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Rating: (17 votes)
Description
A small difficult puzzle for hardcore portal players. Expect evilness... v 1.3: Fixed missing cube problem. Lowered bridge. (See thread for details.)
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Twice?! I hate you. For real.
You even removed my "favorite portal surface" for the puzzle on the second run :'(
But one day I'll find another way...
Seriously, I created this account just to say this: "You bastard."
Which is not to say I didn't enjoy this map immensely, though I appear to be only halfway through; just that you really weren't joking at all with the 'expect evilness' comment.
Excellent map! I've been at it all day. Its been a while since any map got me stuck and this one got the job done. I've noticed that not only portable surfaces get removed but also previously non-portable wall turns portable. I'm sure thats important just don't know how to take advantage of it just yet.
What are you talking about panels turning portable\unportable? I did't notice something like that, or are you talking about the changes between v1 and 1.2?
Anyhow, i managed to activate gates 2-6 at once so i was able to keep my laser portal reaching the locked door. But the receptor is too high for the laser to reach it when you place the portal on the opposite panel.
Great map, will keep trying. I suspect the solution involves the fact that the the floor in the main area is portable.
There's a 'bug' i think (maybe you did it on purpose) when you can redirect a laser to the #4 receptor and activate it and the laser path continues to the panel next to it so you can place a portal and have it continue eleswhere but even if the laser in the exit portal passes through the relays they don't activate. Check the picture.
pic: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/90 ... s0000.jpg/
Also, i had a weird bug when i tried juggling a cube with portals where it completely disappeared and no replacement was spawned.
As you gather, i'm stuck heh. I'm not worthy!
Actually this is not unique to my map. You can do this with all wall receptors as far as I know. In my opinion wall receptors should always consume the laser. As Valve might fix this in future versions I will not require such hacks for the solution.
Regarding the disappearing cube I am aware of it but have not been able to replicate it. I'm not sure what the issue could be related to.
Oh, ok then.
Can anyone tell me if i'm on the right track? Got to the door (one cube on the #7 button) able to place the laser portal but it's too low. I even tried grabbing the cube on #6 button through the portal but its a little to far. Also got to the door with 2 cubes but w\o being able to place portals to the main area.
Should i contiue to try to get to the door having cubes with me and an active laser portal or somehow direct the laser without portals?
Any chance of a solution video, anyone? This map is so far out of my skill level I don't even know where to begin, I feel totally lost lol. Tried a few things, no idea how I'd do it. Very curious to watch someone else solve it, though.
Saturn wrote:
Can anyone tell me if i'm on the right track?
Put one cube on the cube pad, then bring the second cube through the 7th door to the final laser receiver area. With the cube that was left in the main area direct the laser to the end area. I did it by placing the cube on the light walkway and when lightway turned off the cube fell on the beam. Took a few tries to make it since the cube rotates a little on the fall. Then direct the laser to the portable wall below laser receiver and put the other portal on the wall behind.
That's for the first part, after that I'm stuck as everyone else is.
Am I even close?
On the second part I've managed to get one cube all the way past the 6th gate. Since it's just one cube, I can't get it into the final area. I can get a laser into the final area, but it's too skew to get into the receptor. I'm fairly certain it's impossible to get the cube into the final area.
Also, on the cube disappearing bug:
When it happened to me, I started noclipping around trying to find it. I did. It was under the rotating floor panel, under the laser. I'm not sure how it got there, as that panel wasn't rotating at the time. You could probably fix it by putting an emancipation grid down there (or that murky liquid), so that the cube would die if it did manage to fall down there somehow.
Anyways, if this happens to anyone before a fix gets through, all is not lost!
Enable cheats in the console by typing "sv_cheats 1"
Now create another cube! "ent_create_portal_reflector_cube"
Without the quotes, of course.
This cube won't respawn properly if it dies, and might cause issues later in the level... it should be pretty obvious when it happens. When it does, get rid of that extra cube.
Seven gates really cosumes more than 1,6 volts...
... You monster
(one day i'll solve.it, for science!)
