Welcome to Part Two of the Semi Finals of the 2nd edition of the New Worlds Map Contest!
The contest started with 46 submissions from 21 contestants and we are now down to 12 maps! The competition is tough, and it's about to get tougher! Thank you everyone for your participation, map makers and community!
Voting
- We ask everyone to vote (in a comment below) with their top 4 favorite maps in order. - Exactly 4 votes are needed from each person. Voters with 2 or 3 selections, or not in order, will not be considered. - Map makers cannot vote on their own map. - The Dowdall system will be used to rank voting scores. - The final four maps will be featured in four exciting map test tournaments, each focusing on one map, involving top foreign progamers exclusively casted by Team Think Quick & RemastrTV. - After the map test tournaments are finished and casted, we will have a final public vote on TL to decide the winner of the final four maps.
- Author: Freakling - Version: 0.81 - Size: 128x120 - Concept: Horizontal axial symmetry 2p map with some slight distortion along the centre line. Sideways natural layout to bring player's rally point all the way up to the map's midline. Triangle base outside the main/bat to offer expansion choices in both directions (same idea as on Защитная Технология and Dimensionshed). Tight stair-ramps to the northern high ground strip restrict access to only small units (Like 815-ramps or Blue Storm chokes). Big plateau in the centre creates another axis for vertical movement on army positioning on the map to incentivize players to become active on the map on the lookout for a positional advantage. Bottom Geyser positions (nats, triangle bases) have a +1 y-offset now for increased efficiency (particularly benefits Terran)
- Author: 효진 (CrystalDrag) - Version: 0.56 - Size: 128x112 - Concept:2p Highly Experimental map. Pathways can be opened by destroying Protoss Temples, and can be sealed by destroying Troy Gates. Over the course of a game this map will slowly transform into an island map, with creep beacons that can be destroyed for Zerg to access nydus canal locations.
Main ramp mineral value = 32 One Mineral at Naturals/Thirds = 744 Geysers at Naturals/Thirds = 4000 Center Expansion = 10 x 2000 M + 2 x 7500 G All Temples are single.
- Authors: Freakling + Minerals - Version: 0.81 - Size: 128x128 - Concept: *This is a map that tells a story. The story of a space station fatally struck by an asteroid, and of the desperate struggle of the survivors. *The layout is based on Minerals' and my previous attempts in 3 player maps with island expansions and the theoretical considerations they led me to about the simplest layout for for such a map that would allow equal ground expansion opportunities in either direction. *Geysers for all ground 3rd bases are reduced to 3k gas. *Island currently bases have no depleted Mineral Fields or other kind of block, as we figured that in the modern meta Terran wouldn't actually be able to gain a stable early advantage by floating a CC. *Combination of sprites and vision blockers between the main and triangle third act as a wall of pseudo-4th terrain level. *For Terran, Tanks on the ledges of the centre area can act as "artillery support" for drops on the islands – they cannot hit workers, resource depots or geysers directly, but can clear the area in front of them of defensive structures and units. + Show Spoiler [Show example] +
- Authors: Freakling & Minerals - Version: 0.85 - Size: 128x112 - Concept: Based on Midnight Crossing by sTYle_ZerG & Minerals. This iteration is intended to disincentivise an overly turtle playstyle by forcing players to spread out further and eventually having to extend into the middle areas of the map. Five separate low ground paths separate the players. Each, except the center path, offering access to a different kind of expansion.
- Author: Minerals - Version: 0.95 - Size: 112x128 - Concept: Modern battle map featuring a wide center with double ramps and multiple elevations. Bring a helmet!
- Author: TNWZombie - Version: 1.32 - Size: 128x128 - Concept: 2p standard map. Large two player map with many areas to fight over and many bridges and ramps to gain a positional advantage. 3/9 o'clock Gas volume is 2000.
- Author: 효진 (CrystalDrag) - Version: 0.60 - Size: 128x96 - Concept: Mirrored 2 player standard map with narrow low ground through the center and two large high ground plateaus.
