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These talking GlaDOS Curiosity Spheres probably want to kill you
"Well, you found me. Congratulations. Was it worth it? Because despite your violent behavior, the only thing you've managed to break so far ... is my heart. Maybe you could settle for that and we'll just call it a day? I guess we both know that isn't going to happen."
PSA: Portal: Still Alive is $10 on Xbox Live this week
Xbox Live Arcade's Portal: Still Alive stepped through an inter-spacial tear of savings and popped out the other side $5 cheaper. Valve's fantastic puzzle game, which was also Joystiq's game of the year for 2007, will be 800 ($10) on XBLA this week. Considering The Orange Box, which includes Portal (minus the 14 "exclusive" levels in Still Alive), is only $20, it may be worth it to splurge on the full package. Especially if you've never played Portal, Half-Life 2 or Team Fortress 2. Also, if you haven't played those games, we hope your decade-long excursion in the Amazon was amazing. Add Portal: Still Alive to your download queue
Xbox Live deals, XBLA releases and Games on Demand for January
Major Nelson recently peeled away the veil separating us from the knowledge of when stuff would be coming out on Xbox Live Marketplace over what remains of the month of January. This new knowledge includes the upcoming Deals of the Week -- on January 18, both of the DLC packs for the original Mass Effect will be marked down to 240 ($3) each and Hasbro Family Game Night: Battleship will get rolled back to 400 ($5); and on January 25, Portal: Still Alive will have its price temporarily reduced to 800 ($10). The Major also announced two new Games on Demand: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2, available now for $20, and Dead Rising, coming January 26 for an undisclosed price. For the rest of January's bounty, including discounted Games on Demand titles, XBLA releases and Avatar items, head past the jump.
XBLA Portal file size exception, not the new rule
According to Microsoft, the hefty 629MB file size of Portal: Still Alive for the Xbox Live Arcade is not setting a new maximum standard for games on the service.In response to inquires made by our sister-site Joystiq, Microsoft stated: "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." In May, Microsoft increased the XBLA file size limit to 350MB.So, the XBLA still has a hard file size limit ... except when there isn't. Wait, what?
Portal size the XBLA exception, not new rule
Sadly, it seems Joystiq Publishing's avant-garde video game project "629 MB Picture Of A Guy Wearing A Funny Hat" will have to stay on the shelf. According to Microsoft, the scale-tipping 629 MB of Portal: Still Alive was not the new standard for XBLA publishers.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.
XBLA in Brief: Portal: Still Alive
This week on XBLA in Brief, we take a look at Portal: Still Alive. Sure, it seems like an easy choice for those wanting to try Portal without paying for The Orange Box. 15 bucks for the original Portal and 14 new challenge maps? Sounds pretty good to us. The only real question is whether or not the 14 additional maps are worth it to Portal fanatics. At a buck a map, we're inclined to say yes. Check out the latest installment of XBLA in Brief to see what's new in Still Alive.[iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes.[Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly (Zune Marketplace link coming soon).[RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[M4V] Download the M4V directly.
Portal: Still Alive tips scales at 629 MB
Is there some point at which an XBLA game has enough girth to drop that adorable "Arcade" moniker and just be, you know, a game? Weighing in at 629 MB, Portal: Still Alive seems to be pretty close to that limit. That means that if you're not sporting a hard drive in your 360, you're pretty much out of luck. It also means that the previously announced 350 MB limit has just been kicked in the teeth.Still Alive is almost double the last King of Bytes: EA Sports Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker, which boasted a comparatively paltry 334 MB. We've put a line out to Microsoft to see if this is a one-time thing or a new policy -- we'll let you know what we hear.
Portal: Still Alive teleports to the XBLA, requires hard drive
Update: As a commenter pointed out, Portal: Still Alive clocks in at 630MB. Microsoft increased the XBLA limit to 350MB in May. With memory cards capped at 512MB, Portal: Still Alive becomes the first Arcade title that cannot fit on a memory card and requires a hard drive.Original Story: Is it possible to write this post without the following references: cake, lies and catchy songs? Well, let's see how this works out.Now available on the Xbox Live Arcade is the Valve title that landed on over 30 Game of the Year lists in 2007 with an additional 14 maps: Portal: Still Alive. Asking 1200MS points, this version of Portal is the same title released last year but includes new challenge maps -- that would be the 14 we mentioned before -- making it a solid package for new gamers to the game. For the rest of us who've played it, we could see the benefit of grabbing the pack if we've ditched our copy of The Orange Box and wanted to net 200 new achievement points. Who here is picking Portal: Still Alive up on the Xbox Live Arcade today?Hey, look at that. We finished this post without mentioning the cake, lies or the catchy song ... uh, those don't count.
