More L4D1 updates on the way; future AI Director applications

Today, we give you our interview with Left 4 Dead 2 writer Chet Faliszek. Good enough in itself; but it’s turned up two very interesting comments.

A huge chunk of what makes the Left 4 Dead games so good is Valve’s exclusive ‘AI Director’ which controls enemy behaviour, placement, and even the music; so no two games are ever exactly alike, and nothing is predictable. But could the Director be adapted for a single player game? We asked Chet and he replied:

“We have definitely thought along those lines. Replayability is just as important in single player games as it is in multiplayer games. The AI Director helps us bring that to our games so you should be looking out for variations on it in the future.”

So, we “should be looking out for” a Valve single player title using some form of the AI Director. What and when? There’s no sign at the moment, but it almost certainly won’t be a Left 4 Dead title, as Chet emphasised more than once that L4D is and will be a co-op experience first and foremost.

Also, those worried that Valve will renege on their promise of continued support for the first game can rest easy – for now at least. You don’t get much more explicit than “We are working on updates for L4D1 as I type this.”

One of the questions he refused to answer was about the accidentally revealed ‘Realism’ mode which, it seems, will remain a mystery until release…

Written by Luke K

He plays lots of videogames, now and again stopping to write about them. He's the editor in chief at Critical Gamer, which fools him into thinking his life has some kind of value. He doesn't have a short temper. If you suggest otherwise, he will punch you in the face.