4/5/11 - Gish Contest Sponsored by Plantronics Sound Innovation

[BulletFingers]

Official Forum Post

Welcome to the Official Post for the 2011 Gish Contest Sponsored by Plantronics Sound Innovation!

"One small step for man, one  giant rotation for blobkind."
-Gish Armstrong

To kick Spring off right we are releasing a series of new levels to our classic game, Gish. The levels contain challenges that once completed could land you with a brand new gaming headset from Plantronics.  The Plantronics GameCom 777 will allow you to experience games and movies the way they were meant to be heard in virtual 7.1 Dolby® surround sound.  Feel like an astronaut when you are speaking through technology developed by the same company that supplied communications hardware for the lunar landing, and we are not talking about the video game!

There is a lot of new content to play and prizes to be won, but first here are the official rules.

A total of Eight Gish levels will be released over the next few weeks. Each level contains a specific challenge. The first five people per level to record themselves completing the level challenge, upload the video to youtube, and send it to the ChronicLogicGames channel (on Youtube) will be entered to win a GameCom 777. You can also enter to win by subscribing to the Plantronics and Chronic Logic Facebook and Youtube pages and posting on the Chronic Logic featured Facebook post. To win the contest participant must also own a licensed copy of Gish, available now at pick-your-own-price.

You can check out the GameCom 777 here, http://www.plantronics.com/us/product/gamecom-777

How to record a video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B67MDk3htGQ

Facebook
Plantronics
ChronicLogicGames

Youtube
Plantronics
ChronicLogicGames

The Fine Print

*Any Individual can only win one prize and must own a copy of Gish *Video proof must be uploaded to youtube and sent to the youtube channel ChronicLogicGames, the first five sent will qualify *No Plantronics or Chronic Logic affiliated persons can win *Modified levels are prohibited  *Any person can only submit one video per level *Video submissions must start at the beginning of the level and finish once the challenge goal is completed without cuts. *Half the headsets will be given away to video submission entries, and the other half to Facebook likes and Youtube subs. Facebook likes are worth ten times a youtube subscription. The chance of winning each headset from the Facebook promotion is one in (10*allfacebooklikes+allyoutubesubs)/10.  The chance of winning each headset from a Youtube subscription is one in (10*allfacebooklikes+allyoutubesubs). The percent chance to win each headset from completing a level challenge is your total valid entries divided the total level challenges completed by participants. *To qualify for a Facebook like entry a participant must like the page http://www.facebook.com/Plantronics, and post a response to the post marked 'featured' on the page http://www.facebook.com/ChronicLogicGames. *To qualify for a Youtube subscribe entry a participant must subscribe to the user pages PlantronicsTV, and ChronicLogicGames.

New Level Links

"Break In"
http://www.chroniclogic.com/gish/gishcontest_lvl1.zip

"Gears, Gears, and Really Hot Pipes!"
http://www.chroniclogic.com/gish/gishcontest_lvl2.zip

"Brea??"
http://www.chroniclogic.com/gish/gishcontest_lvl3.zip

"Follow that 'Train'"
http://www.chroniclogic.com/gish/gishcontest_lvl4.zip

"Not exactly a Lamborghini Gallardo... "
http://s159260531.onlinehome.us/demos/gishcontest_lvl5.zip

"Gish Launcher"
http://s159260531.onlinehome.us/demos/gishcontest_lvl6.zip

"I'm sure she'll understand..."
http://s159260531.onlinehome.us/demos/gishcontest_lvl7.zip

"Race to the Finish"
http://s159260531.onlinehome.us/demos/gishcontest_lvl8.zip

*Note, there are levels and textures contained in these zips. See below or the included readme.txt for instructions on how to install them (You only need to move the textures once - not every time).

How to Install a Level Instructions

Please send me video links if anyone has these clearly recorded.

For all System to play the levels (after installed) launch Gish > Start > choose any account > Custom Levels > Load Level
The Levels are
factory1.lvl
factory2.lvl
factory3.lvl
etc

Windows -
1) Download new level(s) zip using the download link
2) Unzip files and locate the folder they were extracted into
3) Copy or move level files (.lvl) and place into your Gish level folder. Example : Computer > C drive > Program Files > Gish > Level
4) Copy or move textures (.tga) into your Gish Texture folder. Example: Computer > C drive > Program Files > Gish > Texture

Mac -
1) This is very similar to Windows, but finding your folder has a few tricks.
2) Find your Gish level folder by following the series,
-"Right click" or hold the CTRL key and click (for a single button mouse) on the file "gish.app" in your gish installation.
- Select the option "show package contents" from the menu that opens.
- Once here open Contents folder and inside that open Resources folder.
- Once in the Resources folder you will be able to see your level and texture folders, paste factory.lvl files into the level folder and .tgas into the texture folder.

