Idea for Multiplayer

BrentNewland · 03-05-2010, 04:33 PM

Here's an idea I had for a Portal Multiplayer Game Type. Well, maybe a few game types.

Random portals.

That's right, the ability for the server to choose whether or not to have random portals. Perhaps some of your portals are just for you, and other portals you make get linked to other player's portals. Or maybe whoever shot the last portal of a certain color, some/all portals of the opposite color get linked to it. Or maybe the portals cycle - one second, it's linked to the one you made, then the next it's linked to another player's, the next it's linked to the enemy, etc.

Even better, how about the option to have the portal gun shoot random portal colors? And stationary portals, of one color or another (maybe closed off rooms) that randomly link to portals of the opposite colors? Maybe even death portals, that link randomly to you and send you into a deathtrap.

I think that random aspect would be just about the craziest gameplay I could imagine

Also, you should be able to choose in the server whether neither, one, or both of the portal types are visible to other players or teams.

mr turkey40 · 03-05-2010, 04:44 PM

I don't really get what your trying to say.

BrentNewland · 03-06-2010, 02:20 AM

In what way?

Here, let me try a different way - I'll describe it as options you might see when setting up a match for online multiplayer.

Blind Man - Portals invisible to other players (but still usable if Private Transportation off) (on, enemies invisible, friends invisible, off)
Private Transportation - Players can not use other players portals (on, Orange only, Blue only, off)
Indecent Exposure - Only your Orange portals are visible to other players (on, off)
Enter in Rear - Only your Blue portals are visible to other players (on, off)
Acid Trip- Some random portals are invisible to you. Portal visibility changes constantly (on, off)
Juggling Act - Portal links change constantly (on, off)
Cross Dresser - Portals change color/type at random (on, off)
PEBCAK - Portals are randomly deleted (on, off) (does not affect permanent or undeletable portals)
Musical Chairs - Any random portal changes happen simultaneously when a new portal is made (on, off, exclusive, originals) (exclusive setting means that portal changes only happen when a new portal is made, otherwise they will also happen at random intervals) (originals means that when a new portal is made, for a short period of time, portals will revert to their original colors and links)
Chaos Theory Upgrade - When portal gun is fired, it will shoot a random portal color (on, off)
Roll of the Dice Some portal combination's you make will not randomly change link/color. (on, off)
Sticky Guns - All portals are permanent (do not change location and can't be removed) (on, off, random) (random means that only some portals you shoot will be permanent)
Max Simultaneous Portals - Specify how many portals may be in use at one time
Beta Version - Activate any permanent portals inside map (on, off) (If the map maker put in any permanent portals, those portals will be activated. These could lead to hidden map areas, vantage points, cake, or death traps. Linking to those portals would probably require Juggling Act to be enabled)
MultiPortal - Multiple portals may be linked to a single portal of the opposite color. Destination will be random, and view will change rapidly between linked portals (on, off)
Wrench in the Machine - Portals you make will only link to portals made by the group specified (friendlies, enemies, off)
Opposites Attract - When you go go near a randomizing portal, it will automatically change to a portal created by the group specified (friends, enemies, off)
Escalator - Portals are one-way - orange in, blue out (on, random, color blind, off) (on implies all portals being one-way, random implies some portals being one-way, and color blind implies that some portals operate as orange out, blue in) (one-way includes any bullets or other ammunition/weapons)
Dead Man Running - Only one player gets a portal gun; you must kill him to obtain it (on, off)
Hot Potato - Only one player gets the portal gun; it switches players every X seconds (on, off)

Those are just portal related ones that I could come up with.

Here are some gameplay scenarios which might help you envision it:

Scenario: Blind Man On, Cross Dresser On, Beta Version On, Wrench in the Machine Enemies
I shoot my orange portal at the nearest wall. It sends me through a random portal made by my enemy. As I come through I am ambushed by several players. I turn around but I am unable to see the portal. I run along the wall for a few seconds, while taking fire, and stumble across the portal again. It has changed location, and sent me through a permanent portal put in by the map author. Unfortunately, this area, while seemingly safe, has a one way portal and the only way out is a nearly impossible death trap. (alternatively) This portal leads to a fortified vantage point, where I am able to snipe my assailants (alternatively) This portal leads to a control room. I activate the defense turrets and set them for the enemy team.

