Elevator (Portal 2)

Elevators are used in Portal 2 to transition the player from level to level. They are not to be confused with the Disassembler, which took the players from level to level in coop.

Adding elevators to a map

Note:This tutorial will create an elevator spawn in your level, and the player will spawn with a potato on her gun. As of now there is no tutorial on making an elevator spawn without a potato on the gun. Enjoy the potato.

Entrance elevator

1) Select the entity tool, create a func_instance, and give it the fixup name "Arrival_Elevator" and the VMF file name "instances/turbine_elevator/arrival_elevator_a4_base.vmf"

Note:If the elevator does not load, save hammer and re-open it.

Both instances just after copying

2) To make things simpler, and to not have to create two func_instances and find the second one through all this mess, simply Shift+drag the "Arrival_Elevator" one unit in any direction to copy the first func_instance, and quickly put the copy exactly back on top of the original.

Note:This step is crucial as the two func_instances MUST be aligned directly on top of each other.

Note:If the elevator does not load, save the map and re-open it.

Note:If you look at the tall blue "skip"-textured column, you can easily align the two items. Simply ensure that the columns line up in all three 2d windows. Also make sure the bottom of the columns are aligned. If you need to select one of the two parts, ie the elevator or the logic, you can click one of the cubes attached to the column.

3) Double-click either one and change the name to "Arrival_Logic" with the VMF file name "instances/turbine_elevator/arrival_elevator_a4_logic.vmf"

You can use one of the other elevators to use a different theme; just make sure you have both the elevator and the logic instances.

Transition manager

Transition manager is the little boxes behind the elevator

4) Create one more func_instance entity anywhere; a convenient place is right behind the elevator model (but not inside the arrival elevator!). Name this one "Arrival_Departure_Trans" with the VMF file name "instances/transitions/arrival_departure_transition_ents.vmf". This instance covers the transition for both the Arrival AND Departure elevators, but does not cover the vmf's for the departure elevator(read below)

You can set the videos on the elevators by setting the variables in this instance; e.g. try setting $arrival_video to media/animalking.bik.

Exit elevator

5) To create the exit elevator, simply repeat steps 1-3 but instead of "arrival_elevator" you will choose "instances/turbine_elevator/departure_elevator_a4_logic.vmf" and "instances/turbine_elevator/departure_elevator_a4_base.vmf" both of which are located in the same folder. Name these "Departure_Elevator" and "Departure_Logic" respectively.

Connection to map

Elevator connected to a room

6) You will notice that sticking out of the middle of the elevators on one side is an extension that looks like a hallway. You must connect this passage to your map. A door would look good here.

Note:The map will leak at the passageway exit if it's not sealed off with your own construction. You do not have to box the entire elevator, just take care of the exit.

Note:You do not need a spawn point or a portal gun entity, the instances cover this.

Now your elevator is complete, congratulations!

Solution to spawn without a potato (temporary)

Repeat the step 1) and 2) but at step 3), replace the instance "instances/turbine_elevator/arrival_elevator_a4_base.vmf" by "instances/turbine_elevator/arrival_elevator_base.vmf" . Double click on the instance and click on Edit Instance. Immediatly, Save as "my_arrival_elevator_base.vmf" for exemple, because we'll doing some changes in it. Also, modify the Vmf Filename of the instance in the main map. After this, double click on the trigger_once named "elevator_1_interior_start_trigger" that cover the elevator model, go to the Outputs, and Copy the line with :

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnStartTouch	elevator_1	MoveToPathNode	@elevator_1_bottom_path_1	0.10	No

delete that output line, and place near the elevator model a func_instance_io_proxy entity, name it "proxy", go to the Outputs, and Paste the line copied before. Change the "OnStartTouch" output by "OnProxyRelay". Save your instance, go back to your main map, and create a info_player_start and a weapon_portalgun into the elevator (take care on the fact that the player is not stuck in the elevator). Then, create a trigger_once bloc entity that cover the whole elevator model and info_player_start, and add this Output :

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnStartTouch	Arrival_logic	instance:elevator_1;MoveToPathNode	0	0.00	No

Finally, save your map, compile it and it should works, if you did it correctly.