GIGAOM Article Calls Valve Crass for Portal 2 ARG Experiment - Games

[URL="http://gigaom.com/2011/04/15/valves-portal-2-early-release-promotion-innovative-or-crass/"]http://gigaom.com/2011/04/15/valves-...tive-or-crass/[/URL] [I]Instead, fans found a timer counting down to the April 19 release of Portal 2. The site said it’s recruiting CPUs to initiate a faster reboot of GLaDOS, the evil computer in the original Portal. In order to do that, users are encouraged to buy the Potato Sack bundle of 13 independent games, collectively discounted to $40. So far, none of the games have been bought more than 5,000 times, well short of the apparent threshold for early release. At this point, it’s unclear if enough gamers will jump in to force an early release of the game.[/I] I couldn't help but post a reply on this article. This Ryan Kim doesn't seem to be someone who's into Portal 2 which was not what the ARG was inteded for anyways. Anyways, I don't know if they'll post my message there: "Despite the corrections made on this article with the help of some nudging from the commenters, this article is still wrong. Insisting that Valve's marketing scheme is crass is out of line. They are offering an earlier release to everyone if enough people play into GlaDOS' game. And that is to play the select games that exist in the bundle. If you don't own those games, you are encouraged to buy some or all of them. Nobody is forcing you to buy Portal 2. It only applies to those that pre-ordered or have decided to buy it. If you don't take part in the experiment, you still get to play Portal 2 on the day that was promised. Retail copies of Portal 2 like those of boxed PC and console versions cannot possibly work with the advanced release date due to physical limitations. This experiment is for those who are interested in taking part in the ARG. They are given added value that lasts during that small amount of time before the original release. That's like a few hours. A victory for those who is into the Valve ARG. Why the in the world are you comparing this experiment to music albums and Kickstarter? Why can't you see this in the context of gaming where overpriced, day one, low value DLC, network gaming subscription fees, draconian DRM, and yearly release game franchises are the norm? Crass is such a strange thing to call Valve coming from a website that has a dedicated Apple tab in its features."

:golfclap:

Valve knows how desperate their fans are for their games. They know for a fact that true Valve fans WILL try for the early release when given the chance . EX. If Valve were to realase ep.3 on a certain day, and they offered this early release shit, it would done instantly.

[QUOTE=Butthurter;29262773]i like how the op is rated dumb even though hes just the person giving out the article from the actual retards[/QUOTE] The dumb rating can also be used to easily express dislike for something in the post, whether it's by the poster or not. [editline]18th April 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=dvondrake;29262781]I still think it's kind of silly creating all that build up for an early release by 5 hours. The end result of this ARG failed and you know it.[/QUOTE] The effect of the ARG has been, for me, to overhype the game so much that I will not enjoy it nearly as much, and to drive me to reading the spoilers because it didn't come out any time sooner.

We thought we were curing cancer and solving world hunger, but it turned out we were just throwing money onto random prospects with little return.

[QUOTE=A B.A. Survivor;29262960]We thought we were curing cancer and solving world hunger, but it turned out we were just throwing money onto random prospects with little return.[/QUOTE] Its for Science, us monsters :science:

[QUOTE=usaokay;29263125]Better than nothing. Valve and the indie devs both get some increased profit from the potato sack. Those who preordered Portal 2 on PC officially get the game on Steam before its console counterpart (broken street dates doesn't count) is allowed to be sold to consumers. Everybody wins.[/QUOTE] Those who preordered the console or retail PC don't win.

[QUOTE=usaokay;29263125]Better than nothing. Valve and the indie devs both get some increased profit from the potato sack. Those who preordered Portal 2 on PC officially get the game on Steam before its console counterpart (broken street dates doesn't count) is allowed to be sold to consumers. Everybody wins.[/QUOTE] People risked their lifes (pole climber) for this ARG. We were expecting way more. Episode 3 scale.

[QUOTE=Hotespresso;29263174][b]People risked their lifes (pole climber) for this ARG[/b]. We were expecting way more. Episode 3 scale.[/QUOTE] waaaaaaaaa

[QUOTE=Hotespresso;29263174]People risked their lifes (pole climber) for this ARG. We were expecting way more. Episode 3 scale.[/QUOTE] I was under the impression the ARG will continue on at least until Ep 3?

wait, if you don't take part in the ARG you don't get the early release?

