Valve has just released the latest update to the PC version of Team Fortress 2, adding the new gameplay mode known as Payload—which is playable on the new map Gold Rush—plus three new weapons for the Medic and 36 new Medic-specific achievements. Steam users can get the update now.

If you're not currently a TF2 devotee, you can enjoy a free weekend starting Friday at noon PDT. Valve has crafted a handy Gold Rush update specific page, with details on the three dozen Medic achievements.

Team Fortress 2 Goldrush Update [Valve]

The GlaDOS Cosplay Video Endurance Challenge

How long can you tolerate this monologue without cringing or fast forwarding? I lasted about 8 seconds before my by-proxy embarrassment got the better of me. That's better than my mechanical bull record! Okay, without the crusty old curmudgeon attitude, this is some solid Portal cosplay, with some fantastic touches. Gotta give kudos for the ability to lug a massive cake around a convention hall all day, too. Anyone seen better pics from SakuraCon 2008 that might show this off better?

Thanks for the tip, Rebecca!

Is there more to the design of Portal's end-game boss GlaDOS than previously thought? Game-ism weighs in with its own spoiler-filled theory on why the loopy and sentient computer puts protagonist Chell through such an intense series of tasks in order to ultimately reach her; that is, to kill her, freeing her from her literal and figurative bondage as Aperture Science's maniacal mainframe. It's a fascinating hypothesis that's worth a look, if not only for the sadomasochistic fan-art that accompanies it.

Given Valve's propensity for abstracting the typical storytelling structure out of the game experience, it wouldn't surprise us one bit if GlaDOS were conditioning Chell as a sort of suicide machine. Thoughts?

Still Alive? She's Free. [Game-Ism]

According to a report from Shacknews, the PC version of Team Fortress 2 will see a major update in April, including the previously discussed new gameplay type, Payload, will arrive with the new map "Goldrush." In addition, the Medic may be getting his new weapon, the first of the new unlockable items.

In even better news that fans of achievements in awesomeness will appreciate, the "Meet The Scout" cinematic is confirmed for an April release, joining the Engineer, Heavy, Demo Man and Soldier. Shacknews says it will arrive on or about the April 20 game update, but we've heard previously that it will arrive some time next week. Given Valve's well known tardiness, we would put our money on it debuting later. But we're keeping hope alive.

New Team Fortress 2 Content Scheduled for Mid-April; Includes Goldrush, New Weapons, Meet The Scout [Shacknews]

Details On The Orange Box PS3 Patch You've Probably Already Downloaded

When EA released a new software update for the PlayStation 3 version of The Orange Box last night, it was annoyingly silent on what exactly had changed. Finally, the gang at has given up the info goods. But don't expect too much in the way of excitement, because as you know, new maps like Badlands and Well (CTF) for Team Fortress 2 weren't stashed within. It's mostly bug fixing, memory leak plugging and server connection smoothing—and almost all TF2 related. The full list of changes is after this.

Oh, and hold tight Europe. Your update is coming soon-ish.

You may remember Posterchild's previous video game to real world work, when the artist started throwing up Super Mario Bros.-style question blocks made of cardboard and wrapping paper that dangled from tree limbs and light posts. Posterchild has taken another iconic video game block, the Weighted Companion Cube from Portal and installed it (with matching portal) on Bloor Street in Toronto. There are much bigger and much better pics of this fantastically super awesomeness at Posterchild's own blog, if you're not in the area to eyeball them yourself.

Companion Cube [Posterchild's Blade Diary via Waxy.org]

The Orange Box Patched For PS3

PlayStation 3 owners who attempt to play their copies of The Orange Box tonight will be greeted with a required update, bringing the EA published collection to version 1.10. The 128 MB download unfortunately doesn't come with a changelog, nor can we find a shred of information on what's changed on the internet. Digging through Valve's Steam forums, EA's support site and game forums, and the official PlayStation web site have revealed nothing about the download. We're pestering EA to found out what's up.

During my initial play time with the new version, testing out Team Fortress 2, Portal and Half-Life 2: Episode Two, nothing was immediately noticeable, although connecting to a TF2 game did seem to be rather speedy.

Team Fortress DLC Price Is Up To Microsoft And Sony

Recently, Valve went on record saying that they'd like their upcoming Team Fortress 2 map pack to be free on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but admitted that such a situation might not be possible. Many wondered if this uncertain future was the result of EA meddling or interference from the platform holders themselves.

