I'm not sure how you can call Portal 2 a mod yet not Dota 2.

I called them both mods, which they are. Apparently they've given up on making episode 3 since in the hl2 episodes they showcased their latest graphical updates to the source engine, and they're no longer working on the aging source engine anymore. They now re-package mods with it, slap a bright shiny paint layer, some Valve awesome-sauce and a $49.99 tag.

Call 'em what you want, but these "mods" are better than most games.

just to add a bit more fuel to the fire... I thought portal 2 was a better game then anything valve has done before, half-life included.

I'm just going to come out and say what everyone's thinking: if you think Portal 2 or any other game is a mod, you're an idiot. It's akin to claiming that every game on UE3 is a mod of Gears of War. It's stupid and asinine.

Furthermore, Valve has been working on the Source engine continuously. If you had played Portal 2 you'd know that. Personally, I find games on the Source engine to look great. It's akin to using good 2D graphics. Yes, 3D graphics were more technically sophisticated, but, man, Metal Slug had beautiful graphics. Portal 2 is the same way.

Soooo Chronicless of Riddick was basically a MOD for Doom 3, as well as Quake 4. And don't even mention all those modifications for Unreal Tournament 3!
I was just doing that! You ruined my genius metaphore by voicing it! You evil person!
Aaanyway, I find Portal 2 better looking than Crysis 2, and I don't even know why. Source went a long way from HL2, it's constantly improving and, for the most important part, it doesn't everdo anything. It's trying to look realistically, not to blur EVERYTHING, and then make it an independent light source.

Star Wars was a Star Trek mod.

Nice one.

Anyone else annoyed at how people are blatantly taking advantage of the free PC copy with PS3 purchase. Gabe is probably pissed and will decide to never offer this again for future valve games or even future pressings of Portal 2.

What do you mean? I thought it could only connect with the Steam account linked to the PS3!

You can always link it with a dummy second PSN account. Sell PS3 version and there you go.

I think you can create an additional PSN account, register your steam copy with the new account you will never use again and play on PS3 with your regular account. It should work because PSN accounts are free and the Portal 2 disc will work with any PSN account on any PS3.

Edit: ninja'd

You don't know what a mod is, or the function of a game engine in relation to the game as a whole.

Also I find it hilarious that somebody would complain about Valve games exploiting one gimmick for the duration of their run time while simultaneously pining for the next Half-Life 2 entry, given that the whole damn thing has been Gravity Gun, Gravity Gun Episode One and Gravity Gun Episode Two thus far. I sure am excited for the intricate, non-gimmicky and highly varied gameplay of Gravity Gun Episode Three!

I think most HL fans, myself included, want Half-Life 3 and not Episode 3 for precisely this reason. I want a new engine or at least a significantly improved one along with new ideas, new gimmicks and what-not.

That said in the end all manshoots are very similar, and for that reason perhaps I should not bash Portal 2 for being more Portal. I guess there is something about the general Portal gameplay that doesn't lend itself to long playtime or sequels the way an FPS does.

That's more of a comment on the state of the AAA industry than it is on Valve, quite frankly.

The industry is just using common sense, make games that alot people buy. Which arent good games for the most part, if fact a high percentage of AAA (based on production values not sales) generate a loss (only 3 out of 10 games make money AFAIR)
ts easy to look at the few cashcows like CoD and how much money they make, but the flipside is that these are necessary to offset the potential (and quite likely) losses of new/less popular franchises.

AAA Publishers without such cashcows are a (fast) dying breed, and the rest makes sure to nourish their cows and keep them fat and healthy. In the end they are producing the same game over and over in the hope to make new franchise with leftover cash. In the middle is the consumer pretty much dictating this scheme with his buying habbits. Pot, kettle, black?