Portal 2 Guide

How to make "OR" Gates in the Puzzlemaker for Portal 2

How to make “OR” Gates in the Puzzlemaker

Overview

In this guide, I’ll explain how to invert the normal logic of Portal 2 connections and create “OR Gates,” in which a single output can be activated by either of two inputs.

Introduction

I’m going to teach you how to make something called an “OR Gate”. What this basically means is that you can use two inputs, independently of each other, for the same thing. If either input is activated, their shared output will be activated.

Normal Puzzlemaker Connections

“OR” Gates operate contrary to normal puzzlemaker connections. Typically, when two inputs are connected to a shared output, both inputs must be activated in order to activate their output. (This is called an “AND” gate, because both one input AND the other must be activated.) Reversing this relationship is a fun wrinkle you can offer your players.

What You Will Need

To create an “OR Gate,” your puzzle will need:

2x Laser Emitter
1x Laser Relay
2x Inputs
1x Output

Laser Placement

Place one laser emitter perpendicular to its partner. Make sure that both emitters are aligned at floor level. Now place the laser relay at the point where the two lasers intersect.

You can set them to START DISABLED, but they’ll switch to this mode anyway when I connect an input.

Inputs and Outputs

For our inputs, we’re going to use PEDESTAL BUTTONS because they’re easy to activate. Place two of them and connect each to a different laser emitter.

For our output, we’re going to use an excursion funnel/tractor beam, something nice and visible. It will automatically switch to START DISABLED once you connect the laser relay to it with the option CHANGE ACTIVE STATE.

Conclusion

That’s it; you’re finished. Now when the player presses either button, the funnel will activate, which is quite a different puzzle than the other way around.

Easy, right?

Check the Portal2Cast for more level design lessons in the Portal 2 Puzzlemaker:

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