Portal - Tutorial - Energy Ball Launcher and Catcher

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← Portal Level Creation

Skill Level This tutorial expects you to have this amount of knowledge within the topic to follow along smoothly.
Novice	Familiar	Competent	Proficient	Expert

Introduction

This page will show you how to create Energy Ball Launchers and Catchers.

Launcher

Launcher Base

Concrete Slab

Create a 8w*128l*128h brush with the nodraw texture. Tie this brush to a func_detail. Texture the front face with concrete/concrete_modular_wall001a and the border faces with signage/hazard_orange_03b. Rotate the textures if they aren't aligned.

Note:The base isn't needed if your launcher is on a metal wall

Launcher Model

Launcher Model

Create a prop_dynamic entity and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Name	ball_spawner_prop
World Model	models/props/combine_ball_launcher.mdl

Launcher Lighting

Launcher Light Entity

Create a light entity and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Brightness	218 76 26 30
BrightnessHDR	218 76 26 30

Place the light inside the Launcher Model.

Launcher Clipping

Launcher Clip Brush

Create a 32w*64l*64h brush with the playerclip texture. Position this brush in front of the Launcher Base.

Launcher noportal

Launcher noportal volume

Create a 8w*96l*96h brush with the invisible texture.

Note:The noportal brush isn't needed if your launcher is on a metal wall

Launcher Collision

Launcher Collision

Create a 1w*16l*16h brush with the nodraw texture. Position this brush in the front in the model. Tie this brush to a func_detail.

Launcher Spawner

Launcher Spawner

Create a point_energy_ball_launcher entity and position the entity right in front of the Collision Brush, touching the outer face.

Enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Name	energy_ball_launcher
Ball count	1
Min ball speed	200
Max ball speed	200
Ball radius	12.0
Ball Respawn Time	2.0

Note: The Min ball speed and Max ball speed values can be changed, but make sure they are the same value. The minimum value to enter is 200 and the max is 400.

Sometimes under flags, the launcher starts inactive and gets activated when you touch a trigger.

Enter the following output:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnPostSpawnBall	ball_spawner_prop	SetAnimation	close	0.00	No

Ball Catcher

Note:Ball Catchers are modified ball catchers from Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Catcher Base

Catcher Base

Create 2 8w*40l*128h brushes with the nodraw texture.

Create 2 8w*48l*40h brushes with the nodraw texture.

Texture the front faces with concrete/concrete_modular_wall001a and the outer edge faces with signage/hazard_orange_03b. Rotate the textures if they aren't aligned.

Create an 8w*48l*48h brush with the playerclip texture and put the brush inside of the concrete base so the player can't fall through.

Note:The base isn't needed if your catcher is on a metal wall

Catcher Interior

Catcher Interior

Create 2 16w*16l*48h brushes with the nodraw texture.

Create 2 16w*48l*16h brushes with the nodraw texture.

Create a 16w*48l*48h brush with the nodraw texture.

Put these brushes behind the Catcher Base.

Catcher Model

Catcher Model

Create a prop_dynamic entity and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
World Model	models/props/combine_ball_catcher.mdl
Disable Shadows	Yes
Name	ball_trap_1_housing

Catcher Sprites

Catcher Sprites

Create an env_sprite entity and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Name	ball_trap_1_sprite
Parent	ball_trap_1_housing
Render FX	Distort
Render Mode	Additive
Framerate	30
Sprite Name	materials/sprites/physring1.vmt
Scale	1.5
Size of Glow Proxy Geometry	0

Create another env_sprite entity and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Name	ball_trap_1_sprite
Parent	ball_trap_1_housing
Render FX	Distort
Render Mode	World Space Glow
Framerate	30
Sprite Name	materials/sprites/glow01.vmt
Scale	2
Size of Glow Proxy Geometry	0

Catcher Ball

Ball Model

Create a prop_dynamic entity and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Parent	ball_trap_1_housing
World Model	models/Effects/combineball.mdl
Name	ball_trap_1_ball
Start Disabled	Yes

Catcher Spotlight

Catcher Spotlight

Create a point_spotlight entity and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Name	spotlight1
Color	218 76 26
Spotlight Length	256
Spotlight Width	32
HDR color scale	2.0

Catcher Filter

Ball Filter

Create a filter_combineball_type entity and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Parent	ball_trap_1_housing
Name	filter_combine_ballpermit_alt
Ball Type	Launched by point_combine_ball_launcher

Catcher Sounds

Catcher Sound

Create an ambient_generic entity and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Name	sound_activate
Sound Name	AlyxEMP.Charge

Catcher Setup

Catcher Sound

Create a logic_relay entity and enter the following property:

Property Name	Value
Name	relay_ball_trap_1_setup

Enter the following outputs: Enter the following output:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnSpawn	ball_trap_1_ball	SetParentAttachment	ball_attachment	0.00	No
	OnSpawn	ball_trap_1_sprite	SetParentAttachment	ball_attachment	0.00	No

Catcher Trigger

Catcher Trigger

Create a 96w*96l*32h cylinder with 8 sides with the trigger texture

Use the Hammer Transform Dialog and set its Y rotation value to 90.

Position the brush inside of the catcher.

Tie this brush to a trigger_multiple entity and enter the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Name	ball_trap_1
Filter Name	filter_combine_ballpermit_alt

Enter the following outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnTrigger	!activator	Kill	<none>	0.00	No
	OnTrigger	ball_trap_1_ball	Enable	<none>	0.00	No
	OnTrigger	ball_trap_1_housing	SetAnimation	close	0.00	No
	OnTrigger	ball_trap_1_housing	SetAnimation	closed	2.00	No
	OnTrigger	ball_trap_1_sprite	ShowSprite	<none>	0.00	No
	OnTrigger	energy_ball_launcher	Disable	<none>	0.00	No
	OnTrigger	sound_activate	PlaySound	<none>	0.00	No
	OnTrigger	spotlight1	LightOff	<none>	0.00	No

Under Flags, modify the following:

	Flag
		Clients
		Physics Objects

Implementation

You should have the same amount of launchers as catchers. If you have multiple catchers and launchers, remember to change the energy_ball_launcher in the trigger's outputs.

See also

• Portal Level Creation