PRO DESIGN TIPS - Teaching: Portal 2 (Valve Corporation, 2011)
COMMON GAME DESIGN TECHNIQUE EXAMPLE: Teaching the player mechanics
That clip included the narration from valve giving us an insight into some of the
key issues they had scaffolding the player into the more complex mechanics in Portal
2 (Valve Corporation, 2011). This is a clear example of how you’ve got to be super
clear when you’re introducing mechanics. In this case the valve designer, Christopher
Chin is talking about how they’ve moved some of the chambers around and they’ve
iterated around QA feedback – they’ve taken the game to the testers and the testers
have become frustrated and confused at the mechanics as they’ve been introduced,
resulting in a rethink from the design department. Again, we are seeing here about how
important iteration (see Box 2.2) is in the process of Game Development. The actual
portal system is in itself a hugely complex mechanic to introduce, and they spend a lot
of time at the beginning of Portal 2 getting the player to understand how to use it. They
introduce fixed “in” portals before training the player in using these, before finally
allowing the player free rein with the portal gun and the “in” and “out” mechanics. The
portalling mechanic can be enormously confusing, even when you know exactly what
you’re doing, so it’s a very good example of how you must be very careful with onboard‑
ing, or gradually introducing your mechanics.
WANT MORE TECHNIQUES? this TEXT is an ABRIDGED EXCERPT from the BOOK: Teaching Video Game Design Fundamentals: A Guide for Educating with Practical Examples and Learning Materials. (Andy Sandham, Routledge/Taylor and Francis/CRC Press 2025)
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