This might sound like an irrelevant topic, but I've always wandered what are everyone's opinion on Portal walls.

To make it more simple, do you think there is a logic or pattern to determine if a concrete wall will be on a panel or just a concrete block; and when are metal walls actual walls or giant metal blocks.

Both games seem to have both methods of wall so I'll just forgo the retcon argument.

I think probably walls near the center of testchambers or near the edges of the enrichment center area probably are more likely to use blocks, while walls that need to be reconfigured easily or be suspended in the air will use panels.

In terms of level design, panels are much more common in portal 2 while blocks are more common in portal 1.

From what I see, the exterior walls of the chamber will use panels for the most part, whether in the single-pole style of Portal 1 or the flexible arm style of Portal 2. Interior walls or detailing will use blocks.

However, in both games, there are exceptions in which a chamber will have an exterior wall composed partially or entirely of blocks, which usually connects the chamber to a BTS area. See Portal's Testchamber 16 and 18 as well as a few chambers (I forget which ones) in Portal 2.

Flat, porous materials.

It's hard to say since Valve only made little connection in visuals between Portal 1 and 2. In Portal 1, the rooms feel built solid with only certain areas could be lifted or changed. Concrete walls seem to be on thick slabs and I always assumed metal walls seem to be big blocks stacked like building blocks. In Portal 2, everything is thin panels on frames or robot arms and built so loosely.

I think (IMO) that walls (specially the metal ones) have to be really randomized. You have to mix big, medium and small blocks/panels all together (and make the biggest blocks/panels less frequent than the smaller). Then you have to choose some good spots to apply the destroyed stuff (in Portal 2). You can't just place them randomly as you would do with the blocks/panels. They need those "spots" of destruction. They look better in corners and open spaces. Then you place some broken wall/ceiling, give it "a sexy light", and add (mostly next to these broken parts) some vines, some pieces of metal, maybe some "grass" under them, and a few moving panels in these places (but not all them. You need to put some panels around the chambers, not only on those spot.). I'm not an expert in Portal or Portal 2 like Reep, p0p or Colossal to say something about, but this is just my opinion

reepblue wrote:
It's hard to say since Valve only made little connection in visuals between Portal 1 and 2. In Portal 1, the rooms feel built solid with only certain areas could be lifted or changed. Concrete walls seem to be on thick slabs and I always assumed metal walls seem to be big blocks stacked like building blocks. In Portal 2, everything is thin panels on frames or robot arms and built so loosely.

This basically. I think VALVe knew that Portal 2 would be received really well anyway so they didn't worry too much about continuity as far as technical details go.

That being said I got the impression that the Portal facility was far more industrial than the Portal 2 facility--it felt massive, if that makes sense. Everything slid slowly into place, it was almost like a puzzle, and I expected solid blocks of material. Portal 2 gave more of the impression that the facility itself was alive and fluid, which I think was necessary given the much faster gameplay pace and increased NPC interaction. If the environment from Portal had been just copied over the second game would have felt dead.

As far as actual materials go? I'm betting [lightweight] concrete for the portalable surfaces and...aluminum (Portal) and carbon fiber (Portal 2) for the nonportalable surfaces...maybe?

I think the nonportable surfaces in P2 are some kind of ceramics or floor tile, painted to match (specifically due to how it cracks/scratches and how it sounds to walk on it). I'm assuming the portable surfaces are just painted composite/plastic or something like that.

In Portal 1, its fairly evident that the portable surfaces are concrete. I'm not sure what kind of metal I'd call it, but for convenience's sake 'alloy' works well.

PTI video seemed to be implying that the white panels in p2 were manufactured out of liquified moon rocks - whether that's the case in the portal 2 canon is indeterminate. But given they seem to have enough conversion gel to just spread it all over the floor willy-nilly, it could be true.

I don't think the PTI video was accurate (seriously, why would they shoot turrets at the wall?).

vanSulli wrote:
I don't think the PTI video was accurate (seriously, why would they shoot turrets at the wall?).

To check the strength of the wall?