We contacted Valve to clarify and their VP of marketing Doug Lombardi informed us that, "The platform holder owns the final call." So just as we'd suspected, whether or not we see these maps for free is indeed up to Sony and Microsoft.

Valve Price, Show Off Remnants Of The Orange Box

Didn't make it to this year's Game Developers Conference? If you were particularly excited about attending some of Valve's various sessions, you can virtually attend through the power of the PDF. The house of Half-Life, Portal and Counter-Strike has released the slides from its four GDC presentations which cover all aspects of The Orange Box. The presentations "Integrating Narrative and Design: A Portal Post-Mortem" and "Stylization With a Purpose: The Illustrative World of Team Fortress 2" may be the most layman friendly, giving regular folk a look beyond The Orange Box's developer commentary. All four are worth a peek at the very least.

Valve Publications [Valve via GameSetWatch]

Orange Box Broken Up On April 9

Valve Wants Team Fortress 2 Maps Free On Consoles

...for free, definitely, as much as we can. You know, we don't have full say over that, but we have some say over how that works.

Portal Turret Papercraft

Confession: I've never actually assembled one of the papercraft printouts—I did glue together about half a robot once before becoming violently ill with laziness—but I'm almost considering taking a go at these Portal turrets.

Confession 2: By "considering" making these turrets, I really mean "lightly toying with the idea."

Confession 3: By "lightly toying with the idea," I really mean there's no way in hell this is happening. I don't even have paper, glue or anything. Right now I'm typing on a pile of rocks fashioned into a QWERTY arrangement. I have no clue if you want even read this.

Download Here [deviantART via XboxDomain]

Valve has its own Team Fortress 2 Valentine's Day gift planned for fans, a Whitman's Sampler of a Steam patch that brings with it new map "Badlands" and a slew of tweaks, changes and bug fixes. There's some general housekeeping being done with SourceTV and the Source Engine itself, but the patch makes changes that should affect gameplay on popular maps like Dustbowl, as well as fun updates like "Added flamethrower 'sizzle' sound when the Pyro is hitting a target."

These updates are for the PC version only, with no new information on when Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 The Orange Box owners can expect their goodies. Interested parties can read up on all the changes that are sure to be the bane of TF2 players' girlfriends at the official site.

Updates for TF2, Source Engine, SourceTV Coming Tomorrow [Steam]

Steam Welcomes Audiosurf This Friday

Independent Games Festival finalist Audiosurf is coming to Steam. Wait! Don't scroll away yet. Audiosurf is actually pretty cool, taking your existing music and generating race tracks and puzzle layouts for an intense rhythmic-puzzle-racer. It's kind of like F-Zero meets Klax meets Phase, if that helps. It also happens to be the one first Steam-bound titles to take advantage of the recently announced Steamworks, which means it will come packed with those delicious achievements. But wait... there's more.

If you snatch up Audiosurf, which comes in under ten bucks, you'll also get a copy of The Orange Box's official soundtrack, which is included in the game. Can your PC even handle this much value?!

Audiosurf [Steam]

More Portal Coming (Eventually)

Good news! There will be more Portal. Bad news! We have no clue what that means or when it will happen. Valve spokesperson Doug Lombardi recently told Eurogamer:

There'll be more Portal, for sure. But the details of that, to be honest, we're still working out.

"More Portal for sure" - Valve [eurogamer][picture]

First a thing about the name: I didn't pick it. I think it's hilarious, but I'd never name an award after myself, it's obnoxious... and quite funny. Which is what I think the Rocky was going for. There are quite a few closet smart-asses over there. :)

So my annual pick for best video game ran in the Rocky Mountain News today and I picked Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare as the overall winner. The game beat out The Orange Box, Bioshock, Super Mario Galaxy and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.

Here's why I decided to pick a war-time first-person shooter sequel over the splendor of a dystopian society, amazing character interaction of Uncharted and innovative design of Galaxy and Orange Box:

The Weighted Companion PC Takes the Cake

What does one do when they've seen an angel? How does one continue on once they've encountered perfection? This Companion Cube case mod will force us to find out, as it's possibly definitely the greatest mod we've ever set eyes on. The Weighted Companion PC is just a diminutive 20cm cubed. Fashioned from acrylic, painted gray and accompanied by a adeptly customized Logitech diNovo Edge keyboard, we've never understood cult idolatry...but it's coming to us now, quickly. Do you think the Cube would prefer us to wear matching Nikes or Reeboks? The Weighted Companion PC [via gizmodo]