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Portal Puzzles

Archive: 25 posts

Level Name: Portal Puzzles
PSN: Burnvictim42
Location: Indian Ocean

Welcome members of LBPC to the Aperture Science Computer Aided Enrichement Center! We hope your brief stay here will be pleasant. When the testing is complete, cake and peanuts will be served.

Thats right everyone, Aperture Science is still alive! Welcome to a level based on the plot (not necessarily the gameplay ) of Valves smash hit "Portal". Expect to see a few more cubes than portal guns ;p. This is my....2nd?...third?...somethingth level (stupid broked level glitch D, and any feedback given would be appreciated (and of course returned in kind )

Here, have some pictures:
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Burnvictim42/LBP/APhoto-1.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Burnvictim42/LBP/APhoto_1-1.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Burnvictim42/LBP/APhoto_2.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Burnvictim42/LBP/APhoto_3.jpg		2009-04-24 00:48:00

Author:
Burnvictim42
Posts: 3322

I checked this out today, and here's what I think. I think the puzzle parts were great. All well designed and everything worked good. Till I got to the second to last puzzle. I got the cube on to the last elevator, and took it down a little to far, so I went to take it back up when it caught a tiny ledge on the wall and shattered. I felt cheated. All you have to do is smooth out that wall so it don't catch. After I completed the puzzle section I made to the boss. This is where my biggest hangup is. The boss seemed to drag on forever. I don't mind a challenge ,but this is kind of frustrating. Even with the infinite lives checkpoint.You just have to wait too much. Most players don't have the patients to play through something like this. It just takes way to long. In my opinion you should either cut down on the eyeballs or the gas. Just make it shorter. In the end though I really did like the level I was just frustrated by the end.

F4f:teleport to ?????		2009-04-24 03:03:00

Author:
smasher
Posts: 641

I checked this out today, and here's what I think. I think the puzzle parts were great. All well designed and everything worked good. Till I got to the second to last puzzle. I got the cube on to the last elevator, and took it down a little to far, so I went to take it back up when it caught a tiny ledge on the wall and shattered. I felt cheated. All you have to do is smooth out that wall so it don't catch. After I completed the puzzle section I made to the boss. This is where my biggest hangup is. The boss seemed to drag on forever. I don't mind a challenge ,but this is kind of frustrating. Even with the infinite lives checkpoint.You just have to wait too much. Most players don't have the patients to play through something like this. It just takes way to long. In my opinion you should either cut down on the eyeballs or the gas. Just make it shorter. In the end though I really did like the level I was just frustrated by the end.

F4f:teleport to ?????


Was this the one with the three different elevators? If so, i had a fix for that when the level was published. As one of the Magic mouths said "if you need another cube, just stand on the button and a new one will be dispensed". Maybe i'll make it a cutscene so its more obvious... As to the boss, i was trying to keep somewhat to the original story, which is why the room was being flooded with gas, and you needed to drop in 4 eyeballs. I suppose i can make it shorter... i might eventually if others have the same problem.

thanks very much for the feedback, now i'm onto your level ;p		2009-04-24 03:24:00

Author:
Burnvictim42
Posts: 3322

Was this the one with the three different elevators? If so, i had a fix for that when the level was published. As one of the Magic mouths said "if you need another cube, just stand on the button and a new one will be dispensed". Maybe i'll make it a cutscene so its more obvious... As to the boss, i was trying to keep somewhat to the original story, which is why the room was being flooded with gas, and you needed to drop in 4 eyeballs. I suppose i can make it shorter... i might eventually if others have the same problem.

thanks very much for the feedback, now i'm onto your level ;p



Yes it was the one with three elevators. The problem was not that I didn't see the speech bubble. The problem was the cube was needlessly destroyed. If you want to keep the notches in the wall for aesthetics then just put a piece of invisible dark matter over it so it's smooth. As for the boss I didn't think it was bad I just thought it was long.		2009-04-24 03:41:00

Author:
smasher
Posts: 641

Ah, i see. Agreed, poor cube D:
EDIT: I think i fixed your problem, and republished

and i know you meant the boss was long, i was just saying it was long BC i was tryin to stick to the story somewhat... (even though in the story its timed and involves entirely different mechanics lol)

Replied to your F4F		2009-04-24 04:03:00

Author:
Burnvictim42
Posts: 3322

Played your level. The visuals were okay, but I did not find the gameplay that exciting. It was too similar to the usual LBP thing, and did not bring much new, which is kinda expected when using a name such as Portal.

I did not get through, due to a level design glitch near the first companion cube and the elevators. I died in some gas on an elevator, and the spawn point was just above the gas, making me die over and over again without being able to do anything. It seems like you did not do enough testing of the potential situations players might get in.

