[Release] The Electric Castle

Farragar · Last edited by Farragar on Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:12 pm; edited 1 time in total

This map contains a wake up, 3 test chambers, a central area incoporating the last puzzle, and a medium sized BTS area.

The map itself tries to remain in keeping with aperture labs scenerey and texturing, but uses two new portal fizzlers, and a new fizzler mechanism in room 3 which I haven't seen before. (sorry if this has already been used!) A walkthrough will soon be on youtube, I'll edit this when it's up. The map is medium-long and medium difficulty, and follows a small story with a nod to everyone's favourite song at the end. Criticism is welcome, and I'd love to know what you think! Screenshots are up at href=http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f113/Laurie2907/The%20Electric%20Castle/>
but I'm not a fantastic artist Wink

Download database at: http://forums.thinkingwithportals.com/dload.php?action=file&file_id=203
Comments are welcomed.

Hober · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:04 pm Post subject:

Moved. It is generally good form to copy the description and screenshots into the release thread.

rellikpd · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject:

ok. firstly. this map looks really good. and aside from a few MINOR texture issues i didn't see anything that looked really bad. there are however a few errors that i found. from the VERY start of the map. i would normally put spoiler tags on these, but as they don't really effect gameplay (except negatively) i won't this time

errors:
1) in the opening of the map. all is black... if you push ANY of the direction keys while its black... then when you "awake" from the vault you cannot move. you have no choice but to restart the map.

2) if you leave the opening room BEFORE getting the portal gun, you are screwed you have no choice but to restart the map.

also the energy ball puzzle is much easier to beat if you do this http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/237/theelectriccastle0000lt1.jpg don't know if that was intentional, or you didn't think of it. but its how i beat the puzzle first (before doing it the right way)

and this is more of a gripe than an error. but i didn't think this looked right. the floor just looks to "thin" for a big metal texture

other than those things i think you did a good job. keep up the good work.

Farragar · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advice, I meant to set the door in the first room to open on touch in case you forgot the portalgun, but I must've forgotten -.- also, thanks for the 'solution' to the first chamber. I'll stick a noportal area over that for the next release but I won't have much time for the next few weeks. Hopefuly I'll manage to grab a moment to upload a new version next weekend Smile

infernet89 · Superior Participant Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 61

that's is mine solution, no bug abusing, like the one founded by rellikpd
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=kPpWdBE_9Bo

Farragar · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject:

I'm truly awed that someone will put up a speedrun so quick after I uploaded it - you're awesome dude! my solution is up at
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dwF9ntHZSZM

rellikpd · Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject:

Talgoran · New Employee Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Posts: 13

My quick review:

Looks amazing. Definitely keeps with the Aperture theme.
The fizzler/solid wall mechanism was sweet. Some more of those puzzles would be great if you make another Very Happy

One gripe I had: The blood-smeared floor below the blue wavy energy wall made me think that the blue energy would kill me. The falling sparks added to it.

Overall, great map!!!!

Dood77 · New Employee Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Posts: 16

I agree! Thought it was a great map, loved the new fizzler puzzles, especially the moving one.

The one gripe similar to rellikpd's was in the room with the blood on the ground that Talgoran mentioned if you bring the cube thats on the button inside there's no way to get out. I got to the button without the cube of course but then I had to restart the map.

Ralen · Superior Participant Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Posts: 70

This was a fun map. I believe I found an unintended solution in the room with the mobile fizzler though.
you can fire a portal through that gap, then walk through the wavy blue fizzler behind you to the area where the stairs rise out of the floor and place the opposite portal there.

Frostyfrog · Test Participant Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 28

Very fun

Mek · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:50 am Post subject:

Nice map, and I believe I have found an unintended solution in test chamber 1:
you can put one portal right under the ball launcher and the second portal under the ball catcher (the portal will be created even under the elevator switch), the catcher will catch the ball even if it arrives at a 90° degree Very Happy

is it the shortcut you are talking about in your readme file? Cool

Farragar · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:46 am Post subject:

I don't remember talking about any shortcuts in my readme ^_^ but that's the same solution Rellikpd found Smile

I knew it was there, then forgot to fix it before the final release *sigh*

Mek · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject:

ah, sorry, now I see, that was readme of another map I was playing today
*scratches his head*
Fuck my life

Mek · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 2:35 am Post subject:

and I liked your "moving fizzler" puzzle, it was original and pretty clear to solve Wink