your on easy but then you just look at them and they die.

2) Indifferent about this but it might be nice to have some 'bad achievements' added as well. Nothing like shaming a person in game if they run away from their team mates and get ate now is there?

3) I will have to argue against this idea UNLESS it is implemented in such a way that it doesn't require achievements to be unlocked, stats to be padded and what not. Normally in these case you find a few people who will go to 'achievement servers' or the likes and get them all out of the way just so they can get their hands on the extra goodies. Then they have even a greater upper hand against new players and tend to grief the newbies a lot. Now if you make it possible to customise from the start and add balance effects, say for example making the boomer recharge timer twice as long as it is now in exchange for twice the range then yeah. Though personally I think that recharge timer is too damn long as it is, better to rush in and blow up cause waiting to re-spawn will take less time.

4) Not to sure, they already have survival areas. It is a good idea in text but can you imagine having to hold out for a whole hour in that farm house? It would get old quite fast... but sure with some good implementation we could see something along these lines. Like for example there is a mythical 'fifth person' who has gone to get a vehicle and you have to hold the house for ten minutes. He returns, you drive off in a cut screen only to have it break down outside a different location and you have to hold that location while the guy gets you yet another ride. Changing scenery somehow might eliminate the 'been here, done that' factor that would end up boring you before the first hour long round is even over.

5) Indeed! I like the idea of random generated levels too but problem is they would have to use buildings as walls in a single levelled plane. The walls are just textured to look like buildings, giving the illusion of greater space: IE, hellgate London. Lego might work though, where buildings are pre-designed around certain foot prints and 'click into place.' Could give a changing sandbox feel but would take a great deal more work then what the source engine can provide.

6) I don't hold enough faith with humanity to like custom made maps but there are talented designers out there and tools to make maps and mods would be a must in any game in this day and age.

7) Just sink some money into a simple set, you cheap bastard. Not that I can speak, right now I'm leaching bandwidth....

8) Agreed.

9) AI is a tricky thing and I doubt we are at the point of a learning interface that is capable of what you want. I wouldn't mind SOME adaptability though, with the AI able to change tactics depending on certain factors like the health of the survivors, who is doing the most damage or what weapons they are carrying. Already as it is the AI out performs many of the human players. I've watched the computer, it seems to use similar tactics humans would use effectively and learned to be more weary of a NPC then a PC.

Unless it is a witch... then it tries to eat me!

10) Would be nice.

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

New Ideas

Immunity: Once immune, always immune. That is what immunity is about. Anything that forces the survivors to 'hurry up' isn't a good thing in my opinion. The special zombies only really have two advantages and forcing the survivors to hurry up from the get go will just eliminate one of them.

"Alpha" Special Infected
Like the alpha, a more 'normal' zombie that still can think enough to interact with human objects. I wouldn't even mind letting them fire a weapon if that is the case, though they should be so inaccurate that they shouldn't bother but it can give them a range attack.

"Stalker" Special infected:
Make them ripple while they move as well, unless it is a NPC special in which case it needs to be made difficult. If it is a PC then making a TF2 like spy will greatly overpower the game in favour of the zombies. A stealthy zombie though isn't a bad idea, just have to make it as weak as the rest of the special by putting more limitations on the powers it has.

"Queen" Special infected:
Some sort of blob? I wouldn't have it a spawn point for special infected, after all they spawn wherever they want anyway. Just making it a healer would be enough. That could be something that can easily give the zombies the upper hand if used right. So many times I we have all been under fire and managed to get to cover without dying only to realise it would of been easier to die, respawn and have full health then try to face them a second time with 1 HP as we are dead anyway. This eliminates that, particularly if the queen heals fast enough.

"Hunt" Mode:
I always liked assassination type game play. If this is the case then you can make it so the queen shortens the respawn timer in half, maybe only in this style of map, and force the special zombies must spawn around her to give away the location. Larger, sandbox style, maps would be needed though so the queen isn't always going to be at the end of the map.

 

[Iron Mal]

Seeing as l4d is a multiplayer game wouldn't they make an expansion pack rather than a sequal? (revise previous stuff rather than try to make a completely new experience).

Some ideas I'd like to see are:

1- the ability to free yourself after you've been pounced/grabbed by a smoker, it seems unreasonable that a fully grown adult would just lie there inert while a decomposing monster rips your kidneys out (you'd try to push them off or at least flail).

2- More weapons, unless I wasn't looking in the right places I couldn't find the collection of ten weapons that the box promised me (and I've done every campaign). Shotguns and assault rifles are nice but what about a flamethrower or a chunky-ass heavy machine gun?

3- either shorter respawn times for the special infected in versus or the ability to play as a normal zombie while you wait, honestly...20 seconds of sweet nothing is boring (it would also be handy if they punished survivors for camping and let you pick which special zombie you play as).

