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Portal for Dummies
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Yapette
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May 17, 2010 - 2:16 pm
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Be forewarned: OP cannot jump (with precision) or shoot (with accuracy) or orienteer (with z-axis).

 

Last night on level 08: took one death from a "sparkle" to finally grasp my bead on the perspective was inaccurate and thus realize not everything hits smack dab in the middle of where it is expected (to). By then it was too late for more

logical thought.

 

edit: most weird, I cannot remove the "logical thought" from a separate line, no matter how many times I fix & save. Must be a problem with illogical thoughts.

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Pokey
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May 17, 2010 - 4:34 pm
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I thought level 8 was a tough one. Most of the levels don't require precise jumping–just good strategy. There were two of us playing, so with the combined input we got through most of the levels without too much trouble. It sure took a lot longer than the 3 hours some players said that it took them.

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Steerpike
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May 17, 2010 - 4:37 pm
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8 is tough, but hang in there, Yap.

 

In truth Portal doesn't require precision so much as… non-linear thinking. There is a lateral style to the strategy that makes perfect sense once you get the hang of it.

 

The one thing that requires nerves of steel and good skillz is called the double fling, and it's actually only required a handful of times in the game. You may say "oh, FU**** THIS" upon realizing what it is you have to do, but trust me, with practice anyone can manage. 🙂

Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.

Jarrod
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May 17, 2010 - 10:45 pm
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I think I lucked through most of my double-firing rounds - they certainly get the adrenaline pumping!

A man goes to knowledge as he goes to war, wide awake, with fear, with respect, and with absolute assurance. – The Teachings of Don Juan

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Yapette
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May 19, 2010 - 12:33 am
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Level 11…on the hidden ledge with the button…watching that damnable spark. Back & forth, in and out. Any pattern, so far, escapes me.

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Yapette
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May 20, 2010 - 12:54 am
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F*ckin' Hell, lvl 12 was great. For once, I loved jumping off edges into space! No doubt, that (love) will eventually change.

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Yapette
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May 21, 2010 - 5:08 pm
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Level 13 and half of 14. The first episode of jumping I avoided wtih portals, the second mandatory required over, and over, and over....unto my death. Nevertheless, I'm so proud for having gotten this far as I always supposed the game was a shooter requiring reflexes.

Pride goeth before a fall.

Eventually, double-firing while jumping and/or falling will be my downfall. (ha! pun! i.e., endgame).

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Steerpike
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May 21, 2010 - 5:15 pm
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You're practically there, Yap! Please assume the Party Escort Submission Position! Cake and grief counseling will be available at the end of the test!

Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.

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Spike
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May 24, 2010 - 2:10 am
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After about 30 minutes of play I reached lvl. 4.  Old Escher isn't dead, is he?  I'd guess that someone with an inner ear problem - vertigo or such - would be driven to bed after the first 10-15 minutes of play.  Not sure yet if I like it, or just like the challenge.  We shall see.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Yapette
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May 24, 2010 - 2:12 pm
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Welcome to Up=Down, Spike.

 

Stalled at level 15 having done 3of? tasks but when I quit they must be done over. I had the 4th (task) conceptually correct (according to youtube) but implementing is difficult (for me).

Also watched [Image Can Not Be Found] what's yet to come in this level: a) don't think I'da figured it out myself & b) even with a video I both don't understand my part, & don't think I can do the parts I do understand.

 

My Portal may be 15.4 levels. [Image Can Not Be Found]

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Steerpike
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May 24, 2010 - 2:45 pm
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For what it's worth, Yap, it doesn't get harder, in terms of requiring precision timing, than level 15. Be strong!

Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.

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Spike
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May 25, 2010 - 12:23 am
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Arrgghh.  Stuck on level 12.  Trying to get from the "3rd floor" to the "4th floor".   I did and redid without any luck, then stopped for dinner.  While cooking I thought of a possible solution.  Then reread Yap's post and saw the possibility of a 2nd way to go.  Neither of which worked.  Will work on it some more after a break. 

Yapette said:

 Pride goeth before a fall.

