L4D: These are my friends now

I really like the 2nd TV spot for L4D featuring the song with chorus "these are my friends now." It captures what's key about the game: the survivors don't mingle because they're in the same military or part of an assocation, or because they signed up for some common cause, or any typical reason to unite. In the zombie apocalypse, any un-infected human with a gun is your best friend. I bet Louis detests Francis in a dozen ways, but neither of us are zombies, so hey, these are my friends now.

I have found that, just like in TF2, where people start to associate themselves with their player class (see FYI, I am a spy - though I am actually Engie). In l4d, I've found that I'm Louis. I don't know why, but now it's stuck, and I don't like connecting to servers where Louis is already taken. I rely on voice chat, but when user 1337dood is playing as Francis, I'm never sure if I should speak "dude" or "Francis" when addressing him. I think I've been switching off. When the username is "=P" or "416328", though, it's pretty clear which name to use.

I've gotten used to playing on expert mode, even though it's impressively difficult. Expert mode makes all the other modes feel like target practice. When I revisited an advanced server the other day, Bill decided to just shove zombies around instead of shooting them. After a half-dozen shoves, he yelled "melee only!" and we pushed some zombies around a bit, laughing at them.

In expert mode, though, there are no games, no jokes.  We only fight and die.

Update: See this post if you just want to know who wrote the song and get a youtube link.