obeyjohnny

willyolio

You know what I'm talking about, when Eli Vance dies, killed by an Advisor who sucks his brains out, right before you were going to head to the Aurora Borealis by helicopter.

PS, if you haven't beaten or played HL:E2 in any way, shape or form, then it's your own damn fault. There is no excuse to have not played this amazing game considering how long its been out. Statute of limitations for spoilers is long since over.

xybur

When their first three attempts failed, they looked back at the playtesters' feedback as to what was the highest impact point in the rest of the game. The playtesters invariably referred to the escape from the flame pit as making the biggest impression on them of the levels they'd played.

Then they analyzed what was represented in that scene.
-It was one of the simplest puzzles in the game.. barely even a puzzle, really.
-It had time-based pressure (either solve the puzzle or burn!)
-It was visually splashy (the gigantic room full of flames grabbed players' attention)

Therefore, they constructed the final level to be visually arresting (the entire room-stairs, lights, and structure-focuses the player's attention on GladOS), have simple puzzles, and have time-pressure (but not so much that players couldn't enjoy their surroundings, and the excellent final GladOS rant--That was another final point, the failed battles generally distracted from the monologue, especially the "Mortal Kombat" or "Hardcore CS People" stab).

It wasn't that they couldn't "match" the 100 striders ending of HL2 (though their small team probably couldn't have, true); that was just to give an idea of the worry they were feeling when still trying to bring together the elements that worked, close to deadline.

antisquark

Agreed.

man in gauze is king ramses II, silly.

dawimp523

The secret to a good game is not to add more and more people to a project, and throw more and more money at it.

The secret is to do a very good job with the resources you have, and to let smart, intelligent, creative people take the project in the direction they think is best.

Lock the marketers away from the game designers, and let the game dictate the length, type, and style of gameplay.

Phantom_Photon

Maybe it's because I'm a reclusive nerd, but I get so attached to random things, I start to think that my life depends on them. My father's wedding ring is my most prized object. Any time I think I've lost track of it, I immediately melt down and lose my senses. It's kind of scary.

Cola82

That's funny because that battle obviously got scaled down a lot and it was the least fun part of the Episode. It looked very cool, but it wasn't overly fun to play.

"So I have to stick the Strider's with these giant explosive balls?"

"Yes, that's right."

"And then I have to shoot them with my pistol, but I can't use any other gun?"

"Correct. Only a bullet from a pistol will make the device explode!"

"Couldn't you just set the device to explode on its own once it attaches to the Strider?"

"Well sure, but...where's the fun in that?"

skullivan

skrip00

DennoCoil

Cathaoir

Case in point: Splinter Cell (1). You spend 12-15 hours sneaking around, avoiding guards, and finding inventive ways to clear a level. Then the last 10 minutes becomes a run-n-gun shootout that the controls are not able to handle, not to mention the complete break with the style of play the game had set up. While it didn't ruin the game entirely for me, I did not bother to play the game again because of that ending.

I applaud the Portal devs for sticking by their game and hope that other devs will follow their lead.

crashlanding

I know, but the perspective and style of controls are FPS-like in nature.

NeoAkira

Oh I am sorry mr high and mighty but your game was perhaps the most popular puzzle game in the last 5 years? When you announced the sequel you were annoyed people took an interest? Sheesh. He could be a little more modest. He sounds like he doesn't like money, praise and huge recognition by most of the industry.

EdwinJ85

The alternate endings sound interesting. I would get a stand alone Portal special edition if I could play through the deleted content, much the same way as viewing deleted scenes on a DVD. I fear this would become a trend, and soon we would start seeing all the deleted crap from every game.

"And here's the part where Kratos has to stand in line at the ancient DMV. We thought it was a great test of skill and patience, but ultimately standing in line for 2 hours just felt a little off pace."

As for Psychonauts, I would gladly buy it if I could find a copy. I'd download it but I'd have to delete most of the content of my 360's HD to store it, and I'm not paying MS' stupid high price for the 120gb drive.

