Comments on: Five-Star Fridays

By: Elf Sternberg

Elf Sternberg — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:09:39 +0000

One of the more disturbing takes on GladOS yet:

http://www.game-ism.com/2008/04/04/still-alive-shes-free/

By: Timothy

Timothy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:30:21 +0000

My son and I had the privilege of seeing Mr. Coulton do this live at PAX in Seattle in early September.

The game is great, the song is great, and if you like this song you should check out his other work. He’s talented, and if you’re a geek at all you’ll appreciate much of it.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:41:14 +0000

That song’s on Rock Band II. Hard to sing, haha.

By: Brett Thomas

Brett Thomas — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:36:46 +0000

I think it’s been adequately explained, above, but my first thought on reading the description was “‘Still Alive’ is ‘about a video game’ like ‘Singing in the Rain’ is ‘about a movie’”.

By: Anti-Bunny

Anti-Bunny — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:31:51 +0000

Portal is a great game. Valve put up a free demo of it here:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/410/

But if you’re going to buy it, then just get ‘The Orange Box’ for $10 more so you get Half-Life 2, which is also phenomenal.

By: noahpoah

noahpoah — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:00:45 +0000

Oh, how I love Portal. I was just thinking of re-playing it, too. I guess this makes my mind up, then, huh?

By: JBlanton

JBlanton — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:26:43 +0000

Best five-star Friday so far!

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:54:28 +0000

Yep…what everyone else already said: great game, interesting concept, fun and quirky aesthetic environment.

Oh, and BYOC (bring your own cake!)

By: Edwin Sheldon

Edwin Sheldon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:53:40 +0000

It just dawned on me that GLaDOS is the polar opposite of Mike from Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I could totally see him as twisted inspiration for GLaDOS.

By: Edwin Sheldon

Edwin Sheldon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:49:37 +0000

Portal was one of the best games I’ve ever played. It’s cheap, and not much of a time investment. Definitely worth everyone’s while.

By: Stormy Dragon

Stormy Dragon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:22:01 +0000

Another good Portal inspired song:

“The Device has been Modified” by Victims of Science

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuYT-d_fxpE

By: Stormy Dragon

Stormy Dragon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:17:03 +0000

A somewhat alternate interpretation of Portal I like: Glados is a sentient computer stuck in an abandoned complex that’s become suicidal. It’s programming prevents it from being openly self-destructive, so it has been repeatedly activating clones and then attempting to provoke them into killing it. You’re playing the first such clone to actually succeed. At which point Glados discovers that it’s also self-reconstructing.

The finaly song is basically its expression of despair at this discovery, being expressed ironically because that’s the only way Glados can express it.

By: XI

XI — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:16:03 +0000

@Kit Smith: Aperture Science is actually a private sector competitor to Black Mesa. If you look around the offices toward the end, you can see power-point slides discussing how to get more grant money, etc. Also, GLaDOS makes several references to how bad things are outside, and hints that she believes that she is actually trying to help in some way. And if you’ve played the latest Half-life episode, you’ll find out that a missing Aperture Science research vessel has been located and the player will likely be going there in the next episode. I would not be surprised if GLaDOS makes an appearance.

Short Version: HL and Portal exist in the same universe, and are part of the same story.

By: justinslot

justinslot — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:58:47 +0000

It’s a testament to how great this song is that Radley enjoyed it without having any idea what it was about.

Portal is one of the greatest games of the past decade by the way. It’s the kind of thing I would recommend to people who aren’t gamers but maybe want to get into gaming.

By: pegr

pegr — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:26:29 +0000

The cake is NOT a lie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5QveX3-1O8

(I love this game…)

By: Michaelk42

Michaelk42 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:56:14 +0000

Those nice men in SWAT uniforms breaking down the wrong door (yours) just want to escort you to a party. With cake!

“Stop what you are doing and assume the party escort submission position.”

By: Andrew S.

Andrew S. — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:52:51 +0000

Portal’s a short game, but I had so much fun playing it.

Spoiler yes, but with all the spoilers above this, it doesn’t do much to hide it… one of the best parts of the game is GlaDOS talking to you/insulting you/trying to kill you as you destroy parts of her circuitry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl_-QxbRzts

By: Mike Healy

Mike Healy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:47:57 +0000

…and the song is in Rock Band! Always a favorite at parties along with the other two JoCo tracks – “Skullcrusher Mountain” and “Re: Your Brains”.

By: Danny

Danny — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:30:23 +0000

#13 | Dave Krueger | November 6th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

Of course, the cake makes it all worth it.

You’re evil. ;-)

By: Highway

Highway — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:17:43 +0000

Careful about playing it now, tho. You might end up like this guy.

http://xkcd.com/606/