Escapist Testing Initiative (Portal 2 Custom Map Archive & Challenge Circuit)

[Lord_Ascendant]

Thanks for the feedback, I'll add a bit of lighting in on the first to make that clearer if it's becoming tricky.
Edit: Now added - should make it much clearer (Retry perhaps)

The ball and goo is hardly difficult - I've only failed that bit twice testing it through myself...
Edit: Updated the final step to a laser challenge, which isn't broken - give it a go

Hopefully you'll like <url=http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=72072082>Compact 3 more, a lot harder than the first 2.

I gave up with your's after one of my cubes fell into the lake. The process of getting them in the first place is fairly laborious, so losing them is a real pain. Will try again later.

I suspected that the ground-portaling trick would be a bit too hard for some normal players. I would change it, but I'm not sure if the OP would allow edited/changed maps from their initial posting. However, I will play Compact 3 and give my thoughts.

EDIT: It appears that the OP is allowing edited maps. However, I do suggest something: a map can only be edited after initial play-testing and judging ONCE and only once.

You can edit as many times until it both solvable and that your particular solution works and doesn't have any cheap one portal solution that only the truly awesome players notice and exploit.

In other news: Cruel Waters is getting fixed so that you must use the laser cube to redirect the laser into the focus and take out the extra laser to prevent people putting a box in the cube button early.

I'll be grading maps as well so look in the OP for your map and its grade.

EDIT: there's no time limit to get maps in, once I get enough 3-5 level tests i'll start sorting them into a 40 map bundle depending on how many 3 star, 4 star and 5 star maps we get in after they are graded. I edited some grades too.

 

[V8 Ninja]

EDIT: It appears that the OP is allowing edited maps. However, I do suggest something: a map can only be edited after initial play-testing and judging ONCE and only once.

You can edit as many times until it both solvable and that your particular solution works and doesn't have any cheap one portal solution that only the truly awesome players notice and exploit.

EDIT: there's no time limit to get maps in, once I get enough 3-5 level tests i'll start sorting them into a 40 map bundle depending on how many 3 star, 4 star and 5 star maps we get in after they are graded. I edited some grades too.

Thanks for the heads-up. Also, you commented on the level page that the chamber is impossible; that's not the case. You just have to be clever with your portal placement. I have the solution to your problem below;

Spoiler

You first need to place a portal on the other end of the pit, then one right next to the "Enable Funnel" button. Once you turn on the funnel, hop through the portal, place the portals so that the funnel reaches the new area, and then ride the funnel through the portal and you should have enough time to get across the pit.

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

EDIT: It appears that the OP is allowing edited maps. However, I do suggest something: a map can only be edited after initial play-testing and judging ONCE and only once.

You can edit as many times until it both solvable and that your particular solution works and doesn't have any cheap one portal solution that only the truly awesome players notice and exploit.

EDIT: there's no time limit to get maps in, once I get enough 3-5 level tests i'll start sorting them into a 40 map bundle depending on how many 3 star, 4 star and 5 star maps we get in after they are graded. I edited some grades too.

Thanks for the heads-up. Also, you commented on the level page that the chamber is impossible; that's not the case. You just have to be clever with your portal placement. I have the solution to your problem below;

Spoiler

You first need to place a portal on the other end of the pit, then one right next to the "Enable Funnel" button. Once you turn on the funnel, hop through the portal, place the portals so that the funnel reaches the new area, and then ride the funnel through the portal and you should have enough time to get across the pit.

I actually completed the puzzle but the portion behind the first emancipation grill, the one with the two boxes, is so precise with its timing i fucked up like 20 times thus earning the 5 star grade. It's amazingly difficult, props.

 

[V8 Ninja]

Thanks for the heads-up. Also, you commented on the level page that the chamber is impossible; that's not the case. You just have to be clever with your portal placement. I have the solution to your problem below;

Spoiler

You first need to place a portal on the other end of the pit, then one right next to the "Enable Funnel" button. Once you turn on the funnel, hop through the portal, place the portals so that the funnel reaches the new area, and then ride the funnel through the portal and you should have enough time to get across the pit.

I actually completed the puzzle but the portion behind the first emancipation grill, the one with the two boxes, is so precise with its timing i fucked up like 20 times thus earning the 5 star grade. It's amazingly difficult, props.

Yeah, I really keep forgetting that most people haven't played Portal: Prelude and have gotten used to the advanced techniques presented in said mod...

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

The Gauntlet [http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=72152589] is my latest map. A 4/5 grade map that's had most of the exploits ironed out. Give it a try.

 

[Bad Jim]

How did I miss this thread for so long? Anyway, my map is Worthless. No, I don't mean it's a bad map, that's the title - Worthless.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=72700415

It's hard for me to say how hard it is, since I'm yet to get any feedback. But I think it's possible that a seasoned player could be stumped for half an hour. So I'll give it 5/5.

