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Portal 2

HarMGM

By HarMGM
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Darragh

Darragh

Posted
Posted

Jesus, that's bad! For a company that does almost everything with seemingly effortless charm, style and intelligence, you'd hope they'd just stick a decent artist on cover art duties.

It's not as bad as The Orange Box boxart, though, I guess, which is something. Eurgh.

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Rushy

Rushy

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Posted

Jesus, that's bad! For a company that does almost everything with seemingly effortless charm, style and intelligence, you'd hope they'd just stick a decent artist on cover art duties.

I'd say its highly likely the publisher will be partially responsible for the box-art in this instance, they'll probably have a strong say on both the content and art direction. That's my guess my anyway.

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revlob

revlob

Posted
Posted

I watched a video of a guy playing it, it looked really cumbersome and shit for playing an FPS with.

like the wii

Well, it looked just like how one plays Metroid Prime, for what it's worth. You'd get slaughtered in deathmatch, but for a game laike Portal it looks fine. The video from the RPS article showed of some other interesting stuff too, the "custom content" Razer have been creating specifically for the controller, with cubes which can be stretched in size with the portal gun, which results in a corresponding change in mass.

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NecroMorrius

NecroMorrius

Posted
Posted

Looks shit. The guy presenting it is wearing a beret, what more do you need to know

I can see it working for people with mobility issues or RSI etc. Genuinely. But nah.

Well, at least it's in HD.

Seriously though, even with Valve and Gabe's Mighty Arse behind it, this will surely fail horribly on PC - right?

Well, there are loads of Kinectalikes coming out for PC too, as Microsoft licensed the Kinect hardware from someone who is now licensing to Asus and others. So motion control is coming to the PC whether we like it or not, but I don't think there's a market for it. Maybe in custom UI builds etc.

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The Sarge

The Sarge

Posted
Posted

IGN Preview (contains a few spoilers from the opening section -30mins - of the game.)

Portal 2 is not wedged into a content pack with other high profile sequels. This time it has to stand on its own as a complete game. According to Valve, the single-player story mode in Portal 2 will be roughly two and a half times as long as Portal. Then there's the all-new co-operative mode, which in total will be about two times longer than the original game. Of course that's entirely relative. If you get stuck, it could take a lot longer. Or if you're a super-human and can speed-run Portal in under 10 minutes, then I really don't know what to tell you. I guess 25 minutes?

So what exactly has changed in the sequel? Valve's added in plenty of toys to help you solve puzzles, including spreadable globs of bouncy goo and jump pads and light bridges and more. But what really stands out is the sound. Trapped in your room at the start, you're awakened long after the shiny and clinical cleanliness of the Aperture Science facility has rusted. It's in the process of being gobbled up by grasses, vines, and trees. It turns out you're a forgotten survivor, and your room is only one of many hanging in a Matrix-like storage facility where other test subjects were placed to await their trials.

No longer is GlaDOS one of the few things you hear. Instead, the facility sprawls before you and throughout its grassy expanse chirp birds over a drone of crickets. Depending on the level of action, music on the soundtrack can range from soothing arrangements of wind instruments to pulsing electronic synths. The prerecorded messages of a male voice follow you throughout the opening simple test chambers. A portal gun is made available very quickly after starting out. Like in the first game, it can initially shoot only one portal, slowly easing you into the mechanics. Veterans will be able to breeze through while newcomers will no doubt appreciate the simple lessons taught early on.

It's not instantly recognizable while playing, but Valve has designed the game so that no characters talk when it comes time to solve a puzzle. This means there'll be as few distractions as possible while you're lining up long-distance jumps and transporting cubes through portals to trigger switches and open doors to the next testing chamber. When the puzzles are over, though, there's a character talking at you almost every step of the way.

