Speaking of Portal-based competitions, it's about time we took a look at how things are progressing with Valve's other challenge - to make a music video for gloomy The National song Exile Vilify, which played a minor role in the game. There aren't quite as many submissions as I'd have expected so far (either that or people keeping forgetting to tag their Youtube videos with PORTAL2NATIONALEXILE), but I've gone through and picked out a few below to demonstrate both the variety and, in some cases, the skill on offer.
Featured: cats, lego, crying, animation, more crying, stop-motion, yet more crying, Half-Life 2, wow these people are unhappy, Mirror's Edge, CHEER UP and penguins.
And having watched all these videos, I can assure you that I never want to hear that dirge again. I quite like The National generally, but good grief that song makes me feel like I'm slowly drowning in a sewer or something. Now If you'll excuse me, I'll leave you to watch these videos while I go and play Pink Sunshine at top volume until I feel better again.
A dramatic HL2: the story so far montage:
Half-Life 2 - Exile Vilify Watch on YouTube
Hooray for Lego:
The National - Exile Vilify [PORTAL2NATIONALEXILE] Watch on YouTube
Journey into madness:
Exile, Vilify- The National (PORTAL2NATIONALEXILE - Portal 2 Music Video Competition) Watch on YouTube
Using Portal 2 trailers is probably the easy route:
The National: Exile Vilify (Portal 2 Trailer) Watch on YouTube
Bleak landscapes and sad, synchronised machines:
Watch on YouTube
A lonely man sings:
Exile Vilify - The National - Portal 2 Music Video Contest - PORTAL2NATIONALEXILE Watch on YouTube
Typography!
Watch on YouTube
Song of the Rattman:
Exile Vilify [Valve Video Contest Entry] [PORTAL2NATIONALEXILE] Watch on YouTube
I'm afraid I can't sample that, Dave:
2001 Watch on YouTube
Life is like, rilly rilly awwwwwesum:
Watch on YouTube
How to make elastic bands haunting:
Watch on YouTube
Mirror's Edge makes a good music video:
Exile Vilify [Contest entry for Valve] Watch on YouTube
A day in the life of Doug Rattman:
Watch on YouTube
I can haz competition entry? (Note: I thought this was just five long minutes of a motionless cat looking sad. And then! God, cats are amazing.)
The National: Exile, Vilify Watch on YouTube
The loneliness of the copyright-free art assets:
Exile Vilify Music Video - Animation Watch on YouTube
Real-life Max Payne?
Exile, Vilify - The National (Music Video) PORTAL2NATIONALEXILE Watch on YouTube
And there's more here. You've got until July 15 if you fancy entering yourself, but don't even try. No, sorry, I don't mean that, it's just THAT BLOODY SONG I'VE HEARD IT SO MANY TIMES. Entry details here: get on it!
