Wow. I looked at the image on the left briefly first and I thought it was the real life picture. Then I looked at the one on the right and... realized that the RIGHT one was the real one. Great work.
You guys need to give it a rest. I have looked extensively through the maps submitted to the contest by sc2mapster users. Personally, I would rather play many of those entries over the winning entries. However, just because I think a certain map is more fun to play doesn't mean that it should win and just because you don't like a map as much doesn't mean it should lose. The fact is that everyone has a different idea of how the winning maps should be chosen. Some of you feel that the winner should be the map that uses the editor in the most unique way. Some believe that the winner should be the map that implements the most innovative game mechanic. Some believe that the winner should be the map that is the 'most fun' to play. There are innumerable criteria that one can believe the winning map should have. Should the map be a short, simple game good for playing in quick sessions? Should it be a lengthy complex game with a lot of depth and potential for skill? There are so many ways to decide what map should win that it isn't as simple as all of you make it out to be.
Perhaps the concept of a custom map contest is the real problem.
There are so many great maps that excel in a vast range of areas that one cannot just point out the best map, or best three maps, out of the countless entries submitted. A different map is always going to 'deserve to win more' if the winners are chosen from slightly different criteria. There are so many great entries that it ultimately comes down to, "These 30 maps are all great, which one do I want to play the most?" As long as the winning map isn't fundamentally broken and people enjoy playing it, it is a valid candidate for 'winning the contest'.
Honestly, the map that wins is not important. What is important is that you participated. The very fact that people are complaining that other maps should have won means that other people appreciate the work you have done regardless of whether you won. If you only care about the prize money, then I have no sympathy for you. If you care about making maps that others can enjoy, then you do not need to win a contest to succeed.
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who submitted a map to the custom map contest. I truly appreciate all the time you have put into producing content for others to enjoy!
EDIT: on a side note, if you haven't read Acemore's post regarding his talk with a Blizzard representative, it is very enlightening and you should read it before complaining any further. The first few paragraphs explain how so many maps were cut and this is why you shouldn't care if you lost this contest. Only a small fraction of the maps submitted were really judged anyway so there's a good chance Blizzard didn't really 'count' your map as a submission.
But hey, it's not like they went to your house and deleted the map from your computer because you didn't win. You still have your map and if you actually believe it's good, then you still have something to be happy about. You haven't really lost anything.
I think part of the reason is that in addition to the lack of motivation for many mapmakers since their maps will never be played, people who enjoy playing custom maps don't really have a reason to visit this site either. Non mapmakers looking to play fun custom maps would often still go to the hiveworkshop to sift through the cool customs people have made because after finding them, they could go on bnet and ACTUALLY PLAY THEM. There's way less incentive to look at the nice maps you guys have made when I know that I won't be able to find people to play them with. What's the point? Blizzard needs to get its act together before mapmaking communities can really flourish.
I personally still enjoy seeing what you guys have come up with, but there's much less reason for me to visit this site then WC3 mapmaking sites... and for most non-mapmakers there's no reason unlike in WC3.
This map looks like a potentially great game based on your video, but I haven't had a chance to see multiplayer in action yet. I know that the map is published on the EU servers, but is it published on US? If not, is there any chance it will be?
Total votes on Page 1: 68
Total votes on Page 2: 36
Still think the people who were placed on page 2 voting didn't really have a chance of winning (or at least a severely impeded chance of winning). That being said, congratulations to OutsiderXE, there's a good chance your map could have gotten 2nd or 3rd if it had been on on the first page map voting. Keep up the superb map-making!
I'd also like to thank everyone who participated in this contest. There were a lot of entries that were close calls for me so just because your map looks like it did poorly, keep in mind that the gap between your map and one of the top maps is smaller than it appears. Especially in map voting 1 thread, the race between the top 2 maps is reminiscent of real-world elections. Once two maps got a little ahead, many people simply voted* for one of the two dominant maps since they wanted their votes 'to count' instead of voting on a map which clearly wouldn't win.
