MotM April - Submissions - Page 2

There's a ton of work being done from the mapping community to make viewing better, and I'm not informed enough to go into all that. But there are two major things that I know we can do that most aren't yet.

1) Use visual asymmetry.
Despite the maps flaws, Dual Sight really gave you a sense of location: you knew instantly on the map where you were looking. I know we've mostly taken a play out of Blizzard's map making playbook and made our bases look very similar, but I think it's time to develop beyond that. Metropolis has distinct patterns and light vs dark textures in its main bases to make it easier for the viewer to recognize where we're looking when the camera changes. And no one can think of a reason this shouldn't be standard.

In Dual Sight it was obvious, in Metropolis it was subtle, but map makers, make areas of your map distinct so we can tell in an instant where we're looking.

Visual asymtry is the next level of map making for SC2 as a spectator sport.

2) Have a story shown in your map.
You'll also notice that Dual Sight has given a story to many a cast. It's theme is a story piece for casters, and this enhances the broadcast. How often can you do good-vs-evil themes? Not often before it gets old, but there are plenty of other ways you can help tournaments tell a story.

a) In a city theme, have one side bombed out and run down, maybe even some fire in the main base there, while the other is pristine with shrubbery. Casters will love to play with that.

b) In a jungle theme, have sparse brown grass on one side, even some cracked brown dirt, with a transition to lush jungle near the water.

c) In another jungle theme, have one side an overrun research facility in the process of being reclaimed by the jungle, with the other side the "deeps" of the jungle.

d) In a desert theme, have the terrain defined on one side with abandoned mining operations equipment, and the other dried out bones and pits of tar (still symetrical, but visually different).

e) In space, have one side of the place a planetarium, while the other looks like the platform was in mid construction and lacking greenery.

f) In a cave, have one side the caved in "exit" of the cave with beams of light, and the far size a transion to lava soaked ancient artifacts.

Any way you can make a contrast is going to bring the viewing experience for your map to the next level.