On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots

An article on GameInformer.com hears from Matt Charlesworth, a concept artist at Valve, who explains the process of redesigning Chell, the protagonist from Portal, who is getting a new look for the upcoming sequel to the first-person platformer. He describes their struggle with the idea of replacing Chell, how they toyed with changing her ambiguous racial background, and how they redesigned her outfit to look like it wasn't designed. There are character models and concept art showing the new direction Chell is taking, as well as a look at their co-op robots, which achieve "a very Westworld feel."
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots
Mar 23, 2010, 18:52
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots Mar 23, 2010, 18:52
Mar 23, 2010, 18:52
 
I can understand that they don't want to flesh out her personality or even give her a voice for the same reasons as Gordon Freeman. But, at least Gordon looks interesting and is memorable.

Just because she's a mute doesn't mean she needs to be ugly or dull visually.
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots
Mar 23, 2010, 18:28
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots Mar 23, 2010, 18:28
Mar 23, 2010, 18:28
 
Not sure the source of the hate. I'm indifferent to the helmet, and see nothing wrong with the suit. It's functional and boring, which is the whole idea. There are many things unsaid in the Portal interview about Chell, but I think the most important is that she is designed with the same goals as Gordon Freeman: a blank slate, there for the player to impose their own personality. Chell is a role you inhabit and give life to, another mute hero.

There's a webcomic idea there somewhere... Chell and Freeman on a date, neither saying a thing.
Ancient
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots
Mar 23, 2010, 17:15
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots Mar 23, 2010, 17:15
Mar 23, 2010, 17:15
 
Its the hat ...its always the hat.
A world war 2 spitfire helmet?
Has she been testing spitfires in the morning & portal guns in the afternoon?
Um .. Behind you...
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots
Mar 23, 2010, 14:50
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots Mar 23, 2010, 14:50
Mar 23, 2010, 14:50
 
Enahs wrote on Mar 23, 2010, 12:58:
She looks stupid as hell now.

Like a cheap ass costume from a really bad 70's scifi movie. And not in the good way.

I might not have put it quite that way...

...but you're 100% spot on.

Gabe Newell? You listening? You're pulling a Lucas! Knock it off!

Gah! Why do people consistently think "Hey! Everybody loves this IP...let's @#$% with it!"

-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots
Mar 23, 2010, 14:02
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots Mar 23, 2010, 14:02
Mar 23, 2010, 14:02
 
elefunk wrote on Mar 23, 2010, 13:57:
Co-Op in Portal 2 is a completely separate game from the normal single-player campaign. Where did you ever get the idea that some robot would be with you solving puzzles for you?

No, I figured that it'd be separate, I just thought that you could play the co-op part with a bot. Just misread it.

Creston
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Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots
Mar 23, 2010, 13:57
4.
Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots Mar 23, 2010, 13:57
Mar 23, 2010, 13:57
 
Co-Op in Portal 2 is a completely separate game from the normal single-player campaign. Where did you ever get the idea that some robot would be with you solving puzzles for you?
3.
 
Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots
Mar 23, 2010, 13:39
3.
Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots Mar 23, 2010, 13:39
Mar 23, 2010, 13:39
 
Creston wrote on Mar 23, 2010, 13:35:
Co-op robots? Isn't the whole point of Portal that you figure the puzzles out yourself?

I believe the idea is that in Co-Op, each player is a robot (rather than humans or two Chell's.) I don't think they solve puzzles for you...
2.
 
Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots
Mar 23, 2010, 13:35
2.
Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots Mar 23, 2010, 13:35
Mar 23, 2010, 13:35
 
Co-op robots? Isn't the whole point of Portal that you figure the puzzles out yourself? Wouldn't a robot kind of be a spoiler?

It seems a lot more fun to debate the puzzles with another player and come to a solution together.

Creston
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1.
 
Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots
Mar 23, 2010, 12:58
Enahs
 
1.
Re: On Portal 2 Character Design, Co-op Robots Mar 23, 2010, 12:58
Mar 23, 2010, 12:58
 Enahs
 
She looks stupid as hell now.

Like a cheap ass costume from a really bad 70's scifi movie. And not in the good way.
I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.
- W. C. Fields
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