I pre-ordered this game 2 weeks ago, downloaded it on Monday night, and haven't played it yet cause the game keeps crashing everytime I try to connect to a server.
@twiner: I've verified, defraged, and reinstalled the game and Steam at least a dozen times this week, and still am waiting for steam support response :(
@omgwtflolbbqbye: The game would crash to the desktop for me as well. Last night when I tried to play it again it didn't happen, so I assume this patch addresses that problem. Now if they could release a patch to address the uneven framerate of the game that would be great.
@omgwtflolbbqbye:
You might want to try going into the advanced video settings and disabling the 'multicore rendering' setting as it can be a bit unstable sometimes.
I had a similar problem untill i turned it off.
(strangely any other multithreaded apps/games work fine, it's just L4D 1+2 with the problem)
@koichan: @jmonthedude: The crashing is less of a graphics problem but seems to be more of a directory problem.
The crash occurs at two potential spots when I start the game up, eithere right after the intro movie or when it's loading a map.
I just get dumped with a note saying "could not load Library Client" or "can't crc client side dll" (or something like that).
And sadly, no matter how many times I reload and verify the game I get struck with 1 or more missing or corrupted files which Steam never redonwloads even after it sees that.
The patch hasn't fixed this issue at all. Looking at the 50+ page and counting "LFD2 Bugs and other Glitches" thread on the Valve/Steam form, the game still has a lot of these sort of bugs out there that make the game literally unplayable.
@GunFlame: Because I'm one of the many insecure gamers that really care if my stats vanish.
I don't get achievement points or anything for the PC version, so if something disappears I just go and get it again.
@GunFlame: I don't think you realize how hard it is release a bug free game. Some bugs are obviously easier to discover when you have thousands of players rather than a handful of testers (Valve is a small company). I don't see how you can assume that a bug must be important to be fixed quickly...
@GunFlame: you have a star and still trot out the old "Games should not be patched should be perfect on release" motto? Still hate the new comment system.
@MrMuffinMan: I know exactly what it takes to make a game. I work as a Test Lead for a games company for 5+ years, so if anything, this is even more anoying.
Yes, there will be problems found in retail due to the amount of hours that are accumulated in release play time than in test, but there are still some issues that should have been found.
Valve are a small company, but they are a prestige company. I think if any other company with this kind of reputation released a game on either PC or console that needed a patch so soon after release, people would be up in arms over it.
The fact that its Valve, this doesn't happen. People are grateful for the patch, with anything else, they would be demanding it.
And to be honest, losing my stats in any game would piss me right off.
@GunFlame: I'm confused. You don't want patches on release? But then when do you want them? I'd much rather have a game patched the day it came out rather than a month later.
Patching is inevitable with the complexity of games these days and even more so on PC, I would have thought you'd know that being a Test Lead for the past 5 or so years.
Now, with patching, you're given 2 choices as a developer. You can either wait until you have a lot of problems fixed and package them in one big patch 2 months down the road or you can deal with issues bit by bit on a consistent and regular basis starting from day 1.
Since Steam is such a great system for patching games, Valve and any developer with half a brain is going to choose the second option as it gets fixes out (no matter how small) fast and allows them to deal with any issues that may arise from those fixes just as fast.
The day a modern day major game comes out perfect with no problems is the day I eat my hat.
@-MasterDex-: I'm not expecting games to be perfect when they come out. It just bothers me that no sooner are they released, they need to be fixed.
Also, if the patches are there so soon, then it means that they had the fixes ready for all of the bugs before they released the game. Why didn't they just put the fixes in, check it, and then release it.
It annoys me when I start up a game, and the first thing that I am asked to do is download a patch. Especially if the game has only just been released.
Patches are now an inevitability that even console gamers are starting to get use too. But they are also a reason for rushing releases, or not fixing bugs because they can do it later.
Games have to go gold at some point. Once they do, no changes can be made to the game's code before release date. If errors are found after the game's gone gold, they correct them with a patch.
@GunFlame: I agree that patching allows developers to rush through a release without adequate testing and bugfixing and it's certainly happened with plenty of games.
However, I don't think this is the case for L4D2. You have to keep in mind that L4D2 would have gone gold and been shipped to retailers at least two weeks before the actual release and at that time, the fixes may not have been ready or the bugs had not being discovered, after all, you should know yourself as a Test Lead that releasing to the public will end up turning up issues that the testing team never found.
