Even though Portal 2 has been officially announced, it seems the clever Alternate Reality Game which gave it impetus hasn't yet come to a complete stop. Shortly after accepting a Pioneer Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards in San Francisco on Thursday evening, Valve boss Gabe Newell launched into a slideshow detailing the company's expectations of future trends, only to have it "crash" to a blue error screen.
The final slide was meant to answer several infamous Valve mysteries -- Who is the G-Man? Why doesn't Valve support the PlayStation 3? -- and perhaps it did in some obfuscated way. According to seasoned ARG sleuths (posting on the Penny Arcade forums), the error code above can be read as: "S U S : P E N D ... U N T ( I ) L ... E E E." Suspend until E3?
It wouldn't be surprising to see Portal 2 at this year's E3 expo, which will run in Los Angeles from June 15 to 17, but if the above decryption is accurate Valve may have additional plans to unfurl (possibly including the long-awaited Half-Life 2: Episode 3).
[Thanks, Wince]
Reader Comments (64)
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 4:13AM ZayCube said
Ah-ha..
Wake me up when something interesting happens.
Wake me up when something interesting happens.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 5:57AM (Unverified) said
Wait a minute, if the decryption is accurate?! I first read that somehow as you wondering if the source image is accurate.
Here, do the decryption yourself then if you don't believe me.
Google search for EBCDIC table. Click any link. You will find:
C4 is D
C5 is E
C9 is I
D3 is L
D5 is N
D7 is P
E2 is S
E3 is T
E4 is U
E2 == S
E4E2 == US
D7C5D5C4 == PEND
E4D 5E3(C9) == UNTI
D3C5C5C5 == LEEE
SUSPENDUNTILEEE
Suspend Until E3.
It's easy to confirm this yourself. No "if it's accurate" disclaimer required.
Here, do the decryption yourself then if you don't believe me.
Google search for EBCDIC table. Click any link. You will find:
C4 is D
C5 is E
C9 is I
D3 is L
D5 is N
D7 is P
E2 is S
E3 is T
E4 is U
E2 == S
E4E2 == US
D7C5D5C4 == PEND
E4D 5E3(C9) == UNTI
D3C5C5C5 == LEEE
SUSPENDUNTILEEE
Suspend Until E3.
It's easy to confirm this yourself. No "if it's accurate" disclaimer required.
Posted: Mar 15th 2010 5:23PM (Unverified) said
decryption? cracked? EBCDIC/ASCII hex codes? hehe... kids. yeah, get out of my lawn and down vote me ;)
Reply
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 8:21AM Tuxy79 said
Oh please sweet Jesus let this be episode three or Half Life 3!
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 10:25AM ThatStuffsLethal said
Here's hoping for an announcement of a multiplatform Valve title
*crosses fingers*
*crosses fingers*
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 12:18PM JBourne said
A poem by Lee Smith.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 12:19PM sircool2008 said
See, this is why Valve games on Mac is a good idea ^^^
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 12:27PM Prince David said
When you're dying I'll be still alive!
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 1:52PM TheDarkWayne said
G-man is totally Gordon from the future.
Posted: Mar 12th 2010 4:44PM Problem Medic said
Umm... ok?
Posted: Mar 13th 2010 1:47AM aristokrat said
I bet Portal 2 is Half-Life 3.
Posted: Mar 15th 2010 3:27AM Malmer said
That was too clever, damn it Valve =)
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