 

[Albelzen]

I dont think a sequel is the BEST thing they could do....
Im praying for DLC to hit the 360 version. I have a few thoughts for either DLC or a sequel:

(Some obvious ones here btw)

1. New levels..... maybe one set in a zoo (zombie elephants, monkeys and lions that u have to kill could be cool etc.) Or how about a level set in a prison? And a really cool, big city level (like a 'I am Legend' sort of thing.)

2. Characters: Either customizable characters, or new ones..... maybe a Morgan Freeman could show up as a nice, like easter egg addition (being Valve an all.)

3. New enemies, like a flying enemy that can swoop in and take u out and that maybe fires some sort of poison at ya, but which leaves it vulnerable to attack (see, thought about this lol.)

I do think additions like this though are more suited for DLC, but I wouldnt mind a sequel, though I still love the original, Im hooked on it atm.

 

[King wiL]

I don't need a sequel, just some dlc with new campaign and weapons will do me fine

 

[Jack K3tch]

I think that there should be another left 4 dead. if valve ever happens to read this forum then i hope they get some ideas. they should still have four ppl but different identities, and a backstory to show how the infected came to be. (a new zombie should be the giggler or something dressed as a clown. almost like "it" the movie but is able to screech at the last possible second and brings on twice the amount of hordes). another game type should be defense or wave fighting or something where you take a bus out to fight off hordes continuously leaving breaching areas in the bus (and ppl should be able to drive the bus grant you) or let the ppl be able to customize their own bases out in the middle of the woods.

campain should definetley have a story to it but should only be experienced during one player. continuously seeing it would bore any1 and become annoying... and did anybody notice the pattern of bombs drawn in safehouses? nukes should be a threat in the game

yea... im lonely( :s) i actually just get bored and think some of this up but left 4 dead shouldnt have a sequel like vavlves famous half life with the same ppl. there should be side stories with different playable characters and should have bigger online rooms (with the more human ppl the more zombies and zombie hordes)

one more suggestion: hunters should be more acrobatic. not inhumanly acrobatic but parkour

 

[Uberjoe19]

The sequel will be called Left 8 Dead!

 

[Beffudled Sheep]

I want more horror and a lot more survival in it. Its just to easy with all the ammo and what not or are my friends and i just to good?

 

[Marv21]

I'd say that I have two suggestions, but I have 10:

1. Finite numbers of weapons and amounts of ammo in the piles (At least during versus)

2. Stat tracking (so that you know if you're with an inexperienced person before the game)

3. Character Customization (For both survivors and Infected, with perks and custom "classes" [Note: Same types of abilities for survivor/infected type, but bonuses to be added {Boomers: Longer vomit range or greater explosion or longer bile time, Hunters: Greater leaping distance or greater damage or faster running speed, Smokers: More health or longer range or greater damage, Survivor: Greater speed or greater accuracy or greater damage or greater stealth or more carrying slots, ect.}]).

4. "Survival" Mode (Holding out in a house or some other setting for as long as possible with unlimited waves of zombies coming at you [especially good in versus]. Points scored for time survived.)

5. More Levels

6. Custom Levels (FOR THE CONSOLE!!! [Too many games only have construction sets for the PC])

7. Comes with a free microphone (Nothing more annoying than not being able to yell at people [and have them hear] when they screw up)

8. The ability to play as a common infected while waiting to respawn as a zombie (kudos to Yahtzee)

9. "HAL 9000" difficulty setting (The AI starts out on expert level but learns how you play as you move through the level, figuring out how to beat your every move)

10. Ability to play as Infected against only NPC survivors (with easy, medium, hard, expert, and HAL 9000 difficulty settings running them)

Edit: Melee weapons (Baseball bats, pry bars, 2x4's, ect.)

Very good idea

 

[Vigormortis]

You people want more weapons? Why? How does it make sense that this random group of four people comes across a slew of exotic weapons like grenade launchers, katanas, and what have you. It's already a stretch to how often they come across those M16s, auto-shotguns, and pipe-bombs. Besides, more guns just makes it less likely you'll ever see the ones you want when the director decides to spawn some weapons for you, not to mention much, much less survival-horror like.

Also, why do you need more boss infected? It's a decent balance as it stands. The boomer creates havoc and serves as a nice road-block. The smoker can separate the group. The hunter can weed out the week and finish off anyone that's incapacitated. The tank, the few times you get to play as him, can just absolutely wreck the survivors if he's controlled correctly. Adding more boss infected would throw things out of balance and make it a test in tedium for the survivors, whom would have to worry about what else might be attacking them. Besides, what other kind of abilities would you give these new boss infected? (abilities that wouldn't be useless or just some rehash of the others abilities)

Then there's the whole, "I want to play as a common infected while I wait to respawn as a boss infected". Seriously, just quit whining. Your respawn timer is 15 to 20 seconds at most. If you're not patient enough to wait THAT long, go play Halo 3. Besides, how would you feel if you were playing as the survivors and you kept getting hit by a boomer every 5 seconds? I'd suspect a ragequit was in your immediate future.