In the opening parts that character is Wheatley, a friendly spherical robot voiced by The Office co-writer Stephen Merchant. Merchant's sublime wit meshes perfectly with the franchise's sense of humor, where the characters cope with the absurd frequency of fatal traps and obstacles by projecting a disarmingly cheerful demeanor. He greets you at the game's beginning to say hi, but mostly to guide you out of your room to safety. "You might have a very minor case of serious brain damage," he says after you wake up. "But don't be alarmed. Although if you do feel alarmed, try to hold on to that feeling because that is the proper reaction to being told that you've got brain damage."

The writing and voice acting are undeniably endearing. In a sequence where you come across one of Portal's chatty turrets stuck in a pipe, Wheatley urges you to speed past as though it's an unexpected meeting with an ex, while in the background the turret whimpers "I'm different." The prerecorded male voice greets you at the beginnings of the tutorial test chambers and theorizes about potential disaster states of the world outside Aperture's walls, including a world government helmed by "any manner of animal king." At the outset of an especially deadly test chamber, the male voice is there to promote calm. "To help you remain tranquil in the face of almost certain death, smooth jazz will be deployed in 3...2...1...," at which point smooth jazz, complete with a soloing saxophone, is indeed deployed at a high volume, though moments later it slows and detunes until fading into a crackling hiss.

The goal throughout is simply to escape, though doing so requires you to pass right by GLaDOS's deactivated body, which doesn't stay slumped over for long. What dangers wait for you and Wheatley and whoever else beyond that point remain to be seen. The short, tutorial-style challenges separated by elevators that comprise the first 30 or so minutes of gameplay feel highly reminiscent of the first game, but the connecting story sections leave me hopeful that there's a lot more to this sequel in terms of puzzle complexity and entertaining character interaction.

Has Portal 2 been worth waiting for throughout all the delays? Based on what I've seen, I'd be willing to give Valve all the time it needs.

http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/114/1144005p1.html

:)

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The Sarge

The Sarge

Posted
Posted (edited)

So here's some very interesting news for PS3 and PC/MAC owners...

Valve’s just confirmed that Portal 2 will feature cross-platform play between PS3 and both PC and Mac owners of the game when it releases in April.

Features also confirmed a “persistent cloud-based storage of PS3 saved games” as well as cross-platform chat on PS3, PC and Mac.

Valve’s also confirmed it’ll include a “Steam Play” of the game with every copy of the PS3 version, which means a Steam key for the PC and Mac version will be included.

“We made a promise to gamers at E3 that Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 would be the best console version of the product,” said Valve boss Gabe Newell.

“Working together with Sony we have identified a set of features we believe are very compelling to gamers. We hope to expand upon the foundation being laid in Portal 2 with more Steam features and functionality in DLC and future content releases.”

Portal 2 for PS3 was announced with full Steamworks support at E3 last June during Sony’s press conference by Newell.

http://www.vg247.com/2011/01/18/portal-2-to-feature-ps3-pc-cross-platform-play-steam-key-included-with-ps3-version/

Official PR

PORTAL 2 PLAYSTATION 3 STEAM FEATURES REVEALED

January 18, 2011 -- Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced the Steam features shipping with the PlayStation 3 (PS3) version of Portal 2.

Marking the debut of Steam functioning on any next generation console, the features shipping in the PS3 version of Portal 2 include cross platform play (PC/Mac vs. PS3) for multiplayer games, persistent cloud-based storage of PS3 saved games, and cross platform chat (PC/Mac and PS3).

In addition, those who purchase Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 may unlock a Steam Play (PC & Mac) copy of Portal 2 at no additional cost by linking their PSN and Steam accounts.

"We made a promise to gamers at E3 that Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 would be the best console version of the product," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. "Working together with Sony we have identified a set of features we believe are very compelling to gamers. We hope to expand upon the foundation being laid in Portal 2 with more Steam features and functionality in DLC and future content releases."

"We designed the Portal 2 PS3 experience to be very straightforward for gamers," said Josh Weier, project lead on Portal 2 at Valve. "PS3 gamers will be able to simply drop the Blu-Ray disc in the PS3, link to their Steam account from inside the game, and all their Steam friends (on PC and Mac) will be visible and accessible for chat and game invites."

