Have you ever wondered what it's like to develop a video game? Building mods or custom maps is an honest way to gain some experience with game development, but doing so requires technical knowledge most people don't possess – or want to spend the hard time learning. Thankfully, a few games over the years have simplified the process through level-editing software. The Perpetual Testing Initiative, a community-generated content add-on for Portal 2, is a really enjoyable, no-fuss way to try your hand at building your own mind-boggling stages.
The best downloadable content – in my opinion – adds new twists to gameplay, or extends the life of the game. Co-op features were added to the series in Portal 2 last year, and offered a new perspective to the game's puzzles. Perpetual Testing Initiative, which launches today following a closed beta period, has the potential to keep you returning to the game for quite some time.
The add-on utilizes Steam Workshop, a content creation tool already available for Team Fortress 2 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. A new option appears in the Portal 2 start menu, taking you to a hub within the game where you can either create new test chambers or play those created by the community.
Creating your very own sadistic test chamber is a total cinch. The game starts you out with an empty, square room with a sidebar full of various Portal 2 assets, though altering the room's features is as simple as clicking and dragging on panels. Want to make a pit full of deadly goo? Just select some floor panels, hit the minus-key, and drop the goo into the hole. Nearly every item seen in Portal 2 is available for your use, including pressure plates, weighted Companion Cubes, and those adorable turrets.
Coming up with puzzles is a game in and of itself. You're forced to not only think of devious ways to perplex the player, but also to test all of the various ways someone might sneak around your intended path. Switching to a playable test-mode is just a button click away, and many times I had to alter my chamber when I found a potential exploit.
Of course, you don't have to create a room to enjoy Perpetual Testing Initiative. A user-generated ratings system ensures the best chambers float to the top. Adding rooms from Steam Workshop to your queue was still a bit buggy at times in the beta version, but I'm confident that will change with the actual release going live today. From what I played, it seems Valve has concocted a super user-friendly way to extend the life of what's already a fantastic game.
of 5
Geoduck
May 08, 2012 at 8:36am
Oh man!!!
Portal 2 looks so great. I can't wait. As soon as I get the next gen MacBook Pro I'm there. Hold my calls for a month or two.
