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Starpartys Random Map Competition #3 comes to an end

10 of October 2005 08:36 AM

Posted by:Starparty

First of I will present the latest graphics:

Ok... Here we go.

The deadline for “Starparty’s Random Map Competition #3” has now ended and many more maps than expected were submitted this time, which of course is very fun. The fact that people believe that my competitions actually are worth spending time on is really flattering. The competition rules this time was to create a “superbalanced” 2 player map on desert or ice. The map also were supposed to be original, meaning that any map looking like my own (4)Arena would fail. The guidelines were quite clear to me (naturally) when I posted them, however they were interpreted quite differently, but since it brought out all kinds of different maps I felt there were no reason to explain the rules any more accurately until the competition was over. Which it is.

The rules (or at least my intentions) were:
- Dimensions were 96x128, 96 width and 128 height.
That was actually quite clear

- Allowed tilesets were Desert and Ice
That was also quite clear.

- The maps were supposed to be original and balanced.
Meaning that a map based on the generally recognized “8-8-6” concept as I just named it *cough* was not wanted this time. 8-8-6 standing for the amount of minerals in the first and second natural expansion and the term itself meaning a main base on a hill with a choke and an easy defendable expansion with a cliff. Some thought I meant that no high ground –at all- was allowed, which of course wasn’t the case. They managed to make good maps anyway though.

So here we are with a big bunch of maps, 13 actually, when this was written (my own map excluded). I’ll make a short description of every map to start with:

Golden Sunrise
This is a really beautifull map, but personally I consider it to be a little bit cramped. A big plus for the design though, but still this map does break one of the definite rules being 128x96 instead of 96x128 meaning that it is disqualified. - Kristoffer

Green Winter
This is very tight and the ramps feel very awkwardly placed. The center expansions are not equally placed for both positions and in general this map doesn’t really comply with being very balanced. I do like the green areas though, and with a bit of remodeling, this map could be really good, but that would probably also mean to burn the concept and build a new map from the ashes. - Kristoffer

Ice Macaques
I remember that this map was made by MuShu because I think it is very alike his BlizzCon submission Xeno Twisted. As I look at it I just realized that almost every gasnode is placed “incorrectly”. I don’t know if this was on purpose though. The map in general is very nice and absolutely playable, but as I said, it is very similar to Xeno Twisted. - Kristoffer

Instability
This map did try some different features, like turbo gasnodes and a very small mainbase. I have problems seeing the results of this though, and ramps made of tile do very very seldom appeal to me. But, it is a map that applies to the rules and it should definitely give some fun games. - Kristoffer

Jaculus
I like this one, I really do. Its original and it looks good. I don’t know if the neo forte block improves anything, but if it does – woho! Many ramps and cliffs with different opportunities. The only thing I miss would be a hill expansion with a ramp because they are usually just very fun to play with. - Kristoffer

Mineral Ring
Panschk’s own submission inspired me to make Tunnel Vision. This map would benefit from having 0 minerals in the side blockades since this would make them more useful. Without those extra paths the map is a little bit cramped in my opinion. - Kristoffer

Snow Job
A fast paced map which will require smart BO’s and a lot of micro. This can be both good and bad, and some playtesting is required to see the outcome of this concept. - Kristoffer

Unholy Gods
A solid map. I did react a bit to the strange design around the first natural, but other than that it looks ok. It might suffer from the hard-to-hold expansions on the sides though. - Kristoffer

Evisceration
I love the center of this map. The battlefield simply looks really fun to play on and that’s a effect that is hard to achieve. If the tight passages could be made without doodads it would be another big plus. Perhaps also make sure tanks cant reach mineral line from outside red’s base. - Kristoffer

Joy
This map lacks an area to battle it out on. Personaly id prefer the high ground decreased in the center, since most clashes will be on low ground anyway. Perhaps like a round shaped battlefield where the center ramps are would be more my style, I don’t know. - Kristoffer

Outlaw Anthem
This is “just” a good map, and would be better without the mineral blockades in my opinion. This map also has a very appealing center to fight on. - Kristoffer

Bunker 44
The most experimental map in the bunch. Will be a hard map to learn, but once that obstacle is overcome, I trust to see very cool strategies and moves on this map. - Kristoffer

Caraktus
Interesting first natural being positioned in the middle of the desert like that. A little too interesting perhaps. Personally I’d see a little bit tighter design around the first natural, but other than that it is solid, and the 3 and 9 expos look very strategically appealing. - Kristoffer

I just had to put my name everywhere. - Kristoffer

I didn’t really notice too much who made what map, and when I took all the jpeg’s home (I have i-net at school) and looked at them, I had no names to connect them with, and I think that helped me a bit in making a unbiased decision.

So what map won? Let’s see.

***

THIRD PLACE
This map qualifies for third place because of the literally interpretation of the rules it reflects. With incomprehensible potential and very many possibilities the map is a good example of what I wanted to achieve with this competition. The only drawbacks from reaching higher position are the obvious pathing problems and the difficult layout.

.:[BUNKER 44 ]:.

SECOND PLACE
Second place is taken by a desert map with a lot of potential. With several cliffs and harassing possibilities this map screams to be on the list and the detailed design doesn’t make it any worse.

-:[JACULUS]:-

FIRST PLACE
The winner of “Starparty’s Random Map Competition #3” was a map I liked from the first glance at it. It combined a few new features with a few older and with that perfect blend it created a scent of originality. Of course there still is a few things I’d like to see corrected, but those are petty details. With that beautiful battlefield and the overall great blend of terrain, strategical possibilities and originality the winner is:

-=[EVISCERATION]=-

There you have it. The SP’s RMC#3 is over and many great maps were submitted. I will start the new competition RMC#4 as soon as possible and I hope it will be as popular as this one. We saw 13(+1) great maps in this competition and we can only hope to see many more as we go!

Thanks to everyone who participated!
/Starparty

The winning map (2)Evisceration by flothefreak.

Comments:

Listoric
Good post, good choice, good maps, good graphics! ^^ Gratz to flo, i saw this map as a winner too. Even when i had no idea what the rules where about after most people submitted their maps ^^
SpoR[Mech]
Congrats flo. I still think you should make the pathways on the outpost smaller. At least get rid of the doodads up there.
flothefreak
wuhaaaa omg I can't believe it asdf I just, gooooood I'm overwhelmed right now... Of course I hoped to manage it to get under top3, but I never thought this ohhh I'm happy :DD:D:D:D:DD thanks :D
MuShu
Congratz to the top 3!
MuShu
And did you do those in Paint SP? They look awesome. ^^
Starparty
I only do paint :O)
Listoric
Paint rules, it's simple and powerful ^^
yenku
nice map! it seems pretty innovative with the 2 small chokes and the mineral wall and all that cool stuff. Really good job. BTW, paint is the only way to go.

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