As for custom characters and character "classes". Just shut up. Go play TF2 or COD and leave L4D to those that can appreciate it.

Admittedly, there's not a whole lot of back story, but then there wasn't much in Portal either. However, for those astute enough to pay attention and look around, there was plenty of story to be gleaned from hidden areas, wall paintings, and other such snippets throughout Portal. Left 4 Dead is the same.

I will agree that more campaigns would be a great addition, but I don't think they're desperately needed. Playing on expert provides enough variety in the level structure (even if the maps never change) that each play session still feels fresh to me. Still, new campaigns would be nice. Hell, I'd settle for just versus versions of Dead Air and Death Toll.

 

[Zer_]

You people want more weapons? Why? How does it make sense that this random group of four people comes across a slew of exotic weapons like grenade launchers, katanas, and what have you. It's already a stretch to how often they come across those M16s, auto-shotguns, and pipe-bombs. Besides, more guns just makes it less likely you'll ever see the ones you want when the director decides to spawn some weapons for you, not to mention much, much less survival-horror like.

Also, why do you need more boss infected? It's a decent balance as it stands. The boomer creates havoc and serves as a nice road-block. The smoker can separate the group. The hunter can weed out the week and finish off anyone that's incapacitated. The tank, the few times you get to play as him, can just absolutely wreck the survivors if he's controlled correctly. Adding more boss infected would throw things out of balance and make it a test in tedium for the survivors, whom would have to worry about what else might be attacking them. Besides, what other kind of abilities would you give these new boss infected? (abilities that wouldn't be useless or just some rehash of the others abilities)

Then there's the whole, "I want to play as a common infected while I wait to respawn as a boss infected". Seriously, just quit whining. Your respawn timer is 15 to 20 seconds at most. If you're not patient enough to wait THAT long, go play Halo 3. Besides, how would you feel if you were playing as the survivors and you kept getting hit by a boomer every 5 seconds? I'd suspect a ragequit was in your immediate future.

As for custom characters and character "classes". Just shut up. Go play TF2 or COD and leave L4D to those that can appreciate it.

Admittedly, there's not a whole lot of back story, but then there wasn't much in Portal either. However, for those astute enough to pay attention and look around, there was plenty of story to be gleaned from hidden areas, wall paintings, and other such snippets throughout Portal. Left 4 Dead is the same.

I will agree that more campaigns would be a great addition, but I don't think they're desperately needed. Playing on expert provides enough variety in the level structure (even if the maps never change) that each play session still feels fresh to me. Still, new campaigns would be nice. Hell, I'd settle for just versus versions of Dead Air and Death Toll.

A few new weapons would be neat. Having certain weapons available in certain campaigns is a good idea. They've already talked about adding a knife to the game. We'll see though. I'm happy with L4D as it is and to me more content is just icing on the cake.

 

[Jennacide]

God this thread is full of fail.

 

[Bachanomon92]

um as shitty as it would be i think a nice touch would be an exhaustion factor.

like after 15 minutes of nonstop action your character needs to stop for a breather or eat an energy bar or something to keep them going. it would no doubt be annoying but it would add another sense of realism to an otherwise fantasy game.

um other than that, more guns obviously, more types of zombies,

and i also think a "Dead Rising" sort of game element would be kinda cool. like you and your chums could move refrigerators in front of doors to make a temporary blockade, or you could pick up and briefly use random items like knives, baseball bats, shovels, floor lamps, etc.


(i'm trying to think of things in the Zombie Survival Handbook that could be used, but there isn't much that L4D hasn't already touched on)

I think one of the most recommended meele weapons from the handbook was the Shaolin Spade, that and the trench spike

 

[MercurySteam]

We don't need a new game. Its just not worth it. An expansion to give more levels on the other hand.............

 

[JohnSmith]

-Some kind of stronghold/protect the safe house mode
-Zombie Vs NPC survivors, because the zombies are much harder to use.
-Barricades, Since the source engine is most definitely capable. I'm thinking adding some item like a hammer and nails to inventory and coding like the nailing option in gary's mod but with animation.
-As Yahtzee suggested respawn as random normal zombie between special zombie spawn times.

But all of this could be added as downloadable content rather than a sequel.

 

[Vigormortis]

A few new weapons would be neat. Having certain weapons available in certain campaigns is a good idea. They've already talked about adding a knife to the game. We'll see though. I'm happy with L4D as it is and to me more content is just icing on the cake.

I see what you're saying. One or two weapons wouldn't be that bad of an addition (if unnecessary), but finding ones that are varied enough to add would be difficult, not too mention balancing them against the others. However, I do like the idea of campaign specific weapons. Technically this can already be done, (instructing the director to spawn or not spawn certain weapons), but beyond trying to make the play session harder or easier for the survivors, I don't see a purpose to limiting weapon availability beyond pure aesthetics.