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Watch Valve's Erik Wolpaw lecture on Portal 2 development, nixed ideas
If you missed Valve writer Erik Wolpaw's talk on Portal 2 at New York University's Game Center lecture series event last Thursday, don't worry -- we've got you covered. NYU has uploaded the entirety of Wolpaw's massive, hour-plus talk and the Q&A session that followed in video form (which we've embedded below the break). Grab a drink and relax -- you can put that notebook away. There won't be a test or anything.
Portal's Chell and GLaDOS get along much better in real life
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.
Portal 2 chamber solved without thinking with portals
"Thinking with laser reflective boxes" is the operative phrase for the video found after the break, featuring Portal 2's 20th test chamber being conquered both quickly and without the use of a single portal. The speedruns have begun!
NYC: Portal 2 writer Erik Wolpaw speaking at NYU Game Center
You know that wonderful, memorable, hilarious experience you just had with Portal 2? Wouldn't you like to shake the hand of the dude who helped shape that excellent narrative arc? Well, we can't promise you'll be able to do just that at next Thursday's New York University lecture series talk with Valve writer Erik Wolpaw, but you should at very least be able to give him a rousing round of applause. Beyond his latest project, Wolpaw is known for his work on the Half-Life series with Valve and Psychonauts with Double Fine, as well as being a co-founder of lauded game humor site Old Man Murray. During the talk, Wolpaw will introduce the audience to Portal 2 with a "brief guided playthrough," before being grilled by interim director at the Game Center, Frank Lantz. Like past NYU Game Center events, this one will likely fill up quick, so be sure to RSVP (to gamecenter@nyu.edu) asap, if you're interested in attending -- it's free! Still, consider bringing a little cash, as the Game Center will be selling 18x24-inch prints of the various Rachel Morris pieces that accompany each lecture for $20 a pop. They're quite fetching, if we do say so ourselves. Head past the break for complete details, directions and a better look at the event's artwork.
Portal 2 DLC #1 will be free on PC, Mac, PS3, and 360 this summer, single- and multiplayer content in tow
Though short on details, Valve hasn't wasted any time confirming its plans for Portal 2 DLC. After a massive launch just over a week ago – Valve says Portal 2 is its "fastest-selling" release since Half-Life 2! – the famously generous developer has outlined what it's calling "Portal 2 DLC #1." For the asking price of $0, DLC #1 will offer "new test chambers for players, leaderboards, challenge mode for single and multiplayer modes, and more." While free DLC on the Steam-powered PC and Mac platforms is nothing unusual coming from Valve, DLC #1 will notably be "free of charge" on Xbox 360 and PS3 as well. Of course, adding Steam to the PlayStation 3 release was always intended to allow for this scenario, and we can only imagine Microsoft didn't feel comfortable with the Xbox 360 being the sole platform charging for otherwise free content. Portal 2 DLC #1 is "targeted" for release this summer; it's not clear if that estimate is Normal Time or Valve Time, so don't mark up your Stephen Merchant calendars just yet.
Portal 2's wall-walking gel would have made you sick
Portal 2's combination of slippery, bouncy, and portal-enabling gel was more than enough to keep our brains confounded during our second rendezvous at Aperture Science, but apparently yet another gel was planned for the game's many puzzles. Valve lead writer Erik Wolpaw reveals as much to EA.com in a recent interview, detailing "a new Gel that allowed players to walk up the side of walls." During the game's testing, Wolpaw says, Valve concluded that the gel's use was so "disorientating that it made people nauseas [sic]." Inadvertently imparting nausea is a constant concern when designing a first-person game, he explains. As a result, Valve "made changes to frame rate and movement that will help anyone play Portal 2, even if they do experience a feeling of nausea while playing other first-person games." As evidenced by that feeling in the bottom of our stomach, however, it's clear that Valve did little to mitigate the sheer terror felt when plummeting hundreds of feet.
Portal 1 has sold four million, excluding Steam sales
With an auspicious beginning at the Independent Games Festival Student Showcase in 2006, a small game -- named Narbacular Drop -- from a group of DigiPen students went on to inspire an industry darling. Several oft-quoted lines of dialog and millions of "The cake is a lie" jokes later, Portal was a resounding critical success when it launched inside The Orange Box, also home to Half-Life 2, its two follow-ups, and Team Fortress 2. You knew about the acclaim, but you may not have known that it has moved approximately four million copies in the past four years. What's really surprising, however, is that Valve reached that sales mark without including the numbers for Steam -- numbers that would muddle the accuracy of that four million in terms of actual sales, given that Valve has offered the game free through Steam at various times. It's also unclear whether that number includes individual copies of Portal sold at retail, the Xbox Live Arcade release (Portal: Still Alive), or any other sales channels. We've reached out to Valve for clarity on the total sales of Portal, but for now, four million is nothing to sneeze at -- especially considering the game's humble origins.
