EPT![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/alffla/BetaKeyBanner.jpg)
What can I say? It's finally time. When does the beta start? Don't know yet, but what I do know is that we have got 20 beta keys to give away
! First up we have the...
Starcraft Cake Contest!
Get your bake (cake?) on with the TL Starcraft 2 Beta Key Bake Off!
When?
Update: Changed ending date slightly to allow North American users to use their weekend fully.
In order to allow North American users to use the most of their weekend possible, we'll end it at June 15th 18:00 KST (June 15th, 11:00 CET // June 15th, 5:00 EST // June 15th, 2:00 PST).
How?
Simple, make a Starcraft themed pastry! From a diorama of marines jumping lurker spines to a Carrier-cake, anything (edible) goes.
Prizes:
The top 3 entries (to be determined by the TL staff) will each receive two (2) beta keys for the upcoming SC2 beta! Afterall, playing with a friend is way more fun than playing alone.
Eligibility:
The contest is open to everyone*. You can enter as many times as you like, but each participant can only win once (1 prize = 2 keys). If you entered in the original "unofficial" cake contest a month ago, you may submit those entries again but your previous votes will not count towards this.
Note that we will require pictures of the cake making process (at least a couple) including at least 1 where you demonstrate authenticity . A picture of you spreading icing with a "Hi TL! - Love FA" on a sheet of paper would be just fine.
Sign-Up:
Update: Post your cake HERE, then follow the old steps. It's gonna make it a toooon easier for me to add the cake pictures to the thread
Send a PM, declaring your participation as well as a link to your contest submission. In addition, please provide the name (and if applicable, TL.net ID) of the person you wish to give your 2nd key to, should you win.
+ Show Spoiler [Sample Registration] +
Name: Jonathan Walsh
TL ID: FrozenArbiter
E-mail: E-Mail - 123@123
Link to submission: http://www.notreallyalink
I will give my 2nd beta-key to... ... SoMuchBetter
The title of your PM should include a [CAKE] tag, as well as your ID.
Disclaimer:
The selling of beta-keys is strictly prohibited.
Should you be caught trying to sell your key, you will be permanently banned and the key disabled.
Guide Contest
Got ZvT on Destination down to an art form? Have the perfect travellers plan for the SC loving tourist in Seoul? Tell the rest of TL all about it, and be eligible for a SC2 beta key!
When?
Update: Changed ending date slightly to allow North American users to use their weekend fully.
In order to allow North American users to use the most of their weekend possible, we'll end it at June 15th 18:00 KST (June 15th, 11:00 CET // June 15th, 5:00 EST // June 15th, 2:00 PST).
How?
Write a guide, on any subject, post it on TL and PM, declaring your participation in the contest. Mark the title with [Guide].
For more thorough instructions on what to include in the PM, see the Sign-Up later on in this post.
The guide can be about more or less anything, whether it’s about Starcraft or something completely unrelated (backpacking in Europe, preparing the perfect dessert or securing your system against spyware).
So what are we looking for?
Any guide/tutorial really, but here's a few examples:
Elric on teaching in Korea
Elric on watching SC in Korea
Chef on Peach-cakes
RaGe on Mogulus
Basically, as long as what you've written is informative, you're in with a shot.
Prizes:
The top 3 entries (to be determined by the TL staff) will each receive two beta keys for the upcoming SC2 beta.
Eligibility:
The contest is open to everyone*. You can enter as many times as you like, but each participant can only win once (1 prize = 2 keys).
You may NOT enter anything that was posted before the announcement of this contest. If you had something written earlier but had not posted it yet, you may enter it.
Sign-Up:
Send a PM, declaring your participation as well as a link to your contest submission. In addition, please provide the name (and if applicable, TL.net ID) of the person you wish to give your 2nd key to, should you win.
