EPTIn cooperation with Red Bull, we are delighted to bring you the Red Bull TeamLiquid Map Contest (TLMC). This is TeamLiquid's third map contest, and this time around the stakes are slightly different. We welcome mapmakers around the world to submit their maps for a chance to win the following prizes:
As per TeamLiquid Map Contest tradition, we will also be holding an open tournament using the very best maps submitted to the competition. This tournament will allow the community to see the maps in action so that they can cast an informed vote to determine the winner. The map test tournament will be held over November 2nd-3rd. The full details of this tournament will be revealed soon.
We're very happy to be able to work with Red Bull to bring this opportunity to mapmakers everywhere. Fostering the creation of new maps and supporting mapmakers has always been something TeamLiquid has considered very important.
Maps are the lifeblood of RTS games. Where MOBA games get new heroes, RTS games get new maps. Maps provide much needed changes in balance, gameplay, strategy, and entertainment that keep the game fresh. Coming from a Brood War background where mapmaking was a much more integral part of progaming, it has been very disappointing to see it neglected in StarCraft 2.
To fully appreciate what Red Bull is doing, you have to understand how poorly the industry has rewarded quality mapmaking. While we believe the primary support for a professional mapmaking scene is something that should come from the developers themselves, the rest of the industry should have intervened to help out mapmakers a long time ago.
What Red Bull is doing together with TLMC is going far beyond what any organization has done for mapmakers so far. They realize where the scene is hurting, and are actively trying to solve the problem simply because they believe it is the right thing to do. They are the first organization who came to us asking what they could do to help, and willing to provide this unprecedented level of support.
When Red Bull came to us with ideas to support the mapmaking scene, it didn't take long for us to figure out it was the right time to hold another TLMC. For mapmakers to be recognized as an integral part of esports and be flown to a tournament is an amazing development. We hope this will inspire other organizations to provide more support and opportunities for the people who are so vital to the scene.
- The winning map will be used as an official map at the upcoming Red Bull Battle Grounds.
- The winning mapmaker will win a fully paid trip to Red Bull Battle Grounds and get to meet all of the players and casters.
- A $1,000 prize pool will be split between the top four map makers.
As per TeamLiquid Map Contest tradition, we will also be holding an open tournament using the very best maps submitted to the competition. This tournament will allow the community to see the maps in action so that they can cast an informed vote to determine the winner. The map test tournament will be held over November 2nd-3rd. The full details of this tournament will be revealed soon.
We're very happy to be able to work with Red Bull to bring this opportunity to mapmakers everywhere. Fostering the creation of new maps and supporting mapmakers has always been something TeamLiquid has considered very important.Maps are the lifeblood of RTS games. Where MOBA games get new heroes, RTS games get new maps. Maps provide much needed changes in balance, gameplay, strategy, and entertainment that keep the game fresh. Coming from a Brood War background where mapmaking was a much more integral part of progaming, it has been very disappointing to see it neglected in StarCraft 2.
To fully appreciate what Red Bull is doing, you have to understand how poorly the industry has rewarded quality mapmaking. While we believe the primary support for a professional mapmaking scene is something that should come from the developers themselves, the rest of the industry should have intervened to help out mapmakers a long time ago.
What Red Bull is doing together with TLMC is going far beyond what any organization has done for mapmakers so far. They realize where the scene is hurting, and are actively trying to solve the problem simply because they believe it is the right thing to do. They are the first organization who came to us asking what they could do to help, and willing to provide this unprecedented level of support.
When Red Bull came to us with ideas to support the mapmaking scene, it didn't take long for us to figure out it was the right time to hold another TLMC. For mapmakers to be recognized as an integral part of esports and be flown to a tournament is an amazing development. We hope this will inspire other organizations to provide more support and opportunities for the people who are so vital to the scene.
How to Enter
Please PM your map(s) files to Red Bull TLMC with the following format before Thursday, Oct 31 6:59am GMT (GMT+00:00):
Map Name:
[img]A picture of your map[/img]
Main to Main distance: (in game seconds using a worker from town hall to town hall)
Natural to Natural distance: (in game seconds using a worker from town hall to town hall)
[img]Any relevant analyzer images (optional)[/img]
[url=]Your maps download link[/url]
Entries not in this format may be excluded from consideration. Please do not send questions to the 'Red Bull TLMC' account; contact TLMC organizer Plexa instead.
