Chell May Get a Makeover for Portal 2

Austin MacKenzie

New member
Jan 26, 2010
596
0
0
Chell May Get a Makeover for Portal 2



Chell will be returning in Portal 2 [http://www.amazon.com/Portal-2-Playstation-3/dp/B003O6E3C8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1278963018&sr=1-1], but Valve says this wasn't the initial plan.

"She fit into the world really well and complemented it without the distractions that a more flashy character would bring. She served a utilitarian purpose for that game, but at the same time when we started out on Portal 2 we weren't sure if we wanted to bring her back. So we explored a few other characters before returning to Chell," Valve concept artist Matt Charlesworth said.

In considering other possibilities Valve realized that Chell encapsulated what Valve was looking for in a primary protagonist. However, that doesn't mean it isn't considering changing some of the details.

"We explored changing Chell's nationality for a little bit. Nobody really knew what Chell was in the first game. She kind of had a hint of Japanese ethnicity to her, but we were still not quite sure if we were going to keep her or make her a new character," Charlesworth said.

Because Valve is still working with her design, some old mainstays in her design, such as the spring heels, may change.

"We're still not entirely sure what we're doing with the spring heels. They were always something that was in Portal 1, and some of us are attached to them, and some of us aren't, so I've experimented with how we can do with them right this time around, and how we would go about replacing them. Everything should look 10 times better than the first Portal, that's the goal," Charlesworth said.

In the end, Chell simply fit with Valve's vision for the game. She, as well as GLADoS, were ultimately are slated to return for Portal 2, though somehow flung one hundred years into the future. Valve may still have some surprises up its sleeves, but it'll be nice to see a familiar face.

Source: <a href=http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/03/22/redesigning-chell-valve-s-artist-speaks.aspx>GameInformer


Permalink
 

thenumberthirteen

Unlucky for some
Dec 19, 2007
4,794
0
0
Well she wasn't much of a character in the first game so I'm quite indifferent. Though those spring heels where a bit weird. Will the lightning strike twice? Maybe they'll try too hard to make it better and fail. So Portal developers just take it easy.
 

Bobkat1252

The Psychotic Psyker
Mar 18, 2008
317
0
0
Not sure how they're going to work the 100 years thing, but I was under the impression that Portal and Half Life were going to over lap, that wont exactly work with the current Half Life story line, unless... in Episode 3 we also jump 100 years ahead? I sure hope not.
 

Banana Phone Man

Elite Member
May 19, 2009
1,609
0
41
Omega 2521 said:
Not sure how they're going to work the 100 years thing, but I was under the impression that Portal and Half Life were going to over lap, that wont exactly work with the current Half Life story line, unless... in Episode 3 we also jump 100 years ahead? I sure hope not.
Well, remember when Alyx and Gordan used the teleporter and missed a whole week. There's nothing to stop them missing 100 years, although I myself do not sure I would want that to happen.

I'm still wondering how Chell will appear in Portal 2 considering it's 100 years later. If there was going to abe a make-over it would be to add some massive wrinkles.
 

EnzoHonda

New member
Mar 5, 2008
722
0
0
I think the following is how interested in Chell most people were. "Hey, lets see what my character looks like by shooting two portals to get a look at myself... Hey I'm a girl! What's with the things on my feet? Anyway, back to the game." I think what has made Half Life great is that somehow they've made a silent protagonist that this has a personality. Gordon's personality shines through in the way Barney, Kliener, Alyx, and other characters interact with him. Portal 2 will need some NPC characters if they want us to care about Chell (or whoever we play as).

My opinion of Portal 2? Valve, go nuts. Do what you want. I trust you more than I trust my mother. You won't fail me now.
 

SquirrelPants

New member
Dec 22, 2008
1,729
0
0
Omega 2521 said:
Not sure how they're going to work the 100 years thing, but I was under the impression that Portal and Half Life were going to over lap, that wont exactly work with the current Half Life story line, unless... in Episode 3 we also jump 100 years ahead? I sure hope not.
No one said Half-Life 2 and Portal were happening at the same time, as far as I remember. Chell could end up 100 years in the future, GLaDOS still alive because she's a computer, and this could result in an overlap with Half-Life 2: Episode 3. It wouldn't be that hard to implement with all the portal storms and whatnot going on in Episode 2, right? I'm not entirely sure how it all works, and I haven't played either in a while, so I may be talking out my ass.
 

The Hairminator

How about no?
Mar 17, 2009
3,231
0
41
thenumberthirteen said:
Well she wasn't much of a character in the first game so I'm quite indifferent. Though those spring heels where a bit weird. Will the lightning strike twice? Maybe they'll try too hard to make it better and fail. So Portal developers just take it easy.
She didn't have much information about her, no. They can do virtually anything with her without ruining cannon. She's even more of "Face without identity" than Gordon Freeman is.

They don't really have to focus a lot of energy to stay within cannon.
 

Twad

New member
Nov 19, 2009
1,254
0
0
Yeah, i heard she took the role of the legendary "skeleton in the closet" in an obscure corner of aperture science..
 

