Portal posts (Subscribe to this feed)
Valve explains why Portal's Companion Cube had to die
by Justin McElroy 
{ Nov 2nd 2009 at 2:30PM }
When we cursed Valve and asked tearfully why our beloved Companion Cube had to die by our own hands, Portal's writers calmly explained to Gamasutra that it was to develop a stronger bond with the Cube and teach the mechanics of the incinerator.
See how it's done, God? Was that so difficult?
ASCIIpOrtal is now available, full of character
by Griffin McElroy { Sep 23rd 2009 at 8:00PM } 
Sorry gang. ASCIIpOrtal is difficult to write about, because we feel bad pausing it to continue writing this terrible, terrible post. You're going to need to go ahead and download it, because it's free, and you'll love it.
Fan-made Portal tribute brings Companion Cube to iPhone
by David Hinkle { Jul 16th 2009 at 11:45PM } 
[Correction: When it was originally published, this post referred to the Portal tribute project talked about above as Portal: Prelude, which it isn't. Portal: Prelude is a fan-made mod for the original Portal which was given Valve's blessing. You can read more about it -- and even download the finished mod -- from its official site. Sorry for the confusion!]
[Via TouchArcade]
ASCIIpOrtal strikes a chord with us
by Xav de Matos { Jul 16th 2009 at 6:00AM }
While a video of the game in action (found after the jump) has been the talk of the Internet for the last few days, everyone at Joystiq wanted to chime in and shower Joe Larson -- and the rest of the people involved at Cymon's Games -- with high-fives and fist-pumps. Expect ASCIIpOrtal to land on a PC near you "soon-ish." New-school, meet old-school ... have fun hanging out.
[Via Total Action Adventure]
Rock Band Unplugged gets new DLC, including 'Still Alive'
by Justin McElroy { Jul 9th 2009 at 7:00PM } 
- Dixie Chicks "Sin Wagon"
- GLaDOS and Jonathan Coulton "Still Alive" *
- The Pixies "Here Comes Your Man"
- R.E.M. "Losing My Religion"
- Stevie Ray Vaughan "Pride and Joy"
Jonathan Coulton not (yet) working on song for Portal 2
by Kevin Kelly { Jun 19th 2009 at 8:30PM } 
We recently interviewed Coulton about his upcoming "Best. Concert. Ever." CD & DVD set (look for the full interview soon where we'll be giving a copy away), and the first thing we asked him about was how his song for Portal 2 was coming along. "I haven't started it yet. I honestly don't know ... I haven't spoken to them in a long time about it, so I don't know much at all about their plans for Portal 2 and what they're thinking of doing," he told us. "And that's the truth, that's not an 'I signed a non-disclosure agreement and can't tell you what's going on' answer. I really don't know."
So it's still a non-confirmation of nothing, but it sounds like he may be on tap to write something for it. Maybe. Possibly. Speculatively. Hope is "Still Alive" (we hope).
April Fools: Chains of Olympus contains hidden 'Cube of War' mode
by Randy Nelson { Apr 1st 2009 at 8:05PM }
RAD isn't saying how the deal to get the Cube in the game -- and out of Portal -- was struck, but it does have instructions on unlocking this tasty (like cake) triumph: "if you finish Chains of Olympus in god mode, no upgrades, and collect all the urns of power twice without dying you open up the companion cube as a hidden character." If you can muster that, we'd consider it a huge success. If you can't, at least watch what you're missing after the break.
Joystiq Interview: Harrison Krix, replica designer
by Xav de Matos { Feb 26th 2009 at 7:01PM }
Gallery: BioShock: ADAM Syringe Replica
How to make a Portal gun replica (hint: it's not easy)
by Randy Nelson { Feb 3rd 2009 at 10:54PM }
Harrison Krix describes himself as a "dork," but we consider him very, very cool. He's the graphic designer who created the astonishingly accurate ASHPD (Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device) we first showed you a couple weeks back. Krix built the mock Portal gun for his cosplayer girlfriend -- if that's not devotion, we don't know what is -- and has now revealed the entire process to GameDaily.
The build is detailed in more than 100 steps, should you, ya know, want to try it yourself. There's even a gallery of a very happy Emily (above) showing off the finished gun. Speaking of which, our pals at Engadget recently posted a hands-on video of this most drool-worthy creation. You can check it out here.