L4D2 is available to buy for nearly a week and in that time, the development team was likely working on any fixes they didn't have the time to get in before the game went gold and although they could have pushed back the release to allow for the fixes to be added. Between contacting retailers and notifying the public, it's much less hassle for Valve to just use Steam to release the fixes as soon as they're done.
@Mit: Sorry to say that they don't. As it has happened a number of times with no word yet from Valve, I'm going to assume that achievements and stats are pointless until official word that it's been fixed.
@Howl: Luckily enough for me, all my stats are actually still there, granted, I can only see them in-game, and not on my Steam profile page or anywhere else. Still keeping my fingers crossed that they atleast stay like that.
Is it just me, or does Ellis' facebook page only have one status update (his current) and nothing else? Not even wall posts from other friends, nothing?
How about this: Ultimate Left 4 Dead (or some other cheesy name).
-Play any of the 10 (so far released) campaigns
-Play any of the 8 survivors, regardless of campaign
-All Special Infected in all campaigns
-All weapons in all campaigns
-Director causes various things to change in L4D1 campaigns, just like in L4D2 cmapaigns.
Requires to have both games installed and linked to your Steam account, of course. But certainly would be an awesome "reward" to those who own both games.
Only issue would be that new dialogue would need to be recorded for all survivors (so they can speak with any of the survivors, as well as react to the differences in each game's campaigns).
I would gladly take it as a free DLC, if it included the following:
-Play any of the 10 (so far released) campaigns
-Play any of the 8 survivors, regardless of campaign
-All weapons in all campaigns
For me, it would be sufficient.
Should not be hard to realize from a technical standpoint, so not that much work would be required from Valve, therefore justifying it being free DLC for owners of both games (such as me, for example).
The other two points would probably be more difficult to realize, but the short list I've given above should be a matter of two-three weeks worth of programmers work plus additional two-three weeks for QA team - and it would be a great bonus for those that have bought both L4Ds.
I think Valve should make importing the older levels/characters into L4D2 DLC... for people that don't own the original. The rest (most?) of us will get it for free if we have L4D1.
This would be a nice thank you for all the people irritated that the newer game was rolled out so quickly for a typical Valve title.
@dirtybacon: Adding the old levels to L4D2 is one of the promises made. However they were iffy on whether the original characters would be copied over.
@d_r_e: Going back for sources, it looks as if I overstated with the word "promises", rather it was strongly implied. I've pasted the first source I found via Google. I'm sure you can come up with more along the same lines:
Maybe like a cheap (or free) DLC pack for the 360 owners. I'd take advantage. Or how bout just survivor on survivor action to see who is the last man/woman standing? My money is on Bill, that fucker knows how to survive.
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/22/09
Hurrah!
11/22/09
Then close steam, and re-open steam and try playing again.
If that doesn't work, delete your local content, and re-download the game, and try to play again.
If that doesn't work, once again verify your game files, close steam, open steam, start the game, try to play.
If that doesn't work, open a ticket with the steam support team
11/22/09
11/22/09
11/22/09
You COULD check to see if your PC requirements are up to snuff as well.
11/22/09
You might want to try going into the advanced video settings and disabling the 'multicore rendering' setting as it can be a bit unstable sometimes.
I had a similar problem untill i turned it off.
(strangely any other multithreaded apps/games work fine, it's just L4D 1+2 with the problem)
11/22/09
Thx tho.
11/22/09
I wish you luck in your ventures.
#tips
11/22/09
The crash occurs at two potential spots when I start the game up, eithere right after the intro movie or when it's loading a map.
I just get dumped with a note saying "could not load Library Client" or "can't crc client side dll" (or something like that).
And sadly, no matter how many times I reload and verify the game I get struck with 1 or more missing or corrupted files which Steam never redonwloads even after it sees that.
The patch hasn't fixed this issue at all. Looking at the 50+ page and counting "LFD2 Bugs and other Glitches" thread on the Valve/Steam form, the game still has a lot of these sort of bugs out there that make the game literally unplayable.
Le sigh.
Thanks for the help tho!
11/22/09
Even though they can patch it easily, it is still no excuse.
11/22/09
11/22/09
The game was still released broken. Just because they can fix it whilst you own it, doesn't make it good in any way.
How about if you have had a lot of these issues whilst playing? You would be pissed. A released, new game that you have waited for, broken.
Prevention is better than cure.
#speakup
11/22/09
L4D2 has never crashed for me, nor are these gameplay inhibiting issues.
11/22/09
#speakup
11/22/09
You're nitpicking.
11/22/09
A lot of people are playing the game fine, but there are also alot of people that a getting issues.
If you think that losing your stats is fine, then play away.
