Portal. Cube, Cake and Artificial Intelligence. The History of the Cult Puzzle

The Portal series has left an indelible mark on the history of video games: it has changed not only the ways of presenting information but also the very form of communication between the game and the player. This book shows how the Valve franchise became a cohesive and mature work, created and refined through observations, data analysis, experiments, testing, and surveys.

Join the experiment and learn:
– How, as a student project, Portal became a cult puzzle.
– What the principle of 'less is more' is about.
– Why players learn better in a relaxed state.
– How the song Still Alive breaks the fourth wall and what GLaDOS has to do with it.

«This book is literally a portal to the world of ancient Greek myths, psychoanalysis, philosophy, and the search for meaning. You will not only learn what really lies behind the game's plot, but also get to know the working principles of the Valve company, as well as the modern approach applied in video game research». — Georgy Yadvichuk, journalist, editor