Xbox Live's Major Nelson » Now taking your Portal questions :

http://twitter.com/celticsrock82 david riegel

is portal or portal 2 a good game

http://www.facebook.com/stm555 Seth Thornberry

What’s the time to crate?

http://www.majornelson.com Major Nelson

I’ve already got that on the list

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1439287819 Christian Deadmaus Acevedo

Were the new ingenious puzzles that you made, hard to recreate in the world of Portal 2?

http://twitter.com/Jadrie1 Sam Veilleux

how much work did Erik & Chet contribute to the ARG? Are they happy with how the launch went, and looking back now, anything they would have done differently?

http://www.facebook.com/rellus.gellor Russell Gorall

Have they ever seen a grown man naked?

http://twitter.com/Jadrie1 Sam Veilleux

And one for just Erik – Psychonauts. Would you ever consider getting back together with Tim S. to pen a sequel? a Double Fine/Valve Collab. perhaps?

http://twitter.com/Shiaoran Fernando Costa

When is Portal 3 coming? Can’t have enough Portals!

Is a lifesize Portal Gun replica in the works?

http://profiles.google.com/ninjatuned Thomas McNulty

Will Portal 2 be updated with Steam support on Xbox Live?

Anonymous

Why does portal 2 look like ass on the 360 compared to pc and ps3? Orange Box looked great, Portal 2 looks like ass.

Anonymous

Ask them why steam integration is on PS3 and not on the 360. I just bought it on my lunch break and guess which version I bought? Hint: Not the 360 version. Blocking the best game develloper in the industry from using your platform = Epic Fail.

Anonymous

because Sony doesn’t have it’s reigns as tight on psn as microsoft does on xboxlive.

http://profiles.google.com/merkners Scott Merkner

Major Nelson, can you ask them if there will be any spoilers in the co-op campaign if you start with that instead of the solo campaign? I’m also wondering if they have any DLC planned to add to the game later on.

http://profiles.google.com/gavinfitzgerald Gavin Fitzgerald

Why no Steam integration on the 360 version? How come when I buy the PS3 version I get the PC version free and not with the 360 version?

http://twitter.com/DarthYoda19 Jake Crawford

As I understand it, Portal2′s Single-player campaign and Co-op campaign include separate levels and playable characters. Not many game developers do this, and I appreciate it very much! Does this leave the door open for Portal2 to receive DLC that adds more levels and characters?

http://twitter.com/zero_divide_1 Sean Payne

I’d like to know the exact same thing.

http://twitter.com/Falcon9x5 Fin

You (Valve) have been lucky to have games that sell well, are well received critically, and are liked by fans. All things being equal (if you could continue to make games with poor sales), which one is most important to Valve as a company?

http://twitter.com/MirkManEA MirkManEA

where did the “fluid” concepts come from? how do you/would you explain the fiction behind the presence of new mechanics in the Aperture labs facility?

also, will/could there be more supplemental fiction to the Portal franchise in the future ala the Halo books or the Deadspace web comics? Backstory would be great! (actually a tie in game linking Black Mesa and Aperture…maybe their CEO’s both got their PHD’s together?

http://twitter.com/Jadrie1 Sam Veilleux

I believe they hired the people behind “TAG- the power of paint” who had worked the idea into their game originally.

http://twitter.com/yukon_cornelius Richard M.

I … frickin’ … LOVED … Old Man Murray. Ask them if they still (don’t) remember “Take No Prisoners”.

http://twitter.com/bdesigns Brad

What made the guys suck up to Sony and PS3 fans at last years E3 with the release? Was it money? Also seeing as Portal was a breakout for its “different” type of puzzle game, do they have a formula that will carry portal 2 with success? Sequels can sometimes backfire!

http://helldescent.com/ Cj

PSN offered Valve something Microsoft wouldn’t; freedom. Microsoft’s strict policies prevented Steam from being on the 360 version. So blame them, not Valve. Valve offered the features to everyone. Only Sony said yes.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Shawn-Lene/1529070385 Shawn Lene

Hi Major,

Ask them if Gnome Chompski is going to make a return as he does in many other valve titles. Will I be able to run around and bash people with the small, humanoid creature?!

Thanks

http://twitter.com/VirtuousLumox Patrick Hockenson

Now that you’re done with Portal 2 (except DLC I hope), can we have Half-Life 2: Episode 3?

http://twitter.com/MatthewWebb666 Matthew Webb

Ask him why Xbox doesn’t get Steamworks and are they going to give Xbox players something to compensate?

It’s not our fault Microsoft are money grabbing.

http://twitter.com/seekul Luke Es

Then who’s fault is it that they grabbed your money too? You can buy the game on any platform you’d like.
- http://twitter.com/muppetgaming Muppet Gaming
  
  Not everyone owns every platform capable of playing this game.

http://www.tjmarsh.com TJ Marsh

Can i get the cake now?