+ Show Spoiler [Sample Registration] +
Name: Jonathan Walsh
TL ID: FrozenArbiter
E-mail: E-Mail - 123@123
Link to submission: http://www.notreallyalink
I will give my 2nd beta-key to... ... SoMuchBetter
The title of your PM should include a [GUIDE] tag, as well as your TL ID.
Disclaimer:
The selling of beta-keys is strictly prohibited.
Should you be caught trying to sell your key, you will be permanently banned and the key disabled.
Starcraft Ironman
Want a shot at a beta key but find your cooking lacking? Writing not your forte? Fear not, the Starcraft Ironman is here; prove your Starcraft know-how in a 5 discipline SC tournament!
When?
There will be four tournaments spread out over 1 week as follows:
PLEASE NOTE: We are required to push the tourny dates back a bit. We will update when we have solid dates. Welcome to esports - love kennigit.
Tour Dates - TBD
NOTE: You are only allowed to sign up for one (1) tournament!
Where?
On ICCUP.
How?
Throughout the next week we will be running four 64-man tournaments, each culminating in a FFA final broadcast right here on Teamliquid!
The structure and details are as follows:
Prizes:
The winner of each tournament will get TWO Starcraft II Beta Keys, for a grand total of 8 keys to be given away in this way.
Maps
Ro64 - Neo Abattoir - Random Team 4v4
+ Show Spoiler [Map Information] +
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Chill/8Neo_Abattoirscx.jpg)
A 64x64 version of the map Abattoir (aptly named Neo Abattoir), created specifically for this tournament. Blood Bath on crack.
Some notes about the map:
- Placing a building in the colored choke is a perfect wall with units spawning on the safe side.
- Every base has one mineral patch that is exposed to another base. This mineral is separate so that good players can redirect workers away from cannons / sunkens / etc.
- The terrain in between bases is high ground. This means you will need something to grant vision if you want to cannon your opponent's mineral patch.
Players will be randomly teamed up and square off in a 4v4.
Game Mode: Top vs Bottom
Ro32 - Coulee - Random Team Capture The Flag
+ Show Spoiler [Map Information] +
![[image loading]](/staff/FrozenArbiter/SC2BetaKeyTour/2Couleen.jpg)
For Round 2 we have both an unusual gametype as well as an unusual map. Created by TL member Mora, aka Teroru, back in 2005, it was used for that years Blizzcon Invitational.
Team Capture the Flag is a sadly under-played game mode which functions like a regular Team Melee game (that is, several players control one player), but with the added twist of a flag..
Capturing the opposing teams flag will result in a win, just as if you had eliminated them.
Game Mode: Team Capture the Flag
Note:Each team will have to pick 1 of each race - that is P T R Z. Which one is your main race (which determines what building you start with) is up to each team to decide.
Ro16 - Random Micro Arena
+ Show Spoiler [Map Information] +
Random Micro Arena is a team based UMS, more similiar to Tournament Control than - as the name would suggest - the more traditional Team Micro Arena.
Players are given a random set of units every round (activated by morphing your high templars), and do battle vs the opposing team. Only one player is active at any given time, but once per round (of which there are 8), you may elect to "tag" in one of your team mates.
Should you not tag, your team mate will replace you once you die - until there's only one player left standing, winning the round.
Game Mode: Use Map Settings
Ro8 - 2c2p v 2c2p - Sin City
+ Show Spoiler [Map Information] +
![[image loading]](/staff/FrozenArbiter/SC2BetaKeyTour/8Sin_CityNscx.jpg)
Sin City is an interesting but fairly standard map, so let's jump right to the game-type: 2c2p v 2c2p.
You may be asking yourself just what the hell this is, and I don't blame you. Not many people regularly play 4v4s with computer allies
Teams of 2 players and 2 computers will face off against eachother, with the winners advancing to the FFA finals.
Important Note:
Players are NOT allowed to abuse the computer A.I by attacking one of their workers or buildings with their scouting peon (causes all A.I workers to chase said peon). If you should happen to do so by accident, you MUST leave your peon to its fate, unless it is your last peon.
