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Map-making: My retrospection 2004-2012

Blogs > Superouman
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Superouman
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
France2195 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-09-26 19:23:30
September 25 2012 15:20 GMT
#1
Map-making: My retrospection 2004-2012


My map-making career is now ending and i want to share my memories with you.

The beginning: 2004-2006



      My memories of my map-making debuts are not so clear anymore but i still remember my first melee maps. I had no idea of the competitive scene back then and my inspirations were the blizzard maps and the ums maps i played on battle.net. Unfortunately i don't have the maps anymore, some of them already had some very basic features present on good melee maps like one entrance to the main but not all of them.



____________________________________________________




The Broodwarmaps.net era: 2006-2010


[image loading]



      This is the main era where i learnt everything i need about RTS level design, i can apply all the concepts and ideas i was taught to any RTS game, even if the scales aren't the same, the game basics are.


      One Day, i have no idea how, i discovered Staredit.net and a melee map contest was held there so why not trying it! This led me to make my first melee map ever uploaded: (2)Shine
[image loading]

      What i didn't know at that time is the fact that this map will follow me in my journey to the highest levels of foreign map-making where people like Starparty, trcc, Testbug and few others belong to.

      I am now not alone with my maps anymore and I even compete with other players. The most surprising thing with my first map on the internet, it finished 4th, i totally didn't expect that.

Link to the results: Staredit contest results
Being in that contest led me to the most important website of my map-making career:Broodwarmaps.net, BWMN for the shortcut, and from that day everything will change.

__________________


      This is my first map ever uploaded on BWMN as ProTosS4EveR, Fall of Tenochtitlan, yes it is bad and it was just my arrival on the website. Names with pre-columbian civilizations references are going to be a recurrent thing in the future. Let's remember this map to watch the improvements on my next maps.
[image loading]
Fall of Tenochtitlan map thread


__________________


      The second map i uploaded is a remake of my contest map (2)Shine, i wonder what happened during the time between these two maps, the changes in the style are so radical it looks like they come from two different people
[image loading]
Shine map thread


__________________


      Let's now jump to my two most commentated maps on BWMN (which weren't played a lot) to see my improvements after two years.
That first map is going to be (2)Coastal Battery
[image loading]
Coastal Battery map thread

      My map layouts are getting better, i now fully understand the main size, the natural placement, the backdoor expand and third gas expand. You can see an improvement in my decoration and also picture editing to make it brighter and more colorful otherwise it's not that pretty.
      The map turned to be quite passive because of the layout but it was still a good map for my own improvement.

__________________


      The second map is Rise of Teotihuacan (Nightmarjoo calls it Rise of Teosomething, for some reason he can't read Teotihuacan T_T ). This map is based on a two players korean map i saw on mapdori.com where the natural is behind the main and has two backdoors. There was a lot of back and forth in the edits of the map because of the very short main to main distance.
      This map is also the beginning of my usage of the korean texture pattern where the isometric patterns are stretched vertically, i'll come back to it later with other maps and some examples.

[image loading]Rise of Teotihuacan map thread


__________________


      We are reaching the succesful part of my Brood War map-making which is around 2008-2009 with two maps getting into the iCCup ladder map pool. The first map is none other than a four player version of my good ol' map Shine!
      The Main/natural/mineral only expand is identical to the two players version and the third gas is placed in the middle as a transition to the rest of the map.
      The best thing in the history of this map is that the legendary progamer YellOw played on that map, an huge honor for a foreign map-maker.

[image loading]
]iCCup Shine map thread


      A year later, an other map gets selected, Texcoco! This map has a standard main/natural setup but the third gas expand's ramp is blocked by layers of zerg eggs which make it easier to defend. The four plateausand side paths make interesting tactical positions. I think this is my best brood war map. Simple, with a small twist and a good execution.
[image loading]
iCCup Texcoco map thread

Concerning the decoration, this is the korean decoration style mixed with my own. Here are some examples of korean maps, you can see the very stretched out patterns.
+ Show Spoiler +
[image loading]

[image loading]

[image loading]

[image loading]


__________________


      With this map begins a period of inactivity, i would make a map every two or three months but nothing huge. New proleague maps come and go with amazing designs in complexity like Plasma or simplicity such as Python where everyone was wrong on the impossible TvP theorycrafting.

