Why do we love the companion cube?

[Riptide1]

wow how convenient... i just installed the orange box on my new laptop yesterday and replayed portal... i love the companion cube because it advised me to love it, it was advice i could not disregard

 

[A Curious Fellow]

GlaDos tells us we love it. In the absence of any other influence to tell us otherwise.... well....

 

[jamesworkshop]

I don't know, played portal, threw it in a fire, thought nothing of it

 

[Zenn3k]

It has hearts on it.
Its a unique item in the game you are forced to destroy
You have to carry it with you through the level

These 3 primary things make the player form at least some kind of attachment to it.

It was a well designed level within the game.

 

[Anarchemitis]

The only vocal character in the game subtly endears it to you by reverse psychology. It also is the only representation of any emotion conveyed towards the player up to that point.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

I don't. I thought that joke was played out before the end of the level.

 

[nukethewhales]

Because.....if the cake is a lie.........what else do we have to hold on too :*(

 

[conflictofinterests]

There's a lot of psychology behind feelings of attachment. People who are left alone long enough will often attribute human characteristics to inanimate objects or animals. Up until that point, the only interaction you've had is with GLaDOS, and let's face it, she's less than friendly. Also, right off the bat you are forced to rely on the companion cube to climb some steps and then survive lasers. Everything about that room is designed to foster feelings of attachment to the cube, even the little light-pink hearts on it.

 

[hermes]

I don't. I think it was a very clever joke that later turned into a meme and it went all the way to the drain hole right next to the "cake is a lie" jokes.

 

[ImperialSunlight]

Simplicity is bliss.

 

[Aeshi]

Because it's a dumbass meme that only exists because the developers apparently couldn't just have glados say "Oh by the way this cube is important so take it with you dumbass." for whatever reason (probably because that would be too convenient.)

 

[slightly evil]

I couldn't care less. anyway, being pretty big fan of portal, and having been very proud to complete the advanced maps, I'm starting a companion sphere meme asap

 

[conflictofinterests]

Because it's a dumbass meme that only exists because the developers apparently couldn't just have glados say "Oh by the way this cube is important so take it with you dumbass." for whatever reason (probably because that would be too convenient.)

You probably tell kids that Santa isn't real, too, don't you? No fun. No fun at all.

 

[Theron Julius]

The companion cube was your partner. He was a loyal friend and faithful companion. He died for you... In the last few moments before he was destroyed in the flames he said only one thing to me: "I don't blame you". I loved that cube of metal like a brother. He was family. He was my friend.

WWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!!?!?

 

[deathbydeath]

well, with me, it was a symbiotic bond. i needed it to block glow-balls and to hold switches, and it needed me to haul it around, we were companions. now glados, being the ***** it is, made one of us die for the other to progress, now, since it can't fight back, there is no excuse that not burning it would be detrimental to your health, making the only reason selfish gain, to progress to the next room, and also destroying the companionship formed over the last 20 minutes.

 

[Rabite]

I had no feelings towards it beyond questioning why it was so loved by the internet. Even Wikipedia mentions that one of the devs was told that people felt more attachment to it than the little sisters in Bioshock. This still bothers me.

 

[Professor Cubbage]

The camponion cube was clearly going to betray you. I acted first and murdered the cube as soon as I had the chance.

 

[Zechnophobe]

Let me just say that the most cutesy thing I've ever bought my girlfriend, is a plush companion cube. She absolutely loves it.

There's just something about having this cube help you through an entire level and... oh god I'm crying as I type this... and being forced to... forced to...

</3

 

[MiracleOfSound]

You don't - Glados just thinks that you do - she's trying to manipulate you with her limited understanding of the human mind and its bonding mechanisms... that's the joke.

A lot of silly people don't get the joke but pretend they love the cube because it's apparently a meme now.

 

[krugerrand123]

possibly how useful it was in the level, or the design of the cube.