Wolfire Games Forums

Yeah, how do you mean?

I updated my map, the turret part is now really easy, but it's better than it was. Same link and stuff.

Freshbite, I beat the first three rooms in about 10 seconds each, then spent 20 minutes wandering that last one. I think it was my natural urge to go right and up which kept me away. I liked the first and third room, I have no idea what I did in the second room, and I hated the last room. I don't like mazes.

Click the play button, not the eye button!

Freshbite wrote:How do you mean?

I mean every time I construct a map and click File -> Rebuild ... It will crash to windows.

I'll try it when I have some time, but on the description it says that's the third level in the key series. Looks good though!

adwuga wrote:I'll try it when I have some time, but on the description it says that's the third level in the key series. Looks good though!

Oh, oops. It's the fourth. xD
Thanks!

I've played some of your maps guys.

And I have to say, you need to provide the players with an exit plan.

I've noticed that it was pretty easy to get stuck in an area where you're basically fucked and need to kill yourself. You shouldn't need to have omnipotent knowledge to know how to solve the map

portal maps can be frustrating enough without having to make the player kill themselves just to figure it out.

Another thing i noticed was unnecessary items in the map. Im not sure if i solved it differently than I should have, but there really shouldn't be unnecessary stuff around.

Freshbite. Your map was confusing. I managed to solve the first puzzle in just a few minutes, but couldn't figure out where the fuck the exit was.

Jaz wrote:Tetra Key

There are some things that can be ignored, like the excursion funnel, but it is generally a good map.

Edit:

Assaultman67 wrote:I've noticed that it was pretty easy to get stuck in an area where you're basically fucked and need to kill yourself.

You don't know how glad I am that I'm not the only one who sees this as a major problem.

Assaultman67 wrote:Freshbite. Your map was confusing. I managed to solve the first puzzle in just a few minutes, but couldn't figure out where the fuck the exit was.

It was either that, or having a total of 6 blue lines across the floor pointing it out for you. How about the other rooms?

I'm hesitant of adding Adwuga as a friend on Steam...

Freshbite wrote:You don't know how glad I am that I'm not the only one who sees this as a major problem.

It really is a major problem. Dying in games is traditionally a means of punishing the player and the player damn well knows it.

In a game like portal 2, you need to be very weary of the balance between fun and challenge.

Too challenging and you will frustrate the player. When you create a way for the player to get stuck in an area and have to kill them self to restart, that's frustrating. Especially when you're just moving around the map, trying to figure out the puzzle.

By creating places the player can get to in which they have to kill themselves in order to restart, you are punishing the player.

From what I gather from dungeons and dragons, a good dungeon master will both mix challenge with fun and not go out and try to kill of the entire party. As a mapper, you're basically the dungeon master.

Unfortunately, when you make a map you tend to delude yourself into thinking its easier than it actually is because you've tested it too much yourself. This is why its insanely important to have others play test it and also to be very open to the critique they have for you.

Freshbite wrote: ... It was either that, or having a total of 6 blue lines across the floor pointing it out for you. How about the other rooms? ...

After I understood that you needed to double back the way you came to get to the other rooms, it didn't take as long.

The maze portion was somewhat challenging for me because it was disorienting, the ball pit thing wasn't really challenging at all once I realize what the goal was (get all the lasers 'on'). it was simply a matter of doing it.

I'll try a few more tomorrow and maybe be more specific and detailed as to which map I tried and my thoughts for each.

Freshbite wrote:

Assaultman67 wrote:I've noticed that it was pretty easy to get stuck in an area where you're basically fucked and need to kill yourself.

You don't know how glad I am that I'm not the only one who sees this as a major problem.

Yeah, I hated that about my map, but it's only in the first part so you don't really have to redo stuff. I couldn't figure out a way to let them escape without cheating though.

Wait, shit, I just figured out a way. I'll add it in later.

Freshbite wrote:I'm hesitant of adding Adwuga as a friend on Steam...[/b]

U NO LIEK ME?

*commits suicide after realizing his one true love does not feel the same way about him*

Y'know, I feel I really should give these levels a try, you peeps. D'ye think any one of you could be a dear and edit the complete list of all 'em mentioned so far into the first post, mmh?
Or any post, for that matter, just so's I can sees 'em maps in the same place, which is easier for my lazy self.

Done. Check the spoiler tag in the first post.

You's a hero. Expect gameplay vids.


EDIT:
Scratch that, my recordings failed and nearly killed my computer.

Have a written report, though:
Steelraven's In Phase is really damn hard. I spent nearly an hour nearly getting it but not quite understanding it, so not really getting any further. That's why you ain't got thumbs up, Steel. 'Cos I couldn't beat it yet =p

Next I tried Jaz' lot. Fun, they are! Breezed through them quite easily, and not always quite sure if I was doing what Jaz had intended for me to do, but doable and fun nonetheless.

Haven't tried any others yet though. That's still to come.

Freshbite... Y?



I hate mazes...