Onyx Oblivion

Borderlands Addict. Again.
Sep 9, 2008
17,032
0
0
Who cares? Chell is about as cool as Gordon Freeman. It's hard to care about either of them.
 

BehattedWanderer

Fell off the Alligator.
Jun 24, 2009
5,237
0
0
I hope so. She looked pretty horrid in the first one. She's about the least attractive protagonist ever. I understand being a test subject and what not, but good grief, she could have taken a few minutes to at least make it look like she did the best with what she's got. She looked haggard and hungover and like she was always about to puke.
 

wildpeaks

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Dec 25, 2008
871
0
0
Crazzee said:
No one said Half-Life 2 and Portal were happening at the same time, as far as I remember.
Not at the same time, but certainly the same universe (considering the Black Mesa slideshow in Portal and the Borealis in Episode 2).

Also, given the slideshow is still on when Chell stumbles onto it and that the parking lot at the end isn't covered of overgrown plants, I'd say they're bound to be happening close of each other. Portal 2 sounds great, however I was really hoping that Portal 2 or Episode 3 would tie both games closer as hinted by Episode 2 mentionning an Aperture-branded location as the fuure next objective in HL2.
 

SquirrelPants

New member
Dec 22, 2008
1,729
0
0
wildpeaks said:
Crazzee said:
No one said Half-Life 2 and Portal were happening at the same time, as far as I remember.
Not at the same time, but certainly the same universe (considering the Black Mesa slideshow in Portal and the Borealis in Episode 2).

Also, given the slideshow is still on when Chell stumbles onto it and that the parking lot at the end isn't covered of overgrown plants, I'd say they're bound to be happening close of each other. Portal 2 sounds great, however I was really hoping that Portal 2 or Episode 3 would tie both games closer as hinted by Episode 2 mentionning an Aperture-branded location as the fuure next objective in HL2.
Well, they'll certainly be tying the games together. I'm also not saying they aren't in the same universe, but for all we know, Portal could be taking place just after all of the scientists got killed when GLaDOS released her neurotoxin into the facility. Just a thought.
 

Jared

The British Paladin
Jul 14, 2009
5,630
0
0
It will be nice to see Chell again. Although she was a silent protagonist and you dont learn alot about her...she just, gels so well with the whole portal theme.

T'would be nice to see her face once more!
 

wildpeaks

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Dec 25, 2008
871
0
0
Crazzee said:
Well, they'll certainly be tying the games together. I'm also not saying they aren't in the same universe, but for all we know, Portal could be taking place just after all of the scientists got killed when GLaDOS released her neurotoxin into the facility. Just a thought.
Actually that's how I interpret it, but what slightly worries me is how they'll tied both universes 100 years later. So far Portal 2 sounds great (especially as I love decayed locations maps) except that part because it will either be strange timeline-wise, either would predict how Half Life 2 will continue/end, and I can see troubles with both situations.

Bah anyway, I'm sure they'll figure something out :)
 

Kuchinawa212

New member
Apr 23, 2009
5,408
0
0
I wasn't really that much a fan of convict looking barefooted Chell, but it worked. I guess maybe a little update, but is should still keep that "I kinda volunteered for this and this jumpsuit I was given" type look
 

wildpeaks

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Dec 25, 2008
871
0
0
Jaredin said:
It will be nice to see Chell again. Although she was a silent protagonist and you dont learn alot about her...she just, gels so well with the whole portal theme.

T'would be nice to see her face once more!
Indeed, it's quite good how they made it so that you learn more about (and feel empathy) towards the robotic protagonists than the cold-hearted human you're playing.
 

SomeBritishDude

New member
Nov 1, 2007
5,081
0
0
This concept art isn't a very good representation of what she'll lightly look like in game. The current in game model looks a lot better.

[img/]http://gameinformer.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.ImageFileViewer/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles.00.00.00.00.06/2656.feet.jpg_2D00_610x0.jpg[/img]

While this look fits better into the Aperture Science labs than the Prison Jumpsuit I'm a little worried that it may fit a little too well. One of the keys to understanding how Portals work is seeing your own avatar though a Portal when the game begins. With those whites and greys it looks to me like Chell may be lost amongst the scenery. I sense a last minute game model change similar to the left 4 dead one.

Still, she looks cool and more like a lab rat rather than an inmate, which didn't really fit.
 

dead_rebel

New member
Jan 13, 2010
78
0
0
You know what I think.

Time manipulating Portals explains how they can be 100 years into the future.

Perhaps Portals that bend time will become present which could mean a whole NEW dimension in puzzle solving.

For example, there's a locked door at the beginning of the level and you have ten minutes to beat the level. You place a Portal and start beating the level. At the end of the level is a button that opens the locked door at the beginning of the level, but SHOCK HORROR you've run out of time. Fear not, you've placed a Portal at the beginning of the level so all you do is make the exit point and step through it and back in time; where instead of completing the level as you did, you simply walk through the portal, press the button wait for the timer and the door unlocks leading you to beat the level under 10 minutes using time travel.

It's a bit complex, but it could add a level of puzzle solving to the game AND help with the storyline somewhat.

TL;DR: Perhaps they'll add time travelling Portals to enhance puzzles.