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Portal 2 DLC released for Razer motion controller

Published on 17th June 2011 by David Hing

The Razer Hydra brings motion controls to the PC.

New downloadable content (DLC) has just been released for Portal 2, but it's only accessible if you live in the US and own a Razer Hydra PC motion controller.

The Portal 2 Sixense MotionPack DLC features ten new levels and introduces new mechanics, such as portal rotation and object resizing, to provide new ways of solving puzzles.

The Razer Hydra motion controller is set to ship to Europe in June and will cost €139.99. Resembling two Wii Nunchuk controllers, it's currently compatible with over 125 games and can be configured for other titles, with the FAQ on Razer's website claiming it can be used with 'virtually any game'.

It's unclear whether any of the new Portal 2 DLC will be a part of the free update that Valve announced earlier this year, or if it will become accessible to non-Hydra owners in the future. However, the update has been developed in conjunction with Sixense; the developer behind the technology of the Razer motion controller, and has specific motion control features.

Razer and Sixense also demonstrated PC motion controls using Left 4 Dead 2 last year at CES.

How do you feel about motion controls for PC gaming? Are you jealous of Hydra owners getting their hands on the new Portal 2 DLC before the rest of us? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

28 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

Isitari 17th June 2011, 15:40

If this is happening and their is no other way of accessing the DLC then that really is a load of fail. All I can hope is that Valve release it in some other manner as well.

mucgoo 17th June 2011, 15:46

How much money did that cost Razer

Ayrto 17th June 2011, 15:56

Can't understand why anyone remotely connected with PC, thinks we want to expend more physical effort playing games than we do using our keyboards and mice. Motion control is ok for hyperactive kids with energy to burn, playing 'jump on demand' games. But seriously, for many, after a day at work - the idea of waving your arms around seems like pure meh.

Tokukachi 17th June 2011, 15:58

I'm pretty much 'meh' about it, maybe a little annoyed, but if i have to download the update via a steam even though i can't access it, i will be greatly annoyed. I'm fed up of having to download updates for games that I will never use (DLC and expansions I will not be buying etc) before I can play my game.

feathers 17th June 2011, 15:59

If the motion control is precise then it will be great. Anything that frees me from having to sit at desk with hands on keyboard and mouse.

feathers 17th June 2011, 16:01

Razer Hydra will have competition from Kinect (now it has windows SDK) however the biggest failing with Kinect is apparently the floorspace you need for it.

kenco_uk 17th June 2011, 16:10

I hope the DLC is also free for PS3. I can't imagine why this wouldn't be released for use with the Move wand and nav sticks.

Baz 17th June 2011, 16:19

From what Razer told me at CES, these levels can ONLY be completed with the Hydra - they involve stuff like rotating items to a very fine degree, which obviously a mouse can't do. So don't feel so bad everyone.

WildThing 17th June 2011, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayrto
Can't understand why anyone remotely connected with PC, thinks we want to expend more physical effort playing games than we do using our keyboards and mice. Motion control is ok for hyperactive kids with energy to burn, playing 'jump on demand' games. But seriously, for many, after a day at work - the idea of waving your arms around seems like pure meh.

QFT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz
From what Razer told me at CES, these levels can ONLY be completed with the Hydra - they involve stuff like rotating items to a very fine degree, which obviously a mouse can't do. So don't feel so bad everyone.

Hmm...:|

MaverickWill 17th June 2011, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz
From what Razer told me at CES, these levels can ONLY be completed with the Hydra - they involve stuff like rotating items to a very fine degree, which obviously a mouse can't do. So don't feel so bad everyone.

Razer - "Our mice aren't good enough to play these levels"

IonKnight 17th June 2011, 19:32

Lol so let me get this right there probably not going to release this to the rest of us because ? Just cause this sixsense controller can do it easily doesn't mean ppl without, won't be able to complete it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz
From what Razer told me at CES, these levels can ONLY be completed with the Hydra - they involve stuff like rotating items to a very fine degree, which obviously a mouse can't do. So don't feel so bad everyone.

Hell lol your talking about probably the most skilled group of FPS players anywhere (well for the PC version anyway and talking about valve players). Doesn't matter how fine a degree there talking about it u WILL be able to pull it off even if they say u can't cause hell need to be fine with advanced portal and it's bundle of mods :P. But hell if they update steam with it ill just make them believe i have a sixsense controller, (some how :P) and proxy myself into the US :P (ha fight the power :P).