#speakup
11/22/09
11/22/09
I don't get achievement points or anything for the PC version, so if something disappears I just go and get it again.
Left 4 Dead 2: SERIOUS BIDNESS.
11/22/09
11/22/09
11/22/09
Yes, there will be problems found in retail due to the amount of hours that are accumulated in release play time than in test, but there are still some issues that should have been found.
Valve are a small company, but they are a prestige company. I think if any other company with this kind of reputation released a game on either PC or console that needed a patch so soon after release, people would be up in arms over it.
The fact that its Valve, this doesn't happen. People are grateful for the patch, with anything else, they would be demanding it.
And to be honest, losing my stats in any game would piss me right off.
#speakup
11/22/09
Especially when they are on the engine they use all the time.
I don't like patches. As well as fixing bugs, they can also introduce new ones and balancing issues as well.
#speakup
11/22/09
Patches on release? then yes.
#speakup
11/22/09
#speakup
11/22/09
Patching is inevitable with the complexity of games these days and even more so on PC, I would have thought you'd know that being a Test Lead for the past 5 or so years.
Now, with patching, you're given 2 choices as a developer. You can either wait until you have a lot of problems fixed and package them in one big patch 2 months down the road or you can deal with issues bit by bit on a consistent and regular basis starting from day 1.
Since Steam is such a great system for patching games, Valve and any developer with half a brain is going to choose the second option as it gets fixes out (no matter how small) fast and allows them to deal with any issues that may arise from those fixes just as fast.
The day a modern day major game comes out perfect with no problems is the day I eat my hat.
11/22/09
Also, if the patches are there so soon, then it means that they had the fixes ready for all of the bugs before they released the game. Why didn't they just put the fixes in, check it, and then release it.
It annoys me when I start up a game, and the first thing that I am asked to do is download a patch. Especially if the game has only just been released.
Patches are now an inevitability that even console gamers are starting to get use too. But they are also a reason for rushing releases, or not fixing bugs because they can do it later.
11/22/09
Games have to go gold at some point. Once they do, no changes can be made to the game's code before release date. If errors are found after the game's gone gold, they correct them with a patch.
11/22/09
However, I don't think this is the case for L4D2. You have to keep in mind that L4D2 would have gone gold and been shipped to retailers at least two weeks before the actual release and at that time, the fixes may not have been ready or the bugs had not being discovered, after all, you should know yourself as a Test Lead that releasing to the public will end up turning up issues that the testing team never found.
L4D2 is available to buy for nearly a week and in that time, the development team was likely working on any fixes they didn't have the time to get in before the game went gold and although they could have pushed back the release to allow for the fixes to be added. Between contacting retailers and notifying the public, it's much less hassle for Valve to just use Steam to release the fixes as soon as they're done.
11/22/09
Quit Trolling!
11/21/09
I think mine just disappeared today. Hoping they come back next time I boot the game up.
11/22/09
11/22/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
-Play any of the 10 (so far released) campaigns
-Play any of the 8 survivors, regardless of campaign
-All Special Infected in all campaigns
-All weapons in all campaigns
-Director causes various things to change in L4D1 campaigns, just like in L4D2 cmapaigns.
Requires to have both games installed and linked to your Steam account, of course. But certainly would be an awesome "reward" to those who own both games.
Only issue would be that new dialogue would need to be recorded for all survivors (so they can speak with any of the survivors, as well as react to the differences in each game's campaigns).
C'mon. Do it, Valve.
11/20/09
11/20/09
I was thinking more of it being a patch to each game, that would be "unlocked" if you had both games. :p
11/21/09
I would gladly take it as a free DLC, if it included the following:
-Play any of the 10 (so far released) campaigns
-Play any of the 8 survivors, regardless of campaign
-All weapons in all campaigns
For me, it would be sufficient.
Should not be hard to realize from a technical standpoint, so not that much work would be required from Valve, therefore justifying it being free DLC for owners of both games (such as me, for example).
The other two points would probably be more difficult to realize, but the short list I've given above should be a matter of two-three weeks worth of programmers work plus additional two-three weeks for QA team - and it would be a great bonus for those that have bought both L4Ds.
11/20/09
This would be a nice thank you for all the people irritated that the newer game was rolled out so quickly for a typical Valve title.
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
[gamesblog.ugo.com]
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
New survivors are dumb. (but brave)
11/20/09
AHAHAAHAHA
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
Left 4 Dead bought, first PC game bought since... ye gods, Titan Quest?
See you guys on steam if I can figure out how to make it work.
11/20/09