Portal 2 in orphan insult row

By Fred Dutton Published 18 May, 2011

Adoptive parent "shocked at insensitivity".

A US news station has accused Valve of insensitivity over orphan jokes in Portal 2's script.

The WBTV report claims scenes in which GLaDOS and Wheatley rib the player "make fun of adoption" and interviews a parent who took offense while playing the game with his adopted 10-year-old daughter.

"It literally pokes fun for not having parents," said father Neil Stapel.

"It throws the most ultimate question that child is ever going to have for you... right into the living room."

One of the clips from the game featured out of context in the report sees the Wheatley character say, "Alright, fatty. Adopted fatty. Fatty, fatty no parents."

"If you're not an adoptive parent it's probably not a big deal for you," explained Stapel, "but if you are an adoptive parent it was literally the worst thing I could have heard."

Valve was apparently contacted for comment but hadn't responded by the time the report was broadcast. We've been in touch too and will update if we hear back.

Have a read of our recent interview with Valve writer Erik Wolpaw for some insight into Portal 2's script.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (136) Latest comment 7 months ago

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  • supermaniacs #1 1 year ago

    Stupid Americans. Suprised it wasn't on Fox "news" !!

  • Eraysor #2 1 year ago

    Fuck's sake EG, stop reporting this complete drivel...

  • nooneyouknow #3 1 year ago

    Valve was apparently contacted for comment but hadn't responded by the time the report was broadcast.

    Hopefully they won't - ignore it - don't give it credance.

  • Goodfella #4 1 year ago

    Typical dumb, American, sensationalism non - 'news'.

  • randompanda #5 1 year ago

    GLaDOS also tries to kill you. I'd say that was a bigger deal.

  • Ged42 #6 1 year ago

    Valve should send them a crate of lemons as recompense.
    Edited by Ged42 at 18/05/11 @ 17:34

  • schnide #7 1 year ago

    @supermanics / Goodfella

    Because Jeremy Kyle proves that we don't have idiots in the UK doesn't it? Anti-American generalisations are still racism even if it's not as typical because there's no skin colour involved. Don't tar everyone with the same brush. Most Americans are perfectly fine, there's just a greater number of the idiots to make the news because it's a bigger country.
    Edited by schnide at 18/05/11 @ 17:33

  • bratmandu #8 1 year ago

    Yea it says "12" on the box, in big numbers, hard to miss. Shoulda been a better (adoptive) parent and obeyed age ratings, fatty.

  • dsmx #9 1 year ago

    Context is everything

  • brigadier #10 1 year ago

    Breaking News!!!: American news channels are just a load of bollocks.

    Seriously, they proper make me cringe.

  • Psiloc #11 1 year ago

    They have their telly REALLY high up on the wall.

  • RodHull #12 1 year ago

    Careful now.

  • God_Octo #13 1 year ago

    I though the jokes were fun and harmless- they had a context, and any sensible person could tell that GLaDOS was being petty and vindictive.

    If its really going to get that bad, maybe all the fat people, homeless people, scientists, athletes, British people and anyone else used in a Portal joke should complain.

  • ukuleleimport #14 1 year ago

    Not having played the game yet, I don't know the jokes in question. But to my knowledge, most adoptive parents would NEVER say that their kids have no parents. Sounds like a grab for attention.

  • TaniumZX #15 1 year ago

    People just love being outraged and hurt these days. I'm suprised they were not upset by the 'fatty' jibe as well, bein yanks and all.

  • 5h1nj1 #16 1 year ago

    It's gonna be on Fox news in no time, don't worry. :D
    Probably enriched with some bloody outtakes from Bulletstorm and with a properly horrified reporter.

  • Kujata #17 1 year ago

    The birth parents you are trying to reach do not love you. Please hang up.

  • Lucodeath #18 1 year ago

    Its a game fer fooks sake. do you moan about mouse rights or something when your kids played the mouse trap board game. What if your kids played operation, I shudder to think.

  • SHPanda #19 1 year ago

    As it says, the quote was out of context and the idiot making the claim seems to fail to acknowledge that Wheatley is questioned over the remark and left to feel stupid for saying it.

