Portal 2 Community Level

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEAmsWGU2kU&feature=youtu.be

Portal 2 Level

First-Person Puzzle | Modded Portal 2 Level Editor | 2019 | 1-Person Team

Play it yourself!

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Steam Workshop Stats

1600

Downloads

5/5

Stars

1000

Ratings

The level was featured on the front-page of the Steam workshop

”

Excellent first map, Enjoyed, Thank you.

Steam workshop comment

”

Excellent first map, Enjoyed, Thank you.

Steam workshop comment

Quickly Learning the Tools

1. Learning the basic level editor of Portal 2

I built several test levels to experiment with the editor and to test different level ideas
Soon I realized that the editor did not have some basic functionality that I wanted

2. Upgrading to Ben's and Carl's Extended Editor 2 (BEE2)

After researching a bit I found a quick extension of the normal editor, which would implement the functionality I wanted
I built more test levels to learn the added functionality and then I was ready to create my first real level

The BEE2 Editor Layout

”

I was stumped for awhile on this one, nice map, good job! :o)

Steam workshop comment

”

I was stumped for awhile on this one, nice map, good job! :o)

Steam workshop comment

Iteration Process

1. Iterating on different level ideas

At first I built many different level ideas and playtested them quickly
This way I could discard many different ideas, were the gameplay core was not refined enough to build a memorable experience from
This process eventually let me to my final level idea, which I tested in more detail, after I verified that the core idea was appealing

2. Iterating on the final level idea

A high number of rapid blind playtests performed in the university, with people who are familiar with portal’s merchanics
After each playtest I was able to refine the level a bit more
More data collected after release by feedback from the Portal 2 community

Early level idea I tested and discarded, because it did not come together as envisioned.

1. Iterating on different level ideas

At first I built many different level ideas and playtested them quickly
This way I could discard many different ideas, were the gameplay core was not refined enough to build a memorable experience from
This process eventually let me to my final level idea, which I tested in more detail, after I verified that the core idea was appealing

2. Iterating on the final level idea

A high number of rapid blind playtests performed in the university, with people who are familiar with portal’s merchanics
After each playtest I was able to refine the level a bit more
More data collected after release by feedback from the Portal 2 community

Early level idea I tested and discarded, because it did not come together as envisioned.

”

Nice use of the funnel and light bridge! You seem keen in level design.

Steam workshop comment

”

Nice use of the funnel and light bridge! You seem keen in level design.

Steam workshop comment

Level Breakdown

An entire level playthrough can be seen by pressing the “video play” button at the top of the page.

Player enters the room

1. Lights turn on and draw focal lines towards the right half of the room

2. There the cube falls down. The movement draws the player's attention to the cube as the main puzzle component.

Player goes to the cube

1. There they find the final door, framed through the corridor shape and the fizzler. A deadly water pit is in front of the door.

2. The player now knows the long-term goal of opening the door and the short-term goal of crossing the water pit.

Experimentation Phase

1. The player now gets to try out all the mechanics in the room. The possibility space is halfed by the water pit to not overwhelm the player.

2. The player can now use the cube to push the button and open the final door, but this already involves puzzle solving.

3. Or he can use the cube to intercept the laser, which most player do, since it is layed out as the more obvious option.

Intercepting the laser

1. The room layout requires the player to go on the light bridge to get to the laser. This makes players place the cube right before the laser.

2. Intercepting the laser plays a loud audio cue that informs the player that platforms rose at the water pit, making it crossable.

3. The fizzler behind the water pit deactivates all portals the player still has activated, removing existing connections to the cube.

The First Catch

1. The player gains the ability to reverse the gravity beam, making it easier to manipulate the cube over the distance.

2. A conundrum occurs. The player needs the cube to block the laser to cross the water pit, but also to press the button to open the door.

3. This is where player spent a lot of time going around the room thinking.

First Puzzle Solution

1. Eventually the player figures out that he can create a second lightbridge, jump over and block the laser with the cube from there.

2. As soon as the player now passes through the fizzler, the portals will disappear and the cube will fall to the floor, ready to be reused.

The Second Catch

1. The player now needs to press the wall button with the cube, but there is a fizzler in the way, which prevents the cube from getting there.

2. The wall opposite to the button is framed with wall lights, to make portal positioning easier from afar.

Second Puzzle Solution (1)

1. By placing a portal below the button the player can position the cube over the button.

2. The back wall is placed to support easy portal placement for afar, by providing a backwall on which no portals can be shot.

Second Puzzle Solution (2)

1. By removing the Portal that under the button and placing it on the wall opposite to the button the cube will fall into the new gravtiy beam.

Level End

1. The cube will be pushed by the gravity beam into the button and the final door will open, without the cube ever touching the fizzler.

”

I'm looking forward to your next puzzle 😀

Steam workshop comment

”

I'm looking forward to your next puzzle 😀

Steam workshop comment

Community Management

1. Interacting with Portal 2 community

After I released the level and it gained popularity I received a lot of comments and feedback on the level
I made a point of answering each comment, since I appreciated that people would take the time to play my level

2. Post-Release Updates

Since many of the players of the Portal 2 community are far more skilled than the average player, they could give me data that the university playtesters could not
I used the new data to update the level against things like speedrunning techniques

Small excerpt of feedback discussions with the Portal 2 community.

1. Interacting with Portal 2 community

After I released the level and it gained popularity I received a lot of comments and feedback on the level
I made a point of answering each comment, since I appreciated that people would take the time to play my level

2. Post-Release Updates

Since many of the players of the Portal 2 community are far more skilled than the average player, they could give me data that the university playtesters could not
I used the new data to update the level against things like speedrunning techniques

Small excerpt of feedback discussions with the Portal 2 community.