Hello, You are all probably wondering what this is all about. Well... CUBE Inc. 2 is NOT nearing completion. Not super close, but close enough I want to make this. Basically this thread is dedicated to making sure you all get the latest info on CUBE Inc. 2 as it is revealed.
I am going to keep this thread relatively simple, and organized. There will be tabs, and every one will have different information. You'll see what I mean once you start reading. Now I realize most of you are too lazy to actually read this, but I must tell you that you will get a much deeper look into the CUBE Inc. universe, its future, and some extra stuff. It is your choice.
Click the tab of your choice:
CUBE Inc. 1's Creation Alright, CUBE Inc. has a pretty strange history. I shall start with the very beginning, and then go in chronological order by the chapters. First, I was with my cousin and we wanted to make a map around May of 2011. We both loved the Portal series, and thought it would be brilliant to build up on the series with a map which gave off a new story within Aperture Laboratories. We suddenly realized that everyone else was doing this, and we were also very restricted with our story due to the limitations that the Portal universe was giving us.
We decided to create our own universe, and our own story. We came up with the name of The Secret Society of the Nether. The concept was good, but the story wasn't much. Heck... we hadn't even thought up a story really. Basically something goes wrong in this place called CUBE Inc., and you search the place for answers. You discover this portal to the Nether, and from there we ran out of ideas. We had this overseer dude that was incredibly rude when you first meet him, and he was just plain annoying to read off of the signs. The very week my computer had a meltdown and completely reformatted my hard drive. Luckily I had a backup of my computer, but I was only able to get some of my stuff back. The map was gone.
After a bit of thinking we decided to keep CUBE Inc. as the setting, but we needed a good story. Everything started to flow from there. We decided to give a mix of Portal, and a lot of other games that we greatly enjoy. We even threw a Fallout reference in the map if you can find it.
We had tons of ideas. I mean.. tons. The "idea bin" was pretty much overflowing. Then reality hit us and we realized we were making this in Minecraft. Eventually we got to work on it.
Prologue-Button Pusher
The opening of the map had to be better than any opening of a map I've ever seen. Every escape map had the same thing. Wake up in a random place and escape. Big deal. I needed something different. Something to make the player feel like they had a part in why they are stuck in the situation in the first place. So you start in your house that just happens to be next to where you work. How convenient! I think it would have been better to start on a subway platform and then traveling to CUBE Inc. West from Glacier City, but I really didn't have the time back then. So you make your way and do some simple puzzles while discovering a bit about CUBE Inc. West.
I started to wonder how you would get into the testing itself. I mean you are in CUBE Inc. West to get info on A.D.Y. and the Nether, so you need to get into testing if its going to be a puzzle map. I then thought of the EPSR. The Emergency Protocol Safety Room. Before CUBE Inc. was closed, but during the beginning of A.D.Y. I thought it would be cool if the boss of CUBE Inc. West would use this in the case that the world was no longer safe to live in. Of course CUBE Inc. was closed before it got its use. I mean, CUBE Inc. even built the EPSR Test Centers in every large CUBE Inc. Complex all over the world. It is a shame they will never be used. Just more money wasted on their part. Luckily you want to discover what it is, so you go on in and turn it on. This causes you to pass out, and you begin the real map.
Why The Name: Well, I called it Button Pusher because the idea of the chapter is to find buttons. Then you press them. Pretty straightforward.
Arc 1: The Beginning
(Starting off the CUBE Inc. trilogy with you testing and getting into the depths of CUBE Inc. West)
Chapter 1: Testing With Benefits
We decided to begin the start of the map with a little joke. Since we had the EPSR Test Center, we thought it would be funny if we gave it a very familiar look. We made the entire place made out of iron blocks. I mean every other escape map does it, so why not ours. It would give people a feeling that they have felt before, and they will be able to get into the map easier since they are used to this look. Well eventually you get out of the EPSR Tests, and the entire look changes. I did this to prove that you don't have to stick to the same formula. You can be unique with your blocks. Well here you make your way into the CUBE Inc. West Test Center and you meet the Test Associate. Not only that, but you are testing in the Nether. Perfect!
Why The Name: The name is because you are testing in the EPSR Test Center, and it will help you survive. The testing actually helps YOU, and not CUBE Inc. itself. At least... CUBE Inc. 1 gives off that idea.
Chapter 2: A Change of Pace
This is a simple chapter. Just tests. There is a part where you leave the test area and do a test to re-enter the overworld, but that is really still a test of sorts. Just a lot less linear. When you come back to the real world you are greeted with your first taste of the behind the scenes area of CUBE Inc. West. You pass by a C.I.O.S. which doesn't actually have any importance... yet. Trust me, I have the entire trilogy thought out. The C.I.O.S. does have a purpose. Once you get into the vent system you fall into a recreated Wake-Up Station.