    And a 12 on a box or an 'E' on a box in America's case doesn't make it a kids game, i doubt most children would understand the humour or get their head round some of the puzzles.

  • Redflooch #20 1 year ago

    @eraysor I would prefer news like this than no news at all

  • billy323 #21 1 year ago

    Well what about the episode of Friends where Chandler tells the boy that he is adopted. didn't see anyone going crazy over that... oh hold on, that wasn't a video game so its not news worthy.

  • metalangel #22 1 year ago

    That's the worst thing you could have heard? Worse than "the child is being taken away by its biological parents and you'll never see it again" or "the child is being fed into a giant grinder and the resulting mulch will be smeared across your idiotic face so some of the juice dribbles into your durrrrrr mouth"?

    I hope they filed a retroactive complaint about that "come back when you get some parents!" line from the Simpsons and all those jokes about Leela from Futurama's time in the orphanarium.

  • orangpelupa #23 1 year ago

    yeah its maybe feels "not good" for thos parent with adopted kids...

    but whatl if everyone making accusation like this on every media or on every other thing that available around us....
    by that time we wont be able to enjoy: painting, game, music, movie, ... we cant even enjoy life.

    now i need to brace myself for the incoming negatives...

  • coolbritannia #24 1 year ago

    Gabe is an orphan?

  • Incarta #25 1 year ago

    I'm not surprised it offended. I remember thinking at the time that some people wouldn't like it, even if I did chuckle myself. They shouldn't take the joke out though as the intention wasn't to offend. It was just a little edgy. Too edgy for some it seems.

    And stop negging people who see the guys point of view. That would be childish.

  • optimusprym8 #26 1 year ago

    ESRB rating in US is E for Everyone 10+

    the 12 on the box in big numbers is PEGI EU rating

  • minimong #27 1 year ago

    Its sad that it gotten to a point now that anything can be taken as offensive.Humour has always offended, that is why its funny.

  • Xeopuppy #28 1 year ago

    What a load of shit, I can't believe they would pick up on this, do they not realize it's referring to the characters in the game, not at the player, I am fat, but I didn't take offence at the comments. I just think it's just funny.

    Also I wish they wouldn't keep referring games as a kids game, what a load of cobblers...

  • The_Bloody_Kettle #29 1 year ago

    I thought part of the point was that GlaDos is nasty (albeit in a humorous way), and she's bullying you?

    Just let them play portal 1 (Haven't finished portal 2 yet) and show them how to deal with bullies..

    Really don't think these parents have a leg to stand on. They missed the point entirely.
    And letting a 10 year old play.. tsk tsk.

  • PressEscToExit #30 1 year ago

    This is really no different from how any poorly-informed British show would report the issue. Did shudder a bit when they specifically described it as a "kids game".

    As in all of these cases, it's the parents' responsibility to ensure that the content is suitable for their child before exposing them to it. Simple as. If they absolutely have to blame someone other than themselves, I suppose it should be the ratings board though rather than Valve.

  • ecureuil #31 1 year ago

    What a load of shite. It's a comedy, and good humour is often offensive.

    Is the whole world becoming more sensitive, or am I just imagining it?

  • the_dudefather #32 1 year ago

    Later in the game... Glados says something to the effect of 'so what is she is an orphan', pointing out that the insult was next to meaningless

  • -cerberus- #33 1 year ago

    Thank science we have Americans. Where else would I get my daily fix of 'stupid people being stupid'?.

  • drew327 #34 1 year ago

    I'm normally the first to say people are too sensitive, but I can kind of see the problem this time

  • teh_MBK #35 1 year ago

    @Bratmandu #10 - The box in the clip (which I'm guessing is the US release) says "E 10+". So I guess they're great parents if we're judging good parenting by buying boxes with the right numbers on them.

    @God_Octo #16 - "..any sensible person could tell that GLaDOS was being petty and vindictive.". Even a 10 year old?