.* I noticed some changed votes too
Thanks for the event organizer too because without you we wouldn't have had many of these great new maps!
@Bounty_98: Go
If you are mapping for what pathetic amounts of e-fame are associated with it, by all means give up. If you are mapping because you enjoy it, then this topic is a waste of time; perseverance.
That's not the same thing. Part of the joy of creation is showing people what you've built. I know you're going to say that the popularity system kills some of that joy, and you'd be right, it does kill some of it. You know it will be changed. What can you do until then? Throw in the towel or just keep doing what you enjoy?
It's not simply between:
1. Striving for 'e-fame'
or
2. Enjoying making maps for the sake of showing them to other people
like you make it out to be...
If I were to make a map, I wouldn't care about it being 'famous', but I wouldn't just want to show it off to fellow map makers without anyone really playing it. My map wouldn't need to be popular because I don't care about 'e-fame', but I would want my map to be enjoyed by a fair number of people (easy enough to find a game most or at least half of the time you want to play). With the current pop system, however, it's hard to find that middle ground.
Either your map is on one of the first few pages which means it's pretty popular, or it's on the 4th and lower pages which means it's extremely hard to find a game most of the time or downright impossible. This is why resets are so frustrating because one's map goes from reasonably popular to rarely played in an instant (I'm referring to new maps so excluding games that already have a solid following like Nexus Wars, Desert Strike, etc.)
What you want your map to be and why you want to make maps are two very different things.
If you want to stop making maps because the release custom map system sucks, then you really ought to re-evaluate why you bother with the editor at all.
They can be different things, but not necessarily. Why would I make my map? So that people can enjoy playing it. What do I want my map to be? A map that people enjoy playing. The 'why' and the 'what' can be very similar, not necessarily "two very different things". I wouldn't make a map for e-fame or for other people to enjoy my 'technical achievement' in making the map, but for people to have fun playing it. In order for that to happen, my map needs to make its way up the popularity system. Resets are extremely detrimental for achieving not only what I want my map to be, but also why I make my map. Again, e-fame has nothing to do with it. I would be perfectly find uploading my map anonymously...
Ok, seriously, it makes me want to punch a baby whenever people use the "hurr u only want to do it for the fame". Seriously, Eiviyn, Qancakes, get your heads out of your asses, jesus christ. Not EVERYBODY does things for the same reasons as you. If you get joy simply from making a map, and nothing else, then power to you. But some of us actually make maps so we can PLAY them. I for one am making a map, and so many times I'm on the brink of quitting because I know that once I finally finish it, I'll never be able to play it, ever. What's the point of making something you can't use? If you guys enjoy making a map and then throwing it in the trash and getting to work on the next, alright, that's cool. But not everyone enjoys that, accept that.
Get off your fucking high-horse and stop with the fucking "hurr durr e-fame" bullshit. In the end, this is about whether or not a map-maker feels it's worth his time, and whether or not he gets enjoyment out of it. Since he enjoys PLAYING his games as much as making them, he gets no joy out of creating maps for such a broken system, so he quits. We don't owe Blizzard anything, we have no obligation to stick it out while they continiously ignore us and refuse to fix the system. Some of us are willing to go "fuck this, and fuck them" and move on. If you're so loyal that you'll stick it out, trying desperately to convince yourself they'll fix it when, after TEN months they still have made no effort to fix it.
So if we wanna throw in the towel, that is WELL within our rights. Blizzard doesn't DESERVE our loyalty at this point, honestly... ten goddamned months they have been told this system sucks, TEN FUCKING MONTHS and they haven't even said they'll be fixing it anytime soon. How anyone can support them at this point is beyond me. But then you guys don't just support them for their dickery, you actively attack those who see the light and move onto greener pastures. Kinda sad.
Hm, and to think I just spent time writing my comment when you already posted exactly what I was trying to say.
Wanting one's map to be played by other people doesn't directly correlate to one wanting 'e-fame'... sometimes a mapmaker just wants his or her map to be enjoyed by others instead of sitting in a dusty corner wasting away.
