A Steamed Community Initiates Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott

In wake of recent announcement that Valve would be releasing Left 4 Dead 2 this November, a small part of its community has responded with reception that would otherwise seem warm only to a zombie’s touch. The Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott Steam Community Group is not only upset with the recent announcement of a L4D sequel, but they feel that, no thanks to Valve, they have literally been Left 4 Dead. The group is not only a representation of L4D fans willing to boycott the full-blown sequel come November, but it also serves as a movement to educate the masses and point out repercussions a timely sequel will have on the present day L4D community.

Glancing at their Steam Community page, the group’s leaders have even gone to the trouble of establishing a manifesto outlining major points in their global argument that having a L4D sequel right now is a bad idea. Major points in the manifesto that stick out are that the group are foremost believers in Valve’s dedication to improving its past and current products, that until L4D2 hits shelves judgment can not be made, and that L4D2 will essentially split the community. I’ve copied and pasted the entire manifesto at the tail of this article.

The Left 4 Dead 2 boycott movement is, as of today, 20,000+ and growing strong. They have sent their manifesto to Valve. They have established a moderated public forum from which anyone can voice their opinions (assuming you behave). While this particular editor (and fellow zombie annihilator) will not be joining their ranks, I do find their sincerity and professionalism quite refreshing. They are off to a good start and I wish them luck.

If you are contemplating joining their crusade, there are some things I’d like to point out about their little group that peeve me still:

Thus far, I find the group have failed to recognize that L4D2 actually represents the evolution of DLC originally intended for L4D, that is, if you find Valve’s PR trustworthy. According to Valve, the original L4D DLC project grew into gargantuan proportions, thus forcing the developers to recognize the project as having much more potential.

So, lo and behold, we have Left 4 Dead 2. Whether the timing is bad is a matter of opinion. I do not put much weight into a ‘L4D2 effect’ splitting the community.

Also worth noting is that the price for L4D2 has not yet been established. This could have a large impact on a consumer’s decision to purchase the game come November.

I’m sure Valve are very aware that Left 4 Dead 2 will be heavily criticized based on its content this time around. One of the biggest gripes with L4D was its lack of content for a $50 game. However, L4D still sold like hotcakes – most likely because the game itself was somewhat breakthrough given its production value.

Rest assured, L4D2 will be under a microscope this time around. Unless Valve have miraculously stumbled across some ‘revolutionary’ thing that makes L4D2 just as special as its predecessor, they won’t get to play that ‘trust me, it’s worth fifty dollars’ card again.

The Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott Group Manifesto:

WE RECOGNIZE:

• Valve is a company with financial needs and cannot be expected to survive without the release of new games.
• Judgment cannot be passed on the quality of Left 4 Dead 2 until its release.
• Left 4 Dead was, and is, a quality game which deserves the praise of the entire gaming community.

WE ARE COMMITTED:

• To holding Valve to its promise of free, continual updates to Left 4 Dead in order to build and sustain the community.
• To keeping the Left 4 Dead community together in order to improve the quality of online gaming.
• To supporting the model of continual updates Valve has set forth with its staple products like Team Fortress 2.

WE BELIEVE:

• The release of Left 4 Dead 2 as a stand-alone sequel will split the communities and decrease the quality of multiplayer gaming.
• The announced content of Left 4 Dead 2 does not warrant a stand-alone, full-priced sequel and should instead become updates (free or otherwise) for Left 4 Dead.
• Left 4 Dead has not yet received the support and content which Valve has repeatedly stated will be delivered.
• The release of Left 4 Dead 2 will make Left 4 Dead an obsolete purchase and inferior piece of software after only one year since release.

WE REQUEST:

• That Valve honor its commitment to release ongoing periodic content for Left 4 Dead.
• That Left 4 Dead 2 not be released as a stand-alone, full-priced sequel but as either a free update to Left 4 Dead or an expansion with full compatibility with basic Left 4 Dead owners.
• That Left 4 Dead owners be given discounts for Left 4 Dead 2, should it be released as premium content.