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

How did I miss this thread for so long? Anyway, my map is Worthless. No, I don't mean it's a bad map, that's the title - Worthless.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=72700415

It's hard for me to say how hard it is, since I'm yet to get any feedback. But I think it's possible that a seasoned player could be stumped for half an hour. So I'll give it 5/5.

I'm going to take a look after dinner and give it a grade, just check your steam at any time and you should see a small comment and then its grade. If I get stumped, I'll let you know.

 

[Bad Jim]

Obtuse and complicated. You need to give it a solution, as it stands it's an over-complicated excercise in driving yourself insane. Either cull it down to a 5 by giving the final door a way to open or make it easier to get into the area. It's too long and too hard to consider playing again. Map rejected, further editing required: Create a Solution.

There is a solution. I might be cruel, but I'm not that cruel.

Spoiler

You have to portal the Companion Cube into the slime. A new Companion Cube will then be dropped onto the button that opens the exit.

 

[Gordon Freemonty]

I created a thread about this a while back, a few folk responded with their maps. Should provide you all with a few hours of gameplay. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.374640-Share-your-Portal-2-maps#14534575

Heres is my maps from that thread: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=70287017 - the ultimate test of not dying (4)
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=68605177 - man vs turret (3)

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Obtuse and complicated. You need to give it a solution, as it stands it's an over-complicated excercise in driving yourself insane. Either cull it down to a 5 by giving the final door a way to open or make it easier to get into the area. It's too long and too hard to consider playing again. Map rejected, further editing required: Create a Solution.

There is a solution. I might be cruel, but I'm not that cruel.

Spoiler

You have to portal the Companion Cube into the slime. A new Companion Cube will then be dropped onto the button that opens the exit.

Really? That simple? *headdesks five times* there that's your grade, you're going into the challenge circuit you mad genius. I can't believe I didn't even think of that.

I created a thread about this a while back, a few folk responded with their maps. Should provide you all with a few hours of gameplay. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.374640-Share-your-Portal-2-maps#14534575

Heres is my maps from that thread: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=70287017 - the ultimate test of not dying (4)
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=68605177 - man vs turret (3)

Ah good to see others joining the Testing initiative! I'll go ahead an aggregate your thread into this one so everyone can share!

 

[zacho]

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=72046599

There's four maps in this link, impossible tests 1-3 and an impossible test challenge.

Test 1) very few steps, but may require some thought. 2
Test 2) some users have cleared it in less steps than I have. 3
Test 3) uses a clever trick. 2 or 3
Test challenge) was tinkering with the map and I saw this can happen, is it valid for these maps? If not then don't even count this one. 4

All have links to videos how I ran them. Whichever is best out of these I wish could hold a spot in the archieve. I'll play some ofthese others in the thread tomorrow afternoon. You all have a good night until tomorrow!

My ratings on other maps:

Simple Spatial Awareness Test by Lord_Ascendant (1/5)
Cruel Waters by Lord_Ascendant (4/5)
The Gauntlet by Lord_Ascendant (4/5)
Four-Leaf Clover by Lord_Ascendant (3/5)

 

[zacho]

My ratings on other maps:

Simple Spatial Awareness Test by Lord_Ascendant (1/5)
Cruel Waters by Lord_Ascendant (4/5)
The Gauntlet by Lord_Ascendant (4/5)

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

I see escapist ate your post for a bit :/ no worries I can see it now.

I see my "aha! impossible!" test turned out to have more than a few exploits that cut out all the fiddling. But I'm alright with that, it takes a really watchful eye to find all the easy ways.

 

[zacho]

I would like to submit a map to the challenge circut, it is far over 10 steps: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=73087162.

A video tut will be up soon as I do it.
Vid tut: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJTPMnCUTOI

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

I'm a little backed up on grading if anyone wants to go to Gordon's thread and grade the maps there while I fire off messages to the map owners asking for permission to feature their maps here.

 

[zacho]

Ill grade in gordon's thread.

Ultimate test of not dying (3.5/5)
Stupid Turret by NoQuestionsAsked (3/5)
Labyrinth by DrAksel (4/5) its hard because its dark
Worthless by expendablejim (5/5) very good solution

 

[lacktheknack]

So I opened my Portal 2 executable to try these new maps, and this happened.

<youtube=w6JXDiz0C-s>

Anyone have tips on how to restart a stopped heart?

Anyways,

Crosswire: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=71669328

Take some time to experiment.

Repulsion/Acceleration Gel Storage Solutions: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=72300445

I hit the item limit in this one.

 

[8bitmaster]

I really like this idea. I look forward to hearing what others say about my maps as well as criticizing others' work. Get building everyone!

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

snip

The new intro may or may not have caused me to scream and punch my computer...

 

[lacktheknack]

snip

The new intro may or may not have caused me to scream and punch my computer...

I actually sank into my chair and yelped. I may have outright died if it turned all the way.