[Redneck]

Ars Technica interviewed a L4D2 project lead about why they're making it vs just updates. Really I think it just sounds like excuses.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/...to-ars.ars

Yes, it does sound like excuses, because balance is probably more extreme to maintain on TF2 than on L4D.

You know why we get L4D2 so soon? Because EA has their hand in it. The same company who relentlessly releases expensive expansions for every game they make. Look at the Battlefield series, for instance. 1942 wasn't so bad, and the modding tools gave the community the ability to create Desert Combat, which probably ended up being more popular than the default WW2 shooter. After that, they made BF2, released a bunch of expansions (at a charge), and did the same with 2142 - the first expansion for it was released nearly immediately after the game itself was released. This is the same company that is monetizing fake items in Sims 3, though one could argue those who play the Sims get what they deserve.

I imagine Valve put forth the idea of releasing the content as a free expansion to the game, given their track record with TF2 and other games. EA then probably muscled them into adding a bit more to it and releasing it as an entirely new sequel.