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View Full Version : Left 4 Dead - 10 Million Dollar Ad Campaign

aVaKus
10-10-2008, 08:36 AM
Looks like VALVe has a little bit of extra cash sitting around. (http://left4dead411.com/news/2008/10/l4d-ad-campaign/)

"People had really strong reactions to Left 4 Dead when we started showing it," said Valve managing director Gabe Newell in an interview. "Our pre-orders are running 60 percent ahead of Orange Box. This in combination with the fact that it is a new IP made us think that an extensive marketing program made a lot of sense."

About half of the campaign's dollars will go towards television advertising. Valve has secured 30-second "high impact, premium placement" spots during USC, Notre Dame, Monday Night and Thanksgiving football broadcasts.

A Valve presentation said the commercials will mix humor and horror and will air November 9 through 28 on ABC, ESPN, Fox, MTV, Comedy Central, USA, Spike TV and other networks.

Found this through Left4Dead411.com (http://left4dead411.com). If you have any questions about the game, you'll probably find an answer there.

Edit: I must have this (http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t280/left4dead411/l4d-nomercy-movie-poster.jpg) on my wall!
Jackel
10-10-2008, 11:13 AM
If they are anywhere near as funny as the TF2 shorts, they will be a huge success.
Dukefrukem
10-10-2008, 11:16 AM
The best part about this game is the system requirements. <3 Valve.
Karmakin
10-10-2008, 11:20 AM
I'm not sure if I've ever seen a TV ad for a Valve game.
KingGorilla
10-10-2008, 11:24 AM
Read: We will fucking take Gears of War head on.
Jackel
10-10-2008, 12:23 PM
I'm not sure if I've ever seen a TV ad for a Valve game.

I saw Orange Box ads all the time the few weeks before it was released.
Morangie
10-10-2008, 12:32 PM
Read: We will fucking take Gears of War head on.
And they'll lose but at least they'll have spent $10 million trying.

Wait...
Mortis
10-10-2008, 12:35 PM
The pre-orders were probably helped by the fact that ebstop offered $5 off the game and free overnight shipping for a while, which I got in on. Now you can still get $5 off but no free overnight/next day.
VerseD
10-10-2008, 01:31 PM
"The zombie apocalypse you can play with your friends."

I love that.
BrassGecko
10-10-2008, 05:59 PM
I hereby name the man second from the left "Captain Nemo."
KingGorilla
10-10-2008, 07:32 PM
And they'll lose but at least they'll have spent $10 million trying.

Wait...

Accross PC and 360, I think L4D has a good shot.

I have a feeling that this will be more PC focussed to get Steam into the hands of more people.
rinichanraar
10-11-2008, 04:00 PM
Read: We will fucking take Gears of War head on.
And they'll lose but at least they'll have spent $10 million trying.

Wait...
Accross PC and 360, I think L4D has a good shot.

I have a feeling that this will be more PC focussed to get Steam into the hands of more people.

I can see why it would have a good chance, but I just don't think it's going to happen. Gears just has such a huge fanbase already. (But then again, so does Valve.) I think it's constantly going to be trying to catch up to Gears' numbers... if it does, I think it won't be for kind a little while. But that's just my own guess.

Actually, I think it's my crush on Cliffy talking. Don't listen to me. :p
King3567
10-13-2008, 07:18 PM
Read: We will fucking take Gears of War head on.

No. Gears will rape this in terms of sales. Sorry, I had to say it.
KingGorilla
10-13-2008, 07:25 PM
It is a purly masturbatory exercise. Valve never releases sales numbers, so all anyone will know is what number Microsoft trumpets at their annual report. I think that both companies will be very happy with how their 08 marquee games sell.

No. Gears will rape this in terms of sales. Sorry, I had to say it.

Also, could someone explain to me how we went from the little kiddies spouting "gay" to "rape?" It is probably the most horrible thing that can happen to a person. To make it a joke?
johnperkins21
10-14-2008, 12:15 AM
I can see why it would have a good chance, but I just don't think it's going to happen. Gears just has such a huge fanbase already. (But then again, so does Valve.) I think it's constantly going to be trying to catch up to Gears' numbers... if it does, I think it won't be for kind a little while. But that's just my own guess.