Why The Name: You now have a concious person guiding you, and he doesn't have a lot of patience. You are basically forced to quicken your pace while testing.
Chapter 3 (Original): All For Science
This is where the Test Associate begins to hate you. I guess he is overemotional over the fact you didn't thank him for his hard work of recreating the EPSR Wake-Up Station. You really shouldn't have thanked him anyway. He did a terrible job. Well basically you test more. Just this time you aren't in the Nether. Eventually you reach a minecart ride which eventually leads to The Bubble.
Why The Name: Heck if I know. The original map got sloppy here. This was just a nod to Portal really.
Chapter 3: But Wait... There's More
This is the "Overhaul" version of this chapter. It is relatively the same, but the end is completely redone. Instead of testing the entire time you reach an unfinished chamber. While waiting you are able to escape. The Test Associate is extremely upset, but you continue on. You eventually trick yourself into the testing area again, and the Test Associate is extremely happy about it. You are now heading towards some sort of Reality Simulation.
Why The Name: The name is because you go back to testing. The escape isn't just yet, but it's near.
Arc 2: The Escape
(Realizing you are tired of being in CUBE Inc. and attempting to make a break for it.)
Chapter 4 (Original): Bubble Boy
God... I hate this chapter. I hate it so much. It was a terrible idea, and it was played out horribly. I mean, basically you had to play survival, and somehow find the next chapter if you didn't get bored after the first five minutes. It was really just a flat-out failure on my part. Sounded good on paper, but really didn't turn out well in the end.
Why The Name: You're are a guy in a bubble while testing. An idiot could put the pieces together.
Chapter 4: Better Left Forgotten
Basically I left The Bubble to completely disappear, and it is no longer canon. Instead you enter a Reality Simulation that hasn't been used in years, and when it is turned on it has a fatal error and you make your escape once again. You end up lost inside of a secure part of the facility. So secure that the Test Associate himself has no control over it. Here we created a pretty easy test if you think about it. If you don't put your mind to it thought.. you're going to have a LOT of issues. It isn't some simple puzzle. It is a pretty difficult one. Well once you gain access to the Boiler Room you quickly destroy it because that is just what you do. An escape exit opens which send you back to an area of the facility that the Test Associate can speak to you in.
As he taunts you he starts to warn you that a dangerous gas has escaped from the room. You eventually reach the CUBE Inc. Transit Hub, but the gas is beginning to kick in. As you make your way to the Transit Hub itself you begin to hallucinate.
Why The Name: The name is because you enter an area of the facility that has been forgotten for awhile. And you destroy it. You should have just left it alone.
Chapter 5 (Original): The Trip
I love this chapter. You really get to experience some of my actual creativity in it. Basically you become subject to some sort of gas as you make your way to an abandoned mining station. You quickly begin to hallucinate, and the Test Associate loses contact with you. Here you get to explore a huge open area with a strange house in the center. Here you meet the characters I like to call "The Voices". When they start to talk to you they almost seem dream like, but they know more than you do so they aren't part of your imagination. Eventually you learn the apparent truth about the Test Associate. It really doesn't come as a surprise though.
He is using you to gain access to some things that he should never have access to. Your job is to destroy him. You must go to the Self-Destruct Room, and set it off. You are then sent back to the Nether, and finally awaken.
Why The Name: In this chapter you are hallucinating (tripping on acid in a way), and you're going on an interesting trip through your subconscious. It's both a pun and a good name!
Chapter 5: The Trip
This chapter is pretty much the same. Just been given a face lift. It starts the same, but when you leave the area with the house you wind up back before your hallucination started. The Voices give you the idea that you have woken up, but you are quick to realize you are simply in a strange dream. Eventually you relive everything you have gone through so far, and end up at the so called "Hallucination Complex". Here you learn the truth once again, but your task is different this time.
Basically the Test Associate has control over CUBE Inc. Main and CUBE Inc. West. He also controls all of the CUBE Inc. Nether complexes. There is a lot he cannot control at these complexes though. He is stationed in CUBE Inc. Main. You are tasked with going to the CUBE Inc. West servers. When you arrive you need to go to a room where you can connect to CUBE Inc. Main. Once you do that you are remotely controlling the CUBE Inc. Main Server controls from CUBE Inc. West. You must then shut everything down connecting CUBE Inc. Main to CUBE Inc. West. After that the Test Associate will be gone, and you can escape.
Why The Name: See above.
Chapter 6 (Original): Making A Break For It
You wake up in the Nether Reawakening Center and quickly escape as The Voices told you to. You eventually reach the CUBE Inc. West Self-Destruct Switch and flip it. You are then trapped in a Safe Room as the world around you explodes.
Why The Name: You're making a break for it. Duh.
