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Multimorphic Portal Pinball Machine

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Revision as of 17:11, 19 February 2026 by Bobbynarde (talk | contribs) (Characters)
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Portal Pinball is a physical pinball game developed by Multimorphic, Inc. for the P³ Pinball Platform. Released in 2025 as an official collaboration with Valve, the game utilizes modular hardware to combine a 1080p dynamic floor display with a physical playfield.

The machine is notable for its application of Aperture Science-themed hardware, including 10 RGB-illuminated physical portals and a unique "Momentum Jump" ramp system that replicates the kinetic properties of the Enrichment Center.

Technology and "Portal" Mechanics

The defining feature of the machine is its ability to simulate instantaneous travel. While traditional pinball machines are limited by the travel time of a single ball, the P³ platform utilizes a 16-ball storage system located directly beneath the upper playfield.

When a ball enters a physical portal, the game "captures" that ball and simultaneously launches a new ball from a hidden trough at the corresponding exit portal. This allows for:

Momentum Conservation: The game tracks the entry speed of the ball and uses high-speed solenoids to launch the exit ball at a matching velocity.

Simultaneous Portals: The large ball count allows for multiple objects to be in flight through different portal pairs during complex multiball modes.

Features

The game is structured around the P³ platform's modularity, utilizing a swappable upper module and an optional extension kit.

Upper Playfield Module

The Upper Playfield Module is the mechanical core of the game. It includes:

The LOFT (Library of Failed Tests): A specific upper-right sub-section of the module. It houses a portal to the Companion Cube Ball Lock, which physically archives balls on a metal grating for multiball initialization. In Chamber 4 ("It Takes Two"), the LOFT is utilized to incinerate the Companion Cube. +1

Angled Panel Portal: A specialized ramp requiring the player to build enough momentum to clear a physical gap into one of three landing zones: the pit, the lower landing zone, or the upper grating. Maximum momentum launches the ball into the upper grating for a high-score bonus.

Aerial Faith Plate: A high-powered solenoid diverter that launches the ball across the playfield into the Companion Cube Ball Lock.

Sentry Turret: A motorized, rotating sculpt (mounted on the back of the Reggie sculpt) with synchronized lighting. It "fires" digital bullets at an on-screen ball to signify that the time window for locking a ball for Turret Factory Multiball is closing.

Multiball Modes

When in "The Hub," players can qualify and stack three primary multiball modes. These modes feature "add-a-ball" components and can be played simultaneously with Hub Objectives. +1

Faith Plate Multiball: Triggered by successfully utilizing the Aerial Faith Plate to lock balls in the back grating. Focuses on high-speed launches and upper-playfield jackpots.

Turret Multiball: Activated via the Turret Control Center. During this mode, the Reggie sculpt rotates to reveal the Sentry Turret, which tracks the balls and "fires" to award jackpots.

Edgeless Safety Cube Multiball: A mode focused on the game's scoop portals and lower playfield interactive art.

Characters

 
Reggie as seen on the translite.

Reggie

Reggie is an original personality core created specifically for Portal Pinball, voiced by Marc Silk. He is designated as the "Teambuilding" Core and serves as the player's primary guide, offering nervous encouragement and directing testing protocols.

On the physical playfield, Reggie is represented by an animated, rotating sculpt. During standard gameplay, Reggie "watches" the ball and reacts to hits with physical movement and eye animations on the screen. When specific modes are triggered (such as Turret Multiball), the sculpt rotates 180 degrees to reveal the hidden Sentry Turret mechanism. +1

GLaDOS

Voiced by Ellen McLain, GLaDOS provides the machine's primary commentary. She supervises the player's progress through the Hub and administers the test chambers with her signature passive-aggressive taunts.

Gameplay

Gameplay begins in "the Hub" (based on the Cooperative Testing Initiative location), where players navigate toward seven unique Test Chambers:

The Big Fling

Encouragement via Discouragement

Proactive Energy Redirection

It Takes Two

Shortcuts

Gels

Rat Man's Den

The ultimate goal is to complete all Chambers to unlock the final Wizard Mode: a face-to-face battle with GLaDOS.

Portal on the Multimorphic website