Thermal Discouragement Beam: Difference between revisions

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The [[Thermal Discouragement Beam]] (referred to as the "'''deadly laser'''" by [[GLaDOS]],) is a Test Chamber [[Mechanics|mechanic]] introduced in ''[[Portal 2]]''.
The [[Thermal Discouragement Beam]] (referred to as the "'''deadly laser'''" by [[GLaDOS]],) is a Test Chamber [[Mechanics|mechanic]] introduced in ''[[Portal 2]]''.


The Beam is fired in a straight line from an immovable device built into the wall or ceiling of a Test Chamber. Each Beam is usually coupled with one Receptacle, though multiple Beams and/or multiple Receptacles may be present within a single Test Chamber. Directing the Beam into the Receptacle will activate certain mechanics that are crucial in reaching the chamber exit. The Beam can also be used in conjunction with Relays, which are small nodes built into the floor of some Test Chambers. Relays are activated when the Thermal Discouragement Beam passes through them, and multiple Relays must often be activated using a single Beam. Once all Relays are activated, specific Test Chamber mechanics will be triggered, similarly to the activation of a Receptacle.
The Beam is fired in a straight line ithin [[Test Chambers]], and is activated when either a player or [[Weighted Storage Cube]] is placed upon it.
 
== Uses ==
Buttons are present in virtually all test chambers and, when activated, trigger a variety of effects. Buttons can either control the flow of Excursion Funnels, open and close hatches, release [[Weighted Storage Cube]]s, or even open and close the gate leading to the exit. It's up to the player to figure out how and when to use the button, or buttons, in order to proceed.
 
== Buttons ==
 
=== Heavy Duty Super Button ===
[[File:Portal 2 Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button.png|right|100px]]
 
The '''Heavy Duty Super Button''' is a receptacle that can be triggered by the weights of player characters, [[#Weighted Storage Cube|Weighted Storage Cube]]s, [[#Edgeless Safety Cube|Edgeless Safety Cube]]s, and [[#Frankenturret|Frankenturret]]s. The button was introduced in ''Portal'' and remained prevalent in ''Portal 2''.
 
An older prototype variant from the 50-70s era of the Super Buttons can be seen in the ''Portal 2'' single-player chapters ''The Fall'' and ''The Reunion''.
 
=== Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle ===
[[File:Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle.png|right|100px]]
 
'''Weighted Storage Cube Receptacles''', as obvious by its name, serves as a receptacle only for the [[#Weighted Storage Cube|Weighted Storage Cube]]s, even though it can also activate using [[Weighted Companion Cube]]s and [[Discouragement Redirection Cube]]s. This receptacle is only present in the co-op campaign of ''Portal 2'', though it is available in the [[Puzzle Creator]].
 
The Storage Cube must be placed securely inside the receptacle in order for test subjects to proceed. Although its appearance is similar to the [[Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button|Super Button]], it cannot be activated by the weight of test subjects or any other objects being placed upon it.
{{Clr}}
 
=== Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle ===
[[File:Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle.png|right|100px]]
{{Quotation|'''GLaDOS'''|You have no idea how tiring it is to praise someone for placing an Edgeless Safety Cube into a receptacle designed to exactly fit an Edgeless Safety Cube.|sound=GLaDOS_mp_coop_fling_3end04.wav}}
The Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle is a receptacle for the [[#Edgeless Safety Cube|Edgeless Safety Cube]], introduced in ''Portal 2''. The Cube must be placed securely inside the receptacle in order for the player to proceed.
 
Edgeless Safety Cubes and their receptacles only appear as testing elements in the game's cooperative campaign and the [[Perpetual Testing Initiative]]. However, an Edgeless Safety Cube can be seen among the "garbage" in [[Portal 2 Chapter 2 Test Chamber 6]].
{{Clr}}
 
=== Contraption Cube Receptacle ===
[[File:Contraption_Cube_Receptacle.png|right|100px]]
 
The Contraption Cube Receptacle is exclusively featured in the [[Portal 2 - Education Version|educational version of Portal 2]]. Although it is designed for the [[Cube#Contraption Cube|Contraption Cube]], the Receptacle will not recognize the Contraption Cube or activate any puzzle elements which are connected with it. Additionally, it appears entirely black in-game, when the model itself has different colors.
{{Clr}}
 
=== One-Touch Super Button ===
[[File:One Touch Super Button.png|right|100px]]
The One-Touch Super Button appears in [[Bridge Constructor Portal]] and is a blue variant of the normal Super Button that stays powered after being pressed at least once.
 