Chapter 6: Making A Break For It
The beginning is pretty much the same. It is really the same thing until you reach the CUBE Inc. West servers. Once you reach the servers you make your way to the area that will let you remotely control the CUBE Inc. Main servers from the CUBE Inc. West Server Hub. You make the connection and enter the hub. Here you begin to turn off everything that is keeping the CUBE Inc. Main and CUBE Inc. West servers secure. Once everything is down you are given the choice of turning off connections from CUBE Inc. Main to CUBE Inc. West. You press the button, but the Test Associate canceled the operation seconds before you pressed the button. He then leads you back to testing.
On the way though he realizes something. He was doing brute force in the servers to attempt to stop you from disconnecting the servers from each other. He realizes that he caused it so that when you pressed the button it would not disconnect the servers, but instead give him full control of every CUBE Inc. Complex in existence. Since CUBE Inc. was located around the world he had pretty much full control of the world now. You discover it was actually his plan, but it has worked ahead of time. As he jumps for joy you attempt to escape. Nothing works, but the Test Associate finds a file with your name on it. Something in it makes him go dead silent. He realizes he needs you out of his hair. He isn't in it for the fun and games anymore. There is something seriously bad about the file he found. He places you in a Safe Room, and commands you to fall asleep.
Why The Name: See above.
Epilogue: Forgotten Memories
You apparently hit your head on the fall down, and you should go to bed. You put some music in, and apparently you collapse. The only thing is that it still seems like you are awake. A secret passage opens and another voice begins to talk to you. A new one. It is extremely vague, and it is trying to tell you something about ~Lies~ and ~Not Trusting Them~. You are suddenly in the house from your hallucination again. This time there is a women. She is extremely angry, and apparently ending your marriage. Apparently you have been working on something at CUBE Inc. too much. But you don't remember any of this. Nothing is familiar to you. As you continue on you come to an area where apparently you just had your mind swapped.
They tell you that this Mind Wipe was done for a reason, and you will forget your old memory completely as soon as your new one settles in. You realize that your entire life has been a lie, and you don't even know your real past. You then wake up and are forced back to sleep by the gas which sends you into cryogenic stasis. That is the end of CUBE Inc. 1.
Why The Name: You are visiting memories that apparently were forcefully erased from your mind. You don't learn why in CUBE Inc. 1 though.
Also, I created achievements one day out of boredom. They will never be reality, but they are here just for the fun of it. Take a look:
Emergency Averted- Use the EPSR Self-Defense Button
Remaining Cautious- Get a Test Associate to help you through your tests
Final Destination 6- Complete Arc 1 without dying
Fight the Power, Man- Learn the truth during your hallucination
Critical Error- Find the "FAIL" computer
Could Someone Explain This?- Complete CUBE Inc.
The CUBE Inc. 2 Story
~Control, Aaron. That is what He wanted, and you gave it to him. Now, it is obvious you did not purposely do this, but the fact you are the reason for it is quite lethal to your reputation. We cannot say that your reputation was very high in the first place anyhow. Sadly, we have other things to attend to.
Aaron, you are probably clueless of what is really happening. You are just aimlessly walking around searching for answers, but you won't find anything that way. You need to get your priorities straight, and finally discover what you are really here for. It has been six years since you went into cryosleep. After four years you were taken from the Safe Room, and placed in the CUBE Inc. West Cryosleep Center due to protocol.
Things are happening Aaron, and you will never be able to explain them if you do not act and attempt to end whatever these things are causing. Trust us, Aaron. You are really the only hope left. When you awaken you will not be prepared, but in time, you will be more ready than you have ever been.
Do us a favor, and keep this promise to us.
Make the world a better place. Make it what we want it to be. But you can't do this in your current state, so you must awaken. You must stop living in your dreamworld, and finally come back to reality.
Aaron, wake up.~
That is the beginning of CUBE Inc. 2. It has been six years, and a strange voice is awakening you. You are tasked with destroying anything that has been created due to "Him". This does sound easy, but I can tell you that it is much more complicated than you think. The rabbit hole goes much deeper. I am not going to reveal anything here, but I can tell you that the whole "Portal Rip-Off" part of the story really starts to fade away. I'm not saying I didn't take inspiration from the series still. I'm just saying the story definitely does not involve potatoes in any way. I start to take some Half-Life inspiration as well as the series goes on story-wise. Yes, I am definitely a Valve fanboy...
Now while I am speaking of this I should let you know that the whole CUBE Inc. trilogy story is completely planned out. Every loose end is tied up (except for some ambitious ones on purpose), and pretty much the whole story is concealed within this trilogy. Of course I have plans, and the series itself does not end there. The world is a big place, and a lot can happen. I wish I could get more in-depth with you on that topic, but I can't. It would spoil a lot more than you should know. A LOT more.