Scenario: Musical Chairs Exclusive, Escalator Random/Color Blind, PEBCAK on, Acid Trip on, Multiportal on
I'm running down a hallway towards the nearest portal. As I watch it, the scene I see rapidly changes between a dozen different views. Suddenly, I am unable to see the portal anymore. Bullets whiz over my head as I run faster, panicking - is the portal invisible, or deleted? As I near the wall, the portal pops back into existence... but as I collide with the portal I am stopped in my tracks. The portal is currently blocked from my side. Stuck in a dead end, I strafe rapidly while spitting out bullets. Suddenly, I stumble backwards through the portal, which instantly changes scenes to a different portal.

That may not have been the best description, but it's the best I can think of right now. If you can imagine, say, a Half Life 2 deathmatch (or maybe Counter Strike, or any other multiplayer game from the past few years)... take that gameplay, add portals, and play through a game in your head with some of the options I described. It adds a randomness to the game that not many games can offer.

03-06-2010, 03:55 AM

These names sound more like achievemnts...
i like your idea, though.
But i dont think there is going to be a 'portal deathmatch mode'.
Co-op mode is confromed but i doupt deathmatch mode will appear.

BoViking · 03-06-2010, 05:24 AM

All of this sounds more like a deathmatch mod with portals rather than a 2 playerco-op.

We have no idea how the co-op game will play out. Will both have each colour of the portals, one has the orange and the other blue? If they do, then these neat ideas will be rather unusable.

If you ask me, you're very creative on your ideas and it seems like you could do something great with this.
But to me it looks to stressful, reminds me of the skulls in Halo 3, and they're more of an frustrating annoyance to the gameplay rather than a "challenge".

All this looks too overwhelming for me, I can't look at it and get excited, only get nervous for such a workday it'll be to get all the achievements that include these options.

Stravagante · 03-06-2010, 06:19 AM

I'm not gonna play the MP anyway. Portal is a strictly SP game in my opinion. If the co-op wil have relations to the story of the SP I will play that with one of my buddy's.

BrentNewland · 03-06-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoViking

All of this sounds more like a deathmatch mod with portals rather than a 2 playerco-op.

All this looks too overwhelming for me, I can't look at it and get excited, only get nervous for such a workday it'll be to get all the achievements that include these options.

Exactly. I never even mentioned co-op.

And all those options would be usable out of the box. It's just a way to add infinite variety and playability to the game.

mr turkey40 · 03-06-2010, 10:12 AM

Live-fire was mentioned, but I doubt it well be this hectic. I mean, there wouldn't be much point of these with 4 players. Nice ideas though.

BrentNewland · 03-06-2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr turkey40

Live-fire was mentioned, but I doubt it well be this hectic. I mean, there wouldn't be much point of these with 4 players. Nice ideas though.

I was thinking more like 16 players, or even 32. Mass confusion would make for a pretty fun deathmatch or CTF - let yourself forget about tactics, and strategy, and just enjoy running around shooting people that appear from nowhere.

Norek · 03-06-2010, 12:50 PM

Maybe in Co-op we will play as the two robots from the ASCII images. It would be cool.

BrentNewland · 03-06-2010, 08:00 PM

Or perhaps Portal 2 sets it up so that Freeman (or whoever the main character will be) in HL3 will use the portal gun, and then we'll get Portal multiplayer anyways.

BrentNewland · 03-07-2010, 12:28 PM

Here's another thought: pick up portals with the gravity gun. That way you could run around with a portal in front of you and force people into a death trap, and any incoming fire in the direction of the portal would go through the portal and not you.

BrentNewland · 07-03-2010, 02:05 PM

I wanted to bring this topic back up. I still think Deathmatch Portal would be fun as hell.

reameesh · 07-03-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norek

Maybe in Co-op we will play as the two robots from the ASCII images. It would be cool.