My biggest problem with the level (the fraction I got to play) was that the puzzles simply were not puzzling enough. Placing a cube on a button, og navigating a cube through a maze using levers, just aint puzzling. They are more like tasks you have to do as a player, than actual puzzles, since you know exactly what you have to do and then just do it.

An example is, the part with the jetpack, where you had to fly up through some traps, and grab a cube. Here, I had not even seen/found the button to place the cube on yet, until I already flew around with the cube. When I found the button, I was carrying the cube, and simply placed it on the button. Not very puzzling.

F4F: My level "Save Die Reload!", PSN: "CarlsenJeppe".
https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=t=9714		2009-04-24 08:24:00

Author:
CarlsenJeppe
Posts: 67

Played your level. The visuals were okay, but I did not find the gameplay that exciting. It was too similar to the usual LBP thing, and did not bring much new, which is kinda expected when using a name such as Portal.

I did not get through, due to a level design glitch near the first companion cube and the elevators. I died in some gas on an elevator, and the spawn point was just above the gas, making me die over and over again without being able to do anything. It seems like you did not do enough testing of the potential situations players might get in.

My biggest problem with the level (the fraction I got to play) was that the puzzles simply were not puzzling enough. Placing a cube on a button, og navigating a cube through a maze using levers, just aint puzzling. They are more like tasks you have to do as a player, than actual puzzles, since you know exactly what you have to do and then just do it.

An example is, the part with the jetpack, where you had to fly up through some traps, and grab a cube. Here, I had not even seen/found the button to place the cube on yet, until I already flew around with the cube. When I found the button, I was carrying the cube, and simply placed it on the button. Not very puzzling.

F4F: My level "Save Die Reload!", PSN: "CarlsenJeppe".
https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=t=9714

First of all, thank you for being frank. I'm sorry that my level didnt appeal to your tastes, and seemed pretentious via the "portal" title.

Actually, i do a lot of playtesting for my levels, but apparently you were right that i didnt do enough- for i had missed that the gas had become glued to the elevator. It is now fixed, but it sounds like it was a good time to end the level for you anyway XD.

The reason for the title was this: i wanted to make a portal level, i discovered that i couldnt quite do it the way i wanted (a la Valve with ACTUAL teleporting)- though there is a great example of the portal concept by Tactical_gunner out there now- and so changed the focus of how i made it (as well as the title). I'm sorry if the "puzzles" are easy, and i'll admit they're not real stumpers, but thats just how they ended up, and frankly, at the time i was making this most of the puzzles i had seen weren't that impressive (i finished it around january, its been broken since). Apparently adding the "puzzles" suffix was somewhat of a mistake, but leaving it as just "portal" minus the portal concept would have been outright blasphemy!

thanks again for your feedback, returned on your thread.		2009-04-24 09:20:00

Author:
Burnvictim42
Posts: 3322

Before I play it, your level description and opening speech bubble have both been censored.

The visuals, like portal are simply functional which is fine as it suits the game.

I would echo comments already, in that the puzzles seemed hard to fail. Standing on a button, which was next to you to begin with solves your problem.

It started to pick up, at about task 6. I liked the platforms you had to raise and lower.

However, I think it`s the last one, that broke on me so I couldn`t finish. When I raised the column next to the companion cube, the power balls bounced out the second coupling so nothing happened. Then I tried using the column to lift me back to the earlir parts, but I was getting crushed between that and something invisible. Then the column crushed my cube so whatever chance there was of me completing it was finished.		2009-04-24 22:23:00

Author:
Matt 82
Posts: 1096

Before I play it, your level description and opening speech bubble have both been censored.

The visuals, like portal are simply functional which is fine as it suits the game.

I would echo comments already, in that the puzzles seemed hard to fail. Standing on a button, which was next to you to begin with solves your problem.

It started to pick up, at about task 6. I liked the platforms you had to raise and lower.

However, I think it`s the last one, that broke on me so I couldn`t finish. When I raised the column next to the companion cube, the power balls bounced out the second coupling so nothing happened. Then I tried using the column to lift me back to the earlir parts, but I was getting crushed between that and something invisible. Then the column crushed my cube so whatever chance there was of me completing it was finished.


As to the speech bubbles, i just found out the word "computer" is being bleeped for some reason... i'm still thinkin of how to get around that lol.

The balls didnt need to stay in the second coupling, because i originally wanted the additional challenge of players having to dodge the balls again. Ive now changed it so it stays there. Ive also changed the cube so its emitted if the cube center is destroyed. Hopefully this will fix the problem.

Thanks for the feedback, apparently my level is a lot buggier than i thought o.o		2009-04-24 22:45:00

Author:
Burnvictim42
Posts: 3322

I should add that there were a few occasions when the cube got stuck on the ground due to an even floor.