- Author: Suricatta - Version: 0.7.2 - Size: 128x128 - Concept: 3p standard-hybrid map. Standard main/natural and center layout with two semi-island bases and a forward third. The main has a mineral-walled backdoor into the close island. Each patch in the mineral wall has 32 minerals. The other islands are separated by neutral Protoss Temples (not stacked). Neutral creep colonies near the backdoor gas base so that Zerg can wall at the choke.
Changed top corner expansions: Zerg can defend both entrances from a single Lurker position now. Terran can kill the expansion with Siege Tanks on the low ground.
Shrank both ramps to the 3rd by one iso
Added half gas (3k) to the triangle expos, mostly as a better 4th in TvP.
Bottom Geyser positions (nats, triangle bases) have a +1px y-offset now for increased efficiency (particularly benefits Terran).
Added some more buffer terrain around the outside nat wall to fix some Tank angles.
Tightened main choke by 2 tiles and added a mineral block (1×16m) with a 15px x-offset to further tighten it for easy Zealot blocking.
I like Butter better than Reflections (it's a bit too similar to Kick Flip in its layout), but decided to give Reflections a boost since Butter is already getting traction in ASL. :-)
We have more than 100.000 nicknames in the StarCraft but we have less than 100 people who vote this contest. I've never seen any semi professional players or professional players here.
Anyway, we still play, talk, vote this contest... about StarCraft in 2022. Keep up the best game
I have no control over length of games :D Most games on ladder and in general are short, and not long. I think short streamed games still give you an idea of what the map looks like inside the game, and how it can play out in a given race matchup in light of the builds/strategies used. So in those games, you can see mutas, hydras, terran bio and mech play out somewhat.
PS Yabsab actually left thinking Scan won the entire set, but they didn't finish one last game. There should be an unplayed tie breaker.
On February 18 2022 18:59 M3t4PhYzX wrote: Anthropocene getting in is quite unfortunate.. but otherwise than that, nice results Thx.
even if you feel this way, i don't understand why you would post this. like it's just so unnecessarily negative toward something someone put a lot of work into. like i would understand "aw i was hoping X would make it in", but not this
All of these maps look terrific! Thanks and congratulations to the mapmakers, including those whose maps weren't selected. I hope that all of the maps will see lots of use.
On February 18 2022 18:59 M3t4PhYzX wrote: Anthropocene getting in is quite unfortunate.. but otherwise than that, nice results Thx.
even if you feel this way, i don't understand why you would post this. like it's just so unnecessarily negative toward something someone put a lot of work into. like i would understand "aw i was hoping X would make it in", but not this
I just meant for ME, obviously.. I mean it is a cool map and all but I think I have the right to be disappointed about the result of the voting or am I not? I didn't say it's a shitty map and the map maker has no skill, that would be an obviously ridiculous statement.
why is everybody so overly delicate on the internet these days.. Jesus.
Just for the record - I love all the map makers for keeping our beloved game fresh after all these years! I really wish you got more recognition, because this is exactly what you deserve. Cheers
On February 18 2022 18:59 M3t4PhYzX wrote: Anthropocene getting in is quite unfortunate.. but otherwise than that, nice results Thx.
even if you feel this way, i don't understand why you would post this. like it's just so unnecessarily negative toward something someone put a lot of work into. like i would understand "aw i was hoping X would make it in", but not this
Because he's an ape poster of this forum. I mean look at most of his other posts.
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I'm elated that Anthropocene got in, I really hope that map gets a chance (ZZZero???? help). In all honesty we haven't had a map this exciting since like 6 ASLs ago, or the KSL days even.
One thing to notice is that Butter, unfortunately by the time this contest has finished is already known and played quite a bit which seems a bit anti-climactic. I'm not sure if the map was designed for this contest or it's just a new map in general that happened to come out around this time. It's fantastic, however I just feel like it doesn't have that new factor anymore, which the others do.
On February 19 2022 06:51 quaristice wrote: congrats to the 4 maps that made it!
