Portal 2 unlocking early -- if you play the Potato Sack games long enough

by JC Fletcher on Apr 15th 2011 12:02PM

If you thought the Portal 2 countdown clock would lead to an early release of the game, you were right about the concept, but maybe your timeline was a bit off. The countdown, upon elapsing, opened a site for "GLaDOS@Home," which claims to need your computational cycles to facilitate an early release of Portal 2.

Functionally, that means "the more time people spend playing the Potato Sack games, the sooner before its April 19 release date Portal 2 will come out." Don't have the Potato Sack -- a collection of 13 indie games, recently updated with Portal-themed content -- yet? Get it here for $38.65, And think of it this way -- you cleared your weekend to play Portal, so now you have time for these other 13 games.

Source: GLaDOS@Home

Tags: arg, glados-at-home, pc, portal-2, potato-fools-day, potato-sack, valve

Reader Comments (90)

So you totally fell for the fake video, right?

Let's see here. Valve is known for trolling people. They uploaded videos that are SUPPPOSEDLY the end ON THEIR OWN YOUTUBE ACCOUNT.

So, you create a user name, and presumably spam the link, thinking your are spoiling something? You got played. And not only made yourself look like an idiot, but are helping Valve further the fake ending.

http://25tolife.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/coolface-446.jpg

@AltairArcanum They's trollin'

@Gibbeynator

What is valve thinking, stealing 'CPU cycles' from folding@home participants?

What about that cure for cancer?

This is a spectacular idea! Can I just play the games even if I didn't get the Sack to help?

@Haggard

yes i think so

@Haggard

Yep.

@Haggard

Im buying Rush. YAY.

Course layed in captain!

ENGAGE!!!

@pedasn

to all the guys who complain about valve making this another sales and marketing stunt:

Don't complain. If you have bought one of this games before the sack was announced, play it now. If you don't have one, just leave it to us who have already bought them or are willing to invest. I own 3 of them, so i'll do my part with defense grid. We all are going to play Portal 2 before monday. If you are interested in playing one of these games, enjoy the discount.

@pedasn

I didn't know about this and yet I've already played several hours of defense grid since the portal levels were added.

Defense Grid is excellent.

@Dante G

just discovered the portal levels too. i love stuff like this

@pedasn I think it's great they're supporting indie titles like this. It's too early to tell if playing all these games will really do anything though. The timer currently puts the release square into Tuesday.

@captcarl I'm pretty sure that's the original timer and the loading bar is independent of that. from what I've been able to tell, it'll be released 18 hours early at the current rate.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRf0hKC0PV89UQzkwE11sI9Ai9ftoAVD5nAETKv34i6m13sS5iJtQ&t=1

If you ask me, Valve can go screw itself. Im just so over their bullshit. "Give us a bunch of money so you can give us some more money later but now its earlier!"

@jackruby1123

... No. I don't even like most of Valve's games, but I can't deny that they are one of the best and most important companies in the video game industry right now. Steam is awesome and you can't deny it.

@jackruby1123 They're not forcing you to buy any of the games. They're just encouraging everyone to play them. (Of course people will buy them but so what, Valve is a business).

Plus they're all indie games and at a HUGE discount. AND, everyone will get to play Portal 2 early. How can you possibly complain about this?

@jackruby1123 People... you can never please them.

@jackruby1123

You just got angry that Valve is letting you play Portal 2 early and you don't need to lift a finger. You wasted more energy and time moaning about Valve, than the energy/time/money you have to spend getting to play Portal 2 early.

Lemme guess, the hats are Valve selling out too.

@jackruby1123

"Concepts are so hard to understand, can anyone post for me so I don't look like an idiot?"

Yes, jackruby1123, we can offer you this service. Just send over your login information and paypal info, our service will post for you in forums for only $.25 per message. You are welcome!

@jackruby1123 I know! How dare they threaten to release something early! They should stick to their schedules and never do anything nice rabble rabble rabble!

@jackruby1123
Yeah, how dare they ask for money? they're only a business

This is legitimately the coolest thing ever

How do console gamers feel knowing that PC gamers are going to be playing and will probably have beaten Portal 2 before they are even lined up at their local Gamestop midnight launch event?

@Royale Uh, I have a life. So...I'm gonna go do that, come back and play it then. An early release is a nice incentive for PC users, but I'm not going to go cry for a few days until I can play it.

@Royale

I'm happy for PC gamers...then again I'm not an elitist douche.

GET HYPE HERE COMES TUESDAY!