    In case you couldn't gather from my responses, sign me up for finding the adoption jokes tasteless. Perhaps the game should have been rated higher due to the player needing the maturity and experience to realise the abuse in the game is meant in jest from the developer and is pure pettiness from the in-game characters and should not be taken seriously.

    On the flip side, although I found the jokes tasteless, I hope to god Valve don't end up paying a settlement or anything. Like ukuleleimport (#17) said, no adoptive parent would tell their child they have no parents and most would tell that child that they were their parents from a young age (which is possible in this case as they never hid the fact the child was adopted from her, as stated in the video by the father). So the question the father in the video talks about I took to be "Daddy, who are my parents?" would either not come up in the child's mind or be easily answered with "We are.".

    As for the "Americans are stupid." comments, I'm gonna have to side with the Americans and express my disgust at how we seem to categorise all of them as dumb. Just like I hate that all Muslims are terrorists, all Germans are uber-efficient work aholics etc. F**king stereotypes.

  • Afro_Matt #36 1 year ago

    Fk you fox news, making it seem like it's sony and not actually valve with all the close ups on the ps3 logo and controller. If you look the girl's practically at the end I would feel so pissed off at my dad if he took it away then hahaha

  • coomber #37 1 year ago

    Fuck's sake EG, stop reporting this complete drivel...

    They wrote it, you read it.

  • GozuTennai #38 1 year ago

    The kids are there like: "mum, dad, why are you such dickheads? oh that's right, you're americans."
    Edited by GozuTennai at 18/05/11 @ 17:58

  • rodpad #39 1 year ago

    Deary fucking me.

    Any excuse to kick off on the news.

  • God_Octo #40 1 year ago

    @teh_MBK, Whilst me might disagree on the jokes, I was shocked to find out that in the US, the game was rated 10+ (E for everyone). I think the 12 PEGI rating is much more fitting, as the game does have some more mature themes, like, adoption, but also bullying, violence, trauma, murder etc.

  • teh_MBK #41 1 year ago

    Yeah, I'm convinced this is a rating issue (and therefore ESRB's fault??) more than anything else.

  • Walkerj #42 1 year ago

    wait, some people are sensitive with no sense of humor and take themselves too seriously? shocking.

  • Walkerj #43 1 year ago

    she did hear it, she just didnt give half a fuck cause shes a normal person and not some over emotional faggot father.

  • Walkerj #44 1 year ago

    we contacted Sony who distributes the game


    lol thats credible reporting

  • subedii #45 1 year ago

    As Schnide already pointed out, constantly saying "LULZ Americans " is dumb, because this crap? Yeah I hate to tell you but we get just as much stupid here in the UK as well.

    When the most popular paper in the UK is the Daily Mail, then it's pretty much a case of glass houses here. And admit it, you could TOTALLY see this being a Daily Mail headline if they had thought of it first.

    Yeah so knock it off and freely knock the individuals and the channels involved, not the whole people. People being idiots is one of the few things that we as a species hold in common across borders.

    Unfortunately.
    Edited by subedii at 18/05/11 @ 18:14

  • Walkerj #46 1 year ago

    lol "passing the buck onto somebody else"

    "certainly seems like it"

    The ignorance here is astounding. I saw a porno and was offended so I called phillips cause they made the VCR lol.

    Also want to add they like the game, which btw is full of about 9 hours of the player being made fun of by robots.

  • Discalceaterabbit #47 1 year ago

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNi2LS15w...

  • Sodding_Gamer #48 1 year ago

    Firstly. She is wearing a guitar hero top. Which means she clearly has played guitar hero. Which is rated "M for Mature" she is what 10? and complaining abuot the rating being an "E" Contradiction number 1! Also if she is clever enough to play the portal 2 she is clever enough to know that she is adopted. Also wtf is that dude playing Portal 2 if he hasn't played the first?! And if he had played the first he would know that Glados is a bitch. People like this "Dad" make me sick.

    *EDIT* Also Glados & Wheatley take the piss out of "CHELL" Not a little chinese 10 year old about being adopted. Then I'm sure Glados or Wheatley says straight after that there is nothing wrong with bein adopted. Stupid foooooooking Americans man
    Edited by Sodding_Gamer at 18/05/11 @ 18:23

  • Stuz359 #49 1 year ago

    You've read it, you can't unread it.