Note this was a while ago. Now today I just lost it and wrote a lengthy complaint about why produce software and not support it and the pointlessness of even responding to me if they cannot offer me support. But I know that even though I have fully co-operated and provided all the information they would need they will not help me.
Why is it pointless for them to give us bonus software? Though I played WC3 exclusively for custom content so Blizzard's inclusion of the editor actually gained them sales, that doesn't change the fact that it is a BONUS. Do I think they should support it? Yes, it will gain them more customers as quality custom maps attract users, but it's their loss if they don't support it. At the same time though, IT IS THEIR CHOICE. If they think the lost sales from not supporting the editor is worth it, it is their right to make the decision. The explicitly state that the editor is not supported by Blizzard technical staff so it's not as if they're going back on their word. They made the decision not to support it and simply release it as a bonus and they are standing by that choice. Nothing wrong there.
As for their response, it too, was not pointless. I personally would prefer Blizzard to respond with disappointing news then pretend I don't exist. It's nice of them to take the time to write you a message even if it's not what you want to hear.
Anyway, I hope you can resolve your issue with the editor soon and I'm sorry for the lack of help you are receiving, but I just don't think you can really blame Blizzard in this case.
Almost twice as many people voted for the Part 1 entries in this contest than people that voted Part 2 entries. In this light, can there be two winners, one from Part 1 voting and one from Part 2 voting? That, or have the top map in Part 1 be matched against the top map in Part 2. Apparently significantly less people bothered to look at the Part 2 entries...
Total votes in Part 1: 61
Total votes in Part 2: 36
The reason Highland Denizens doesn't look like the original is because the outer rim of the new map is added. If you just trim off the outer edge it actually looks quite similar. The main differences is that extra water is added around the edges. The bottom left corner was also changed a bit for the sake of symmetry so it looks like the upper right corner. In terms of how the map plays, it should be fairly similar to the SC1 map (if SC1 units were used).
This was a fun cinematic to watch. I'm not as particular as some people I guess (Not that it's bad to be critical, I hope that their feedback helps you win next year). Personally, my only gripe was the gunfire sound. It sounded so weak, more like a toy gun then a real one and made this much less epic than it should have been. Other than that, I really enjoyed this.
This map looks excellent and is certainly a unique take on a melee map. Is it released for the US Servers yet and if not what are your plans for releasing it?
I've played many games of Phantom Mode (probably around 100... I just like maps about mindgames, played Parasite quite a bit too), but I've never encountered groups of friends that go around killing everyone which was the major flaw you pointed to in your review. I'm sure it happens, but not very often if it does contrary to what your review states. Maybe you're playing on a different server? I play NA. As for the terrain issue, it's true that it's boring and could use some work. You'll be happy to know that the map creator is holding a terraining contest for his map so hopefully someone will submit something good (if not, at least he realizes that people don't like the bland terrain so maybe he'll figure out how to terrain himself).
0
Well in D2 my favorite characters were: Necromancer (Summoning), Druid (Summoning), Paladin (Zealot), Sorceress (any)
D3? Wizard and Witch Doctor
Summoning and epic spells are a close first, insane speed is second, and everything else is far below that... Monk will probably be my third character
0
@Zarakk: Go
Wow. I looked at the image on the left briefly first and I thought it was the real life picture. Then I looked at the one on the right and... realized that the RIGHT one was the real one. Great work.
0
delete
0
You guys need to give it a rest. I have looked extensively through the maps submitted to the contest by sc2mapster users. Personally, I would rather play many of those entries over the winning entries. However, just because I think a certain map is more fun to play doesn't mean that it should win and just because you don't like a map as much doesn't mean it should lose. The fact is that everyone has a different idea of how the winning maps should be chosen. Some of you feel that the winner should be the map that uses the editor in the most unique way. Some believe that the winner should be the map that implements the most innovative game mechanic. Some believe that the winner should be the map that is the 'most fun' to play. There are innumerable criteria that one can believe the winning map should have. Should the map be a short, simple game good for playing in quick sessions? Should it be a lengthy complex game with a lot of depth and potential for skill? There are so many ways to decide what map should win that it isn't as simple as all of you make it out to be.
