Portal map bonus content?

I've not seen one custom map since HL2: EP1 with commentary nodes available, (probably because the entity is not in the fgd's; I've looked) But I would figure someone would find a way to rig it up to simulate some commentary within their map; not a terribly difficult thing to do. Which leads me to my poll:

Given a choice, specifically for a custom Portal map download, would you prefer to download an extra challenge version (harder variation of the puzzles) of that map as part of bonus content? OR would you like to download an extra map that is exactly similar to the original, but with commentary nodes floating about the map for you to listen to what the developer had to say about the map?

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

Both would be nice. But ... since I can only choose one, I'd say the challenge map because it would further play time. Commentaries are nice, but you probably aren't doing something ridiculously amazing which needs explanation.

I think, however, as a community we might want to start utilizing the commentary features for tutorials ... if we continue those.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

I just surprised their haven't been more custom Portal maps.

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Reality has become a commodity.

Of course, I would like both, but I would rather the commentary. I wanna hear riven explaining his map :biggrin: .

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Aaron's Stuff

yeah definitely, a more difficult version of the map.

Not to take away more from this post, but my portal map right here baby.

http://www.snarkpit.net/maps.php?map=3064

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YeaY! Fer MesPehling WerDs

The expression for success is
(energy x enthusiasm)

~Zein

Speaking personally I cannot imagine anybody anywhere would be interested in hearing my comments on my map.

Thanks all for voting; I for one am obsessed with level design theory (there's not enough good books about it) and I absolutely love listening to the commentary Valve puts out. However, I understand that most gamers downloading these custom maps are, well... gamers, and not game level designers.

As much as this poll makes clear what you guys would prefer (currently a 3:1 ratio in favor of the challenge mode) I feel it almost necessary for me to turn my head the other way and go with what feels right. The poll was designed to help me realize how broad a demographic my map would appeal to, if I add commentary and demos of playtests instead of challenge modes. (I only have time for one or the other). I'll probably put out two versions: one for the gamer, and one for the interested modder.

I hope that the commentary will help speak out to someone else out there that might actually be interested in the games career, whereas I have no ambition, but am just fascinated with story theory and gameplay design which is intrinsic to the field. Which leads me to my next quick question: Have you guys actually played through any of Valve's games over again just to hear the commentary? If so, what did you think about it? I mean obviously, the Source engine has one of the largest community support networks out there, so if there was a chance to do this with any map, might as well be with a map for Source. I'm bound to get feedback, right? "If you build it, they will come!"

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Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

I went through Portal with the commentary ... just because the game was so short. I don't think I'd run back through the other games with the commentary unless there's something that really stood out ... nothing has.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

Yak_Fighter said:
Speaking personally I cannot imagine anybody anywhere would be interested in hearing my comments on my map.

I would be interested, I'm interested by these things.

In awsner to your question Riven, yes, I replayed Episode 1 just mainly to hear the commentary, however it was pretty time consuming and in some ways kinda stressful because i had to redo all the puzzles. I would have just listened to it straight from the gcf what i didn't know what order they where in. Thats not to say that I didn;t find the commantary interesting.

What I find the most interesting is behind the scenes development of a game. I went to youtube and downloaded all the behind the scenes making of halo 3 onto my computer and love it. Some times when I need some inspiration or motivation to work on "The next Big thing", I'll watch some of it. I love it!!

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Aaron's Stuff