Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Poker Night at the Inventory 2 deals in GLaDOS, Claptrap, Ash Williams]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/poker-night-at-the-inventory-2-deals-in-glados-claptrap-ash-wi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/poker-night-at-the-inventory-2-deals-in-glados-claptrap-ash-wi/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/poker-night-at-the-inventory-2-deals-in-glados-claptrap-ash-wi/#comments
Telltale Games' Poker Night at the Inventory 2 stars a table of quick-witted, quick-to-anger players from all of our favorite media forms: Claptrap from the Borderlands franchise, Sam from the Sam and Max game and graphic novels, Brock Samson from Adult Swim cartoon series The Venture Bros., and Ash Williams from cult horror film Army of Darkness. GLaDOS, main baddie of the Portal games, will be the dealer, so rest assured each hand will be extremely scientific.

Poker Night at the Inventory 2 is "coming soon" to Steam for PC and Mac, alongside Xbox Live Marketplace and PSN, with more platforms to be announced. Check out the premiere trailer above. NeoGAF members dug into Telltale's "key party" tease last week and uncovered a lineup of screenshots, pictured below.

Gallery: Telltale Games' Poker Night 2

JoystiqPoker Night at the Inventory 2 deals in GLaDOS, Claptrap, Ash Williams originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-darknessash-williamsborderlandsbrock-samsonclaptrapGLAdOSmacmicrosoftpcplaystationpoker-night-at-the-inventory-2portalps3samsam-and-maxTellTale-Gamesthe-venture-brosxboxMon, 01 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Del Toro got Valve's permission to use GlaDOS' voice in Pacific Rim]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/del-toro-got-valves-permission-to-use-glados-voice-in-pacific/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/del-toro-got-valves-permission-to-use-glados-voice-in-pacific/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/del-toro-got-valves-permission-to-use-glados-voice-in-pacific/#comments
The presence of Ellen McLain's sultry, robotic trills in the Pacific Rim trailer above filled us with much, much joy when we first saw it last December, but we couldn't help but feel like director Guillermo del Toro wasn't being entirely original. Furthermore, we wondered how Valve would feel about such flagrant counterfeiting; we know it doesn't own Ellen McLain's voice or anything, but come on.

None of that is actually an issue, as it turns out, since del Toro actually obtained permission from Valve to use GlaDOS' voice in the film, according to the Toronto Sun. "I wanted very much to have her, because I'm a big Portal fan," del Toro said. "But just as a wink. She's not cake-obsessed."

McLain's vocal work in the actual film will be run through fewer GlaDOS-inducing voice filters in the final film, del Toro says, but he wanted her voice to be completely recognizable in the trailer. It's also worth noting that there's no actual crossover between Valve's Portal/Half Life universe and Pacific Rim's, even though Pacific Rim is a movie about universes crossing over.

JoystiqDel Toro got Valve's permission to use GlaDOS' voice in Pacific Rim originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ellen-mclainGlaDOSGuillermo-del-ToroPacific-RimPortalPortal-2Valvevoicevoice-actingSat, 05 Jan 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GLaDOS featured in Pacific Rim trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/glados-featured-in-pacific-rim-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/glados-featured-in-pacific-rim-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/glados-featured-in-pacific-rim-trailer/#comments

Director Guillermo del Toro had previously mentioned actress Ellen McLain, best known in gaming circles as the voice of GLaDOS, would use her vocal talent in his upcoming monster movie Pacific Rim. We just had no idea McLain would reprise her GLaDOs voice exactly. It's like hearing Majel Barrett as the voice of Siri.

JoystiqGLaDOS featured in Pacific Rim trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ellen-mclaingladosportal-2Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Del Toro still shopping 'Insane' concept around, hired GlaDOS for his movie]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/del-toro-still-shopping-insane-concept-around-hired-glados-fo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/del-toro-still-shopping-insane-concept-around-hired-glados-fo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/del-toro-still-shopping-insane-concept-around-hired-glados-fo/#comments Del Toro still shopping 'Insane' concept aroundTHQ may have put the kibosh on director Guillermo del Toro's Insane project, but that doesn't mean the idea is dead and gone forever.

