5punk

Joose wrote:Im surprised no one has mentioned this yet: Just before the final aspload, crazy computer lady says something to the effect of "you dont want to go outside, its not like you remember". Now, admittedly, that could just be because its been a long time, or it could just be more lies, but I took that to be a reference to the Combine.

I kinda ignored that I think, as when you do end up outside, everything is as you'd expect the world to be pre portal storm/combine.

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:
I kinda ignored that I think, as when you do end up outside, everything is as you'd expect the world to be pre portal storm/combine.

Hmm, I thought it kind of looked post-combine*, and assumed that was what she was referring to.

*probably due to it being rendered by the source engine, but also as it looked vaguely reminiscent of the docks area in HL2

FatherJack wrote:Hmm, I thought it kind of looked post-combine*, and assumed that was what she was referring to.

*probably due to it being rendered by the source engine, but also as it looked vaguely reminiscent of the docks area in HL2

I think portal is set pre HL1.

Dr. kitteny berk wrote: I think portal is set pre HL1.

Im not so sure.

EDIT FOR THE INCLUSION OF ACTUAL REASONS:

ok, 1) The signs you see in the carpark at the end are in english. All the stuff in HL2 suggests city17 is somewhere in eastern europe/russia. So aperture science is clearly in a different place to HL2, maybe its slightly less messed up there.

2)you see a small amount of the corner of a carpark. Not really a lot to go on, theres certainly bits of HL2 that look equally untouched by the combine.

3)Aperture Science stuff seems to use some combine technology, what with the wierd energy balls. I can't quite rationalise why or how this could happen, but its certainly easier to explain if its set *after* HL1, even if its *before* HL2.

Maybe Aperture and Breen, sittin' in a tree,
P L O T T I N.. G.

It could be after EP2.

After all, like Joose said, bits of Earth havn't been touched by the combine, and a clear blue sky is possible before the portal storm, and also after it gets properly closed in EP2.

Setting it after EP2 would also explain why the facility is abandoned, the combine stroll in and you're not going to want to sit and stay at work now are you?

Also, I hadn't twigged about the energy balls either, and on that note, the turrets fire bullets identicle to the Overwatch Pulse Rifle and other Combine turrets.

I'm just finishing Portal & a second run through HL2 (for posterity, I played it waybackwhen) off,

Portal is bloody brilliant all the way through only slightly dissapointed with the last room ... "oh, it's a boss fight".

Real puzzle driven gaming with scant explanations and some well veiled humour in the narrator's voice. Superbly done.

Valve score again. Next up Ep1 and 2

buzzmong wrote:It could be after EP2.

After all, like Joose said, bits of Earth havn't been touched by the combine, and a clear blue sky is possible before the portal storm, and also after it gets properly closed in EP2.

Not sure.

buzzmong wrote:Setting it after EP2 would also explain why the facility is abandoned,

So would the fact glados killed everyone with nerve agent.

buzzmong wrote:Also, I hadn't twigged about the energy balls either, and on that note, the turrets fire bullets identicle to the Overwatch Pulse Rifle and other Combine turrets.

Gman has a habit of helping people along.

Dr. kitteny berk wrote: So would the fact glados killed everyone with nerve agent.

We've already established that people (or at least one person) had to come back to fit the morality core after the nerve gas incident.

So that arguement doens't hold, as the only time Glados can gas you is after the morality core falls out.

I assumed it was around the same time as HL1 because both Black Mesa and Aperture were applying for grants at the same time so would have started development at similar times.

Although it could have taken twice as long for Aperture to complete the project...

To be honest, I thought Valve had already said that the story in Portal was not part of HL canon (hence the anachronisms). Although Aperture are part of the HL universe, the story within Portal is not.

Roman Totale wrote:To be honest, I thought Valve had already said that the story in Portal was not part of HL canon (hence the anachronisms). Although Aperture are part of the HL universe, the story within Portal is not.

What they said was that Portal is not directly involved with the Half-Life story line, like Opposing horse and Blue Shift were. Aperture Labs is most definitely involved, it's just that Chell and GlaDOS will probably never be seen again.

deject wrote:it's just that Chell and GlaDOS will probably never be seen again.

but she's still alive. she said it herself, REMEMBER?!

also;

Mr. Johnson wrote:also;

I suspect that Black Mesa were also trying to create portal technology and in a sense they suceeded, although their portals went through to another universe rather than staying in this one. I also wonder if the reason the place is deserted is because it is just after the accident and it is based on the Borealis (as it looks remarkably ship like out of the window just before you enter the last boss room) and whatever the accident was it created some kind of portal which destroyed or left behind organic matter (as there is no trace of anything, not even the person before you who clearly escaped the fire and left the notes for you to follow) but Chell was somehow protected within the stasis pod thing she is in.

Mr. Johnson wrote: also;

:lol:

Fucking. Inspired.

I haven't enjoyed a game that much in years. Really hard to find fault with it. Frustrating enough to keep you interested, yet, never so bad that stopping, stepping back and taking a moment didn't reveal the simple solution.

Just goes to show what starting with a good idea for a game and having it well implemented can do (rather than starting with an engine and finding an idea).

Probably GotY for me.

See, it was the story rather than the game that inspired me. The game was brilliant, and very original, but the idea of how Chell and GLaDOS got to be in that situation was what caught my imagination. It invoked the same curiosities as Cube (an obvious influence) and my chilhood memories of Dawn of the Dead (which I could only ever remember that zombies had taken over the world, but not how or why).

I loved both. To me, the story felt a tad superficial at first, and the gameplay was inspired, but just as the puzzles started to annoy, along came a plot that really made me 'wtf!' and suddenly the need to find more information drove me on through the puzzles. This mixture of information leaks and increasing difficulty as you became used to the abilities the portal gun granted you was a perfect curve of story and game mechanics. A truly inspired game.

Hello! I've been away for ages. Anyway, my theory;

Glados seems to want to help people who are still alive; yet the portal gun is worth more than the combined organs of subjects home town. Glados wants to help humanity, but isn't too bothered about individual humans. Presumably there are very few of the guns, and so Glados only wants to let people who are very capable at using them out into a world where inter-dimensional portals are common. Aperture was still a competitor with Black Mesa up until the seven hour war, ergo Portal takes place afterwards.

In short, I think she was vetting the people she had access to for ones who'd be likely to be use in the fight against the combine. At a guess, Chell will be instrumental in making Gordons mission easier/possible, or even "has" done so in the past. And it does sound like Glados will be back again at some point.

Incidentally, blowing up the Borealis isn't going to do much good if they're trying to get rid of the portal gun, as they can survive such temperatures.

edit/ Also, merry christmas

edit// Plus, this would explain the person who got out before you- they never existed. Glados a good planner, she probably left those clues there for you to find in the first place.