Linux -
1) Copy all levels (.lvl) into your level folder and all textures (.tga) into your texture folder, both located in your ".Gish" folder inside your HOME folder. Start Gish by entering the console and going to your new install location and typing "./Gish"

Check out Jakejw's install and contest setup

Completed Level Challenges

Break In (5/5) Sorry no more challenges can be accepted for this level!

TuxOverflow : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gd7wLeY5UQ
xceptdb : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6_YasQ1DnI
glaaasje : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mynoLa7pCZw
Kwyjor : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awiYQ4T757o
EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/n3mGL5G9CUU


Here is an example of a video submission for Level 1. However, this video would not receive any credit because the player didn't finish the top path.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geZvuDEgJ-0

Gears, Gears, and Really Hot Pipes! (4/5)

xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/1_GBxhfa5CM
EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/XIriEVXQIRg
Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/OsbKbsbpyJA
TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/KdxhM-GmLzI

Brea?? (4/5)

1) Complete this level.
2) Throw something to the bottom of the well and record what happens.
3) Complete this level with 4,000 points or more.
4) Climb up the sewage drain to find a secret switch.
5) Claim the secret Plantronics Logoed prize Box by snapping the ropes it is hanging from and complete the level.

1) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/2RGQZi1NJy8
2) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/y4f3DH7H-dI
3) Incomplete
4) Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/0KsoWa8sJGs
5) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/Wt-RLmPHaXA

"Follow that 'Train'" (4/5)

1) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/ilMYHf45GS0
2) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/J8NQXTKjogY
3) Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/A4coT6-kfhA
4) incomplete
5) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/lxyEQ9OCYK0

"Not exactly a Lamborghini Gallardo... " (4/5)

1) incomplete
2) Kwyjor: http://youtu.be/lNAvfdpbV-U
3) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/ecoaMF_UFrM

4) incomeplete
5) incomplete

6) incomplete
7) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/N14fESkjag0
8 ) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/baxjOE9fnHQ

"Gish Launcher" (4/5)

1) Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/ujofvmsNFE0
2) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/BKAKF50YCOM
3) incomplete
4) incomplete
5) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/bdLve2yq8D0

6) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/kLkJc7oRtrg (also rescues the scientist's pet. very cool )

"I'm sure she'll understand..." (4/5)

Meltdown7
1) Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/Nr2BRyQmlXc
2) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/LcFVZmr1czw
3) incomplete
4) incomplete
5) incomplete
6) incomplete
7) incomplete
Factory7
1) incomplete
2) incomplete
3) incomplete
4) incomplete
5) incomplete
6) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/jh2o_TVl4NM
7) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/DI-d0AssYAY ( difficult to watch )

"Race to the Finish" (0/5)

Meltdown8
1) incomplete
2) Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/3OzHi9Bzr8Q
3) incomplete
Factory8
1) incomplete
2) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/KZsCyDjEjeM
3) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/n7_ZMv7LjAI

Custom8
4) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/t5Gr1oK_iqo

Currently Released Levels

Level 1 - "Break in"
It has been a few years and Gish is back in trouble, unpredictably, this time Brea has been kidnapped! The last thing you saw was Brea being grabbed and pulled into a Plantronic's headset factory by a mysterious figure. What could be going on? No time to think, break into that factory any way possible and find your lost love.
Challenges:
Complete this level following specific rules on each of the 3 paths (using 3 different lives)
 - Complete this level using the underground path by missing the first jump *must keep the truck with you to the end of the level*
 - Complete this level using the main path by making the first jump * must keep the truck with you to the end of the level*
- Complete this level using the secret above path
Example of a video submission (with one flaw) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geZvuDEgJ-0

Level 2 - "Gears, Gears, and Really Hot Pipes!"
From inside the factory it seems that all the equipment is still fired up after hours. Gears, gears, and really hot pipes. One slip and it could be the end for this ball of tar.
Challenges:
Complete this level in 7 minutes or less with 20,000 points or more. Hint : You can collect over 20,000 points without killing any baddies.

