Portal: Prelude Forum

I can't remember where it was but there was a small discussion about this comparative exploitation of ABHing and portal bumping. So, this is not a new topic however I will do my best in answering on behalf of the P: P community. From memory, your question is exactly the same as the original arguement, so the conclusion will be the same also. ABH, I agree is as much of an exploit as portal bumping, they both use the game mechanics to do things differently, allowing solutions to problems that the designers (Nicolas and Jeremy) don't want you to use. I can give one clear example for each based on the time challenges; Jaso's chamber 9 record (uses ABH to get past the fizzler quickly) and chamber 14 using portal bumping. You could also say that there are alternative solutions to puzzles without the use of these, but that is besides the point.

If I recall correctly, the underlying arguement behind disallowing portal bumping in P: P challenges was that ABH can only be executed as this kind of exploit if you use genuine portal menouvres, whereas portal bumping only requires a portal gun with both blue and orange portals. If you really think about it, bumping provides a substitue for noclip when you encounter a situation that allows it.

By all means, post your feedback, I have only just tried to compact the arguement into a few short sentences so there is probably someone browsing this forum that can explain it more thoroughly.

Last edited by Kingpin (22-06-2009 05:15:18)

I guess you sumed it up for me. ABH is still hard to do and complexifies the task of shooting portals and aiming (because you walk in reverse). On the other hand, portal bumping is just a glitch that requires almost no skill and can easily be compared to noclip mode. That's the difference.

Then I guess it's all about personal opinions.
But we had to define some rules in order to avoid some ridiculously fast (but still impressive) runs.

Does DZJB want an explanation of edge glitching? He could just ask me on steam lol >.<

Ashnod wrote:

However, now that I know about ABH, I fear the day I come across maps that are dependent upon it to solve. Hasn't happened yet, thankfully.

It would quite a stupid decision from its creator.

It would be a bad decision on the part of the creator, but then again, I have run into a custom map or two that require portal bumping.  More people could still complete it, but it is annoying to the people who spend a long time trying to find a "legal" way to beat it.

My point is people are already making maps that require techniques that are not considered "legal" by many.

The only reason you'd ever want to use portal bumping as a required solution in a map is if you want to play hilariously unfairly. In this case, you should probably just go straight into a "glitch hell" style and make a level that requires every single known glitch and every single known combination of every single known glitch, and then some that were only discovered by the author. Yeah, this can actually be fun to play, if properly executed.

If you just use something like bumping for no good reason, and don't continue the "glitch hell" style, it's REALLY stupid IMO.

I'm considering this as a cheat. This is clearly in the same vein than portal bumping.
I think this was explained in Portal's commentaries at some point... when the devs say that they create a simplified version of the physics context around the portals. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with this.

Actually I don't think so, because it happens instantly with no travel time. I think the game just messes up your coordinates.

OR the one where you don't actually walk through, and can only shoot a portal through there, the game screws with your shooting position.

Also, some edges are worse than others, requiring skill to perform. Just try to edge glitch in the original Portal when in the escape levels, try to edge glitch into "chamber 14" when near the window. You have to use a particular edge and it sucks.

Portal bumping isn't a physical portal property. In "real life", bumping would NOT occur. It's a glitch.
Edge glitching is a glitch too, but it's not OOB.

That's portal TUNNELING, or portal STANDING or portal PEEKING, many names but it isn't BUMPING.

"Portal bumping" is this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmi0HzfVFfU

If you notice, he shoots the second portal THROUGH the glass wall, apparently. This is because if you try to shoot one portal AT another at a correct angle, the game "bumps" the portal off to the side, ignoring walls in the process. It can only be done if the wall is thin enough, though.

I think I'm gonna try to run some levels of this, since the ladder has Stimich's timescaled records removed. A couple of questions: What are the restrictions for glitches for this ladder? I'm assuming that it is all inbounds stuff. Is edge glitching allowed? Any restrictions to ABH? Portal bumping? Also, I'm gonna check if demos still record using the current version of Portal in Portal Prelude. Portal build 3791 has broken demo playback, so it will be difficult for anyone to beat ladder records if they can't record demos.

@ NykO18: You linked to one of my videos on the main page. That video is NOT using timescale. That video is using a command called 'singlestep' which allows you to play the game per frame. Its quite different from timescale. Timescale just slows the game down. I have a video showing off timescale if you feel like subbing the other one out.