== [[Puzzle Creator]] item properties ==
<!-- We could probably make this into a template or something, that'd make it much easier to put it on all the item pages and make changes to all copies of it quickly. -->
* '''Entity cost:''' 3 <!-- Entity costs are taken from Valve Developer Community, they're most likely correct but I'm not entirely sure. -->
* '''Connections:''' This item supports outputs, which activate when the button is pressed and deactivate when it is unpressed. ''Connect to...'' is used to connect this item to another, via inputs or outputs. ''Connection visibility'' controls the visibility of this connection, and ''Remove connections'' can be used to remove an existing connection.
* '''Button Type:''' Used to select between Weighted, Cube and Sphere buttons. In the [[Portal 2 - Education Version|educational version]], it also allows switching to the Contraption Cube receptacle.
* '''Toggle Stopwatch:''' Unknown, only present in educational version. Possibly related to the timer functionality present in that version.
 
== Trivia ==
* In ''Portal'' [[Portal Test Chamber 16|Test Chamber 16]], [[turrets]] can activate a button. This is the only occurrence of this.
* The name GladOS introduces the button with - “Superconducting Super Button” - is a reference to the United States’ Superconducting Super Collider project, a failed attempt at creating a particle accelerator in Texas during the latter half of the 20th century.
== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
|lines=4
|height=120
|width=150
|File:Portal 1 floor button.png|alt1=Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button|The Heavy Duty Super Button as it appears in ''Portal''.
|File:Portal 2 Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button.png|alt2=Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button|The Heavy Duty Super Button as it appears in ''Portal 2''.
|File:Portal 2 Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button active.png|alt3=An active ''Portal 2'' floor button|The Heavy Duty Super Button as it appears in ''Portal 2'' when activated.
|File:P2_OldFloor_button.png|alt4=An old Aperture floor button from ''Portal 2''|The Heavy Duty Super Button from old Aperture in ''Portal 2''.
|File:Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle.png|The Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle.
|File:Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle active.png|The Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle when activated.
|File:Contraption_Cube_Receptacle.png|The Contraption Cube Receptacle.
|File:ContraptionCube Error.png|A Contraption Cube activating a bugged receptacle, not opening the connected door.
|File:Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle.png|The Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle.
|File:Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle active.png|The Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle when activated.
|File:One Touch Super Button.png|The One Touch Super Button from [[Bridge Constructor Portal]].
}}
 
== See also ==
* [[Switch]]
* [[Edgeless Safety Cube]]
* [[Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle]]
* [[Weighted Storage Cube]]
* [[Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle]]
 
 
{{MechanicsNav}}
 
[[Category:Mechanics]]
from an immovable device built into the wall or ceiling of a Test Chamber. Each Beam is usually coupled with one Receptacle, though multiple Beams and/or multiple Receptacles may be present within a single Test Chamber. Directing the Beam into the Receptacle will activate certain mechanics that are crucial in reaching the chamber exit. The Beam can also be used in conjunction with Relays, which are small nodes built into the floor of some Test Chambers. Relays are activated when the Thermal Discouragement Beam passes through them, and multiple Relays must often be activated using a single Beam. Once all Relays are activated, specific Test Chamber mechanics will be triggered, similarly to the activation of a Receptacle.


== Interactions ==
== Interactions ==

Revision as of 02:39, 9 April 2023

A Thermal Discouragement Beam
It burns!
Turret

The Thermal Discouragement Beam (referred to as the "deadly laser" by GLaDOS,) is a Test Chamber mechanic introduced in Portal 2.

The Beam is fired in a straight line ithin Test Chambers, and is activated when either a player or Weighted Storage Cube is placed upon it.

Uses

Buttons are present in virtually all test chambers and, when activated, trigger a variety of effects. Buttons can either control the flow of Excursion Funnels, open and close hatches, release Weighted Storage Cubes, or even open and close the gate leading to the exit. It's up to the player to figure out how and when to use the button, or buttons, in order to proceed.

Buttons

Heavy Duty Super Button

Portal 2 Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button.png

The Heavy Duty Super Button is a receptacle that can be triggered by the weights of player characters, Weighted Storage Cubes, Edgeless Safety Cubes, and Frankenturrets. The button was introduced in Portal and remained prevalent in Portal 2.

An older prototype variant from the 50-70s era of the Super Buttons can be seen in the Portal 2 single-player chapters The Fall and The Reunion.

Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle

Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle.png

Weighted Storage Cube Receptacles, as obvious by its name, serves as a receptacle only for the Weighted Storage Cubes, even though it can also activate using Weighted Companion Cubes and Discouragement Redirection Cubes. This receptacle is only present in the co-op campaign of Portal 2, though it is available in the Puzzle Creator.

The Storage Cube must be placed securely inside the receptacle in order for test subjects to proceed. Although its appearance is similar to the Super Button, it cannot be activated by the weight of test subjects or any other objects being placed upon it.

Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle

Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle.png
You have no idea how tiring it is to praise someone for placing an Edgeless Safety Cube into a receptacle designed to exactly fit an Edgeless Safety Cube.
GLaDOS

The Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle is a receptacle for the Edgeless Safety Cube, introduced in Portal 2. The Cube must be placed securely inside the receptacle in order for the player to proceed.

Edgeless Safety Cubes and their receptacles only appear as testing elements in the game's cooperative campaign and the Perpetual Testing Initiative. However, an Edgeless Safety Cube can be seen among the "garbage" in Portal 2 Chapter 2 Test Chamber 6.

Contraption Cube Receptacle

Contraption Cube Receptacle.png

The Contraption Cube Receptacle is exclusively featured in the educational version of Portal 2. Although it is designed for the Contraption Cube, the Receptacle will not recognize the Contraption Cube or activate any puzzle elements which are connected with it. Additionally, it appears entirely black in-game, when the model itself has different colors.

One-Touch Super Button

One Touch Super Button.png

The One-Touch Super Button appears in Bridge Constructor Portal and is a blue variant of the normal Super Button that stays powered after being pressed at least once.

Puzzle Creator item properties

  • Entity cost: 3
  • Connections: This item supports outputs, which activate when the button is pressed and deactivate when it is unpressed. Connect to... is used to connect this item to another, via inputs or outputs. Connection visibility controls the visibility of this connection, and Remove connections can be used to remove an existing connection.
  • Button Type: Used to select between Weighted, Cube and Sphere buttons. In the educational version, it also allows switching to the Contraption Cube receptacle.
  • Toggle Stopwatch: Unknown, only present in educational version. Possibly related to the timer functionality present in that version.

Trivia

  • In Portal Test Chamber 16, turrets can activate a button. This is the only occurrence of this.
  • The name GladOS introduces the button with - “Superconducting Super Button” - is a reference to the United States’ Superconducting Super Collider project, a failed attempt at creating a particle accelerator in Texas during the latter half of the 20th century.

Gallery

See also


from an immovable device built into the wall or ceiling of a Test Chamber. Each Beam is usually coupled with one Receptacle, though multiple Beams and/or multiple Receptacles may be present within a single Test Chamber. Directing the Beam into the Receptacle will activate certain mechanics that are crucial in reaching the chamber exit. The Beam can also be used in conjunction with Relays, which are small nodes built into the floor of some Test Chambers. Relays are activated when the Thermal Discouragement Beam passes through them, and multiple Relays must often be activated using a single Beam. Once all Relays are activated, specific Test Chamber mechanics will be triggered, similarly to the activation of a Receptacle.

Interactions

Thermal Discouragement Beams can be angled in any direction and with high precision using the Discouragement Redirection Cube.

Thermal Discouragement Beams can be angled in predefined directions which players can't change during the game using portals.

Direct a Thermal Discouragement Beam onto Sentry Turrets (usually via a portals and/or Weighted Pivot Cube), causing it to heat up and explode.

Notes

  • Thermal Discouragement Beam can travel through transparent objects such as glass...
  • Touching the beam while on the ground will make a “sizzle” sound and push the player away, as well as deal a small amount of damage.
    • Prolonged, repeated exposure to the Beam may result in death of Chell, Atlas or P-body... This is hard to do even intentionally with some version.[1]

Videos

See also: Videos

Chamberlock video

The Thermal Discouragement Beam as it appears in Chamberlock informational videos.

Demonstration

A beta demonstration featuring the Discouragement Redirection Cube.

Related achievements

Portal 2

Undiscouraged
Undiscouraged
Complete the first Thermal Discouragement Beam test

Trivia

* The beam appears to be a replacement for the High Energy Pellet from Portal as in the first test chamber in which you see it (a copy of the original Portal Test Chamber 06) a destroyed pellet launcher is replaced by an emitter for the Beam. Additionally, the two can both destroy turrets, and activate dedicated receptacles.

References

  1. March 25, 2023 Patch or version "Protocol version 2001, Exe version 2.0.0.1 (portal2), Exe build: 19:15:46 Mar 3 2023 (8873) (620)"