Secondly, while players are free to set their own race, as well as that of their computer allies, you cannot have more than 2 of each race on a team. PPTT is fine, PPPT is not. PTZZ, also fine etc.
Game Mode: Top vs Bottom
Ro4 - Mystique/Unreality - FFA
+ Show Spoiler [Map Information] +
![[image loading]](/staff/FrozenArbiter/SC2BetaKeyTour/4FMyst.jpg)
![[image loading]](/staff/FrozenArbiter/SC2BetaKeyTour/4FUnreal.jpg)
Having made it this far, it's time for some regular FFA.. on a couple of mind-twistingly beautiful maps.
Both maps are made by Freakling from http://www.broodwarmaps.net , and not surprisingly they both won Map of the Month awards. If you want to leave him a comment on the maps you can do so here:
Mystique
Unreality
Mystique will be the FFA map for Tour 1 and Tour 4.
Unreality will be the FFA map for Tour 2 and Tour 3.
The winning player will recieve 2 beta keys, one for him-or herself, and one for a person of their choosing.
Players should use the Observer version of the maps (O), and one referee will be present as an observer.
Game Mode: Use Map Settings
Download Maps
Replays
Replays must be saved for all games, and sent in after each round to betacontest@gmail.com
For game modes where replays cannot be saved, please take a screenshot of the score screen and send it to the same address.
Bugs
The following bugs are legal for use in games:
+ Show Spoiler +
- Observer over turret
- Units pressed through
- Drops to defuse mines
- Mineral walk
- Hold lurker
- Larvae Move
The following bugs are illegal for use in games:
+ Show Spoiler +
- Cargo glitch
- Flying drones and templars
- Terran sliding buildings
- A bug which allows your units to remain stacked while moving/attacking
- Team modifications (Allied mines, Unallied mines, etc.)
- Sieging a Tank inside of a landed Terran Building
2c2p v 2c2p specific:
Players are NOT allowed to abuse the computer A.I by attacking one of their workers with their scouting peon (causes all A.I workers to chase said peon). If you should happen to do so by accident, you MUST leave your peon to its fate, unless it is your last peon.
Using an illegal bug will result in an instant forfeit of the game in which the bug use occurred.
Eligibility:
The contest is open to everyone with a TL account created prior to June 1st 2009, with the exception of players residing in China. Due to lag issues
we regrettably cannot allow anyone currently residing in China to participate. If you are a Chinese citizen but currently living outside of China you are of course free to enter.
Sign-Up:
Send a PM, with the following info:
Name:
TL ID:
ICCUP ID:
E-mail:
2nd beta key goes to..: (Insert name, contact info and TL ID, if applicable, of the person you wish to give your 2nd key to, should you win)
Update: New dates will be announced as soon as we have them, in the meanwhile, you can ignore this part
In addition, please mark down the tournaments you'd wish to attend in order of preference (1-4, with 1 being "most prefered"). If you can't make all of the tournaments simply mark down N/A for the ones you cannot.
+ Show Spoiler [Example] +
Tour 1: 1
Tour 2: N/A
Tour 3: 2
Tour 4: 3
Note that you will only actually play in ONE of these tournaments.
Reserves:
To prevent no-shows ruining the tournament, feel free to show up even if you didn't make it into the bracket.
Disclaimer:
The selling of beta-keys is strictly prohibited.
Should you be caught trying to sell your key, you will be permanently banned and the key disabled.
Total participants: 256
* Teamliquid reserves the right to deny registration at our discretion - known abusers/cheaters need not apply.
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So there you have it, a total of 20 beta-keys are up for grabs in the contests (6 cake-keys, 6 guide-keys, and 8 tournament keys). Best of luck to everyone participating!]
![[image loading]](http://www.gogreenstarfish.com/zen/images/P001_-_6_inch_ridged_plate.jpg)