@Royale Funny thing is that it was leaked on the consoles.

I'll just do what I already planning on doing this weekend - play MvC3 online.

Probably not as bad as PC gamers feel every time a console game comes out 5+ months before the PC release.

@Royale

Given all the console/xbox exclusive/early stuff as of late (Fallout DLC, BOPS DLC, BC2 DLC), somehow I think they will live with portal being a day or two later.

@Royale
Can my fellow PC gamers please stop being competitive douchebags? It doesn't really make your argument very convincing to people who already don't subscribe to it.

@den69

The PS3 version is a superior troll? Well we know to avoid that then, don't we.

@R Planteer
Bad Company 2 Vietnam for PC came out a week before consoles got it... lol

but it doesnt matter, gaming PCs > consoles, despite the Arm and Leg we put into getting them. Im excited though. VALVe is awesome

@Royale

I'm primarily a PC gamer and I think you're a douche.

Gamers (regardless of hardware preference) should all be happy when a new game comes out. Why get all pissy when video games are about having fun?

@Royale This is really the first game I'm getting at launch for PC. The reason why I'm getting it is because of all the incentives: Cheaper price, ease of pre-loading, and another free copy of Portal. I don't feel bad because I just made the switch to the clearly superior deal.

Wow. I was just genuinely interested in what people thought. This is a pretty hyped up game. I personally know some people who would be seriously upset knowing that they won't be playing the game when others are... they've pre-ordered months ago, have taken Tuesday off work, have their camping spot ready for Monday night. There are people like this.

My comment wasn't meant to be a cut at console gamers (of which I am)... just wanted to hear some thoughts on the matter. Sorry if it came across that way. I guess this goes to show how touchy gamers are.

lame. now everyone is gonna down-vote this comment and be like "dude just be happy they are even offering the game early" and i will defend myself by saying "yeah but when i see a teaser site, i expect a cool surprise, and not a 'buy this bundle and play it and if enough people do it you may get the game 1 or 2 days early"

@aray48

eh. I think that the majority of steam users have at least one of those games already due to awesome steam sales. I personally have 4 on the list.

+1 upvote for you sir, absolutely right.
(I have 9 myself) :)

@aray48

I agree to an exI shouldn't have to buy the bundle to participate. Then again, I don't have to participate. Probably get unlocked monday... unenthusiastic wooo.

But, then again, no one is making me participate, so it's kind of cool that they are giving an incentive to earn an early release

@Red O Magnus

You don't need the bundle, just any one of the games. And you'd be hard pressed to find someone with none of the games. I mean, Super Meat Boy and Amnesia are way popular, and even my friend who literally only has two Steam games has Killing Floor from a sale. I had six, and then bought the bundle anyway because I wanted to gift some to others.

@aray48 - No, I'm right there with you. This just kind of further cements the idea that these ARG's are more marketing than anything else.

That said, if it comes out a little early because of this, I guess it all works out. How early will determine whether or not I just go ahead and buy the steam version, instead of my pre-ordered PS3 version (which is $10 cheaper, and which comes with the steam version anyway).

@BananaBoat

Wait, what? The entire point of an ARG has always been marketing. There is no other purpose to it.

@Colin - Some people think it is a little bonus perk for the community, or something like that. Not everyone of course, but some have that misconception.

Lame.

yes! I can't wait to drop $40 to play a game 4 days early! On top of the preorder, I've spent $100 for this game!

Where do you live? You say you paid $60 for the steam copy of the game?

@waterhand

You probably already have some of those games. And even if you don't OTHER people playing those games speeds up the unlock (or so I hear)

Dang, Valve's marketing team are geniuses.

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Portal 2

Portal 2 unlocking early -- if you play the Potato Sack games long enough

Reader Comments (90)

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 7:37PM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:08PM AltairArcanum said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 2:25PM Gibbeynator said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 9:54PM Inkopa said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:10PM Haggard said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:11PM pedasn said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:47PM PieceMaekr42 said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 1:26PM LEONLEONLEON said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:10PM pedasn said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:19PM pedasn said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:41PM Dante G said

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Posted: Apr 15th 2011 1:45PM captcarl said

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Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:12PM King Johngie the Fourth said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:12PM Royale said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:17PM DelTrigger said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:28PM NinjaJesus said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:29PM callumshell1 said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 12:37PM zero2dash said

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Posted: Apr 15th 2011 1:15PM JayTwo said

Posted: Apr 15th 2011 2:10PM Sh1fty said

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Posted: Apr 15th 2011 3:10PM Royale said

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