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[G] A Case Study: Using Map Space Well

Forum Index > SC2 Maps & Custom Games
Post a Reply
dimfish
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States663 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-23 22:42:13
March 23 2011 18:28 GMT
#1
You love mapping? Me, too. And I'm always looking to get better. So let's take a quick look at the job prodiG did reformulating his cool map Enigma into Neo Enigma, focusing on how awesomely he improved his use of space.


Take a look at this before pic for a moment. Just look at the map, think about the layout and concentrate on what space you think is used well and what space is not.

Before

[image loading]

  1. The first thing that jumps out is this pretty huge empty chasm on each side of the map between mains. Empty space is not necessarily bad, but in this 4 player map it constitutes a lot of space that will only be used for drops and flyer harass.

  2. Next there is a doodad gap between the main and rocked 3rd that serves as a buffer from tanks harassing the small-ish main.

  3. Look at this chasm between the natural and 3rds. The purpose is to create some separation, zoning the 3rds into identifiable bases, and to create a choke to the natural.

  4. The center of the map has a nice lane around the perimeter, and chokes to move into the center where there is a delicious gold base. One problem is the base puts the center
    in a clinch, like Randy "The Natural" Couture.


This map is cool, has a clear concept and looks pretty good. Many mappers would have just stopped there.


But prodiG?

Not a chance. He thought about it, tested it, went down into his mapping furnace and smelted newbies and forum trolls into a new and more awesome version: Neo Enigma!

Let this be a lesson itself: don't be afraid to throw out a map file and rework the concept.

But back to the use of space, let's see what he did in Neo:

After

[image loading]

  1. That empty chasm on each side of the map? GONE! The main, natural and rocked 3rd wedge into the corner and use it up. The formerly empty space is filled with harass cliffs and a hidey-hole, all of which can still be flown over by air units and be off the main ground paths. Awesome.

  2. The doodad gap between the main and rocked 3rd is gone. The main is bigger, you can build your stuff away from that side if you're worried about tanks. A very clean solution here.

  3. There was a chasm making separation between the natural and 3rds which is gone. Instead the non-rocked 3rd has been "flipped" from the outside of the map to the inside, and much smaller harass cliff gives all the bases their shape.

  4. The lane making the perimeter of the center of the map blends into the spawn areas more tightly. The center is still an open battleground but much tighter and cleaner than before. Also the base in the center has been eliminated so there is room to move.


This is just a great case study in how you can dramatically improve a map that is already good. Good job, prodiG!


The use of space goes hand-in-hand with giving the different zones of your map meaningful proportions, which monitor has a great write up for, so check that out, too.
prodiG
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
Canada2016 Posts
March 23 2011 18:36 GMT
#2
When you asked me if you could have permission to do this I thought to myself "Well, I should probably do it myself since he might not nail all of the things I'd want to point out..."

Was I ever wrong. Nice guide, Dimfish!
ESV Mapmaking Team || http://twitter.com/prodiGsc || Real talk, I don't have time to sugar-coat it for you sir
iGrok
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States5142 Posts
March 23 2011 18:46 GMT
#3
Well done to both prodiG and dimfish.

Though you forgot to mention the huge lagfest change he also made xD
MOTM | Stim.tv | TL Mafia | Fantasy Fighting! | SNSD
prodiG
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
Canada2016 Posts
March 23 2011 19:01 GMT
#4
On March 24 2011 03:46 iGrok wrote:
Well done to both prodiG and dimfish.

Though you forgot to mention the huge lagfest change he also made xD

I don't think there are many other people who try to push the engine as far as I do
ESV Mapmaking Team || http://twitter.com/prodiGsc || Real talk, I don't have time to sugar-coat it for you sir
WniO
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2706 Posts
March 23 2011 19:02 GMT
#5
The space was refined sure but i still dont like how the center of the map is all that matters in the early game, since the 1 watchtower shows everything.
dimfish
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States663 Posts
March 23 2011 19:07 GMT
#6
On March 24 2011 04:02 WniO wrote:
The space was refined sure but i still dont like how the center of the map is all that matters in the early game, since the 1 watchtower shows everything.


Go help prodiG out and put this comment in his map thread.

This thread is about "The space was refined sure." A lot of mappers can improve by looking at this concrete example of how to take a part of a map and improve it.
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