On February 18 2022 18:59 M3t4PhYzX wrote: Anthropocene getting in is quite unfortunate.. but otherwise than that, nice results Thx.
even if you feel this way, i don't understand why you would post this. like it's just so unnecessarily negative toward something someone put a lot of work into. like i would understand "aw i was hoping X would make it in", but not this
Because he's an ape poster of this forum. I mean look at most of his other posts.
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I'm elated that Anthropocene got in, I really hope that map gets a chance (ZZZero???? help). In all honesty we haven't had a map this exciting since like 6 ASLs ago, or the KSL days even.
One thing to notice is that Butter, unfortunately by the time this contest has finished is already known and played quite a bit which seems a bit anti-climactic. I'm not sure if the map was designed for this contest or it's just a new map in general that happened to come out around this time. It's fantastic, however I just feel like it doesn't have that new factor anymore, which the others do.
why are you constantly sniping at me like a bitch? because you disagree with what I write or how I'm wording my posts? what is exactly your problem?
do I live in your head free off charge? then get yourself checked out and just fuck off.
I agree with you all concerning Butter getting into the top four. But I guess it's too late to disqualify it now as the rules can't be changed while the contest is still in progress. However, that can be prevented from happening again in the future if there's a rule put in place that if a NWMC map gets adopted by ASL or BSL (maybe these would be only exceptions?) while the contest is underway, then that map would be ineligible to make it into the top four. It's up to the organizers and community members interested in the contest (particularly voters) to decide on that though.
On February 19 2022 06:51 quaristice wrote: congrats to the 4 maps that made it!
On February 18 2022 18:59 M3t4PhYzX wrote: Anthropocene getting in is quite unfortunate.. [snip]
even if you feel this way, i don't understand why you would post this. like it's just so unnecessarily negative toward something someone put a lot of work into. [snip]
[snip] why is everybody so overly delicate on the internet these days.. Jesus.
It's a basic principle that we learn as small children: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." You were rude, perhaps unintentionally. The person to whom you responded was telling you so in as respectful a way as anyone ever will. The fact that you can imagine ways to be more rude doesn't make what you said not rude. If you're not able to recognize that, acknowledge it, and move on, then you are making yourself an example of what you look down on: people being overly delicate on the internet.
The proper response is easy and simple: "Sorry, that wasn't my intent. Thanks, guaristice. I've edited my post."
As for the person who called you an ape poster, you're well within your rights to slam the Report button and be done with it.
On February 19 2022 06:51 quaristice wrote: congrats to the 4 maps that made it!
On February 18 2022 18:59 M3t4PhYzX wrote: Anthropocene getting in is quite unfortunate.. [snip]
even if you feel this way, i don't understand why you would post this. like it's just so unnecessarily negative toward something someone put a lot of work into. [snip]
[snip] why is everybody so overly delicate on the internet these days.. Jesus.
It's a basic principle that we learn as small children: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." You were rude, perhaps unintentionally. The person to whom you responded was telling you so in as respectful a way as anyone ever will. The fact that you can imagine ways to be more rude doesn't make what you said not rude. If you're not able to recognize that, acknowledge it, and move on, then you are making yourself an example of what you look down on: people being overly delicate on the internet.
The proper response is easy and simple: "Sorry, that wasn't my intent. Thanks, guaristice. I've edited my post."
As for the person who called you an ape poster, you're well within your rights to slam the Report button and be done with it.
Competitionwise I do not see Butter multi-ing as a problem, only a bit dull. Butter is still a great entry, maybe it performs different vs these competitors?
All right folks, we're going to start streaming singles games and matches on maps from this contest series.
On July 17 Sunday starting at 1:00 PM EST / 19:00 CEST, we'll stream test games on some of the maps submitted, including Biosphere, Steel Dominion, Reflection, Anthropocene, Coral Shallows, Access Control, Sky Bridge, Treachery, Kick Flip, Lightning Whirlwind and Sea Breeze.
Hopefully next week, we'll do a similar stream on the same maps mentioned above.
