A four in one puzzle using discouragement beams and excursion funnels. Please let me know if you find any bugs or unintended solutions.

Updates:
v1.01
- A few details added
- Neatened up the indicator lights in side room 3
- Removed an unintended solution
- The laser in the main room now dose not turn on until needed

v1.02
- Auto-save points added
- A few minor details and textures altered
- Fixed a bug that made it hard to place portals next to emancipation grids (because the model was too close to the portalable surface)
- The laser relays in the main room are now below the floor until needed

v1.03
- Added red glow round laser fields
- Added sound effects for sliding doors/raising platform
- Adjusted fizzler textures

v1.04
- Fixed bug that turned laser glow on when the laser field was off in side room 3

screenshots:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30975526/Portal ... 970000.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30975526/Portal ... 970001.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30975526/Portal ... 970002.jpg

Many thanks to everyone who's given their input so far!

File Name: sp_LaserFunnel_n397_v1.04.zip
File Size: 4.6 MiB
Click here to download [SP] Laser Funnel

It was a very nice map, i saw no bugs whatsoever.
It was one of those maps that makes you feel smart after solving it.

However, nothing is perfect XP
The indicator light things were a bit confusing what what is doing, especially at the last puzzle part.(the one behind the blue-wall-grid-things)
Also, the small little hole at the last puzzle is way too hard to see.

But otherwise perfect!

Don't you think it's a little anticlimactic to release the winning entry so early?

I can't seem to play this map. The map name doesn't register when I type it into the console. I've played a dozen or so custom maps and haven't had this problem before.

Kibate wrote:
The indicator light things were a bit confusing what what is doing, especially at the last puzzle part.(the one behind the blue-wall-grid-things)
Also, the small little hole at the last puzzle is way too hard to see.

But otherwise perfect!

Thanks for the input. I'm glad you liked it =D. I'll see what I can do to make it less confusing and make that hole easier to spot.

novalord2 wrote:
I can't seem to play this map. The map name doesn't register when I type it into the console. I've played a dozen or so custom maps and haven't had this problem before.

That's odd. All I can think to suggest is double check that you copied the right file into your map folder.

Imagine a giant safe like in a bank vault, and you'll get the idea of this map. Daunting at first look, on the contrary the difficulty flow is kept much under control and never reaches unholy levels. Tecnique obviously impeccable.

The only confusion might derive from the chaotic signs about which button does what, that could use some visual simplification. What was scary for me, were the 9 laser bells at the very start: but those are pratically an afterthought, mere cube plates could replace them. As to say: the gameplay isn't boring at all, but bells and signs might suggest bad omens.

This map has WAY too much going on visually. There are so many puzzle elements visible at any one time that it's unclear which are relevant at any given moment. I didn't like that getting started on area 1 required placing a portal all the way across the main room next to area 2 in order to redirect the funnel - I thought I would be able to complete the area marked "1" that was separated from the main room without using something all the way across the main room.

If you could somehow organize this so that you aren't assaulted with every single piece of the room as soon as you walk in, I think it would help a lot. The puzzles aren't bad, but the confusion from having half of what's on-screen be unrelated to your current task caused a bit of frustration for me. I'm not totally sure how you'd do that, but if it could be done it would definitely work to the map's advantage.

I'm still in the process of completing this level, but so far the puzzles have been wonderful. I just wanted to bring a possible unintended solution to your attention:

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2728 ... v10001.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9157/l ... v10002.jpg

I found that, in the 2nd room, the funnel can be rendered useless by simply placing a laser cube as close to the laser emitter as possible and aiming it at the farthest left shootable wall, as seen in the image. Anything you can do to fix that?

Oh, thanks for finding that! I'll try find a way to fix it.

Edit: That white panel in the main room is purely decorative so I guess I'll just remove it. Thanks again! Let me know if you find anything else.

Fantastic map, definitely had me stumped for a long time, several times.

Couple of comments below (spoilers)


I had a lot of trouble with the second section, the timing of pushing the button, waiting for the laser box to move past the trigger and then releasing the button was really really picky. I would suggest moving the button closer to the door, unless I somehow figured out an unintended solution.