 


 

Indeed.   I didn't have a very hard time until lvl. 12.  Now I pay for my arrogance.  I sure hope there really is cake at the end of this game.  Since it is hot and muggy now, I'm thinking strawberry shortcake.  With real whipped cream. 

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Spike
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May 25, 2010 - 1:43 am
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Danged if my frustration didn't lead to impatience, which led to not wanting to be careful going back down to my portal for the umpteenth time.  My laziness meant more momentum which got me where I wanted to go.  (If that sentence sounds vague it is.  Why spoil the fun for those who come after?)  After 12, lvl. 13 was a piece of cake (ooh, I mentioned cake again).  Lvl. 14 is a whole lot tougher than anything that has come before.  I think I'm done for the night and should tackle this one when I'm not so tired.

Now I'm wondering what fresh hell Portal 2 will be.

BUT, I am thrilled to be playing something on Mac.  Thanks, Steam.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Helmut
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May 25, 2010 - 12:33 pm
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Cakewalk from there on in Spike.

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

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Spike
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May 25, 2010 - 2:09 pm
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Helmut said:

Cakewalk from there on in Spike.


 

Yep.  A cakewalk across moving platforms.  Couldn't stop thinking about it, so went back to computer to solve lvl. 14, then quit for the night while staring at the lvl. 15 entry sign.  It really does help to think about physics while playing Portal.  I hate heights, so it's instinctive to try to avoid them.  But height can = speed = momentum = distance traveled.  Can't remember which now, but one of those signs had a cake icon (unhighlighted, of course) on it.  The promise of cake must be fulfilled.  Considering how often "the voice" lies, I'm not holding my breath.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Yapette
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May 26, 2010 - 3:08 pm
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Loved Laser Level 16.  Destruction = Fun.

Anyone else try using those broken cameras? Which I could not manage to stack for shit. On the weighted platform-thingies, door jamming, cube subbing...all ending in failure. At least I'm thinking outa the box! [Image Can Not Be Found]

 

In Yapland, any jumping means over&over. Currently misplacing my portals & missing my jumps so I've landed over&over in the acid.  Theory = Win, Implementation = Lose. [Image Can Not Be Found]

 

Forever grateful to Xtal (formerly known as xtal) for sending out the free Portal alert.

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Spike
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May 26, 2010 - 3:35 pm
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Good job, Yap, for getting past 15.  I managed to zoom over the 1st barrier and then use the energy balls to lower the small lift in the 2nd area.  I am now stuck at the 3rd area - the 2nd barrier to be got over - the one with the small side stairway to a platform and pit.  It was after midnight when I finally got to play last night, so maybe I was too tired to figure it out.  But it's more likely, I guess, that I'm just missing the boat.  There's gotta be a walkthrough out there, but I resist.  I resist, I tell you.  Will try again later.  So close, but yet....

I do agree about Xtal - he's earned the right to be capitalized.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Pokey
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May 26, 2010 - 5:01 pm
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Yapette said:

Loved Laser Level 16.  Destruction = Fun.

 


 

It was one of my favorite levels. Good to hand out some punishment, if only to turrets, after all the frustration.[Image Can Not Be Found]

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Yapette
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May 26, 2010 - 5:23 pm
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Too true, Pokey. I even reloaded so I could show my husband how fun that part was. (he, of the only WoW, neither "got it" nor was appropriately impressed).

 

Spike, where you are is precisely when I checked video walkthroughs to verify my strategy (after falling short of barrier-crossing so many 10s of times it was bedtime++).  The moving platforms is when I shamelessly alt-tabbed out to a video walkthrough that remained loaded at the ready while I got by that part. [Image Can Not Be Found] [Image Can Not Be Found]

 

If you seek corruption: Youtube search for "level {x} Portal"

Or this site has all variations of all levels*: http://www.portalwalkthroughs.com/

 

* aka test chambers but they are levels to me.

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Spike
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May 26, 2010 - 6:13 pm
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I've already destroyed a couple of those cameras out of frustration.  Never occurred to me that I might use them.  Then again, maybe I can't.  Will be fun to see what else I can destroy.  In the name of lateral and outside-the-box thinking, of course.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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