Level 3 - "Brea??"
You wake up In a daze from having hit your head during that fall. Nothing seems to be making any sense. You don't know how you got here or how to go back to where you were. The factory is out of control, it's infrastructure is flying in different directions seemingly by itself. However, in the distance behind the pounding of machines and crackling of fire you can hear the faint calls from your lady friend Brea. Hurry and find her while you know she is just ahead! Every second counts...

Challenges:
The challenges on this level are intended to allow more people to participate by working as a team to help complete the final challenge. Each challenge should give hints on how to complete the challenges of a higher number. As always each challenge can only be submitted once for credit by one person. On this level is a submission completes more than one challenge at the same time it will only count for the highest numbered challenge, canceling that challenge out and leaving the others open for others to complete.

1) Complete this level.
2) Throw something to the bottom of the well and record what happens.
3) Complete this level with 4,000 points or more.
4) Climb up the sewage drain to find a secret switch.
5) Claim the secret Plantronics Logoed prize Box by snapping the ropes it is hanging from and complete the level.

Level 4 - "Follow that 'Train'"
You wake up and realize it was just a dream or was it more...? With no other clues around except for the passing carts you start to think that maybe your dream was trying to tell you something. Could Brea really be trapped on one of those carts? There's only one way to find out, ride the ride and see where it takes you. Be careful though, these carts aren't meant for passengers...

Level challenges

1) Complete this level keeping the cart on the main path.
2) Complete this level by dropping the cart down to the bottom path.
3) Find the room with the giant ball.
4) Collect 9 sets of coins using as many lives as you like (all the coins in the course).

Super Challenge (Still only worth 1 video submission, but very impressive)
5) Claim the secret prize box using three different paths and three different lives.
- First life : Claim the Plantronics Prize Box without touching the cart.
- Second life : Claim the Plantronics Prize Box after traveling through the main path.
- Third Life : Claim the Plantronics Prie Box after traveling through the underground path.
(You may submit 2 videos for challenge #5 if necessary)

Level 5 - "Not exactly a Lamborghini Gallardo... "
The track has been tampered with in a bunch of places, you need to find a detour to get the cart back onto path and continue. These carts were meant to go back and fourth to transport materials, but you don't have time for that! Oh and keep in mind these gears have been greased up a little too much. Try not to slip, it's a long way down...

Level Challenges:

1) Find the broken motorcycle and attempt to complete what it didn't get a chance to.
2) Complete half the main path by elevating the fast cart using the button switch.
3) Find a way to flip the switch guarded by a hot pipe without taking damage from it.

4) Complete this level using the alternative path (Something other than the cart will hit the final switch)
5) Determine what each of the three switches/button do just before the giant gear. Annotate your video to document their affects to the level. (The three referred to can be seen in one frame)

6) Complete this level using the main path (The cart will hit the final switch)
7) Find the hidden Plantronics Prize Box, Claim it by detaching it from the ropes it hangs from, and complete the level.
8 ) Complete this level in less than 55 game seconds.

*Credit can only be given to the first 5 submissions, no repeats! You only need to submit any one of your choice for maximum entry credit.

Challenges 1-3 easy
Challenges 4 and 5 medium
Challenges 6, 7 and 8 Difficult

Level 6 - "Gish Launcher"
The train ride is over, looks like it's time for a little less riding and  a little more air. Now that you're in the depths of the facility there is only one way to get by. Squeeze between those gears and see if you can find a safe way to get through. O, and remember to mind your manners, you aren't the only one in the sewers today.

Level Challenges:
1) Find the Scientist's room.
2) Complete this level.
3) Avoid the same fate as the deceased inventor by escaping with the equipment he built, or whatever else you may have brought along...
4) Figure out what the inventor's keys were used for.
5) Claim the secret Plantronics Logoed Prize Box.

Interactive Level Challenge:
6) Cause an emergency shutdown of the furnace using the inventor's power source. This will not only result in a successful level attempt but also cool all hot pipes in levels 7 and 8.

Level 7 - "I'm sure she'll understand..."
A drilling operation? Strange. What are they looking for? It they don't even seem to notice the gold and treasures that they have already uncovered. On a side note, you found Brea! And just in the nick of time. Unfortunately you have to make a tough choice... I mean if it makes you feel better she is trapped inside a flame retardant, indestructible, and for all you know rather comfy metal cage. This the only way to get out alive, i'm sure she'll understand...

