Portal: Still Alive additional levels based off Portal: The Flash Version, won't include GlaDOS

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 20th 2008 at 2:30PM }

There's been an understandable amount of excitement regarding the pseudo-sequel to 2007's "Game of the Year", Portal, following the E3 '08 unveiling of Portal: Still Alive. However, little was announced about the title by its digital anti-heroine at the Microsoft Press Conference -- luckily, Valve's Doug Lombardi spilled the beans about the game's new features, and its relationship to the first groundbreaking title, in a few interviews during last week's shenanigans.

In one such interview with GameSetWatch, Lombardi explained that Still Alive is a standalone version of the original Portal. The additional maps and challenges that were revealed on Gamerscore Blog will be pulled from the Portal: The Flash Game map pack, a 3D rendition of the award-winning web game based on the original pastry-rich puzzler. This map pack, lovingly crafted by We Create Stuff (the minds behind the Flash game), is available (and free) to download for PC portal-hoppers now.

Unfortunately, neither GlaDOS, nor any other "story elements", will be included in the extra content. As excited as we are for this expansion, the prospect of zipping around an abandoned research facility without the accompaniment of an unsettling, sing-song voice just doesn't seem right.

Tags: doug-lombardi, glados, portal, portal-still-alive, portal-the-flash-game-map-pack, still-alive, valve

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

WhoMe @ Jul 20th 2008 2:39PM

So basically it's a quick cash-in, yay!

Benny @ Jul 20th 2008 3:06PM

... and for once, I don't mind.

More people need to play this game.

Obie @ Jul 20th 2008 3:16PM

Hmm...excitement...waning.
They better make it 400 points, cuz it's barely an expansion pack.

Demaar @ Jul 20th 2008 8:57PM

I wouldn't say that exactly. They're probably unable to release add ons for the 360 version of Orange Box, so to bring these maps to the console they're doing an arcade release of Portal. Of course, MS hates stuff being released on Marketplace being free, so here we are.

We'll know it's a cash in or not when they announce the price.

BananaBoat @ Jul 21st 2008 12:20AM

No reason to get up in arms over this thing. It's just a standalone version of portal (including a few new maps) that you can buy if you don't already own portal. I'd hope the extra maps could be free for people that already own portal on the 360, but I'm not holding my breath (I bought it for the PC anyway).

I'm pretty bummed that this isn't a real expansion pack. I guess there is always Portal 2 to look forward to.

F1 & The Way PC used to be. @ Jul 20th 2008 2:39PM

Oh well: It's still going to be a Triumph!

4MyFriends @ Jul 20th 2008 3:00PM

I'm making a note here.

Benny @ Jul 20th 2008 3:11PM

The blasted comment system has shuddered my bowels once more. Dastardly thing!

(That was meant to be a reply to WhoMe)

Boom! @ Jul 20th 2008 2:50PM

My interest has dropped some because of this. I always looked forward to hearing what GlaDOS would say next.

They should put her in System Shock 3. =3

...

Just kidding. :p

Demaar @ Jul 20th 2008 8:58PM

Yeah, it's pretty lame. I'm pretty sure the guys that made the map pack on the PC played around with the original game's voice samples and had dialogue for her. Why the hell can't they include that?

tc @ Jul 20th 2008 2:53PM

they're basing this game on a game that was based on the original game?

hope they put "degree in Abstraction" on the system requirements.

Figman @ Jul 20th 2008 2:56PM

Will you be able to download the map pack separatly if you already own portal?

WiiFTW @ Jul 20th 2008 2:57PM

No GLaDOS = No Cake = No Purchase

snarfoogle @ Jul 20th 2008 3:23PM

Spoiler: There was no cake in the original Portal either

Markusdragon @ Jul 20th 2008 4:10PM

Spoiler: There really was a cake.

Veko @ Jul 20th 2008 3:02PM

As a PC gamer I was a little mad at Valve. Now that I know the 360 owners are getting something I've already played months ago, I'm fine with it.

I still don't understand why you can take free things from the PC, such as free content on games or online gaming and charge people for it on the 360. Maybe I just need to wait for Blizzard, Valve, Gamespy, Stardock, or any other company who's ever released a non-MMO game with online play on the PC.

Really I just need to stop being greedy. I don't deserve things like extra levels and online play for free after I've already dropped $50 or $60 for the game. Silly me.

Benny @ Jul 20th 2008 3:10PM

That's certainly one thing that Xbox Live has failed to deliver: the promise of allowing users to create and sell their own creations. If I could buy the map pack straight from We Create Stuff, I probably wouldn't mind so much. But you're right - it's not too fair that 360 owners get ripped off.

