Category: Community

“Fresh Meat!”

May 4th, 2012 · By Vic · 9 Comments

Today we’re pleased to announce that we have brought in two new writers: Crash-Override, a veteran writer and Source level designer; and Mimaz, co-host of the Steamcast podcast, former regular on the Steam Forums, and a fine writer. They won’t be doing news – instead, they’ll be doing some lovely original editorial content, which I think you guys are going to love.

That said, Crash and Mimaz’s arrival is unrelated to the call for writers that we did last September. Speaking of which - that call for writers was a huge success after all, and we’ll be bringing the 7 new staff writers we accepted from that soon, probably around summer time.

As a matter of fact, Mimaz’s first article will be released tomorrow, and it will be the first in a series of in-depth pieces that we’ve dubbed “The Half-Life Dissertation“. I think you guys will enjoy it!

Oh My God, Someone Is Making An Animated Portal Movie

April 30th, 2012 · By Vic · 7 Comments

Since Portal 2′s release in April of last year, we’ve seen the release of a number of terrific fan-films: the poignant and clever “Outside Aperture“; the intriguing but lovely “Portal: No Escape“; and of course, the hilarious “Aperture: A Triumph of Science“. They serve as testaments to the community’s dedication, and appreciation for the world that Valve has so masterfully crafted. But every once in a while, one of those amazing projects comes around that’s just so promising, you can’t help but just be stunned. And this is one of them!

Analyzing The New Portal 2 Puzzle Maker

April 28th, 2012 · By Vic · 16 Comments

In little over a week, on the 8th of May, Valve will release the Perpetual Testing Initiative DLC, for Portal 2, or PeTI. Featuring a simple, yet versatile puzzle creator/editor toolkit that can interface with the advanced Hammer Editor, and integration with the Steam Workshop, allowing you to freely upload, rate, comment, and download anyone’s puzzle chambers – it may not be a new singleplayer test course or a set of advanced chambers, but it will give Portal 2 new life, and keep its community active for the foreseeable future.

A trailer for the PeTI was released yesterday, and while most of it is another hilarious Cave Johnson infographic short, it includes a sneak peek at the PeTI’s puzzle maker in action towards the end. Let’s take a look!

Portal 2 “Perpetual Testing Initiative” DLC Trailer Revealed [UPDATED]

April 27th, 2012 · By Vic · 32 Comments

[UPDATE]: More details on the Puzzle Maker – apparently, you will be able to export Puzzle Maker maps to the Hammer Editor for extra detail and design. In addition, Hammer-made maps can be uploaded to the Workshop. You won’t be able to import Hammer maps to the Puzzle Maker, but hopefully, much like co-op support, this will be added to the PTI following its release.]

What would a Portal-related announcement be without a wacky, non-canon trailer short from Cave Johnson providing some manner of insane backstory to whatever is vehind the announcement? It’d be… a trailer-less announcement, that’s what! Thankfully, that’s never a possibility when you’re dealing with Aperture.

The G-Man Squad Is Back, And Fully Remastered

April 26th, 2012 · By Vic · 4 Comments

These days, the art of machinima isn’t doing as well as it used to. But way back in 2008, one of its masters was, and still is Xanatos of the Janus Syndicate, who released the first episode of the G-Man Squad series that same year. While he’s still making some awesome stuff these days, the G-Man Squad remains many people’s favorites from the Janus Syndicate. Which might be why Xanatos has decided to return to its origins, with a ten-minute G-Man Squad special containing re-shot and re-edited video from its first 3 episodes, as well as some never-before-seen footage. And yes, you get to hear Boris’s… distinct scream, in HD audio.

Going Skydiving With Portal’s Sentry Turret

April 23rd, 2012 · By Vic · 2 Comments

Released on the 21st of March, ThinkGeek’s Life-Sized Inflatable Portal Turret is… well, precisely what it says on the tin. It presumably sold like hot cakes, because people are crazy for whatever has Portal written all over it. But that doesn’t mean buyers haven’t put it to good use. While it seems to be designed for use in water, it also seems to work just as well in… the air.

The Evolution of Aztec

April 22nd, 2012 · By Vic · 15 Comments

Oh, Counter-Strike. We really do love you. Which is why we stalked you and took pictures of you while you aged! We’re a lot like paparazzi, except instead of selling the pictures, we just put them on YouTube. That way, everybody wins!

CS: Global Offensive SDK To Enter Beta In One Week, Will Feature Steam Workshop Integration [UPDATED]

April 20th, 2012 · By Vic · 3 Comments

[UPDATE: Chet Faliszek tells us that CS:GO's SDK will contain the classic Hammer Editor.]

What would Counter-Strike be without custom maps? Well… pretty much nothing. As a matter of fact, most, if not almost all of the maps held most dear by Counter-Strike fans were created by third-party mappers. So the release of a level design toolkit is crucial to CS:GO’s development. Hammer (or, to call it by its maiden name, WorldCraft) is getting a bit old, and Portal has already replaced it with a far simpler and more versatile Puzzle Creator. So what’s going on over at the CS front?