L4D Roundup: Contest Results, Great Deals and Early Reviews

November 18, 2008 - L4D Team

Our "Dude, Where's My Thumb?" contest finishes today. We asked hopefuls in the US and UK to submit a picture of themselves in front of a Left 4 Dead billboard for a chance to win prizes. Gabe Newell's looked through all the entries and selected 25 lucky winners, who can watch out for a free copy of Left 4 Dead heading their way. And a big congratulations goes out to our first place winner, Aren Roberson, who's getting a new gaming PC from AMD for his awesome entry (above).

Thanks to the Left 4 Dead Four Pack, you can play L4D the way it was meant to be played—with friends—at a big discount. Buy four copies of L4D for only $149.99. Click the link for more info on this great deal.

As our first day of release comes to a close, early reviews from the gaming press are starting to appear. Click here to read how we did.

Left 4 Dead is live on Steam

November 18, 2008 - L4D Team

As of midnight EST, the PC version of Left 4 Dead, Valve's zombie thriller, is now available via Steam to gamers around the globe. The title will be available for the PC and Xbox 360 at retail stores on Tuesday, November 18 in North America, and worldwide on Friday, November 21. For more information, please visit www.steamgames.com.

Update, 5:24 pm

November 17, 2008 - L4D Team

Good news on the Valve Launch Box test run! There was an electrical fire, and all the bees burned to death. The bad news: several employees also perished in the fire and the game will be delayed.

Just kidding! About the game. There were some burning deaths. But the game's coming out!

We've said too much. Who wants to see our second TV commercial?

The End is Near...

November 17, 2008 - L4D Team

Less than four hours to go until Left 4 Dead goes live at the stroke of midnight (EST) on Steam, and that means the Valve Launch Box will be dragged out of its off-season home in Gabe Newell's tool shed.



What does the Launch Box do? When its keys and levers are turned and pulled in sequence, it emits clouds of dry ice, fires off klaxon noises, and finally, when you press the red button, releases games. And, because it's kept in Gabe Newell's tool shed and nobody ever bothers to check it for bee hives, bees. (If there's one thing that makes those things angrier than klaxon noises, it's dry ice!)

Like the release of the Orange Box this past October, the entire staff will be here tonight to celebrate. Unlike with the Orange Box release, we're hoping, the entire staff will not be attacked by as many bees.

Downloadable L4D Desktop Wallpaper

November 14, 2008 - L4D Team

We were going to title this post "Infect Your Desktop!" until someone remembered what a bad idea it is to put those words together in conjunction with free downloads. Our back-up title, "Put These Pictures on Your Computer," wasn't nearly as clever, so we'll just quit while we're ahead and let you download the wallpaper, available in 1024x768, 1280x960 and 1600x1200.