  • bratmandu #50 1 year ago

    Ok fair enough, so only the Euro version is 12, and the yank version is 10. It's no secret that ratings in the US are ridiculous, they have porn on during the day, and a lingerie football league that is apparently ok to watch at 9am on the news (well, on fox news), but god forbid someone says FUCK.

  • Sodding_Gamer #51 1 year ago

    The only way Valve should apologise is give them some cake....

    AND GUESS WHAT!!! I just went to find a good Glados wuote to put on the cake, and I found a forum..... [link url=http://www.giantbomb.com/glados/94-722/favorite-glados-quotes/35-5141/
    ]http://www.giantbomb.com/glados/94-722/f...[/link]

    One guy in the forum puts this ....... "My best friend is adopted, and we played Portal together one night because I knew she would LOVE the sarcastic humor. She thought the "It also says you were adopted, so that's funny too" was one of the best lines in the game. :p"

    LOL!!!

  • DrMGinius #52 1 year ago

    I like this kind of news. They make me feel better about all of the dumb stuff I do.

  • mr_bez #53 1 year ago

    Wait for the follow up story... Wheatley calls the player a fatty and I'm offended because my son's a fatty!

  • iCubPro #54 1 year ago

    They have a crucifix hanging in their lounge, I find that highly insulting to intelligence and common sense...

  • Walkerj #55 1 year ago

    Why do eurogamer readers have to insult Americans from a story like this? There aren't morons in Europe? Didn't you all just have a million man orgy because two strangers who think they are better than you just got married?

  • Dave_McCoy #56 1 year ago

    I like how they cut to the scene where Wheatley responds just after GlaDos has said "what's wrong with being adopted". As usual, context is everything.

    It also annoys me how the bloody anchors are always shaking their heads as though it's so OUTRAGEOUS! It's not taunting you, it's taunting the character. It's in context with the story. It's not as if it said, "Hey you! Yeah, you that's playing this game. I'm going to come and knife out your eyeballs and then take a dump in your adopted mouth."

  • Branoic #57 1 year ago

    I have erectile disfunction. I insist all Viagra related jokes be banned!

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #58 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 16:59:10 06-02-2012

  • Goodfella #59 1 year ago

    @Walkerj

    Yes, there are plenty of stupid people in the UK too, Christ there are thick people all over the world, I wouldn't even attempt argue otherwise. Most of them are in the USA though. ;)

    As for the Royal Wedding, was that an attempt at an insult? It may shock you to discover a lot of people in the UK think they're a freeloading waste of space, myself included. So shove that in your pipe and smoke it.

  • darleysam #60 1 year ago

    Please Eurogamer, don't give this any time. It really doesn't warrant it.

  • kinth #61 1 year ago

    i actually thought when i played the game that something like this would start up. people just can't take a joke anymore its such a shame.

    im just suprised it took them so long to start whinging about it.

  • dllord #62 1 year ago

    I love the way they blame Sony for it all at the end! LOL

  • Walkerj #63 1 year ago

    @Goodfella

    yes it was an insult, and no it doesn't surprise me at all. My point was exactly that. You can't judge half a billion people because of the minority being retarded.

  • Inmediasress #64 1 year ago

    Is this supposed to be funny, sad or both?
    For me terribly funny For the adoptive parents sad that they seem to be idiots for valve both I guess sad that there are idiots who talk too much and have nothign to say and funny since well you know it's funny.

  • Averice #65 1 year ago

    FFS, that's as bad as the "retire ronald mcdonald" news! Apparently little kids are impressionable and get coerced into buying themselves fast food... waitaminute!

    Srsly, don't watch American TV news. It's awful. The only thing it's good for is breaking news and initial disaster coverage.

    Are 10 year olds even supposed to be playing this game? Oh, look, it's on the eurogamer kids site. Is eurogamer liable now? Are they about to get sued?

  • OldRavenNL #66 1 year ago

    please... get a life!