These features are made possible thru the use of Steam, Valve's platform for the delivery and management of games and digital content.

Portal 2 is due for release on the PlayStation 3, PC, Mac and Xbox 360 this April.

For more information, please visit www.thinkingwithportals.com

And with that news, I think I'll be changing my pre-order to PS3. :)

Edited by The Sarge
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bradigor

bradigor

Posted
Posted

I'll say it now... by the end of 2011 (with a potential announcement at E3) Steam will be on PS3 fully.

Looks like I need this three times over too. 360 for achievements and leaderboards (if there are any), PS3 for the Steam Copy

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Ferine

Ferine

Posted
Posted

Wait... if the PS3 version comes with a key for the PC version... what's to stop someone from buying the PS3 version, using the key, and returning the game to the shop for either a full refund or in exchange for another game?

Perhaps the PS3 version has to be activated via Steam, thus becoming tied to a PSN account?

Who's to say, but Valve aren't idiots.

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Mr. Gerbik

Mr. Gerbik

Posted
Posted

Perhaps the PS3 version has to be activated via Steam, thus becoming tied to a PSN account?

Who's to say, but Valve aren't idiots.

I really hope they thought this through because even having to enter the PC key on the PS3 version of Steamworks wouldn't make any difference. It's still activate key (whether on PC or free PSN account) -> download on PC -> return PS3 copy -> LOL

Edit:I won't be doing this myself btw, I'll be willingly buying and lovingly preloading the game on Steam and I'll be damned if I have to walk to an actual store to get the game :)

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JPR

JPR

Posted
Posted

I really hope they thought this through because even having to enter the PC key on the PS3 version of Steamworks wouldn't make any difference. It's still activate key (whether on PC or free PSN account) -> download on PC -> return PS3 copy -> LOL

Edit:I won't be doing this myself btw, I'm willingly buying and lovingly preloading the game on Steam and I'll be damned if I have to walk to an actual store to get the game :)

Us plebs use the postal service to avoid the walking part ;)

I do wonder how it will work though, maybe it will be the case that the PS3 version will be linked and activated on a Steam account the same way PC games are, so it effectively becomes worthless second hand. Could see some backlash but coming at it from the PC angle I think this is great news and the sort of thing I've been wanting to see. Will be interesting to see where they go with it and if other developers/publishers come on board, even if they just went for cross platform play it would be great to see, wonder if it would be possible to have saves that are compatible to both platforms.

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Spacehost

Spacehost

Posted
Posted

FYI you link your Steam account of choice to your PSN account to get the Steamworks support working and said steam account then gets access to Portal 2. How they'll restrict abuse of this feature I don't know, but I would imagine Steamworks is activated using a game key provided in the box. Second hand game, no Steamworks support.

I for one welcome the fact I'll be able to play the game I bought from Valve on both my home gaming rigs.

Edit- and I'm sure they announced saves on Steamworks are accessable on any machine.

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Rushy

Rushy

Posted
Posted

Gah, that all sounds lovely but I hate playing FPS games on the bloody Dual Shock. Decisions. Decisions.

Play it with the Move?

Waitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminute.....

So if I buy Portal 2 for the PS3, I also get it for the PC at no extra cost? But if I bought it for the PC, do I get the PS3 version with that (ie. a download link for the PS3 version via the PSN)?

No, as someone needs to pay the licensing fee to Sony. There are no licensing fees on the PC.

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JPR

JPR

Posted
Posted

I wouldn't be surprised if we got a big Steam sale around the time of the release though, an Easter sale maybe. Give the PS3 users a free copy and get them on Steam then hook them with cheap games in the sale, all part of Gabe's plan for world hat domination. Even if you're purely a PC gamer I think this could be a great move if it just gets more people into it and Steam.

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