The worst part about the whole arg is when your browsing the forum for information and some cunt has made a troll thread with a HUGE spoiler "DARTH VADER IS LUKES FATHER" which collectively ruins the game for everyone

Who cares? If someone's thoughts on a video game bother you that much then perhaps it's time to do something else.

[QUOTE=dvondrake;29262781]I still think it's kind of silly creating all that build up for an early release by 5 hours. The end result of this ARG failed and you know it.[/QUOTE] It was its own test. You know how much they love to experiment with us.

[QUOTE=dude2193;29264179]The worst part about the whole arg is when your browsing the forum for information and some cunt has made a troll thread with a HUGE spoiler "DARTH VADER IS LUKES FATHER" which collectively ruins the game for everyone[/QUOTE] Darth Vader is Lukes Father?! Luke is Darth Vaders SON??!! :monocle: Edit: I was kidding, late raters. :rolleyes:

[QUOTE=dvondrake;29262781]I still think it's kind of silly creating all that build up for an early release by 5 hours. The end result of this ARG failed and you know it.[/QUOTE] They probably over estimated the number of people who would participate. Oh well at least they now know for the future.

It's obvious that valve is trying to profit off of their fans' excitement.

Although I agree entirely with the fact that it seems like a huge amount of effort was produced to simply shave a few hours off the release date; I'm Australian, and the release date was pushed back from about 2am to (at the moment) 6pm the day before. Seems to benefit us quite nicely.

I preordered Portal 2. I then bought the potato pack I thought that 13 fun indie games for less than £27 was a good deal (thinking the TF2 hat was a joke). I then got a hat and pin in Tf2. If the release is a few hours early, so be it. I've got the 20th off anyway, and as I live in the UK that is really the first day of release over here.

[QUOTE=Gordon Frohm;29265601]Darth Vader is Lukes Father?! Luke is Darth Vaders SON??!! :monocle: Edit: I was kidding, late raters. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE] we know you were joking, we were just going with it.

It's funny because I actually predicted that [sp]Wheatley might turn against you. So I don't really mind the spoilers.[/sp]

[QUOTE=AxerFex;29269660]It's funny because I actually predicted that [sp]Wheatley might turn against you. So I don't really mind the spoilers.[/sp][/QUOTE] people have already confirmed that isn't the case

[QUOTE=Penguiin;29269899]people have already confirmed that isn't the case[/QUOTE] And rightfully so, Valve would never make such a generic twist/story.

[QUOTE=Leaf Runner;29269963]And rightfully so, Valve would never make such a generic twist/story.[/QUOTE] i don't want to get banned for posting spoilers but hahaha

Wait now - that spoiler is false?

[QUOTE=JurajIsNotPirat;29270124]Wait now - that spoiler is false?[/QUOTE] [sp] Of course it is (or at least, we have no way to tell). Valve has done a really good job at protecting the spoilers, and it is still unconfirmed that Wheatley is the end boss. Just don't look for the answers, and play the game tomorrow.[/sp]

Whats GIGAOM?

[QUOTE=MrParalegal;29270197]Whats GIGAOM?[/QUOTE] Best be snipping, that's the [B]first word[/B] of the link in OP's post. [editline]19th April 2011[/editline] The people who published/wrote the article.

As much as I love Portal and Valve. This was a pretty awful ARG. The connections made no sense, there was no story until the comic just a whole lot of mysterious spooky "She's after me, her chamber is open, oh god" etc. Buying 13 random indie games with no connection but being indie to unlock Portal 2 faster is a great way into tricking people into spending lots of money in addition to pre-ordering Portal 2.

[QUOTE=Take_Opal;29271113]As much as I love Portal and Valve. This was a pretty awful ARG. The connections made no sense, there was no story until the comic just a whole lot of mysterious spooky "She's after me, her chamber is open, oh god" etc. Buying 13 random indie games with no connection but being indie to unlock Portal 2 faster is a great way into tricking people into spending lots of money in addition to pre-ordering Portal 2.[/QUOTE] how did it trick people into buying indie games?