Aesthetic Showcase [Version 2]
Portal: The Flash Version High Definition Remix
As you may already know, I have been recently attempting to re-create the levels from Portal: The Flash Version. While not only acting as an HD Remix, but as a way to fix the problems that the original had. This is mainly because of test chambers 36-40, when, in the flash version, they start introducing these small holes in the walls of the testing area, which the player uses to Portal to each different part of the test. Sometimes there can be about one-three holes in every section of the test. This doesn't create any problems for the flash version, as seeing the entire chamber prevents any confusion. However, in the SDK version, these small holes create mazes inside of the test, and the player tends to get confused quickly. In fact, in the final chamber, when most players find two holes in the floor and one hole in the wall, and then Portal through the wall and find a hole in the wall and another hole in the ground, the player usually submits themselves to the test and types "kill" in the Developer Console. Not to mention the ridiculously difficult escape.
Since the last time this article was updated, I received lots of constructive criticism on what to do with this mod- aesthetic wise. What I had to show then was actually quite dull, and lacked non-repetitive texturing and dynamic lighting.
After some more experimenting, and still having a complete lack of knowledge on how to upload pictures directly, I started reshaping the tests to look like these:
http://www.moddb.com/mods/indestructibl ... ing-walls2
http://www.moddb.com/mods/indestructibl ... 1#imagebox
http://www.moddb.com/mods/indestructibl ... s#imagebox
All the above pictures are of the wake-up room, I wanted to showcase this before I began implementing it into the rest of the project. Please comment and let me know if it sucks or not!
moar props pls.... light models... spice it up
do something for the pretty value... I'm not usually a fan of breaking walls for fun, but in this case it could go for your cause
Indeed! Caden, it's nice that you made all that custiom signage, but just applying it as an overlay on the walls is way TOO minimmalistik. I'm not sure about what aesthetics you look for but as Ben said, you should add more props. If you look at your pictures, and please do not call yourself awesome you own picture (overall when it's not), they are really bland because everything is SO plane, a complendium of plane surfaces of brushes. Props break the that blandness and make the environment more rich. You should also improve that brush work and to apply textures trying not to break the tiles like some of your pics are showning: before breaking a tile, clip the brush and apply a smaller tiles textures 
Remember that the hammer editor is an art tool, go play with it and if you are improving the previous Portal: Flash Version, try to actually improve it and make it beautiful! I love that mappack!
useful tools and stuff here on TWP 
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]^^^ Listen to this guy, he makes the prettiest maps ever, look at his signature... check out those maps, learn from the beauty
Indeed! Caden, it's nice that you made all that custiom signage, but just applying it as an overlay on the walls is way TOO minimmalistik. I'm not sure about what aesthetics you look for but as Ben said, you should add more props. If you look at your pictures, and please do not call yourself awesome you own picture (overall when it's not), they are really bland because everything is SO plane, a complendium of plane surfaces of brushes. Props break the that blandness and make the environment more rich. You should also improve that brush work and to apply textures trying not to break the tiles like some of your pics are showning: before breaking a tile, clip the brush and apply a smaller tiles textures 😉
Remember that the hammer editor is an art tool, go play with it and if you are improving the previous Portal: Flash Version, try to actually improve it and make it beautiful! I love that mappack!
If this is coming from the guy who made that Second Exodus mod, I'm not going to ignore his advice.
What props should I use though? It doesn't seem like I have anywhere to actually put any props... because the first ten or so tests don't have anything to do with props, just the environment. No buttons, cubes, energy pellets... etc.
And I agree that the custom signage over the doors don't look very good, but I like all the other glass art on the walls. All the rooms look incredibly duller without it.
Look at the first few chambers from the original Portal for inspiration. IIRC all the walls are white, but the tests still look cool.
Because there are props! And elements! The first actual entity in the flash version is a crusher, which is in test chamber eleven! You know when buttons are introduced in the flash version? Test chamber 19!
Also, what does IIRC stand for?
use lights, and texture variation
light panels, not light entities
add metal even if its not needed
you are allowed to break walls
If I Remember Correctly. And you can add props if you want, like pistons holding a section of floor up or cables connecting panels.
light panels, not light entities
add metal even if its not needed
you are allowed to break walls
I don't really know much about lighting, I mostly just use the light entity in the tests I make. So I don't really know what you mean by light panels.