So I've been playing a lot of Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 lately, and after the standard campaigns that come with the game, things can get a bit boring. It's based around the Source engine, which is known for being amazingly customizable and otherwise totally awesome (just watch this for examples of just SOME of the silliness that can come from it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHxyZaZlaOs). There's even a site dedicated to archiving homebrew maps and campaigns for the games (http://www.l4dmaps.com/). It reminds me of the old Marathon modding community, only perhaps bigger and more ambitious at times.
In any case, the currently available mods are fun and all, but considering the games are supposed to have a "zombie-film" feel to them, I'd love to see some of the classics done up in true Left 4 Dead campaign style:
The Romero Films:
Night of the Living Dead - There's already a map for the house from this... but I haven't played it yet. And really, a survival-mode map is basically all it needs. Perhaps a small campaign, starting in the cemetery, then moving to the house to make a stand, then attempting to escape via using the gas. Maybe multiple endings, where you could conceivably achieve a "good end"? In any case, emphasis on molotovs, and it would be nice to have some way of reinforcing doors and windows like in the movie. I have to wonder about some of the limitations of scripting the Left 4 Dead engine, as boss zombies might detract from the feel of the game a bit. On the other hand, if utilized creatively, perhaps not.
Dawn of the Dead - Would make a very interesting survival campaign, just inside a huge-arse mall. Starts you off on the roof as in the movie. Could be interesting to have the apartment block from the beginning of the movie as a separate map. Or a huge campaign following the whole movie, which might work better than one huge map depending on the limitations of the engine. I just feel like running willy-nilly around the mall would be hella fun.
Day of the Dead - Again, could make a very interesting survival campaign or a huge campaign roughly following the movie. Would have to be "roughly", as otherwise the scripting for the major events of the movie would be... difficult at best. Would probably make a really cool campaign, what with the underground bunker, the archives, and the caverns.
Land of the Dead - This would have to be a full campaign, but would be hella fun with the varying environments. Especially the tower.
Diary of the Dead - This would end up being a LONG campaign, as the movie basically spans an entire state... Would prolly be broken up via key scenes in the various key locations, with the finale at the mansion.
Survival of the Dead - Could make a good survival map or full campaign. Set on an island; would make a really interesting map if it was completely open-ended and fully explorable.
Other films that I think could be "ported" well are basically ANY zombie flick, but specifically: Shaun of the Dead, the Resident Evil movies, the Return of the Living Dead series and possibly others. Movies that would make interesting ports are not solely limited to zombie flicks, however; many movies that just feature interesting locations could prove amusing when switched up into the zombie survival genre. For instance: House on Haunted Hill, 13 Ghosts, Session 9, Rose Red, The Shining, The Amityville Horror, and any number of other movies like that. It would also be interesting to literally port other games to the engine. Somebody has already done so with Silent Hill relatively faithfully, although not perfect. Games that would be interesting ported include basically anything in the FPS or survival horror genres, especially: Marathon series, Half-Life series, Resident Evil series, Silent Hill series, Parasite Eve series, Penumbra series, Fallout 3, and a number of others.
Basically, every movie and video game ever created in the history of everything needs to be ported. Also probably a number of anime, manga, TV series, and the like. ^_^
Another thing I would find very interesting if done well would be a port of the Cube series. It would most likely need to be set up solely in Left 4 Dead 2 (melee weapon capabilities), although possibly in the first game engine as well if done right. Basically, no zombies would be placed on the map(s), but instead the traps in certain rooms would be triggers that would spawn a specific boss zombie or horde in that room. Could be interesting if done right.
In other news, the internets are awash with rumors that there will be some sort of huge display of alien technology tomorrow around the world. I think it's a load of hogwash and wishful thinking. But if something interesting does happen... well, it'd be interesting, wouldn't it?
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