by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

LEVEL FLOW MAPof , a level for the game Portal 2

“Flow is the main path of the level without taking any detours or dead ends.”- Phil Co, 2010. (source)

This document...• …aims to show how the player

moves and progress around the level's environment, from the start to the objective's completion (exiting the level).

• …has this format to aid the communication in a situation where I'm not at the same physical space as the team members.

• …relates to the level Competurn, which was designed for the game Portal 2 (created by VALVe), and was built in the simplified level editor Perpetual Testing Initiative (PeTI).

• …has spoilers!

Play it here (more instructions in the last slide).

This was all done by myself, as a personal project.by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

About

Level Start

Finish

This top view was created using a few screenshots of the level in-game to add more detail than a single camera angle could provide.

The player has to...

:: Overview ::

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

1. Enter the level.2. Use portals to get a ball that is

falling on the separate floor. The ball will enter the blue portal and exit through the orange portal.

3. Place the ball on its button. This will activate the gel dropper in the level.

:: Level START, 1st step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

2

3

1

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

The Propulsion Gel dropper is now activated and is dropping the speed gel.

1. Shoot a portal where the gel is being dropped.

2. Shoot a portal on a wall on the center of the level. This will spill the gel in the direction that the portal is facing. Shoot more portals to make sure that the floor in front of that wall is all covered with gel. The player now has a speed corridor!

:: 2nd step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

2

1

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

2

1. Shoot a portal on the separate floor.

2. Run on the speed corridor and towards the portal.

3. This will make the player fly upwards. While on air, press the pedestal button. This will temporarily activate the angled panel in the level.

:: 3rd step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

32

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

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3

1. Fall through the portal that was in place in the previous step. The player will appear in the center of the level (on the speed corridor) and with a great momentum.

2. Shoot a portal on the angled panel that was activated.

3. Shoot a portal on a wall on the other side of the speed corridor.

4. Run towards the portal on the wall.

:: 4th step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

14

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

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After running through the portal in the previous step, the player:

1. Is launched to the air from the angled panel.

2. Bounces back and forth on two aerial faith plates, which then makes him…

3. … travels through a group of turrets hidden on the ceiling, landing right in front of the (closed) exit of the level.

:: 5th step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

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1. Shoot a portal on the floor nearby.

2. Shoot a portal on the floor downstairs.

3. Jump on the portal. The player will gain momentum during the fall and fling upwards through the portal…

4. …landing near the pedestal button.

:: 6th step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

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1. Press the pedestal button. This will temporarily open a “secret room” downstairs.

2. Go downstairs.

:: 7th step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

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1. Enter the secret room downstairs that was opened in the previous step.

2. Grab the Companion Cube and stand on the button. The button will open an angled panel above it and reveal a sight for the main environment’s ceiling, with a portalable surface.

:: 8th step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

1

1

1

2

1

(There is actually another way to solve this step: shoot a portal below the Companion Cube, making it be transported near the level’s exit)

1. Shoot a portal on the white surface revealed on the ceiling.

2. Shoot a portal on a wall nearby. Grab the Companion Cube and enter the portal.

:: 9th step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

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2

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The player has now returned to the center of the main room and is carrying the Cube.

1. Repeat the 3rd, 4th and 5th steps, but this time having the Companion Cube together. This will make the player and the Cube land on the target on the highest floor, near the (closed) exit.

:: 10th step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

1

The actions performed in this step are similar to the ones in the 6th step, but at this time the fling is done on the other surface nearby and while holding the Companion Cube.

1. Shoot a portal on the floor nearby.

2. Shoot a portal on the floor downstairs.

3. Jump on the portal. The player will gain momentum during the fall and fling upwards through the portal…

4. …landing on top of the button if the player has moved to the side while on air after the fling (using air control).

:: 11th step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

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1. Get down and move to the exit!

Congratulations!

Here, take this potatOS:

:: FINISH, 12th step ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

Level Start

Finish

1

1

Level Start

Finish

Behold this messed up and visually polluted diagram…!

It’s a lot better when it is broken in separate steps, right?

:: OVERALL FLOW ::

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

by Al Anselmo, game and level designer | portfolio: http://anselmo.gd | contact: anselmo@anselmo.gd

Competurn, level flow map (Portal 2)

1. Install Portal 2 in your Steam account.

2. Go to the official page of the level in the Steam Workshop.

3. Click on the “+ Subscribe” to include the level in your queue. It will appear in your game.

4. Open your game.5. Go to the main menu:

1. Enter “COMMUNITY TEST CHAMBERS“.

2. Enter “Play Community Test Chambers“.

3. Select the level Competurn, click on “PLAY” and HAVE FUN!

:: How to play Competurn ::

Thank you for the interest!

For more info, please visit my portfolio:http://anselmo.gd

If you want to get in touch, or provide any feedback, please send an email to anselmo@anselmo.gd