Here is the list of my Brood-War maps on BWMN LINK



____________________________________________________




The Starcraft II era: 2010-2012



[image loading]



      New game, new challenges! There is no already established system therefore aliens everything is possible! The goal from day 1 is getting into a korean Starleague, reaching the top of the top where the legendary map-makers like Rose.Of.Dream, Ragnarok[Valkyrie], str18-02 are.

__________________


      Since no one knows anything about the game, i just make brood-war maps in SC2.
This... is my first SC2 map ever made during April 28th 2010, exactly three months before the start of the full game. This is just a brood-war map with SC2 graphical engine.
[image loading]

      During the beta, i'm contacted by konicki to create a map team with prodiG which will become the iCCup map-making team which was launched the day the full game was in the stores.

      Some months later, members of an other map-making team, Team Six, joins us. Monitor, neobowman, Grebliv G.Wen are now on board. For some reasons i don't remember, UsedMan and FiveAlarm don't join us.
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=142384

__________________


      My first succes in SC2 comes a year later with MLG selecting Testbug into their map-pool. Since a tournament of this size uses this map, other smaller tournaments start using it as well.
      For those who wondered why i used Testbug as the map name: he is the best foreign map-maker ever, the master of three players maps. Testbug's map list

[image loading]


      At the end, 873 official tournament games are played on it which is a lot. I don't forget the iCCup invitational with Startale where JulyZerg played on Testbug.
      At this moment, I have a link with pretty much the entire foreign scene. MLG is good, but it ain't a Starleeeaaague, we have to go deeper higher.

__________________


      At the end of 2011, the Team Liquid Map Contest is held to get some maps into the ladder. Getting in a map into the ladder means entering the GSL. I... Have... To... Win...I have to be the first foreign map-maker to get into a Starleague. There is no other option.
It's time to use what everyone underrates: chokes, this can reduce the power of deathballs.
Cloud Kingdom is born.

[image loading]

      The layout is actually so simple yet so effective and is the result from everything i learnt in Brood War and SC2. The name Cloud Kingdom is one of my prefered i invented, i always wanted to name a map like this but i couldn't think about something good enough.

      The map gets into the top 5, one step is done, now it's time to be the first. I check the votes every hour and see Ohana get more and more votes. I feared i would fail so close to my goal. Only the staff votes can save me now. The waiting of the results was no bail-biting.

      December 19 2011 06:03, the results are out! Cloud Kingdom is second in both polls and Ohana is 1st and 5th which means my map wins the contest! Now i knew i'm going to enter the GSL!

      Some weeks later, January 9th 2012, this is it! I finally reached a Starleague after 6 years of efforts, and the funny thing is the first official match on a foreign map is played by the legend of the legends, Boxer. The entire world plays on my map now... except... the Kespa players, the ones i originally wanted to play on my maps.

      That bitter taste won't last very long, The hybrid BW/SC2 Proleague is announced, this is going to be my first, unique and last chance to get the Kespa players play on my map in official matches, it's now or never.

      After an other nail-biting waiting, i finally see Cloud Kingdom in the Proleague map pool, the very top off the map-making world, i can't write well enough to describe my joy at this moment. And that day finally came, May 20th 2012, CJ Effort against KT Motive, the summit of my career.




