Left 4 Dead 2 TV Spot #2

Nice. 10 million zombies, huh? Given the pace of the recently released demo, it sure feels like it! November 17 is zooming up faster than you think...

Games On TV: Left 4 Dead 2 Gamestop Baseball Bat Premium TV Ad

Hilarious L4D2 promo spot featuring the American Baseball Bat GS promo - check it out:

Valve News: L4D2 Pre-Orders Pre-Loaded, Aussie Version Neutered

In Valve news, good and not so good:

LEFT 4 DEAD 2 DEMO PRE-LOADING NOW

Those who have pre-purchased Left 4 Dead 2 via Steam may now pre-load the game demo, which is due to launch for early access on Tuesday, October 27. Early access to the L4D2 demo is available for both retail (360, PC) and Steam (PC) customers. Those who pre-ordered via participating retailers should be able to pick up their early access codes this weekend and be ready to play on Tuesday when the demo launches.

As for the ratings deal Down Under... well, it looks as if Australian gamers wanting their zombie killing unaltered will be out of luck as:

“In the review board’s opinion, Left 4 Dead 2 could not be accommodated within the MA 15+ classification,” it said. “The computer game contains a level of violence which is high in impact, prolonged, repeated frequently and realistic within the context of the game.”

Well, duh... But I guess the board has to protect the folks over 18 who want to buy the game from themselves and any potential bad behavior seeing exploding zombie heads will cause. Ah well... EA and Valve appealed the rating after presenting a 'sanitized' version of the game to the review board, but the board stood fast. Soooo, Down Under gets the game... but it's going to be a lot less gory than what's hitting here.

I'm guessing the US PC version may be the way to go for you guys, unless it's been banned from import into the country...

L4D2 Scavenge Mode Revealed, Plus a Slight Aussie Update!

New details have emerged on Left 4 Dead 2's Scavenge Mode, one of the new features the zombie killing (and soon to be multimillion selling, soon to be masterpiece) PS and Xbox 360 exclusive packs in right out of the box. Check out the bit of press release and two screen grabs below. I'm going back to practicing my rolling off and under the couch move while I'm waiting for the game to ship...

VALVE ANNOUNCES L4D2 SCAVENGE MODE

Left 4 Dead 2's Fourth Game Mode Revealed

Oct 8, 2009 - Valve, creator of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced Scavenge, the fourth game mode to be included in its upcoming zombie thriller, Left 4 Dead 2.

Scavenge mode challenges players to compete in round-based games of up to 8 players (Survivors vs. Infected). The Survivors must battle both the Infected and the clock as they collect gas cans to refuel a generator located in each map. Every can the Survivors pour into the generator scores their team a point and adds time to the clock.

On defense, the Infected team plays as the boss Infected (including the new Spitter, Jockey, and Charger). They must keep the Survivors from fueling the generator by attacking them, destroying the gas cans, or running out the clock. During a round, each team gets an opportunity to play both sides, with the round going to whichever team successfully delivers the most cans.

Just like a Charger waiting to pounce, November 17th, 2009 is just around the corner... are you ready... or not?

P.S. Aussie L4D2 fans... I saw some innnnnteresting news about the game for you folks on another site, but just to be 100% sure I'll post more after Valve makes an official announcement... stay tuned!

Left 4 Dead 2 Gets $25M Ad Campaign

Well, I guess it's much, much cheaper (and much, much safer) than Valve infecting a bunch of random strangers with a pesky zombie virus and sending out wearing sandwich boards to go door to door and do promotion, huh?

Well, those L4D billboards were definitely pretty darn cool to see all over the NYC area, so it'll be interesting to see L4D2 pop up in even more places, that's for sure. Anyway, go pre-order the game before someone at Valve reads this and decides to use that sandwich board idea of mine...

VALVE ANNOUNCES $25 MIL LEFT 4 DEAD 2 AD CAMPAIGN
Zombie Blockbuster On Track To Top Valve's All Time Sales

Oct 5, 2009 - Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced a $25 Mil consumer advertising plan for its upcoming action thriller, Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2).
"Based on the strength of pre-orders, Left 4 Dead 2 will be the fastest-selling product in Valve's history," said Gabe Newell, president of Valve. "Left 4 Dead 2 has consistently run at 300% of Left 4 Dead's numbers."

Last year, Left 4 Dead was the top selling new property for both the Xbox 360 and PC. Sales were driven by strong word of mouth, top reviews, and a $10 million advertising campaign.