Basically you`ve cut into the floor with a shape but missed a bit. Found that quite common but it`s not a hard fix.		2009-04-25 00:39:00

Author:
Matt 82
Posts: 1096

Played your level. I liked it, but it needs a little bit of work here and there

First off - i think the white wood would suit the level more than the stone. Will give it a cleaner look.
- I think a few 'jaggies' could be deleted for a smoother look with the corner tool.
- When i got the companion cube... i think the little lifts should be edited to be closer together. I almost fell inbetween them! D:
- Make sure all red buttons are glued down.
- I had to restart the level when i put the companion cube in the blue portal. It shot it out the orange one straight back into the area i was in so i couldn't get to the next area as it was stuck there.
- When retrying the level... in the jet pack bit I managed to escape the level getting the 3rd jetpack... then coming back down and going up the gap between the door. I don't know if this was made on purpose.... cause i ended up in a bit like im breaking through with a lift and a mini checkpoint D: i got stuck there.

Unfortuanatly i didn't have time to go back through again and play it. Overall i actually had fun Despite the negativity above it was pretty enjoyable (though i agree that some puzzles need to be more... puzzling. like the pushing the box with the 4 floors one).

(btw - if you do F4F could you do Prologue? My MGS is old and poop )		2009-04-25 01:35:00

Author:
ryryryan
Posts: 3767

hey burn, uhm, to get around the computer bleep, its cuz it has pute in it, (from whaaaaales bleeped words list)

try making its "computr, or comput3r"		2009-04-25 05:45:00

Author:
johnrulz77
Posts: 835

Thank you both for your help (i was tryin to think of a synonym for computer- what a dope XD)

Unfortunately, i don't have the time at the moment to fix some of those problems (namely the jaggies)... (dont worry though, i'll return the F4F ) but when i DONT have an essay due, i'll get right on it. I tried the white wood look before, and it looks nice, but i kind of like using it for the level signs, to give them more emphasis.

I can't believe that little hole was there! I DEFINITELY need to fix that. As for the portal malfunction... its always hit the bot and stopped where the bot was... did anything hit the bot at the top first, that might have stopped it.

Eventually, i may also try improving the earlier puzzles (with what thermo i have left D		2009-04-25 08:38:00

Author:
Burnvictim42
Posts: 3322

Checked it out last night and thought it was a cool concept for a level. Most of what I found was mentioned above so I won't need to post it here.

I was able to make it through room 6 but 7 had me stuck. I couldn't figure out how to get to the orange sponge. I'll try it again with a less sleepy brain today to see if I can finish it.

It's a good level that just needs a little TLC (cleaned up edges, a few spacing tweaks, the censored bits adjusted) I rated it 3 stars as it is but with a little work this would be an easy 4 star rated level I think. Thanks for sharing it!		2009-04-25 15:27:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

I played your portal puzzles level, and to tell you the truth, I was disappointed. The visuals weren't good (although I liked your portal gun). I liked the puzzles but The part when you have to throw away your companion cube doesn't work. When you push the cube through the blue portal, It comes out of the orange portal too fast and lands right next to the blue portal again. Therefore you can't complete the level. Check out my levels if you get a chance and please type a comment on what you think. Thx.2009-04-27 00:38:00

Author:
Tactical_Gunner
Posts: 1

Thank you both for the feedback. I looked into the part you were having problems with, and have since lowered the speed on the cube. I also changed the visual style a bit, finding an acceptable (to me ) compromise between the white wood and the other stone. Censored bits fixed, a few jaggies and spacing also adjusted- but i still need more time before i can go through all of it. Actually have a few ideas for replacements of the earlier puzzles, but again, need time to implement and tweak them.

Is there any particular F4F thread either of you would like me to respond to? Ive actually played a majority of both your levels XD, i just need to replay and formalize my comments 		2009-04-27 06:58:00

Author:
Burnvictim42
Posts: 3322

Strictly speaking I don't have F4F on my stuff but I always love to hear what people think. I just don't like the "pressure" of F4F - I tend to do feedback for a lot of levels as it is. Play whatever you'd like and leave a comment if you want to. 2009-04-27 08:12:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

Strictly speaking I don't have F4F on my stuff but I always love to hear what people think. I just don't like the "pressure" of F4F - I tend to do feedback for a lot of levels as it is. Play whatever you'd like and leave a comment if you want to.

lol, i do that alot too. i'll leave some comments anyway though ;p		2009-04-27 09:01:00

Author:
Burnvictim42
Posts: 3322

Looked like a good level so far and then in the fourth room the block wouldn't stay on the switch and ended up breaking it because it wasn't glued. I'll try it again later 2009-04-27 09:40:00