      There is still the OnGameNet Starleague to conquere and the goal of Broodwarmaps.net, Global domination, will be achieved. So close but still so far! I had to wait again, not being sure if i'm going to make it. The prelims map pool doesn't have Cloud Kingdom in it, i can understand, there are always 3 maps in the prelims and a fourth on is added into the Ro16 so i had to wait, again and again.
But this time, i won't make it, my story ends in front of the closed gates of the OSL, knowing they will never open again for me. In this day, September 25th 2012, 3250 official tournament games have been played on Cloud Kingdom. TLPD Stats


____________________________________________________



I am now retiring because of a lack of interest in the gameplay of SC2, i wanted to see if there are plans to fix the game basics in HoTS but there are any. My school year also starts very soon and i will only have a tiny amount of free time.
More details here


Thank you to Antares, Antares777, ArcticRaven, Arden(WoF), Archvil3, Aunvilgod, barrin, boongee, Crackling, Crimson)S(hadow, Dauntless, DeathLink, deathman101, decafchicken, Diamond, DoA, EatThePath, EffectHypnotize, Empyrean, Excalibur, fenX, Ferisii, FlopTurnReaver, flothefreak, Freakling, Gfire Grebliv, Grief_Stricken, GWen, iGrok, Inept, IAMAHIPO_ocolor, IronManSC, Jacky, Johanaz, JungleTerrain, Kinosjourney, konicki, LaO-Artanis, Lancet, LasTCursE, lefix, LGI, Listoric, LML, LostTampon, LS, MavercK, maximumdan, Meltage, monitor, MilleniumArmy, MorroW, Namfurus, NastyMarine, NegativeEntropy, neobowman, Nerski NewSunshine, Nightmarjoo, noname, NoPantsRepublic, NullCurrent, Nureru, Orb, Panschk[FP], Plexa, ProdiG, PsychoTemplar, RaDiX, Ragoo, Salazar Slytherin, Samro225am, ScoutWBF, Sea_Food, SidianTheBard, SpitFire, spinesheath, SpoR, SummerSky, Superiorwolf, Starparty, sTY_leZerG-eX, sWaGu, TehTemplar, Testbug, TimeTwister22, th0t, tktkvroom, Travin, trcc, Valkyrion, winpark, wrl, WHiTeSTRiPeS- and yenku for joining me in my map-making journey.



Special thanks to Brood War.



                                                -SUPEROUMAN

****
Search "[SO]" on B.net to find all my maps ||| Cloud Kingdom / Turbo Cruise '84 / Bone Temple / Eternal Empire / Zen / Purity and Industry / Golden Wall / Fortitude / Beckett Industries / Waterfall
Plexa
Profile Blog Joined October 2005
Aotearoa39261 Posts
September 25 2012 15:27 GMT
#2
I hope this is only a 'school' retirement and not a long term thing, but in any case, thanks for everything you have done!
Administrator~ Spirit will set you free ~
StarVe
Profile Joined June 2011
Germany13591 Posts
September 25 2012 15:31 GMT
#3
Thanks for your work!
Heyoka
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Katowice25012 Posts
September 25 2012 15:37 GMT
#4
You're the best Superouman, sad to see you go. Don't forget to visit!
@RealHeyoka | ESL / DreamHack StarCraft Lead
bananajk
Profile Joined April 2011
Germany92 Posts
September 25 2012 15:37 GMT
#5
Thank you so much for your work!
Maybe you can come back sometimes and give us some more awesome maps
fragster.de | [F_]ragster
ArcticRaven
Profile Joined August 2011
France1406 Posts
September 25 2012 15:38 GMT
#6
Whoa, I'm on the list :O

Guess I'll never get to go the Meltdown with you then T.T I hope you'll come back one day. You're my Stephano.

Get this featured ! The greatest SC2 mapper deserves it.
[Govie] Wierd shit, on a 6 game AP winning streak with KOTL in the trench. I searched gandalf quotes and spammed them all game long, trenchwarfare247, whateva it takes!
-orb-
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States5770 Posts
September 25 2012 15:38 GMT
#7
Great read man! I am so sad to see you go as CK remains my favorite sc2 map. Hopefully one day you will make a triumphant return to the pro mapmaking scene!

