Despite the boycotts, despite the un-Valve-like speedy turn around time, despite complaints that Left 4 Dead 2's cast of Survivors can't possibly live up to the first, pre-orders are four times that of the original, says Valve.

The developer tells CVG that perception about the sequel seems to have changed since the original E3 2009 announcement. "I think people are just excited now," Valve's Chet Faliszek says, citing response to the recently released demo and pre-order numbers.

Oh, indeed, Chet. I may not have coughed up the necessary bills to secure an exclusive American baseball bat or Bill's interdimensional hat, but I'm excited. Where is that UPS man, anyway?

Of course, Left 4 Dead 2 has the benefit of being a known entity, instead of a newly launched intellectual property like the first. We do love our sequels, Valve.

Left 4 Dead 2 pre-orders "four times" that of the original [CVG]

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