"We'll be supporting Left 4 Dead 2's launch with a $25 million campaign," said Doug Lombardi, Valve's vice-president of Marketing. "Left 4 Dead 2 has already set the record for greatest number of pre-orders in our company's history, and we're still over a month out from shipping."

In the USA, the campaign will include Monday Night Football and UFC television broadcasts, roadside billboards, and popular lifestyle and gaming sites.

This year's European plan is also more aggressive than last year's, with television advertising in all the major markets appearing during sports and lifestyle programming, plus strong outdoor investments in more cities, as well as online and print advertising.

"Left 4 Dead 2 is expected to once again exceed everyone's expectations and be an industry best title on PC and Xbox 360 for the year," said David DeMartini, General Manager of EA Partners. "With Left 4 Dead and now Left 4 Dead 2, Valve has created one of today's most compelling video game experiences and leading entertainment franchises."

Remember, folks... November 17, 2009. Feel free to call in sick (or perhaps even dead, if you feel a really bad case of the zombie flu coming on...)

Valve's Game Newell Gets Free Trip Down Under From Modder

No, Valve didn't kick Gabe to the curb, kids - Next week, he's off to see a Wizard of Oz named "Joe W-A" who actually raised 3 grand to fly Newell all the way Down Under, which is really cool. Hell, maybe I should start boycotting stuff and see what happens. Knowing me, not much will transpire other than I'd go without a LOT of games and other important stuff...

Ah well - press release, ahoy!

GABE NEWELL DOWN UNDER

Software Studio President Flown to Australia By Gaming Community

October 1, 2009 - Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced its studio co-founder and president, Gabe Newell, will be visiting Australia next week to meet local game designer Joe W-A, who raised over $3000 for Newell's visit through the gaming community.

The fundraising began after Joe heard that Newell had recently flown the leaders of a gaming community group boycotting Valve's upcoming Left 4 Dead 2 to Valve's Seattle, WA headquarters. Joe emailed to ask if Newell would fly him to Seattle so Joe could show him his "mod" (a PC gaming term for modifying an existing game into something new).

Newell playfully replied that he wouldn't fly Joe to Seattle because he was "boycotting" Joe's mod. The Australian-based game designer appealed to the game community for $3,000-the funds necessary to fly Newell halfway around the world-and raised the money in less than 48 hours.

"The power of the gaming community and their ability to rally around a cause - be it serious or fun in nature - is amazing," said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "In 2003, the community helped the FBI and European law enforcement officials find the people who stole the Half-Life 2 source code. This year, the community is putting me on a plane to the other side of the world to meet Joe W-A and see his MOD. It's going to be a fun trip."

Newell and Joe will meet in Australia next week. Reports of the trip will be posted on L4D.com's blog section by Valve employee Erik Johnson, who will be traveling with Newell down under.

Left 4 Dead 2 Ratings Update (UK, Australian and NZ Versions)

G'day to all my UK, Aussie and NZ readers! In case you're wondering about the status of Left 4 Dead 2's ratings, here you go - news directly from Valve. Let's all hope cooler heads prevail thanks to a dose of simple common sense. Note to ratings boards around the world: It's a GAME, folks - there are no real-life zombies and this isn't going to inspire someone to run around looking for them with a squirrel gun.

Of course, if there's someone out there that's THAT far off the rails, well... there's a pill for that, I hear. Or therapy... Anyway, off the soapbox and on with the news:

LEFT 4 DEAD 2 RATINGS UPDATE

Valve today announced an update on the ratings status of Left 4 Dead 2. The title, targeted for release exclusively on Xbox 360 and PC November 17, has been rated in the majority of the world and awaiting final ratings in the UK and New Zealand, where final ratings are expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, the ruling in Australia from the OFLC has been appealed by Valve.

Here is a look at the status of L4D2 ratings are of this moment far:
COMPLETED RATINGS
PEGI (continental Europe) - 18+
ESRB (North America) - M
CERO (Japan) -Z (corresponds to Mature in US)
IFCO (Ireland) - Approved the title for classification.
USK (Germany) - 18+
Singapore - Mature 18
FPB (South Africa) - 18+
KGRB (Korea) -18+

PENDING RATINGS
OLFC New Zealand - In progress.
BBFC (UK) - In progress.
OFLC Australia - Refused to rate on September 17. Appealed September 23.

Keep those fingers crossed, folks! Update to come as the final ratings boards make up their minds...