Author:
Drift
Posts: 12

The Part where you have to flip four switches back and forth to bring a cube down to push a button didnt work for me, cubes were getting stuck all over the place and blocking the switches and the fourth switch broke so more and more blocks kept spawning which did not help. The level looked really nice and it was clever how you did the portals, but that puzzle could use a bit of work. I have no idea why the switch broke...2009-04-28 04:04:00

Author:
RadicalStan
Posts: 99

Hmm.... i'll have to look into it. I glued the switch (and i feel like such a moron for missing that >.>), but i haven't broken that puzzle before... first time for everything i suppose! Time to break some stuffs >

EDIT: I fixed the switches... apparently because they were buried, they were more fragile. I also replaced this puzzle with a slightly more complicated version (it looks cooler too IMO ) If anyone has played the first version, i would appreciate feedback on whether the new one is an improvement (and will F4F of course)		2009-04-28 04:58:00

Author:
Burnvictim42
Posts: 3322

Hi Burnvictim42!

I played your Portal puzzles Level tonight, and I have some feedback for you.

First and foremost, I got High Score for Single Player, 10K+. That Rocks RickRock. It was difficult to do, but that's the way I like it. I enjoyed the Level. It had lots of ingenuity and some intriguing contraptions and gadgets.

I'll have to try your other levels in the future.

This was definitely not a Level for the kids, so your market appeal is limited. But, as I've said before, that's not neccessarily a bad thing. Your stage could use some tweaks to make it a bit more visually appealing, but I do realize sometimes there has to be a tradeoff between visuals and content (I'll let you be the judge of that). There was one area that did bother me. It was the part where you emit the blocks of gas, while dragging the cube and the cylinder back and forth to stop the "neurotoxins" from being sprayed. It was hard to tell for sure, but when I tried to grab these items near a vent, I actually grabbed the vent, and lost 2 lives in the process--bummer. But High Score eased some of the pain. You might try changing that material to something hard.

Definitely Worth Playing this Level, where patience is definitely a virtue.

And to all the Creators in LBP, we are a rare breed indeed.

Looking forward to your feedback on Takken (Showcase thread is below in my Signature).

Rick		2009-05-27 06:05:00

Author:
RickRock_777
Posts: 1567

what you were grabbing was actually the dissolve floor... and i can't really change that, without changing my exit strategy for the level. Thanks for the feedback, returned in kind.2009-05-27 07:35:00

Author:
Burnvictim42
Posts: 3322

That makes sense. I guess it was because I was always near a vent, that it appeared I was grabbing the vent (reason I said it was hard to tell for sure).

Even so, it didn't prevent me from finishing the level, so really no need to change a floor and exit strategy.

Thanks again for your feedback on Takken. And to answer your question, I selected your level for a F4F as you were kind enough to welcome me to the Community.

Rick		2009-05-27 23:47:00

Author:
RickRock_777
Posts: 1567

:star:I'd like to see the glass at the begining a little lighter. Shame to have your carefull crafting of toilet and furnishings hidden behind glare and tint.


"free rocket cheetas at the end" LMAO


:star:the 1'st portal emmiting gun is grabbable. Interferes with the 2 position switch placed in-front of it. Also, the switch should be attached to base, otherwise an over-zelous player might pitch it into the poison to the right.

:star:In The next chamber, (test 2), the wall that blocks the poison ends just a little way up, and looks alot like a secret stash; You can jump over it from the platform above.

Only the orange portal in this puzzle is needed to solve..maybe start with the blue in position from the start?



:star:test # 4: A little sound would be nice when the puzzle is solved. Maybe a creak or machine sound from the direction of the door.



:star:#7 the sticker that is a switch-trigger. you might want to mention that it is a switch trigger, otherwise, people like me that don't like a bunch of extra stuff in inventory will know to turn on their option to "collect community prizes"

on that note, the next gun has a prize bubble next to it that can't be avoided while pulling the switch. I find that a little irritating, especially having unlocked my inventory to get the switch trigger.

:star:............................................ .................................................. ...............?!
If this is the word computer getting bleeped:
synonyms for computer: computational device, CPU, addition engine, information processing system, reckoner, data processor

droppd a space in "no one" in the next prompt (and cap I).

the elivator goes up a little too close to the grabbable rotating spot-lights. makes it hard to grab the switch if it is in the mid position.


This is a far as I was able to go- Are the boxes at the top supposed to be affixed to the platform? Am I missing somthing (possibly in the bleeped out prompt)?

I tried moving the explosives around and killing all the robots. Just not sure what I'm supposed to be doing here.


hope this helps.		2009-07-30 18:17:00

Author:
swanbrown
Posts: 898


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