Valvewell here ‘s some concern time. Just days after I finished playing Portal for the very first clock ( more on that in a snatch ), Steam is offering the game absolutely free .
specifically, from now until September 20, you can download Portal ( personal computer and Mac ) absolutely spare. yesterday, it would have cost you $ 10 .
Update: Many readers have reported difficulty signing up for a Steam account. My only suggestion is to keep trying, as I’m sure Steam’s servers are overloaded. I’ll update further if I learn anything more.
Update #2: Steam tech support just tweeted this fix: “Please install the Steam client and try creating the account that way.” Reader Robert reports that this worked for him!
In case you ‘re not familiar with it, Portal is regarded by many ( myself included ) to be one of the best games of all time. GameSpot awarded it a 9.0 and an Editors ‘ Choice. IGN called it “ far-out, cagey, polished, and presented with a flicker of a subtly evil humor. ”
It was primitively part of Valve ‘s The Orange Box bundle, then late a $ 20 standalone game. now it ‘s free, release, ohio glorious detached ! And not precisely for PCs, but besides for Macs. ( Speaking of which, check out Rich Brown ‘s interesting hands-on test of Portal on four different Mac systems. )
The one and only string attached is that you ‘ll need a barren steamer account and Valve ‘s Steam download node. barely a bowed stringed instrument at all, if you ask me .
This generous giveaway is credibly a steam-powered feat to drive portal vein 2 sales. That blockbuster sequel presently sells for $ 29.99. Got tantalum say, I ‘m majorly tempted, but I know if I wait a while, it ‘ll drop to $ 20, and then to $ 10. ( not sure I want to wait that farseeing, though. )
As I mentioned good the early day, it took a couple tries before I could get my brain to work the manner Portal needs it to work ( i.e. without a machine-gun ). Once the synapses locked into set, however, I got wholly sucked into this clever, imaginative, and frequently funny story game .
If you have n’t had the pleasure, do yourself a favor and grab Portal while it ‘s free. I guarantee that after you work through the beginning copulate levels, you ‘ll see what all the mother is about .
now, excuse me while I go enjoy some patty .
Bonus deal: More game good ! For a circumscribed clock, you can download Defense Grid : The Awakening for just $ 2.49 when you use coupon code CAGDGRID75. This gorgeous tower-defense game is absolutely outstanding ; I was seriously hooked a few months back.
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Bonus deal No. 3: That ‘s right, peeps — number three ! Overstock has the “ certified pre-owned ” Barnes & Noble Nook Color for just $ 159.95 $ 149, plus $ 1 for transport — formally the lowest price I ‘ve seen however. It comes with a annual guarantee, and based on a late feel using one, I can report that B & N ‘s customer service is excellent.
