Valve teases with mystery Portal patch

By Oli Welsh Published 2 March, 2010

Fans unravelling multi-layered puzzle.

Valve has updated the PC version of its first-person puzzle classic Portal with an enigmatic patch which has set fans on a trail of code-cracking and puzzle-solving.

The patch notes for the update simply, but enigmatically, read: "Changed radio transmission frequency to comply with federal and state spectrum management regulations."

What it didn't mention was a new Steam achievement for the game called Transmission Received. Completing the achievement involves carrying a radio around the game and receiving broadcast interference noises in certain places.

Analysing these sound files, Portal fans have begun unravelling a thread of puzzles and challenges apparently set for them by the Seattle developer. As Steam user relaxeder summarised in the lengthy forum thread:

"Smart people yank .wav files out of game content folders and run them through steganography programs. Produces 26 weird cryptic image files in a numbered sequence.

"Some dude runs the number string through an md5 hash translator and gets a landline number. Internet traces it to Kirkland, WA (near Valve HQ).

"People find out it's not a phone/fax line but a data line hosting a BBS and telnet it. Use a clue from one of the files to figure out the BBS user/password login info. End up with a bunch of weird ASCII artwork.

"We're trying to figure out WTF it means."

Aren't we all, but we wouldn't be surprised if the trail led to an announcement of some sort related to Portal or the loosely-connected Half-Life universe. More as it breaks.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Buenos_Estente #1 2 years ago

    wish that meant something to me

  • Optyk #2 2 years ago

    Hopefully it's a prelude to HL2: Episode 3.

  • KingOfTheC #3 2 years ago

    The transmission is a lie

  • Restart #4 2 years ago

    People on the internet have too much time on their hands.

  • Carpathian #5 2 years ago

    More Portal = bigger win.

    Let's face it, Portal was a pretty massive pile of win to start with so a chance to dust it off and have some more time in it's universe is something I'm more than happy to hope for.

    Didn't expect a surprise ARG to kick this off , though. Props to whoever decided to do things this way.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 10:46

  • X3Entente #6 2 years ago

    episode 3 = portal 2 ???

  • Restart #7 2 years ago

    @Von_Adder

    How dare you..... I'm not a man.

  • LazyDan #8 2 years ago

    If this leads up to an announcement, then what an exquisitely awesome way of announcing it - if you're not aware of what all that technical stuff meant, let me tell you that it's an extensively elaborate set up, which would've been no mean feat to put together and make that sure no one could circumvent any of it. Brilliant.

  • AaronTurner #9 2 years ago

    If we get an announcement of either portal 2 or a new half life episode I will be very happy

  • Spekingur #10 2 years ago

    Portal Online - the Massive Multiplayer Game!

  • MORZTAN #11 2 years ago

    This sound unbelievably cool.

    You have to know you have a seriously dedicated fanbase to get away with this.

  • jonfon #12 2 years ago

    "Some things are just way too geeky."

    Some things are a masterclass of viral marketing targetted at your core market. Genius altogether (and yes, I am a geek).

  • loopy #13 2 years ago

    This is why I love Valve as a developer.

    I don't think anyone else sets their fans up like this for game/patch announcements... love it. :)
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 12:54

  • gott_sei_dank #14 2 years ago

    Personally I thought Portal was cack, GLaDOS/JC aside but this has given me a reason to return to unfiction.com

  • Eraysor #15 2 years ago

    Watching this unfold late last night was epic.

  • Huxley #16 2 years ago

    I love this (from the BBS log files)

    BEGIN RECORD 'C:\05083881.801\04186850.542' (1751 BYTES) ---- CONFIDENTIAL October 17th, 1976 Re: Human Enrichment & Testing Initiative, Resource Acquisitions 1. "Low Risk" Human Resource Acquisitions a. Hoboes and Tramps Lives spent wandering aimlessly, cowering before authority, and drinking concussive amounts of home-distilled potato alcohol make hoboes the perfect Human Enrichment test subjects. The hobo questions nothing, will follow orders if fed, and, like all hoboes, has a restless, wandering heart. (Note: The wandering heart of the hobo should not be confused with Drifting Heart Syndrome, which several transients contracted during testing.) b. Child Orphans and Foundlings Deep-rooted abandonment issues leave most orphans highly susceptible to shame-based psychology (for a complete list of opportune moments to obliterate the esteem of test subjects, please consult Training Video #89-D, "You'd Perform This Test Better if You Had Parents";). Recent advances in the use of scorn, flattery used in an ironic context and naked contempt as motivational tools have yielded similarly profitable results. c. Psychiatric Patients Past experience shows these fellows are simply not shy at all about carrying on, disrupting tests and defecating just about anywhere that pleases them. Frankly, itís off-putting, and small wonder why Aperture-brand mental institutions are being phased out in favor of more orphanages. d. Seniors Frail, brittle hands make holding science devices difficult. Most were born before the advent of science, and can become confused and disoriented when asked to participate in relatively simple tests (teleportation, invisibility, adjusting esteem levels of orphan children). ---- RECORD ENDS

  • Ryboy #17 2 years ago

    Awesome. I'll give it a few days, let others do the work, then look into it more...

  • chudders #18 2 years ago

    Wicked. It's like they are bleeding Portal/Half life into the real world - much the same as the story of Half life, I suppose!

  • jonfon #19 2 years ago

    If people haven't seen this from the first games release :

    [link url=http://www.aperturesc ience.com/
    ]http://www.aperturesc ience.com/
    [/link]

    Give it a whirl.

    Try login then Username cjohnson Password tier3

    There's an application test in there somewhere which is pretty funny

  • conorkc #20 2 years ago

    There is a Wiki site for any who are trying to work this out

    here: http://pu gsoft.info/radio/index.php?titl...

  • Spekingur #21 2 years ago

    That BBS log file - almost sounds like something from Fringe X)

    I'm starting to wonder if Valve might have a big announcement at next E3.

  • StooMonster #22 2 years ago

    More cake? Nice!

  • jonfon #23 2 years ago

    I'm starting to suspect a new Orange Box maybe with the Left 4 Dead games in it along with all of Halflife 2 and a new Portal. Although maybe too many people own too many of them already to justify it (the Orange Box allowed you to Gift any you already owned though).

  • Faldrath #24 2 years ago

    Goddamnit. Now I'm going to have "Still Alive" stuck in my head for the whole day.

  • Caimbeul #25 2 years ago

    Why don't they just f'ing concentrate on Half-Life 2: Episode 3...how long has it been now?

  • KayTannee #26 2 years ago

    I love you Valve!

  • GitSomE_UK #27 2 years ago

    Portal - one of the most original games ever.... Love it, love Valve, avoid cake.

    Since Portal there's a secret code amongst gamers if you mention the cake is a lie there's always a knowing nod and a grin.

  • loopy #28 2 years ago

    "Why don't they just f'ing concentrate on Half-Life 2: Episode 3...how long has it been now?"

    How do you know they are not tied together here? They are after all set in the same universe, and quite a few of the clues I read in the Steam forum thread seemed to hint at the new episode.

  • SniperZoz #29 2 years ago

    Need more PORTAL!

  • AphoticCosmos #30 2 years ago

    With the noted exception of Bungie, nobody does hype and mystery quite like Valve.

  • chrisola #31 2 years ago

    It's the reveal of the new Duke Nukem game which Valve are secretly developing.
    Edited by 1 at 03/03/10 @ 12:12