Portal 2 goes to space?

From the Portal 2 blog:

Thanks to an anonymous tech at NASA, Wheatley is actually going to actual space. This Friday at 10:06 EST, the Japanese HTV-3 resupply craft to the ISS will launch the above panel into space. Though mankind will surely regret giving Wheatley a celestial perch to plot his next move, we here at Valve are mostly just impressed with NASA’s bold, unprecedented resupply craft numbering scheme. And please note that when we mentioned an “anonymous tech at NASA” we weren’t kidding: NASA in no way officially endorses secretly laser-engraving characters from Portal onto their spacecraft. Believe it or not, they don’t even officially endorse Portal 2, despite the fact that it’s a really excellent game.

I’m at a loss for words on this. It’s truly amazing that someone at NASA managed to pull this off! Hopefully they won’t get sent to android hell for their defiance.

The Steam For Schools Beta Program

GLaDOS wants your children… That’s right. Valve has invited educators to participate in what they are calling the “Steam For Schools” beta program. Featuring a special edition of steam with only Portal 2 and it’s new puzzle maker. The goal is to use Portal 2’s mechanics to teach kids basic physics and to think. Because we don’t need anymore stupid people…

Taken from their FAQ

The interaction tends to be free-form and experimental and as students encounter new tools and challenges they may develop an intuitive understanding of physical principles such as mass and weight, acceleration, momentum, gravity, and energy. The games also put a premium on critical thinking, spatial reasoning, problem solving, iteration and collaboration skills, and encourage overall inquiry into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) learning.

Current lesson plans include: “Introduction to Parabolas with the Puzzle Maker,” “Spatial Visualization and Perspectives,” and “Building a Simple Harmonic Oscillator.” Where was this when I was growing up? Kids these days…

Also, you can’t do that on XBox!