It was great chilling with you at meltdown paris. I hope we get to meet again
'life of lively to live to life of full life thx to shield battery'
how sad that sc2 has no shield battery :(
OxyGenesis
Profile Joined May 2012
United Kingdom281 Posts
September 25 2012 15:40 GMT
#8
Cloud Kingdom is far and away the best map that has been made for SC2. Your input, insight and wisdom will be greatly missed by the map making community. Good luck in all your endeavours, hopefully we will see you again in the not-too-distant future
Maker of Maps inc. Vector, Uncanny Valley and Fissure | Co-Founder of SC2Melee.net
Wout
Profile Joined April 2011
Netherlands76 Posts
September 25 2012 15:40 GMT
#9
Cloud Kingdom is the map I enjoy watching games being played on most. Thanks and good luck with whatever you choose to do next!
Antoine
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States7481 Posts
September 25 2012 15:45 GMT
#10
So glad to take credit for Cloud Kingdom, what with it being one of my choices in the staff vote

Seriously though, your maps have been fantastic, and will certainly be missed going forward. Thanks for everything you did for the community.
ModeratorFlash Sea Action Snow Midas | TheStC Ret Tyler MC | RIP 우정호
Dauntless
Profile Joined May 2010
Norway548 Posts
September 25 2012 15:47 GMT
#11
Sad to see you quit map making :< You had so many creative ideas when it came to how a map should play out.
Glad I got the chance to help you test maps and give feedback!

Gl and hf with whatever you decide to do in the future, be it school or whatever, I'm sure you'll thrive =)

(As a side note: the reason I haven't been online lately to help you test, is because I've been playing HotS)

See you around, SUPEROUMAN!
Dauntless.156 EU || Liquid´HerO | Grubby.Grubby
Adebisi
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Canada1637 Posts
September 25 2012 15:49 GMT
#12
Cheers, good luck in the future and your efforts will not be forgotten, Cloud Kingdom still by far my favorite map to watch competitive play on!
MstrJinbo
Profile Joined March 2011
United States1251 Posts
September 25 2012 15:53 GMT
#13
I wish the best for you and your future. Still, You will be missed.
FlukyS
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
Ireland485 Posts
September 25 2012 16:00 GMT
#14
Cloud kingdom is definitely one of the best balanced maps ive seen in SC2 along with Daybreak and Ohana. The best maps are simple and allow for flexibility of play and that takes so much consideration so its really sad to see someone who can make maps like that leave. I really hope you come back for HotS to give us some more maps
zJayy962
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
1363 Posts
September 25 2012 16:01 GMT
#15
Thanks for your contribution. Good luck to your future!
Meerel
Profile Joined March 2012
Germany713 Posts
September 25 2012 16:01 GMT
#16
gl and cu soon hehe
SDMF
reyder
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
United States71 Posts
September 25 2012 16:01 GMT
#17
Cloud Kingdom is my favorite map though I wasn't aware of all your BW maps I thank you for all your efforts to the starcraft community. Wish we had 100 more like you. GL HF
NGUNS!
iglocska
Profile Joined May 2011
Norway589 Posts
September 25 2012 16:03 GMT
#18
Sad to see you go, Cloud Kingdom is one of the coolest maps, both gameplay wise and when it comes to looks
Gemini00
Profile Joined September 2011
United States397 Posts
September 25 2012 16:06 GMT
#19
Thanks for all your many contributions over the years, to both the map pool and to the community. It's sad to see you go after achieving so much success, but I'm sure you'll find equal success in whatever you set your mind to, so I wish you the best of luck in wherever you choose to go from here.

GGGLHF!
"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it." -- H. L. Mencken
Archvil3
Profile Joined September 2010
Denmark989 Posts
September 25 2012 16:06 GMT
#20
So, you quitting ESV-style or quitting for real ?

I always thought Cloud Kingdom was pretty good but after watching hundreds of pro plays on the map I have changed my mind a bit about it. It is outstanding and not only by far the best SC2 map ever made, it is also the most revolutionary and important map made to date.

See you around. You will be back.
Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent.
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