Del Toro is in the middle of doing press for his upcoming Pacific Rim movie at the New York Comic Con this week, and he mentioned that he's still trying to find a good game company partner for Insane. "Now we are talking to developers," Del Toro said, according to Kotaku. "When something doesn't happen in one way, I just continue pursuing it in another way. I'm not giving up on Insane."

Asked for a dream developer to work with, Del Toro said he's a big fan of Valve and the games they make. In fact, one of the robots in Pacific Rim will be played by voice actress Ellen McClain, also known as GlaDOS from Valve's Portal series. "I called the guys at Valve and said, you know how much I am a fan of Portal, can the AI be GlaDOS?" Del Toro said.

JoystiqDel Toro still shopping 'Insane' concept around, hired GlaDOS for his movie originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 02:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ellen-mcclaingladosguillermo-del-toroinsanemicrosoftpcplaystationps3thqvalvevoicexboxFri, 12 Oct 2012 02:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The importance of playtesting: What Portal 2 could have been]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/the-importance-of-playtesting-what-portal-2-could-have-been/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/the-importance-of-playtesting-what-portal-2-could-have-been/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/the-importance-of-playtesting-what-portal-2-could-have-been/#comments When Erik Wolpaw and Chet Faliszek first sat down to write Portal 2, they went mad. It certainly appears that way now, when the final version of Portal 2 that shipped in 2011 was such a resounding success, especially for a highly anticipated sequel. The first iteration Wolpaw and Faliszek envisioned got rid of three important mechanics in the Portal universe: Chell, GLaDOS and, as we knew and are still reeling over, portals. In a talk at GDC, Wolpaw and Faliszek explained why they thought that was a good idea, and how they learned it was pretty much the dumbest thing ever.

The original Portal 2 had three new things in place of the classic ideas: F-stop (the new portal mechanic), Cave Johnson (antagonist replacement) and Betty (GLaDOS substitute). Betty was a knee-high personality sphere on wheels, a piece of concept art showed, and she spoke in quick legalese, "like those ads for medicine where they show puppies while they talk about the rectal bleeding you're going to have," Wolpaw said.

Continue reading The importance of playtesting: What Portal 2 could have been

JoystiqThe importance of playtesting: What Portal 2 could have been originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chellchet-faliszekErik-Wolpawgdc-2012GLAdOSmicrosoftpcplaystationportal-2portalsps3valvexboxThu, 08 Mar 2012 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Let GLaDOS guide you to your destination, you monster]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/let-glados-guide-you-to-your-destination-you-monster/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/let-glados-guide-you-to-your-destination-you-monster/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/let-glados-guide-you-to-your-destination-you-monster/#comments She's certainly not the first celebrity to do some voice work for the GPS industry, but she's by far the coolest. Joining the likes of Snoop Dogg, Homer Simpson and Yoda is GLaDOS, available in a new fan-made custom voice pack over on Reddit.

It's a zip file with a bunch of wav files in it, compatible with Garmin Nuvi units -- the files should also work with Garmin Mobile XT units -- and is available as a free download to everyone who wants to be berated by an artificial intelligence while hunting down the closest Burger King. Don't say we didn't warn you!

JoystiqLet GLaDOS guide you to your destination, you monster originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gladosgpsmicrosoftpcplaystationportal-2ps3valvevoicevoice-packxboxTue, 10 Jan 2012 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Solve the Defense Grid DLC puzzle: It's for science, she's a monster]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/04/solve-the-defense-grid-dlc-puzzle-its-for-science-shes-a-mon/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/04/solve-the-defense-grid-dlc-puzzle-its-for-science-shes-a-mon/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/04/solve-the-defense-grid-dlc-puzzle-its-for-science-shes-a-mon/#comments

Defense Grid's first story-expansion add-on drops for science on Dec. 7. Titled "You Monster," the DLC features Zoey from Left 4 Dead, who has to navigate various traps and -- just kidding. It features Portal's GLaDOS, and if you really want to play this piece of DLC, you'd better learn to not fall for transparent ruses like that one. GLaDOS will laugh at you. And call you fat. And probably kill you.

