14 DAY TRIAL // There are still people out there that have not played Portal, the surprise hit from Valve that got a lot of Game of the Year awards in 2007. But they still have time to get it and portal their way through the game (it's not very long) before Portal 2 hits the streets. No official announcement regarding the game has come from Valve yet, but we do have a job announcement that might reveal something about its plot.
A subscribers-only website is hosting a call for actors that can do "dark comedy." The announcement specifically states that it is for a character in a new Portal game from Valve and that recording voice work for the character is set to begin at the end of July 2008.
The role advertised is that of Cave Johnson, who is described as being an "eccentric dead billionaire." It seems that he is the best of the company Aperture Science, which was featured prominently in the first game. It is also said that he has the personality of a salesman crossed with a charmer, and that he always gets what he wants.
Apparently, through the course of the game, he looses grip on humanity and turns villain. The player will probably need to use portals and maybe other gimmicks to take him on and stop him.
The choice of Johnson as a game character might suggest a prequel to Portal is in development, rather than a sequel to the game. It would allow Valve to expand the universe of the game and present the story behind the creation of GLADOS, the most entertaining and sarcastic game A.I. since the days of SHODAN from System Shock 2.
Doug Lombardi, who is a representative for Valve, has previously said that no new Portal is planned for release in 2008, but also that a new game will be "equally as revolutionary" as the first in the series.