Challenges: (These can be completed on either Meltdown7 or Factory7 - you pick!)
1) Save Brea from the drill!
2) Investigate 2 treasure rooms
3) Let Brea take a little heat and find the alternative route.
4) Complete this level
5) Claim the Plantronics' Secret Prize Box (To claim it simply detach it from the rope)
6) Complete this level using the alternative route
7) Complete this level without sending Brea down the spike shoot

*As always we will only be accepting 5 submissions total, you may only repeat a number if the original was done on Meltdown7 and you repeat on Factory7

Level 8 - "Race to the Finish"
After investigating a little more it seems they are mining for the same power source the inventor was using to fuel his machines.
But wait, what is the scientist's experiment doing here? O well, no arms and no legs... That doesn't seem intimidating at all. What's he going to do? Attack you with his mind?

Challenges: (These can be completed on either Meltdown8 or Factory8 - you pick!)
1) Progress through this level to the giant power source
2) Complete this level by hitting the emergency shutdown button before the experiment reaches the power source, then take Brea to the exit
3) Complete challenge 2 in 1 minute of game time or less
4) Use the level editor to modify and create your own obstacles for this level and play through it - feel free to ask for help

*As always we will only be accepting 5 submissions total, you may repeat any of these 4 challenges.

[BulletFingers]

The results are in for Level 1 "Break in"

The successful level challenges are the following in submitted order...

TuxOverflow : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gd7wLeY5UQ
xceptdb : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6_YasQ1DnI
glaaasje : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mynoLa7pCZw
Kwyjor : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awiYQ4T757o
EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/n3mGL5G9CUU

Congrats to these players for being entered to win and good luck to everyone on level 2 which will be released later today!

BulletFingers' pro pick (Favorite to watch)
EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/n3mGL5G9CUU

[BulletFingers]

Level 2 "Gears, Gears, and Really Hot Pipes!"

The successful level challenges are the following in submitted order...

xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/1_GBxhfa5CM
EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/XIriEVXQIRg
Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/OsbKbsbpyJA

Congrats to these players! We will still accept 2 more submissions for this level by the end of April.

Good luck to everyone on Level 3! We made it significantly less difficult.

BulletFingers' pro pick. Guess You didn't need all 7 minutes.
xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/1_GBxhfa5CM

[BulletFingers]

Level 3 "Brea??"

Congrats to everyone who was able to complete a challenge this week!

1) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/2RGQZi1NJy8
2) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/y4f3DH7H-dI
3) Incomplete
4) Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/0KsoWa8sJGs
5) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/Wt-RLmPHaXA

Remember that level 3 had 5 different challenges. Each one was intended to help find the Secret Box which was challenge 5. Which is why my pro pick has to be the Plantronics Prize Box being claimed!

BulletFingers' pro pick
EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/Wt-RLmPHaXA

Level 4 will be released in the next few hours. It will have a similar challenge set up where the high numbered challenges will require knowledge demonstrated from the lower numbered challenges.

[BulletFingers]

Level 4 "Follow that 'Train'"

Completed level challenges this week :

1) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/ilMYHf45GS0
2) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/J8NQXTKjogY
3) Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/A4coT6-kfhA
4) incomplete
5) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/lxyEQ9OCYK0

Level 4, like level 3, had 5 different challenges. Each one was intended to help find the Secret Box using different paths (challenge #5).
EllipticGeometry gets the pro pick again for demonstrating how to find a secret box like a boss!

BulletFingers' pro pick
EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/lxyEQ9OCYK0

Level 5 will be released in the next few hours. Be prepared for everything!

[BulletFingers]

Level 5 - "Not exactly a Lamborghini Gallardo... " (4/5)

Completed challenges this week : (Remember you can still complete them after the week as long as there are not 5 submissions yet)

1) incomplete
2) Kwyjor: http://youtu.be/lNAvfdpbV-U
3) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/ecoaMF_UFrM

4) incomeplete
5) incomplete

6) incomplete
7) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/N14fESkjag0
8 ) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/baxjOE9fnHQ

Level 6 will be available shortly with a similar setup as level 5. There will also be a challenge that has an influence on levels 7 and 8!

