Portal: Still Alive teleports to the XBLA, requires hard drive

by Xav de Matos { Oct 22nd 2008 at 9:15AM }

Update: As a commenter pointed out, Portal: Still Alive clocks in at 630MB. Microsoft increased the XBLA limit to 350MB in May. With memory cards capped at 512MB, Portal: Still Alive becomes the first Arcade title that cannot fit on a memory card and requires a hard drive.

Original Story: Is it possible to write this post without the following references: cake, lies and catchy songs? Well, let's see how this works out.

Now available on the Xbox Live Arcade is the Valve title that landed on over 30 Game of the Year lists in 2007 with an additional 14 maps: Portal: Still Alive. Asking 1200MS points, this version of Portal is the same title released last year but includes new challenge maps -- that would be the 14 we mentioned before -- making it a solid package for new gamers to the game. For the rest of us who've played it, we could see the benefit of grabbing the pack if we've ditched our copy of The Orange Box and wanted to net 200 new achievement points. Who here is picking Portal: Still Alive up on the Xbox Live Arcade today?

Hey, look at that. We finished this post without mentioning the cake, lies or the catchy song ... uh, those don't count.

Tags: portal-still-alive, valve, xbla, xbox-live-arcade

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tucker @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:27AM

I wish they'd have a way to drop the price for owners or just make the extra maps available... I'd love to play through some new ones, but I'm not dropping essentially more than the full price of the game again (Orange Box: $60 / 5 games = $12).

Anyone who doesn't have the Orange Box, though, should absolutely download this and experience the amazingness that is Portal.

rod @ Oct 22nd 2008 11:23AM

Yeah!
This not sound like Valve!
I already have the game and Im not gonna pay it again! but I will pay for the maps (stadalone)...

Hope Valve do something.

Deezul @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:11PM

Glad I found my copy of Orange Box for $24. Might rationalize these items now. But it's still silly for Valve to not offer a map pack for current Orange Box owners.

offday @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:53PM

Rod, why are you talking like a caveman?

Andrew @ Oct 22nd 2008 1:31PM

It's possible that Rod's first language isn't English.

Shape @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:28AM

It is 630MB, too. So apparently XBLA size limits are toast. :)

SuburbGuerrilla @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:35AM

sucks for anyone running the Arcade version without HDD support :(

monkeymonkeymonkey @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:49AM

Subguerilla,

Stop singing the same tune. WTF do you expect when you buy a console without a hdd?

Sad for the Arcade owners...no...they knew they couldnt download large files when they bought the console.

Alex @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:37PM

monkey, I don't think he was saying that he had an Arcade, but instead said that it was bad for them because they can't play the game unless they have a HDD.

NOOK @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:28AM

I would love to. But, you see, there's this rule in my head: DO NOT PAY FOR DIGITAL CONTENT THAT DOESN'T COME WITH A DISC IN A NICE PACKAGE. This would be the first time, I'd really like to break this rule but ... 1200 MSP? Seriously? I'm sad now. I loved Portal but I only rented it. Guess I'll have to pick up the Orange box, it's 20 € around here, 5 € more than the download.

Mr.U2 @ Oct 22nd 2008 10:36AM

Ya... I, along with a lot of other people, wouldd definately recommend the Orange Box.

offday @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:54PM

IMO Portal is the first XBLA title that actually deserves to charge that much.

DBoyFlex @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:35AM

The orange box is only 30 bucks now. I would rec getting that, being that Half Life 2 and the expansions are great. Plus you get a disc, none of this digital media. But, I guess if you are anti-Half life and only care about portal, sure get this. If you want more, the orange box really is the way to go. So much to do.

m0rb1d @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:37AM

I'll demo it first, I finished Portal on The Orange box disc and I really enjoyed the game, but I really don't feel like paying 1200MS for this download. Are 200 additional achievement points really worth it...? I'd have to say NO! I'll put the MS points toward Rock Band 2 tracks or something...

WiNG [Life in a Game] @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:40AM

Better solution:

1. Buy Orange Box on PC new for $20.
2. Download hundreds of Portal maps, free.
3. Enjoy.

HaVoC @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:42AM

The Orange Box is only $20 at Wal-Mart, making the $15 for a slighlty amped up Portal just a little to much. Besides there are seems to be a problem with the XBLA version.

Chroma @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:46AM

I *will* pick it up...later. But now I'm far too engrosed in Fable 2 to care enough. If theirs any bonus or promotions for it in the near future, that'll encourage me.

Aero @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:49AM

There's new Mega Man content up today as well. Don't download the special stage content unless you don't mind not being able to get to the end of the level for a good while.

Aeikozz @ Oct 22nd 2008 11:21AM

wow.. i really am not trying to be an ass or anything really but GOD 1200(15$) Points for portal?!?! GameStop sells OrangeBox for 20$. Hell my local wal-mart sells the stand alone Portal for 9.99$

Seriously why is it that these games think they can just jack up the price simply because it's a Xbox Live Arcade title. It's supposed to be something you buy on a whim, not ponder... hmm you know if i get my ass out of the house i could save 5$....seriously you could have at least matched the wally world price.

So I guess this is yet another XBLA game i'll be waiting to hit "greatest hits" status this year.

Aero @ Oct 22nd 2008 11:43AM

I agree with you on the price but this won't be hitting Arcade Hits any time soon.
Arcade hits contains mostly old games and if they still have plenty of other games to go to first.

offday @ Oct 22nd 2008 1:00PM

If they released Portal on the arcade for less than 1200 then they might as well just give it away. WTF is wrong with you guys? You people praise a generic platformer like Braid and are just fine with it being 15 bucks, but when a masterpiece like Portal comes to the arcade you bitch and moan about it? I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll ever understand some gamers.

Aeikozz @ Oct 23rd 2008 1:44PM

I did not praise Braid. I wrote a quite lengthy explaination at how horrible it was to give that a 1200 point price.

Aeikozz @ Oct 22nd 2008 11:23AM

Agreed.

skfireboy @ Oct 22nd 2008 11:30AM

Anyone out there who does not have The Orange Box, needs to shop around and pick up a copy. I've seen it as low as $30 CDN and I paid 60 bucks on day 1, worth every penny. Thing is though, with all the awesome games coming out this fall, I doubt I have time for more Portal maps........Seriously though, go buy the Orange Box