Perhaps the concept of a custom map contest is the real problem.
There are so many great maps that excel in a vast range of areas that one cannot just point out the best map, or best three maps, out of the countless entries submitted. A different map is always going to 'deserve to win more' if the winners are chosen from slightly different criteria. There are so many great entries that it ultimately comes down to, "These 30 maps are all great, which one do I want to play the most?" As long as the winning map isn't fundamentally broken and people enjoy playing it, it is a valid candidate for 'winning the contest'.
Honestly, the map that wins is not important. What is important is that you participated. The very fact that people are complaining that other maps should have won means that other people appreciate the work you have done regardless of whether you won. If you only care about the prize money, then I have no sympathy for you. If you care about making maps that others can enjoy, then you do not need to win a contest to succeed.
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who submitted a map to the custom map contest. I truly appreciate all the time you have put into producing content for others to enjoy!
EDIT: on a side note, if you haven't read Acemore's post regarding his talk with a Blizzard representative, it is very enlightening and you should read it before complaining any further. The first few paragraphs explain how so many maps were cut and this is why you shouldn't care if you lost this contest. Only a small fraction of the maps submitted were really judged anyway so there's a good chance Blizzard didn't really 'count' your map as a submission.
But hey, it's not like they went to your house and deleted the map from your computer because you didn't win. You still have your map and if you actually believe it's good, then you still have something to be happy about. You haven't really lost anything.
0
I think part of the reason is that in addition to the lack of motivation for many mapmakers since their maps will never be played, people who enjoy playing custom maps don't really have a reason to visit this site either. Non mapmakers looking to play fun custom maps would often still go to the hiveworkshop to sift through the cool customs people have made because after finding them, they could go on bnet and ACTUALLY PLAY THEM. There's way less incentive to look at the nice maps you guys have made when I know that I won't be able to find people to play them with. What's the point? Blizzard needs to get its act together before mapmaking communities can really flourish.
I personally still enjoy seeing what you guys have come up with, but there's much less reason for me to visit this site then WC3 mapmaking sites... and for most non-mapmakers there's no reason unlike in WC3.
0
This map looks like a potentially great game based on your video, but I haven't had a chance to see multiplayer in action yet. I know that the map is published on the EU servers, but is it published on US? If not, is there any chance it will be?
Thanks for the time you put into this!
0
Total votes on Page 1: 68 Total votes on Page 2: 36
Still think the people who were placed on page 2 voting didn't really have a chance of winning (or at least a severely impeded chance of winning). That being said, congratulations to OutsiderXE, there's a good chance your map could have gotten 2nd or 3rd if it had been on on the first page map voting. Keep up the superb map-making!
I'd also like to thank everyone who participated in this contest. There were a lot of entries that were close calls for me so just because your map looks like it did poorly, keep in mind that the gap between your map and one of the top maps is smaller than it appears. Especially in map voting 1 thread, the race between the top 2 maps is reminiscent of real-world elections. Once two maps got a little ahead, many people simply voted* for one of the two dominant maps since they wanted their votes 'to count' instead of voting on a map which clearly wouldn't win.
.* I noticed some changed votes too
Thanks for the event organizer too because without you we wouldn't have had many of these great new maps!
0
If you're lazy, just read the lines in bold at the bottom of the post...
It's not simply between:
1. Striving for 'e-fame' or 2. Enjoying making maps for the sake of showing them to other people
like you make it out to be...
If I were to make a map, I wouldn't care about it being 'famous', but I wouldn't just want to show it off to fellow map makers without anyone really playing it. My map wouldn't need to be popular because I don't care about 'e-fame', but I would want my map to be enjoyed by a fair number of people (easy enough to find a game most or at least half of the time you want to play). With the current pop system, however, it's hard to find that middle ground.
