Portal Gets Mysterious Update, Radio Signals
Steam achievements and Morse code soundfiles ahoy.
If you still play Valve's excellent first-person puzzle game Portal, you may have noticed a discrete update that has added a mysterious new Steam achievement and some hidden radio transmissions. Could an expansion pack of some kind be on the way?
The official update log only features one change: "Changed radio transmission frequency to comply with federal and state spectrum management regulations." Indeed. The new achievement, titled "Transmission Received" is not mentioned in the update log, but it is there. And there's no accompanying description for it, either.
Steam forumgoers have found some new sound files on top of this, of which the filenames feature the word 'dinosaur'. It seems that Valve has deployed quite the cryptic, multi-layered puzzle here.
What could it all mean? Conspiracy theories - as always - in the comments box.
The official update log only features one change: "Changed radio transmission frequency to comply with federal and state spectrum management regulations." Indeed. The new achievement, titled "Transmission Received" is not mentioned in the update log, but it is there. And there's no accompanying description for it, either.
Steam forumgoers have found some new sound files on top of this, of which the filenames feature the word 'dinosaur'. It seems that Valve has deployed quite the cryptic, multi-layered puzzle here.
What could it all mean? Conspiracy theories - as always - in the comments box.
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Comments
Valva 2 Mar 2010 12:01
1/5
I almost got excited there but then remembered that, duh, I have a Ps3 and Valve are ps3 haters. booo!!
Demonsul 2 Mar 2010 16:07
2/5
It could be a secret side quest in the making! Who knows! Could Portal be upgraded to contain non-linear elements?
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Zach 2 Mar 2010 22:15
3/5
Valva, you're using a computer right now to complain about Valve using computers instead of a severely limited and proprietary console. Why not get with the program and realize consoles eat your money while computers allow you free access to updates and DLC?
And demonsul, puzzle games are traditionally linear because you solve one puzzle and go to the next. If you could just skip around, what's the point of the game?
And demonsul, puzzle games are traditionally linear because you solve one puzzle and go to the next. If you could just skip around, what's the point of the game?
DrkStr 3 Mar 2010 09:07
4/5
Zach wrote:
Valva, you're using a computer right now to complain about Valve using computers instead of a severely limited and proprietary console. Why not get with the program and realize consoles eat your money while computers allow you free access to updates and DLC?/quote]
I'm glad my copy of Assassin's Creed II was on a PS3 and not a PC, decause of the stupid DRM. My PS3 caust less that some graphics cards.
I'm glad my copy of Assassin's Creed II was on a PS3 and not a PC, decause of the stupid DRM. My PS3 caust less that some graphics cards.
Valva 3 Mar 2010 09:08
5/5
@Zach hahaha. you think i'm typing this on a fat case windows pc and not a netbook or non-gaming laptop, or even my phone or *maybe* the browser in my ps3? wow. you gotta get out of your blinkered view that people that use the internet havea gaming capable or upgradeable pc
but lets assume I have a fat box windows pc like I once did. I sure a s**t aint going to throw good $$$ after bad for a worthy gpu - the 'bad' being the gpu card I had to buy to play HL2 ep1 that, by the time ep2 and portal arrived, wasn't up to muster.
I'm not fan of the walled garden of consoles, but the pc gaming market of the 90s is dead. get over it.
oh and you're not exactly thinking outside of the box if you think all puzzle games have to be linear.
but lets assume I have a fat box windows pc like I once did. I sure a s**t aint going to throw good $$$ after bad for a worthy gpu - the 'bad' being the gpu card I had to buy to play HL2 ep1 that, by the time ep2 and portal arrived, wasn't up to muster.
I'm not fan of the walled garden of consoles, but the pc gaming market of the 90s is dead. get over it.
oh and you're not exactly thinking outside of the box if you think all puzzle games have to be linear.