However, for Portal I'm willing to overlook this!

j.howlett @ Jul 20th 2008 3:20PM

i feel in a way similar about live

zero2dash @ Jul 21st 2008 9:41AM

Blame Microsoft; they're the ones who don't want companies to "give away" things on Live (see also: Bizarre Creations wanted Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved to be free, Gears of War map packs not being free on day one).

CB @ Jul 20th 2008 3:08PM

Is that it, seriously? I can't wait until they name a price for it.

CubeGuy @ Jul 20th 2008 5:46PM

I still hate you for your avatar. =3

CB @ Jul 20th 2008 10:02PM

Aww CubeGuy

syrik zero @ Jul 20th 2008 3:29PM

They can have my money again, I want more levels!

Einhanderkiller @ Jul 20th 2008 4:35PM

You have a Crysis avatar, which I'm assuming means you have a fairly modern PC.

Just download the Portal: The Flash Version Map Pack for free on the PC. According to this article, it's pretty much the same thing as the 360 DLC that will be released soon.

syrik zero @ Jul 27th 2008 11:13AM

I beat that game the day Joystiq posted that link under the free game club. It was awesome! I got a bit annoyed with things getting stuck in corners though...

Morgon @ Jul 20th 2008 3:34PM

Seems kinda ironic, considering they made the announcement in GLaDOS' voice

TreetarD @ Jul 20th 2008 3:54PM

its most likely going to be $20 considering it comes with the original version of portal too.

Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus) @ Jul 20th 2008 3:56PM

Wow. Valve managed to make not all that excited about more Portal. Unbelievable.

Emophia @ Jul 20th 2008 4:03PM

Haha.

Silly console gamers paying for levels I got for free.

Jhongerkong @ Jul 20th 2008 4:10PM

Its hard to overstate my dissatisfaction.

iFester @ Jul 20th 2008 4:11PM

I knew it! Microsoft sales people are Jawas. Well I'm going to be Uncle Owen by saying: "What are you trying to push on us." This Portal unit has a bad motivator.

grex9101 @ Jul 20th 2008 4:40PM

Great, smashing, super.

Now hurry the hell up with where it's REALLY at:

TF2 CONTENT!!!

Oh, I forgot. Valve doesn't give a flying fuck about the 360 users.
Then again, neither do m$.

Biz @ Jul 20th 2008 4:43PM

Huh? Portal: The Flash Version is a 2d game. How are they going to translate that?

tc @ Jul 20th 2008 4:51PM

think they'll try something with the z axis ;)

Veko @ Jul 20th 2008 5:50PM

They already did. On the PC.

The 1up show talked about it in early June: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168221

You can download it for free on PC here: http://portalmaps.wecreatestuff.com/.

Silly console owners.

David78 @ Jul 20th 2008 5:22PM

Did anyone really think Valve of all companies would make a sequel to Portal exclusive to a CONSOLE!

It's pretty clear their priorities lie with the PC and the reason the 360 gets ports is because it's so easy.

bm @ Jul 20th 2008 5:31PM

Ok ok ok wait. What? I thought someone already did a 3D re-conversion of the flash version back into the original Portal, as a bunch of user-made maps? For free?

CubeGuy @ Jul 20th 2008 5:46PM

I'm guessing that this is probably a repackage of that.

LocalToast @ Jul 20th 2008 6:55PM

Maybe it's to calm down those upset by the lack of TF2 content?

Either way, I'm probably picking it up.

Seroth @ Jul 20th 2008 7:30PM

It all depends on price now. All I wanted was a Portal map pack, and this is what I'm getting. Yes, PC gamers get this stuff for free, but I don't have a gaming PC, so my only choice is to get this map pack on XBLA. I'd spend 800 points at most on this.

Random @ Jul 20th 2008 7:36PM

Silly Valve, trying to bring a great game to the masses. How dare they!

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 20th 2008 9:20PM

GlaDOS= Gladly left after Doing Oh So Well

Jacksons @ Jul 20th 2008 10:37PM

ACRONYM MALFUNCTION

BPM [MSN: BPMdotEXE @ hotmail.com] @ Jul 20th 2008 10:45PM

... That's GLaDOSW...

Mr.ESC @ Jul 20th 2008 10:12PM

I knew it wasn't going to be Portal 2 but are they charging for the Portal maps that are already avalible on Pc?

Depends on the price.

Now that I would pay for TF2 DLC.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 20th 2008 11:15PM

Isn't it pretty funny this was what all the 360 fellas were huffing and puffing their chest about after E3.

Looks like Microsoft will not let you guys have your cake and eat it to ... These maps need to be free!!

BPM [MSN: BPMdotEXE @ hotmail.com] @ Jul 20th 2008 10:50PM

Interested in Still Alive... decimated.

So, it's a stand-alone version of Portal for the 360. Great, for those who didn't already buy the Orange Box for PC.
And... it has some additional maps that are available as a free download on the PC.

So... yeah. Not interested at all.