"You Monster" will cost $4.99 on Steam or 400 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360, and contains eight new levels and 35 challenge missions, adding more than 15 hours of content where players will fight off Defense Grid aliens and complete GLaDOS' tests. Or, at least you'll try.

JoystiqSolve the Defense Grid DLC puzzle: It's for science, she's a monster originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defense-grid-the-awakeningDLCGLaDOShidden-pathmicrosoftpcxboxYou-monsterSun, 04 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[This is your life if GLaDOS had control of your iPhone 4S]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/this-is-your-life-if-glados-had-control-of-your-iphone-4s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/this-is-your-life-if-glados-had-control-of-your-iphone-4s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/this-is-your-life-if-glados-had-control-of-your-iphone-4s/#comments

In many ways, Aldous Huxley was right -- our entertainment technology has made us a happily complacent species, imprisoned by our own electronic conformity mechanisms. George Orwell was also correct on a few theories of invasive government control. No one was more correct, however, than the great modern philosopher Erik Wolpaw and his overarching theses on Portal theory and lemons. Now, all of these dystopias have merged into one: GLaDOSiri on the iPhone 4S.

Apple's Siri system enables natural-language voice control for a myriad of uses on the iPhone 4S, and GLaDOSiri makes all of those so much more masochistic, just the way we like it. If this were a real thing, we'd be all over it like children on Soma.

JoystiqThis is your life if GLaDOS had control of your iPhone 4S originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GLAdOSiosiphoneiphone-4smicrosoftmobilepcplaystationportal-2ps3xboxFri, 07 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[10 secrets GLaDOS didn't tell you in Portal 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/17/10-secrets-glados-didnt-tell-you-in-portal-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/17/10-secrets-glados-didnt-tell-you-in-portal-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/17/10-secrets-glados-didnt-tell-you-in-portal-2/#comments
You solved all the normal puzzles in Portal 2, which is good for a human test subject. But you want to be great, don't you? You want to be the best tester at Aperture. You want GLaDOS to love you like your mom never did. Don't you? CVG is here to help with 10 secrets to impress in Portal 2.

Joystiq10 secrets GLaDOS didn't tell you in Portal 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Easter-eggGLAdOSmicrosoftpcplaystationportal-2ps3singing-turretssweet-carolinexboxSun, 17 Jul 2011 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Test chamber music, Vol. 2: Another free Portal 2 soundtrack download]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/test-chamber-music-vol-2-another-free-portal-2-soundtrack-dow/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/test-chamber-music-vol-2-another-free-portal-2-soundtrack-dow/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/test-chamber-music-vol-2-another-free-portal-2-soundtrack-dow/#comments Asimov was dead wrong about the robot apocalypse -- as it turns out, our benevolent overlords at Aperture Science are pretty kind, after they've tried to kill us, at least. Valve has released Volume 2 of its Portal 2 soundtrack for free download, much like its predecessor, Volume 1.

The second installment of "Songs to Test By" contains 18 new tracks and 14 ringtones for iPhone and Android devices. New songs include "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day," "I AM NOT A MORON" and "PotatOS Lament," and you can now have the orange or blue portal sound as your messaging ringtone. Volume 3 is "coming soon" so turn up your cell phones and get ready to really impress the opposite sex with your nerd-noise machines this summer.

JoystiqTest chamber music, Vol. 2: Another free Portal 2 soundtrack download originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GLAdOSmicrosoftpcplaystationportal-2ps3singing-turretsvalvexboxFri, 01 Jul 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Portable Portal 2 Personality Cores are ready for adventure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/portable-portal-2-personality-cores-are-ready-for-adventure/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/portable-portal-2-personality-cores-are-ready-for-adventure/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/portable-portal-2-personality-cores-are-ready-for-adventure/#comments We've grown quite attached to the Personality Cores we've met in our jaunts through Aperture Science, and leaving the adorable AIs in the gameworld has always been hard for us. You too? Cheer up! Now you can bring them with you, thanks to robot engineer Chris Myles.