BulletFingers' pro pick for the two hardest challenges at the same time only a few hours after the level went live.
xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/baxjOE9fnHQ

[BulletFingers]

Level 6 - "Gish Launcher" (4/5)

Completed Challenges so far. Remember you can complete any challenges on any level up until the last day of April!

1) Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/ujofvmsNFE0
2) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/BKAKF50YCOM
3) incomplete
4) incomplete
5) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/bdLve2yq8D0

6) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/kLkJc7oRtrg (also rescues the scientist's pet. very cool )

BulletFingers' pro pick for saving the pet and causing a meltdown!
EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/kLkJc7oRtrg

This week because of the meltdown there will be 2 levels released. One will be titled Meltdown7.lvl the other will be Factory7.lvl - Meltdown is a bonus level where all pipes are cooled.

[BulletFingers]

Level 7 - "I'm sure she'll understand..." (4/5)

It was tough leaving Brea behind on this level.. There will be some closure in Level 8!
These are the completed level challenges so far. The deadline to submit levels and subscribe to youtube for your chance to win a GameCom 777 will be within the first week of April (A few extra days on top of the end of April)

Meltdown7
1) Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/Nr2BRyQmlXc
2) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/LcFVZmr1czw

Factory7

6) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/jh2o_TVl4NM
7) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/_Xy3Zv6utdE

BulletFinger's pro pick for this week is a tie between
1) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/_Xy3Zv6utdE
For trying so hard to save Brea prematurely Thanks for getting that video to work!
and
2) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/jh2o_TVl4NM
For seemingly believing the lava was just a bunch of fruit punch

This week will again have a meltdown and factory stage! This is the last one of the pack so do your best and save Brea

[BulletFingers]

Level 8 "Race to the Finish'"

Thanks to everyone who participated and kept up with this contest. We had a lot of fun making new levels and watching your submissions! Now that Brea is safe we have the final results for level 8.

Completed level challenges this week :

Meltdown8
1) incomplete
2) Kwyjor : http://youtu.be/3OzHi9Bzr8Q
3) incomplete
Factory8
1) incomplete
2) TheBizzyD : http://youtu.be/KZsCyDjEjeM
3) EllipticGeometry : http://youtu.be/n7_ZMv7LjAI

Custom8
4) xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/t5Gr1oK_iqo


BulletFingers' pro pick for building a much scarier version of the level!
xCeptDB : http://youtu.be/t5Gr1oK_iqo

I believe this puts XCeptDB at 4 pro picks! Incredible!
and EllipticGeometry at an astonishing 5!

Great going you two, it has been entertaining!

Winners will be announced shortly, possibly in an hour or two. We will post them on Facebook, Youtube, and here!

[BulletFingers]

Gish Contest Winner Announcement!

The tentative winners are,
1) Phil Marsh (Facebook)
2) Chad Smith (Facebook)
...3) Kwyjor (Youtube)
4) TheBizzyD (Youtube)

Please send the email you bought Gish with to Bryonmathf@chroniclogic.com to claim your GameCom 777!

Thanks to everyone for participating, sorry we were not able to give a prize out to everyone this time.

[Jonathan_NL]

Time to end Bryon's domination over this thread.

For starters, I'm EllipticGeometry on YouTube. I was reminded of Gish by the contest announcement. I decided to install Gish again and play around with it a little. When I looked at the contest later and saw there was still an empty slot, ultimately I entered.

Edit: I forgot to mention the playlist I created of my entries. It contains all the videos linked to below except the combination lock. If that's how you like to watch me, go ahead.

Level 1 - "Break In"
I did a few test runs and figured I could do it, once I figured out what should go where. So I started recording and got myself a video. What happened on the middle path was quite amazing and I got the pro pick as a result, but believe me, it was a total fluke. Finally I created a YouTube account, and off I went.

Level 2 - "Gears, Gears, and Really Hot Pipes!"
The first hard level. It took me a while to explore the entire level without succumbing to burns, and then find a good path. At first I thought it might be possible to drop down to the part hidden behind the launch pad. I figured, if I do whatever in the unexplored part of the level, I can come back for health, and then skip to the end. But there was just too much hot pipe to make that path work, and I found out the level was too linear to make it useful.

Time wasn't a problem at all. Score was harder, because you're playing with a lot of hot pipes to get all the amber. I did consider getting a score multiplier with the baddies, but didn't try it to date.

