I set out on this journey of moving our site to a newer forum software with pretty much one goal in mind - Under no circumstances will I discard the files in the old Download Database. And after many hours of hard work in converting all of the files from a very old and frankly very bad piece of download software to a much better and more robust one, the Download Database 2.0 has finally arrived!

New files automatically generate a new thread in the Release Forum! Instead of having to post a Release thread and link your file there and having a separate set of comments about the download, the new Download Database is fully integrated with the forums. When you upload a new file, it automagically makes a new thread in the Community Release forum, allowing you to centralize feedback. Your thread is linked to on the Download page, and your Download page is linked to on your thread!

Upload Versioning - All versions of files are kept! You only need to keep track of one Download page for each version of your maps. Whenever you upload a new version, the old version is automatically kept in storage. People can download previous versions in case there is compatibility issues, or if you need to roll back to a previous iteration of the map! You also have full control over this versioning, and you can delete any and all previous versions in case you don't want older versions of your works floating around.

Increased upload limit! I have increased the file upload limit from 50mb to 200mb. There are quite a few larger projects out there that could not be uploaded previously, and now they too can find a home at our new Download Database.

These are obviously just a small few additions to the new and improved Download Database. The important thing, at least to me, is that all of the files in the 3 year ThinkingWithPortals.com history have been fully preserved and nothing is going to waste.

So, mappers! What are you waiting for? Upload your maps today!

Some new footage about Portal 2 was shown in a non-playable trailer at GamesCom:

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There also appears to be a new voice actor for Wheatley, British voiceactor Stephen Merchant.

Looks like Valve linked to us in their Press Release about Portal 2 being on the Playstation 3!

Quote:
PORTAL 2 COMING TO SONY PLAYSTATION 3

Valve to Deliver Blockbuster Sequel With Steamworks Support

June 15, 2010 - Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises and leading technologies, today announced that it will deliver Portal 2 on the PlayStation 3 platform simultaneously with previously announced platforms. The PlayStation 3 version of Portal 2 will be the only console version to include Steamworks.

"When the PlayStation 3 was introduced, I was the one of the platform's biggest critics," said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "However, Sony Computer Entertainment has proved that the PlayStation 3 is the most open platform of all the current generation consoles and has worked extremely hard to make the platform the most desirable for consumers and developers. As such, we are delighted to announce Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 and believe the Steamworks support included will make it the best console version of the game."

Portal 2 is the sequel to the title named "Game of the Year" 2007 by over 30 publications around the world. Portal 2 promises to break new ground in next generation gaming by expanding the award-winning recipe of innovative gameplay, immersive story, and creative inclusion of music while also introducing multiplayer co-op game modes.

On the PlayStation 3 Portal 2 will be supported by Steamworks, a complete suite of game features and services including auto updates, community features, downloadable content, and more. Previously deployed on the PC and the Mac, Valve's Steamworks development platform will make it possible to deliver the higher level of service gamers have come to expect.

"Valve is one of the industry's leading studios and Portal is one of the most innovative properties launched in the past 10 years," said Rob Dyer, senior vice president of publisher relations at Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Valve's decision to bring Portal 2 to the PlayStation 3 with Steamworks support is incredible validation of the power and openness and momentum of PlayStation 3."

Portal 2 is targeted for launch in 2011 on the PlayStation 3, PC, Mac and Xbox 360 platforms.

For more information on Steam, please visit http://www.thinking.withportals.com.

This is obviously a typo! Valve's domain name is http://www.thinkwithportals.com/, please go there for the correct site!

But while you're here, check out some great custom maps on our forums.

Okay so this has taken longer than I'd like. The good news is that I have finally found a Download DB that works (really well too!) and hopefully will not have nearly as many problems as the last one did. I can't tell you the number of times that spammers uploaded mailing scripts. Turns out the old Download DB was a piece of shit. Who knew?

Anyway, right now things are all cluttered to fuck. There are some buttons up top, they don't really do anything right this second. Uploading is disabled for the time being. I am going to get things finished up within the next week or so. Once the new Download DB is up and operational, I will send out a mass announcement letting everyone know the good news. I am going to try and automate importing over the old files, but I do not have very much hope for that. I will, however, manually import over the old files that I think are worth keeping (Community Spotlights and such).

I'll keep you guys posted. I expect the site to be back up to full capacity by the end of the month. Valve has given me a deadline to get this shit done, so I have got to beat them to E3!

The move to the new forum has finished. TWP is now running on phpBB3. Please report any bugs here, I am in the process of making a ton of custom changes so expect visuals and such to change. Yes I know that some forums are missing, more on that later.