Story Arcs and You
Alright, now in CUBE Inc. 2 the story is going to go a lot of places you have never seen before. Now here is the point of this. You may have noticed the recent addition of Story Arcs to the CUBE Inc. 1 map. Well they are there because we have decided that this will not only make the story easier to follow, but will give you a feeling of accomplishment. You will feel like you have done good enough to get yourself farther in the story. So for example:
Arc 1: The Beginning
This story arc was created because it is exactly what it states. It is the beginning of everything. The map, the story, and the trilogy. There really isn't too much story-wise other than Portal jokes and whatnot. It is your basic escape map. That is the plan. There is basically no sense of direction. You are trying to go deeper in CUBE Inc. West to discover its darkest secrets. That is short lived when you are tested though, so you spend most of your time trying to get out of the test area and somehow escape. Eventually that occurs.
Arc 2: The Escape
Another thing to note. All of the arcs are named blatantly. They are not meant to be ironic, full of puns, or anything of that sort. They get straight to the point, so they always start with "The". Now CUBE Inc. 1 only has two story arcs because it is a slightly short map (story-wise). So basically you finally get away from the Test Associate. You spend the rest of the map out of the testing areas, and run around aimlessly hoping an escape will show itself to you. More GLaDOS-esque parts show their face just because we can do that, and you make you way. You also have a chapter where you meet one of the newer characters. Basically The Trip chapter is made to show you what the story will become in the later CUBE Inc. maps. So eventually you give the Test Associate full control of the world and then get placed into a Safe Room. The end.
Meanwhile:
Well... the map pretty much tells you that you are going to be stuck in CUBE Inc. West again in the opening of CUBE Inc. 2. Now if I had the chance to change it... CUBE Inc. 1 would not have ended that way. So basically there are numerous story arcs in CUBE Inc. 2, and the first one is pretty much filler to get you out of CUBE Inc. West. So don't expect too much story until after Arc 1 because the story that we want doesn't happen till you finally escape CUBE Inc. West. By the way.. the story arc name is The Facility.
CUBE Inc. 2 Media
Achievements and Chapters (Read At Own Risk)
You sure you want to read these? They may spoil the story a bit.
Defiance- Ignore the voices in your head
Escape The Facility- Escape CUBE Inc. 2
Hazardous To Your Health- Take any risk to escape
Tragedy Incoming- Willingly become a test subject once more
Hop Along Aaron- Complete Test Track 24
Virus Inbound- Cause critical damage in the Nether
A Portal To Hell- Discover a whole new world
Addition To The Team- Become A Citizen
Picking Up the Pieces- Discover every message from The Professor
Friends Are Flammable- Alert the C.I.P.F.
We Test The Best- Enter CUBE Inc. Main
Keeping It Original- Become subject to dangerous equipment
You'll Understand.. Eventually- Complete the final test
Chapters:
Prologue- Don't Worry, It's Safe
Chapter 1-Starting From Scratch
Chapter 2- The Escapist
Chapter 3- And Then There Was One
Chapter 4- The Nether
Chapter 5- Population +1
Chapter 6- The Rebellious Type
Chapter 7- Onwards To Failure
Chapter 8- Worth the Risk
Chapter 9- Never Trust A Happy Ending
Epilogue- They Wait for You
Currently: Don't get excited for this project, it is moving at a snails pace. Lo siento.
Very interesting to read, but it makes me sad that there is still no release date ;/
I know...
So many issues lately. We just keep getting held back. Once Incetents gets moved in his new home though production is really going to start moving! I can promise you that!
If you need any help with testing - let me know ;p
I will most definitely contact you when the time arrives!
I'm redoing my beta test list because I did it WAY too early back in September. I'm going to be adding people myself instead of telling people they want to be on and then I add them. I know you are on the list, and I have quite a few more people so far. It may be all the people I need haha!
I will most definitely contact you when the time arrives!
I'm redoing my beta test list because I did it WAY too early back in September. I'm going to be adding people myself instead of telling people they want to be on and then I add them. I know you are on the list, and I have quite a few more people so far. It may be all the people I need haha!
My bad if this has been said/stated somewhere, but is their an ETA?
My bad if this has been said/stated somewhere, but is their an ETA?
Sadly, not really. The making of this map goes over so many bumps that it would be better off if I just never told anyone a real release date. If I gave a release date... it would 100% be on Valve Time.
Just made this account to post this - CUBE Inc. was brilliantly made, I just used it to record my first solo lets play and I really liked the map, the story and the puzzles. Well done.
Only problem I had was that I couldn't record the parkour bits as fraps slowed down my computer too much for me to do the jumps.
I'm glad you liked the map!
I understand how much the parkour sucks.. believe me. When my partner and I made Overhaul we may have overdone a few parkour spots. I am making sure CUBE Inc. 2 doesn't have so many.
I've followed this project for a long time and I'm a big fan of what you and Incentents are doing. I made contact with you a while ago when the map was first released and since then you've made the project more than what even I could possibly imagine, which may or may not be a good thing. I'm looking forward to playing Cube Inc. 2 and hope you have some great schemes and puzzles in store for us yet.