PlaidNinja

Forgot to add I also feel like the last level was a major let down. It reminded me of how I felt when I finished Bioshock - wishing the end was more like the game itself, and not some tacked on addition (which these developer comments pretty much prove it was).

Groodle

Sure, the atmosphere is charming, and the setting is witty and fun to walk through, but story? Come on now. There is no story.

Groodle

kwant

kingclip

sauvage

I don't understand the gaming industry's continued infatuation with "bosses". Isn't there a better way to wrap up a level/game than with a horribly unbalanced fight with a frustratingly tough meanie that requires you to learn, through trial-and-error (i.e. dying over and over again), game mechanics/tactics that you never got to use before and will never use after?

ArmiMaan

Bon5ai

Zero_Beat

Akin

~phil

Peronthious

DigiMish

Believe me! :-)

LisaG.

wwilsonxp

Dauragon C. Mikado

The "Rat Man" concept worked far better as someone "behind the scenes," helping you out, knowing you'd never meet him.

The one element missing from this is the part where they said that the final decision for the boss battle came from the playtester's favourite section - the fire pit, which presented a relatively simple solution to a problem but with a strict time limit that made it intensene. The result, as we can all agree, is far better than their earlier ideas.

V1L3

Really interesting interview though. I'd love to hear more about this "Rat Man"!

Wuffles

Cell9song

As unfortunate as it may be, he's probably right.

KirbySS

Huckleberry

Yas

Superman

After like 15 seconds, I was completelly sure it whas a instaclassic. Total. Complete. Instant. Sucess.

You guys nailed it in a way money can't buy :D

Tei

PSN ID: Kadaj24

Dave Silva

I've been trying to build a new PC BEFORE diving into the games. It's bad enough a friend of mine spoiled part of HL2's story because he owns the 360 version >_<

Dave Silva

I hope they release this level as a download.

cyhborg

bigbake

xBETAx

I did get to the point with the portal gun. The reason I started to play the game was because I saw my brother playing it and it seemed intriguing to be able to use the portal gun. It just wasn't my cup of tea, however it probably wasn't due to the game itself as I can't really get into any FPS in general. I've played HL2, CS Source, the Halo games, CoD4, HL2 Deathmatch, UT2k4, etc. I am just unable to enjoy them the way I do platformers. Although the first 2 hours of TP are kinda boring, I still enjoyed them; the scenery, the characters, the learning how to use the game and your abilities, I enjoyed it all. But hey I didn't mean for my opinion of the game to knock down anyone else's experience with it. Different strokes for different folks, that's what I believe.

NeoAkira

I HATE YOU SO MUCH.

Dave Silva

bigbake

EightBit

TheCleaningGuy is no longer (that) disappointed with DMC4

dowingba

dowingba

AntiZERØ

dowingba

I only played through the first couple levels and got bored so I am in the "it sux" boat with you. Good luck with your venture in the IDF and come back and comment when you get a chance.

All The Best,
NeoAkira

NeoAkira

Lyner

When was the last time valve messed ANYTHING up. Rest assured, if it's not good valve will delay it.

ChunkOFunklulz

nevertheless, this was a fun read, i am glad they settled on the end boss that they did, but i wish they didn't have to trim down the storyline, i was hoping to meet the "rat" man, but oh well.

joelface

LisaG.

Erwin

Erwin

-"Wilson! WILSOOOOOOOOOON!!!!"

musicnoteless

Truepatriot

Irenicus-the one and only

A headhunt shall begin!

Interwebs

Makes me wonder what, and how, they're going to do the Portal 2 story line.

AndrewDB

......

Disclaimer: My last post for a very long while! (maybe as much as a year, joining the IDF) Don't forget 1up podcast people. Peace all, love and understanding, peace Kotaku and Kotakuites, take care all :)

......

Portal SUX!!!!!!!! IT SUX!!!!!

.....

PS: I never played it.

Irenicus-the one and only

Spoony Bard

On point: It makes me happy that that they were humble on their ideas, and were willing to scrap what did not work.

Lono

Erwin