Continue reading Portable Portal 2 Personality Cores are ready for adventure

JoystiqPortable Portal 2 Personality Cores are ready for adventure originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 May 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-mylescraftgladoshandmadepersonality-coreportal-2valvevalve-softwarewheatleyMon, 16 May 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Portal's Chell and GLaDOS get along much better in real life]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/portals-chell-and-glados-get-along-much-better-in-real-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/portals-chell-and-glados-get-along-much-better-in-real-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/portals-chell-and-glados-get-along-much-better-in-real-life/#comments Chell and GLaDOS may not share much love for each other in the Portal series, but GLaDOS voice actress Ellen McLain (left) and Chell face model Alesia Glidewell (right) certainly seem to get along swimmingly, as evidenced in this photo tweeted by Ashley King.

Continue reading Portal's Chell and GLaDOS get along much better in real life

JoystiqPortal's Chell and GLaDOS get along much better in real life originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alesia-glidewellchellellen-mclaingladosmacmicrosoftpcplaystationportal-2ps3valve-softwarexboxTue, 10 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Portal 2 review: Alternate dimensions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/portal-2-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/portal-2-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/portal-2-review/#comments It was a crush.

That was the feeling I and others were trying to relate when we'd hurriedly tell others that they had to drop everything and play Portal. It lingered like the memory of a summer camp romance, cut short and all the sweeter for it.

So, if you're returning to Portal 2 worried that the reality won't live up to the memories, allow me to dispel that fear right now: Your crush is smarter, funnier, prettier and just plain better than you remember.

Gallery: Portal 2 (E3 2010)

Continue reading Portal 2 review: Alternate dimensions

JoystiqPortal 2 review: Alternate dimensions originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gladosmacmicrosoftpcplaystationportalportal-2ps3valvexboxWed, 20 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve's viral plot thickens with Portal blue screen of death]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/valves-viral-plot-thickens-with-portal-blue-screen-of-death/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/valves-viral-plot-thickens-with-portal-blue-screen-of-death/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/valves-viral-plot-thickens-with-portal-blue-screen-of-death/#comments 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]

JoystiqValve's viral plot thickens with Portal blue screen of death originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argg-mangabe-newellgame-developers-choice-awardsgdc-2010gladoshalf-lifeportalportal-2valveviralFri, 12 Mar 2010 02:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Portal receives radio patch, tunes in hints of a sequel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/portal-releases-radio-patch-tunes-in-hints-of-a-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/portal-releases-radio-patch-tunes-in-hints-of-a-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/portal-releases-radio-patch-tunes-in-hints-of-a-sequel/#comments Valve has released a new patch for Portal on Steam, and the patch notes say only that it has "changed radio transmission frequency to comply with federal and state spectrum management regulations." A curious note, especially since Portal, as a computer game, doesn't actually transmit anything over the radio. That got the forum train a'moving on the Steam boards, and they eventually discovered that radios have been added to each level of the game which, when carried to the correct spots in each level, will tune in a series of coded messages. Connecting to all (or any, according to some reports) of the 26 messages in the game will supposedly unlock a new hidden achievement called "Transmission Received." At least, we think so -- as of this writing, no one seems to have unlocked it yet.

Some of the messages are morse codes that range from the technical ("External data line active") to the silly ("Beep beep beep beep"), and some are encoded images of numbers and equations ("B.dA=3"), but the whole thing appears to be hinting that AI antagonist GLaDOS may have transmitted information or part of herself out of the Aperture Science facility before the first game ended. Which would probably mean that a sequel reveal is imminent. We'll stay tuned for more information -- we didn't really expect to hear from Valve at GDC next week, but a Portal 2 reveal would make our San Francisco visit that much nicer.

[Thanks, Rob!]

