This is just an early alpha test... I thought why not make a map that makes the player think outside the box? I might make this a map-pack if I get good feedback. If I get feedback, I'll probably make the 2nd map...

File Name: think_outside_the_box_a01_01a.zip
File Size: 785.77 KiB
Click here to download Think Outside the Box (Early alpha) [WIP]

I just played through your map and if it wasn't for the title I would've never solved it.
I did solve it the way it was put into the readme file, so that's good.
The graphical design could be improved upon imo; but if you have more of these kind of crazy ideas I'm sure you can make some people really happy with a crazy mappack like that!

Thanks. And what do you mean by graphical design? You mean the way it looks in-game?

Hmm 'interestin' ''puzzle'', ^^

After a long 6-8 hours, I have completed the 2nd area (just to make you guys try the style a bit more). This area has 2 possible solutions. Depending on the way you solve it, you can change the outcome of the game (which means I have to work even more and even hard, but worth it). If you guys think this is idea is good, I might make a map-pack. But, if it comes to that, I'll need someone to help me with the timeline... So yeah, tell me what you think of it.

https://www.mediafire.com/?nvj9irv3epzyxb4

I really like the 2th puzzle, maybe you change some Design things, because the observation room is a little bit missplaced, and why are the textures on the deathfield "overgrown" themed? ^^

But pls keep up that kind of puzzle, i like it

Thanks for the feedback. I just wanted to add a O.R. for the looks, I might change the walls so it's a single panel and make it look better. And the reason why the walls near the deathfield are "overgrown" is because the heat from the laser started melting off some of the metal, and the dust got stuck in it. Have you found both endings?

Cool puzzles, but the glass needs frames, and observation room is misaligned. Also, why does the exit door suddenly appear after the button is pressed. Thats weird.
My playthrough:
EJU_QV19c_M

Haha! Thanks! Yeah, I know about those two imperfections, it is in early alpha though. And for the door, It's sort of just mystery. You have to "think outside the box" for most of the tests I am working on it though.

Alright. So I remastered (slightly) the maps and are in the 99.9% complete stage. Yet this pack is still not near the middle of alpha stage. Enjoy as a puzzle has been changed.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/t6dms1s3q6x792b/Think_Outside_The_Box+Alpha+0.1.1.2.zip

I'm going to get some images soon...

Edit: Fixed the link. I forgot to include the file for the signs...

Yeahhhh cool. Making the Goo lower makes it look better Yours is way too high. 32/64 units beneath the floor is good. For the glass frames, you made it with brushes I guess? I think the frame models look better.


Anyway, here's my playthrough:
Gvq8VgzUaj4

it's awesome to see you listen to the feedback you get and improve upon it! Keep up the good work!

Lpfreaky90 wrote:
it's awesome to see you listen to the feedback you get and improve upon it! Keep up the good work!

Thanks, I really want this to be really good, but, I'd need someone whom I could trust to help me make this. If anyone wants to help me, they have to be decent at hammer, and willing to help. I'll explain the details to that person once I choose someone whom wants to help...

RectorRocks wrote:
Yeahhhh cool. Making the Goo lower makes it look better Yours is way too high. 32/64 units beneath the floor is good. For the glass frames, you made it with brushes I guess? I think the frame models look better.

Alright, I'll lower the goo, but what prop should I use for the window?

P0rtalFTW wrote:
Alright, I'll lower the goo, but what prop should I use for the window?

Just search "frame" in the model browser. You'll find one identical to the one in the picture.

RectorRocks wrote:
P0rtalFTW wrote:

Alright, I'll lower the goo, but what prop should I use for the window?

Just search "frame" in the model browser. You'll find one identical to the one in the picture.

Yup, found it. I'm compiling and testing. BTW, jumping at the leaned panel doesn't do anything... You'll figure it out though...

Pictures (Dimensions are too big :/) :

http://imgur.com/PA3MLMq

http://imgur.com/NvfSfQ2

http://imgur.com/S4khjJX

http://imgur.com/uUzPKDJ

http://imgur.com/cwP3WQZ

The images are also in the .zip...

Should be the last time I fix these maps...

http://www.mediafire.com/download/a9b0gqrbhwk23hi/Think_Outside_The_Box+Alpha+0.1.1.4.zip

Just played this, and I have to say that the puzzles were very... interesting; they definitely lived up to the name. The first chamber gives very little impression that the player is able - and at that, required - to jump onto the door frame. This is a result of both that it feels very much like a "speedrunner" thing to do, and that it is agonizingly difficult to get onto it. Even more so when you miss the jump to the slanted ledge. The map also offers very little evidence that there is, in fact, anything up where the cube spawns that would be of any significance; indicator lights should fix that, however. The second map's puzzle seemed to me to be more of a reiterations of the first; requiring you to perform very similar actions, thus making it easier to solve. It was also very unclear as to where the exit door was, but again, indicator lights should fix that. There is also a lack of autosaves in the second part, as if you were to die you would start back at the beginning of the map.