After that, we'll start streaming the map test tours on the four finalist maps (Kick Flip, Reflection, Sky Bridge and Anthropocene). There will be four tours. In each one, 8 foreign players duke it out in a bo3 and bo5 finals format. Prizes for the 1st and 2nd place winners.
After those four tours are broadcasted, we'll share the VOD links and ask TL users to vote on their favourite map (either Kick Flip, Reflection, Sky Bridge or Anthropocene). The map that receives the most votes will receive the map maker's prize.
So six streams are planned for this map contest series. Two streams will show games on various popular maps from the contest and the other four streams will be the test tours.
A note about the first two streams. Only some of the maps were tested. I believe we only tested maps that were receiving a fair share of votes during the first round of voting. So we did not bother testing other maps that were not receiving many votes and therefore were less likely to proceed to the next round of the series. This was unfortunate as many maps were not tested by us. But due to resource limitations ($ and time), we had to focus on those maps that had a "fighting chance" during the voting round. These test games were organized so that test players could stream their games on the maps and share the VOD links with TL voters so that they could base their votes off the test games, meaning voters were asked to watch games on various maps and vote on their favourite ones. We hope that's how many people voted for their favourite four maps which made it into the finals.
The test games were all bo5s and featured foreign players for the most part. Prizes were paid out to the winning players. I basically selected the longest replays from those bo5s and will be broadcasting them during our first to stream events related to this event (which do not cover the tournaments). Each game will be on a different map and feature different players. A total of 10-12 games on 10-12 different maps will be shown during the first two stream events.
We didn't want to overlap with other events and we understand if viewers will be tuning in elsewhere because of that. But we had to start streaming this event now because we have a few streams related to this event (and more streams related to other events) to broadcast by the end of the summer.
On July 16 2022 15:42 M3t4PhYzX wrote: Thought this was a completely dead project but very glad to see it is, in fact, not
Playing the map test tournaments takes some time. Players are busy with other tournaments, some don't want to participate in it since they are expected to give feedback and would have to practice a whole new map, etc. And ox escaped from my dungeon, so I had to catch him first to force him into streaming again.
Tomorrow we got games on Biosphere, Steel Dominion, Reflection, Anthropocene, Coral Shallows, Access Control, Sky Bridge, Treachery, Kick Flip, Lightning Whirlwind and Sea Breeze. It should be a 5-6 hour stream.
For today's event, we got open (public) casting on our server so hop in and join us if you like: https://discord.gg/B6kncux I'll be obsing and sharing my screen on discord if you just want to watch and say a few or more words about the games and maps.
We'll stream a similar event sometime next week hopefully before we broadcast the four tournaments on Reflection, Kick Flip, Sky Bridge and Anthropocene.
Then after those are streamed and the VOD links are shared on TL, we'll ask folks here to vote on their favourite map (from the four above) and the winning map will win a prize!
We'll stream a similar event sometime next week hopefully before we broadcast the four tournaments on Reflection, Kick Flip, Sky Bridge and Anthropocene.
Then after those are streamed and the VOD links are shared on TL, we'll ask folks here to vote on their favourite map (from the four above) and the winning map will win a prize!
For today's event, we got open (public) casting on our server so hop in and join us if you like: https://discord.gg/B6kncux I'll be obsing and sharing my screen on discord if you just want to watch and say a few or more words about the games and maps.
Here's today game list
I'll try to switch up the order so we show different race match ups and map tile sets Unfortunately I was only able to find certain players (big shout out to them!) willing to test out these new maps in showmatches, so that's why we got so many of the same players.
Bo3s with bo5 finals We felt any more games would be overdoing it since the stream would be too long and the map over watched (since it’s the same map over and over again). Let’s see how this format turns out. Excited to watch the games. We got Trutacz to play too!
I hope this map (Reflection) will be chosen to replace for Eclipse in the next ladder season. I like 3rd, 4th bases which have 2 ramps but 5th just have 1 ramp. The 3rd, 4th bases are so hard to defend, this makes the map becomes balance between micro, marco and some weird strategies. 2 center bases will promote 2 players who play aggressively more.