If hordes of zombies, tongue pulling smokers, animalistic hunters and death dealing tanks weren’t enough, then get ready for zombicidal mania 2.0, because Valve has just opened the beta version for Left 4 Dead’s authoring tools to the public.  Now that developers have warmed us up with their version of Left 4 Dead, players can alter the  heart filling story of four survivors escaping zombie paradise into a game that will literally consume you at every corner.  Sorry ‘Survival Mode,’ closed confined spaces and two tanks at once is too weak for these guns.

Now that we can expect lunatic players to throw hordes of tanks at gamers, the new authoring tools is provided through STEAM and is open to only PC players.

“Using the L4D Authoring Tools, you may create your own campaign maps, character skins, 3D models, sound effects, and music and load them into the game.“  Players will have the ability to put their creations to the test.  In an even more user friendly dynamic, the developers will be adding the downloadable plug-in, SketchUp, so that players can create and import important props.

As an added bonus, within a few weeks developers are updating the match making system, so that everyone has the opportunity to share and play each others creations.  Finally, I can play ‘Let the Bodies Hit the Floor’ while rocking the minigun.

Source: Joystiq.comand Left 4 Dead Blog