Countdown to the Zeebys: Portal The Flash Version

Portal: The Flash Version is in the running for Best Web Game of 2007 at the upcoming Zeeby Awards. We chatted with Ido Tal and Hen Mazolski of We Create Stuff about what makes Portal: The Flash Version special and why it deserves to get your voe.

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Portal: The Flash Version is in the running for Best Web Game of 2007 at the upcoming Zeeby Awards. We chatted with Ido Tal and Hen Mazolski of We Create Stuff about what makes Portal: The Flash Version special and why it deserves to get your vote.

Can you give us insights or fun facts about the development of this game?

With pleasure. I think one of the most notable fun development facts is that we never met each other. Not just during the development – but before and some while after. We knew each other for 4 years, talking over IM programs daily, playing online video games on weekends, while we live around 10km away from each other. We only met a couple of months after the release of Portal: The Flash Version, when we were invited to the Israeli GameIS convention. It was strange at first, but we got used to it!

Another funny thing about Portal: The Flash Version, is that it was never really intended to go public. We started it as an excitement side project after watching the original Portal trailer before it came out. We wanted to play it so bad, we just made out own little version of it in 2D using Flash.

After a couple of months of on and off developing, our friends told us we should release it. So after some thinking we decided to take the development more seriously. We also set ourselves a deadline: Not after the original Portal release. We were afraid all this hard work won’t be appreciated if we’d release it after. And so, we officially made it 5 hours before the deadline! Intensive, but good times.

What makes the game special, and why should people vote for it?

Aside from the unique development process, well – is is based on the most awesome concept ever – Valve’s Portal concept! It works great in 2D and it’s very fun to play with. So we made over 40 puzzles in 2D, using some unique elements and features, creating hours of a flash game to play.

Portal: TFV also have a console, which is quite rare to find in a Flash game. With the console, players can play around with the inner settings of the game – set gravity, spawn objects, or simply cheat by disabling all physics and flying through the wall in order to skip the level! It’s a very fun tool to play with.

Besides your own game of course, what other games impressed you in 2007?

Oh, there were many games we liked in 2007. Our favs were: PALADIN: the Game, XENO TACTIC, Sonny, The Last Stand, IndestructoTank!, Detective Grimoire, and Desktop Tower Defense.

If you win a Zeeby, how do you plan to celebrate (aside for going to Disneyworld, of course)?

Hmm, we aren’t quite sure yet. Maybe throw a chocolate party?

Any final words for your fans?

We love you. We truly do! You guys’ support means a lot for us. We promise that you will hear from our Flash abilities again. Thank you!

Click here to vote for your favorite casual game of 2007.