  • Goodfella #67 1 year ago

    @Walkerj

    Hmm, not so sure about it being a minority but we'll have to agree to disagree there. ;)

  • Cjail #68 1 year ago

    What if she is enjoying the game despite hearing the insult?
    Edited by Cjail at 18/05/11 @ 18:58

  • Raz76 #69 1 year ago

    Someone didn't get enough attention when they were a kid.

  • stryker1121 #70 1 year ago

    Newsflash, dipshits..most Americans are not dumb and fat. Just like most Brits don't have bad teeth and dress up like women for the sake of comedy. So take your stereotypes and kindly shove them up your "arse." (see what I did?)
    Edited by stryker1121 at 18/05/11 @ 19:01

  • sabbede #71 1 year ago

    The US has thousands of TV stations, many of which have local news programs. Surprisingly enough, there isn't a whole hell of a lot going on for these stations to report on so there's plenty of free time for idiots. If we only had four channels covering everything from sea to shining sea, then it would be a lot harder for the various dolts to get air time.
    (Its just tabloid nonsense anyhow - ya'll do it in print, we do it over the airwaves.)
    Not that we don't have plenty of idiots mind you - if we assume that a constant percentage of the population are idiots, then we have about five times as many as the UK. Because its not like you don't have plenty of jackoffs just like these folks. Ours are less likely to be drunk, more likely to be armed (which is actually good - drunk and armed may be fun as hell, but it aint always smart).

    Besides... Shut up and do as you're told. We're in charge now.
    Eat a hamburger. Watch Friends. Wear Levis.
    And keep up the Doctor Who.
    Oh, and if you have any more Monty Python, send that over too.

    BTW: we're keeping Hugh Laurie.

  • matt27 #72 1 year ago

    "we take that as her not being ready to talk about it"

    so you go ahead and put it up all over the news. now everyone will want to talk to her about it whether she wants to or not.

  • Architect_z #73 1 year ago

    I'm not trying to be a kill joy or anything, and i'm not adopted or anything, doesnt anyone see where this guys comming from?
    Regardless of age ranges and ratings etc.

    Neg me if you like, I'm not trying to defend anyone, frankly I don't care, I certainly don't think it should have made the news or that anyone should be punished, sued or whatever. But adoption can be a very sensitive subject for some families.

    I understand it was meant as a joke, I found it funny personally, but people are laughing and insulting at a man who was simply upset over a joke, which had a similarity to the type of relationship he has with his family. I laugh at practically any kind of humour as dark as it gets, but I don't think people should laugh at people because their hurt by the punchline.

    Just a thought.
    Edited by Architect_z at 18/05/11 @ 19:19

  • septimus #74 1 year ago

    A whiney over sensitive American? Who'd have thought!?

    /cheap shot, we have Daily Fail readers over here for our whiney bastards.

  • bad09 #75 1 year ago

    Americans. Can't live with 'em, can't live without laughing at them.

  • midnight_walker #76 1 year ago

    Adoptive Parents! If you think your kid might be interested in Portal 2, get them to check it out on Megaton.co.uk, our gaming site for kids.

  • metalangel #77 1 year ago

    @sabbede: Many in the UK are both fascinated by and hate Americans. There were lines out the door when a Krispy Kreme opened near me, no doubt many were the same hypocrites who rave about the Wire before making jokes about those stupid obese people and their oil wars. I'm surprised at the level of intolerance (as evidenced by the comments here)

  • dr_lha #78 1 year ago

    "Typical dumb, American, sensationalism non - 'news'. "

    Right, because the British press would never run with a story like this would they?

  • Anslant #79 1 year ago

    Portal 2 called me, and I quote, "a monster"

  • menage #80 1 year ago

    Fucking sensitivity. Grow a hide.

  • sabbede #81 1 year ago

    @metalangel
    Yeah, I know. I'm just having fun being a dick. Its a cultural phenomenon I think we inherited from ya'll.
    We are family after all - and just like in my family we rip on (take the piss out of) each other.

