"Portal: Prelude, as its name states it, is an unofficial prequel to the game Portal. Its story revolves around the pre-GlaDOS epoch, even before she was plugged in. At this time, test subjects were monitored by real Aperture Science employees, whose work was tedious, lengthy and repetitive. This is why they decided to build a great artificial intelligence that could both replace them in these difficult tasks, and also take responsibility for many other tasks within the complex and compete wit..."

"Before the over the top, logo heavy madness of today’s next-gen masterpieces became the visual norm for video game cover art, there was the basic beauty of the Atari 2600’s approach to package design. Clean composition and vague descriptive text came together to create something that was just so…intangibly fresh and mesmerizing."

"While all the above is fine-and-dandy, many of you may be wondering why an announcement for the Xbox360 is being included in Electronic Theatre’s PLAYSTATION3 E3 2008 coverage. Well, in a rather surprising conversation with a PR Manager, Electronic Theatre was informed that a Portal title will be making its way to PLAYSTATION Store shortly after the Xbox360 release. We’re still waiting for confirmation as to whether or not this will be Portal: Still Alive, or an altogether different title..."

"Speaking with Valve's Doug Lombardi earlier this week at E3, we got onto the topic of the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade version of Portal.

But will we be seeing more of GlaDOS this time around, or perhaps an extended storyline?

"No," he said, breaking hearts everywhere. "That's for a game to be named later perhaps.""

"Microsoft community manager Chris Paladino does a video walk through of Microsoft's E3 line-up. Games mentioned in the clip include: Fable 2, Gears of War 2, Guitar Hero World Tour, Rockband 2, Lips, Uno Rush, Galaga Legions and Portal: Still Alive. Wait, wait, wait. Portal: Still Alive? The game is hitting Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2008. It will feature single player and "a new challenge mode." Last April, Valve's Doug Lombardi stated, "You won't see a new Portal at retail this Christmas because o..."

"Following a tip-off, Kotaku has unearthed what looks like potential plot details, with a casting call on industry website Breakdown Express detailing a job for Valve on Portal 2, as well as listing significant facts about the role itself. Needless to say, if you want Portal 2 to be a fresh experience whenever it arrives, it's best to avert your browsers now.

The part on offer is that of Cave Johnson, an eccentric dead billionaire who was the founder and CEO of Aperture Science. "He might ..."

"Details given to us last night about Valve's rumored casting of the sequel (or prequel) to its Orange Box hit Portal hinted at a big role for Aperture Science's founder Cave Johnson. The potentially spoiler-iffic painted portrait and brief bio of the possible Portal 2 antagonist led us to believe that the sequel may take place prior to the original. Maybe not, based on some rumored dialogue that a source passed on.

Warning: It's all spoiler territory from here on...

The script samples w..."

"Much like the PC game, players must rely on their wits (and a portal gun) to transport themselves around each stage, aiming shots with their stylus and grabbing pieces of cake along the way. It might not have the graphics of the original, but it definitely has the feel and charm."

I read HERE (thanks Naked Snake3) that NVIDIA (The graphics card production company) is giving away some free games to anyone with an NVIDIA graphics card.

I imagine this applies to both pre-installed (manufactured PCs), and separately purchased (user installed) graphics cards.

The Games:
Portal: The First Slice (demo)
Half Life 2: Deathmatch
Half Life 2: Lost Coast
Peggle Extreme

Total Size = ~6.8GB

I've set up a (free) Steam account, and my PC qualifies. I have a dated Nv...

""We'd love to do that. Right now it's something we'd love to do. I'd love to sell Portal on Xbox live," said Doug Lombardi, marketing director at Valve. "[But] the platform holders aren't doing that right now. There's a size limit and all kinds of other things."

"Portal was a breakthrough title that prompted a lot of people to pick up the deal of the century disguising as The Orange Box. There’s something oddly satisfying about hurling yourself through one end of a portal and leaping out the other while avoiding wise cracking sentry guns. Be that as it may, while we know Portal 2 is coming, Valve is planning to take their time with the follow-up.

“I think that when you hit something like that, you have two choices: you can quickly replicate it and ..."

"Xbox 360:

No new releases

PS3:

No new releases

Wii:

Mini Copter Adventure Flight

Baroque

PS2:

Arcana Heart

Baroque

Fatal Fury Battle Archives Vol 2

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure

PSP:

World Championship Cards

Nintendo DS:

Fab 5 Soccer

Plushees

PC Games:

Assassin's Creed: Director's Cut Edition

Half-Life 2: Team Fortress 2

Half-Life 2: Portal

Half-Life 2: Episode Pack

Civil War Mysteries

Escape From Paradise"

"Bioshock
This atmospheric first-person shooter game drew players in to a unique dystopian setting and broke ground with a storyline that forced players to make moral decisions.

Portal
One of the most original (and funny) games in recent history requires players to solve puzzles using a teleporting "Portal Gun." It also features a hugely compelling character in the computerized guide GLaDOS.

Rock Band
The studio that created toy-guitar game phenomenon "Guitar Hero" cranked the volume ..."

"As part of the Love is in the Air event in World of Warcraft, Weighted Companion Cubes from Portal (if you didn’t already know that I will incinerate you) have been seen in such locations as Stormwind and Undercity."

"Valve has said it will definitely be making more Portal, confirming plans to add significantly more than just "a bunch of new puzzles".

Speaking to Eurogamer, spokesperson Doug Lombardi said it was less a matter of if and more a matter of what and when.

"There'll be more Portal, for sure. But the details of that, to be honest, we're still working out," he said."

"Calling all Cars! - Incognito Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment
PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network)

I think I've had more raw fun in its fast, frantic, and ridiculously fun four player face-offs than I've had with just about any 3D game in the history of forever. Hyperbole? I don't think so. While there's definitely fun to be found in games like God of War 2, or Halo 3, or Mass Effect, Calling All Cars! grabs you by the short and curlies and doesn't let go for the from the minute..."

"Hit the jump to see the winners and then make up your own list of winners in the comments. I'm interested to see how different the list would have been had it been entirely in your hands.

GOTY DS:
The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass

GOTY PC:
Portal

GOTY PS2:
God of War II

GOTY PS3:
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

GOTY PSP:
Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters

GOTY Wii:
Super Mario Galaxy

GOTY Xbox 360:
Bioshock

GOTY XBLA:
Alien Hominid HD

GOTY PSN:
Everyday Shooter..."

"The scene is set through the electronic eye of a security camera and all looks calm...except for the fact that there is a turret hiding in the wings while your faithful Companion Cube sits helplessly near a yule-tide fire and, of course, your cake...."