A post on the Left 4 Dead blog has detailed information on the next L4D update. This one will focus on the modders and the third party campaigns created for the game.
The update will also make it easier to find other players playing the same third party campaign.
Matchmaking
Because Left 4 Dead is all about sharing, we've re-tooled Left 4 Dead's matchmaking system to provide extensive support for custom add-on campaigns. When creating or searching for a lobby, a new option named "Add-on campaign" will let you select from among the add-on campaigns that you have installed. You can then find games or lobbies as well as create a lobby for that campaign. You can invite your friends, too. If they do not have the campaign installed, they will automatically be offered and an option to download it.
You can read the full blog entry over on the Left 4 Dead blog.
We've long believed that Left 4 Dead should fully support community content, and we've been hard at work enhancing the UI and matchmaking systems to provide full support for your creations. The latest update, which will be available via Steam next week, is focused on custom campaigns. It introduces several key features:
Add-Ons
Third party campaigns are designed to be installed using a new Add-On framework. Content authors will be able to package up their new maps, along with new posters, models, and textures, into a single .VPK file. To install and activate this content in-game, players need simply download the .VPK and double click on it. Alternatively, they will be able to drop it into a new "addons" folder. The list of installed add-ons will be viewable from a new item on the 'Extras' main menu flyout.
<a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/addonsflyout.1245575631.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_addonsflyout.1245575631.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
Add-Ons
Third party campaigns are designed to be installed using a new Add-On framework. Content authors will be able to package up their new maps, along with new posters, models, and textures, into a single .VPK file. To install and activate this content in-game, players need simply download the .VPK and double click on it. Alternatively, they will be able to drop it into a new "addons" folder. The list of installed add-ons will be viewable from a new item on the 'Extras' main menu flyout.
The update will also make it easier to find other players playing the same third party campaign.
<a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/addonsselect.1245575631.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_addonsselect.1245575631.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
Matchmaking
Because Left 4 Dead is all about sharing, we've re-tooled Left 4 Dead's matchmaking system to provide extensive support for custom add-on campaigns. When creating or searching for a lobby, a new option named "Add-on campaign" will let you select from among the add-on campaigns that you have installed. You can then find games or lobbies as well as create a lobby for that campaign. You can invite your friends, too. If they do not have the campaign installed, they will automatically be offered and an option to download it.
You can read the full blog entry over on the Left 4 Dead blog.
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