    Sure, our idiots are loud and get on TV waaaaay too often, but at least we have dentistry and decent food!
    See? Funny!
    We talk a lot of shit about each other, but in the end we're still family.

    Seriously though, tell me you wouldn't rather have a pizza than blood pudding. I mean. come on, BLOOD pudding???
    We have chocolate pudding.
    Just sayin.
    Edited by sabbede at 18/05/11 @ 19:32

  • Stompy #82 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 23:13:35 17-04-2012

  • sabbede #83 1 year ago

    @Stompy
    Granted.
    But lets face it, if they weren't hurtful, they wouldn't be funny.

  • NeoKenzi #84 1 year ago

    Lol...

  • buzby_bill #85 1 year ago

    I bet it wasn't "literally the worst thing" he could have heard. I'm sure if he grew a sense of proportion, and as people have already stated - played the game with a child of appropriate age - he'd have got on with life like it didn't really matter. Which it doesn't.

  • zubnut #86 1 year ago

    midnight_walker +1

  • djed #87 1 year ago

    Alright, fatty. Adopted fatty. Fatty, fatty no parents.

  • hiddenranbir #88 1 year ago

    Hahahaha

  • metalangel #89 1 year ago

    @sabbede: I'm not British (Canadian) but I do live here.

    Black pudding (blood pudding) is really nice... it's just a different kind of sausage which you usually have with a big meaty breakfast, alongside bacon and normal sausages. It doesn't taste of nor drip blood, you wouldn't even know unless someone told you. Pizza is already scheduled for dinner tonight, coincidentally with a faux-American name ("Chicago Town";) which provides a passable facsimile of a proper Chicago-style deep dish pizza.

  • Farzlepot #90 1 year ago

    Worst thing he could ever hear?

    I can think of at least twenty things on the top of my head that I could say to him that would be worse. Much worse. So much worse that I'd probably be banned from the Internet for typing them.

  • TheFlashGuy #91 1 year ago

    i just lost 10 IQ points reading this drivel

  • TheTrueSpin #92 1 year ago

    Is this serious? Do people in America really watch this sort of stuff? It is the stuff of satire!

  • spaceburge #93 1 year ago

    "He doesn't know what to do" about a "kids video game"

    CAN'T HIDE THE FACT SHE'S NOT ADOPTED TOO F***ING RIGHT!

    Fatty fatty retard...

  • dopeonthetable #94 1 year ago

    I have to agree with the criticism actually- I work with an adopted child for whom the trauma of rejection has been unbearable and it conditions every relationship she has with people. She sabotages any hope of having a positive relationship with anybody to diminish the power rejection can have on her. I thought of her immediately when I heard those lines and thought they were really unnecessary- the game is funny enough without them. I agree also that it is hard to imagine- when you don't suffer this yourself or spend time with people who do- just how painful something like this is.

    I know a lot of you here think that they (and me!) are being over-sensitive, but I think this is a scenario where sensitivity is called for i.e. we're not talking blue homosexuals making love here.

  • youhavenomail #95 1 year ago

    The 'father' says he didn't know how to handle it. Which probably explains his decision to make a big deal out of it and have a news team shove their cameras in the girl's face when she apparently didn't even take notice of the dialogue. And NOW every school bully will be looking for someone to call 'fatty, fatty no parents'.

  • Wedge1985 #96 1 year ago

    @stryker1121 Actually according to statistics, most Americans are fat. Apparently 64% of the total population.

    Equally have you never seen a rugby team on tour? We're always dressing as women for comedy. I guess stereotypes must be based on something after all...

  • Raz76 #97 1 year ago

    Later tests, however, revealed that Neil Stapel is a horrible person, which was suprising, as they weren't even testing for that.

  • arcam #98 1 year ago

    No, we should not ban such jokes, but yes, we should accept that they can be hurtful.

    Agreed. We've all over-reacted to a comment that happened to touch a nerve, and adoption can certainly be a sensitive subject so we shouldn't be too down on the guy for that.

