I understand the game save automatically, yesterday I finished the first chapter and almost the second. Today I had to start all over again. Is there any trick with the savings?

I wonder if it only saves at the end of a chapter, or at certain spots?

It might be better to think of them as individual campaigns. You play each one individually and there is no particular order. There is no saving, but you do earn points towards certain skills. If you quit in the middle of a campaign, you will have to start it over the next time. I've played some campaigns several times each.

Yes, crazy as it sounds apparently one cannot save but to play from beginning to end in on session. I don't know if the Left 4 Dead 2 is the same

Yes, Left 4 Dead 2 is the same.

They are really designed as multiplayer games, even if it allows you to play the campaigns with AI.

In my opinion, if you play on your own (which is OK to get the hang of it) you are really missing out on the experience of the game.

There is no saving, as you are expected to play through an entire campaign pretty much in one sitting.

With four human players, it doesn't take that long to do.

Oh, well ... I bought it without realizing it was like it, I don't like playing on line, I read it had very good ratings and thought it was another FPS more. My fault for not checking better. I am playing it anyway and it is true that each campaign is short.

I don't particularly care for on-line playing either, but I've had great fun with it anyway. I did venture on-line a couple of times, but after I read some of the comments from the people who can't stand the "newbs," I decided it was not for me.

The VS. games can be really bad for people being not so friendly. Co-operative is a bit better.

You really need to have some online gaming buddies that you get along with to play some of these games unfortunately.

Once I get my new computer built, I'd gladly play a few rounds with either of you online. I haven't played in quite some time since my computer had a meltdown.

Templeton, sign me up! I'd love to try cooperative play with someone who wouldn't think I'm an idiot!

Just because I built my computer last March, I'd love to hear what you're building??

I'm trying to stick to my budget, but still put together something fairly decent.

What I've ordered (copying and pasting here):

Intel Core i7 860 Quad Core Processor 2.8GHZ
Gigabyte P55A-UD4P ATX LGA1156 P55 DDR3 2PCI-E RAID GBLAN CrossFireX SLI USB3.0 SATA3 Motherboard
Corsair XMS3 CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 4GB DDR3 2X2GB DDR3-1600
Coolermaster Storm Sniper Black Edition Mid Tower ATX Case Black 5X5.25 5X3.5INT 1X2.5
Corsair TX750W 750W ATX 12V 60A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 140MM Fan
Western Digital WD1001FALS Caviar Black 1TB SATA2 7200RPM 4.2MS 32MB 3.5IN Dual Proc Hard Drive OEM
XFX Radeon HD 5770 850MHZ 1GB 4.8GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI HDMI Display Port DIRECTX11 PCI-E Video
LG GH24LS50 24X Super Multi SATA DVD Writer OEM Black
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Edition 64BIT DVD OEM

I wanted to get a better video card and double the RAM, but it would put me over my budget. I can still upgrade down the line when I get the chance though.

For the first time ever I've strayed away from NVIDIA, mostly due to do getting the most bang for my buck. My last NVIDIA card also had a meltdown. This new card has a limited lifetime warrant, but hopefully I won't have to use it!

What was your build?

My budget was quite a bit less than yours, but I love my new computer! So far I can play Left 4 Dead, Crysis and others on full settings with great gameplay results.

Antec 900 Case
Intel Core Two Duo, Wolfdale E-8400, 3.0 Ghtz
500 GB WD hard drives (3, one with 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium, two unused) RAID 0,5,10, no RAID??? Haven't decided yet.
160 GB drive from my old computer (XP Home)
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R MB
4 GB Corsair DDR2 RAM
Antec Neopower 650 Blue PS
Nvidia Geforce GTX 260 video card, 896 MB
Creative SB X-Fi sound card

That's still a solid, good looking system you've got there

I almost went with the Antec 900 case myself, then I was looking at the 1200 (too expensive though), then I just went in a different direction altogether.

I got a few deals on boxing day to make a few things more affordable, allowing me to bump up a few things.

Now I just need the parts to get here so I can put it together. I've been waiting a week already, but with the holidays everything is jammed up I suppose.

I don't thing anyone would like to co-op with me in this game since I get the message - don't shoot your teammates

And, of course, I've NEVER gotten that message...

In shooting games all I manage to shoot are my feet and the sky. Soot used to stay in one place and jump up and down so I could spot him and target him so I could have an occasional kill

As long as it's not on purpose, I wouldn't get mad at you. It happens to everyone at one point or another.

I was playing on expert with some friends once (I'm nowhere near that good at the game to even be playing on that level) and one friendly shot and you go down. Well let's just say a lot of us ended up on the ground.

The last time I played, I actually did pretty good and was scoring higher than everyone else. I even did the most Tank damage! Doubt that will ever happen again, but it did make me feel that I MIGHT be getting the hang of it.... after what seems like a gazillion hours in the game.

Actually, I think it's that 62-year old grandmas aren't supposed to be building computers and playing these kinds of games!!

Drac, shame shame What it really means is that 62 year old grandmas are supposed to have all the time in the world to play play play so they improve and then whip up on the young 'uns. I'm still waiting for all that practicing to pay off

I never thought of it that way, l4l! Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket! I'll whoop up on my 11 year old grandson!

You do that Drac and you'll be the coolest grandma ever

The parts are here for my computer at last.

Now I just need to get Drac over here to build it

Woo Hooo

Be right there, Templeton! Well, maybe after we dig out from under all the snow in Missouri! It's a bit of a trek up to BC though, so probably by the time I get there, you'll have it all done.

Phew! The hardware part is done, now just the software.

Well, except my one DVD drive is giving me a bit of a problem. Last minute I ended up adding an extra DVD drive and I'm glad I did. The Sony is working flawlessly, the LG is giving me fits.