Creating Portal 3: My Solution to Valve's Delay

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Challenge of Creating Portals in Unity
3. Exploring Open Source Projects for Portal Creation
4. Overcoming Difficulties with Player Controllers
5. Simplifying the Portal Concept for the Game Jam
6. Developing the Portal Gun Mechanics
7. Designing Levels with Increasing Difficulty
8. Adding Interactive Elements: Buttons and Dispensers
9. Incorporating Verticality in Level Design
10. Receiving Feedback and Making Improvements
11. The Painful Experience of Game Development
12. Final Rush to Complete the Game
13. The Last-Minute Panic and Submission
14. Conclusion

Creating an Epic Portal Game in Unity: A Developer's Journey

Are you a fan of the iconic game Portal? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create your own version of this mind-bending puzzle game? If so, then join me on a thrilling adventure as I take you through the exhilarating, and at times, frustrating journey of developing a Portal ripoff game in Unity.

Introduction

The allure of creating a portal-based game intrigued me, but the time constraints of a game jam challenged my ambition. With only three days to complete the project, I had to find a way to make the seemingly impossible possible.

The Challenge of Creating Portals in Unity

My first obstacle was figuring out how to create portals in Unity. After some research, I stumbled upon a project by Daniel Elet, a true legend in the Unity community. He had not only created portals in Unity but also provided comprehensive documentation. Excitedly, I downloaded the project and imported it into Unity.

However, I soon realized that the project lacked a player controller, leaving me with a floating blob instead of a fully functional character. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't integrate a player controller into the existing code, resulting in an endless loop of errors.

Pros:

• Access to an existing project with portal mechanics.
• Documentation provided by Daniel Elet.

Cons:

• Lack of a player controller in the downloaded project.
• Difficulty in integrating a new player controller.

Exploring Open Source Projects for Portal Creation

Determined to find a solution, I scoured the internet for other open-source projects with the desired features. Unfortunately, the project I initially found was the only one that aligned with my vision for the game. Feeling defeated, I contemplated giving up on creating a portal game within the given timeframe.

Pros:

• Open-source projects provide a starting point for development.
• Possibility of finding ready-made solutions for desired features.

Cons:

• Limited availability of projects with specific features.
• Potential need for extensive modifications to fit project requirements.

Overcoming Difficulties with Player Controllers

As I contemplated abandoning the project, the words "Never Back Down, Never Give Up" echoed in my mind. I couldn't let the challenge defeat me. Instead, I decided to modify my approach and create a different version of a portal game where flying replaced the need for portals. While it seemed illogical at first, it opened up new possibilities for gameplay mechanics and simplified the development process.

Simplifying the Portal Concept for the Game Jam

Realizing that my original vision was too ambitious for the time constraint of the game jam, I pared down the concept. Instead of using traditional portals, I opted for teleporter paths that provided momentum based on the direction of the portal. By using end drones and clever level design, I could create a similar experience without the complex portal mechanics.

Developing the Portal Gun Mechanics

The portal gun, a crucial element of the game, needed to be meticulously designed and implemented to capture the essence of the original Portal game. I created a basic portal gun that shot blue and orange portal squares, visually indicating the direction of the portals. To enhance the player's immersion, I added realistic recoil animations and sound effects to mimic the experience of wielding a gun.

Designing Levels with Increasing Difficulty

Level design played a crucial role in creating an engaging and challenging gameplay experience. I utilized a tool called Myro to quickly sketch out level designs using basic shapes. Each level was carefully crafted to introduce new gameplay elements while progressively increasing the difficulty. Level one served as an introduction to the portal gun mechanics, allowing players to familiarize themselves with the concept.

Adding Interactive Elements: Buttons and Dispensers

To elevate the complexity of the puzzles, I introduced interactive elements such as buttons and dispensers. Stepping on a button would trigger specific actions, while the dispensers provided objects that were essential for progressing through the levels. By incorporating these elements, I added a layer of depth to the gameplay and encouraged players to think critically to overcome obstacles.

Incorporating Verticality in Level Design

To add more depth to the level design, I focused on incorporating verticality in level four. Taking inspiration from a level in Portal 2, I introduced obstacles such as glass panels that required players to shoot the wall on one side and navigate their way to the other side. This introduced a new layer of complexity and challenged players to think in three dimensions.

Receiving Feedback and Making Improvements

Throughout the development process, I sought feedback from fellow developers. One of my friends play-tested the game and provided valuable insights. This feedback helped me identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to enhance the overall gameplay experience.

The Painful Experience of Game Development

Creating this game was no walk in the park. I tackled two all-nighters back-to-back, pouring my heart and soul into the development process. The experience was arduous, but the thought of creating a compelling video and game fueled my determination to see the project through to the end.

Final Rush to Complete the Game

With the submission deadline looming, I felt the pressure mounting. I pushed myself to the limit, cramming as much content as possible into the game. Unfortunately, I missed the submission deadline by a mere ten seconds. Panicked, I reached out to the game jam host, who graciously assisted me in submitting the game a few minutes after the deadline ended.

Conclusion

Developing a portal-themed game in Unity within a tight timeframe was undoubtedly a challenging endeavor. Despite the obstacles and frustrations along the way, I persevered and created a game that embodies the essence of Portal while adapting to the constraints of the game jam. The journey was arduous, but the sense of accomplishment and the lessons learned along the way made it all worthwhile.

Highlights:

• Overcoming the challenge of implementing portals in Unity.
• Finding alternative solutions to develop a unique portal game.
• Simplifying gameplay mechanics to match the time constraints.
• Designing levels with progressively increasing difficulty.
• Incorporating verticality and interactive elements for enhanced gameplay.

FAQ

Q: Can I play the game for myself? A: Yes, you can find the game on the developer's Discord server.

Q: How did the developer handle the time constraints of the game jam? A: The developer faced immense pressure and crammed as much content as possible into the game before the submission deadline.

Q: Did the developer encounter any significant difficulties during the development process? A: Yes, integrating a player controller and implementing complex script functionalities proved challenging and time-consuming.