Tech Blog

[#1]

Unless you've not been paying attention to the first-person-shooter or puzzle game genres over the last few years, you're quite aware of what Portal is. And yes, this is one of my all time favourite games

But just incase you fall into that aforementioned category, let me quote from Wikipedia :

The game consists primarily of a series of puzzles that must be solved by teleporting the player's character and simple objects using the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device ("ASHPD", also dubbed the "portal gun"), a unit that can create inter-spatial portals AI named " GLaDOS " to complete each puzzle in the "Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center" using the portal gun with the promise of receiving cake when all the puzzles are completed. The unusual physics allowed by the portal gun are the emphasis of this game and are an extension of a similar portal concept in between flat planes. The player character is challenged by an Narbacular Drop ; many of the team members from the DigiPen Institute of Technology that worked on Narbacular Drop were hired by Valve for the creation of Portal.

...

Portal is Valve's spiritual successor to the freeware game Narbacular Drop , the 2005 independent game released by students of the DigiPen Institute of Technology ; the original Narbacular Drop team is now employed at Valve.

Ok, now you've got a bit of background, so why am I spending valuable bits on this? Well, for one thing, while Portal is a first person shooter, you don't really kill things with the gun. Rather, the Portal Gun simply makes holes in walls, floors and ceilings. This is where the puzzle comes in, you must creatively get through each level by overcoming obstacles and avoiding laser-wielding hazards who are trying to make holes in you!

Portal has become a bit of a cult favourite type of game. Physics are important, movement and timing can save the day, and the over-the-top sense of humor really makes this a standout title.

And now it's free, for the PC and Macintosh (until May 24th) using the Steam game/content distribution pla... .

Which is a very simple way to get the game. Set up an account, ask to 'install' the game, and a few (3-5) hrs later you have the game installed on your system and ready to play.

Of course, this is a loss-leader to entice you to install the Steam content delivery system, in the hopes that you'll consider buying other Steam-enabled game titles.

And this free Portal offer is really to celebrate the launch of the Mac version of Steam, but as long as they're releasing a free title, why not take advantage of it?

[#2]

Awesome that they made it free to propote the launch of Portal 2 which will be standalone!

[#3]

Heh, yes, Portal 2, how could I forget that it's coming down the pipe. Looking forward to it!