A couple of interesting hacks have appeared for the Left 4 Dead demo. People have found a way to get at the splitscreen mode, intended only for the 360 version, and more interestingly, how to play as the Infected.
It’s important to note that the latter isn’t a way to get Versus mode in the demo – instead it’s a very choppy console-command-led method that sort of lets you at least experience what it’s like to play as the Infected, albeit in a way that is nothing like the game proper.
You will be able to see the demo’s levels through the eyes of a Hunter, Smoker, Boomer or Tank, and get to know their abilities and attacks, even if it’s unrepresentative of how Versus really works. It works in both single and multiplayer, so you can fight against friends, but let me stress again, in a broken and unbalanced way – you can in no way get a feel for the real thing with this. Is this message clear enough? It’s nothing like proper Versus.
To get Infected, follow the instructions below, which we’ve cribbed from Steam forumite Scuzball.
You need to make sure the Developer Console Command option is enabled in the main options, and then start a game. Pull down the console, and type in the magic words
sv_cheats 1
In order to switch sides, you then need to type,
ent_fire !self setteam 3
If you’re playing against AI Survivors, they’ll stand still until you tell them to begin the level for themselves. That’s done by telling it,
director_force_versus_start 1
You can then choose to spawn by following the on-screen instructions, which will also tell you how to control each Infected Special. Once you’ve been killed, you’ll have to respawn manually, using the following console commands:
z_spawn hunter
z_spawn smoker
z_spawn boomer
z_spawn tank
So of course this means you can cheat horrifically, and for extra fun, spawn about five tanks at once and ruin the game completely. What it does is give you a feel for what’s to come, but again, for goodness sakes don’t try and judge Versus mode based on this abortive hack.
To get splitscreen is a bit more complicated, and requires you own a 360 controller for your PC. The instructions for that are also on the Steam forums, posted in enormous detail by user TheBusGuy.
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Seriously, I would just rather wait.
I may try this in singleplayer, but not on MP!
Oh, so Versus Mode is included in the demo? Sweet!
Yet another reason why PC gaming simply rocks.
So this is just like Versus mode?
Awesome!
:|
Anyone, who has the demo, know how many players can play split screen?
@The Hammer
I see what you did there.
I love the Boomer. :D
In the age of USB hubs and 360 gamepads why not include split screen as a feature in the PC version?
RARRRRRRRRRRRR Hulk smash!!!
The problem with it is that you can’t choose your spawn location, so if you go as anything other than hunter or tank you’ll just get gunned down in an instant.
It’s pretty fun, though. As a tank, you can throw the car with the alarm so that it blocks the stairway entrance to the safehouse!
@ yns88
Of course you CAN choose your spawn location. Just type
ghost
Playing as zombies is so much fun! I can’t wait for the full game to come.
I always get a guilty tingle whenever I see the words sv_cheats 1 typed out. Mmmmm, ride that guilt trip.
All I wish there was is a force-zombie-intensity cvar and I’ll never stop playing L4D.
sockpuppetclock says:
All I wish there was is a force-zombie-intensity cvar and I’ll never stop playing L4D.
You mean like Type director_force_panic
And for endless hell Type:
director_panic_forever 1
I’ll rather just wait for the full game.
You won’t be able to try this in online MP, as all servers will have sv_cheats put to 0 to stop people noclipping around…
Oh, I really hope Valve don’t “fix” the splitscreen in the full game. This is going to make LANing this so much easier!
Not worth doing the Infected workaround. Really disapointing.
Wait for the real thing. :)
Was on a match with people using this, was quite stupid. Tank(s) around every corner…
However, to balance it out we did have four Louii to assist.
why dont you just rename this site to “left4dead news” ?
seriously
Because these guys would be upset?
Hey! There was no boo-boo in the preview and now the link is gone!
These guys: http://left4deadnews.com/
For shame, RPS commenting system…
“why dont you just rename this site to “left4dead news” ?
seriously”
Because RPS posting about what it finds interesting cannot be allowed.
Cmon RPS, where’s the stuff you find BORING?
I wonder if you could make a hack of the splitscreen for LAN games so the all viewpoints from all players can be profected on to a wall, that would be awesome for all kinds of stuff and great justice.
Another use of splitscreen is view demos….
If Source support that, imagive view 1vs1 deathmatchs in splitscreen, with one player in one screen, the other player on the other screen. Or 4vs4 if splitscreen supports 4 screens.
Now that “Source” supports splitscreen, I see no reason to activate that feature to all Source games ( HL2, TF2, etc..)
Spit screen! yeah baby!
why us PC types can’t have this as an option is a mystery to me.
VS mode sucks, almost as much as the matchmaking system. It’s completely unbalanced!
I want a refund on this game!
Valve is the new EA!
Steam is a virus!
I’ve just found something rather nice.
Open up the classic server browser, set your filters by country and sub 100 ping, and the match maker will use those settings.
@ theleif:
Versus mode isn’t out yet. The one with the demo doesn’t doesn’t show you the way it will be played.
That was just my feeble attempt at being sarcastic.
@ theleif
Well, I so some sarcasm in the further words, but so far matchmaking system isn’t perfect and VS mode in the demo has no respawn times ;-)
Yes it’s far from perfect right now, but the game is still practically in beta and the matchmaking system is new, so the outrage i’ve seen seems a little out of place.
Anyway, this game is not a CS competitive game (for me at least). It’s a fun game you play with three other friends. And at that it excels. Personally i don’t see any need for clan dedicated servers. If i can just hook up with some friends and play, that’s enough for me.
I’ve played a server with this all enabled, and was incredibly hard (yet ingeniously entertaining). Got bored of being beaten to a pulp by tanks all the time, so we ended up spawning lots of witches. Madness!
Valve just patched this out. QQ. :(
Icki response:
Aww man I just checked here to see if they patched it…
“VS mode in the demo has no respawn times ;-)”
There is no versus mode in the demo. :)
z_common_limit 200; z_mega_mob_size 200; director_force_panic_event; director_panic_forever 1
thats what i use to make 200 zombies in 1 raid come continuously. around 70 – 100 will still be a lot but with less lag
Already a patch.
700 mo, and demo desnt work if not update ;(
Wow its fun i luv the hunter and tank the best
can’t get this to work on pc, can anyone else? It worked on the first demo =/
command does not sv_cheat 1, you use it and not change the cheat has been patched