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

[lacktheknack]

Does anyone mind if I grade the maps in video form with me attempting to beat them? I need new content for my channel and I thought it would be pretty good feedback for other map designers.


On another note about my own maps, for some reason the map data for "foiled again", (seen here http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=71450247) has disappeared from my computer so I cannot fix the exploit that is currently in the map. Although I am working on a new map. If I don't sink back into Diablo III, expect to here from me with feedback on others' maps as well as posting a new map or 2.

Everyone is able to grade maps. It's a way of finding consensus on maps that we make since I can't honestly grade myself. I want to make level 4 and 5 maps but they have hilarious exploits....

I reject the notion that Force x Velocity = Fun is 1/5. The timing it requires is MUCH too precise. Twenty five attempts later, I rage-quit. I wouldn't even assign it a challenge rating, as the concept is easy enough (if I'm approaching it right), but the execution is nigh-impossible.

Victory!

Spoiler: Solution

it has two portalable surfaces but you need enough speed to hit the spots and you need to set the portals before you jump. That last faith plate that sends you vertically? You have to crouch to get stable enough to press the button.

I assume I'm supposed to be boosted by the blob of water? Sorry, I can't time it that precisely.

It may be broken I put the blob of water in as a joke thinking it didn't do anything....I'll have to look at it some other time.

When I just had the floor covered with orange gel I could make it all the way over there just fine and made the portals no problem, the water globule must be doing something to the system thats screwing it up. Or the block placement is off. Idk, you need enough momentum from the orange gel.

I don't have it. I don't have enough momentum to make to to the panels I'm supposed to jump over.

Do you use the orange gel and coat the entire corridor?

With what? My bare hands?

There's only two portalable surfaces, none of which are in the corridor or under the gel stream.

EDIT: Ooh, there IS a portalable surface in the corridor! Too bad I still can't do anything with the gel.

It's on the ceiling and if you use 100% of the available surface you can make it....or so I was led to believe when I made the entire thing before I added the lights. Hmm are you jumping at the end of it? You have to just slide across...I have no idea whats wrong I swear it worked last time I tested it.

As in, I can't move the gel anywhere.

That would require a portalable surface under the gel tube.

But there isn't one.

Oh poop. I'll fix that in a minute.

Completed the map. Simple, but fun! Maybe do a final test before publishing it next time?

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Does anyone mind if I grade the maps in video form with me attempting to beat them? I need new content for my channel and I thought it would be pretty good feedback for other map designers.


On another note about my own maps, for some reason the map data for "foiled again", (seen here http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=71450247) has disappeared from my computer so I cannot fix the exploit that is currently in the map. Although I am working on a new map. If I don't sink back into Diablo III, expect to here from me with feedback on others' maps as well as posting a new map or 2.

Everyone is able to grade maps. It's a way of finding consensus on maps that we make since I can't honestly grade myself. I want to make level 4 and 5 maps but they have hilarious exploits....

I reject the notion that Force x Velocity = Fun is 1/5. The timing it requires is MUCH too precise. Twenty five attempts later, I rage-quit. I wouldn't even assign it a challenge rating, as the concept is easy enough (if I'm approaching it right), but the execution is nigh-impossible.

Victory!

Spoiler: Solution

it has two portalable surfaces but you need enough speed to hit the spots and you need to set the portals before you jump. That last faith plate that sends you vertically? You have to crouch to get stable enough to press the button.

I assume I'm supposed to be boosted by the blob of water? Sorry, I can't time it that precisely.

It may be broken I put the blob of water in as a joke thinking it didn't do anything....I'll have to look at it some other time.

When I just had the floor covered with orange gel I could make it all the way over there just fine and made the portals no problem, the water globule must be doing something to the system thats screwing it up. Or the block placement is off. Idk, you need enough momentum from the orange gel.

I don't have it. I don't have enough momentum to make to to the panels I'm supposed to jump over.

Do you use the orange gel and coat the entire corridor?

With what? My bare hands?

There's only two portalable surfaces, none of which are in the corridor or under the gel stream.

EDIT: Ooh, there IS a portalable surface in the corridor! Too bad I still can't do anything with the gel.

It's on the ceiling and if you use 100% of the available surface you can make it....or so I was led to believe when I made the entire thing before I added the lights. Hmm are you jumping at the end of it? You have to just slide across...I have no idea whats wrong I swear it worked last time I tested it.

As in, I can't move the gel anywhere.

That would require a portalable surface under the gel tube.

But there isn't one.

Oh poop. I'll fix that in a minute.

Completed the map. Simple, but fun! Maybe do a final test before publishing it next time?

Herp derp. Totally did not realize I had borked that up.

 

[lacktheknack]

for anyone who wants to grade my two maps, they are as follows:
Trampoline Room:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=68542641
Foiled Again:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=71450247

I have a third map on the way that is a "sequel" to foiled again, if you like it at all.

I completely broke "Foiled Again" without actually figuring out the intended solution.

 

[lacktheknack]

Completed the map. Simple, but fun! Maybe do a final test before publishing it next time?

Herp derp. Totally did not realize I had borked that up.

How are my maps coming along? Did I accidentally your brain?

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Completed the map. Simple, but fun! Maybe do a final test before publishing it next time?

Herp derp. Totally did not realize I had borked that up.

How are my maps coming along? Did I accidentally your brain?

Well I am currently on vacation so all testing is on break until sunday.

Also I finished another map on my workshop, there's just an earlier clone of it that needs to be cleaned up.

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Is this a hard thing to get into? Do you have to be a portal expert? I've dabbled only in the game, but I like to build things...

 

[Bad Jim]

Is this a hard thing to get into? Do you have to be a portal expert? I've dabbled only in the game, but I like to build things...