I believe it has been confirmed, that we indeed play as these 2 robots.

To OP: These would make interesting features for mass play. Have rep for your effort.

03-05-2010, 04:33 PM	#1
BrentNewland Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 10 Posts: 59	Idea for Multiplayer Here's an idea I had for a Portal Multiplayer Game Type. Well, maybe a few game types. Random portals. That's right, the ability for the server to choose whether or not to have random portals. Perhaps some of your portals are just for you, and other portals you make get linked to other player's portals. Or maybe whoever shot the last portal of a certain color, some/all portals of the opposite color get linked to it. Or maybe the portals cycle - one second, it's linked to the one you made, then the next it's linked to another player's, the next it's linked to the enemy, etc. Even better, how about the option to have the portal gun shoot random portal colors? And stationary portals, of one color or another (maybe closed off rooms) that randomly link to portals of the opposite colors? Maybe even death portals, that link randomly to you and send you into a deathtrap. I think that random aspect would be just about the craziest gameplay I could imagine Also, you should be able to choose in the server whether neither, one, or both of the portal types are visible to other players or teams. Last edited by BrentNewland: 03-05-2010 at 04:39 PM.

03-06-2010, 02:20 AM	#3
BrentNewland Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 10 Posts: 59	In what way? Here, let me try a different way - I'll describe it as options you might see when setting up a match for online multiplayer. Blind Man - Portals invisible to other players (but still usable if Private Transportation off) (on, enemies invisible, friends invisible, off) Private Transportation - Players can not use other players portals (on, Orange only, Blue only, off) Indecent Exposure - Only your Orange portals are visible to other players (on, off) Enter in Rear - Only your Blue portals are visible to other players (on, off) Acid Trip- Some random portals are invisible to you. Portal visibility changes constantly (on, off) Juggling Act - Portal links change constantly (on, off) Cross Dresser - Portals change color/type at random (on, off) PEBCAK - Portals are randomly deleted (on, off) (does not affect permanent or undeletable portals) Musical Chairs - Any random portal changes happen simultaneously when a new portal is made (on, off, exclusive, originals) (exclusive setting means that portal changes only happen when a new portal is made, otherwise they will also happen at random intervals) (originals means that when a new portal is made, for a short period of time, portals will revert to their original colors and links) Chaos Theory Upgrade - When portal gun is fired, it will shoot a random portal color (on, off) Roll of the Dice Some portal combination's you make will not randomly change link/color. (on, off) Sticky Guns - All portals are permanent (do not change location and can't be removed) (on, off, random) (random means that only some portals you shoot will be permanent) Max Simultaneous Portals - Specify how many portals may be in use at one time Beta Version - Activate any permanent portals inside map (on, off) (If the map maker put in any permanent portals, those portals will be activated. These could lead to hidden map areas, vantage points, cake, or death traps. Linking to those portals would probably require Juggling Act to be enabled) MultiPortal - Multiple portals may be linked to a single portal of the opposite color. Destination will be random, and view will change rapidly between linked portals (on, off) Wrench in the Machine - Portals you make will only link to portals made by the group specified (friendlies, enemies, off) Opposites Attract - When you go go near a randomizing portal, it will automatically change to a portal created by the group specified (friends, enemies, off) Escalator - Portals are one-way - orange in, blue out (on, random, color blind, off) (on implies all portals being one-way, random implies some portals being one-way, and color blind implies that some portals operate as orange out, blue in) (one-way includes any bullets or other ammunition/weapons) Dead Man Running - Only one player gets a portal gun; you must kill him to obtain it (on, off) Hot Potato - Only one player gets the portal gun; it switches players every X seconds (on, off) Those are just portal related ones that I could come up with. Here are some gameplay scenarios which might help you envision it: Scenario: Blind Man On, Cross Dresser On, Beta Version On, Wrench in the Machine Enemies I shoot my orange portal at the nearest wall. It sends me through a random portal made by my enemy. As I come through I am ambushed by several players. I turn around but I am unable to see the portal. I run along the wall for a few seconds, while taking fire, and stumble across the portal again. It has changed location, and sent me through a permanent portal put in by the map author. Unfortunately, this area, while seemingly safe, has a one way portal and the only way out is a nearly impossible death trap. (alternatively) This portal leads to a fortified vantage point, where I am able to snipe my assailants (alternatively) This portal leads to a control room. I activate the defense turrets and set them for the enemy team. Scenario: Musical Chairs Exclusive, Escalator Random/Color Blind, PEBCAK on, Acid Trip on, Multiportal on I'm running down a hallway towards the nearest portal. As I watch it, the scene I see rapidly changes between a dozen different views. Suddenly, I am unable to see the portal anymore. Bullets whiz over my head as I run faster, panicking - is the portal invisible, or deleted? As I near the wall, the portal pops back into existence... but as I collide with the portal I am stopped in my tracks. The portal is currently blocked from my side. Stuck in a dead end, I strafe rapidly while spitting out bullets. Suddenly, I stumble backwards through the portal, which instantly changes scenes to a different portal. That may not have been the best description, but it's the best I can think of right now. If you can imagine, say, a Half Life 2 deathmatch (or maybe Counter Strike, or any other multiplayer game from the past few years)... take that gameplay, add portals, and play through a game in your head with some of the options I described. It adds a randomness to the game that not many games can offer. Last edited by BrentNewland: 03-06-2010 at 08:27 PM.

