Why do we love the companion cube?

[thisisnotsparta]

We love it because we are told to. Think of it this way, it's kind of like a younger sibling. You run together and hang out a little they've got your back when you get into trouble(balls of plasma), but when the trouble gets too great and you can't go any further you've got to throw them under the bus(into an incinerator.)

 

[Jaime_Wolf]

A few reasons: we were told to do so by an authority figure (most people treat instruction-giving NPCs in a manner analagous to real-life authority figures), it's a fun thing to buy into that costs you nothing, you've probably heard of others talking about it, and the game is just well-written.

I suspect that there might also be a sort of false attribution going on: the jokes in the game about loving the companion cube rely on you loving the companion cube, you find the jokes funny, therefore you assume that you must love the companion cube (resulting in you actually having a feeling of attachment toward the companion cube). Idle post-hoc speculation, but I think some explanation like that is at least plausible.

 

[ZeroAE]

Its like a pet rock.
It wll never leave you and go with his other friends.
Sniff, Sempai.

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

I thought it was funny the way how GLaDOS personified the cube as your best friend but that was pretty much it.
It was pretty useful in deflecting the anti-people balls into the walls and being used on switches.

 

[Riptide1]

wow how convenient... i just installed the orange box on my new laptop yesterday and replayed portal... i love the companion cube because it advised me to love it, it was advice i could not disregard

 

[A Curious Fellow]

GlaDos tells us we love it. In the absence of any other influence to tell us otherwise.... well....

 

[jamesworkshop]

I don't know, played portal, threw it in a fire, thought nothing of it

 

[Zenn3k]

It has hearts on it.
Its a unique item in the game you are forced to destroy
You have to carry it with you through the level

These 3 primary things make the player form at least some kind of attachment to it.

It was a well designed level within the game.

 

[Anarchemitis]

The only vocal character in the game subtly endears it to you by reverse psychology. It also is the only representation of any emotion conveyed towards the player up to that point.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

I don't. I thought that joke was played out before the end of the level.

 

[nukethewhales]

Because.....if the cake is a lie.........what else do we have to hold on too :*(

 

[conflictofinterests]

There's a lot of psychology behind feelings of attachment. People who are left alone long enough will often attribute human characteristics to inanimate objects or animals. Up until that point, the only interaction you've had is with GLaDOS, and let's face it, she's less than friendly. Also, right off the bat you are forced to rely on the companion cube to climb some steps and then survive lasers. Everything about that room is designed to foster feelings of attachment to the cube, even the little light-pink hearts on it.

 

[hermes]

I don't. I think it was a very clever joke that later turned into a meme and it went all the way to the drain hole right next to the "cake is a lie" jokes.

 

[ImperialSunlight]

Simplicity is bliss.

 

[Aeshi]

Because it's a dumbass meme that only exists because the developers apparently couldn't just have glados say "Oh by the way this cube is important so take it with you dumbass." for whatever reason (probably because that would be too convenient.)

 

[slightly evil]

I couldn't care less. anyway, being pretty big fan of portal, and having been very proud to complete the advanced maps, I'm starting a companion sphere meme asap

 

[conflictofinterests]

Because it's a dumbass meme that only exists because the developers apparently couldn't just have glados say "Oh by the way this cube is important so take it with you dumbass." for whatever reason (probably because that would be too convenient.)

You probably tell kids that Santa isn't real, too, don't you? No fun. No fun at all.

 

[Theron Julius]

The companion cube was your partner. He was a loyal friend and faithful companion. He died for you... In the last few moments before he was destroyed in the flames he said only one thing to me: "I don't blame you". I loved that cube of metal like a brother. He was family. He was my friend.

WWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!!?!?