Portal 2 Catch-All

MannishBoy wrote:
kyrieee wrote:

So, do you need to be use a Steam account to play the game on PS3? I don't see them selling two independent copies for the price of one.

I don't understand this. A Steam account doesn't cost anything. I would suspect you have to have one, but it's no different than free EA accounts being required for multiplayer games.

Also, they already offer multiplatform licenses on Valve games. PC to Mac.

I think the question kyrieee was asking, was if you buy the PS3 version can you then use the steam key on another account to play with someone else on line. Versus you getting one license that works on all 3 platforms but is tied to a single steam account.

EvilDead wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:
kyrieee wrote:

So, do you need to be use a Steam account to play the game on PS3? I don't see them selling two independent copies for the price of one.

I don't understand this. A Steam account doesn't cost anything. I would suspect you have to have one, but it's no different than free EA accounts being required for multiplayer games.

Also, they already offer multiplatform licenses on Valve games. PC to Mac.

I think the question kyrieee was asking, was if you buy the PS3 version can you then use the steam key on another account to play with someone else on line. Versus you getting one license that works on all 3 platforms but is tied to a single steam account.

I would assume it's linked to a single steam account.

You never know they may let you gift your steam copy to someone else.

MannishBoy wrote:
kyrieee wrote:

So, do you need to be use a Steam account to play the game on PS3? I don't see them selling two independent copies for the price of one.

I don't understand this. A Steam account doesn't cost anything. I would suspect you have to have one, but it's no different than free EA accounts being required for multiplayer games.

If you need a Steam account then you can't just give the PC copy to your friend so he can add it to his account while you play it on PS3.

From the news articles, they mention that the free steam version comes when you link the PSN account to a steam account, so I imagine there's some CD-key thing going on.

kyrieee wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:
kyrieee wrote:

So, do you need to be use a Steam account to play the game on PS3? I don't see them selling two independent copies for the price of one.

I don't understand this. A Steam account doesn't cost anything. I would suspect you have to have one, but it's no different than free EA accounts being required for multiplayer games.

If you need a Steam account then you can't just give the PC copy to your friend so he can add it to his account while you play it on PS3.

I can't imagine them not tying the games to the same Steam account to prevent just that.

Now if you pick up the PS3 version second? Maybe Valve would allow gifting a PC/Mac license if you already own a copy (as happened with Orange Box and HL2).

This did probably sell me on getting the PS3 version. I wonder if the same save files will work, too, via Steam Cloud? If so, that's extremely cool.

Wild speculation: the next Playstation will be a joint effort between Sony and Valve. PSN powered by Steam. Valve gets into the console business, more games may find their way to the PS3 and Steam could even start offering up video rentals and purchases via Sony. Realistically I doubt Sony would want PSN to sit on top of Steam but it sure would be sweet.

Dreaded Gazebo wrote:

This did probably sell me on getting the PS3 version. I wonder if the same save files will work, too, via Steam Cloud? If so, that's extremely cool.

Wild speculation: the next Playstation will be a joint effort between Sony and Valve. PSN powered by Steam. Valve gets into the console business, more games may find their way to the PS3 and Steam could even start offering up video rentals and purchases via Sony. Realistically I doubt Sony would want PSN to sit on top of Steam but it sure would be sweet.

I think you're getting WAY ahead of yourself. It hasn't been that long since Valve was talking nasty about Sony and PS3.

MannishBoy wrote:

I think you're getting WAY ahead of yourself. It hasn't been that long since Valve was talking nasty about Sony and PS3.

Yeah, I know My guess is that Sony's more open network outweighs any potential programming difficulties on the PS3. Plus I'm sure the APIs have greatly improved since Valve first complained.

Still, if this proves to be a huge success, it'll be hard to overstate their satisfaction.

The only thing I would be concerned about with buying it on PS3 instead of preordering it on Steam is missing out on TF2 Hats.

Certis wrote:

THREAD LEVEL UP!

NEW RANK: CATCH-ALL

[size=9]Dun dun dun duuuun dun dun dunn dunnnnnn[/size]

+1 Relevance
+3 Longevity
+10 Resistance to Cleveland

And that last part is really the...hey, wait a minute:

Certis wrote:

IMAGE(http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/picture-3.png)

WHAT THE FREAKING HELL?!

Rat Boy wrote:
Certis wrote:

IMAGE(http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/picture-3.png)

WHAT THE FREAKING HELL?!

I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of asking.

Wild. That is all.

I was wondering about the level of integration Steanworks on the P would have compared to any PC title.
I was thinking if a "Steamworks-light" version that would allow only limited functionalities and even custom ones: game updates and patches, trophy unlocking, a section of ps3 games in your steam profile, but I don't think Sony would care for other steam-focused functionalities such as Steam Friend List (I would expect a ps3-customization that allows for PSN friends), access to the store, etc.

Maybe in the near future (3 or 4) years.

I think that Portal 2's success will determine if ps3 owners will see L4D and L4D2.

Hobbes2099 wrote:

...I don't think Sony would care for other steam-focused functionalities such as Steam Friend List (I would expect a ps3-customization that allows for PSN friends), ...

I was thinking that for about five seconds, but then immediately discarded it: One of these friends lists will include people with PCs. The other will not. Since the game supports playing co-op with your friends who are on PC...

L4D/L4D2 on PS3 would be the next logical step. I can't see it as a bad thing, although competitive modes could be interesting.