Kirby wrote:
Am I even close?On the second part I've managed to get one cube all the way past the 6th gate. Since it's just one cube, I can't get it into the final area. I can get a laser into the final area, but it's too skew to get into the receptor. I'm fairly certain it's impossible to get the cube into the final area.
That is how far I got. ||I don't see a solution without getting a cube into the end area, either by carying it through the gates or by portal. Both of these have shortcommings:
-
getting the cube in - one cube needs to be on the cube pad, the other is on the way to the gates, the third in on a button (#3 or #6). Problem: How to get laser to turn on walkway?
-
For placing a portal player would need to get through the gates inside clean or get out clean. One cube is with the player (for putting on pad) other two have to sit on #3 and #6 buttons. Again, no way to direct the laser.||
i m new on the forums
great map.
the second shot is excelent.
the complete spirit of portal.
the final first way i found
the second shot is hard.
About the second part:
For the reasons Korl gave, I don't think it is possible to get the cube to the final section. This means that the laser must be tilted in to the receptor. Now, there's a little more leeway in this part, since you can put a portal on the light bridge... but even standing out as far across the moat as possible, the receptor still isn't visible. I'm starting to think this is impossible...
Can anyone post a solution? Or, at least, a very big hint?
Ok seriously, I've been a lurker here for a while and I've finally registered just to say congratulations. This is literally the first puzzle that has been confirmed "solvable" that has stumped me. I haven't even made it through part 1 (I think I'm close to a breakthrough). Can I just ask Am I correct that I need to have a cube that directs the beam through the bridge sensor to #1 on the wall and then use portals to drop that same cube onto button 6 while standing behind gate #1? If not, can someone please give us a hint?
Kirby wrote:
About the second part:For the reasons Korl gave, I don't think it is possible to get the cube to the final section. This means that the laser must be tilted in to the receptor. Now, there's a little more leeway in this part, since you can put a portal on the light bridge... but even standing out as far across the moat as possible, the receptor still isn't visible. I'm starting to think this is impossible...
Can anyone post a solution? Or, at least, a very big hint?
Exit door receiver is visible from the cube pad and in theory it could be possible to put a cube on the side of the pad so that it points to the receiver (practically probably impossible), but still that would require laser to be pointed to the cube near the lasert origin and could not go through the light bridge activator.
The solution must be out of this kind of thinking entirely.
@Sharpie: that is how I did it.
Firstly congrats on a truly fiendish level. I've been working on it for a solid day!
Can anyone confirm that the second go round is actually solvable?!
I'm stuck like most people on the second part with one cube on the #7 button, one cube in front of the laser and the final cube unable to progress past the third gate. It's possible to feed the laser into the #7 button cube which can indeed see the exit sensor but I don't see any way of getting it to point up at it.
I believe this point is reached without making use of portaling the lightbridge. I guess this must somehow be involved in the solution since this is explicitly enabled in the second part.
Hehehehe...
I think Jonatan made it again! I'm so happy of finding these hard difficulty maps every once in a while.
Well, yesterday I had some time (just 1 hour) to check this out and I've got several ideas I want to try this evening. I think I'm really close to the intended solution!
I really hope Mr. Rydh won't upload a playthrough yet, because I really want to be the first one to post it!
I've only got this screenshot of yesterday:
I know it's just a "first achievement", and in fact I think that I have to carry on the cube myself walking and redirecting the laser beam through gates n?4 and n?5 into the corridor, if I want to keep the laser portal, before placing it on the floor cube button that opens the 7th gate... but it's something.
I hope I can try my 2 or 3 ideas today and post a playthrough.
Impressive, again, Jonatan!
Thanks for mapping / and twisting your mind like so!
5/5 cakes
I have a solution video but won't make it public before someone work out and post the solution here first. As far as I know only my two brothers have solved it so far.
Really thought I was on to something on that second bit...
Managed to get myself, with portals, all the way to the last gate. Sadly, no cubes 
I could only get 5 gates down at any one time.
The first gate closes after you pass through it.
See pics:
2011-10-25_00002.jpg
2011-10-25_00001.jpg
Maybe this will give someone the inspiration to finish it out. 
grayarea wrote:
Can anyone confirm that the second go round is actually solvable?!
