Mapcraft: State of the Terrain is an educational map show hosted by Josh "prodiG" Folland and Jacqueline "Versailles" Geller. On MapCraft, prodiG will teach Versailles all aspects of competitive map creation from learning the basics of the Galaxy Editor to beta testing the map. The hosts will also interact with the viewers by taking questions, feedback and more throughout the show as well as periodically bring on guests to discuss any map-related topic.
Show will be streamed on ESV TV - Click here to go to ESV TV!
Josh "prodiG" Folland is a well known, top-tier SC2 map maker. As a part of the eSports Vision TV map making team, he has a complex understanding of what is needed to make effective maps designed for the highest level of play. prodiG is also one of the commentators for the ESV TV Korean Weekly which features maps from the ESV TV map pool and each month, the winner of the Korean Weekly's Monthly Final event receives a GSL Code A spot for the upcoming season and a cash prize. prodiG has been creating melee maps for SC2 since the Galaxy Editor was first released in Beta phase one around March 2010. His first map was Fighting Spirit, a port of the most professionally-played and televised map from SCBW. Since Fighting Spirit, prodiG has created over three dozen original SC2 map designs. Offline, prodiG is a marketing student in his first year of studies and a very active member in the local gaming community, covering events and producing content for EdmontonGamers.
Follow prodiG on Twitter @prodiGsc.
Jacqueline "Versailles" Geller is an active SC2 community member. As a writer for the NVIDIA GeForce Pro/Am SC2 Tournament, compLexity Gaming, the NASL and the Apprentice Star League, she is well-versed in both community on-goings and the game itself. She started playing SC2 during the Beta but did not become active in competitive gaming until early 2011. Her first step into eSports was into the role of Art Director for the Handsome Nerd, and since then, she has continued to increase her involvement. The personal gaming blog she started in March 2010 gave her a portfolio to start getting SC2 writing jobs, the first of which was a Division 1 coverage writer for the first season of NASL. Versaillesit's is an advocate for both local and independent eSports initiatives. The vibrant SC2 community in her city is a big part of her life, and she thinks local initiatives are the key to growing eSports.
Follow Versailles on Twitter @jacquelinesg.
Both prodiG and Versailles are sick nerd ballers living in Edmonton, AB, Canada. They enjoy spending their free time at OverKlocked Gaming, a stunning gaming centre located in the heart of downtown and the filming location for MCSotT.
Maps are in integral part of the Starcraft game. New maps keep the game fresh and encourage the meta game to constantly evolve. In SCBW, tournament map pools stopped including Blizzard maps shortly after the first year of release. The landscape of the map scene is extraordinarily different in SC2. Major tournaments such as the North American Star League continue to use Blizzard ladder maps instead of community created maps, preferring the comfort of the outdated Metalopolis over the excitement of balanced Sungsu Crossing AE.
Maps are an important but rarely discussed part of the game itself, and the hosts hope that this show will encourage more map discussion within the SC2 community. With any luck, Metalopolis will be removed from major tournament map pools and the show will be deemed a success. The removal of Metalopolis and other ancient, garbage maps will allow prodiG to die happy, knowing he made a difference within the community and the SC2 meta game. Versailles hopes to master the dark art of map making and become both a map snob and the
The show will air primarily on Sunday afternoon with Thursday evenings as a backup. This thread as well as the TL calendar will show our start times. Each episode aims to be approximately two hours long (somtetimes less, sometimes more - we'll continue until we reach a good checkpoint to wrap the show up on)
MapCraft: State of the Terrain Episode 6 will be aired live on Sunday, Nov 13 11:15pm GMT (GMT+00:00) on ESV.TV!
After a HYPE weekend at Canada Cup, prodiG and Versailles are returning this weekend with another episode of MapCraft: State of the Terrain. On this episode, Versailles will continue to work on texturing of her map while prodiG and IronManSC from TPW discuss the results of the TL Map Contest and the IPL Map Contest.
+ Show Spoiler [Episode Five] +
MapCraft: State of the Terrain Episode 5 will be aired live on Sunday, Oct 30 8:30am GMT (GMT+00:00) on ESV.TV!
Comrades, we have failed!
Metalopolis has been added to the Season 4 map pool.
This weekend's episode will be busy! As I continue to work on my fire and ice map's terrain texture, prodiG and I will be discussing the recent SC2 map news: the HotS map mod changes and the Season 4 map pool. While I'm thrilled for the HotS map editor changes (custom doodads, what what!?), the new map pool makes me sad. Oh Blizzard: why must you toy with my emotions? Be prepared with your comments and questions as viewer interaction is welcomed and appreciated!
+ Show Spoiler [Episode Four] +
MapCraft: State of the Terrain Episode 4 will be aired live on Sunday, Oct 23 6:30pm GMT (GMT+00:00) on ESV.TV!
In episode 4, prodiG will be flying solo as Versailles is in Anaheim for Blizzcon (jelly). prodiG will analyze the changes that went into the latest version of his map, ESV Ithaca which is used in the Korean Weekly tournament and after special guest iGrok from Map of the Month will be joining him to discuss MotM itself, the judging process and more.
In episode 4, prodiG will be flying solo as Versailles is in Anaheim for Blizzcon (jelly). prodiG will analyze the changes that went into the latest version of his map, ESV Ithaca which is used in the Korean Weekly tournament and after special guest iGrok from Map of the Month will be joining him to discuss MotM itself, the judging process and more.
+ Show Spoiler [Episode Three] +
MapCraft: State of the Terrain Episode 3 will be aired live on Sunday, Oct 16 6:30pm GMT (GMT+00:00) on ESV.TV!
Pick a map, and take a close look at it. You'll notice there's a significant amount of attention that has been paid to the map's texture. This episode will continue with the finer details of map texture as I attempt to make the terrain look realistic. Questions, as always, are welcome!
It will be live during MLG Orlando, but we are doing our best to have an episode each Sunday. The VOD will be available on ESV.TV, and prodiG is working on making the episodes available on Blip or YouTube.
Pick a map, and take a close look at it. You'll notice there's a significant amount of attention that has been paid to the map's texture. This episode will continue with the finer details of map texture as I attempt to make the terrain look realistic. Questions, as always, are welcome!
It will be live during MLG Orlando, but we are doing our best to have an episode each Sunday. The VOD will be available on ESV.TV, and prodiG is working on making the episodes available on Blip or YouTube.
+ Show Spoiler [Episode Two] +
MapCraft: State of the Terrain Episode 2 will be aired live on Sunday, Oct 09 9:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00) on ESV.TV!
Episode two: Design updates based on feedback and an introduction to executing aesthetic concepts
+ Show Spoiler [Episode One] +
Our first show is on Sunday, Oct 02 6:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00) and will be aired on ESV.TV
Episode One: Concept analysis, Introduction to the editor and creating a rough draft of the terrain
To contact the hosts, follow them on Twitter @prodiGsc and @jacquelinesg. One of the focuses of the show is viewer interation, so we'll do our best to reply!
Big thanks to OverKlocked Gaming & Computers for being so accomodating to us and allowing us to stream the show from their venue and to ESV.TV for the support!