Over the past few weeks, I’ve been playing Left 4 Dead more and more. Sometimes I play with my friends (we rock btw), and then the other times I play with not so good people over Xbox Live. The one thing that I see from them, and from my buds sometimes, is that some attacks are not coordinated enough to really stick it to the other team. Searching through YouTube, I found a great series of videos which give amazing tips on how to use the Hunter, Smoker, and Boomer. The user posting these videos hasn’t gotten to the Tank yet, but I asked him to do one for said Tank and also one for survivors as well. Once he posts those, I’ll do a folllow up for this post. The videos are posted after the jump along side of my own tips on how to effectively use the special infected, but I would suggest watching the videos in the higher quality format directly on YouTube’s site. It’s easier to see what he’s doing, and makes the text a bit cleaner to read. <i>Editor Note: He is playing on the PC, so you’re going to see some quicker movements for some of the special infected which you wouldn’t normally see on the Xbox 360.</i>

Don’t expect continuity here. This is not an extension of the Zombarlo story line, but rather a Dead Rising parody. The game rocks some pretty hot sauce, so I’d recommend picking it up. At least rent it, or buy it used, if you’re just in the mood for some zombie smashing fun. Yes, it has a storyline and quests, you Philistines, so hold no delusions–this isn’t Dynasty Warriors with zombies. Oh, go read a book.

Anyway, my friend John and I are working our way through Guitar Hero on Expert mode as I type this. Yes, that’s right. I beat Bark at the Moon on Hard. We are Guitar Lords, watching over you guitar serfs, with your guitar plague and guitar bowl haircuts. Let them eat Cream.

If you haven’t listened to our podcast yet, go do so now. Put on some headphones and tell your co-workers you are listening to KMFDM or something. They won’t bother you. We are on Podcast Alley now, so go vote for us, too. PLEASE! Maybe we’ll make you a kick-ass guitar duke.

-Arlo

Holy CRAP! I thought we were just talking about Pac-Man! Where did this come from!? Ok, we’ve just written ourselves into a corner. Even I’m curious to see how we get ourselves out of this. I promise we won’t go the clone route. It’s toooooooo…. death of Palpatine. Well, it’s good to know that, if neccessary, Guy could replace me. I mean, look at him. That’s uncanny.

News in the gaming industry? Well, I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Sony is now more actively pursuing the “copy protection” method of denying the playability of used, rented, or borrowed games. It’s an old story now, but you and I haven’t discussed it. Talk about shooting themselves in the foot. I think you can all agree with me that they won’t do this (at least not this generation). I mean, the system already cost 600 dollars without games or accessories, and now you can’t trade in your games to get some sort of return on them? Yeah, sure, the purchase of Sony’s used games will go down, but that also means trades will go down, which decreases the ability of the buyer to afford this increasingly expensive hobby, and consequently decreases sales of NEW games, too. Don’t believe me? The video game business is booming, hand in hand with the trade-in business. I italicized Sony there to illustrate a point: this tactic only makes the Sony product less desirable. I’m already apt to buy a 360 and a Wii instead of a PS3, but now you’re saying I can’t buy the games used, or rent them, or even just borrow a game from my buddy at work? Fine, then. Now, I’m definitely not going to get a PS3. See how that works? But don’t worry. This is just a patent. And an old one. For all we know they are just trying to prevent other manufacturers from implementing this without their say so. There is no way they are going to go through with this.

The truth of the matter is an increase in the desirability of your product equals an increase in the attempted piracy of said product. These two items are locked in a marriage that trancends time and space, forever to be held true, recorded in stone in the annals of economics and industry. Flip that around. Efforts to decrease piracy, while at the same time being completely futile, can only decrease the desirabilty of the product. I’ll tell you this: already I don’t really want to pirate any PS3 games.

-Arlo

The plot thickens. Could this mean that the virus is overtaking Arlo? Will Lou and The Troll have to take drastic measures and how will Race react? Isn’t Pinky really a male ghost, which would make him and Clyde gay?!

I have important news to announce. When I was 17, I joined up with a group here in Southern California that meant so much to me for the several years I was involved, and still does today. Phantom Projects is an ambitious endeavor spearheaded by teenagers in the area to inform their peers of the world around them and make them aware that their actions have consequences, both bad and good. The news is: they just got a bit bigger. I know we here at Level 99 aren’t the most well-off of individuals and are most deserving of your charity, but if you have to pick a second institution for your tax write-off, lend these guys a hand. Even with this new development, they still need a lot of help to extend a message with which everyone can agree. Help make the world a little bit better so we can have more freedom to laugh.

-Arlo

There has been much contention over the past 80 years or so, and flourishing over the last 40, as to what actually happens to a person biologically when they are overtaken by a zombie. At long last, the mystery is solved.