Yes it really is, even though I found myself doubting a few times. I am very curious to see if anyone manages to solve the key part of the puzzle in a different way (or solve it for that matter 
)!
Man!
You won't believe me!!!
I'm at work... so I can't play here of course, not until this evening when I arrive home... but I had a brief free pause, and I'VE MADE A SKETCH OF THE MAP ON A PAPER! yyeeeeap! it's not so difficult to remember it as it is not too large. Well, I REALLY think one of my ideas could work!
But I have to check out about a few angles and the situation of every laser target EXACTLY to see if it would work out! I have a good feeling... I'm so excited!
I'll post later!!!
I'm still tearing my hair out on this one. In the second part, I'm caught between two impossibilities. Either there's some way to move a second cube past gate 3 (there isn't) or there's a way to trigger the exit sensor with only one cube in the button 7 area (there isn't). I still have no idea why we're allowed to portal the light bridge.
TWICE????
Damn you, man!
Today I will only post 1 playthrough!!
UPLOADING.... I'll post it in a few hours...
In the meantime, solution for the first time:
Goodnight
Well, here it is:
Only the part one, tomorrow I will begin with part 2:
W1eyixqDYRs
EDIT: jonatan, there's a minor bug: texture on the floor of first time is not PERFECTLY aligned, right in the place where there's the rotating panel in second part. You can easily watch a line crossing all the room where this rotating panel edge is...Even though the textures seem to be aligned, you can see some milimeters misaligned...
Thanks for your sharing your video josepezdj. Was surprised by the spanish localization. Noticed that it made the timings a bit off. Hope it still made some sense. Anyway it was interesting to see how you solved the first part.
You probably want to tackle part two first, but later as a challenge try complete part one without using the cube on bridge technique. I'm actually considering lowering the bridge just a tiny bit so that the laser will be blocked by a cube sitting on top of it in the next version. Reason being as it is now you can use this technique to move two cubes past every gate one at the time (by activating the bridge with portals, putting a cube on top of it facing the target you need and then let it fall when fizzling your portals) but it is in my opinion a bit boring, tedious and random since it bounce when it lands. There is a much cleaner, faster and non-random solution. But I have still not made up my mind about changing this because it seems many people depend on it in their solution. Input from community is appreciated. Should I make part one even more difficult?
Regarding the bug: It could be a simple texture misalignment but it could also have to do with that the model I used (models/anim_wp/simple_panel_transforms/simple_panel.mdl) for some mysterious reason is not perfectly straight. It tilts by a couple degrees. You can't see it with small blocks but for the floor I had to manually compensate for this (by rotating it) to not have the floor tilt noticeably, but there is probably still a minor error. If anyone has run into this problem and know how to fix it in a better way please let me know.
Hi there jonatan.
Thanks for your detailed reply.
First of all I would like to check out the second round. It's curious that you, more or less, tell me that my solution is not intended... In fact, this is one of those maps that I believed there would be no possible unintended solutions, man! It seemed to me like there was only one way through. Anyway, after reading a bit of people's posts, I'm sure there are many different ways for this... SURPRISINGLY! I like that.
I'll upload later my playthrough for the 2nd round and let's see which ways can I find for solving it! I may find or imagine the intended ways for the 1st part!
Then I will be very interested in knowing more about other ways to get through.
Thanks for mapping!
My solution to the first bit does not rely on that technique. Nevertheless, I think it would be a better map if you did lower the bridge - it would prevent people from thinking that the solution to your map is just a repetitive grind.
I think the trickiest part (in terms of execution) of the way I originally solved the first bit went something like:
To get past the fourth gate, set the cube, angled properly, out of the laser path. Use portals to complete light bridge and cross. Put a floor portal under the laser, and under the cube. Bounce cube around the floor until the laser lines up at the receiver. Remove portal from beneath cube, and hope it sticks. Ended up working fairly well. Was easy enough, given that you could face the cube directly at the wall and it'd line up properly. Didn't quite seem like the intended solution, but at least valid.
Okay, at least the first part of this map is absolutely brilliant! It seems like a very logical puzzle that had a lot of thought put into it.