Either your map is on one of the first few pages which means it's pretty popular, or it's on the 4th and lower pages which means it's extremely hard to find a game most of the time or downright impossible. This is why resets are so frustrating because one's map goes from reasonably popular to rarely played in an instant (I'm referring to new maps so excluding games that already have a solid following like Nexus Wars, Desert Strike, etc.)
They can be different things, but not necessarily. Why would I make my map? So that people can enjoy playing it. What do I want my map to be? A map that people enjoy playing. The 'why' and the 'what' can be very similar, not necessarily "two very different things". I wouldn't make a map for e-fame or for other people to enjoy my 'technical achievement' in making the map, but for people to have fun playing it. In order for that to happen, my map needs to make its way up the popularity system. Resets are extremely detrimental for achieving not only what I want my map to be, but also why I make my map. Again, e-fame has nothing to do with it. I would be perfectly find uploading my map anonymously...
EDIT:
Hm, and to think I just spent time writing my comment when you already posted exactly what I was trying to say.
Wanting one's map to be played by other people doesn't directly correlate to one wanting 'e-fame'... sometimes a mapmaker just wants his or her map to be enjoyed by others instead of sitting in a dusty corner wasting away.
0
Sorry to hear about this. I know it must be extremely frustrating. However, you are being rather harsh on Blizzard...
Why is it pointless for them to give us bonus software? Though I played WC3 exclusively for custom content so Blizzard's inclusion of the editor actually gained them sales, that doesn't change the fact that it is a BONUS. Do I think they should support it? Yes, it will gain them more customers as quality custom maps attract users, but it's their loss if they don't support it. At the same time though, IT IS THEIR CHOICE. If they think the lost sales from not supporting the editor is worth it, it is their right to make the decision. The explicitly state that the editor is not supported by Blizzard technical staff so it's not as if they're going back on their word. They made the decision not to support it and simply release it as a bonus and they are standing by that choice. Nothing wrong there.
As for their response, it too, was not pointless. I personally would prefer Blizzard to respond with disappointing news then pretend I don't exist. It's nice of them to take the time to write you a message even if it's not what you want to hear.
Anyway, I hope you can resolve your issue with the editor soon and I'm sorry for the lack of help you are receiving, but I just don't think you can really blame Blizzard in this case.
0
Almost twice as many people voted for the Part 1 entries in this contest than people that voted Part 2 entries. In this light, can there be two winners, one from Part 1 voting and one from Part 2 voting? That, or have the top map in Part 1 be matched against the top map in Part 2. Apparently significantly less people bothered to look at the Part 2 entries...
Total votes in Part 1: 61 Total votes in Part 2: 36
@Jackolas: Go
The reason Highland Denizens doesn't look like the original is because the outer rim of the new map is added. If you just trim off the outer edge it actually looks quite similar. The main differences is that extra water is added around the edges. The bottom left corner was also changed a bit for the sake of symmetry so it looks like the upper right corner. In terms of how the map plays, it should be fairly similar to the SC1 map (if SC1 units were used).
0
This was a fun cinematic to watch. I'm not as particular as some people I guess (Not that it's bad to be critical, I hope that their feedback helps you win next year). Personally, my only gripe was the gunfire sound. It sounded so weak, more like a toy gun then a real one and made this much less epic than it should have been. Other than that, I really enjoyed this.
0
The download folder doesn't have .ico for all the pictures?
0
This map looks excellent and is certainly a unique take on a melee map. Is it released for the US Servers yet and if not what are your plans for releasing it?
0
I've played many games of Phantom Mode (probably around 100... I just like maps about mindgames, played Parasite quite a bit too), but I've never encountered groups of friends that go around killing everyone which was the major flaw you pointed to in your review. I'm sure it happens, but not very often if it does contrary to what your review states. Maybe you're playing on a different server? I play NA. As for the terrain issue, it's true that it's boring and could use some work. You'll be happy to know that the map creator is holding a terraining contest for his map so hopefully someone will submit something good (if not, at least he realizes that people don't like the bland terrain so maybe he'll figure out how to terrain himself).
0
8:30 am or pm?
Your map looks great by the way so I hope it's 8:30 pm so I can test it =)