    However, I'm reasonably happy to label him a twat for calling the local news about it, and more than happy to call that entire news team clueless hacks :)

  • arcam #99 1 year ago

    thought they were really unnecessary- the game is funny enough without them

    So are you saying adoption should be off-limits for comedy? Or maybe just that the age-rating was too low?

  • Goodfella #100 1 year ago

    @youhavenomail

    You hit the nail on the head, his reaction can only have done more harm than good.

  • Ror1984 #101 1 year ago

    Gabe: "Do you know who I am? I'm the man who's gonna burn your news station down! With the lemons!"

  • Freek #102 1 year ago

    Every joke when taken out of it's original context is the worst thing ever. Car accident jokes are hillariouse, unless you had a loved one killed.
    What, stand comedians should stop making jokes about relationships and divorce because it happens to allot of people?

  • sonsonate #103 1 year ago

    A lot of us Americans are not stupid.

  • dopeonthetable #104 1 year ago

    So are you saying adoption should be off-limits for comedy? Or maybe just that the age-rating was too low?

    Ooh, you're putting me on the spot.

    I don't think it should be off limits for comedy and I don't like to inflate age ratings. I suppose I just didn't think the joke was appropriate in that setting. I would have just scrapped it and saved it for later! I admit it's a tough decision but I that's what I'd go with.

  • Goodfella #105 1 year ago

    It's probably best he doesn't get tickets to a Frankie Boyle gig.

  • DrStrangelove #106 1 year ago

    Oh for God's sake, shut up!

  • Mysjkin7 #107 1 year ago

    I love how the kids just continue to play and don't give a fuck. "Shoot a portal there."

  • arcam #108 1 year ago

    "It throws the most ultimate question that child is ever going to have for you... right into the living room."

    What is really throwing this question up? The short comment that apparently the kid didn't even mention afterwards, or the reporter and cameraman you invited into your home to question her about it?

  • Sodding_Gamer #109 1 year ago

    @arcam

    Brilliant point mate. And also jumping over to her head to cover her ears (or even take her out the room) so she don't hear the line would of caused her to think "oh why did daddy just do that" if she was that stupid to not know already. That AND bringing a film crew over (what arcam) said has probably made her think that now. If you had just shut your gob up and have a laugh about it she probably wouldn't of thought twice. Or if you're such a protective idiot, you wouldn't of bought the game in the first place.

  • CrispyLog #110 1 year ago

    I don't see this guy complaining about Glados poking fun at you for being overweight. But then I guess he's one of those people who thinks everything is OK in humour unless it effects him. He's a special case and anything that offends him should be banned because he is completely unbiased and a fountain of justice, but if it's offensive to other people then that's fine. Cry baby, we need more freedom in speech and creativity, not less.

  • peterfll #111 1 year ago

    There's nothing wrong with adopted kids, but if I was thinking of getting one I'd want one in every room, one in every colour.

  • FeralYouth #112 1 year ago

    I'm actually offended by the name Eurogamer, because I feel it excludes me because I'm of African descent, even though I was born in Europe, just saying.


    No truly the bigger insult is assuming that the adoptive child is a thin skinned fool.

    Peterfll (So so close eh! already taken eh? *lol*) Angelina Jolie confirmed.




  • goatjugsoup #113 1 year ago

    How ridiculous, one of my friends is adopted and they thought it was quite funny.

  • goatjugsoup #114 1 year ago

    How ridiculous, one of my friends is adopted and they thought it was quite funny.

  • goatjugsoup #115 1 year ago

    How ridiculous, one of my friends is adopted and they thought it was quite funny.

  • Felwyn #116 1 year ago

    How ridiculous, one of my friends is adopted and they thought it was quite funny.

  • tejo.hr #117 1 year ago

    Meanwhile, adopted kid asked the news crew: When is Portal 3 commin out?

  • Collymilad #118 1 year ago

    Awkwaaaard.

    :p

  • Kazama74 #119 1 year ago

    Pff, she'd better not let her kid play Borderlands' Zombie Island then where Dr Ned does the same thing. That cracked me up, btw.

  • carlitoswagon #120 1 year ago

    I 'd like Valve to explain why I played Portal (1) the whole way through and still didn't get my fucking cake! I cried.