I've been putting off commenting until I might think of the solution for part 2... but I'm as stuck there with the same line of reasoning as everyone else. With how thoughtful the first part was I'm hoping it's not something weird or obsucre (I can't imagine we're supposed to somehow move the cube around by flipping it with the light bridge?)
Is this what I was supposed to do for the first part? It didn't require me to set the cube on the bridge.
SPOILERSPOILER IT WILL RUIN YOUR FUN I WARNED YOU
I basically took two cubes at a time through the fizzlers, would then aim one cube at the bridge activator, go back, then move the third cube around so it would hit the cube activate the bridge, then crossed it again. The laser was still hitting the cube, so I could position it to activate the fizzler and let the other cube through.
Has anyone really solved part 2 other than the author's brothers?
If so, please speak up, and give us a small hint!
First of all, about that "technique" of mine, well I think it is of course licit. I didn't use any trick or something... just played with the elements I was given.
Anyway, I think I've got the solution for the second round. Of course, I can't use that technique anyore in this new round, and I will use some ideas I could have used in round 1 avoiding my technique.
I'll post this afternoon after recording my playthrough ok?
Best regards!
EDIT:
@jonatan
||> Quote:
but it is in my opinion a bit boring, tedious and random since it bounce when it lands
Boring and random not, I really enjoyed imagining and executing my solution, your puzzle is so so funny for me... Random, more or les, as it took me several tries to get the laser beam pointing to where I needed as it bounced after falling.||
Well I've managed to hit the exit sensor with the laser on the second phase of the map now. Still haven't completed it though and still not sure if it's possible... working on it...
You bastard! This is the toughest logic puzzle I've played so far. I'm stcuk in the second part where other posters seem to be, with a cube at the #7 button.
I found a minor bug in the second part. You can get stuck between the lightbridge and the non-portal surface the laser is aimed at. I have also lost the cube once. I dropped it through a portal in the floor while trying to fling it onto the third button, and it just disappeared. It was very close to the non-portal floor under the laser path.
If the intended solution involves tilting the laser up at the receiver, I just can't pull it off.
I usually don't rate maps until I've finished them, but I'll make an exception for this one. A very no-brainer 5/5, because I have no brain left.
EDIT 10/31/2011: Thanks to spathiwa, I finally pulled it off. It took several attempts, because the cube refused to land on button #6.
I'm pretty sure you're quite evil...
Where I'm at with stage two: I really don't think you can get a second cube through gate 3. It would take some kind of super tricky dynamic flip and even then, you could not take control of the laser after that. SO it must require only one cube in the end-zone. No matter how you insert the laser to that area, it's not possible to hit the sensor without some kind of hair trigger tilt. I have triggered the exit sensor briefly by standing on the edge of the cube but it's not enough to exit the level. I am frustrated and angry now and ready for the answer if it even exists. I assume you have to portal the bridge but I've never even come up with a possible scenario for that. 
So this is a hoax, right?
October Fools?
I'm becoming increasingly convinced part 2 is not actually possible.
Uploaded new version 1.3 which hopefully fixes all problems with missing cubes. Also lowered bridge as explained in an earlier post. (This does not affect part 2 but will make part 1 slightly more involved.)
Since nobody solved part two yet (excepts for my brothers) I will give a small hint:
It is not possible to pass gate 3 with more than one cube. However it is possible to bring a portal to the exit door area. You just need to find the cute little trick... I can say as much, it does not involve weird laser angles.
I also just registered to comment on this map. I assume everyone realizes that it's impossible to transport two cubes through the first six gates (or even past gate 3) because you need at least one cube to direct the laser. This means that the only possible way to get a cube into the exit area is through the use of portals. There are basically two ways to do this: (1) Place one portal in the switch area (next to a cube or so that the bridge passes through the portal) and set things up so you can walk through the gates without hitting a fizzler. (2) Bring a single cube past gate 6, open gate 7, place a portal on one of the surfaces and walk back (with the cube) without hitting a fizzler. However I run into a similar problem. I can get past one of the button gates (3 and 6), but not both. I've come extremely close trying (2). So close, in fact, that if gate 3 wasn't there, I could beat the map. But I don't see how you could do either of those walks with both buttons 3 and 6 pressed, and still be able to move the laser. And, of course, once you're in the gates, you can't move around portals, and you can only move cubes up and down using the bridge So it still seems impossible to me.