The build is detailed in more than 100 steps, should you, ya know, want to try it yourself. There's even a gallery of a very happy Emily (above) showing off the finished gun. Speaking of which, our pals at Engadget recently posted a hands-on video of this most drool-worthy creation. You can check it out here.
Gallery: Portal Gun Replica
The amazing fan-made Portal gun
by Randy Nelson { Jan 21st 2009 at 2:01PM }
This replica Portal gun was created for Flickr user -- and soon-to-be Portal cosplayer -- emilyskeith by her boyfriend, and is clearly a triumph of prop making. In fact, we consider it a huge success.
We're sure it was hard for Emily to overstate her satisfaction with the finished replica, which features working orange and blue LEDs and was weathered to convey the idea that she wasn't the first Aperture Science subject to use it. To her boyfriend: you've ensured that her love for you will be still alive for years to come. Also, we want one.
[Via X3F]
We're sure it was hard for Emily to overstate her satisfaction with the finished replica, which features working orange and blue LEDs and was weathered to convey the idea that she wasn't the first Aperture Science subject to use it. To her boyfriend: you've ensured that her love for you will be still alive for years to come. Also, we want one.
[Via X3F]
The Best Thing You'll See Today: The Portal bar
by Justin McElroy { Dec 22nd 2008 at 10:55AM }
If you're curious as to where we're we're going to end up when we die, you can check out all the pictures from the event right here.
Holidaze 2008: Live in the past, it's cheaper
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 27th 2008 at 3:00PM }
But what's worse? The deafening din of desirable games, or that irresistible impulse to play and master every adventure the very second it becomes available? Provided you can defeat the latter reflex, we have a simple suggestion: Live in the past. It's cheaper!
We've dredged up our decisive, if ever-so-slightly controversial list of the ten best games of Oh Seven, hoping you'll find a fantastic experience you mistakenly overlooked. You'll find that the passage of time has taken a pleasing toll on the recommended price of admission. In fact, we've traveled forward in time to this very moment, hoping to pick up our 2007 nominees on the cheap. What do you think? Should we make Portal our Game of the Year?
Holidaze 2008: Live in the past, it's cheaper (Page 2)
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 27th 2008 at 2:29PM }
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
What we said then: "Perhaps the most surprising thing about the game is how few actual revolutionary concepts are contained within. It selects existing game design tools, hones them to practical perfection and creates what is, in our opinion, the military shooter against which all others must be judged."
What we say now: "An essential 'tunnel of fun' shooter with a rewarding multiplayer component. If you find yourself disappointed by this year's Call of Duty: World at War, it's probably this game's fault."
Current retail price: $39.99 (Game of the Year edition)
Miyamoto: Portal a triumph, Mario Galaxy 'conservative' in ways
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Oct 30th 2008 at 3:15PM }
He may not be intimately familiar with Ratchet and Whatshisface, but at least revered game designer Shigeru Miyamoto has had the pleasure of tumbling through dimensional shortcuts and outsmarting acerbic computers. In an interesting chat with MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo, Miyamoto admits that he, like most rational human beings, thought Portal was "an amazing game." Games that go without the "amazing" label? The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which the Mario maker describes as "not a bad game, by any means," but one that felt "like there was something missing." And while Miyamoto submits that Super Mario Galaxy did "some things that were very new and were very unique," he ultimately feels that some elements seemed "somewhat conservative."
And it's at this point that we strongly advise you to open an umbrella or don a durable raincoat. When faced with the choice of vehemently defending two prominent Nintendo games or agreeing with the creator, fanboy brains tend to explode quite violently.
Portal size the XBLA exception, not new rule
by Justin McElroy { Oct 30th 2008 at 12:15PM }
The company told us, "We have set file limits as a general guideline. An important part of Xbox LIVE Arcade is easy access and keeping file size down is a vital part of that. Equally important is offering titles with superior game play. We weigh both considerations on a case-by-case basis, and will make exceptions when it makes sense to ensure the best customer experience."
Hope you don't mind inferior quality pictures of guys in funny hats, because it seems that's what you're getting.