(X^3)^2 is an interesting equation. (X Cubed) to the power of 2
I've followed this project for a long time and I'm a big fan of what you and Incentents are doing. I made contact with you a while ago when the map was first released and since then you've made the project more than what even I could possibly imagine, which may or may not be a good thing. I'm looking forward to playing Cube Inc. 2 and hope you have some great schemes and puzzles in store for us yet.
(X^3)^2 is an interesting equation. (X Cubed) to the power of 2
Hey! I definitely remember when we used to talk. Dang that's pretty crazy. Feels like forever ago, but it was only about a year. This whole project is definitely evolving into something bigger than I expected. It is really something.
When I played Cube Inc. 1 I was blown away by all the time and effort put into it. I can't wait for this sequel to come out, sure hope its just as good as the last one! I'm hoping me and my friends will be the first youtube channel to try the sequel, caus that would be soo cool!
When this map is released for download is there anyway possible to talk you into sending me a message telling me? I loved the first one and I cannot wait to see how it goes on...
Hello,
You are all probably wondering what this is all about. Well... CUBE Inc. 2 is NOT nearing completion. Not super close, but close enough I want to make this. Basically this thread is dedicated to making sure you all get the latest info on CUBE Inc. 2 as it is revealed.
I am going to keep this thread relatively simple, and organized. There will be tabs, and every one will have different information. You'll see what I mean once you start reading. Now I realize most of you are too lazy to actually read this, but I must tell you that you will get a much deeper look into the CUBE Inc. universe, its future, and some extra stuff.
It is your choice.
Click the tab of your choice:
CUBE Inc. 1's Creation
Alright, CUBE Inc. has a pretty strange history. I shall start with the very beginning, and then go in chronological order by the chapters. First, I was with my cousin and we wanted to make a map around May of 2011. We both loved the Portal series, and thought it would be brilliant to build up on the series with a map which gave off a new story within Aperture Laboratories. We suddenly realized that everyone else was doing this, and we were also very restricted with our story due to the limitations that the Portal universe was giving us.
We decided to create our own universe, and our own story. We came up with the name of The Secret Society of the Nether. The concept was good, but the story wasn't much. Heck... we hadn't even thought up a story really. Basically something goes wrong in this place called CUBE Inc., and you search the place for answers. You discover this portal to the Nether, and from there we ran out of ideas. We had this overseer dude that was incredibly rude when you first meet him, and he was just plain annoying to read off of the signs. The very week my computer had a meltdown and completely reformatted my hard drive. Luckily I had a backup of my computer, but I was only able to get some of my stuff back. The map was gone.
After a bit of thinking we decided to keep CUBE Inc. as the setting, but we needed a good story. Everything started to flow from there. We decided to give a mix of Portal, and a lot of other games that we greatly enjoy. We even threw a Fallout reference in the map if you can find it.
We had tons of ideas. I mean.. tons. The "idea bin" was pretty much overflowing. Then reality hit us and we realized we were making this in Minecraft. Eventually we got to work on it.
Prologue-Button Pusher
The opening of the map had to be better than any opening of a map I've ever seen. Every escape map had the same thing. Wake up in a random place and escape. Big deal. I needed something different. Something to make the player feel like they had a part in why they are stuck in the situation in the first place. So you start in your house that just happens to be next to where you work. How convenient! I think it would have been better to start on a subway platform and then traveling to CUBE Inc. West from Glacier City, but I really didn't have the time back then. So you make your way and do some simple puzzles while discovering a bit about CUBE Inc. West.
I started to wonder how you would get into the testing itself. I mean you are in CUBE Inc. West to get info on A.D.Y. and the Nether, so you need to get into testing if its going to be a puzzle map. I then thought of the EPSR. The Emergency Protocol Safety Room. Before CUBE Inc. was closed, but during the beginning of A.D.Y. I thought it would be cool if the boss of CUBE Inc. West would use this in the case that the world was no longer safe to live in. Of course CUBE Inc. was closed before it got its use. I mean, CUBE Inc. even built the EPSR Test Centers in every large CUBE Inc. Complex all over the world. It is a shame they will never be used. Just more money wasted on their part. Luckily you want to discover what it is, so you go on in and turn it on. This causes you to pass out, and you begin the real map.
Why The Name: Well, I called it Button Pusher because the idea of the chapter is to find buttons. Then you press them. Pretty straightforward.
Arc 1: The Beginning
(Starting off the CUBE Inc. trilogy with you testing and getting into the depths of CUBE Inc. West)
Chapter 1: Testing With Benefits
We decided to begin the start of the map with a little joke. Since we had the EPSR Test Center, we thought it would be funny if we gave it a very familiar look. We made the entire place made out of iron blocks. I mean every other escape map does it, so why not ours. It would give people a feeling that they have felt before, and they will be able to get into the map easier since they are used to this look. Well eventually you get out of the EPSR Tests, and the entire look changes. I did this to prove that you don't have to stick to the same formula. You can be unique with your blocks. Well here you make your way into the CUBE Inc. West Test Center and you meet the Test Associate. Not only that, but you are testing in the Nether. Perfect!
