On Portal and Being a Stubborn Jackass

I have a shocking confession to make, or at least … shocking to people who play video games, which I suspect is the vast majority of this site’s small audience: I have yet to play Portal.

I know, I know … many people consider it to be 2007′s Game of the Year and it’s received almost universal adoration from critics and fans alike. I am absolutely sure it’s a fantastic game, and I’m quite looking forward to playing it, but I haven’t yet. Why? Because I’m not paying $20 for three hours of game play. I don’t care if it’s the most scintillating three hours in the history of gaming, I’m not paying $20 for it.

Now, Half-Life 2: Episode 2 … that was worth $20, and I paid it gladly. I could have bought the Orange Box for $45, but I already own Half-Life 2 and Episode 1, and have absolutely no use for Team Fortress 2. I loved the original Team Fortress dearly, but competitive multiplayer is dead to me. I’m no longer interested in it as a gaming option, in any form. So TF2 is right out.