Anonymous

Why did they go with a full retail copy instead of an XBLA/PSN release. There shouldn’t be a size constraint issue and I can’t justify the $60 price

http://twitter.com/seekul Luke Es

You seem to be confusing this game with the first Portal. There is a size constraint issue because 7 GB games aren’t put out as $15 downloadable titles.
Currently metacritic has 2,014 positive user reviews, and 37 negative, so at least 1.8% of the day-one gaming public agree with you that $60 isn’t justified. Enjoy living on the tail of that bell curve, I guess. Somebody’s got to.
- Anonymous
  
  It was a opinion. It happens quite a bit on this thing called the internet, Mr. Valve-Defence-Force.
  
  The game is a 10 in my books so you are a fool for thinking I am in the 1.8% that voted it down, genius. And even though the game is 6.1GB, are you telling me that this single game uses as much actual “data” as the entire Orange Box collection?

http://profiles.google.com/tomatko80 Tomas Krsko

Well.. maybe, i can just eat cake, that steam is not integrated into XBOX version and that co-op will be smaller (in numbers of players) for XBOX than against PS3…Tell me please, why don’t you “integrated” the PC free game for XBox player ? (sorry, but the argument that “why to, if you can’t have a match with PC” is the same as to say that why to integrated it into ps3 cos they don’t have PCs). We are paying the same amount of money as PS3 users.. but without the free pc game.. let xbox version be 45 or 55 % off the price against ps3 version.. and i think, everyone will be satisfied

http://www.facebook.com/michael.kelehan Michael Kelehan

I hate to be another one to say it, but yeah, you’ll need to address Steamworks. I normally buy cross-platform releases on the 360, no question, but this time…

http://helldescent.com/ Cj

Same with me. It hurt at first. But Microsoft needs to open the heck up already before they loose great developers like Valve.

Seriously, is $60 a year not enough to allow companies to self publish updates and DLC for free for their fans?

http://twitter.com/Altis1 Jeff Rivera

What will you do to compensate for the fact that the 360 version by all accounts it the worst version to purchase? No Stream support or key to the PC version. Those are two big features to this title and not including them should make the game less than $60 on the 360.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Steve-LaBounty/1528166044 Steve LaBounty

Just a request. Please put voices in the DLC levels! It adds so much more enjoyment to the game to have Glados taunting you through the level.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Ivan-Lopez/763768247 Ivan Lopez

Where did the idea for co-op characters come from?

http://twitter.com/Amolain 夢を見られた・・・ :)

How well do you think the community did with the A.R.G? Did you think it would take them as much time as it did to solve it?

http://helldescent.com/ Cj

Why did Microsoft deny you guys access to bring Steam to the Xbox version? And will you continue to support them and their closed network?

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SBOOS3YDMQNMESDXXP5SHWTPNM David

Agreed to this one…

Anonymous

Why did I buy this game on the PS3 and not the 360? Oh wait, because of the Steamworks support, free PC copy, and not to mention superior graphics this time around… http://www.lensoftruth.com/head2head/head2head-portal-2-screenshot-comparison/

http://twitter.com/Terranoid Fraser Cameron

Just a question about the Professor Portal achievement, how are we supposed to get this achievement? When someone buys the game they will play Co-op so there will be no-one to get this one with. The only way I see is to make two new gold accounts just to get it.

http://profiles.google.com/rick.roubos Rick Roubos

Where’s Half-Life 2: Episode Three?

http://twitter.com/eliorj Elio Rodrigues Jr

Hi Major! All I want to know it`s about Steam coming to Xbox LIVE, as free updates in games like L4D, TF2, etc…
PS3 made their move and they are doing very well…..can we catch them up?

http://twitter.com/eliorj Elio Rodrigues Jr

Until some time ago, Valve was one of the strongest partners against PS3, with some amazing exclusives…..It was the reason why I bought a Xbox 360!

Anonymous

Why does it appear that graphics in the PS3 game are better than the Xbox 360 game? It doesn’t even look like Valve used AA on the Xbox 360 version.

Anonymous

I’m getting this for PS3, I love my 360 but having get PC version of the game free Its just not worth it to get it on 360. Sorry MS.

http://twitter.com/icaza2 Rocky Icaza

Seconding the question from your techie crowd, what is the reason for the lack of anti-aliasing / strange blurring on the Xbox 360 version? The message boards are aflame with rumors that the 360 version was sabotaged due to the Windows 8 App Store being in direct compeition with Steam.

http://twitter.com/ahleungtt Henry Leung

Will @microsoft ever understand, you have already lost many games/exclusives (and hence gamers) because of your conservative policy?

Portal 2
FF14
Champions Online
Secret World

And how about developers?
Valve
Bungie
Bioware
Bizarre Creations

So what’s next? Epic and Gears?