Submission Rules
Each edition of the TeamLiquid Map Contest has seen a high number of submissions, and we don't expect that to be any different this season. As such, we are restricting the number of entries per mapmaker to two. With slightly less preparation time than previous seasons, we feel that allowing two submissions gives mapmaker enough flexibility to submit two high quality, polished entries.
Any maps which are selected/considered for the final shortlists will be checked for bugs and/or unintended behavior. This first round of quality checks is to ensure that, if selected, maps are able to be integrated into the Red Bull Battle Grounds map pool without causing problems for the players.
The official rules for this contest can be found here: Red Bull TLMC Official Rules.
Mapmakers will have until Thursday, Oct 31 6:59am GMT (GMT+00:00): to submit their maps.
We realise that the submission time is more limited than previous seasons. But in order to have everything line up in time for Red Bull Battle Grounds we unfortunately cannot push the submission date back any further (you can find a timeline of major events leading up to Red Bull Battle Grounds at the bottom of this post). When it was clear there would be some unavoidable delays in announcing the Red Bull TLMC, we set out to spread the word that a third TLMC was on the way through the map making community. While it's impossible to reach out to every mapper without a big announcement like this, we hope that we were able to inform all the mappers who submitted in TLMC2.
- Unlike previous TLMCs, this contest will have no restrictions on the maps submitted. Since the maps will be used in Red Bull Battle Grounds, we expect that entries will be progaming appropriate.
- You are welcome to use custom textures, but they shouldn't detract from the clarity of the map.
- Maps which encourage the meta-game to develop in interesting ways will most likely score well.
- Entries are not limited to non-Koreans, Korean mapmakers are welcome to submit entries.
- Maps which have already been used in premier competition are not eligible for submission. If you are unsure, check with Plexa.
- Don't steal other peoples work and try to claim it as your own, although this should go without saying!
- 7 maps will be selected as finalists for the contest.
Any maps which are selected/considered for the final shortlists will be checked for bugs and/or unintended behavior. This first round of quality checks is to ensure that, if selected, maps are able to be integrated into the Red Bull Battle Grounds map pool without causing problems for the players.
The official rules for this contest can be found here: Red Bull TLMC Official Rules.
Mapmakers will have until Thursday, Oct 31 6:59am GMT (GMT+00:00): to submit their maps.
We realise that the submission time is more limited than previous seasons. But in order to have everything line up in time for Red Bull Battle Grounds we unfortunately cannot push the submission date back any further (you can find a timeline of major events leading up to Red Bull Battle Grounds at the bottom of this post). When it was clear there would be some unavoidable delays in announcing the Red Bull TLMC, we set out to spread the word that a third TLMC was on the way through the map making community. While it's impossible to reach out to every mapper without a big announcement like this, we hope that we were able to inform all the mappers who submitted in TLMC2.
Judging
Once the maps have been submitted they will be checked over for quality and the remaining maps will be passed to a panel of judges. The panel will be made up of relevant members of the community; coming from areas such as the TeamLiquid staff, prominent mappers who have not submitted, progamers and personalities within the scene. They will rank their favorite maps and from those rankings we will choose 7 finalists. These finalists will be chosen by November 1st.
These maps will be put to the test in a single elimination tournament on November 2nd-3rd. The details for that tournament will be revealed at a later date. Once the tournament has concluded the you will be invited to vote for your favorite map. You'll have until November 10 to cast your vote.
These maps will be put to the test in a single elimination tournament on November 2nd-3rd. The details for that tournament will be revealed at a later date. Once the tournament has concluded the you will be invited to vote for your favorite map. You'll have until November 10 to cast your vote.
Prizes
Red Bull have generously provided the largest prize pool the map making community has seen. Not only is there a $1000 prize pool up for grabs, but the winner will be flown to Red Bull Battle Grounds to be there as their map is played by some of the best progamers in the world. The prize breakdown is as follows:
| First Place: | • $400 | |
| • Map used in Red Bull Battle Grounds | ||
| • Trip to Red Bull Battle Grounds | ||
| Second Place: | • $300 | |
| Third Place: | • $200 | |
| Fourth Place: | • $100 |
Red Bull Battle Grounds
Eight of the worlds best progamers will converge upon the historic Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City over the weekend of the 23rd-24th November to do battle for $50,000 in prizes and the title of champion.
SK_MC, 
ST_Bomber, 
ST_Golden and Liquid`Snute make up the first four players qualified for the event. More details about the event can be found here.Tickets for Red Bull Battle Grounds New York are on sale.
Timeline
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/shiroiusagi/tlmc/timeline3.jpg)