TWeaK 17th June 2011, 19:48

Not fussed, the main game itself seemed to be flawed by more complicated game mechanics, chances are this won't really be any harder after you get used to the controller. Sounds more like a tech demo for people who splash out on the controller - didn't they say the game would be bundled with it?

I've had loads of fun with the mods and while I look forward to proper DLC, it's not where the best of the game is for me.

Pete J 17th June 2011, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz
these levels can ONLY be completed with the Hydra - they involve stuff like rotating items to a very fine degree, which obviously a mouse can't do.

Unless you hold down a button (e.g. alt) to convert x-axis movement into rotation...

Tyr 17th June 2011, 21:01

Rotation would be very easy to implement in a mouse. Just add a second sensor, tweak software, job done.

lilgoth89 18th June 2011, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyr
Rotation would be very easy to implement in a mouse. Just add a second sensor, tweak software, job done.

its funny you mention this...
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2011/06/09/razer-announces-dual-sensor-gaming-mice/1

coincidence much ??

brave758 18th June 2011, 01:49

wtf

Jehla 18th June 2011, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by mucgoo
How much money did that cost Razer

I believe this is the question we should be asking.

feathers 18th June 2011, 10:35

This DLC is very gimmicky from what I've seen. Stretching a shape to fit across a gap? Not exactly a puzzle is it. I am much more interested in whether or not this controller can be used successfully with first person shooters. The video on youtube showing the Hydra controlling L4D2 was very impressive.

CrazyJoe 18th June 2011, 12:16

When they said the first Portal 2 DLC would be free, this wasn't what I had in mind...

ssj12 18th June 2011, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenco_uk
I hope the DLC is also free for PS3. I can't imagine why this wouldn't be released for use with the Move wand and nav sticks.

you would need to Move controllers, the Navi has no motion controls.

Crossing 20th June 2011, 00:55

You all realize this is not the DLC. this is a motionpack DLC and the free DLC will be available this summer.

There seems to be confusion about this everywhere.

CrazyJoe 20th June 2011, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crossing
You all realize this is not the DLC. this is a motionpack DLC and the free DLC will be available this summer.

There seems to be confusion about this everywhere.

It's still DLC that requires extra outlay to play it. Technically it's free but not really.

Star*Dagger 20th June 2011, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by feathers
This DLC is very gimmicky from what I've seen. Stretching a shape to fit across a gap? Not exactly a puzzle is it. I am much more interested in whether or not this controller can be used successfully with first person shooters. The video on youtube showing the Hydra controlling L4D2 was very impressive.

Because the L4D series is all about fine control and FPS excellence?

LOL

Yours in real FPS Plasma,
Star*Dagger

Blademrk 20th June 2011, 15:29

When I first saw the image of that controller I thought it was based on the Microsoft Dual Strike for a minute.

Crossing 20th June 2011, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyJoe
It's still DLC that requires extra outlay to play it. Technically it's free but not really.

but it's not dlc that includes anything besides a few gimmicks.

Andy Mc 21st June 2011, 07:54

I'm a little disapointed with Valve for this.....Don't really care about the motion controller as it's a little bit of a gimmick. But releasing DLC targetted at only a minority of it's userbase and providing extra content is a little unfair. But I suppose Razer would have given them a fairly hefty bit of cash for it.

batmanasb 22nd June 2011, 02:43

Bit-tech seems to have failed to understand simple news. The Hydra come with a portal 2 DLC that is made to show off what motion controls can do, so to all the people upset about not getting access to this DLC, YOU CAN NOT GET PASSED THOSE LEVELS WITH JUST A MOUSE OR CONTROLLER! YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO TURN YOUR HANDS AND STUFF!!! But they are still going to release the much larger free DLC as promised later this summer!

knuck 22nd June 2011, 04:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by batmanasb
Bit-tech seems to have failed to understand simple news. The Hydra come with a portal 2 DLC that is made to show off what motion controls can do, so to all the people upset about not getting access to this DLC, YOU CAN NOT GET PASSED THOSE LEVELS WITH JUST A MOUSE OR CONTROLLER! YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO TURN YOUR HANDS AND STUFF!!! But they are still going to release the much larger free DLC as promised later this summer!

somebody didn't read the whole thread