Why don't we all get together and make a map pack? This isn't some special contest and you don't win anything for signing up.
**
Requirements:**
-Single player only! (Unless lots of people seem interested in it, then we can start some co-op)
-All chambers must be "clean", and not set in a destroyed environment. (This only applies to the main testing area)
-No old style Aperture Science
-All chambers must make use of the Companion Cube
-Can't use a map you've already released.
-You CAN use other styles of cubes to help complete your level, but the map must revolve around the Companion Cube.
-No Wheatley
-No Potato GLaDOS

If you sign up for the map pack, you agree to having your map's .vmf be released along with it, so others make look at it.

Choose a chamber you wish to do. There won't be any "judging" so to speak, so it's first come first serve.
Chamber 01 - slayer (Not Completed)
Chamber 02 -
Chamber 03 -
Chamber 04 -
Chamber 05 -
Chamber 06 -
Chamber 07 -
Chamber 08 -
Chamber 09 -
Chamber 10 -
Chamber 11 -
Chamber 12 -
Chamber 13 -
Chamber 14 -
Chamber 15 -
Chamber 16 -
Chamber 17 -
Chamber 18 -
Chamber 19 -

How to name your map:
All maps should start with "sp_cct_chamber_", where "" is the number of your chamber.
Example: sp_cct_chamber_03, sp_cct_chamber_11, etc...
This is to easily make maps transition from one to the next.

Requirements for the Companion Cube:
-No ending the map with the Companion Cube being destroyed.
-The Companion Cube MUST be set into a pneumatic diversity vent before the level can end. (This is to give it the illusion that the Companion Cube is going through all the test chambers with you)
-Companion Cube must be dropped through a diversity vent at the start of every level.

Try to keep in mind that the higher level chambers should be harder than the lower level ones, but this isn't really a big deal.

This map pack is being made for fun! Credit goes where credit is due. I can not and will not take credit for the maps that are made and released in this map pack.

When you finish your level, PM me the compiled version, as well as the .vmf. I will work on making the vscript that shows all the signs in the levels as maps come along.

End Date: There currently isn't an end date. TRY to have your maps completed or near completion by August 5th.

Also, how about a sticky?

Do you have any experience with the Source sdk, or are you the random person that just sets these up then leaves? We do not have any idea who you are or if you even had any sort of experience. You can't necessarily expect anyone to finish this big of a project within a month. You may have to think this out a little more realistically.

Seems like a good idea but I find one little flaw in the theme. Assuming you want it to feel like the maps have continuous flow regarding the companion cube following you, this also assumes the companion cube can never be killed. It wouldn't really fit the theme for the companion cube to die and simply respawn from the pneumatic diversity vent. It would sort of kill the whole importance of keeping him alive and bringing him along with you. It wouldn't feel like YOUR companion cube.

The solution to this could be having the map restart when your cube dies with some on screen text saying, "You monster, you've killed your companion cube."

That said, it brings up the problem that conflicts with the trial and error mentality a lot of us have. It'll get really frustrating really quick when we are too afraid to fling a companion cube over toxic water to see if it'll get to the other side because we're already 50% into the map.

Maybe I'm just over-thinking it.

Also, to make the flow work out really well between maps, why not create a pneumatic diversity vent instance so that there's a consistency in between maps? It'll also prove to us that you know what you're doing (people are going to be skeptical as you can see in the post above).

I like the idea and I'm hoping it works out.

kwp21 pitts wrote:
sets these up then leaves?

slayer's metadata wrote:
Joined: Jul 1, 2011

I know I'm new here, and not experienced as a mapper, but if you can give us something to et rid of our scepticism (and, as mentioned above, a pneumatic vent instance would be nice ) then I'd gladly help - I could do one of the easier chambers, like 02 or 03. My current map is getting somewhat stale, so this could be interesting as a distraction.

EDIT: Oh, so you're the guy that made that laser box map (sorry, can't recall the actual name). I'm a little more convinced; we know you can map, and I love to see people with your sort of attention to detail...

At which point do you get the dual portal gun?

kwp21 pitts wrote:
Do you have any experience with the Source sdk, or are you the random person that just sets these up then leaves? We do not have any idea who you are or if you even had any sort of experience. You can't necessarily expect anyone to finish this big of a project within a month. You may have to think this out a little more realistically.

Yes, I have plenty of experience with the Source SDK. I know it's not much to go off of, but I just released a map for Portal 2.

I don't expect everyone to be able to make a map within a month, but from what I've learned, this is generally how long it takes to make a single map.

A diversity vent instance is a good idea. As for the cube being destroyed, I was only thinking about an end-level type thing, like in Portal when you had to destroy the cube to move on to the next level. I figured it'd be pretty hard to make a level without it being destroyed a few times on accident or just to see what happens.

If there any special things you forgot to mention to us about your map, now would be a good time to lets us know since you got the first map done.

Quick question: If you can't upload a map to the site before we PM it to you, how are we supposed to play-test it and iron out the bugs?

MasterLagger wrote:
If there any special things you forgot to mention to us about your map, now would be a good time to lets us know since you got the first map done.

The first map isn't done? It says "Not Completed" right next to it. Just say which chamber number you would like and I'll add your name to the list.

As for ironing out bugs, you can PM members who are working on a part of the map pack. This would also be useful so they can get an idea of who's doing what.

I should also say that you can freely post screenshots of your map, if you want.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=928oWOLJjQA

Made a vent that takes the companion cube.

I used a trigger_teleport to take it from the player and place it in the middle of the platform (info_target). I then used a logic_relay to do most of the outputs. The Companion Cube gets parented to a func_tracktrain, and is then lifted up into the vent. I'm currently playing with the speed to give it an illusion that it's being sucked up. And to add a bit more to it, I added an ambient_generic that fades in and out as the vent opens/close.

A name filter is used to make sure only the Companion Cube is sucked into the vent.

Should have this done very soon, then I'll upload the .vmf so you guys can play around with it.

Map pack consisting of 19 maps
Only 1 map started; "not completed"

msleeper wrote:
Map pack consisting of 19 maps Only 1 map started; "not completed"

What?

Someone picks a chamber they want to do, and that chamber is assigned to them. Like, if you wanted Chamber 13, just say so, then I add your name to the list. Are you thinking that I'm making all 19 chambers myself?

I would do one or two if you make your own one first to show that you mean srs business.

It would be great if you actually organised some sort of plot with the team of people who wants to help you make the pack. That way people might actually enjoy the series of maps, and it won't quite so random.

At the moment I am helping out making a pack of co-op maps with a small team so I wont contribute. But tbh I think companion cubes are a bit ovverated if you base a whole pack around it.

I think the Companion Cube Mappack is a great idea, it's just that I would want to see how your first chamber would look like so that the Test Chambers other people make would look similar (textures, props, etc) but not the same puzzles. Maybe include a few Thumbnail pictures so people can get a better idea of a theme for all of the Test Chambers.