The new editor is very easy to use. That's why there are now 100,000 maps available. The only thing you need is a bit of imagination to come up with decent puzzles. Just fire up Portal 2, go Community Test Chambers->Create Test Chambers and get building.

 

[8bitmaster]

for anyone who wants to grade my two maps, they are as follows:
Trampoline Room:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=68542641
Foiled Again:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=71450247

I have a third map on the way that is a "sequel" to foiled again, if you like it at all.

I completely broke "Foiled Again" without actually figuring out the intended solution.

I want to fix it, I really do, but steam ate my workshop files and won't let me edit it again. Just that map too. I'm hoping my new map makes up for it, but its gonna take some time to complete.

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Is this a hard thing to get into? Do you have to be a portal expert? I've dabbled only in the game, but I like to build things...

Oh it is very easy to use, you should join in and create your own map! All you need is your imagination and it always helps to think "What would Cave Johnson do?" I look forward to testing your maps and adding them to the archive

 

[8bitmaster]

third map done if anyone wants to grade it.
The Trap:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=73612028

I would like to know if either any of the puzzles are too hard, or if there are any exploits I should fix.

I will start grading others' maps this weekend.

 

[JC175]

Here's my first map, it's a tower climb called the Ascent.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=73841017

Moderate difficulty, mandated for the most part through a couple of fizzers that essentially split the climb into three areas. Use height to your advantage, and stay close to your cube.

Feedback is welcome, guys! Cheers.

 

[Bad Jim]

third map done if anyone wants to grade it.
The Trap:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=73612028

It's not the only offender, but one of the worst examples of mystery meat puzzle solving I've seen. A handy guide:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2693987

Try and at least make it that most initiators (buttons, lasers etc.) either have clear indicator lights to their target, or that you force the player to be looking in the right direction as they press a button. Pressing a button in one chamber, only for it to do something tiny four chambers away is very frustrating

It took me ages to solve it, and I still don't know what half the buttons do. You also used laser relays when you should have used laser catchers, meaning that I spent half an hour wondering why I'm going nowhere and it's because a gnat coughed within five yards of a reflection cube.

 

[Bad Jim]

Time to post my third map, The White Stuff.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=73894267

Those of you who enjoyed getting conversion gel everywhere in the main game should enjoy this little puzzle. And yes, it is a puzzle not an unsolvable test.

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Back from vacation and I'm gonna be testing all week and on Saturday I'm going to update the archive.

I'm a little backlogged so I apologize for any inconvenience.

 

[Diligent]

Here's a first effort (in the portal editor, long time hammer user here.)
A disclaimer: it's large...really large, and I pretty much maxed out the editor. If you have any criticism it's welcome of course, but I probably wont change anything on this map, just keep it in mind for my next (smaller) one. I've done lots of testing and played whack-a-mole with disappearing connectors between buttons and objects (the blue lines just disappear, and the map compiles only when it feels like it because its so large) so its become a bit frustrating to work on.

It is quite a challenge too, but completely beatable without cheating. Through playtesting feedback I've toned down a bunch of stuff, so I hope its not annoying! Enjoy!
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=73986362

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Here's a first effort (in the portal editor, long time hammer user here.)
A disclaimer: it's large...really large, and I pretty much maxed out the editor. If you have any criticism it's welcome of course, but I probably wont change anything on this map, just keep it in mind for my next (smaller) one. I've done lots of testing and played whack-a-mole with disappearing connectors between buttons and objects (the blue lines just disappear, and the map compiles only when it feels like it because its so large) so its become a bit frustrating to work on.

It is quite a challenge too, but completely beatable without cheating. Through playtesting feedback I've toned down a bunch of stuff, so I hope its not annoying! Enjoy!
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=73986362

First timers are always welcome, I'm a little backlogged right now so I may not get to yours today but I promise soon I'll have all maps that have come in graded.

I just get stumped a lot and end up having to hand out 5s. For a bunch of complete strangers a lot of you have turned into little Jigsaws...my brain can't comprehend how to beat some of these maps.

 

[V8 Ninja]

I made a new map, simply named "The Pit [http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=74681396]". My current guess as for the difficulty is that it's a 5/5 map, as it's fairly lengthy and it requires one mandatory advanced portalling technique combined with several quick-reflex puzzles. This one was a lot of fun making, though. =D

Also, I've checked and I believe it's impossible to get stuck in the map. However, if someone does find an inescapable situation, please tell me ASAP so I can fix the puzzle ASAP.

 

[Bad Jim]

I made a new map, simply named "The Pit [http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=74681396]". My current guess as for the difficulty is that it's a 5/5 map.

What's the room with the ariel faith plates for? I managed to beat the map without it. Actually I never even got into the room with the ariel faith plates.

 

[V8 Ninja]

I made a new map, simply named "The Pit [http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=74681396]". My current guess as for the difficulty is that it's a 5/5 map.

What's the room with the ariel faith plates for? I managed to beat the map without it. Actually I never even got into the room with the ariel faith plates.

What aerial faith plate room? Can you give me more specifics?

EDIT: Never mind, I figured out the problem myself. I forgot to connect the button to the exist door. XP

 

[Bad Jim]

I made a new map, simply named "The Pit [http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=74681396]". My current guess as for the difficulty is that it's a 5/5 map.

What's the room with the ariel faith plates for? I managed to beat the map without it. Actually I never even got into the room with the ariel faith plates.

What aerial faith plate room? Can you give me more specifics?

EDIT: Never mind, I figured out the problem myself. I forgot to connect the button to the exist door. XP

Well I'm giving this a 5 for difficulty. You clearly don't call yourself V8 Ninja for nothing.