Hypatian wrote:

I was thinking that for about five seconds, but then immediately discarded it: One of these friends lists will include people with PCs. The other will not. Since the game supports playing co-op with your friends who are on PC...

Then I guess it will pull friends from both who have Portal2

It would be cool if the pushed the envelope farther and made L4D1&2 download only

RoughneckGeek wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

It would be cool if the pushed the envelope farther and made L4D1&2 download only :)

I don't think that'd be a stretch. Next year we could see Steam sale season hit a console. That's exciting and scary.

Me neither. PSN is already offering full game downloads for things like Infamous and Mass Effect 2. L4D/2 are 2-3 years old, right? Downloadable feels like the way to go there. Otherwise, wait for L4D...3

Dreaded Gazebo wrote:

This did probably sell me on getting the PS3 version. I wonder if the same save files will work, too, via Steam Cloud?

According to Doug Lombardi: Nope. They didn't have enough time to get this working for Portal 2, but savegames could be compatible in other Valve titles to come.

Spunior wrote:
Dreaded Gazebo wrote:

This did probably sell me on getting the PS3 version. I wonder if the same save files will work, too, via Steam Cloud?

According to Doug Lombardi: Nope. They didn't have enough time to get this working for Portal 2, but savegames could be compatible in other Valve titles to come.

Where did you read this?

PC Gamer Article wrote:

Playstation 3 owners will get a “Steam play code” with their copy of the game, which will give them Steam keys for the PC and Mac versions as well. Other Steam functions like cloud based storage of savegames will also be applied to the console version of the game.

Lex Cayman wrote:
Spunior wrote:
Dreaded Gazebo wrote:

This did probably sell me on getting the PS3 version. I wonder if the same save files will work, too, via Steam Cloud?

According to Doug Lombardi: Nope. They didn't have enough time to get this working for Portal 2, but savegames could be compatible in other Valve titles to come.

Where did you read this?

PC Gamer Article wrote:

Playstation 3 owners will get a “Steam play code” with their copy of the game, which will give them Steam keys for the PC and Mac versions as well. Other Steam functions like cloud based storage of savegames will also be applied to the console version of the game.

Cloud storage != cross platform save compatibility.

Unless I'm misunderstanding the question.

They could save which levels you've unlocked.

MrDeVil909 wrote:
Lex Cayman wrote:
Spunior wrote:
Dreaded Gazebo wrote:

This did probably sell me on getting the PS3 version. I wonder if the same save files will work, too, via Steam Cloud?

According to Doug Lombardi: Nope. They didn't have enough time to get this working for Portal 2, but savegames could be compatible in other Valve titles to come.

Where did you read this?

PC Gamer Article wrote:

Playstation 3 owners will get a “Steam play code” with their copy of the game, which will give them Steam keys for the PC and Mac versions as well. Other Steam functions like cloud based storage of savegames will also be applied to the console version of the game.

Cloud storage != cross platform save compatibility.

Unless I'm misunderstanding the question.

Okay. Fair enough.

MrDeVil909 wrote:
Lex Cayman wrote:
Spunior wrote:
Dreaded Gazebo wrote:

This did probably sell me on getting the PS3 version. I wonder if the same save files will work, too, via Steam Cloud?

According to Doug Lombardi: Nope. They didn't have enough time to get this working for Portal 2, but savegames could be compatible in other Valve titles to come.

Where did you read this?

PC Gamer Article wrote:

Playstation 3 owners will get a “Steam play code” with their copy of the game, which will give them Steam keys for the PC and Mac versions as well. Other Steam functions like cloud based storage of savegames will also be applied to the console version of the game.

Cloud storage != cross platform save compatibility.

Unless I'm misunderstanding the question.

But you would imagine that the output file format is going to be the same irrespective of platform, would be pretty odd to engineer a completely different save solution for different platforms.

DanB wrote:

But you would imagine that the output file format is going to be the same irrespective of platform, would be pretty odd to engineer a completely different save solution for different platforms.

It happens all the time with Mac/PC ports.

DanB wrote:

But you would imagine that the output file format is going to be the same irrespective of platform, would be pretty odd to engineer a completely different save solution for different platforms.

It's not so much "engineer a different solution for different platforms" as "fail to engineer a compatible save format, because it was faster to be lazy and just barf the incompatible contents of memory onto disk."

It really matters more if it's a binary blob. But checking endianness and reversing it when necessary really isn't that difficult and you really only need to do it "once".

About that Steam account requirement on PS3 - FYI...

4P: Is a Steam account required to play the game - even if I have no interest in the coop part? Is a Steam account required for the coop part? (Even if the user does not intend to play cross-plattform).

Doug Lombardi: If you're a PS3 guy and don't care about the PC/Mac/Steam, no worries -- you just drop in the disc and go for it.

If you do care about the PC/Mac/Steam and want to take advantage of the Steam Play functionality, then you obviously need an account (and a PSN account) to access the game via Steam on those platforms.

4P: Will the game then forever be tied to that Steam account, thus cannot be easily sold etc.?

D.L.: We will be announcing more on all of this a bit closer to launch.

http://www.vg247.com/2011/01/24/port...

-Two end credit sequences, one each for single and multiplayer. Presumably for twice the earbleeding meme for the next two years.
-Maps created on windows can be used on all platforms.

Scratched wrote:

-Two end credit sequences, one each for single and multiplayer. Presumably for twice the earbleeding meme for the next two years.

HUGE SUCCESS