Two very important pieces of information for you:

1) Prey is the sex. And the demo is pretty substantial. It’s not normally my type of thing, but I’m actually really looking forward to it. The first thing The Troll said when interacting with the gravity effects is, “Multiplayer is going to be sick.” Yes. Yes, it is. I wouldn’t say the game is going to be spectacular or a blockbuster, but it will definitely be a healthy addition to the 360 lineup. I thought of a strip for the game, but it’s kinda ridiculous and might not make it through the editting process… though I hope it does. For those of you that don’t like first-person shooters, try out the Lost Planet demo. Kinda average gameplay with better than average visuals. If this is where middle-of-the-road games are going, I’m excited for the industry. Both of these demos can be found for free on the XBOX LIVE marketplace.

2) Bad news, WoWers. Two serparate sources within Blizzard (one in, quote, “Quality Assurance” for the new expansion) have told me that the anticipated October release for World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade is not going to be hit. Both sources offered up the month of November as the company’s goal release but qualified that by guaranteeing “this year.” If you’ve followed any game in the industry, this extension won’t come as a surprise to you, but to hear it from within the source might come as a blow to Warcrafters. Sorry, guys. You’ll have at least an extra month to get to 60 or gather soon-to-be-obsolete 1337 gear.

Laters.

-Arlo

Yeah, so my life outlook doesn’t seem very bright. I need new friends. Looks like The Troll gets some revenge. He’s been itching ever since the wand in the eye. In case you were wondering, that “bite” line is from Dead Alive. See it. And get your Zombie Survival Guide, so’s youse can be prepared for such an event.

I have some people over the other day to play video games and just generally hang out, and The Troll is playing Hitman. His favorite thing to do in this game is push people around. So he’s pushing and pushing and the guards have no varying degrees of aggression so they start unloading on him. Meanwhile, he’s pushing this guy from behind and the guy is making grunting noises and bending over (and it all seems very inappropriate) and the guards end up taking 47 down. The Troll says, “See, it’s funny because he wasn’t the only one getting shot in the ass.”

::sigh::

I really do need new friends.

-Arlo

Welcome to Level 99’s new home! Take off your shoes before you step on the carpet. If you haven’t already changed your bookmark, do so now. I’ll wait.

Before I continue, I feel it is important to let you know that my friends are freaks.

Anyway, let me show you around the new place (man, this feels so familiar). You are HOME now. See the big logo up there? That’s ours; you can’t have it. It’s nice having a full fledged logo, now. That phrase you see just to the right of it? That’s our new slogan. And it’s staying for at least the next six months–or until you refresh the page. Got any ideas for a Level 99 slogan? Email me at arlo(at)level99comic.com.

Just above the slogan, you’ll see the all-important navigation bar! There you can find three all-important categories including the all-important FUN STUFF (because we work so hard at making the other stuff not fun). Under the COMIC category you can find the latest Level 99 masterpiece and the archived canon. Also, you can find the ABOUT section where you can read all about us. God, we rule. BLOG is where you’ll find all of my ramblings, individually sealed for freshness. Race occasionally posts and adds some modicum of respectability to the whole affair.

Now, FUN STUFF is fun. REVIEWS takes you those games that we have reviewed since we were given a platform to express our entirely subjective opinions. You know what? This is our platform, so that means those opinion are objective, gosh-darn it. FORUMS is the greatest link up there, taking you to the Level 99 Community where you can have your entirely subjective point made. Join up. It’s a great time and a chance to be part of something incredible. Remember that story about Timmy? Now’s your chance. PHOTOS are photos; what, are you retarded? WEBCAMS is our exercise in narcissism and CHATROOM is going to possibly be a regularly scheduled meeting room. Until then, it’s a barren wasteland of nothingness. So don’t even bother. I mean it. It’s not up yet.

Now, the most important part: Just to the right of the latest post, you’ll find the voting buttons. Keep the hope alive and vote for us. Just a click or three a day. You can do that middle one every single day, too. Under those are the ads that will keep this site above water. Patronize those mothers. If you are thinking about buying anything from lik-sang, click on the link to the right first.

Now, I’ve been talking a lot, so you talk some now. Enjoy, bitches.

-Arlo

Let’s begin at the beginning, shall we? We first me Ngyaarr as he was trying out for the position of Level 99 sidekick. He was promptly murdered. Being burried several weeks later, he pulled a Carrie and was promptly murdered again. Perhaps, perchance, maybe, a double dead Ngyaarr will be my friend? The plot thickens. I promise, though continuity abounds, the next strip will be harbored safely in the realm of Geek.

I can’t post much tonight, as I have work in the morning and am already running on no sleep, but I do have this to say: Assassin’s Creed might not be exclusive to the PS3. You might have read the news as well, but I doubt you are as elated as I am. If you have had the opportunity to talk to me about the prospects of buying a PS3, you would know those prospects to be dry–perhaps slightly moist. It was down to the games, and spending 600 dollars on myself at Christmas time after already buying a Wii and a handful of “entertainments” didn’t sound too appetizing. But, oh, how I wanted to play Assassin’s Creed. This one game wasn’t enough to push me over the edge, but it still made me itch. If this news pans out, It might even be 8 months or more before I spring for a PS3. Maybe one of you can buy me one?

Edit: Interesting development in the rumors department. Also, I think those Penny Arcade guys have a bug in my home, because everytime we think to talk about something, they discuss the same thing. Take Note.

Edit Edit: Throw in your two cents.

-Arlo