EPTOn September 29 2012 18:12 XenoX101 wrote:
The problem is that maps aren't able to get enough validation in this forum, all they can get is a large number of replies, which is somewhat of a validation but doesn't tell tournaments or the majority of SC2 gamers whether the map is actually good or not, only that it has led to a lot of conversation (maybe it leads to divided opinions rather than lots of support).
The solution is simple: We need a review system with ratings for each of the aspects of the map and an overall rating, and these reviews need to be divided into demographic categories that make it easy to see whether a map is good or not. The categories would be: Experienced Map makers, Pro gamers or High masters/GM players, and the Public (anyone and everyone). If a map is well-regarded across all three demographics, then it becomes much clearer to see that it is a good map. Right now you would have to read every response, inspect the names of each person, and create some very vague aggregated opinion in your head about what people think, it's too difficult and too open to interpretation.
This is why the TL Map Contest was such a success, because professionals (TL Staff, pro map makers) approved of all the finalist maps, and then the public approved of the winning maps, so tournament organizer could be confident that the maps were of good enough quality to at least try for a season within their tournament.
This is also why review aggregate websites like Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes so popular, despite their flaws they are able to give you a fairly good, professional opinion as well as a public opinion on how the product - be it a game or movie or whatever - has been received. If we can get a map equivalent of Metacritic, then tournaments would almost look silly for not trying maps that are very highly regarded. A tournament ignoring such well regarded maps across all demographics would be like a movie aficionado never watching Citizen Kane or Casablanca, or a music aficionado never listening to Bob Dylan or Pink Floyd (obviously a bit different with music becausetaste is subjective but you get the idea). So once maps have enough validation from the various demographics I am confident that tournaments will take notice.
The problem is that maps aren't able to get enough validation in this forum, all they can get is a large number of replies, which is somewhat of a validation but doesn't tell tournaments or the majority of SC2 gamers whether the map is actually good or not, only that it has led to a lot of conversation (maybe it leads to divided opinions rather than lots of support).
The solution is simple: We need a review system with ratings for each of the aspects of the map and an overall rating, and these reviews need to be divided into demographic categories that make it easy to see whether a map is good or not. The categories would be: Experienced Map makers, Pro gamers or High masters/GM players, and the Public (anyone and everyone). If a map is well-regarded across all three demographics, then it becomes much clearer to see that it is a good map. Right now you would have to read every response, inspect the names of each person, and create some very vague aggregated opinion in your head about what people think, it's too difficult and too open to interpretation.
This is why the TL Map Contest was such a success, because professionals (TL Staff, pro map makers) approved of all the finalist maps, and then the public approved of the winning maps, so tournament organizer could be confident that the maps were of good enough quality to at least try for a season within their tournament.
This is also why review aggregate websites like Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes so popular, despite their flaws they are able to give you a fairly good, professional opinion as well as a public opinion on how the product - be it a game or movie or whatever - has been received. If we can get a map equivalent of Metacritic, then tournaments would almost look silly for not trying maps that are very highly regarded. A tournament ignoring such well regarded maps across all demographics would be like a movie aficionado never watching Citizen Kane or Casablanca, or a music aficionado never listening to Bob Dylan or Pink Floyd (obviously a bit different with music becausetaste is subjective but you get the idea). So once maps have enough validation from the various demographics I am confident that tournaments will take notice.
I like this idea. In order to get people to play more, tl could give people little aesthetic rewards like the coins for editing liquipedia.
