Can't wait! Gonna be awesome - on the pc, at least...

Well, game sucks now it will suffer from "consoleidis" throw it out..../Sarcasm off


I'm sure it will be great!

*Wonders how much functionality of the PS3 version will require Steam activation and whether that kind of DRM would get significant press*

Very cool...I'll be able to play with my younger brother without having to pick up a copy for the PS3.

Very cool...I'll be able to play with my younger brother without having to pick up a copy for the PS3.

Unless Valve play the trick of barring login to Portal 2 on PS3 if using it on Steam.

Wow, free Steam copy with purchase of PS3 version really makes me think I'll be picking this up on Blu-ray.

So am I going to be able to play co-op on my PC with a buddy on his Mac? If so, I'm probably going to be buying one of those Steam multi packs...

StingingVelvet wrote on Jan 18, 2011, 09:58:
*Wonders how much functionality of the PS3 version will require Steam activation and whether that kind of DRM would get significant press*

It's a closed platform, it already has shitloads of DRM. Steam functionality would be the least of it, literally.

Dunkirk wrote on Jan 18, 2011, 10:19:
So am I going to be able to play co-op on my PC with a buddy on his Mac? If so, I'm probably going to be buying one of those Steam multi packs...

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to, other source games have PC/Mac compatibility (TF2, L4D1 & 2)

I'm impressed with PS3 cross-compatibility being added to the list, though.

Kind of strange to see MS as the odd-man out.

Oh, I didn't mean it that way...I didn't read the part about a steam copy coming with a PS3 copy purchase. I just meant that I wouldn't have to go buy both a PC copy and a PS3 copy like I do with other games.

mch wrote on Jan 18, 2011, 10:23:
I don't see why you wouldn't be able to, other source games have PC/Mac compatibility (TF2, L4D1 & 2)

<keanu>Woah.</keanu>

<carson>Did NOT know that.</carson>

mch wrote on Jan 18, 2011, 10:23:
Kind of strange to see MS as the odd-man out.

Not really. MS said they already tried cross platform with Live and shot it down.

I also think Valve prolly talked to MS and they refused to budge about getting Steam to work with Live.

Granted somehow Square Enix got FFXI on 360.

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Not really. MS said they already tried cross platform with Live and shot it down.

XBL is surrounded by the electronic equivalent of the Great Wall. It wasn't designed to play nicely with the outside world and they're still struggling with that. A huge amount of issues are legacy from when it was designed for the original Xbox, though those are letting up (such as the friends limit being lifted) as they're willing to shut down original Xbox services.

This has caused issues. No fatal ones yet, but a lot of people at Microsoft aren't happy with the limitations. This is a huge reason why you can't browse the internet on the 360 (not that anyone really wants to, trying the Wii browser once or twice is enough to make people buy a $5 cable to just hook their laptop up to the TV.) This is why Unreal Championship on the PS3 allows mods but not on the 360. This is why so many MMOs have been announced for the 360 then either disappeared or been canceled.

Not to say it isn't possible. 1nsane (or the game just like 1sane) did it with the original Xbox. FFXI is another example, same with Shadow Run. But it's difficult to work within all the limitations and every game incorporating it has flopped.

I think the next Xbox will probably feature a complete overhaul around this, as consoles are going to be close enough to PCs to allow this, but I think some in Microsoft still like the simplicity and security that comes from having XBL being a walled-in fiefdom.

Verno wrote on Jan 18, 2011, 10:20:
It's a closed platform, it already has shitloads of DRM. Steam functionality would be the least of it, literally.

I'm guessing you are making a comment about the disc check or hardware exclusivity inherent to console games, but that is not DRM to me and not what I was talking about. If Portal 2 requires activation through Steam on the PS3 like a PC game would that is a HUGE development for console DRM. I doubt that will be the case, but maybe the multiplayer will be locked away behind a key similar to the "online pass" that EA and THQ have done?

It will be interesting to me to see how exactly it works.

Not really sure how this will be beneficial to anyone. PC players aren't going to sit around waiting for the PS3 guy to finally get his portal lined up...

Anyways, it's not gonna bother me. I've got plenty of guinea pigs err... FRIENDS to play the game with me.

Yeah, you go there, see what happens. Uh-huh, right in that chomper there. Oh c'mon, it'll be fine!

Creston

I'm guessing you are making a comment about the disc check or hardware exclusivity inherent to console games, but that is not DRM to me and not what I was talking about. If Portal 2 requires activation through Steam on the PS3 like a PC game would that is a HUGE development for console DRM. I doubt that will be the case, but maybe the multiplayer will be locked away behind a key similar to the "online pass" that EA and THQ have done?

Everything is DRM'd is what I meant. The online functionality, the hardware, what applications you can execute, the whole console experience from start to finish is literally DRM.

I'm sure you will be able to play multiplayer without linking to your Steam account, I can't see Sony being happy with anything getting a one-up on PSN and I sincerely doubt they would actively sign off on that. It's probably similar to the uPlay crap in Ubisoft games, nothing to worry about.

Verno wrote on Jan 18, 2011, 11:27:
Everything is DRM'd is what I meant. The online functionality, the hardware, what applications you can execute, the whole console experience from start to finish is literally DRM.

Yes but you can still hook up an Atari and play 25 year old games from publishers long dead. You have the same sort of future with modern console games as well, until they go the activation route for physical game copies.

I'm sure you will be able to play multiplayer without linking to your Steam account, I can't see Sony being happy with anything getting a one-up on PSN and I sincerely doubt they would actively sign off on that. It's probably similar to the uPlay crap in Ubisoft games, nothing to worry about.

We'll have to wait and see. For one thing you unlock the PC copy by linking your PSN to Steam, which is interesting. For another in the Eurogamer article they have a Valve quote about putting the disc in and linking the game to your Steam account right from the menu.

It's interesting stuff, I wouldn't write it off so casually. The PC market has accepted these sorts of things, it's only a matter of time before the consoles try it. I admit Sony allowing Valve to do it through the PS3 would be super weird though.

I'm not making any claims, I am just speculating.

PC players aren't going to sit around waiting for the PS3 guy to finally get his portal lined up...

Actually, this game is probably perfect for it.

Puzzles in Portal were rarely about being perfectly accurate. PS3 players will be a split second behind PC players.

If there was actual combat, like if MW2 went open platform, then no one would benefit.

I doubt the co-op campaign will involve any timing-intensive puzzles.

Anywho, although it's pretty cool that PS3 owners will get a free copy of the PC version, this will no doubt cannibalize sales of the latter.