I noticed that in portal, each map was either 1 or 2 test chambers long. Since portal dosent use a bunch of props and npcs, the maps remain relatively small. I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations as to how large a portal maps should be. I was wondering this because for one of my portal maps, its about the size of two portal maps that valve made. Better to break it down into separate maps, or remain one map?

For that size, it should be fine. I know that really really big maps sometimes have problems, and the bigger the map, the longer the load time, (I think ). As long as you get no problems, and you can work through the map ok, everything should be fine.

There are a number of advantages to splitting your chambers into multiple maps, such as letting the player play any chamber they want, when then want - and to have individual challenges for each chamber.

If you chambers play just fine as separate map files, it's the better way to go.

the reasoning for my map being pretty hefty, is that its kinda telling a story. another reason is, it kinda pissed me off in portal when you play a map and it takes you 30 seconds and you have to load another.

also. the larger the map... the greater the chance for mistakes, leaks, errors, glitches, and exploits... keep in mind, just cuz YOU didn't think with portals in a particular situation doesn't mean all the people playing your map won't think of it stares at infernet89

lets say you forgot one simple fizzler and the player (for no real reason) finds a way to get all the way back to the beggining of your map and then get stuck or some such junk. just cuz the map was too big...

now i'm not speaking against big maps. some of them i really like just saying that the more you put, the more chance we will have to break your map eg

taco wrote:
...... If you chambers play just fine as separate map files, it's the better way to go.

i agree. but likewise if you are having no problem with your LARGE map.. then bring it on

I am not worried about players finding leaks or exploits, and i have a friends who test it just for that. And about the map being big, it's not really big in the sense of a large room chamber, more big as in lengthy. so far i have no glitches or exploits, and im about 75% done, mapping since end of Marchish

then i say bring it on. like taco said its more about playing individual parts of the game, individual maps. if all of your map belongs together then go ahead and build big :p

I wish i could release it, but its part of a 3 (or four, depending if i separate one) mappack. the first map, is 75% done about, the 2nd is 12% done, and the third is 60%. this mappack is meant to be epic, something NEVER EVER DONE before, so its taking a while

There was already a thread about this.....

Its up to you how big you make your map files, its a trade off between how often you want to see the loading screen or how long you want the loading screen to take.

One large level per load seems fine and for smaller levels two per load seems fine, just like valve did. what i wouldnt do however is have half of a chamber in one bsp and the other half of the same chamber inanother bsp, that would be bad.

I'm making a mapapck with 5 separate maps that everyone of them contains about 15 test chambers, They are pretty big but the compile time and the Fps are still good, thats the thing I like when mapping for portal, Small rooms without open areas.

It's all about the ent_data!