L4D2 Boycott Group Founders Flown to Valve, Enjoyed Left 4 Dead 2

[Shawn Zipay]

The two founding members of the Left 4 Dead 2 Boycott group were flown out to Valve to give the sequel a spin. Does their hate-hate relationship with the game continue on after their visit, or will there be cries of "He likes it! Hey Mikey!" uttered throughout the halls of the boycott group? Let's find out.

"As for L4D2, things seemed balanced and 'tight' and did not feel like a rushed job. While we were visiting their offices we personally witnessed what can only be called a small army of artists, coders, mappers hard at work, which explains the rapid transformations in artwork that we've all seen.

What we can say with confidence is that the quality of gameplay in Left 4 Dead 2 is not in question; and it will only get better (from what we understand, almost daily testing of game builds by most of the staff at Valve)."

Obviously, many in the boycott group are taking this as a sign that the two founders have been "corrupted" by Valve and the visit. Many are even calling for another off-shoot group to form that is a "true" boycott group. Despite these claims, the two founders state that they are "not giving up just yet." They will "both be here up until our individual concerns are addressed and sticking with you folks."

What we can all take from this is the fact that Left 4 Dead 2 does not feel as though it was rushed, and various members of the boycott group are beyond insane.

[snkcube]

Re: L4D2 Boycott Group Founders Flown to Valve, Enjoyed Left 4 Dead 2

People just won't give it up it seems.

[nemes1s3000]

Re: L4D2 Boycott Group Founders Flown to Valve, Enjoyed Left 4 Dead 2

What.. the.. ****..

[SEKCobra]

Re: L4D2 Boycott Group Founders Flown to Valve, Enjoyed Left 4 Dead 2

Invite me too please :V

[kalabalana]

Re: L4D2 Boycott Group Founders Flown to Valve, Enjoyed Left 4 Dead 2

Was it ever an issue of them being insane?
wow.

[Shawn Zipay]

Re: L4D2 Boycott Group Founders Flown to Valve, Enjoyed Left 4 Dead 2

Maybe I'll start boycotting this so as to get flown out to Valve again.

[Unregistered]

he's got a fanny pack!

Maybe a camera case? lol

[K-16]

Re: L4D2 Boycott Group Founders Flown to Valve, Enjoyed Left 4 Dead 2

Maybe I'll start boycotting this so as to get flown out to Valve again.

I wanted to post the exact same thing yesterday (minus the "again"), but I'm assuming the travel expenses are self-paid, and the invite is an E-mail request away, so... I didn't post it. Would love to check out their snack rooms, and Half-Life 2 arcade.

[Shawn Zipay]

Re: L4D2 Boycott Group Founders Flown to Valve, Enjoyed Left 4 Dead 2

I wanted to post the exact same thing yesterday (minus the "again"), but I'm assuming the travel expenses are self-paid, and the invite is an E-mail request away, so... I didn't post it. Would love to check out their snack rooms, and Half-Life 2 arcade.

Valve's pretty good about covering all expenses. Maybe that was just a one time offer to me though, who knows. Also, their HL Arcade unit was unplugged when I was there. I can only assume it's back up and running by now.

[-:Nighthawk:-]

Re: L4D2 Boycott Group Founders Flown to Valve, Enjoyed Left 4 Dead 2

Well, I guess when VALVe offers to fly you out, you're either in for quite a show or they're [link="http://www.businessinsider.com/2008/11/how-to-catch-a-hacker-offer-him-a-job"]trying to lure you in.[/link] I think the "beyond insane" comment really sums it up nicely.

[K-16]

Re: L4D2 Boycott Group Founders Flown to Valve, Enjoyed Left 4 Dead 2

Valve's pretty good about covering all expenses. Maybe that was just a one time offer to me though, who knows. Also, their HL Arcade unit was unplugged when I was there. I can only assume it's back up and running by now.

I imagine it has to do with those who have influence on the community (customers). You provide us with news, and the boycott leaders (if we can even consider them to be boycotting whatsoever) provide the community with uh... A different influence. I imagine they don't really fly members of the press from major companies, namely due to the LACK of influence it has on the gaming community (I meant CNN, not IGN/GameSpot as I assume they were already flown-in for free). I just can't picture VALVe continuing to spend money on all-expenses paid trips without um... Firing staff in the process.

Aw, it's too bad you didn't get to try out the arcade machine. I suspect a staff member broke it (I recall somebody complaining the controls were hard to use) out of frustration due to losing to their own game. Sort of makes sense that the game is annoyingly difficult as it's meant to eat coins.