Interactive Teaser for J.J. Abrams' Super 8 Hidden in Portal 2

Tom Goldman

Crying on the inside.
Aug 17, 2009
14,499
0
0
Interactive Teaser for J.J. Abrams' Super 8 Hidden in Portal 2


An odd, but fun cross-promotion for a J.J. Abrams movie has popped up in Portal 2's extras menu.

Just to avoid being yelled at, I should warn everyone that this post spoils a portion of Portal 2 [http://www.amazon.com/Portal-2-Playstation-3/dp/B003O6E3C8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303229397&sr=8-1], even though it doesn't actually have anything to do with the game. Valve and J.J. Abrams have apparently teamed up to include an interactive teaser for the Abrams-directed and Steven Spielberg-produced Super 8 as an extra in Portal 2.

Weird, right? The teaser can be found in Portal 2's extras menu. It brings players into a moving train that they can wander around. Inside of the train are various objects to look at that probably contain clues about Super 8, such as newspapers, maps, and a clipboard. Just in case you haven't heard of Super 8, the movie's trailer is here [http://www.super8-movie.com/], and an official synopsis is as follows:


In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth - something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.


During the teaser, the train crashes, meaning players are put on the train mentioned in the synopsis. You can then wander around the wreckage, until discovering a car that contains something very powerful. It breaks out, and lets loose a eerie scream.

It's odd to see this in Portal 2, but I've got to admit it's pretty cool too. Valve knows how to surprise its fans, that's for sure. I just wonder how Abrams and Valve happened to come together on this one.

Source: PC Gamer [http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/04/19/portal-2-has-hidden-interactive-super-8-teaser-level/]

Permalink
 

RA92

New member
Jan 1, 2011
3,079
0
0
Intelligent product placement? I'm hoping Valve got royalty from J J Abrams and it'll contribute to making the game cheaper.

Rejoice Aussies! Portal's on Steam for $45 over at the outback apparently, so for once they are not ripping you guys a new one with $100+ titles.
 

GoldenShadow

New member
May 13, 2008
205
0
0
I tried this out last night when i discovered it. Its pretty cool, but doesn't take more than 5 minutes. You walk down a linear path watching scripted events. you have control of the character for nearly the entire time.
 

Luke5515

New member
Aug 25, 2008
1,197
0
0
Found that last night.
Looked pretty cool, but also really ambiguous. Not that that's a bad thing, I just wanted a little more information.
 

Fanghawk

New member
Feb 17, 2011
3,861
0
0
Luke5515 said:
Found that last night.
Looked pretty cool, but also really ambiguous. Not that that's a bad thing, I just wanted a little more information.
Once the interactive part finished for me, the Steam browser popped up and took me to the actual movie trailer. I thought that filled in enough of the blanks... did that not happen for you?
 

Daverson

New member
Nov 17, 2009
1,164
0
0
I just want to say, when all those Cloverfield teasers where making their rounds 3 years ago or so, I was all like "Man, this whole thing stinks of Valve".

So, the question I put forward to you, Escapists, is this:
Has anyone here seen GabeN and JJ at the same time, in the same place? Because I know I haven't.
 

Luke5515

New member
Aug 25, 2008
1,197
0
0
Fanghawk said:
Luke5515 said:
Found that last night.
Looked pretty cool, but also really ambiguous. Not that that's a bad thing, I just wanted a little more information.
Once the interactive part finished for me, the Steam browser popped up and took me to the actual movie trailer. I thought that filled in enough of the blanks... did that not happen for you?
Yeah, I got that too, but from everything I saw, some monster or creature or thing got out, and some kids recorded it. Also the government is after it. I just didn't feel like that was enough to peak my interest.
Also I just kinda wanted to know exactly what got out.
 

lwm3398

New member
Apr 15, 2009
2,896
0
0
Luke5515 said:
Found that last night.
Looked pretty cool, but also really ambiguous. Not that that's a bad thing, I just wanted a little more information.
It's a JJ Abrams movie. Ambiguity is his only marketing strategy.

If this were you be the future of trailers, interactive, and hidden in other interactive mediums, I can't say I'd be unhappy.