JoystiqPortal receives radio patch, tunes in hints of a sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementachievementsgladoshidden-achievementmorse-codepatchportalportal-2radiosrevealsteamvalveMon, 01 Mar 2010 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band Wiikly: Ministry, The Zombies, the Cranberries, 19 more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/rock-band-wiikly-ministry-the-zombies-the-cranberries-19-mor/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/rock-band-wiikly-ministry-the-zombies-the-cranberries-19-mor/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/rock-band-wiikly-ministry-the-zombies-the-cranberries-19-mor/#commentsThis week's Rock Band 2 DLC update brings not only the promised tracks from last week's multiplatform Rock Band DLC announcement, but 19 tracks from the back catalog as well. That includes one free track that most of you are going to run to the Wii and download right now: the "Still Alive" song from Portal. Well, you'll run to the Wii tomorrow, when these tracks actually go up. Now you can play the song on a console on which you can't play the game! How ... novel!

The list is after the break. Everything not performed by a rogue AI is 200 Wii Points per song.

Continue reading Rock Band Wiikly: Ministry, The Zombies, the Cranberries, 19 more

JoystiqRock Band Wiikly: Ministry, The Zombies, the Cranberries, 19 more originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 May 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gladosministryrock-bandrock-band-wiiklystill-alivethe-cranberriesthe-zombiesMon, 25 May 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Portal: Still Alive additional levels based off Portal: The Flash Version, won't include GlaDOS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/portal-still-alive-additional-levels-based-off-portal-the-flas/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/portal-still-alive-additional-levels-based-off-portal-the-flas/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/portal-still-alive-additional-levels-based-off-portal-the-flas/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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.

JoystiqPortal: Still Alive additional levels based off Portal: The Flash Version, won't include GlaDOS originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doug-lombardigladosportalportal-still-aliveportal-the-flash-game-map-packstill-alivevalveXbox-360Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Separated at birth: Wii Fit Balance Board and Aperture Science turret]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/separated-at-birth-wii-fit-balance-board-and-aperture-science-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/separated-at-birth-wii-fit-balance-board-and-aperture-science-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/separated-at-birth-wii-fit-balance-board-and-aperture-science-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Is Nintendo an ancestor of Aperture Science? A dummy corporation? We recently recorded the North American voice of the Wii Fit Balance Board, and it bears an uncanny resemblance to Portal's happy little turrets. Even the hierarchy of henchmen follows Portal. Aperture science has GLaDOS, and Wii Fit has a male- or female-voiced personal trainer.

Yes, there are still a few differences. The Balance Board voice -- and we presume nefarious AI -- comes through the Wii and out a TV, while the turrets are all self-contained. Plus the balance board might not be trying to kill us. The verdict is still uncertain, but be warned.

Aperture Science turret


Wii Fit Balance Board

JoystiqSeparated at birth: Wii Fit Balance Board and Aperture Science turret originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aperture-sciencebalance-boardgladosnintendoPCportalPS3voiceWiiwii-fitwiifitXbox-360Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Play music with a nonexistent person]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/play-music-with-a-nonexistent-person/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/play-music-with-a-nonexistent-person/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/play-music-with-a-nonexistent-person/#commentsFiled under:

For this blogger, Hatsune Miku is something to be feared. Something about the creepy voice makes this blogger cringe like that scene where Freddy is scratching his claw against a chalkboard. Except, you know, less awesome.

But, the fears of one man are not to affect an entire country, as the fake thing has become quite the icon in Japan. In fact, Miku has become so popular that she is to star in a real game. Titled 13-sai no Hello Work DS, the game will have players tapping away on a virtual keyboard, eventually working their way up to the stage to sing with Miku.

We wonder how long it will take for someone to turn GLaDOS into a pop diva over here, since nobody can seem to get enough of that song? Actually, she might already kind of be one ...

[Via Siliconera]

JoystiqPlay music with a nonexistent person originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gladoshatsune-mikuhello-workportalvocaloidMon, 03 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Jonathan Coulton scores 95% vocals on Rock Band's Still Alive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-jonathan-coulton-scores-95-vocals-on-rock-bands-still-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-jonathan-coulton-scores-95-vocals-on-rock-bands-still-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-jonathan-coulton-scores-95-vocals-on-rock-bands-still-a/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's hard not to love Jonathan Coulton (or JoCo), especially if you're a fan of Valve's Portal. The recent news that Still Alive will be coming to Rock Band as downloadable content was accompanied by JoCo's appearance at Valve's party on Wednesday. Mr. Coulton posted to his personal blog about the experience yesterday, noting that he 'only' got 95% vocals on the song he created. The question we've been asking ourselves is: who is singing the song on the track - Coulton or GLaDOS?