Why The Name: The name is because you are testing in the EPSR Test Center, and it will help you survive. The testing actually helps YOU, and not CUBE Inc. itself. At least... CUBE Inc. 1 gives off that idea.
Chapter 2: A Change of Pace
This is a simple chapter. Just tests. There is a part where you leave the test area and do a test to re-enter the overworld, but that is really still a test of sorts. Just a lot less linear. When you come back to the real world you are greeted with your first taste of the behind the scenes area of CUBE Inc. West. You pass by a C.I.O.S. which doesn't actually have any importance... yet. Trust me, I have the entire trilogy thought out. The C.I.O.S. does have a purpose. Once you get into the vent system you fall into a recreated Wake-Up Station.
Why The Name: You now have a concious person guiding you, and he doesn't have a lot of patience. You are basically forced to quicken your pace while testing.
Chapter 3 (Original): All For Science
This is where the Test Associate begins to hate you. I guess he is overemotional over the fact you didn't thank him for his hard work of recreating the EPSR Wake-Up Station. You really shouldn't have thanked him anyway. He did a terrible job. Well basically you test more. Just this time you aren't in the Nether. Eventually you reach a minecart ride which eventually leads to The Bubble.
Why The Name: Heck if I know. The original map got sloppy here. This was just a nod to Portal really.
Chapter 3: But Wait... There's More
This is the "Overhaul" version of this chapter. It is relatively the same, but the end is completely redone. Instead of testing the entire time you reach an unfinished chamber. While waiting you are able to escape. The Test Associate is extremely upset, but you continue on. You eventually trick yourself into the testing area again, and the Test Associate is extremely happy about it. You are now heading towards some sort of Reality Simulation.
Why The Name: The name is because you go back to testing. The escape isn't just yet, but it's near.
Arc 2: The Escape
(Realizing you are tired of being in CUBE Inc. and attempting to make a break for it.)
Chapter 4 (Original): Bubble Boy
God... I hate this chapter. I hate it so much. It was a terrible idea, and it was played out horribly. I mean, basically you had to play survival, and somehow find the next chapter if you didn't get bored after the first five minutes. It was really just a flat-out failure on my part. Sounded good on paper, but really didn't turn out well in the end.
Why The Name: You're are a guy in a bubble while testing. An idiot could put the pieces together.
Chapter 4: Better Left Forgotten
Basically I left The Bubble to completely disappear, and it is no longer canon. Instead you enter a Reality Simulation that hasn't been used in years, and when it is turned on it has a fatal error and you make your escape once again. You end up lost inside of a secure part of the facility. So secure that the Test Associate himself has no control over it. Here we created a pretty easy test if you think about it. If you don't put your mind to it thought.. you're going to have a LOT of issues. It isn't some simple puzzle. It is a pretty difficult one. Well once you gain access to the Boiler Room you quickly destroy it because that is just what you do. An escape exit opens which send you back to an area of the facility that the Test Associate can speak to you in.
As he taunts you he starts to warn you that a dangerous gas has escaped from the room. You eventually reach the CUBE Inc. Transit Hub, but the gas is beginning to kick in. As you make your way to the Transit Hub itself you begin to hallucinate.
Why The Name: The name is because you enter an area of the facility that has been forgotten for awhile. And you destroy it. You should have just left it alone.
Chapter 5 (Original): The Trip
I love this chapter. You really get to experience some of my actual creativity in it. Basically you become subject to some sort of gas as you make your way to an abandoned mining station. You quickly begin to hallucinate, and the Test Associate loses contact with you. Here you get to explore a huge open area with a strange house in the center. Here you meet the characters I like to call "The Voices". When they start to talk to you they almost seem dream like, but they know more than you do so they aren't part of your imagination. Eventually you learn the apparent truth about the Test Associate. It really doesn't come as a surprise though.
He is using you to gain access to some things that he should never have access to. Your job is to destroy him. You must go to the Self-Destruct Room, and set it off. You are then sent back to the Nether, and finally awaken.
Why The Name: In this chapter you are hallucinating (tripping on acid in a way), and you're going on an interesting trip through your subconscious. It's both a pun and a good name!
Chapter 5: The Trip
This chapter is pretty much the same. Just been given a face lift. It starts the same, but when you leave the area with the house you wind up back before your hallucination started. The Voices give you the idea that you have woken up, but you are quick to realize you are simply in a strange dream. Eventually you relive everything you have gone through so far, and end up at the so called "Hallucination Complex". Here you learn the truth once again, but your task is different this time.