Next Wednesday: 'Portal: Still Alive' transports onto XBLA
(Note to self: Must avoid Portal clichés. Must avoid Portal clichés!)Microsoft announced today that Portal: Still Alive will bend reality on XBLA beginning next Wednesday, October 22nd. The title includes the original Aperture Science adventure (Joystiq's GOTY 2007), along with 14 new "exclusive" challenge maps and six advanced maps, complete with new Achievements. So, you can have your cake and eat it, too. (Damn.) We've contacted Microsoft about a price for the game. Major Nelson tells us the game will be 1200 ($15).This isn't to say Portal: Still Alive is the only title coming next week to XBLA. The previous two weeks have had additional games announced on Wednesday.Source - Announcement [Gamerscore News]Source - Portal: Still Alive Achievements [Gamerscore Blog]
Portal: Still Alive to bend space on the XBLA this Wednesday [update]
Update: Major Nelson confirmed with us that Portal: Still Alive will be priced at 1200 Microsoft points.Attention -- the Aperture Science Enrichment Center cordially invites you back to experience its award-winning testing facility very soon on the Xbox Live Arcade. Play it again and for the first time with the complete original, 6 advanced maps and 14 new challenge maps. GamerScore Blog officially announced today that Portal: Still Alive will land on the marketplace on October 22. Unfortunately no price was revealed, which makes us think we're going to have to open the wallet wider than the average 800MS points. We can still dream, together.[Thanks, HazyCloud]
Portal XBLA achievements offer more original content than actual game
When it was announced at E3 2008 the potential of Portal: Still Alive for the Xbox Live Arcade excited fans of the popular holiday '07 first-person-puzzler. While the title is still anticipated for its bonus content, which is available for free now at BigDownload, many were disappointed that the title simply offers the same experience in downloadable form. As a testament to the popularity of the game and not the shortcomings of the Arcade release, players simply wanted more. Luckily original ideas have found a way into the XBLA release of Portal. Unfortunately they come in the form of new achievements for the game.Of the twelve achievements uncovered by MyGamerCard nine are original challenges for console gamers to play with when the game hits the service later this year. Well, at least we get something new! Hey, we don't mean to be hard on the game but its like when our parents scold us. They aren't mad, they're just disappointed. Yet, we still can't wait for the game ... sort that one out![Thanks, Morgon]
X08: Hands-on Portal: Still Alive (XBLA)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Hands_on_with_Portal_Still_Alive'; A buzzing noise fills the room as you are shaken awake. Bright lights bounce off the windowed walls of your 4 foot by 5 foot holding cell, making them twice as bright. As you rise from your bed and adjust your eyes a timer clicks from beyond your transparent walls and immediately you can't help but to fear you've seen this all before.Portal: Still Alive is the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade title based on the critically acclaimed original found in The Orange Box from Valve. Those who were unfortunate enough to never play the original Portal are in luck as Portal: Still Alive is essentially the exact same experience but with a few added bonuses.
Valve: Portal: Still Alive is an Xbox 360 exclusive
When Portal: Still Alive was first announced at E3 2008 it was touted as an Xbox 360 exclusive in 2008. In PR practitioner speak that means the game could see life on other platforms after 2008 but, according to Valve, that isn't the case. "I'd call that today's rumor," a Valve rep told CVG regarding a possible PSN version of Portal: Still Alive. "You're smart to ask. But no."Portal: Still Alive is the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade, standalone map expansion, game based on the Portal: The Flash Version map pack which is currently available on PC for free -- which you can download now at Big Download. For free. Did we mention it's free?Hey ... wait a minute! Oh, we guess Valve meant console exclusive. By the way, totally free on PC right now. Get it.
Valve reiterates Portal: Still Alive not coming to PSN
Addressing flying rumors that Portal: Still Alive might be going to PSN (really now?), a Valve spokesperson confirmed what we already know: it's not happening. "I'd call that today's rumor," said the spokesperson, further explaining the possibility with a simple and direct "no." So that's that. Anyway, for those of you who don't know, Portal: Still Alive is a digital downloadable version of Portal (off The Orange Box) with extra content. It's exclusive to the Xbox 360.
