Hi, I'm new to this site to some degree. I say that because I have been downloading maps created by users on this site for some time now and I like what I see. What got me to join was that I wanted to post my experiences with maps created by users (report bugs, improve parts where it can use improvement without sacrificing map difficulty, etc.).

However, I am NOT new to Portal and Portal 2. I play these games on my laptop. I don't own a PS3, 360, or Mac.

For the maps I do play, I really go towards maps of medium to medium-hard difficulty. I don't like my maps too easy or too hard. I just hate to play levels where ninja skills are required, where the rooms are too small to the point where I feel cramped, or even pixel perfect Portal placements. To me, those maps just takes away what at heart the Portal series is; a puzzle game.

I want to create my own maps but I have no clue how to use the Hammer World Editor. It feels too complicated for me to use. I just don't know where to begin. It looks overwhelming for a first time user like me. Sure, this site has tutorials on how to use it so I'll check those out sometime. Since there is a rumored Portal 2 Puzzle Creator being developed by Valve, I may just wait for that to be released to show you what ideas I have for puzzles.

OK, enough out of me. Just came to say hi and stuff and tell you a little bit about myself.

Hey there, welcome to this website!
We have an introduction thread for these kind of threads so it would've been better if you posted there.
There are a lot of awesome maps here, I'm sure there are maps you love .

Hammer is a bit hard to learn but the valve developer wiki (there's a link in the top bar "Portal 2 Mapping Wiki") There are good tutorials. You can also check my thread in the mapping help and discussion forum. If you get stuck you can also search google and the forums here. If you can't find the answer then you can always ask

The puzzle creator is indeed being worked on and it is in beta. It will be the main part of DLC#2 for portal 2.

As said before we have an introduction thread; feel free to post this message there since I'm going to lock this thread to avoid that this whole forum is filled with these kinds of threads.