Basically the Test Associate has control over CUBE Inc. Main and CUBE Inc. West. He also controls all of the CUBE Inc. Nether complexes. There is a lot he cannot control at these complexes though. He is stationed in CUBE Inc. Main. You are tasked with going to the CUBE Inc. West servers. When you arrive you need to go to a room where you can connect to CUBE Inc. Main. Once you do that you are remotely controlling the CUBE Inc. Main Server controls from CUBE Inc. West. You must then shut everything down connecting CUBE Inc. Main to CUBE Inc. West. After that the Test Associate will be gone, and you can escape.
Why The Name: See above.
Chapter 6 (Original): Making A Break For It
You wake up in the Nether Reawakening Center and quickly escape as The Voices told you to. You eventually reach the CUBE Inc. West Self-Destruct Switch and flip it. You are then trapped in a Safe Room as the world around you explodes.
Why The Name: You're making a break for it. Duh.
Chapter 6: Making A Break For It
The beginning is pretty much the same. It is really the same thing until you reach the CUBE Inc. West servers. Once you reach the servers you make your way to the area that will let you remotely control the CUBE Inc. Main servers from the CUBE Inc. West Server Hub. You make the connection and enter the hub. Here you begin to turn off everything that is keeping the CUBE Inc. Main and CUBE Inc. West servers secure. Once everything is down you are given the choice of turning off connections from CUBE Inc. Main to CUBE Inc. West. You press the button, but the Test Associate canceled the operation seconds before you pressed the button. He then leads you back to testing.
On the way though he realizes something. He was doing brute force in the servers to attempt to stop you from disconnecting the servers from each other. He realizes that he caused it so that when you pressed the button it would not disconnect the servers, but instead give him full control of every CUBE Inc. Complex in existence. Since CUBE Inc. was located around the world he had pretty much full control of the world now. You discover it was actually his plan, but it has worked ahead of time. As he jumps for joy you attempt to escape. Nothing works, but the Test Associate finds a file with your name on it. Something in it makes him go dead silent. He realizes he needs you out of his hair. He isn't in it for the fun and games anymore. There is something seriously bad about the file he found. He places you in a Safe Room, and commands you to fall asleep.
Why The Name: See above.
Epilogue: Forgotten Memories
You apparently hit your head on the fall down, and you should go to bed. You put some music in, and apparently you collapse. The only thing is that it still seems like you are awake. A secret passage opens and another voice begins to talk to you. A new one. It is extremely vague, and it is trying to tell you something about ~Lies~ and ~Not Trusting Them~. You are suddenly in the house from your hallucination again. This time there is a women. She is extremely angry, and apparently ending your marriage. Apparently you have been working on something at CUBE Inc. too much. But you don't remember any of this. Nothing is familiar to you. As you continue on you come to an area where apparently you just had your mind swapped.
They tell you that this Mind Wipe was done for a reason, and you will forget your old memory completely as soon as your new one settles in. You realize that your entire life has been a lie, and you don't even know your real past. You then wake up and are forced back to sleep by the gas which sends you into cryogenic stasis. That is the end of CUBE Inc. 1.
Why The Name: You are visiting memories that apparently were forcefully erased from your mind. You don't learn why in CUBE Inc. 1 though.
Also, I created achievements one day out of boredom. They will never be reality, but they are here just for the fun of it. Take a look:
Emergency Averted- Use the EPSR Self-Defense Button
Remaining Cautious- Get a Test Associate to help you through your tests
Final Destination 6- Complete Arc 1 without dying
Fight the Power, Man- Learn the truth during your hallucination
Critical Error- Find the "FAIL" computer
Could Someone Explain This?- Complete CUBE Inc.
The CUBE Inc. 2 Story
Aaron, you are probably clueless of what is really happening. You are just aimlessly walking around searching for answers, but you won't find anything that way. You need to get your priorities straight, and finally discover what you are really here for. It has been six years since you went into cryosleep. After four years you were taken from the Safe Room, and placed in the CUBE Inc. West Cryosleep Center due to protocol.
Things are happening Aaron, and you will never be able to explain them if you do not act and attempt to end whatever these things are causing. Trust us, Aaron. You are really the only hope left. When you awaken you will not be prepared, but in time, you will be more ready than you have ever been.
Do us a favor, and keep this promise to us.
Make the world a better place. Make it what we want it to be. But you can't do this in your current state, so you must awaken. You must stop living in your dreamworld, and finally come back to reality.
Aaron, wake up.~
That is the beginning of CUBE Inc. 2. It has been six years, and a strange voice is awakening you. You are tasked with destroying anything that has been created due to "Him". This does sound easy, but I can tell you that it is much more complicated than you think. The rabbit hole goes much deeper. I am not going to reveal anything here, but I can tell you that the whole "Portal Rip-Off" part of the story really starts to fade away. I'm not saying I didn't take inspiration from the series still. I'm just saying the story definitely does not involve potatoes in any way. I start to take some Half-Life inspiration as well as the series goes on story-wise. Yes, I am definitely a Valve fanboy...
