Source: https://combineoverwiki.net/wiki/Thermal_Discouragement_Beam
Archived: 2026-11-02 (the page's wikitext, through the wiki's API)
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{{Technology Infobox
| image = [[File:Thermal discouragement beam.svg|250px]]
| image2 = [[File:P2TC3.png|250px]]
| name = Thermal Discouragement Beam
| affiliation = [[Aperture Science]]
| type = Laser
| maker =
| usedby =
The '''Thermal Discouragement Beam''' is a testing element introduced in ''[[Portal 2]]'' that is used throughout the [[Aperture Science]] [[Aperture Science Enrichment Center|Enrichment Center]]. It is the ''Portal 2'' equivalent of the [[Aperture Science High Energy Pellet|High Energy Pellet]]s used throughout ''[[Portal]]''.
Throughout the [[Testing Track|testing course]]s, Discouragement Beams will often require a redirection with the help of a [[Discouragement Redirection Cube]] to guide the beam into its respective receptacles.
== Overview ==
[[File:P2 cubes pivot.jpg|A [[Discouragement Redirection Cube|Redirection Cube]] redirecting the Discouragement Beam.|200px|thumb]]
The beam was developed by Aperture in [[1998]].
Thermal Discouragement Beams can be redirected in two ways: with portals or with Discouragement Redirection Cubes. Redirection of the beam with portals is fairly straightforward. The beam will pass in a straight line into one portal and out the other. To have the beam exit a portal at an angle, a Discouragement Redirection Cube will be needed.
It can be used to destroy threats such as [[Aperture Science Sentry Turret|Sentry Turrets]], as well as trigger [[Aperture Science Unstationary Scaffold|moving floor plates]], allowing access to various areas.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl-RN-gGr2o Thermal Discouragement Beam demonstration] on Combine OverWiki's YouTube channel
The beam will slowly kill a Test Subject whilst also pushing them away from it. [[ATLAS and P-body]] take less damage from this testing element, but can be eventually destroyed by it.
An [[Aperture Science Weighted Storage Cube]] or any of its variants (or a camera) can block the beam without being damaged. A [[Discouragement Redirection Cube]] will redirect the beam out one of its faces.
There are two types of receptacles for the beam. One is mounted normal to a surface and will "catch" a beam directed onto it. This type of receptacle usually acts a a switch, performing an action as long as a beam is trained on it. The other type of receptacle is always floor-mounted and reacts when a beam passes through it, but it will not otherwise affect the beam. Chambers using this type usually require the player to activate all of them at once, using a single beam.
"Thermal Discouragement" is a registered trademark of Aperture Science.
Under the Thermal Discouragement Beam diagram can be found a rather confusing disclaimer directed at Test Subjects, suggesting that some of them are allowed to know how the Beam works, and that some are not: "''If permission to look at this diagram has been granted, please do so now, unless the box labeled "DO NOT LOOK AT DIAGRAM" on the "Diagrams Forms Sanction" form you should have received from your supervisors is checked, in which case you should remain at your workstation not looking at the diagram until such time as you are instructed by your supervisor to discontinue not looking at it.''"
The beam becomes non-solid to the player while in mid-air.
As seen in elevator videos, the beam is created using a large device and sent to test chambers through [[teleportation|portals]].
==Related Achievements==
{|class=wikitable style="vertical-align:center;" width=50%
|-
!colspan="2" style="text-align:left"|''[[Portal 2 Achievements and Trophies|Portal 2]]''
|-
|rowspan=2 width=64px|[[File:Undiscouraged.jpg]]
!style="text-align:left"|Undiscouraged (10G)
|-
| ''Complete the first Thermal Discouragement Beam test.'' |
|---|
| } |
== Behind the scenes ==
The Thermal Discouragement Beam was first introduced during the [[Portal ARG|''Portal'' ARG]], in one of the ASCII art images given by the BBS, that later appeared to be a diagram depicting its use with a Discouragement Redirection Cube, as revealed by the April, 2010 issue of Game Informer. An updated and moving diagram was revealed during E3 2010.
== Trivia ==
== Gallery ==
=== Pre-release ===
File:Thermal discouragement beam poster.jpg|The original diagram, showing a burning Turret.
File:06928073.711.png|ASCII art version.
File:Thermal beam diagram cut turret.jpg|Updated diagram, showing a Turret cut in half.
File:Thermal beam redirection cube.jpg|Earliest image of the Discouragement Beam and Redirection Cube from ''Game Informer''.
File:Cube beam turret.jpg|Discouragement Redirection Cube redirecting a Thermal Discouragement Beam at a Turret, making it explode after setting it on fire.
File:Thermal Discouragement Beam E3.jpg|Thermal Discouragement Beams seen in the pre-release version of [[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal 2)#Test Chamber 03|Test Chamber 03]].
File:P2TC4 proto.JPG|Thermal Discouragement Beams seen in the pre-release version of [[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal 2)#Test Chamber 04|Test Chamber 04]]..
=== Retail ===
File:Thermal Discouragement Beam Testing Element.jpg|Thermal Discouragement Beam diagram.
File:Loadingscreen a2 2 widescreen.png|Thermal Discouragement Beam seen in a loading screen.
File:Loadingscreen a2 3 widescreen.png|Ditto.
File:Loadingscreen a2 4 widescreen.png|Ditto.
File:P2TC1.png|Thermal Discouragement Beam, seen in [[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal 2)#Test Chamber 01|Test Chamber 01]].
File:P2TC2.png|Ditto, in [[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal 2)#Test Chamber 02|Test Chamber 02]].
File:P2TC3.png|Ditto, in [[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal 2)#Test Chamber 03|Test Chamber 03]].
File:P2TC4.png|Ditto, in [[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal 2)#Test Chamber 04|Test Chamber 04]].
File:P2TC9.png|Ditto, in [[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal 2)#Test Chamber 09|Test Chamber 09]].
File:P2TC14.png|Ditto, in [[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal 2)#Test Chamber 14|Test Chamber 14]].
File:P2TC20.png|Ditto, in [[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal 2)#Test Chamber 20|Test Chamber 20]].
File:Peti laser emitter.png|Thermal Discouragement Beam emitter icon in ''[[Perpetual Testing Initiative]]''.
File:Peti laser catcher.png|Catcher icon.
File:Peti laser receptacle.png|Floor-mounted receptacle icon.
== List of appearances ==
===Main games===
== References ==
== External links ==
*{{YouTube|jl-RN-gGr2o|Demonstration video}}
{{Technology}}
{{Aperture}}
[[Category:Portal 2]]
[[Category:Aperture Science technology]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Aperture Science testing elements]]