Level 3 - "Brea??"
The first one with multiple challenges. So I just completed them all in one run. I needed some time to figure things out again, this time to see what all the switches do and how I can use them.

But really my main problem came after the elevator: the peristaltic hallway, as I call it. That thing was frustrating. I could barely keep up because it was so fast. Worse, if I used the 4k path with the large amber, it started further to the left and was even more intense. I even tried surviving being crushed, but no luck. I also wondered how it worked, because having some knowledge of the editor, I knew pistons could only start in a phase that's a multiple of 90 degrees. Somehow I didn't connect the dots though, and I kept looking for solutions. Maybe if I avoid this switch, I can do that. Maybe I can gain more speed with some 'obvious' trick. Nope.

I felt really stupid when I realized my mistake. It turns out each hallway element is triggered by an area switch covering the shafts. Hence why the 4k path started earlier (it starts higher up, where the switches aren't shared with the other shafts) and was faster (starts earlier in the hallway at the same speed, leaving little room to speed up, and it's longer and as a result also faster). The solution was simply not to drop down as fast as I can. You can see I didn't even need to 'sticky-tap' down the hallway in my run. Once I got that down, it became pretty easy to do it all and claim the Plantronics box.

Afterwards I realized completing all the challenges isn't as hard as it sounds. I believe challenge 2 is the only one that isn't required by and doesn't naturally combine with challenge 5.

Level 4 - "Follow that 'Train'"
More exploring, but mostly waiting for a cart! I went for the super challenge right away. I ended up recording all three paths in the given order, in one take (which I admit needed a few tries). The first two challenges are implied by the super challenge, and it would be hard to miss 3 along the way. I also managed to spread challenge 4 over the three runs.

The first run was quite easy once I found that 'crevice'. Not much to say.

I started the second run with my "pushing heavy block" impersonation which I thought was funny. I took the block with me to open an early path back to the cart. It wasn't necessary, but it felt more complete. Hint: don't try to climb the shaft above the 2x2 health if you opened the path. For a change from Portal 1, the ceiling will kill you (the block that was in the way is in there under high stress, and you will experience that first-hand when you touch it). The part following that was surprisingly hard. It requires jumping over pipes and to the ceiling, and jumping isn't very effective on a 'soft' cart the same way you don't get very high jumping on the couch or your bed (disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for injuries or damage, or any other problems you cause).

The third run is where I dropped down to the bottom path. I started by going down the elevator, and then taking a quick detour to get the amber. Then I went right back to get the secret amber in the dungeon. Meanwhile the cart arrives, and it's time to help it on its way again, as it tends to land nose down. After taking it up the large elevator, you can see me putting pressure on the drive wheel. Any blocking of the wheel will make it reverse, and that saved me some time there. At the final elevator I pretended to wait for the cart as usual. But just before the cart arrives, I hit the switch, making it fall upside down. For added shock value, I proceed to exit the level (I did my best to hide the opening on the first run), and shoot right through the ball room on my way back up. I actually planned to take the alternate exit at the left of the room, which is where I ended up on all my practice runs, but I landed on top again this time.

Level 5 - "Not exactly a Lamborghini Gallardo..."
This one was pretty fun. Most of the goals were pretty easy, although number 6 stumped me for a while. xCeptDB's path was actually the first one that I found. And it was so easy I thought it wasn't supposed to happen. I ended up recording challenges 7 and 8 like xCeptDB, except I used the switch to open the 'legit' path. Later I realized that I was probably supposed to find the Plantronics box first by letting the cart hit the switch. Then you would wonder how to finish fast for 8, because the cart is clearly too slow and those pipes are impassable, and find the pit. The main problem with that is that the pit is way too easy to find early on.

So nonetheless, for my video I did the painful thing and passed the pipes twice, going back using a trick I originally developed for the peristaltic hallway to accelerate rapidly. When I arrived at the Plantronics box, there was still enough time to take it with me. There, eat that.

Later I made an alternate video where I completed challenges 1-6. Challenge 6 was just brilliant! Don't forget to watch the score while I wait for the fast cart and describe the switches. Later in the video, where I move the motorcycle, there is a kind of road on top where a working motorcycle would land. Would be interesting to get up there, but I didn't bother.

