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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Wheatley turns GLaDOS into a potato battery after she reveals that he was built to dampen her intelligence. The scene frames his move as an angry, humiliating retaliation; the writers had a different, broader reason for the potato form: it made GLaDOS an unwilling companion while giving them a new challenge in making her more human and relatable.
Why does Wheatley put GLaDOS in a potato?
GLaDOS tells Wheatley that Aperture’s engineers attached an Intelligence Dampening Sphere to her to slow her down and make her behave. She then reveals that the sphere’s voice was his, and identifies him as the “tumor” created to make her an idiot. Wheatley denies her accusation, reacts angrily, and announces that he will upload her to a potato battery. The exchange makes the revelation the immediate trigger and supports reading the transfer as retaliation, rather than as a practical upgrade. The scene’s dialogue is reproduced on IMDb, a secondary transcript.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Portal 2 - Xbox 360 | $11.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Portal 2 - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $15.47 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Portal 2 - Xbox 360 | $19.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Portal 2: The Official Guide | $39.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Why did the writers choose the potato form?
The potato also serves the game’s larger character dynamic. Portal 2’s writers wanted GLaDOS to become an unwilling buddy-cop partner as the characters faced a new threat. Putting her on the player’s gun made that relationship funny, but it also created a writing challenge: how to make a dry, robotic supervillain feel more human and relatable. In Portal 2 developer commentary, writer Jay Pinkerton described playtesters wanting to tear the potato version of GLaDOS off the gun, then explained that the team had to find a way to make her more relatable. The commentary transcript identifies its transcript sources as official scripts, captions, or internal text data, with minimal edits for typos and formatting.
How Wheatley’s turn fits the story
Wheatley’s retaliation happens as his relationship with GLaDOS collapses, but it is also part of his deliberate turn into the game’s antagonist. Valve writers Chet Faliszek and Erik Wolpaw discussed the decision to keep Wheatley throughout the story and make him an eventual antagonist, giving the narrative what they described as a satisfying and logical arc. Game Developer’s report on their 2012 GDC talk covers that decision.
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#1 Best Overall
- The single-player portion of Portal 2 introduces dynamic characters, fresh puzzle elements, and a larger set of devious test chambers
- The two-player mode features a separate campaign with unique story, test chambers, and two new player characters.
- Advanced use of physics allow for the creation of a whole new range of interesting challenges, producing a much larger but not harder game.
- A massive sequel to the title named 2007's Game of the Year by over 30 publications worldwide.
- Players explore areas of the Aperture Science Labs and reunite with GLaDOS, the murderous computer companion.
Was the bird supposed to make PotatOS dumber?
Not in the shipped game. Erik Wolpaw recalled an abandoned idea in which a bird pecked at GLaDOS, gradually eating the part of her that knew how to solve tests. That would have made PotatOS grow dumber over time, but the developers said the idea proved technically impossible, so they found another solution. It is a rejected explanation, not what happens in the final game. The developer-commentary transcript records Wolpaw’s account.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Rank #3
- Extensive single player game featuring next generation gameplay and a wildly-engrossing story
- Complete two-person cooperative multiplayer game featuring its own dedicated story, characters, and gameplay
- Advanced use of physics allow for the creation of a whole new range of interesting challenges, producing a much larger but not harder game
- Win/Mac software is PC and Macintosh compatible
- A massive sequel to the title named 2007's Game of the Year by over 30 publications worldwide.
Rank #2
- The single-player portion of Portal 2 introduces dynamic characters, fresh puzzle elements, and a larger set of devious test chambers
- The two-player mode features a separate campaign with unique story, test chambers, and two new player characters.
- Advanced use of physics allow for the creation of a whole new range of interesting challenges, producing a much larger but not harder game.
- A massive sequel to the title named 2007's Game of the Year by over 30 publications worldwide.
- Players explore areas of the Aperture Science Labs and reunite with GLaDOS, the murderous computer companion.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