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03-05-2010, 04:44 PM	#2
mr turkey40 Join Date: Jun 2009 Reputation: 89 Posts: 1,509	I don't really get what your trying to say.

03-06-2010, 03:55 AM	#4
Mr.Pringles Guest Posts: n/a	These names sound more like achievemnts... i like your idea, though. But i dont think there is going to be a 'portal deathmatch mode'. Co-op mode is confromed but i doupt deathmatch mode will appear.

03-06-2010, 05:24 AM	#5
BoViking Join Date: Oct 2008 Reputation: 259 Posts: 2,033	All of this sounds more like a deathmatch mod with portals rather than a 2 playerco-op. We have no idea how the co-op game will play out. Will both have each colour of the portals, one has the orange and the other blue? If they do, then these neat ideas will be rather unusable. If you ask me, you're very creative on your ideas and it seems like you could do something great with this. But to me it looks to stressful, reminds me of the skulls in Halo 3, and they're more of an frustrating annoyance to the gameplay rather than a "challenge". All this looks too overwhelming for me, I can't look at it and get excited, only get nervous for such a workday it'll be to get all the achievements that include these options.

03-06-2010, 06:19 AM	#6
Stravagante Join Date: Mar 2010 Reputation: 10 Posts: 247	I'm not gonna play the MP anyway. Portal is a strictly SP game in my opinion. If the co-op wil have relations to the story of the SP I will play that with one of my buddy's.

03-06-2010, 10:12 AM	#8
mr turkey40 Join Date: Jun 2009 Reputation: 89 Posts: 1,509	Live-fire was mentioned, but I doubt it well be this hectic. I mean, there wouldn't be much point of these with 4 players. Nice ideas though.

03-06-2010, 12:50 PM	#10
Norek Join Date: Oct 2009 Reputation: 1634 Posts: 1,473	Maybe in Co-op we will play as the two robots from the ASCII images. It would be cool.

03-06-2010, 08:00 PM	#11
BrentNewland Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 10 Posts: 59	Or perhaps Portal 2 sets it up so that Freeman (or whoever the main character will be) in HL3 will use the portal gun, and then we'll get Portal multiplayer anyways.

03-07-2010, 12:28 PM	#12
BrentNewland Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 10 Posts: 59	Here's another thought: pick up portals with the gravity gun. That way you could run around with a portal in front of you and force people into a death trap, and any incoming fire in the direction of the portal would go through the portal and not you.

07-03-2010, 02:05 PM	#13
BrentNewland Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 10 Posts: 59	I wanted to bring this topic back up. I still think Deathmatch Portal would be fun as hell.