how do i play the maps that i have downloaded? do i use steam? or do i use a hard copy of portal 2? please explain. i am so stoked to get this rolling

You need to place your downloaded maps in
C:/Program Files/Steam/Steamapps/common/portal 2/portal2/maps/
or C:/Program Files(x86)/Steam/Steamapps/common/portal 2/portal2/maps/ if you're using a 64-bits windows.

Then start portal 2 via steam, open the console by pressing the ` button.
(if this doesn't open the console go to settings -> keyboard -> enable console)
Then type in the console map <mapname> and hit [Enter]
<mapname> should be the name of the map so for example:
map sp_enrichment_1

hope that helped

lpfreaky90 wrote:
You need to place your downloaded maps in
C:/Program Files/Steam/Steamapps/common/portal 2/portal2/maps/
or C:/Program Files(x86)/Steam/Steamapps/common/portal 2/portal2/maps/ if you're using a 64-bits windows.

Then start portal 2 via steam, open the console by pressing the ` button.
(if this doesn't open the console go to settings -> keyboard -> enable console)

You have to go to advanced options to find the enable console option, also.

lpfreaky90 wrote:
Then type in the console map and hit [Enter]
**should be the name of the map so for example:
map sp_enrichment_1 **

you cant have spaces or ` in the map name either, i found out. (appostraphese? I never knew how to spell them.)