Valve knows how to drum up buzz before a GDC appearance, and if the puzzle-ridden update of riddles, codes and images they released for "Portal" last week weren't enough to maximize the number of message boards discussing their two-year-old game, a new ending probably did the trick. As they did before, the Steam forum has been poking around trying to overlay audio files and detect whatever may be hidden inside the new sequence, but the results seem inconclusive.

Categorized as "Added valuable asset retrieval" on the new update, the new ending fades away at the end with a robo-voice mentioning something about assuming a position. Feel free to take a stab at discerning what that means.

Theories flying around right now include the possibility that Valve may expand the scope of "Portal 2," perhaps even overlapping it with a new "Half-Life 2" chapter or sequel. Right now, if Valve doesn't announce a "Portal" or "Half-Life" sequel at GDC, I think there may be riots, as they've stirred up their fandom with impressive results.

Given how the Orange Box linked the two properties before back in 2007, it's conceivable Valve might do something similar post-GDC. Let's not hurt our brains too much trying to calculate outcomes, though. After all, GDC is just days away, and the easiest way to figure everything out is to listen to what Gabe Newell says there.

Do you like the new "Portal" ending? What do you think this madness means? Share your theories, no matter how far fetched, in the comment section below.