I think I figured it out! At least, I just figured out the "secret ingredient" maneuver, now I just have to put it all together.
Damn, jonatan, you are one devious, clever, sneaky, brilliant guy.
Time to sleep now, I'll post again tomorrow whether this winds up working out or not.
I was thinking about this today at work and now I see that shma has summarised my thoughts precisely.
I gave up on part two and did this 
:
http://i.imgur.com/V2e5Z.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/AsNJk.jpg
(can't embed images since I'm new here.
Nice! It is of course not the intended solution but very cool nevertheless. That must have taken quite a lot of trial and error...
jonatan wrote:
Nice! It is of course not the intended solution but very cool nevertheless. That must have taken quite a lot of trial and error...
I thought it would take a while too, but once I gave up on the intended solution and decided to try that, it only took about 5 minutes. Much less time than I spent trying to find the intended solution, that's for sure.
Interesting that it's actually possible! I had been trying to get it to work by standing on the edge or tossing it at the glass. Maybe you used the hydra controller?!
grayarea wrote:
Interesting that it's actually possible! I had been trying to get it to work by standing on the edge or tossing it at the glass. Maybe you used the hydra controller?!
You're breaking the map if you use the hydra, it just makes it too easy, if people make maps for the hydra, non-hydra players can't play. If people make maps not for the hydra, hydra players cheat their way to victory
Well, definitely progress. I'm almost positive I figured out the 'trick' to part 2, but I still don't have a full solution.
I figured out how to move the reflector cube from one of the floor buttons to the other merely by redirecting the laser from inside the gated chambers area. I've managed to get to the chamber in front of gate 4 with portals still active outside and carrying a cube, and with fizzlers 5 and 6 off , but I'm stuck now because fizzler 4 is still on and although I can activate laser catcher 4 from there, I then can't take the cube through with me and I need it for the final gate.
I thought I had another clever way to do it without needing to hit catcher 4 from inside, and it SHOULD work, but due to the quirky way reflector cubes work, it just doesn't.
Warning, big spoiler: the following pic gives away both the basic trick which I'm pretty sure is needed for the intended solution, and my failed attempt to hit laser catcher 4 automatically at the same time the cube moves from button 3 to button 6.
http://imgur.com/LYnFv/
If the cube didn't have the laser going through it, it would easily fall through when you turn off the light bridge, but with the laser going through the cube seems to auto-stabilize or something and I just can't make it work.
Further clarification of the screenshot
The laser going into the cube propped up by the vertical light bridge is set up so it would hit switch 4 if the cube wasn't there, i.e. if it falls through the portal. The idea is to now go into the second chamber, pick up the cube which is directing the laser at the light bridge activator and slowly inch back past gate 3, then let the laser move off the light bridge activator. This should let the cube propped up on button 3 fall through the portal onto button 6, automatically hit laser catcher 4, and the way should be clear all the way to the pad for the last gate.
But no matter how I try, I can't get the button 3 cube to fall through when the laser is directed through it to inside the chambers. If I don't set up the laser this way (aimed at switch 4 but intercepted by the cube on button 3), and instead just aim it directly into the chambers with the cube on button 3 still propped up, it works fine and falls through to button 6, but then I have no way to hit switch 4 from inside the chamber and still bring the cube with me through gate 4. (You can't back the cube far enough into the corner to hit switch 4 with the laser going through gate 4; you can only reach it through the window.)
OK, after having tried several of my ideas, I've discovered that it's not at all possible to pass the 2nd cube through the fizzler corridor beyond 3rd fizzler. I've got one cube at floor_cube_button for the 7th fizzler and the other cube needs to be carried on to the final part through portals.
OK, now I REALLY think I've got THE WAY. And damn it! it's not SOOOO difficult as we all think! it's just a simple logic! I had short time during this weekend to think in this puzzle or try anything so I will sit down in front of this damn puzzle this afternoon again and record my solution. I hope what's in my mind will work!
