Portal 2 Co-Op Bots Represent in Valve's TV Spot

[Tom Goldman]

Portal 2 Co-Op Bots Represent in Valve's TV Spot

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Valve's first advertisement for Portal 2 has hit the internet in advance of the television airwaves.

Valve recently Portal 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108545-Valve-Says-Ad-Agencies-Are-Worthless-Going-it-Alone-for-Portal-2]. One of those efforts is in Portal 2's television spots, the first of which has just been released.

Valve crafted a 30 second ad featuring Atlas and P-body, the robots that star in Portal 2's new co-op campaign. The video is similar to the Aperture friends [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/106057-Portal-2-Bots-Built-to-Be-Friends-in-Cute-Teaser] trailer that debuted at the 2010 Spike TV Video Game Awards, but focuses more on the functionality of portals.

It's interesting that Valve chose to put the spotlight on the co-op mode for the public's first look at Portal 2. As far as mascots go, Portal 2 couldn't do much better than Atlas and P-body, so it was probably a smart move. Watching the two of them goof around with portals is probably a lot more appealing to someone that knows nothing about Portal than a convoluted explanation of the mysterious Aperture Science experiments. However, future spots will probably go into the wonder that is GlaDOS, or whom/whatever will be torturing players this time.

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[Art Axiv]

I think co-op IS the spotlight of the game, so well done Valve!

 

[Alon Shechter]

Fun.... with Science?
Count me in.

 

[Stevey M]

Wait, haven't Valve said before that they don't like to spend money on things such as TV advertisements because they prefer to market through word-of-mouth and having players recommend their games?

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

Looking forward to this one. I sure hope that the multiplayer lives up to how they've been making it look, 'cause it looks pretty damn awesome.

 

[DaxStrife]

As someone who has to watch a lot of commercials in his line of work, this is a really great TV spot. It serves as a mini-introduction to the gameplay basics of Portal, which is key when you're selling a sequel to new players, AND shows off the potential of the game world while mixing in a bit of humor for the viewer. Well done, Valve.

 

[FrostyCoolSlug]

Watched the ad, was wondering what Valve would come up with..

I think they nailed it

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Valve brought SCIENCE!

Only one more month... only one more month... only one more month...

 

[EHKOS]

I thought VALVe said they weren't doing TV ads... oh well it was funny. And I like funny.

EDIT:Oh wait that was ad agencies. NVM me.

 

[Tartarga]

Is anybody doing science in here? Good commercials are so hard to find these days, well done Valve.

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

Very nice advertisement. To my surprise, it makes me even more intrigued about this game.

 

[Roxor]

I said in response to hearing that Valve would be doing their own ads for Portal 2 that if Valve's ad was even half as good as the Meet The Team videos for Team Fortress 2 that they'd be raking in the cash with Portal 2.

I think the staff at Valve will be getting a raise this year.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

That is pretty awesome, and simple.

 

[subject_87]

Very well-done, outlining the basics of how portals work for newcomers, but the best part is its utter lack of commentary on whether or not your mother will like it.

 

[katsumoto03]

Fun... With science?!

Fuck the hell yes!

 

[therandombear]

Watched the ad, was wondering what Valve would come up with..

I think they nailed it

Indeed mr.Snowman it is a good commercial

Now which one is which? I like the small round one :3

 

[Jamous]

I've got to say, Valve does not disappoint. Also, Yay for Glad0s! You adorable little psychotic AI, you!

 

[Sennz0r]

Watched the ad, was wondering what Valve would come up with..

I think they nailed it

Indeed mr.Snowman it is a good commercial

Now which one is which? I like the small round one :3

I'm thinking the round one is P-body, seeing as his body's, well, pea-shaped.

EDIT: Now I feel like Captain Obvious...

 

[Halceon]

Wait, haven't Valve said before that they don't like to spend money on things such as TV advertisements because they prefer to market through word-of-mouth and having players recommend their games?

Well, that may as well be the same problem of Ad companies, not of the medium.

 

[Phishfood]

Can't watch the ad because of our lovely firewall. (spending all day on youtube = bad, spending all day on forums = ok. Hrm) But I'm sure its great.

I actually kind of hope this will break through some of the extra strength cladding on some people's brains and show them that not all hit games are "mindless violence" that will turn your child from a delicate flower into a raving psychotic druggie.