Is Left 4 Dead starting to get a little stale for you? Have no fear. Valve has just given the game's PC version a powerful shot in the arm with the beta release of the Left 4 Dead Authoring Tools. Sorry, Xbox 360 gamers, this is for the PC version only, but hey, maybe Valve'll release the best maps on the Marketplace too.

Anyway. The Authoring Tools will let modders play with modified version of the tools that Valve used in making Left 4 Dead. These tools will let you create your own campaign maps, character skins, 3D models, sound effects, and music and add them into the game. The Authoring Tools package includes the following.

• Updated version of Hammer, the source level editor
• Updated suite of command line compiling utilities
• Updated Particle editor
• Updated Faceposer
• Example maps, common infected, props, and explosives

The package also includes a pair of plugins that'll let you create building block and props in SketchUp that can then be imported into Hammer.

You can start making custom maps as soon as you download the free tools (you can find it under the "Tools" tab in Steam), but Valve hasn't updated matchmaking yet to fully support any new user-created maps. That's happening in a couple of weeks, though, so that gives you some time to fine tune your maps before releasing them out into the wild. Check the source link for more info.

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