We last consulted the community on this issue in November 2013 (before the GameSpy shut down) by way of a poll. We will not be holding a poll this time round but, instead, will invite you to post your opinions which we will review. We are proceeding on the premise that you will want all of the maps on which we are consulting to be ranked. If you find that a map should not be ranked, you must say so and explain why.
In this topic we are seeking your opinions on the 4 maps set out below. We are consulting on a total of 30 maps and you can find the links to the discussion topics for the remainder of the maps in the post linked above.
Click on the image to the right to enlarge it.
- Mountain Pass
- Vista Valley
- Volcano Struggle
- Winter Meltdown
These maps are found in the 1.02+ map pack 1. The file comes with an installer.
This consultation closes at the end of Saturday, 11th April 2015. Please be sure to have your say before then.
Volcano Struggle has a few bugs on it that can't seem to stay away, when your going to cross the bridge it stops sometime, and I hate where the tib spike is located on both sides, its just a bad map all over.
Volcano Struggle has a few bugs on it that can't seem to stay away, when your going to cross the bridge it stops sometime, and I hate where the tib spike is located on both sides, its just a bad map all over.
I have to disagree, since there no longer are any bridges and Kimo and I played some games on it and there are no bugs to be found anymore.
All of the maps besides volcano. I just feel like games dont flow properly on that map, and you cant be very creative as its very easy to scout the map.
Volcano Struggle has a few bugs on it that can't seem to stay away, when your going to cross the bridge it stops sometime, and I hate where the tib spike is located on both sides, its just a bad map all over.
There are no more bridges, it is flat terrain. You might want to try it in r10c to see the changes on it.
From my games on them all 4 maps are great and sufficient enuff for Ranked Play...
Tho i don't play much anymore..when i did play..i had good balanced games on it...
I feel winter meltdown has a bit too much tib tho.. and if it goes late game it takes ages if both players are similar skill.. but its not bad to have a macro oriented map..in the pool but yeah in my opinion include them all dude
From my games on them all 4 maps are great and sufficient enuff for Ranked Play...
Tho i don't play much anymore..when i did play..i had good balanced games on it...
I feel winter meltdown has a bit too much tib tho.. and if it goes late game it takes ages if both players are similar skill.. but its not bad to have a macro oriented map..in the pool but yeah in my opinion include them all dude
No, I don't know where anyone got the idea that you have to pick. What we want to know is whether any of the maps are unsuitable for the ranked map pool and if so, why.
All these maps are fine except for Winter Meltdown. It is good but have a lot of tiberium. Maybe remove the center field. It would be better if the top and the bottom fields start not grown to avoid that both players expand to one side of the map which make the game not mirrored. Also it causes both players troubles to get their third expansions and lead to a messy game.
Here's my thoughts and opinions on the maps in question. Though please bare in mind I haven't played extensively on some of these maps..
Mountain Pass Overall i feel this map is well balanced and allows for aggressive and passive play, though due to the chokes its more geared towards longer games, which isn't a bad thing given how certain rushes ruin this game. It's nicely balanced and symmetrical (which is a staple of ranked maps in the existing pool). So overall for this map I would say it deserves to be ranked.
Vista Valley The first revision of this map I really disliked because of the narrow bridges and limited entrances to the enemy base (which made harassment almost impossible), but with the traversable river it somewhat improved things. A small pet peeve I have is the Tiberium fields being a bit too small, but besides that I approve of this map being added to the ranked map pool.
Volcano Struggle Ever since I first laid eyes on this map I knew it was only intended for fun. The bridges that were once on it created an unnecessary risk for both GDI and Nod expanding (if their MCV came under attack on the bridge it would be unable to deploy), but now since those are gone its an improved map, but not ideal. I feel the map is heavily in favor of Black Hand because of the rush distance, but aside from that I haven't tested the new revision to know if its worthy of being ranked or not. So I'm neutral with this one.
Winter Meltdown Bigger Small Town USA? Check. Similarly themed and plays out fairly well in every match-up. I would love to see the bridges and rivers removed (or just widen the bridges) so the late game doesn't become campy and boring, which is the case in stusa. But that's just my opinion and has nothing to do with whether or not the map should be ranked. Anyway... it's better than Volcano Struggle, so make it ranked.
Since the consultation has started, the maps are supposed to be final and not subject to further improvements. However, since it is not a poll, I may consider to do some modifications to the maps if that grant them the access to the ranked map pool.
To be clear, I'm not asking players to provide feedback about the maps. That stage ended when the consultation started. I consider that some maps may be ranked, but I would be ok if you decide they don't be ranked (like Armageddon Mountains, Asteroid Battleground and GDI Space Command, because these maps were designed as noob friendly maps). However some other maps were designed for competitive gameplay, and I'll try to improve them if you don't think they are suitable for ranked. Also, as for my maps, the R11 release will be the final one, since I won't update neither make more new maps after that release.
