I thought this was debunked by Valve.

Something better happen tomorrow, because I've wasted so much time getting all these fucking potatoes.

It was proven fake on the Valve forums already.

maybe the demo tomorrow?

" maybe the demo tomorrow? "

Half-Life 3 is coming out tomorrow guys.

I've heard that it was debunked by valve, but I haven't seen the post myself, and "4/19/2011_7AM=4/15/2011_9AM" is pretty blatant in hinting at an early release, since 7AM on the 19th is exactly when the steam download was supposed to activate. And it would make sense as a method of stopping people buying the PS3 version, activating the steam install and then selling the PS3 copy. If people can get it sooner on PC, they'd probably opt for that rather than the PS3 method.

A lot of people are claiming publishing deals wouldn't allow this, but maybe the free steam copy with the ps3 version could just be something to smooth this over with EA. If this does happen I would assume EA would have been aware of it along time ago.

excitement 

I really wish I understood what was going on at all...

Worst part for me is that I signed up for work this weekend and took a couple days off next week to play portal. Can't complain too much considering I'll still get to play some this weekend (if the rumor is true) and have five days off next week to play.

Interesting! Am I correct in thinking that technically Valve could release Portal 2 on Steam whenever they wanted as they are not locked down to a publishers deal on Steam. So it wouldn't shock me. 

" Half-Life 3 is coming out tomorrow guys. "

" Interesting! Am I correct in thinking that technically Valve could release Portal 2 on Steam whenever they wanted as they are not locked down to a publishers deal on Steam. So it wouldn't shock me. 

Sounds like something Valve would do."

" @TrueEnglishGent said:

" Interesting! Am I correct in thinking that technically Valve could release Portal 2 on Steam whenever they wanted as they are not locked down to a publishers deal on Steam. So it wouldn't shock me. 

Sounds like something Valve would do."

Well it depends how tight their publishing deal with EA is. I know if I was EA I wouldn't want valve releasing a digital version before the boxed version hit shelves, and I'd want that to be part of the contract when signing the publishing deal. But Valve are probably big enough at this point that they could tell EA that if they don't agree to their terms they'll find another publisher, and EA might have to back down unless they wanted to lose a publishing deal worth a considerable amount of money to a rival publisher. "

" @MattyFTM said:

" @TrueEnglishGent said:

" Interesting! Am I correct in thinking that technically Valve could release Portal 2 on Steam whenever they wanted as they are not locked down to a publishers deal on Steam. So it wouldn't shock me. 

Sounds like something Valve would do."

Well it depends how tight their publishing deal with EA is. I know if I was EA I wouldn't want valve releasing a digital version before the boxed version hit shelves, and I'd want that to be part of the contract when signing the publishing deal. But Valve are probably big enough at this point that they could tell EA that if they don't agree to their terms they'll find another publisher, and EA might have to back down unless they wanted to lose a publishing deal worth a considerable amount of money to a rival publisher. "

I'm pretty sure EA are just distributing the retail versions... As opposed to actually publishing it, I think Valve are publishing it themselves. That is what Wikipedia tells me. "

" @AlexW00d said:

" @MattyFTM said:

" @TrueEnglishGent said:

" Interesting! Am I correct in thinking that technically Valve could release Portal 2 on Steam whenever they wanted as they are not locked down to a publishers deal on Steam. So it wouldn't shock me. 

Sounds like something Valve would do."

Well it depends how tight their publishing deal with EA is. I know if I was EA I wouldn't want valve releasing a digital version before the boxed version hit shelves, and I'd want that to be part of the contract when signing the publishing deal. But Valve are probably big enough at this point that they could tell EA that if they don't agree to their terms they'll find another publisher, and EA might have to back down unless they wanted to lose a publishing deal worth a considerable amount of money to a rival publisher. "

I'm pretty sure EA are just distributing the retail versions... As opposed to actually publishing it, I think Valve are publishing it themselves. That is what Wikipedia tells me. "

That's just semantics. Whether you call them distributors or publishers (which are more or less the same thing, with maybe a small handful of differences) there will definitely be complicated and convoluted legal documents between EA and Valve, and EA wouldn't want those agreements to allow valve to release the game via Steam prior to the retail version, which EA is distributing. "

Clearly something is happening involving the Portal 2 ARG. Whether its an early release of Portal 2 or something else, we'll just have a wait and see.

someone on the steam forums has a neat theory.