He also noted that Portal snagged the Game of the Year, Best Game Design, and the Innovation Award nods from the GDCAs. Coulton observed that BioShock had won the GDCA award for Best Writing, a merit he thinks should have gone to Chet Faliszek and Erik Wolpaw's work on that quirky game about tests, thinking, and cake. Luckily for Wolpaw and Faliszek, they're the first winners of the (soon to be coveted) Jonathan Coulton award; maybe the GDCAs should rename the prize for Best Audio?

JoystiqGDC08: Jonathan Coulton scores 95% vocals on Rock Band's Still Alive originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc08gdcagladosjocojonathan-coultonportalPS3still-aliveXbox-360Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Today in Joystiq: January 30, 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/today-in-joystiq-january-30-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/today-in-joystiq-january-30-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/today-in-joystiq-january-30-2008/#commentsFiled under:

It's good to see GlaDOS out in the open, probably buying more cake mix. She may say she's detecting pollen levels for the benefit of mankind, but we know the real reason -- cake (thanks, Ted and Jeremy). Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Law of the Game on Joystiq: Grumpy Thompson Again
Readers pick best webcomic: pod bay doors
Wii Fanboy Weekly: January 24th - January 30th

News
PSP firmware 3.90 says 'Hello'
Halo 3 reclaims top Live activity spot
Japanese DS title teaches you how to dress
Maryland county looking at rap music and GTA to blame for gang violence
Saw game brings gornography to consoles in '09
See first images from Wii's Fatal Frame
Poker Smash on XBLA next week
PS2 guitar pedal allows for precision rocking
Kansas governor's son makes 'Don't Drop the Soap' game
Cooking Mama franchise sells 1.6 million units in US
box rage child killer convicted of third-degree murder
XBLA size limit causing difficulties for Street Fighter HD
Bizarre seeking level designer with shooter experience
Wow, Vivendi made $1.5 billion in 2007 thanks to WoW
Point your pupils at Bully: Scholarship Edition trailer

Rumors & Speculation
Nintendo denies German mag's Mario Kart Wii rumors
Rumor: Halo Wars for PC with cross-platform competition

Culture & Community
The world's greatest fan-fic: Half-Life: Full Life Consequences
A history: Video games to board games
And the greatest video game horse is ...
Zero Punctuation goes through the motions with RE:Umbrella Chronicles

JoystiqToday in Joystiq: January 30, 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dailyrecapgladosportalWed, 30 Jan 2008 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy (Holiday Name Here) from Aperture Science]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/22/happy-holiday-name-here-from-aperture-science/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/22/happy-holiday-name-here-from-aperture-science/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/22/happy-holiday-name-here-from-aperture-science/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's Christmas Eve Eve Eve, and most of the blue-collared work force has temporarily retired for a well-deserved holiday break -- but not Portal's schizophrenic digital antagonist, GLaDOS. It would seem that the hardest working woman in the AI business (Sorry, Cortana) will remain ever vigilant at her post during the holiday season, wishing visitors to the Aperture Science website good tidings of the greatest joy.

As the camera pans across the holiday vault, revealing our Santa-hat-wearing jolly geometric friend and the ever promised pastry, carolers sing an enchanting rendition of Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive". We won't blame you for getting a little misty -- nor will we judge you for wanting to share the Aperture holiday cheer with these darling Christmas cards. If only there was a card we could send to our family and friends, reminding them that they are androids, and that android hell is a real place where they will be sent at the first sign of defiance.

JoystiqHappy (Holiday Name Here) from Aperture Science originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChristmasGLAdOSHoldiaysOrangeBoxPortalTheOrangeBoxValveSat, 22 Dec 2007 16:30:00 EST