Btw, I don't want to limit your comments in the consultation, but try to avoid posting these: - Comments based on old version of the maps (that confuses other people). - Asking to not include a map without a reason. - Provide false facts (like saying a map has a lot of tiberium. Check them with the worldbuilder to be sure. @RandomnessFt: Winter Meltdown has about the same tiberium as Twisted Rift, and many other 1.02+ maps). - Use of offensive words (@Incapaisa, it's not nice calling shit map or crap map to any map).
I've made a small update for Winter Meltdown (some widened ramps/bridges, and slow growth rate for expansion tiberium fields). Get the updated version from Map updates for 1.02+ R11. Btw, I've seen most of the times people do not expand the riskier and optimal way in this map, which in my opinion is this:
I've made a small update for Winter Meltdown (some widened ramps/bridges, and slow growth rate for expansion tiberium fields). Get the updated version from Map updates for 1.02+ R11. Btw, I've seen most of the times people do not expand the riskier and optimal way in this map, which in my opinion is this:
i like wintermeltdown how it is like right now only thing that can be changed is make bridges bit wieder
You have tested 13 of the 30 maps included in the consultation:
Asteroid Battleground BattleBase Beaverton: I verified this map using the WorldBuilder: the distances and amount of tiberium is ok. I agree some fuel tank decoration objects could be removed to increase the buildable area near the expansion. However, flatten all the center of the map is not necessary. If all the maps must be flat in order to allow 50 tanks to move easily, then all they maps will be the same. This is a topic subject to discussion to decide if a map must provide a very big flat area to allow big battles in order to be included in the ranked map pool. Disputed Arena: I verified the camera height, and it is ok (420). The size of the health bars should be ok when the map be added to the 1.02+ map packs. Pipeline Nightmares Tiberium Zone: I just want to mention the suggested expansion directions. Old version vs New versión Tournament Undergrounds: You can pass through the fountains in 1.02+. Vertical Abyss Volcano Struggle: The volcano has not been modified. The terrain added is for the farms, the rest of the map terrain has not been modified. The modified tiberium fields are the ones at the very north of the map (which had few tiberium, and they are useful for the late game). Forest Arena: There are 2 tiberium spikes per player (you haven't seen the ones at the top-right and bottom-left corners). Asteroid Outpost Wasteland Circles Volcano Valleys: May I suggest you to play some more games on this map? It might change you mind. Making it a flatter map might help, but it will also make it less interesting. The blue tiberium field at the center is not a problem from my point of view (also it is small and very contested). GDI Space Command
You have tested 4 maps that are not included in the consultation:
Tournament Stadium: These are the suggested expansion directions: Btw: the bus is not invincible (can be crushed), and it was there since a long time ago . Also, remember that test versions of the maps are 1.02 (standard), and in that version bikes cannot crush fences (therefore your comments of the tennis court won't be valid on 1.02+, and the tennis court was there since the very first version of the map ) Twilight City: Add water to fountains: Noted. NOD Gardens Tiberian Dunes
The most important thing I learned from your video is that you really liked the water fountains (just kidding). At the end of the video, I think you were so tired that you blinked for 1 sec, but in the video it was 14 seconds of silence . Again, thanks for making this video. I'm glad you think most of the maps are worthy for the ranked map pool.
. Also, remember that test versions of the maps are 1.02 (standard), and in that version bikes cannot crush fences (therefore your comments of the tennis court won't be valid on 1.02+, and the tennis court was there since the very first version of the map 
(just kidding). At the end of the video, I think you were so tired that you blinked for 1 sec, but in the video it was 14 seconds of silence
Read about the consultation here; New Ranked Maps: Community Consultation and Voting 2015.
We last consulted the community on this issue in November 2013 (before the GameSpy shut down) by way of a poll. We will not be holding a poll this time round but, instead, will invite you to post your opinions which we will review. We are proceeding on the premise that you will want all of the maps on which we are consulting to be ranked. If you find that a map should not be ranked, you must say so and explain why.
In this topic we are seeking your opinions on the 4 maps set out below. We are consulting on a total of 30 maps and you can find the links to the discussion topics for the remainder of the maps in the post linked above.
- Mountain Pass
- Vista Valley
- Volcano Struggle
- Winter Meltdown
These maps are found in the 1.02+ map pack 1. The file comes with an installer.
This consultation closes at the end of Saturday, 11th April 2015. Please be sure to have your say before then.
Links to the other topics:
This post has been edited by Zypherbullet: Mar 26 2015, 15:36 PM
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