Topic: The Epic Portal Update (Read 30500 times)

Ozymandias · « **on:** 01 Mar 2010, 21:58 »

If you haven't noticed, there was a sudden, mysterious update to Portal today with only one description:

Changed radio transmission frequency to comply with federal and state spectrum management regulations.

A new achievement also appeared with it simply titled "Transmission Complete" with a description of "...?"

What changed is simply this: there are now 26 radios hidden throughout the game. Each one has a signal location tied to it where if you take the radio to the location you hear a strange broadcast and unlock 1/26th of the achievement.

4 of them were in morse code and read:

INTERIOR TRANSMISSION ACTIVE EXTERNAL DATA LINE ACTIVE MESSAGE DIGEST ACTIVE
9E107D9D372BB6826BD81D3542AV19D6 (which is MD5 hash for "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog")
SYSTEM DATA DUMP ACTIVE USER BACKUP ACTIVE PASSWORD BACKUP ACTIVE
BEEP BEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEP BEEEEP BEEP BEEP (which is, in turn, morse code for LOL)

The remaining 22 were weird whining noises. These were encrypted images. Some of them were simple images of disturbing things, a human skull, the valve guy, a view through a sniper scope. Some of them were pieces of paper with a BBS number scribbled out.

The rest were divided into 4 and numbered.

When spelled out, you get 9459C6CAC8C203B8128B7CC63068D4FD, which is MD5 hash for a phone number: (425) 822-5251. This phone number is in Kirkland, Washington, where Valve began. Trying it with the other pictures, it was figured to be a BBS number.

And here is where the search has ended.

EDIT: And just now someone figured out the username/password:

An ASCII GLaDOS?

Basically, the assumption is that Valve is announcing Portal 2 and maybe HL: Episode 3 in the most badass way possible.

KvP · « **Reply #1 on:** 01 Mar 2010, 23:35 »

That is indeed an ARG. Pretty nice.

messeduplilkid · « **Reply #2 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 01:30 »

Ozy thanks for the update, I heard about this yesterday, but didn't get to check it out.

I assumed it was just going to be a viral dealy. I really hope it's for portal 2 or episode 3. It'd really make the first half of the year, so completely unexpected and out of the blue.

Keep us posted!

Melodic · « **Reply #3 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 01:37 »

announcement?

shurely yew must be mistakeen

est · « **Reply #4 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 01:38 »

Well, obviously they're saying there's a backup of GLaDOS, so either it's some sort of DLC where GLaDOS is brought back online, or it's a sequel. Either way, totally awesome

pilsner · « **Reply #5 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 03:56 »

If they release DLC for a 4 hour computer game, I am personally going to Valve headquarters and slapping Gabe Newell with my cock. His name is Bob, and he's particularly tetchy after a long flight, so I suspect he will scratch Gabe quite seriously about the face and neck.

As for HL3, not that I'm not happy, but what the fuck have they been doing for 2 years, I want my periodic content already.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #6 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 05:28 »

How the fuck do you find it in yourself to complain about this for fuck's sake

A Wet Helmet · « **Reply #7 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 05:33 »

As much as I enjoyed Portal-- and I did-- Please let it be HL3. I just might wet myself. HL2 is easily my favorite single player shooter of all time. I still fire it up with a fair bit of regularity despite the fact that it's starting to look a little dated.

Inlander · « **Reply #8 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 05:34 »

Quote from: pilsner on 02 Mar 2010, 03:56

what the fuck have they been doing for 2 years, I want my periodic content already.

Every 2 years is periodic.

Ozymandias · « **Reply #9 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 09:05 »

Update of all the ASCII images found on the BBS.

Boro_Bandito · « **Reply #10 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 11:19 »

That seriously looks like a Portal sequel to me, especially from those pictures. they just seem to fit that aesthetic.

Ozymandias · « **Reply #11 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 11:23 »

I don't know why people keep jumping to the conclusion that an ARG added to Portal indicates that they're announcing Portal 2.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #12 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 11:27 »

Look at that one towards the left side, that looks like an anthropomorphized GLaDOS holding hands with...another anthropomorphized GLaDOS.

her twin perhaps? Or maybe it's her husband MelVIN?

either way, Portal 2 seems like a pretty safe bet to me.

Boro_Bandito · « **Reply #13 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 12:16 »

Not to mention the one in the middle that looks like a picture of an object going through a portal

Melodic · « **Reply #14 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 15:13 »

HL3? You guys are forgetting about Episode 3 already!

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #15 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 15:14 »

i'm pretty sure Valve are the only people who haven't forgotten about Episode 3.

they came out with Portal and I was like "Half-what?! Never heard of it!"

JD · « **Reply #16 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 16:21 »

Quote from: Ozymandias on 02 Mar 2010, 09:05

Update of all the ASCII images found on the BBS.

Now in glorious color

Blue Kitty · « **Reply #17 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 19:08 »

Does this have anything to do with the 360 version?

JD · « **Reply #18 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 19:36 »

Maybe!

JD · « **Reply #19 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 19:41 »

Look a woman holding a gun

Inlander · « **Reply #20 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 20:04 »

Quote from: Zombiedude on 02 Mar 2010, 19:41

Look a woman holding a . . . something

JD · « **Reply #21 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 21:24 »

Chell holding the portal gun?

Ozymandias · « **Reply #22 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 22:09 »

Well, Chell's right handed and that person's left handed.

Alyx is right handed too, though, sadly. I was mildly hopeful.

JD · « **Reply #23 on:** 02 Mar 2010, 22:11 »

Maybe she's ambidextrous

BeoPuppy · « **Reply #24 on:** 03 Mar 2010, 01:10 »

Maybe they fucked up.

LTK · « **Reply #25 on:** 03 Mar 2010, 02:50 »

Maybe it's a view of her back.

