great article. i really like the direction that TL is going with their focus on maps and the map contest they hosted. hope the community focuses on some of the points brought up in this article and keeps the balance qq to a minimum

SoulSever

Canada779 Posts

November 15 2011 05:35 GMT

#202

Look at something like map of the month tourney. They get good players to play on maps and those games are often sooooo damn exciting. Would like to see alot more tournaments like that

Laneir

United States1160 Posts

November 15 2011 05:35 GMT

#203

great read loved it i miss jungle basin and stepps

a176

Canada6688 Posts

November 15 2011 05:35 GMT

#204

I made a blog recently on this. Why you shouldn't be scared of the unknown. But that's only a small sample of the problems.

The fact of the matter. SC2 will never see the mapping bonanza that graced BW. The majority of 'western' players dont give a shit about custom maps, and thusly, the tournaments never will either. The viscous cycle. GSL only ever seems to pick Prime maps (if any of you ever visit playxp, you will see there are plenty of other talented mappers there). I don't know if they have some deal with GSL or whatever, but if your id doesn't end in Prime, there's no point really.

The thought about forcing players is kind of funny; because they are so fervent against playing on new maps, yet considering that when GSL does release a new map, they all basically start playing it no questions asked.

v0rtex

123 Posts

November 15 2011 05:37 GMT

#205

Although utilizing new maps will improve the replay value of Starcraft II as a spectator sport. I definitely think that tournaments must adopt a standard map pool like the article states. And wow please remove steppes of war... its way too small to have a proper macro game.

dogabutila

United States1438 Posts

November 15 2011 05:41 GMT

#206

I'm just reading the comments on the first page and shaking my head at how some people can wonder how certain maps are imbalanced.

Play random for a bit and stop being so ethnocentric guys. It opens your eyes up a lot.

puzzl

United States263 Posts

November 15 2011 05:52 GMT

#207

Steppes would be almost perfectly balanced if they simply added some high ground shrubbery outside of the naturals to prevent low-ground siege. Complain all you want about the small size but the numbers don't lie.

As for Metalopolis, it's ridiculous how many people claim it is so much better now when in reality the win distribution has simply swung in the other direction. It is slightly better but it's sure not perfect; people just like it better because Terran isn't winning on it anymore. If you take general average win-rates as a target rather than 50/50, Metalopolis was actually more balanced before than it is now.

Jragon

Australia1471 Posts

November 15 2011 06:00 GMT

#208

This article needs more Bisu.

But seriously, good job, although I agree SC2 is not at the point where the inherent advantages of each race's traits can be balanced by maps. Discussion of the 11-12 PL maps for those interested (minus images at the moment lol).

Chaosvuistje

Netherlands2581 Posts

November 15 2011 06:03 GMT

#209

I'm voting for a reimplementation of Incineration Zone, that map was the apitomy of perfect imbalance. Oh glorious beta days...

Edit: If they really want the custom map platform to get going they might want to get a Bo3 system that allows you to gain a different kind of points other than ladder. Bo1's are great for ladder and stuff but if I really want to gauge the skill of a player I want to play atleast a Bo3, and many of the ladder players out there really only play for points and rank.

FinestHour

United States18466 Posts

November 15 2011 06:37 GMT

#210

LOL jungle basin pic

ggsnipes

Australia68 Posts

November 15 2011 06:37 GMT

#211

On November 15 2011 07:04 Xxio wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +

hahahahahah this made me laugh

edit: forgot other pic

TheRealNanMan

United States1471 Posts

November 15 2011 06:57 GMT

#212

Such an awesome article! I'm excited to see what maps GSL and MLG can come up with for the map pool!

blacktar

United States49 Posts

November 15 2011 07:14 GMT

#213

couldnt agree more, great article

Sufinsil

United States760 Posts

November 15 2011 07:34 GMT

#214

Tried Fighting Spirit in SC2, does not work that well. Some BW maps won't work in SC2.

Erufailon

Greece1 Post

November 15 2011 07:55 GMT

#215

I would really liked to see a unified set of maps for tournaments around the world like GSL, MLG, TSL etc. I think maps play a very big role in "game balance". It's not the units that are OP but the way we use them, if you take that away with great maps we will see really great matches in the upcoming tourneys.

ReaperX

Hong Kong1758 Posts

November 15 2011 07:56 GMT

#216

Good Read... lol @ Jungle Basin... Oh the bad memories

WR4TH

United States72 Posts

November 15 2011 08:29 GMT

#217

Great Read. I really enjoy watching games on new maps. Such as the ones recently implemented into the GSL. The game play is usually fresh with the opportunity for ever so slight but incredibly game changing mistakes such as the Muta blunder made by Losira against SC.

Lambertus

South Africa988 Posts

November 15 2011 08:48 GMT

#218

Good Read! Thx for the Article. And Fighting Spirit...man, that map...