Actually, I think it's my crush on Cliffy talking. Don't listen to me. :p

Also, I don't really see a single player game in L4D. Not everyone wants to play online, or co-op. I enjoyed the first Gears and never took it online for co-op or multiplayer. L4D doesn't interest me in the least right now, and I'm certain that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Gears 2 has an interesting solo campaign, and that will be a huge reason why it sells twice as many units as L4D.
pomeroy
10-14-2008, 12:22 AM
Also, I don't really see a single player game in L4D. Not everyone wants to play online, or co-op. I enjoyed the first Gears and never took it online for co-op or multiplayer. L4D doesn't interest me in the least right now, and I'm certain that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Gears 2 has an interesting solo campaign, and that will be a huge reason why it sells twice as many units as L4D.

Really? You think it's solo campaign is what is going to sell Gears 2? I'd say name recognition and multiplayer.
johnperkins21
10-14-2008, 12:42 AM
Really? You think it's solo campaign is what is going to sell Gears 2? I'd say name recognition and multiplayer.

I'd say both of those as well, but I think the single player campaign will be what sets it apart from Left 4 Dead. Multiplayer is big, but I sincerely doubt even half of the people who played Gears 1 took it online more than twice.
rinichanraar
10-14-2008, 03:13 AM
Really? You think it's solo campaign is what is going to sell Gears 2? I'd say name recognition and multiplayer.
I'd say both of those as well, but I think the single player campaign will be what sets it apart from Left 4 Dead. Multiplayer is big, but I sincerely doubt even half of the people who played Gears 1 took it online more than twice.

I think the main point is that Gears 2 will be more accessible to people who don't plan on playing with their friends (as well as to people who do). Left 4 Dead is very focused on having a great co-op experience, and I think that's the selling point. A lot of people want to play with their friends. Gears 2 is a bit more well-rounded and has more to offer to people looking for different types of gaming experiences.

I'm not saying one is better than the other. I'm just pointing out why I think Gears 2 will sell more.
iHap
10-14-2008, 03:22 AM
I think L4D will be more successful than Gears.
Jeffool
10-14-2008, 03:24 AM
I think L4D will be more successful than Gears.I wholeheartedly agree. I think people mistake their own fondness of zombies for geekery, when in reality the constant, if slow, zombie campaign of bloody horror has completely penetrated the cultural zeitgeist. And infected it.It is a purly masturbatory exercise. Valve never releases sales numbers, so all anyone will know is what number Microsoft trumpets at their annual report.Of course, that's true too.
President Fred
10-14-2008, 03:26 AM
But we will never know the total sales of L4D, probably. Plus as it's on steam people will probably still be playing two years down the line, so it should keep selling steadily for a while.
rinichanraar
10-14-2008, 03:33 AM
I almost wish we could have a poll about this, but at the same time, it'd be kind of pointless since we'll never really definitely know which side will win. I still think it'll be Gears 2, but it seems like everyone else thinks it'll be L4D. :p
iHap
10-14-2008, 03:39 AM
I installed Gears on my computer twice, when it first came out for PC, and just this last week. And honestly I couldn't get into it. I never did get to one of the "bosses" but I the sudo-marine didn't interest me at all.
Telefrog
10-14-2008, 10:05 AM
I installed Gears on my computer twice, when it first came out for PC, and just this last week. And honestly I couldn't get into it. I never did get to one of the "bosses" but I the sudo-marine didn't interest me at all.

Gears on PC? OK. Halo on PC? OK.

Gears on console? Great! Halo on console? Great!

Some people will say it's because of the different control schemes, some will say it's because of the "experience" (on the couch versus at the desk), finally some will say it's because console gamers are just now getting great shooters, while we've had them forever on the PC.
iHap
10-14-2008, 02:49 PM
Gears on PC? OK. Halo on PC? OK.

Gears on console? Great! Halo on console? Great!

Some people will say it's because of the different control schemes, some will say it's because of the "experience" (on the couch versus at the desk), finally some will say it's because console gamers are just now getting great shooters, while we've had them forever on the PC.

I don't think any game is any better on a PC or console, a game is a game.
Disgustipated
10-14-2008, 02:53 PM
I'll be getting both Gears 2 and L4D, and I'll be happy with both.
Telefrog
10-14-2008, 03:17 PM
I don't think any game is any better on a PC or console, a game is a game.

RTS games?
iHap
10-14-2008, 04:52 PM
RTS games?
Ahh...you got me there. RTS games seem to work better on a kb/m.