The rest of this post is pretty much all about the way it looks, so, prepare yourself for that.

The first thing I notice when I walk through the entry door is the tile variation, or the lack thereof. An entire wall consisting of 32x32 metal tiles is not aesthetically pleasing; some 64x64, 64x128, and 128x128 textures mixed in there should fix that. Also note that some tile/white textures wouldn't hurt either, but might make the player feel as if they should be in possession of a portal gun. Also, IMO the observation room is too close to the ground, and is lacking props (e.g. desks, monitors, etc.), which makes it look very boring.

Something else that bugged me in that first room is the behind-the-scenes texture usage.

The orange gradient texture, especially (which was something only used in the first Portal IIRC), looks very out of place here, especially since those metalwall textures are usually only used in destroyed settings. I would probably suggest using a metal framework texture for the inside of that piston base (filter framework in the texture browser) or perhaps look at the piston instances Valve created and use those as a reference. As for the actual piston, I would use a white plastic texture for those sides (filter plastic), or perhaps the squarebeam one (again, filter framework). A piston or squarebeam model at the back of the piston would also look nice (just don't forget to parent it). One last thing about this that bothered me was that the piston (albeit not visible) clips through the button when it retracts. Perhaps having the piston move only 16 units in or so would solve this problem (it would probably also help the player jump onto to the ledge).

Several things about the lighting in this map-pack seemed off. For starters, the (one and only) light strip in this casts it's light onto the wall in a really weird way. Usually, light strips emit a bumpy looking sort of light. Yours, however, is flat. This may be the result of a too small texture scale (for reference, Valve stretches their light strip textures to 4). Too bright of a light (or too low of a scale) is also evident in several other parts of the map-pack (see below). My suggestions for these lights would be to increase the texture scale, and - for the square ones - to maybe place square light models over them.

In terms of lighting, your maps would greatly benefit from a couple of env_projectedtextures. In case you don't know what that is, a projectedtextures is an entity that projects a dynamic light. What's so great about it is that casts shadows upon everything it touches, which can look really nice if used correctly. A great example of one in use is this. Keep in mind, though, that you cannot have more than one active at the same time.

One other thing that's really nice to have in your maps is the global_ents instance, which they don't look like they have. Another Bad Pun explained it to me pretty well a year or so ago, so I guess I'll just pull the quote up and use it here:

Another Bad Pun wrote:
global ents is basically a giant nodraw treasure chest of fog and color correction that affects your whole map and changes its lighting dramaticly. (remember, fog in source carries light over long distances.) to use it, create a logic_auto and put in the following output: OnMapSpawn, ( your global ents name,) and then the theme you want. it should display a dropdown list you can choose from. I would choose either testchamber, (good for making reds and blues stand out against white,) or bts (which helps when you want your metal tinted ever so slightly blue.) Just mess around with it until you find something you like. you can also change your ents settings with triggers, which means you can give multiple areas in your map different effects.

My last complaints go to the acid pit in the second test chamber. The pit is not very deep, for starters, and when you die the surface glitches out. This can be solved by simply making the pit bigger. There are also no tideline overlays around the edges of the acid, which I would advise putting in (just filter tideline in the texture browser). Finally, the acid texture you are using does not fit the map very well, and I would suggest looking at the following video for a better one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Seml6aXZ8iU

Glad I read the read me this time... Generally if the solution involves a "ninja" type move - maybe a hint or an intro chamber would help. Without your readme this would have been very frustrating... maybe a faith plate which pops one up on the top of the door frame would help the solution.... A map series of these types of moves would drive me crazy unless I had a hint what I should start thinking about....Thanks for mapping.

quatrus wrote:
Glad I read the read me this time... Generally if the solution involves a "ninja" type move - maybe a hint or an intro chamber would help. Without your readme this would have been very frustrating... maybe a faith plate which pops one up on the top of the door frame would help the solution.... A map series of these types of moves would drive me crazy unless I had a hint what I should start thinking about....Thanks for mapping.

To what use? This map has been put to sleep... Permenently. I have near no idea how to continue, and I needed help at the point. I gave up from these 3 cretia: Lack of Ideas; Little understanding in some mechanics; no help during request.

P0rtalFTW wrote:
To what use? This map has been put to sleep... Permenently. I have near no idea how to continue, and I needed help at the point. I gave up from these 3 cretia: Lack of Ideas; Little understanding in some mechanics; no help during request.

Don't give up like that! This map pack has great potential, and Caden just gave you some VERY good advice! But I think it's too early for anyone else to get involved yet. Keep mapping.

Dr.Toaster Waffles wrote:
P0rtalFTW wrote:

To what use? This map has been put to sleep... Permenently. I have near no idea how to continue, and I needed help at the point. I gave up from these 3 cretia: Lack of Ideas; Little understanding in some mechanics; no help during request.

Don't give up like that! This map pack has great potential, and Caden just gave you some VERY good advice! But I think it's too early for anyone else to get involved yet. Keep mapping.

You... Really think I should continue?

You shouldn't give up on anything that quickly...