Bethesda's Daryl Brigner is at it again. Last year the Fallout 3 level designer created rock hard maps for Portal called Ren_Test1, Ren_Test2, and he's now gone and made, yep, Ren_Test3.
Shouldn't he be designing the levels for Fallout 3? Not unless all his work on the RPG sequel is complete of course. Well, that or he never, ever sleeps...
Anyway, we've not tried Ren_Test3 ourselves yet, but apparently it's not quite as evil as its predecessor. Although it's still a challenge.
If you download the new map from here, you get Ren_Test1 and Ren_Test2 included. What a bargain! Oh, hang on, it's free isn't it.
Sounds like they're testing a couple of things. Firstly it's a good physics test. Plenty of falling objects and the like.
Secondly, and possibly more importantly, it's about how well people can deal with and solve physics-based problems. This means they can release these puzzles, judge public opinion and then stick similar stuff into their own game.
As a strategy for benchmarking the general public, it's pretty sound.
Of course it could simply be that he likes to make maps for Portal in his spare time. After all that's why most of the other user made maps come about.
Of course it could simply be that he likes to make maps for Portal in his spare time. After all that's why most of the other user made maps come about.
...and what self-respecting level designer would not want to create a Portal map. The mechanism for moving around completely changes how designers need to think about using space. It's probably one of the most difficult games to make a good original map for.
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