Now while I am speaking of this I should let you know that the whole CUBE Inc. trilogy story is completely planned out. Every loose end is tied up (except for some ambitious ones on purpose), and pretty much the whole story is concealed within this trilogy. Of course I have plans, and the series itself does not end there. The world is a big place, and a lot can happen. I wish I could get more in-depth with you on that topic, but I can't. It would spoil a lot more than you should know. A LOT more.
Story Arcs and You
Arc 1: The Beginning
This story arc was created because it is exactly what it states. It is the beginning of everything. The map, the story, and the trilogy. There really isn't too much story-wise other than Portal jokes and whatnot. It is your basic escape map. That is the plan. There is basically no sense of direction. You are trying to go deeper in CUBE Inc. West to discover its darkest secrets. That is short lived when you are tested though, so you spend most of your time trying to get out of the test area and somehow escape. Eventually that occurs.
Arc 2: The Escape
Another thing to note. All of the arcs are named blatantly. They are not meant to be ironic, full of puns, or anything of that sort. They get straight to the point, so they always start with "The". Now CUBE Inc. 1 only has two story arcs because it is a slightly short map (story-wise). So basically you finally get away from the Test Associate. You spend the rest of the map out of the testing areas, and run around aimlessly hoping an escape will show itself to you. More GLaDOS-esque parts show their face just because we can do that, and you make you way. You also have a chapter where you meet one of the newer characters. Basically The Trip chapter is made to show you what the story will become in the later CUBE Inc. maps. So eventually you give the Test Associate full control of the world and then get placed into a Safe Room. The end.
Meanwhile:
Well... the map pretty much tells you that you are going to be stuck in CUBE Inc. West again in the opening of CUBE Inc. 2. Now if I had the chance to change it... CUBE Inc. 1 would not have ended that way. So basically there are numerous story arcs in CUBE Inc. 2, and the first one is pretty much filler to get you out of CUBE Inc. West. So don't expect too much story until after Arc 1 because the story that we want doesn't happen till you finally escape CUBE Inc. West. By the way.. the story arc name is The Facility.
CUBE Inc. 2 Media
Achievements and Chapters (Read At Own Risk)
Escape The Facility- Escape CUBE Inc. 2
Hazardous To Your Health- Take any risk to escape
Tragedy Incoming- Willingly become a test subject once more
Hop Along Aaron- Complete Test Track 24
Virus Inbound- Cause critical damage in the Nether
A Portal To Hell- Discover a whole new world
Addition To The Team- Become A Citizen
Picking Up the Pieces- Discover every message from The Professor
Friends Are Flammable- Alert the C.I.P.F.
We Test The Best- Enter CUBE Inc. Main
Keeping It Original- Become subject to dangerous equipment
You'll Understand.. Eventually- Complete the final test
Chapters:
Prologue- Don't Worry, It's Safe
Chapter 1-Starting From Scratch
Chapter 2- The Escapist
Chapter 3- And Then There Was One
Chapter 4- The Nether
Chapter 5- Population +1
Chapter 6- The Rebellious Type
Chapter 7- Onwards To Failure
Chapter 8- Worth the Risk
Chapter 9- Never Trust A Happy Ending
Epilogue- They Wait for You
Currently: Don't get excited for this project, it is moving at a snails pace. Lo siento.
I know...
So many issues lately. We just keep getting held back. Once Incetents gets moved in his new home though production is really going to start moving! I can promise you that!
I will most definitely contact you when the time arrives!
I'm redoing my beta test list because I did it WAY too early back in September. I'm going to be adding people myself instead of telling people they want to be on and then I add them. I know you are on the list, and I have quite a few more people so far. It may be all the people I need haha!
My bad if this has been said/stated somewhere, but is their an ETA?
Sadly, not really. The making of this map goes over so many bumps that it would be better off if I just never told anyone a real release date. If I gave a release date... it would 100% be on Valve Time.
I'm glad you liked the map!
I understand how much the parkour sucks.. believe me. When my partner and I made Overhaul we may have overdone a few parkour spots. I am making sure CUBE Inc. 2 doesn't have so many.
(X^3)^2 is an interesting equation. (X Cubed) to the power of 2
TROLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOHey! I definitely remember when we used to talk. Dang that's pretty crazy. Feels like forever ago, but it was only about a year. This whole project is definitely evolving into something bigger than I expected. It is really something.
the longer you take the better the map will be!
P.S. amazing screenshots.
Btw, the screenshots/builds are premium awesomeness!
Do I need a Skype because I have one: nick.m6630
Yep. I got into this too. Y u no use proper spelling? ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)