If it dooes... well, I will in fact record part 1 and 2 altogether for version 1.3 (in order to record my alternate solution for round 1 without my bridge technique).
Jonatan, you won't imagine ever how hungry I am for finishing with this puzzle at once! Thanks for mapping, man... I love challenges
EDIT: so, even before we have just finish this one and recovered ourselves from so-hard-damn-thinking-with-portals, you release a new challenge??? yes, you're definitely Evil... Happy Halloween!
spathiwa wrote:
Well, definitely progress. I'm almost positive I figured out the 'trick' to part 2, but I still don't have a full solution.
Thanks, spathiwa , this worked for me. I never would have thought to use the bridge that way.
Jonatan, you are an evil genius 
. The Wheatley quotes were apropos, but even GlaDos with PMS couldn't think this one up. It's amazing that one small change in a map can so utterly change the solution.
EDIT 10/31/2011: I bit the bullet and got Fraps. Here's Part 1.
http://youtu.be/fwOnOB3PYj4
And here's Part 2:
http://youtu.be/26b0gtvdKhQ
It worked for you, as per spathiwa's screenshot? I spent ages trying to get that damn cube to balance just right. It seems just as hard as the previous simple solution balancing the cube against the glass. If the actual intended solution is so fiddly then I'm not happy...
Well done, spathiwa. Your solution is correct as far as logic goes. Judging from your screenshot you only need to change the configuration slightly to make sure the cube always fall through the portal when the bridge is removed.
So Spathiwa finally did it the intended way, right? Even confirmed by jonatan...
CONGRATULATIONS!
Here is the promised walkthrough video. If you haven't solved part 1 without using the bridge technique removed in version 1.3, I urge you to try this first before watching. (Part 2 starts at 3:45.)
l-G9gRRcPW4
Thank you all for testing. If you enjoyed this map you might want to try out my new fifth map Devil's Chamber. I hope it will provide a challenge but probably not quite as much as this one. (It has already been reported solved.)
jonatan wrote:
Here is the promised walkthrough video. If you haven't solved part 1 without using the bridge technique removed in version 1.3, I urge you to try this first before watching. (Part 2 starts at 3:45.)l-G9gRRcPW4
Thank you all for testing. If you enjoyed this map you might want to try out my new fifth map Devil's Chamber. I hope it will provide a challenge but probably not quite as much as this one. (It has already been reported solved.)
I had gotten to the same point that spathiwa did and ran into the same problem with gate 4. After watching your video I have to say I'm a bit disappointed in the intended solution. I expected it to be a bit more graceful. I especially didn't like that you had to pull the cube through gate 3 quickly as the other cube was falling off button 3. Nevertheless, awesome puzzle and I'll definitely be trying more of your maps.
Cool! I'm happy that I got the answer right, but I'm disappointed I couldn't actually pull it off before posting my solution. Kudos to jonatan, the design of the puzzle is clever and elegant... I wish the execution were elegant too, but it just isn't because the laser/cube/button/balanced light bridge set up is just so fiddly that it even makes the game seem buggy.
Jonatan, you are indeed an evil genius. I have to say one thing however. You updated the map in version 1.3 and said that lowering the bridge would not affect stage 2, however the lower bridge obviously makes the crucial step of stage 2 easier since the bridge is closer to button 3 in that case. In fact, following your video I still can't succeed with version 1.2. Are you really saying v1.3 was not a correction to stage 2 because no one could solve it?
Either way, I loved the test. I'll be checking out more of your stuff.
Well you can always adjust where you shoot the portal on the wall to get any height you want on the bridge. If anything the new version makes it more difficult since you have less options regarding bridge heights.
So yes, the change only have to do with part 1 for the reasons stated before.
(Note however if you activate the bridge before you shoot the portal, the main behavior of Portal 2 is that it will auto adjust the portal, so if you want another height you need to shoot the portal first.)
Jonatan, absolutely incredible solution video.
Sooo tricky indeed... but awesome
Thanks for mapping (again)
I'll move out to Devil's chamber this afternnon (a funny Halloween gift.... from the DEVIL of challenge maps).
ahhhh, the balanced cube for gate 3. found it, but don't know how to block it from falling.
the speed trick for gate 3 is a little 'dirty'.
but this map is one of my favorites.
great job.
