Portal: Still Alive Just A Retread?
Despite the extraordinarily vague announcement at E3, Portal: Still Alive easily shot to the top of my "Games I Need Now!" list. But perhaps my excitement was a bit too much and a bit too soon.
Word comes from Chris Remo (via Game Set Watch) that this "new" version of Portal will actually be a standalone version of the original game with the addition of some new levels that have no direct connection to the story (nor any GLaDOS voiceovers). That's not all bad until I read the next bit describing how the new levels that will be in the game are actually just repurposed levels from Portal: The Flash Version MapPack. Why is that a problem? Well, those maps are free to PC users at this point. Could Valve be screwing us over by repackaging old (free) PC content and selling it to us on XBLA? Or were some signals crossed somewhere? Say it ain't so Valve!
[via Game Set Watch]
Comments
Sorry, but anyone who believed that Valve were going to release a sequel to Portal exclusively on XBLA was seriously deluding themselves. Valve hate consoles, remember?
This was always going to be a "special edition" standalone version of the game in the Orange Box with one or two bonus (but unlikely exclusive) levels.
Tawse and Turn
11764
The complete portal game was never free, but just bundled. There is a free download off Steam, but it is only some of the levels. The PC standalone version is $20 retail which makes me curious what a XBLA release will run.
Karachi King
82881
I don't think Valve is targeting this at the people who bought the Orange Box and want more Portal, but rather at those who just want Portal, without having to purchase the entire Orange Box to get it.
People like me. So I'm pretty happy about the announcement.
LunarDuality
36370
@ KarachiKing
Apparently, you are correct. Which makes people like me (worshippers of Orange Box and Portal in particular) saddened. I don't own the PC version so I can't get the content for free and I already own Portal in Orange Box so buying the whole package again is a waste. Dumb. But I see how you would be excited...and yes, the game is worth $20 IMO.
LunarDuality -- "Indie is where it's at!"
strategykinq92
15820
well... Isn't portal a part of the whole orange box experience? Why would I spend 10-20 $ on portal alone, when I can get the whole experience for 45 $?
It would've been smarter just to make a whole nother portal game on xbla. Everybody got their hopes up at E3, I guess >.<
Tawse and Turn
11764
It is part of The Orange Box experience, but the console releases are not the complete orange box. Funny enough EA said they cut the two versions of the release to reduce confusion by the consumer, but the console version is the trimmed down version which was supposed to be the $40 PC release called The Black Box.
PC players paid more to get games most of them already owned and console players got less for the same $60. IF EA can get MS to approve it then they will repackage and sell Portal on XBLA with minimal improvements.
Great games, but there are some seriously hardcore pencil pushers in the publishing department.
strategykinq92
15820
Wasn't the black box just episode 2 and everything else though? I thought it was that way because episode one had already come out, and it was an alternative? So all it was missing was Episode 1.
lil fisticuffer
16951
there wont be cake will there..