This will eventually cost you your whole gaming business.
This happened to @Nintendo (SNES –> N64), happened to @Sony (PS2 –> PS3).
It’s all because they became too arrogant and pissed off all their partners/supporters.

http://twitter.com/lochdoun Bry

They lost Mortal Kombat too. No exclusive character for 360.

http://twitter.com/44Patriots44 Shawn

Since M$ was to stupid to allow steam why didn’t the 360 version come with cake? I have bought EVERY SINGLE 3rd party release on 360 because it is always better. (Except COD i get both to play with friends) But this time i didn’t cuz i figured if Valve managed to screw PS3 players like most 3rd party developers do. I still had a PC copy. You need to wake up

http://dmack.ca/ DMack

Why do you think Microsoft lets EA get away with their shenanigans on XBL while they stifle Valve to the point where user experience is ruined?

That was rhetorical, my real question is: Is there even ONE reason to get Portal 2 on the 360 instead of the PC?

steguinness37

WHERE THE 360′S STEAM ????

http://twitter.com/ruairionline ruairionline

I have to chime in with the others here, I’d like you to ask them ‘who is the a$$ hat in Microsoft that is standing in the way of steam integration?’

http://profiles.google.com/tomatko80 Tomas Krsko

No only this.. but
- http://twitter.com/eliorj Elio Rodrigues Jr
  
  Did you ever play Valve games on Xbox 360? Do you think it`s fair to pay 540ms on DLC`s like Crash Course and Sacrifice when on PC they are FREE of charge? Do you think it`s fair to play Team Fortress 2 with no updates and new stuff like itens and guns (looks this a goddamn beta to me). I also LOVE Xbox and the LIVE service but please, don`t be damn fanboy!
  - http://profiles.google.com/tomatko80 Tomas Krsko
    
    1. Yes, i have played valve games on x360 – orange box and L4D. Portal also..
    2. No.. of course not.. but that`s the choise – you know, where to get it for free.. everyone else maybe not. And MS know, that people will buy it. The more you know, the more sadness it brings (like this 540MS against Free for the same experience).
    3. Full agrement (Team fortress:)
    4. I also love XBOX and Live (especially Arcade and Indie)
    
    Sorry, but did you read carefully my comment ? Especially the second sentense ? (free updates, deals, maps) or did you overlooked it ? and biggest deals, best online service, ps3 will get maps free and so on.. oh man
    
    Ah, read my comment once again .. and you will see, that i meant it all in sarcasm (but hope, that last sentenses will not be true – especially that avatar and themes) – sometimes i think that Microsoft is saying all in sarcasm too (or i wish, that it will be sarcasm).. but they also do it.. and that`s sad.
    
    But.. we really don’t know what went wrong that steam is not in our version – so, just wait for some answers.. and we will see
    
    P.S. Hope, that the fanboy sentense is now obsolete Oh.. and i really like other console much more You will be surprised – it`s dreamcast
    - http://profiles.google.com/jblakeo91 Jack Blake
      
      I got the sarcasm through your original post. It wasn’t that hard to understand it lol. Not sure how Elio didn’t see it.

Anonymous

No Steam = Happy me!
If they had “integrated” Steam for 360 we wouldn’t be able to trade in our Valve games, or sell them at all. Not to mention that 1 account ban for any reason (false ban) would make it impossible to play any bought Valve game on 360 or PC.
Steam = big pile of cr*p imo, let those poor fools at Ps3 have it and cry…

http://twitter.com/singram singram

Any chance of their old website Old Man Murray getting a revival?

http://www.facebook.com/rellus.gellor Russell Gorall

A lot of Steam fanboys flaming…

http://twitter.com/ruairionline ruairionline

It’s not about being a fanboy mate, it’s about wanting innovation. Valve have a great thing going with Steam, and their mantra of ‘buy a game once, play it anywhere’ is something I believe in.
I also think xbox live is a great platform and there’s no reason why they can’t work together. Much in the same way that your TV comes from diffrent content providers or your music from record agents.
The next generation of consoles is just around the corner, M$ won this round because of their fantastic online network; but everyone has learned from their mistakes. Innovation is what will separate the men from the boys in the next round.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1295402747 James Tarr

Any DLC plans at all in the works? Perhaps free community maps or story expansions. I’d really like some hard single player chambers, and as cheap as possible. As nice as steam would be, i just want as much content as possible, doesnt matter how i get it (but the price does matter)

http://profiles.google.com/ktfreak4jesus Kaleb Kirton

Will the xbox people get user created maps like in a update once every while?

http://profiles.google.com/matthewlarghi Matthew Larghi

i was reading the final hours of portal 2, and it seems like erik and chet have taken a pretty unlikely route to success. They were apparently in a gang, and erik lived in poverty, never graduating from college. How they got from there, to in their 30s writing OMM, to now writing portal 2, would be really really interesting to hear about.

April 19th 2011 9:04 am PT

Now taking your Portal questions

search

Latest Podcast

Show 478

Twitter Feed

Blog Archive

RSS Feeds

Helpful Links

Ads