So is this real or fake?

" @MattyFTM said:

"  there will definitely be complicated and convoluted legal documents between EA and Valve, and EA wouldn't want those agreements to allow valve to release the game via Steam prior to the retail version, which EA is distributing. "

EA have no say in the matter, they have no claim to the digital distribution. Even if they wanted to tie Valve's hands they would have no leverage as Valve could walk away and take Portal 2 to another publisher. It's a safe bet that Valve's deal with EA has no bearing on what Steam can or can't do. "

"  http://www.aperturescience.com/a/b/c/d/g/h/abcdgh/it's happening "

I WAS FUCKING WRONG?!  O_o

I have never been wrong on this site yet.  WTF

God bless the people that have enough time in their days to crack codes and find potatoes on poles.

IS PORTAL 2 REALLY COMING OUT TOMORROW FOR THE MASTER RACE?!  

" @Mr_Spinnington said:

"  http://www.aperturescience.com/a/b/c/d/g/h/abcdgh/it's happening "

Whoa. "

" @Manhattan_Project said:

" @Mr_Spinnington said:

"  http://www.aperturescience.com/a/b/c/d/g/h/abcdgh/it's happening "

Whoa. "

Does that mean it's confirmed? Is that site official?! WHAT IS THIS WITH THE POTATOES?! 

I can't sleep now...

"

" @Buck said:

" @Manhattan_Project said:

" @Mr_Spinnington said:

"  http://www.aperturescience.com/a/b/c/d/g/h/abcdgh/it's happening "

Whoa. "

Does that mean it's confirmed? Is that site official?! WHAT IS THIS WITH THE POTATOES?! 

I can't sleep now...

"

Site is official but we have no idea what its counting down to. "

" someone on the steam forums has a neat theory.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1835057

I think it makes perfect scene.    
I guess we need more potato's for portal 2 to release??"

The countdown timer doesn't confirm anything. The ARG has been pointing towards something coming tomorrow for a long time now.

last post was cut off and won't let me edit the rest in. anyway 
... just search for NELIPOT on the community tab in steam and join there. Also, you might need to own one game from the potato sack to get it. 

"If Valve doesn't want to make anyone mad, they'd better reveal something big, like Episode 3. I'm afraid that releasing early could alienate console users. I certainly wouldn't be happy."

" The countdown timer doesn't confirm anything. The ARG has been pointing towards something coming tomorrow for a long time now.

I'm really not sure what's happening -- if it does release early, it'll be unprecedented; if not, there will be a lot of unhappy fans. Actually, even if it does release early, there will be a lot of unhappy fans -- everyone who purchased somewhere other than Steam that isn't getting it four days early. There are tons of people buying on consoles that will likely get a little upset.

If Valve doesn't want to make anyone mad, they'd better reveal something big, like Episode 3. I'm afraid that releasing early could alienate console users. I certainly wouldn't be happy.

"

" The countdown timer doesn't confirm anything. The ARG has been pointing towards something coming tomorrow for a long time now.

I'm really not sure what's happening -- if it does release early, it'll be unprecedented; if not, there will be a lot of unhappy fans. Actually, even if it does release early, there will be a lot of unhappy fans -- everyone who purchased somewhere other than Steam that isn't getting it four days early. There are tons of people buying on consoles that will likely get a little upset.

If Valve doesn't want to make anyone mad, they'd better reveal something big, like Episode 3. I'm afraid that releasing early could alienate console users. I certainly wouldn't be happy.

"

Search the link  http://www.aperturescience.com/a/b/c/d/g/h/abcdgh/ in google and look at the title of the page.

If they were to release portal 2 early it would makes sense to give it to people who already pre-ordered via steam.

" @KaosAngel: Portal 2's what...?"

" @BeachThunder:  I believe they said there would be no demo until after release, but at this point you can't really believe anything they say. "

Side note but anyone think we'll get some kind of word on episode 3 with/after the release of portal 2?