http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/98776-Crazy-Valve-ARG-Teases-Portal-2
Apparently the new Portal update has revealed a bunch of cryptic multi-layered clues, information and what seems to be an overall incredibly well thought-out scheme from Valve to properly build up to something big coming in the nearest days.
From hidden images in sound files, to morse code, and all the way to an old 80s modem set up near Valve HQ, transmitting ASCII pictures of test chambers, Vortigaunts and more.
Whenever the community cracks/decodes one layer of information, more transcend from it. It just keeps getting more and more interesting.
It better be good, Valve. I'm thinking new hats for TF2/L4D2? Episode 3/Portal 2?
Discuss.
EDIT:
Summary of things discovered so far
Transmission Received
Created 14 years ago2010-03-02 13:52:50 UTC by
Daubster
Created 14 years ago2010-03-02 13:52:50 UTC by
Daubster
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 14:04:26 UTC
Post #279399
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 14:09:24 UTC
Post #279400
been following this since the update.
Spent 3 hours getting the new achievement hoping for some secrets to be answered but no - it's just an achievement. (although it was fun to replay Portal with another puzzle element in each test chamber.
Spent 3 hours getting the new achievement hoping for some secrets to be answered but no - it's just an achievement. (although it was fun to replay Portal with another puzzle element in each test chamber.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 14:11:24 UTC
Post #279401
I just love it when they actually expect you to think. Games with actual puzzles have been pretty much dead for the past 10 years or maybe even more.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 14:14:15 UTC
Post #279402
Disagree.
see:
Portal
Braid
Eets
On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness (eps 1 & 2)
Psychonauts
Sam & Max Episodes
World of Goo
I'm sure I'm missing some.
see:
Portal
Braid
Eets
On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness (eps 1 & 2)
Psychonauts
Sam & Max Episodes
World of Goo
I'm sure I'm missing some.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 14:21:57 UTC
Post #279403
Yes, also KGB. But this appears to be much more than that: It extends beyond the natural environment of the game - your computer - and makes you think (literally) outside the box. Of course, I haven't seen the clues that lead someone to dial to that telnet/whatever line, but this could go much further.
Only Notpron has got me stuck for weeks without a clue of what to do next. And this is doing the same (to others, not me), and it's only a diversion instead of part of the actual game. It's more like an easter egg that leads you to uncover some conspiracy.
Only Notpron has got me stuck for weeks without a clue of what to do next. And this is doing the same (to others, not me), and it's only a diversion instead of part of the actual game. It's more like an easter egg that leads you to uncover some conspiracy.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 14:25:17 UTC
Post #279404
A good summary of everything discovered so far.
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169027
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169027
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 17:10:39 UTC
Post #279406
I love it all.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 17:36:59 UTC
Post #279407
Quote from those threads :
My brain is going to explode, this is what Valve has been working on for the last several months, this one updateSeriously, they'd better make an Episode3 announcement.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 18:27:04 UTC
Post #279409
From the third page:
Episode 3!
They're toying with us, then they're going to announce it.
I wonder if Adam Foster is behind this, it sort of reminds me of the ARGesque puzzle he originally did to promote Minerva on his website. He works at Valve now after all. His mod was all about radio transmissions and coded messages and stuff too.This guy is right, Not only did Valve hire Adam Foster, but he's working on
Episode 3!
They're toying with us, then they're going to announce it.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 20:37:15 UTC
Post #279423
The thing I don't get with this pic:
Why is everyone saying that pic bottom-left-centre is Vortigaunts holding hands? Looks nothing like them. Could they be Portal's unseen military androids?
Their design seems silly enough to fit into the Portal universe. Don't know if I'd want them turning up on the Borealis in Episode Three, though.
Their design seems silly enough to fit into the Portal universe. Don't know if I'd want them turning up on the Borealis in Episode Three, though.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 21:09:02 UTC
Post #279424
Expanded ASCII:
Anyway, they look more like robots. And if they're not, you'd still be crazy to say those are vortigaunts.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 21:46:55 UTC
Post #279425
This is why i like Valve. I just love the suspense.
Im at
Im at
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 22:13:52 UTC
Post #279426
I see a medkit, and two robots holding hands, and a Combine Dropship with the troop container flying off, and a heart, and science, And what looks like they may be areas in Episode 3. And that one looks like a doggy!