I give up. I can't beat the part 2. I think i cheated even on part 1. I moved two cubes to the chamber 6 and was crossing the water by jumping over it.
Congrats to spathiwa. I actually tried something like what he did using the bridge to keep the cube from falling, but I couldn't set it up so that the cube on the gate side went through both the bridge light and the gate 1 switch. Well done.
Congratulations to spathiwa for figuring out how to utilize the light bridge. Even with that figured out, the solution is still not straight forward, as the balance on button #3 needs to be so that the cube falls slowly off the button. Anyways, jonatan, you have succeeded to create a map that was too brainy for one single person to solve, that is just amazing.
The most frustrating map i have played. I did the first level no problem but got stuck on the second one, had to look at the solution. It took me over 30 mins to get
the cube lined up with hardlight bridge,once i did this i walked across the bridge and saved the game, this is where i encountered a big bug. I messed up the next bit, but thought no problem, i will just load my last save, but when i did, the
cube moved, switching off the hard lightbridge, the cube fell through the portals landing on the buttoni was stuck at the first emancipation field, i had to start the whole map again. I also had a cube dissapear, but i did figure out what happened to it. The cube was sitting on the bit of the floor that revolves 180 deg, and slipped underneath the floor. Very devious map, just not a fan of tricky placements. Maybe you could place a button that destroys the cubes but also gives you a portable surface for a few seconds at the first emancipation field.
I thought I fixed the missing cube problem in latest version. Are you sure you are running 1.3?
It is version 1.2, i downloaded the map on the 29th Oct. Did you upload the newer version after this date.
Yes I fixed that problem in version 1.3. Still the quicksave issue remains, but I can't solve it easily. The thing is that when you load a saved state hardlights as well as other testing elements start turned off and then powered on a split second later. Enough to ruin your day. Apparently Valve did not foresee there being scenarios where there would be issues having it this way.
jonatan wrote:
The thing is that when you load a saved state hardlights as well as other testing elements start turned off and then powered on a split second later. Enough to ruin your day.
This is really good to know,thanks for the reply Jonatan.
it took me several peaks at the hints and ideas in this thread to solve this...
i already had all the pieces in my head but couldnt put them together properly :S
i am convinced that this map was not made by a human being.
glados? is that you!?
.......
Brilliant! Just finished part 2, absolutely brutal trick! Big ups to jonatan for making these high level puzzles. DONT LET THE HATERS MAKE YOU STOP MAPPING!!! Now for Devil's chamber. I have nightmares about what your coop map must look like! Keep up the good work buddy.
Jonaton - sadly this puzzle is in the "Too Difficult" category.
I realize that one can make maps with extreme complexity. But even the best Chess Grandmaster cannot see more than 7 or 8 moves ahead because the possible combinations increase exponentially.
With 7 gates, a multitude of ways to trip the gates, and thousands of possible cube placements . . . you come up with millions - literally millions of possible combinations.
IMO a great map should be solvable by moderately intelligent people. This one far exceeded that to the point where the vast majority of Testers simply will not solve it.
Quote:
This one far exceeded that to the point where the vast majority of Testers simply will not solve it.
Then I have succeeded because this was my goal. What in my description of this map made you think otherwise? I do not wish to make popular maps with moderate difficulty. I want to make hard maps that none or just a couple of people are able to solve.
Jonaton, you once said "If no one solves it, I win" - that encapsulates your goal in map-making.
In this case, when someone did solve it, you replied that you would then change it to "make it more difficult".
You can make these so 1 or 2 or even zero people solve them.
But it seems a great talent is not being fully realized.
If you made at least a few maps that are tricky, difficult, but geared so that approx 25% will solve, that would be more "fun" because the player won't feel so hopeless. If the tester felt like he "could" possibly solve the map given enough time, patience, and effort - his interest and fun would increase dramatically. As it is there is no way 99% will solve this and maybe 98% for a few others I played from your inventory. It's like . . . work on it for a couple hours and then give up. Or go to the Video for numerous clues.
True - there are people that want these exactly as they are - the harder the better.
