On the whole, I really like the looks of these maps, and especially for one thing: last season, while it produced some great maps, mostly was chock full of The Same Old Thing Redux. These maps, in contrast, are swinging for the fences in terms of design: 3 players, doodads, temples, unusual configurations, etc. It's probably a sign that OGN's saying, "What the hell, we're going to do what we always wanted to try anyway," but I like the feel overall.

That said... it's not the safest way to do things. Map-by-map, I'm much less enthusiastic:

Chain Reaction: by which we mean, "mutalisk reaction". Okay, it's not quite Battle Royale (air distance looks a touch longer, ground is a little shorter maybe, and unobstructed), but eh. It's a pretty map though - I hope it plays well.

Electric Circuit: Agh my eyes! Seriously, how are players going to be able to focus on that minimap? Other than that, I really like it: combines elements from Andromeda and Medusa, two classics.

Ground Zero: Because we need at least one standard boring map. Next!

Jade: Byzantium/Return of the King remix.

Outlier: Outsider meets Neo Requiem, with temples because Medusa was feeling left out. This honestly looks like one of the goofy-ass Blizzard maps from Ye Olden Dayes, only with Korean professionalism making it actually look nice. I have no idea what to think.

Sniper Ridge: Far and away the ugliest map in this group, and with probable positional imbalances due to the ridges, as well. The most interesting thing about this map is that denying a 3rd looks incredibly easy - and holding a third once secured almost equally easy. Between that and the ridges, this map screams "Terran imba": range > all. We'll see if I'm right.

Jade and GZ seem like they'll be good. EC too, although seriously it's like looking at a strobe light. Outlier and CR I'm dubious about, but I'll wait for the games. Sniper Ridge I'm calling now as "won't last", purely because of my aesthetic distate.

puppykiller

United States3128 Posts

November 17 2011 20:06 GMT

#265

awe helll yeaaaaaa.. sniper ridge is badass

arb

Noobville17921 Posts

November 17 2011 20:14 GMT

#266

Outlier and Jade make me cringe

Arkqn

France589 Posts

November 17 2011 20:15 GMT

#267

On November 18 2011 04:26 LegaCy_ wrote:
All I could think about was Sniper Ridge looking like the Nazi sign lol.

This

And also Chain Reaction and Outlier are terrible for PvZ, Ground Zero is like GrandLine except it's Ashworld tileset.
Electric circuit/Jade looks the more balanced maps.

ArvickHero

10387 Posts

November 17 2011 20:45 GMT

#268

I'm predicting that ground zero will see rather few terrans playing on it, with a lot of protosses being sent on that map

zobz

Canada2175 Posts

November 17 2011 21:21 GMT

#269

I'm guessing the main reason for progamer protoss imba complaints is the general theme of these maps having 9 minerals at main, 7 minerals at nat. These map makers are up to their old games again of trying to force people to favour one base plays more heavily, which so far as I know has failed every time they've tried it in the past. Most likely everyone will still expand just as quickly as usual, and then blame the absurd nature of the map for their loss (I assume with good reason), but maybe this season I can witness a miracle.

ninini

Sweden1204 Posts

November 17 2011 22:09 GMT

#270

wait...is ground zero an island map?

and lol at nazi ridge.

operwolf

United States324 Posts

November 17 2011 22:21 GMT

#271

On November 18 2011 07:09 ninini wrote:
wait...is ground zero an island map?

and lol at nazi ridge.

No, there are ramps leading down into the naturals.

ArvickHero

10387 Posts

November 17 2011 22:23 GMT

#272

On November 18 2011 06:21 zobz wrote:
I'm guessing the main reason for progamer protoss imba complaints is the general theme of these maps having 9 minerals at main, 7 minerals at nat. These map makers are up to their old games again of trying to force people to favour one base plays more heavily, which so far as I know has failed every time they've tried it in the past. Most likely everyone will still expand just as quickly as usual, and then blame the absurd nature of the map for their loss (I assume with good reason), but maybe this season I can witness a miracle.

If they wanted to encourage 1-base play, then they should put 10 mineral patches in the main .. the biggest complaint by Protosses is the general cramped-ness of every map, making it difficult to engage the Terran Mech ball and Lurker/Swarm positions. Electric Circuit in particular looks very difficult for Protosses

Lumire

United States607 Posts

November 17 2011 23:52 GMT

#273

Cant wait for DL link >8[!

slappy

United States1271 Posts

November 17 2011 23:56 GMT

#274

lol at everyone who doesn't know where the swastika comes from
these maps look interesting... I really need to play on em to understand them though, I'm not good at judging maps from the way they look