Level 6 - "Gish Launcher"
Ah, level 6. A pretty sloppy start, but I learned to ignore that in level 2, to just finish things instead. One thing I learned in this level is that those gears are better at killing you than launching. It took me long enough to find a decent launching strategy, and it still wasn't very reliable. The big wheel above the lab was helpful though, in that it readily reverses direction.

Then I found you can take the pet out of its glass box. I was instantly determined to save the pour soul and take it to the end of the level. And I can tell you, that was hard. The physics just refuse to let you carry things in confined and slippery spaces, which were abundant in this level. But I succeeded and I'm proud of that.

Of course I also took the Plantronics box. This time I only dropped it down to a corridor next to the exit, though. It just doesn't fit if you take it with you, and it would clog the other exit if you pushed it down the corridor like xCeptDB did (he didn't go down to the furnace later). Anyway, good enough to claim having taken it to the exit, as it's right there in that corridor.

I wasn't sure what some things meant, like the keys and the power source, and I completely failed to identify the latter. Instead of taking the power source, I took the relatively portable 'ammo' of the cannon, and I put the heavy box in its place. I climbed into the cannon and blew a hole in the wall. I managed to take the block through it pretty easily. It needed some pushing to enter the furnace, but it did eventually. In fact you can enter the furnace yourself, but you're completely stuck there, and I had a pet to save. Would be an interesting loophole in the rules.

When the furnace was out, I could finally dedicate my attention to the pet. Just getting it past the hole blown by the cannon was hard enough, with limited space, a very slippery floor, and controls that tie Gish's rotation axis to his movement axes. Eventually I found a way, but then it fell down at the other side. Grrr. There's actually some amber there, but I didn't care to get it. Then, finally, the endgame. I spent so much time finding a 'reliable' way to get the pet on the platform. You can actually see Gish doubling back because the controls thought that was the rotation I wanted. At least it only took a minute on my final run. And I mean, I saved that pet!

Level 7 - "I'm sure she'll understand..."
I was right that we'd see Brea again. I decided to go for challenge 7, while visiting the treasure rooms in the level with hot pipes! It was hard to visit the first treasure room while retaining enough health to survive the lava later in the level. I think the highest I ever got was 63% or so, so I was in excellent shape with 60% on this run. I immediately dropped to 57% after some carelessness near pipes, but that's still great.

The second bad guy under the drill usually gets crushed, but I lured it away from its death. Seems it was suicidal though, because it jumped into the second treasure room where it fell to its death. Then, lava. It was really hard to jump down cleanly to minimize damage, especially considering I didn't have much health to spare. The block train following that was quite amusing. You should definitely check out xCeptDB's video, because he clearly isn't afraid to jump in front of a train.

Where I arrived at the Plantronics box, I was wondering whether it's easier to maneuver with some rope still attached, or without. The rope is really heavy, probably heavier than the box, so if the box happens to enter the corridor rope first, the combined center of mass can pull everything else in. I think this challenge was created just for me. Fun to see a little nod like that. Unfortunately I had to sacrifice my prize box for the first time, but it was for a good cause: Brea!

The endgame was pretty tough. Not only did I only have 4% health left, and some lava to come, but I also wanted to take Brea with me. I failed to throw Brea on top of the drill, but I could still shove her and barely have enough time to enter the middle myself. My health dropped to 1% during descent, and luckily that was the last time I took damage. Near the end, there's a 2-high corridor, which could house 2-high Brea in theory. There's just no way to get her in, let alone pull her in completely, so I had to let go.

Level 8 - "Race to the Finish"
This was very straightforward, after those involved plans on large levels. After gauging the level I went for another 'improv' run like the first level, meaning I started recording early and used the first qualifying footage. I even had time to take Brea with me within the time limit, restoring the box-taking tradition. But most importantly, finally being reunited with Brea!

I didn't go for challenge 4, where you make your own version of the level. I was still fairly proficient with the editor (in fact, I made a programmable combination lock during the contest), but I didn't feel very creative at that moment and was ready to go to sleep (finally a level that was released before bedtime in my time zone, so I could finish it early). I was also busy doing other things, so it never happened. I did play xCeptDB's version later when he created his own. If every level were like that, nobody would complete anything!

In all, it was a fun contest. It was fun to play all these new levels and race with others. That is itself a prize!

P.S. For those that saw my video about Gish performance after having been backgrounded: I hear it only affects Macs, and a solution is in the works. That's all I know though, so don't hold your breath waiting for a release.

[SimpleLizard]

that was a long post