  • Meh #121 1 year ago

    lol, bad parenting, 'your' kid is 10 years old and yet you allow them to play a game for 12 or older. shame on you
    Edited by Meh at 19/05/11 @ 09:07

  • Redeye #122 1 year ago

    Lines taken out of context from one of the most inoffensive games ever and stirred up beyond rhyme or reason in order to create some ridiculous lawsuit = autofail.

    And remember, folks - stupid is like oxygen. It's everywhere, and recognises no national or cultural boundaries.

  • tiddex #123 1 year ago

    the girl is not upset at all - but daddy is already preparing the lawsuit.

  • AndyboyH #124 1 year ago

    GlaDOS also calls Chell a "Dangerous, mute, lunatic"

    You don't hear the mutes complaining...

    /coat
    Edited by AndyboyH at 19/05/11 @ 09:55

  • FortysixterUK #125 1 year ago

    Don't play the game if you are offended you bloody pillocks.

    I'd like to see another news article about the millions of people that had a laugh whilst playing.

  • dfooster #126 1 year ago

    Please

  • Spekingur #127 1 year ago

    So... adoption is a more sensitive subject than the hinting that a lot of humans died in testing? Is Portal not a parody of anmial/human testing that currently happens?
    These shows never ask the difficult questions!

  • BuddyChrist #128 1 year ago

    *spoiler...a bit*

    But when Glados gains a human streak, she says "What's wrong with being adopted!?" to which Wheatley cannot answer.
    Glados also makes amends for the fat kicks.

    And the original companion cube isn't dead, for all the cube loving complainers...

  • knocker #129 1 year ago

    Fucking hell. A regional station in the states reports a nonsensical story .... meanwhile in a continent far far away european gamers get themselves in a lather over it.

    I am fortunate/unfortunate enough to live in a rural part of the UK. Occasionally we get news stories so trivial that they leave me scratching my head "hm, why the fuck is that news ?".

    Thats all this is.

    Eurogamer's concept of what makes a good story is starting to take the piss. Get a grip please?

  • Golgo #130 1 year ago

    The game has a 12+ rating in the UK. What is it in the States? If it's equivalent and he's letting his 10 year old watch it, then clearly he's not fit to be a parent - adoptive or otherwise.

  • metalangel #131 1 year ago

    @knocker: There was a story in the South Wales Echo (or was it the Argus)... "DEAD HAMSTER STOLEN"

    Basically, some student's pet hamster had died, and he stuck it in the box his phone came in to go and bury it. On the way, he stopped at a friend's house. A passing thief saw the phone box in the back of the car, broke in and stole it, not realizing what was inside...

    This was on the third page, and took up the entire third page.

    EDIT: Here's a link! The headline is even better than I remembered: "Sick thieves stole my dead hamster, Bella, from my car"!

    http://www.thefreelibrary.com/'Sick+thie...
    Edited by metalangel at 19/05/11 @ 11:23

  • Kikizosan #132 1 year ago

    She's an insensitive character. It's supposed to be insensitive - that's the point! Another case of parents not properly vetting the material their children are exposed to.

  • DwarfyP #133 1 year ago

    The kid looks really shocked about it all as she is busy playing Portal 2 while he rambles on about how they are waiting for her to talk about it.

  • jimr9999us #134 1 year ago

    -sigh-
    (sings weakly) "cuz i'm proud to be an americun"

    Oh well. At least we can go all Modern Warfare on another nation in real life whenever we darn well please. No one is safe from the inquisition! mwhahahahaha

  • sabbede #135 1 year ago

    @Wedge1985 "@stryker1121 Actually according to statistics, most Americans are fat. Apparently 64% of the total population."

    Being awesome is high in calories.

  • Tackyhuman #136 7 months ago

    Naturally, the first conclusion would be that Americans are stupid. However, one must first take into consideration the level of hypocrisy that run rampant in America. While this man is clearly inept in is ability to have a conversation with this adopted daughter, he most likely has no issue seeking a blow job by a complete stranger in a dark seedy alley.