Valve would 'love' to see its older titles on XBLA
In an interview with Official Xbox Magazine UK, Valve's Doug Lombardi revealed that the company will "certainly consider" bringing some of its older titles to Xbox Live Arcade. With Valve already bringing Portal: Still Alive to XBLA, it would certainly make sense for Valve to look at placing its older titles on XBLA. Lombardi seems to agree, noting, "We'll certainly consider it. If you look at what we've done on Steam, we try to make all our games available and we're always reviewing the prices to keep them current." He added that Valve would "love" to bring it's older titles to XBLA but that "Portal: Still Alive is our first step at doing that beyond the PC." Lombardi also reiterates Valve's current strategy of working with the PC and 360 saying, "Right now, Valve's doing PC and 360 stuff, so anything we would iterate on would be on Xbox. We don't have any immediate plans to do this on PS3 or Nintendo."Can anyone say Counter-Strike?[Via Joystiq]
Valve committed to XBLA, re-releases possible
With excitement still brewing for the upcoming GlaDOS-free follow up to Portal, developer Valve has come forward, throwing its considerable weight behind Xbox Live Arcade while adding that the company is 'considering' bringing other titles from its catalog to the service as well. Says Valve's Doug Lombardi, "We'll certainly consider it. If you look at what we've done on Steam, we try to make all our games available and we're always reviewing the prices to keep them current. We'd love to do that, but Portal: Still Alive is our first step at doing that beyond the PC."While Lombardi adds that the studio currently has no "immediate plans" to test the waters of either the Wii or PlayStation 3, this remains great news for owners of Microsoft's console, possibly giving those who missed Valve's boat the first time around a second chance to climb on board.
New Portal: Still Alive content mined from Flash version and no GLaDOS
During Microsoft's E3 press conference, the announcement of Portal: Still Alive caused OMG MEGATON waves of excitement throughout the fanboy nation. That was until we discovered it wasn't a full fledged sequel and would instead be a re-release of the Portal game as experienced through the Orange Box with additional content. Soon, OXM confirmed the new content wouldn't be story driven which was a bit of a bummer, but now we're hearing from Valve's Doug Lombardi that the addition content won't even be original.Lombardi informed GameSetWatch that Portal: Still Alive's additional content will actually come from the fan created, fan tribute Portal: The Flash Version. Levels that can be experienced for free, online but now re-certified for inclusion on the 360 as part of Portal: Still Alive. It's kinda sucky if you think about it, because the flash inspired levels will not feature any story elements or the iconic GLaDOS herself. Major bummer.So, for those who have yet to experience Portal in all its portal creation glory, Portal: Still Alive looks to be a perfect purchase. It'll be a stand alone XBLA download featuring all the original Portal content plus a few levels from Portal: The Flash Version all for a reasonable price. But for those who already own the Orange Box, Still Alive may not be worth the MS points. Unless, of course, achievements are the main draw or you don't own a computer to play Portal: The Flash Version. If that's the case, then how are you reading this? Public library computers?[Via Joystiq]
Portal: Still Alive additional levels based off Portal: The Flash Version, won't include GlaDOS
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.
Valve's Lombardi talks Portal XBLA, achievements and other platforms
Valve's Doug Lombardi (seen muzzled by an X3F sticker at E3 2008) recently cleared up some confusion regarding the content of Portal: Still Alive for the Xbox Live Arcade in an interview with OXM. "It's just a series of new challenges," Lombardi told the magazine. "[Portal: Still Alive is] another way for people to experience Portal, without having to buy the full Orange Box."We can't say we're surprised. With such a focus on story we didn't expect Valve to do anything exclusively for the Xbox that would factor into actual canon of the series.Lombardi later detailed that Valve has new projects in the works for the Xbox 360 but remain firm on its disinterest for PS3 and Wii development. It was also confirmed that Team Fortess 2 that the achievements and content added to the PC version of the game will come to the Xbox 360 at some point, when Valve has worked out how it wants to package and release that content.
Video: GLaDOS assures us Portal is 'Still Alive'
It was a triumph / Microsoft and Valve announced a game / That game was Portal / Actually Portal: Still Alive / The game is coming out on XBLA Sometime; we don't know / But GameTrailers has the tease announce / Click on the window / That's where you'll see the video / Be sure to ...
