Hi there I'm just returning to Portal 2 after a 3 year hiatus. I used to play all the new custom maps on this site until I got stumped on a map called "7 gates" and never played the game again haha.

Anyways I finally started playing again and I guess the 3 years of time off helped because I finally beat "7 gates" after 45 mins of my first time playing it in 3 years. (although I did run through the single player game again to familiarize myself with everything again.)

Anyways onto my question. When I first used this site I used to just download maps, put them in my maps directory, then run them from my console with the "map (mapname.bsp)" command.

Now when I try to download things here it takes me to a steam page???? I don't have portal 2 on steam. How do I just regularly download the maps instead of going through all this steam malarkey?

Thx for any help

Valve released a major update, adding an ingame map editor and automatic downloading of maps and stuff. Manually copying BSPs still works, but most people just upload to the Workshop so users can download, rate, etc easily. You should be able to get the Steam version of the game somehow, or something of the sort to be able to load it. Does your main menu screen have a "community test chambers" button just below the coop button?

No I don't have that option. This is what my screen looks like.

Did you try adding Portal 2 to Steam and then check for the last update ? Dunno if it could work, just an idea.

Lend us your steam name and I will send you an "updated" copy.

iWork925 wrote:
"updated" copy

Rlski wrote:
Did you try adding Portal 2 to Steam and then check for the last update ? Dunno if it could work, just an idea.

It wants a key and I have no idea where the key is or if I even have one. Am I going to have to buy the game on steam just to play maps now? not that $20 bucks is that big of deal, but still it's a nice dinner and a pint of beer.

Yes, I think you'll have to buy it.
See it on the bright side, there's a lot of nice maps and mappacks in the workshop, you just have to watch for the lots and lots of bad PTI stuff and don't get your map list full of them.

Btw, in case you've missed it, PTI stands for Perpetual Testing Initiative, also known as the in-game puzzle creator, that's what brought the workshop

PedroDeak wrote:
Yes, I think you'll have to buy it.
See it on the bright side, there's a lot of nice maps and mappacks in the workshop, you just have to watch for the lots and lots of bad PTI stuff and don't get your map list full of them.

Btw, in case you've missed it, PTI stands for Perpetual Testing Initiative, also known as the in-game puzzle creator, that's what brought the workshop

Looks like I've missed a lot since I last put down the game. How does one avoid these bad maps?

I used to recommend spotlight maps - but sleeper fucked that over. Just download highly rated maps I guess... downloads.php?cat=10

The PTI maps are the ones that the thumbnail looks like a draw of a test chamber. Not all off them are bad, but most of them are really a waste of time because anyone can create anything and upload it, so they just spread some test elements in a room, connect them, add some goo, some turrets, and there it is. Some of the users even use mods that easily allow them to add some custom features. You can pick the maps that are best rated, they normally have more information, and there's also a lot of them. 5 stars, 4 stars, there are even some 3 stars that are worth having a look

Thanks for the help guys, I do appreciate it. So after I buy the game on steam, the maps I subscribe to will automatically get downloaded when I launch Portal 2 from steam? Is that how it works?

The maps will get downloaded the moment you subscribe to it, so when you open the game, they'll be ready for you to play

PedroDeak wrote:
The maps will get downloaded the moment you subscribe to it, so when you open the game, they'll be ready for you to play

Thank's again Pedro. You've been very helpful.

You're welcome!

I've forgot to mention, when maps have this kind of screenshot, it's also PTI, but they have mods.

Also keep in mind those "mappers" who export from PTI into hammer. At first, it probably doesn't sound like a bad idea, but it gives you a bunch of stupid cubes and overly-complex puzzle elements. These maps are harder to avoid, so look out for them. If you want hammer only maps, check the box in the workshop that says 'custom story'. Most of these maps will be entirely made in hammer and tend to be a Lott better overall.

Arachnaphob wrote:
Also keep in mind those "mappers" who export from PTI into hammer. At first, it probably doesn't sound like a bad idea, but it gives you a bunch of stupid cubes and overly-complex puzzle elements. These maps are harder to avoid, so look out for them. If you want hammer only maps, check the box in the workshop that says 'custom story'. Most of these maps will be entirely made in hammer and tend to be a Lott better overall.

Sometimes that can be a good thing though you don't have to remake the whole test for one, which is a godsend on complex chambers. First thing I do when I import maps into hammer is fix all of the asinine brushwork. Takes forever but so worth it. Next up is trying to fix the "giant Lego set" aesthetic. Which is harder. Whatevs.

But yeah, most PTI to Hammer maps are by people who looked up 1 tutorial on YouTube and think they know everything ever about mapping. That always ends up with a grade-A shitmap. Most of the time they can't even design a good puzzle, lol.

Anyway, more on topic - you'll love the PTI. You can't really do all that much and the puzzles have a rather cookie-cutter look&feel, but nonetheless it's a great tool for whipping up puzzles. Top Rated All on the workshop is a good place to start, if you scroll past Designed for Danger and 12 Angry Tests. You might want to get your hands on maps by Mevious, josepezdj, cyhborg, greykarel, eMbAh, and anyone else who yells at me for not including them in this list if you want a headache.

Arachnaphob wrote:
Also keep in mind those "mappers" who export from PTI into hammer. At first, it probably doesn't sound like a bad idea, but it gives you a bunch of stupid cubes and overly-complex puzzle elements. These maps are harder to avoid, so look out for them. If you want hammer only maps, check the box in the workshop that says 'custom story'. Most of these maps will be entirely made in hammer and tend to be a Lott better overall.

quaternary wrote:
Arachnaphob wrote:

Also keep in mind those "mappers" who export from PTI into hammer. At first, it probably doesn't sound like a bad idea, but it gives you a bunch of stupid cubes and overly-complex puzzle elements. These maps are harder to avoid, so look out for them. If you want hammer only maps, check the box in the workshop that says 'custom story'. Most of these maps will be entirely made in hammer and tend to be a Lott better overall.

Sometimes that can be a good thing though you don't have to remake the whole test for one, which is a godsend on complex chambers. First thing I do when I import maps into hammer is fix all of the asinine brushwork. Takes forever but so worth it. Next up is trying to fix the "giant Lego set" aesthetic. Which is harder. Whatevs.

But yeah, most PTI to Hammer maps are by people who looked up 1 tutorial on YouTube and think they know everything ever about mapping. That always ends up with a grade-A shitmap. Most of the time they can't even design a good puzzle, lol.

Anyway, more on topic - you'll love the PTI. You can't really do all that much and the puzzles have a rather cookie-cutter look&feel, but nonetheless it's a great tool for whipping up puzzles. Top Rated All on the workshop is a good place to start, if you scroll past Designed for Danger and 12 Angry Tests. You might want to get your hands on maps by Mevious, josepezdj, cyhborg, greykarel, eMbAh, and anyone else who yells at me for not including them in this list if you want a headache.

Thanks again guys for all the tips. I'm freaking addicted to this game. I bought it on steam and have logged over 40 hours already lol