I suspended the laser box in the tunnel, got the laser to come down the tunnel and reversed the tunnel. laser box was angled to hit the target, moves past the target and then you have to let the button go before the box hits the tunnel emitter or the box angle gets messed up. (That was the other problem, might want to put an invisible wall in front of the emitter to ensure the laser box stays at the correct angle) Run to the door and hit it just right to get through before the door closes.

Hmm, it shouldn't be that difficult.

Part of your problem is you're trying to get through the door with out a portal. Slightly surprised you even managed to do that. About the angle, if you've got the intended solution it shouldn't be that fussy. As long as the cube is facing the wall you just have to wait until the cube gets to the right place in the funnel, and if you miss the door the first time just hop back on the button and wait for the cube to get back in front of the receiver. If your cube is still roughly at the right angle then hitting the funnel emitter shouldn't mess it up because it works with the cube facing the wall strait on. It is possible to completely mess up the angle but I've only had it happen when I mess up transferring the cube over to the island and knock the cube.
I hope that made all made sense.

Edit: Been testing this out a bit more and noticed something.

It is possible to mess up the up and down angle (don't know if this is what you meant) when the cube hits the funnel emitter, but I don't understand why it dose this. For me this doesn't happen most of the time, so I don't know if there's anything I can do about it. I thought that if this happened you could realign it on the ceiling, but it's like it doesn't want to go straight again and is easier to mess up again once it's angled upwards.
So, that's a little wearied but I don't think it's a huge problem.

Lol, I didn't even realize that the inner door had portal walls, so I definitely made it more difficult. Perhaps you could make the door transparent, that way it might be more evident that you can pop a portal with the door open. By that point I was thinking that the solution was going to be about timing, not strategy because it had taken me so long to figure out the box floating solution.

I think my biggest problem was conceptually trying to figure out how to get the box to the right height, I think removing some of the portal plates in that room that are unneeded might help players eliminate false solution ideas. Floating the box, lined up with the laser, to hit the target is definitely a big enough leap by itself.

Good map; probably my favourite laser redirection-based puzzle so far. Unlike others which just drop you into a room with some cubes and relays, this one was creative and enticing, what with the maze-like array of fizzlers. Putting the laser/cube through the funnel in one of the rooms was also fun to work out, but a little messy in practice.

However, I also had a problem with not noticing the small hole towards the end, until I had sat there for half an hour scratching my head over how to solve it without. It was like trying to solve the Bridges of K?nigsberg. I still managed to feel smart afterwards, though, when it all worked out in the end.

A luscious full bodied map clearly built by a masochistic mad man. Although I'm not a fan of being presented with everything all at once, this instance of such presentation actually enhanced my visual first impression, and made me feel as if I just found a jackpot of a playground and the world was my oyster.

Your puzzles never had me stumped but they sure as hell made me stop and think for a while. The solutions were never as difficult as I expected them to be, and yet none of your set pieces or puzzle elements were unnecessary (except maybe the occasional useless portalable surface, but that's totally fair game). The foresight and planning required to achieve this is beyond my brain power, unless you made a deal with the devil or something. So congratulations, I happily give you 5/5, and I would not be surprised to see you as one of the finalists. Good luck!

When entering, on the right of the map, if you put a portal in the island with the glass walls and go through that portal, you take damage and eventually die if done to often. You need to remove the water from under the island.

Thanks. I don't have access to hammer for a week, but I'll update as soon as I can.

Excellent puzzle and well executed. Took me a long time to sort it out and it didn't require any acrobatic jumps etc. Thanks for creating.

I love puzzles, so I loved your map.

After solving the puzzle on my own, I read the posts here, and it seems that I found an uninteneded solution to the second room.

You can hit the laser high on the wall from a portal in the floor in front of the door it opens. Sorry, I didn't take a screenshot, since at the time I didn't know any better. In any case, I never used the funnel in the second room for anything, nor the button. Believe me, I tried; but I just couldn't figure it out.

I agree with another poster that the opening to the third room isn't very obvious. I'd suggest putting a light on the inside top surface. It's a minor issue, because the portal material on the opposite wall should be a dead giveaway (at least, it was for me.)