But it would be nice if at least "some" of your maps gave people a very difficult yet solvable challenge. You know, your first map was a big hit and everyone loved it and most solved it. If the later maps were that type but longer - then although more people would solve them they would still struggle a lot to do so.
I hope you do not stop because there are only a few making the really challenging maps. But I would like to have a chance to solve them too.
ls
lol this map is awesome i love it but please make it more fun it wasnt very fun due to alot of repetition
Epic. With this one you brought me to my knees. It`s great to have you in community. Definitely hall of fame. How the hell you are able to thought something like that - big,big respect.
Hardest I played so far...
Great work, jonatan. I've independently solved 0 of your tests.
I was proud of myself (quite so) by solving the first half of this one, which interestingly enough, I did by juggling the cube at ground level, positioned to redirect the laser to both the bridge activator and the field disablers, alternately. I jumped across the bridge as it alternated on/off. I would then step through the field at the precise moment, removing my portals and leaving the cube in position to redirect the laser to the desired catcher. After watching your video, I realize that this is kind of a goofy solution, but I don't see any way for you to remove it.
You monster.
what the f!
Sevengates screenshot for portal2 background ?!
valves like your map
portal_sevengates.jpg
As much I would like to think so, I think the background is set from what you by play by automatic screenshot.
This was a very interesting map; good work.
I didn't manage to solve it - not even the first section, and after a few hours gave up and watched the intended solution to determine where my constraints were disproved. I approached this map by making a list of constraints and then attempting to solve the resulting simultaneous equation. I ran around, observed the map, and made the following constraints:* One cube must unpower gate 7, therefore at most 2 cubes can be in the main room.<br /> * The laser catcher at the end is powered by a laser through a portal. We acquire a laser and shoot the laser through the portal surface to open the door.<br /> * Gates 1 and 4 cannot be unpowered simultaneously. Therefore we must place a portal from within gate 1.<br /> * Therefore, gates 2-7 must be unpowered simultaneously using two cubes on buttons in the main room.<br /> * Orange portal must catch the laser; it's position is constrained.<br /> * 2 boxes must sit on 2 buttons; their positions (but not orientations) are constrained.<br /> * Only one section of the wall is unobstructed from behind Gate 1. The blue portal's position is semi-constrained.<br /> * Final 3 variables: Blue portal location, two cube orientations
Ultimately, the second constraint turns out to be incorrect. It looks like one must carry a portal to the end; the intended solution is actually quite different. However, this is not clear until after the fact. Personally, I like maps where I solve the room elements, but not solve how the room interacts with itself (in other words, solve a complicated arrangement of constraints, but the constraints themselves are not misrepresented).
That said, your goal is to create maps that new will solve. That's fine, and I think you did a great job. In the future though, I would really like to see you design a map with many clearly-defined constraints, but where the simultaneous equation of those constraints has a very non-trivial solution. You're probably one of the only mappers amazing enough to really pull that off well.
Ruien I had exactly the same story. The constraint with laser was such a critical factor for me that I couldnt think outside the box on this one. Spent many hours and believe or not I was still able to get to laser catcher (was bouncing the cube on light brigde) but didnt had enough cubes as for other constraints. Only one of 4 tests I was unable to pass
Well, this was a bit too much for me. The first part was easy enough to complete in 20 mins and I was left wondering "What? That's it??". About 2 hrs later I found myself tearing my hair out, while watching the solution video. This is your best work IMO, and this time I stand completely defeated
Should have considered the hint of non-portalable wall turning portalable at the end of the blue walkway.
Sorry for the up. Found this map today and... well, did it.
Awesome and hard(est) map... Haven't done it the way expected for the first part (I've used only one cube on gates' side and managed to keep my portal open, linking main room and exit room. Also I've used angle lasers in exit room and felt stupid when I found the other solution later.. http://imgur.com/23eOQES)
The second part was very tricky Oo
A small difficult puzzle for hardcore portal players.
Expect evilness...
v 1.3: Fixed missing cube problem. Lowered bridge. (See thread for details.)
File Name: sp_sevengates_v1.3.zip
File Size: 2.08 MiB
Click here to download Seven Gates