FIXDIX · « **Reply #26 on:** 03 Mar 2010, 03:08 »

Her back has some pretty mean titties.

LTK · « **Reply #27 on:** 03 Mar 2010, 03:24 »

Er... Well, it's ASCII, can you blame me?

sean · « **Reply #28 on:** 03 Mar 2010, 12:26 »

man, this thread.

lol

Buttfranklin · « **Reply #29 on:** 03 Mar 2010, 12:36 »

God, viral marketing is annoying.

LTK · « **Reply #30 on:** 03 Mar 2010, 16:02 »

Also, Portal has a new ending. I don't know what it is, and I'm going to reinstall the game as soon as I can to find out myself. Getting out of this thread now.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #31 on:** 03 Mar 2010, 16:13 »

Yeah, I just watched the new ending on Youtube and it's gettin me pretty hyped for (hopefully) Portal 2.

Blue Kitty · « **Reply #32 on:** 04 Mar 2010, 09:32 »

If you haven't seen it, here it is

C'MON GUYS, UPDATE MY 360 VERSION!!

LTK · « **Reply #33 on:** 04 Mar 2010, 11:34 »

Been through it two more times while collecting the radios. It's like a little side-quest! Got 24 out of 26 so far. I think there is supposed to be one in every area, but I haven't found the one in test chamber 12 or in the room where dozens pistons thread the upper area.

Emaline · « **Reply #34 on:** 04 Mar 2010, 13:22 »

God damn it. I want to play this so bad. But my boyfriend won't let me reinstal portal because it's too big, and they won't update the 360 version.

Chesire Cat · « **Reply #35 on:** 04 Mar 2010, 20:01 »

This is just too fucking neat!

JD · « **Reply #36 on:** 04 Mar 2010, 22:07 »

Oh man this has a wiki now crazy

Johnny C · « **Reply #37 on:** 04 Mar 2010, 22:39 »

the new ending made me jump out of my seat and go "HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT"

LTK · « **Reply #38 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 03:10 »

I didn't. It's a very straightforward way of saying "You're not done yet." So, yay, Portal 2! I wouldn't count on Ep3, though.

Replaying Portal a few times made me see how well it makes the distinction between a puzzle and an escape. The thing with puzzle games is that every single one of them, ever, has had in mind the solving of the puzzle. That is, the game itself wants you to solve the puzzle for the sake of it, why else are you playing it? When a game's plot makes not the solving puzzles a goal unto itself, but escape or survival instead, it can sometimes break the immersion, simply because everything is so convenient. One would expect Portal to suffer from this too, because it has such a clear-cut distinction between puzzle chambers that exist to be solved, and the area outside the puzzle chambers where you need to escape. But it handles this quite well, actually. Once 'outside', you still need to figure out what to do and where to go, but you don't feel like you're following a given route as much. Of course, you are actually going where the game takes you, this is inescapable in a puzzle game like this, but it does a very good job of suspending disbelief.

scarred · « **Reply #39 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 03:17 »

Quote from: LTK on 05 Mar 2010, 03:10

I didn't.

Way to suck the fun out of the moment bro

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #40 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 10:42 »

well, hellooooo there

Emaline · « **Reply #41 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 11:17 »

what does the underlined stuff mean?!?!?!

Edit: Apparently, it is a login and password for a bbs.

User: drattmann
Password: h0nee

The number to call up the bbs is (425) 822-5251. I have no idea what I'm doing at this point. I know nothing of calling a bbs. But apparently, you need certain software to do it, and I don't think I have that.

But somebody try it! and let me know the results.

A Wet Helmet · « **Reply #42 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 12:02 »

Quote from: Emaline on 05 Mar 2010, 11:17

I know nothing of calling a bbs. But apparently, you need certain software to do it, and I don't think I have that.

Despite the fact that I knew this day would come, you have just made me feel so fucking old it's unbelievable.

Emaline · « **Reply #43 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 12:08 »

My boyfriend just gave me this same lecture.

I know that BBSs are from the modem days. I know back then you had dial ISPs. I know that back then you could just " pop open a terminal with a command prompt and operate it like that".

But nowadays, that obviously is not the case. And I don't know what to do.

I don't mean to make people feel old. I guess I am just poorly wording it.

A Wet Helmet · « **Reply #44 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 12:13 »

No, it's cool. I'm not saying you did anything to make me feel old. Fact is, I'm actually getting old! Until today though, the worst I had been made to feel about it was when one of my kids asked me "How old were you when you got your first cell phone" and was jaw-droppingly shocked when my answer was 28 or 29.

"Dad, you didn't have cell phones when you were a kid"

"No, we had rotary phones. With cords"

"What are those?"

Yeah... you managed to beat that feeling I got from that.

Ozymandias · « **Reply #45 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 13:27 »

Just for more info:

Images with the file format ".apf" (Aperture Picture Format) are coming out of the BBS and can only be decoded by a program found through the BBS- written in BASIC.

McTaggart · « **Reply #46 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 13:38 »

I am frankly amazed that people put up with this shit for the sake of being marketed at.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #47 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 13:59 »

I'm glad someone puts up with it though. (Hell, maybe they even enjoy it!)

That way I can just sit back and get the distilled info without having to decode the human genome or some shit, because someone ELSE will inevitably do the leg work.

Emaline · « **Reply #48 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 14:08 »

Its fun trying to decode it all. It's neat.

I feel like letting other people do all the work is sort of like playing a game and following a walk-through for it to a T. And that just wouldn't be fun.

JD · « **Reply #49 on:** 05 Mar 2010, 14:26 »

Holy cow there is gonna be a coop mode auhguhgabauajgahg

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: The Epic Portal Update (Read 30500 times)