There was a minor visibility issue in the third room, too.

After using the reflectocubes to disable the laser grill below, and dropping down to push the button, I was very surprised when I went back up to retrieve the cubes to see that they were gone. It took me a minute to realize that they had been re-spawned in the main room. I'm not sure how I would have gotten them out of the room if they had been there, so I guess it was necessary. It was nonetheless confusing that they had fizzled for no apparent reason. Perhaps you should put three cube dropper signs above the door?

If you ever feel like spiffing up this map, I think you should incorporate sounds into it. I would have music that changed as each section was solved as an audio cue that you were in fact done there. There are many opportunities for quotes from GladOS or Wheatley that could liven up the proceedings.

All in all, a good puzzle that was fun to solve. The only slight criticism I have is for the lack of ambience. A definite 4/5 from me.

I made an account just to say thank you for making this test. It took two hours to solve and was worth every minute. Do you have any more?

I'm so glad people think this map is worth playing. I have a few ideas for new maps but I haven't had much chance to work on anything. I'm hoping I'll be able to start work on one soon, but I don't have anything else at the moment.

A very creative puzzle, it took me two hours to sort things out. Below is my video playthrough, hope just the way you meant it. I've rated it excellent! (5).

Portal 2 Laser Funnel

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First of all, loved it. Gave me a nice challenge.
Secondly for some wierd reason the aiming reticle did not load and I was stuck guessing where I was aiming, not sure why.
Finally, for some wierd reason, on one of my attempts, the first cube would not spawn after I stupidly pressed the button about 5 times, had to reload the map.

Again loved the challenge.

Edit Looking at the youtube video above me I see not all people are having the reticle problem, not sure why I did, its the first time its happened

I'm playing custom maps and record my first time of playing them. So the run is not perfect and may not use only intended ways, but maybe it can let you see how other people may understand the map or you could just enjoy someone playing this map for entertainment.
Anyways, here is the recording:

Kg5-XgV8El4
(Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg5-XgV8El4)

Also note the video description for more feedback and my signature for additional project information.

Good map, well thought-out puzzles. But, in some places, it's excessively hard. The second puzzle got me stumped for a long time and, after watching a walkthrough video, I did it but would never even think of that solution. Also, I didn't know the jump in 2:00 of the video from Portal2Two (in this thread), was possible.
Other than that, I was able to solve it myself and am glad for that (maybe not in the intended way in 1st puzzle because I did not use all of the portalable surfaces). Thanks for the map!

Hey there, awesome map Hardest custom map I've played so far. I actually ragequit it 2 times and came back to it 3 times, when I finally figured it all out! But I found an unintended solution, however, it was sooo hard to come up with it that it might just be harder than the intended one so I totally suggest you don't fix it but leave it there instead

Here is a demonstration of the solution:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5293445/Ordered ... -03-19.jpg

This map is really great !

Not overloaded, runs smoothly, very carefully designed ! The difficulty is just what I was looking for ! It's not too much for people that finished the original game.

Many thanks, congratulations, and please do some more !

I know this map is old but I downloaded it at some point in late 2011, and never finished it. Today I decided to come back to it, and fortunately I did finish this time around, and I'd just like to say this is an absolutely amazing map. The puzzles were all perfect, the map design (while unconventional visually) was nice to look at and the 'aha' moment was extremely satisfying.

5/5

Nice map! The only complaint I have is that the 9-receiver puzzle has been used so often before. Also, the wall I needed to portal the laser out of seemed black (as in, no texture) so I didn't realize it was a portal surface.

The rest was a really cleverly designed, hard test. Well done!

Really good map! A little overwhelming at first but once you spot the yellow numbers, all that's left is super tasty puzzle solving time. I'm pretty sure I did the map the way it was intended although I suspect there could be several ways to solve the 9 relay puzzle.

My only issue was that some textures (white wall closest to the two box droppers and the metal surround for one of the white panels in area 1) would slightly change colour based on my movement/aiming. I suspect your using the vertex version of some textures.

Anyway, it doesn't change the fact that this map is fresh feeling and has a great difficulty curve. It's also fun to play and tricky enough to not have you get frustrated, all while being very tasty to solve