EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/oWyXC.jpg)
Graphics by Lefix
February has come and so does a new competition of Map of the Month. While the January tournament will be casted this thursday and friday (2nd/3rd of February), you can already submit your 2 map submissions for the new contest. You can find all the information in the thread located in the general section: MotM/ESL January, Intel and IEM Sponsor!.
Of course you can also post your submissions in this thread for discussion, just be sure to send the emails and post in the other thread. Submission will close on the 10th. Final adjustments can still be made if your map reaches the top5. Also a hint for the people who are trying to decide wether to submit a new map or one they already sent in last month, if you didn't make top5 last month (which is a necessity to submit anyway) it is very unlikely that it'll make it this month.
But now to some unfinished January business..
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/O38MY.jpg)
Yes yes, it's time for the monthly awarding for outstanding achievement in mapmaking, or various other things that are noteworthy. This month I decided to give out awards to 5 different people from 5 different categories. Please enjoy and don't get mad if you didn't make it this time, there are still many more to come. Also please read the footnote on the bottom before you go bonkers.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Fd9Uj.jpg)
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Back to Back by chuky500
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/IpcAw.jpg)
Does this map look familiar to you? Yes? Do you wonder why? Well let me tell you about that. The reason you've stumbeled upon this work is probably because we've seen it in every single map contest in the last 3 or 4 months. MotM - check! TL MC - check! IPLwhateverthatwas - check (I think?)! And again, we had the pleasure to judge this map once again. And once again it didn't make it.
I've actually investigated this matter and found out that Back to Back is one of two maps that our winner - chuky500 - has created. I don't know however if he never made any other maps, or just chose to not publish anything anymore. It definitly shows that he is very confident in his work and that he believes that this one map can make it big in the future. We from MotM are very excited to possibly being able to judging it in the future again, maybe after some minor tweaks.
Congratulations and good luck in the future.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/pK9lH.png)
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Aquamarine by ArcticRaven
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/GVYbH.jpg)
Now would you look at this map? Yes, you are correct. This map has everything that is right about Starcraft 2 maps. Pathable water, Protoss Decals, .. exactly. Everything. I looked at the overview for 2 seconds and I knew, this map is something special. This map will go places. This map will definitly win the whole competition. Unfortunatly I was the only judge seeing this. Probably because it wasn't an island themed map.
But seriously, who cares about strategies, gameplay or racial balance when you can walk.. IN THE WATER? ARE YOU SERIOUS? And look at all the shiny things that are painted around the map. This is not just a map. It's a celebration, no, a wedding of beauty and fabulousness. I really hope we'll see more maps like this in the future. The community needs more optical treats like this. For everyone wondering, the count of Protoss Decals is actually 280, which is not nearly enough if you ask me.
Congratulations and please keep delivering.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Wcwz2.jpg)
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Blockbuster by HypertonicHydroponic
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/4Vf3N.jpg)
What is the problem on Tal'Darim Altar? Yes, the flat mainchoke. What is the problem on *other-map-with-flat-mainchokc*? Exactly, the flat mainchoke. As you can see here, there are still people out there, trying to fix this issue. On of them is this particular award winner. His solution is to just have a ramp going down, and one going right back up, which is definitly one of the more interesting solutions. I'm not saying that it is perfect, since it also has it's issues. However it was certainly worth a try and maybe we'll even see this being refined in the future.
I think in these times where most mapmakers just use the features that are known to work out, and there is hardly any innovation in tournament maps, it's very brave to try out such unproven concepts and try to bring new things into this game. In my opinion, more people out there should be willing to spend some time to resolve some of the big issues right now, like Circle Syndrome™, Fortress Syndrome™ or F.L.A.S.H. .. wait, what was that again?
Anyhow, congratulations to this award and keep reaching for the stars. For Science!!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/RICnE.jpg)
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ESV Edge of Oblivion & ESV Deception by prodiG
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/SjBpZ.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/wCuAn.jpg)
Everyone who's reading this should be familiar with the name "prodiG". He goes by a great many nicknames, which I won't name a single one. He was once considered the most sucessful mapmaker outside of Korea. You could even call him the Idra of mapmaking. Well I guess you can still do that now. We also know how important base entrances are for him, at the least since he himself created the dubious "Multiple Penetration Award". And now he's trying to give back to the community by popularizing backdoors into competitive maps.
At this point I'd like to mention that at least one of the 2 maps was very, very close to the top5. Even with backdoor entrances! And why? Because those backdoors aren't completely stupid like the ones on Blizzard maps (and no, Crossfire is not legitimately a Blizzard map!). His backdoors are actually really smart. In fact, they are combined with the layout in a way, that lets you expand through them and take a completely different, but still viable expanding patter, to which I can only take off my hat. Well done sir, once again you showed us that you're not quite ready to rest on your many laurels, but are still able to bring some neat innovation into the mapmaking scene.
Congratulations to your award and we're all looking forward to your next entries.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Li3Ym.jpg)
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Oumanville by Superouman
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/lsMxh.jpg)
Get it? Oumanville as in Superouman! Haha isn't that a blast?? But seriously, I don't know what this is all about. Is this guy a fan of Sims or something and wanted to create his own compfy little village for himself and his units? I mean I'm sure you haven't heard of that guy as never as myself. I've searched this whole forum and haven't found a single mapthread, aside from the Oumanville one. It's (obvious from that map) some complete mapmaking newb, calling his first map after himself. How lame is that? And the map is just terrible anyway. Why even send it to a high profile competition, such as Map of the Month?
No seriously, this is just pathetic. He's acting as if he made the first map to be played internationally or something. Ridiculous. I'm sure I speak for all the judges if I say that he should probably just stop making maps, because this is gonna go nowhere, I can definitly say that with all certainty. Maybe if he'd emulate something from the other mapmakers that actually made it into this months top5, like Grebliv, Ragoo, Neobowman, Lefix and that other guy I always forget the name of. That'd maybe help in most cases, probably not in this one though. Seems like a lost cause to me.
Nevertheless I congratulate you to this fine award and wish you all the best for everything you do in the future, aside from mapmaking.
Alright, that's it for this month. Thank you for reading and please support MotM in the future. For instance you could follow us on
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/xBVkG.png)
Twitter or just watch the broadcast of our January tournament, casted by Bitterdam on ESL TV. Also don't forget to post and discuss your maps here.Footnote: Please don't take the awards too seriously, I'm not trying to attack anyone personally or make fun of any maps, this is just for entertainment purposes. I like all of you and have (almost) no personal issues with anyone.^^
No more dustin browder award tho?
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/acNdl.png)
