So I'm getting back into the routine of making puzzle maps so I can work on a "special" map that's currently in the works. This map, MegaCube, has lots of different testing elements in it along with a few some-what difficult puzzles. The actual MegaCube in the middle of the room can be opened by placing 4 weighted cubes (3 of which are in puzzle chambers) on cube buttons. What's inside? Well, I'm not telling.

File Name: MLs MegaCube.zip
File Size: 4.62 MiB
Click here to download ML's MegaCube

Rather easy but fun to play. Kept me entertained for round about 15 minutes.
Thanks for creating.

Very nice! More of this please!

I like that you use all puzzle elements in your map, however the puzzles could be a bit more difficult. Around 15 Minutes here as well.

Idea: What about starting a series of puzzle which use all puzzle elements, each in different and / or overlapping rooms? I would adore that!

Cute and funny but I'm stuck in the turret room.
There is no laser and I can shoot only one portal .... I missed something?

Here is a hint for Tulio: You are missing something. Search the roof of that room more carefully.

I'm myself stuck at the faith plate room and I have no idea how to do it. I've tried trowing cubes at them but they just go through :/

A fairly original set of puzzles.
I think it could really benefit from some more varied tile design and better lighting though, was hard to see in some places, leading to missing key elements.
Spoiler for the faithplates:
I had to go into fullbright mode to be able to read the ceiling tile pattern properly...

Very nice map.

First I stuck at the faith plate room too. But I took two Turrets placed them on the faith plates and jumped on top of the first. Every jump I replaced the "free" Turret infront of the one I was standing on. So I jumped across
Wasn't that hard, but it was definately not the intendet solution :-p

But why should I go the easy way, if there is a hard one

Very good map especially cool Idea with the inside of the cube

4/5

Shake wrote:
Here is a hint for Tulio: You are missing something. Search the roof of that room more carefully.

I'm myself stuck at the faith plate room and I have no idea how to do it. I've tried trowing cubes at them but they just go through :/

Thanks

Here is a hint for Shakky:Do not jump on faith plates, and walk starts at third left.
It 'a labyrinth, not all the plates snap.

[edit]Play nice and funny.
Ambients and lighting since improve.
Puzzles are not too heavy but well structured. 5/5

Yeah, there is a special tile pattern on the ceiling of the faithplate room. You don't need fullbright to see it though. The MegaCube was originally supposed to rotate, but the linked_portal didn't rotate with it. Oh well.

Thanks I really enjoyed playing this map, puzzles not too hard but did make me think for a while
Looking forward to more of your maps.

A bunch of easy but different puzzles. It was a nice surprise to see that there were more puzzles after I finished the first 4. One thing though: you can get stuck in the faithplate room because the faithplates don't have a clip texture and you can loose your cube in the maze. Which will get you stuck

Though I liked the small puzzles there was no real flow in the map. For some reason it felt boring to me. I have no idea why but that was just how it felt.

And please, learn to properly texture. That would make your maps look so much better!
For now a 3/5: good but needs work.

lpfreaky90 wrote:
And please, learn to properly texture. That would make your maps look so much better!
For now a 3/5: good but needs work.

At least the textures aren't cut. Kinda hard to make texture patterns with a odd sum of tiles length-wise. Texture patterns must have a specific even length (16, 32, 64, etc.). I wasn't going to re-edit every single room over a minor detail in visual. I realize that visuals are important, but they aren't that important, at least, not in this kind of map.

I don't know why the cube would fall through the faith plates, I did place a huge clip brush covering all faith-plates. What do you think you're walking on during that faith plate maze? Maybe nodraw would have been better to use.

When I start on my new map, everybody will complain about visuals; since it's going to be pretty abstract. Hint Hint

MasterLagger wrote:
lpfreaky90 wrote:

And please, learn to properly texture. That would make your maps look so much better!
For now a 3/5: good but needs work.

At least the textures aren't cut. Kinda hard to make texture patterns with a odd sum of tiles length-wise. Texture patterns must have a specific even length (16, 32, 64, etc.). I wasn't going to re-edit every single room over a minor detail in visual. I realize that visuals are important, but they aren't that important, at least, not in this kind of map.

You're absolutely right; but it might be a good idea to keep this in mind with your next map ^_^

MasterLagger wrote:
I don't know why the cube would fall through the faith plates, I did place a huge clip brush covering all faith-plates. What do you think you're walking on during that faith plate maze? Maybe nodraw would have been better to use.

That's strange; how about an invisible texture then?

MasterLagger wrote:
When I start on my new map, everybody will complain about visuals; since it's going to be pretty abstract. Hint Hint

We'll see about that

Cheers, it was pretty straightforward, but fun nonetheless
It was something different anyway - kinda like a puzzle buffet.