Steam Voice chat upgraded with Skype's SILK codec, just in time for Portal 2 co-op
You know communication is of paramount importance while playing Portal 2's co-op mode and, to ameliorate that experience, Valve has upgraded the quality of Steam's voice technology. In place of that busted old junk is the SILK audio codec, the same one developed by (and used in) Skype -- those cats should know a little something about internet-based voice tech. While the older Steam Voice required a steady 15 kbps of bandwidth, SILK dynamically adjusts its bandwidth demands, from 8 to 30 kbps. During a brief test, we found the audio quality to be a notable improvement from the likes of Xbox Live, PSN, and even Steam Voice, but not quite "Skype-quality." Today's Steam client update brings the new codec, along with some other improvements, exactly one month before Portal 2 will require you to use it. We're hoping Steam users test it out before then, so Valve can iron out any pulls in its SILK stockings before Portal 2 day.
Valve's Gabe Newell discusses company profitability, and getting new eyes
You probably don't need company head Gabe Newell to tell you -- as he did Forbes in a recent profile -- that Valve is "tremendously profitable." But did you know that it's "more profitable than Google or Apple" (per employee)? And did you know that Newell has crazy robot eyes? Okay, okay, he actually got cornea implants instead of "robot eyes," per se -- just as interesting, however, is Newell's post-surgery statement. "Not only could I see again, but I could see better than I ever had before." As Newell suffers from Fuchs Dystrophy, his corneas were slowly degrading before correction. "I felt like I was in a fantasy story. It reminded me of how fast the future is coming at us and from what unexpected directions." Keeping his eyes on the money, Newell declined to offer any hard numbers as to his company's financial success, though he admitted that "per employee, Valve is more profitable than Google and Apple." To put some context on that, Valve's 250-person company has an estimated value of $2 billion to $4 billion (approximately $8 million to $16 million profit earned per employee), while Apple's 49,400 employees pull in roughly $6.68 million each, and Google's 24,400 earn the company around $8.19 million apiece. [Note: statistics based on current market valuations of Apple and Google, combined with company-provided employee numbers, here and here].
Portal 2 getting user-created content 'on all platforms,' has two endings
Though mod tools for Portal 2 will only arrive on PC ("there's a bunch of dependencies that require the Windows platform"), Valve's Chet Faliszek confirmed during a recent interview that the fruits of those tools will make their way to "all platforms." Faliszek specifically noted that "the content that comes out is agnostic, and so we will be seeing that on all platforms." That said, the content may not be distributed the same way across all platforms. "Depending on the platform you're on, I should say, will depend on how we're delivering it," Faliszek said, also confirming that the PS3 version would get user-created content via Steam for PS3. In other Portal 2 news, speaking with VideoGamer, Faliszek revealed that each of the game's two campaign modes (single-player and co-op) will have their own individual surprise rewards for completion. "Both sets of credits [will feature something special], because we've got two credits," he explained. "So we had to do something twice as amazing." Presumably, Mr. Coulton has been hard at work on a hot new mix (mixes?) for GLaDOS. This time, we're holding out hope for a big dance number.
Portal 2 on PS3 features cross-platform chat, multiplayer and a free Steam copy
Valve's announced that the PS3 version of Portal 2 will be quite chummy with its PC and Mac cousins come April 20, revealing full cross-platform compatibility: PS3 users can chat with Steam users, play multiplayer with them and even partake in cloud-based storage. The disparity between the PS3 and PC/Mac versions appears to be about non-existent now. Additionally, those who pick up the PS3 game are ensured a free voucher for the Steam Play version of the game, should they link their PSN and Steam accounts. "We hope to expand upon the foundation being laid in Portal 2 with more Steam features and functionality in DLC and future content releases," said Valve's Gabe Newell. Head past the break for the full press release.
Valve's Gabe Newell recognizes the innovation of MMOs
Think the PC is losing its grip as the dominant platform when it comes to gaming innovation? Not so fast, says Valve's Gabe Newell. In fact, he even cites MMOs as a leading cause of the PC platform's continued innovation. And when Newell speaks, gamers and game makers listen, as his company is an industry heavyweight responsible for the likes of Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, and Counterstrike (not to mention the Steam digital distribution platform). Yesterday, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Newell sung the praises of Intel's new GPU/CPU and also offered a counterpoint to those who feel that consoles like the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 have overtaken the PC as industry catalysts. "We see [the PC] as the center of innovation of everything that's going on, whether it's microtransactions, MMOs, free-to-play, or something like CityVille which -- after its first month -- has 84 million people playing," Newell said. "To us, this is just an indication of why open platforms are where innovations are going to occur."
Weta Workshop builds real-life TF2 sentry gun, minus the screaming and blood (video)
Weta Workshop is filled with engineers, and that means they solve problems. Practical problems. For instance, how Valve Software is going to keep its throng of Team Fortress 2 players in awe. The answer? Use a gun. Like this heavy-caliber, tripod-mounted, fastidiously crafted life-size reproduction of The Engineer's level 1 Sentry Gun, which features a bona fide motion sensor for tracking whosoever is fool enough to venture into Valve's geektastic lobby in Bellevue, Washington and touch the darn thing. We're ready to volunteer. Video after the break.
Greed Corp assaults Steam on December 10
Yeah, it definitely missed the summer, but as of December 10, Steam aficionados will be able to download a port of quirky Xbox Live Arcade and PSN strategy title, Greed Corp, for $9.99. The Steam version boasts a tweaked level and difficulty progression scale for the campaign and the ability to skip past lengthy AI turns. Of course, it'll also have Steam achievements and all of the usual platform functionality.
Hyperspace Beacon: Homage to we hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but knowing our luck, it probably will
One of the best compliments you can give a creator is to make an homage to his work. The title of one of the Hyperspace Beacons was an homage to TOROCast articles. It's a way to tell the creator, "You're doing a good job. Keep up the good work." Not to mention, homages are a lot of fun. In fact, my first published work was an homage to the work of Charles Dickens. I wrote a story about what happened to the Cratchit children. But what happens when an homage goes too far? Every once in a while, the Hyperspace Beacon takes a side track and asks about ideas that should end up on the cutting room floor. We all know games have concepts that just don't work. Star Wars: The Old Republic will be no exception. This little humorous segment is called We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but knowing our luck, it probably will -- or WHTNMIISWTORBKOLIPW, for short. Follow me after the break to see what "homageneous" ideas should never make it into the release of SWTOR, but knowing our luck, they will anyway.
Portal gun to be auctioned off for Child's Play
Not only could you own one of the best gaming props ever made (and an even better version of the prop, at that), but you could also help children have better lives. Can you think of a better win-win situation than that? Outside of owning a real, working Portal gun, that is.
Beyond Black Mesa trailer makes us mesa our pants
Earlier this year we got our first glimpse at fan-created Half-Life film "Beyond Black Mesa" ... and it made us kinda freak out. Knowing that more was coming, you'd think we'd have prepared ourselves, but we couldn't have been ready for the sheer excitement that resulted from watching the latest trailer -- it picked up our expectations for the film with a gravity gun and fired them into space, in so many words. Beyond the fact that the action is blistering and the feeling of Half-Life's world is spot-on, Gordon Freeman's infamous crowbar makes an appearance. Sure, we realize it's a bit bizarre to have our heart rates increase after briefly glimpsing a crowbar, but, well ... okay, we don't have a logical explanation. We just love Gordon Freeman. How could you not?!
Left 4 Dead 2's latest mutation invites the survivors to a Hunter Party
It's Friday, which means it's Pizza Night in America. Sure, a slice of 'za is a great way to cap off the week, but some people prefer their unwinding to be a bit more slaughterful. So we'd like to point out the latest Left 4 Dead 2 mutation: Hunting Party. This mutation simplifies the horde by turning all of the Special Infected into Hunters. No Boomers, no Smokers, no Jockeys, just the sheer agony of listening to screeching, nimble Hunters like so many dozens of nails scratching against so many dozens of chalkboards. And the tearing -- oh, why all of the tearing?
Alleged Valve employee speaks out on DotA co-developer
An alleged Valve employee seeking to air grievances with his employer and one specific employee has taken to an anonymous blog titled "The Truth About IceFrog." In it, the person -- supposedly working on "an unrelated project" from "IceFrog" -- describes not just a poor working environment with the Defense of the Ancients co-developer (whose real name is said to be Abdul Ismail), but also details "something fishy" regarding his past. Though "IceFrog" apparently told colleagues and Valve execs he never worked at S2 Games -- developers of Heroes of Newerth, a DotA clone -- a handful of online evidence suggests he did at one point (DotA co-developer Steve "Pendragon" Mescon even outright states as much). Furthermore, the anonymous blogger likens "IceFrog's" actions to being "the CEO of McDonald's (DOTA) looking for a job at Burger King (Riot Games), then working for Fatburger (S2 Games), then quitting and going to work for Wendy's (Valve) but outright lying to Wendy's (Valve) of involvement with ANY previous employer," adding, "In the corporate world, this would be the equivalent of stealing trade secrets." As announced this morning, "IceFrog" is currently working on Dota 2 for Valve. When we contacted S2 Games to confirm whether or not a man named Abdul Ismail or "IceFrog" ever worked there, we were repeatedly told, "No comment." Valve representatives didn't mince words, saying only, "It's fake," while League of Legends developer Riot Games offered, "At no time did Abdul Ismail, or anyone known as 'IceFrog,' work at or for Riot Games in any capacity." Now if you don't mind us, we can't fight the sudden urge for a fast food burger. If you've got first-hand knowledge regarding any of the accusations, feel free to drop us a line.
Parts 1 and 2 of Left 4 Dead 'The Sacrifice' comic now online
Honestly, we would never have thought that [redacted] would be the character to bite the dust in "The Passing," but there it is. Sure, we could've pictured [redacted] dying, or [redacted] -- heck, even [redacted] -- but [redacted]? Life's a trip, qué no? Thing is, we never figured out how that particular survivor perished -- not until now. The first two parts of Valve's four-part, 150-page digital comic primer for "The Sacrifice," the upcoming DLC for Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2, is now online. Give both issues a read by heading over to the Left 4 Dead Blog.