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-02 23:48:42 UTC
Post #279427
I don't see the medkit.
Gee, I wonder where they're going with this. Are they stuck yet?
Gee, I wonder where they're going with this. Are they stuck yet?
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 00:00:54 UTC
Post #279428
I started the portal accomplishments. Man some of those transmissions are creepy.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 00:04:50 UTC
Post #279429
<3 military androids.
D
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 05:14:50 UTC
Post #279430
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 08:36:29 UTC
Post #279431
I don't see the medkit.Far right. It's not quite straight, and a bit too thick, but it does look like a combine medkit.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 12:16:55 UTC
Post #279433
wow. you know your a nerd when you get to see these pics of Portal 2... or did I miss something? 
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 12:31:40 UTC
Post #279434
Yeah, those graphics are cutting edge!
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 13:43:05 UTC
Post #279436
Just wait.. If something goes wrong I'm sure Keanu Reeves will save the day!
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 15:47:33 UTC
Post #279440
Just completed Portal but i've missed 5 transmissions. Darn.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 16:00:34 UTC
Post #279441
@Jeff: I read the mystery thread in the Steam forums earlier and I agree with the Steam forumers in that the thing far right in the picture is an isometric perspective room with a pipe coming out spewing out stuff, rotated 90 degrees clockwise. That doesn't look like a medkit to me AT ALL.
I've seen so many references to Windows 3.11 yet noone appears to have noticed: There was Windows 3.11 for workgroups, so this may be implying Portal 2 will have teamplay multiplayer. Is it such a stretch?
I've seen so many references to Windows 3.11 yet noone appears to have noticed: There was Windows 3.11 for workgroups, so this may be implying Portal 2 will have teamplay multiplayer. Is it such a stretch?
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 20:31:34 UTC
Post #279444
I thought the 3.11 was in reference to March 11th, when Gabe is getting his GDC award (and hopefully announcing something!).
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 20:51:22 UTC
Post #279445
Stu: Yeah, I guess you're right, on second glance. Still, when it's not magnified, it does resemble a medkit. Kinda.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 21:54:11 UTC
Post #279446
New update to Portal has a new ending!!!!
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 22:20:39 UTC
Post #279447
Really?
I bet you only see it once you get all the transmissions.
I've just found another radio that i missed in previous playthrough.
I bet you only see it once you get all the transmissions.
I've just found another radio that i missed in previous playthrough.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 22:23:33 UTC
Post #279448
TELL US MORE!
Valve are making the wait between games exciting. What a great time to be a PC gamer...
Valve are making the wait between games exciting. What a great time to be a PC gamer...
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 22:56:34 UTC
Post #279449
They updated the game a second time a few hours ago. See youtube for the new ending, it's only that last 5 seconds that's changed.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-03 23:44:53 UTC
Post #279451
Yay! Found all the radio's and received all the transmissions!
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-04 00:46:05 UTC
Post #279452
Good!
...
...
...now what?
...
...
...now what?
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-04 00:55:28 UTC
Post #279453
Now we do it like they do on the Discovery channel.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-04 02:36:43 UTC
Post #279454
Get horny now.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-04 11:07:35 UTC
Post #279462
whistles Bloodhound Gang tune
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-06 09:06:37 UTC
Post #279514
I've found all but 4 of the transmissions.
I'm pretty sure I've found all of them in the test chambers, so I could be just missing a few in the part afterwards.
I'm pretty sure I've found all of them in the test chambers, so I could be just missing a few in the part afterwards.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-06 09:34:00 UTC
Post #279516
I played through and got the transmissions today, to restore my 100% achievement progress in Portal.
Good way for Valve to get people replaying older games! I bet that Adam Foster was an integral part of this Portal ARG, he did a few for his Minerva mod and they were rather similar. Also, some of the stuff uncovered in the game linked back to him directly.
Good way for Valve to get people replaying older games! I bet that Adam Foster was an integral part of this Portal ARG, he did a few for his Minerva mod and they were rather similar. Also, some of the stuff uncovered in the game linked back to him directly.
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-06 10:30:58 UTC
Post #279517
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-06 10:46:47 UTC
Post #279518
They're all good, but the Francis one is the best.
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