Here is my blind play through. I really like the variety of puzzles you placed on this map, lots of fun. There was a slight glitch on the excursion tube section, falling in the spikes didn't kill me.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V01nXyVCunM

Actually, the spikes hurt you, not instantly kill you. But you have a few seconds to get off the spikes until you run out of health.

Thank you for this map MasterLagger.

MegaCube has encouraged me to create an account so I can give feedback from the point of view of someone who a)gets motion sick easily and b) dislikes repetitive, micron-accuracy movements. I like 'puzzle' games, as opposed to platform games. Portal 2 is great when it's about solving puzzles, irritating to the point of rage quitting when its focus is pinpoint accuracy.

The chamber in the first room with four floating platforms at various levels and a cube on the uppermost is a ragequit map for people who just want to solve the puzzle, but don't have the dexterity to make the required jump. If I know what I need to do I should be able to progress with standard skills, not ninja skills and a high tolerance for nausea-inducing movement. Could I suggest a portal surface underneath the cube, making the jump optional?

Again thanks for the effort. I really hate complaining about your map, especially since everyone else seems to be solving it easily, but I'm guessing that others who aren't so dextrous have given up on it in that chamber too.

Cheers.

Well, it gives me a better idea of what not to do.

fumblus wrote:
Portal 2 is great when it's about solving puzzles, irritating to the point of rage quitting when its focus is pinpoint accuracy...If I know what I need to do I should be able to progress with standard skills, not ninja skills and a high tolerance for nausea-inducing movement. Could I suggest a portal surface underneath the cube, making the jump optional?

I get what you are saying. When I first started playing I found the quick shooting and flinging/platform climbing difficult too. The big platform climbing sequence near the end of Portal 1 took me forever on my first playthrough. But over time I've gotten much better, to the point when flinging around is my favorite thing to do. I guess there is nothing you can do about your motion sickness, but I encourage you not to give up. There are several things you can do to train. Find a ledge (higher is better to give you more time) with a portal-able floor below, place your portals, jump in and just get used to oscillating. If you find a point to spot with, you can get your bearings and work out your orientation. Then you can work on shooting other surfaces so that you can walk around or fly across the room. I'm no expert or anything, but I've gotten good just by doing some simple techniques like that. And I play with a controller so I have far from pinpoint accuracy. Anyway, I just don't want you to miss out on all the excellent maps available on TWP, most of which, for better or worse, use at least a bit of athletics as actual puzzle mechanics. If MasterLagger put a portal over the button, then there is no puzzle anymore.

Speaking of, great work ML. Nice design and layout and clever puzzle solving.

This map has some simple puzzles. I'm okay with that, puzzles don't always have to be very challenging. I actually liked this map... until the aerial faith plate room. It totally ruins the map. I expected you to know better about the no-go's in Portal2 mapping...
Here is my blindrun:

37LEgcxJ0cU
(Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37LEgcxJ0cU)

I could feel your frustration in the faith plate room, it was hilarious. I made the last 3 puzzle hard on purpose. The solution was over your head the whole time. Maybe I should have added a "Please remain calm" movie playing in that room.

MasterLagger wrote:
I could feel your frustration in the faith plate room, it was hilarious. I made the last 3 puzzle hard on purpose. The solution was over your head the whole time. Maybe I should have added a "Please remain calm" movie playing in that room.

It's not about being hard, it's about being pathetically annoying. I'm disappointed you don't even see that point with all your experience.

Well, like I said earlier, at least I'll know what not to do in future maps. Even with my mapping experience, I'm always trying out new things to see if they work out or not. I'll check the faith plate room in the "Never Again" section of my ideas.

I've decided to follow Djinndrache's example, and start recording my blind playthroughs. However, since my skils are considerably less than his, I will edit out the repetitive failure sections.

This map took me a total of 1:20:27 to play. I've edited it down to under 35 minutes, so you see what I mean about my lack of skill. I've left in any parts where I am trying something new, but if it takes me several tries to get it, I'll leave out the ones in the middle.

I liked the length of the map, and the variety of the puzzles. I was not impeded by the difficulty of any of them, but I was quite annoyed in a couple spots. The solution to the blue/orange gel room is obscured by darkness. The faithplate room was just a chore. The funnel room was almost trivial: I expected I would have to maneuver myself or the cube around with the funnel, but it only took me five portals. I detest slathering conversion gel around, and your room is the epitome of why I feel that way.

Overall, it wasn't an hour and an half well spent. 3/5.

MegaCube Part 1MegaCube Part 1
LE0DL_IVelo
MegaCube Part 2MegaCube Part 2
wex_XPSoRsM

KennKong wrote:
I've decided to follow Djinndrache's example, and start recording my blind playthroughs.

I got something new in the works. Something mind bending and nonsensical. I hope it doesn't cause KennKong to take 3 hours to get through.
Here's a hint: