Official: Centerscape Competition - Round 2!

[saaimen]

1. Fix the border problems.
2. replace some of those lakes with mountains.
3. Find a theme and adapt the map to it, or face the fact that #3 is better.
4. quench.

[pepperonibread]

Mmmmm. thought this before i read the line below..perhaps the commentor givez a clue whose map it is.

4 is hot stuff with those mountains.

Heh, if only I submitted one. I definitely know who 4 is by though.

[barterer2002]

Wow, great entries there guys.

Alright, here's what I'm looking at (and I haven't looked through all 6 pages of this thread to see what others have said so I apologize if I repeat anyone).



Anyway.

Map 1. I'd like to see a little more differentiation in the color between the wastelands and the Stone Wilderness. I like the design even better than the old Middle Earth map.

Map 2. I love the pirates theme of this one and while I know the game play is the same I'm not certain that it brings back Middle Earth memories which is part of what I'm looking for here. I'm hopeful that this map gets completed in addition to the competition because I think its great, and I love the pirate names (Dread Pirate Roberts, Captain Crunch, Captain Morgan etc). This would be a very cool map to play.

Map 3. From my view, this map and Map 4 are the two that are closest to the old Middle Earth map and if the idea is to bring that back then one of the two of them should win the competition. This one gives a very middle ages type of feel to the map and I like the way the bridges point which way they go (so that the one way bridge is arrowed on one end and the rest are double tipped).

Map 4. In terms of staying with the original Middle Earth map, this one even brings the colors closest to that which we knew. I'm going to vote for this one simply because I know that Middle Earth was a very popular map and that this particular version is closest to the original.

I'm also hopeful that some of the others (especially Pirates) make it to gameplay as well.

[Thezzaruz]

#2 is just stunning on first look but it gets a bit too much after a while. Well done.

#4 looks a bit bland but also inviting and interesting to play. Very well done.

[pamoa]

Congratulations and thanks to the 4 of you!
#4 is my favorite it's the one which give the best feeling of it's former unnameable version.

[saaimen]

#4 is my favorite it's the one which give the best feeling of it's former unnameable version.

But it has no theme. Jeez, I don't get the #4 hype.

[lgoasklucyl]

#4 is my favorite it's the one which give the best feeling of it's former unnameable version.

But it has no theme. Jeez, I don't get the #4 hype.

I agree. I voted for #3 for the sake of the thought put into the theme-aspect. The graphics may be a LITTLE sharper on #4 but I prefer theme of gfx (I'm not sure a map could be thrown into the foundry based on nothing but prettyness outside of the comp. so why in here?) My only problem with #3 graphics-wise is the opacity of the brick texture used on the background. I don't know why, I suppose it's because I KNOW what the texture looks like normally, and it feels like it's still too brick-ish too me (I suppose. Or maybe I'm just comparing it to a brick wall texture in my mind, and that's what's getting to me).

Honestly, though, #4 could push a theme into its style AFTER the comp, if need be.

#3 still retains my vote though

[whitestazn88]

i doubt 3 is making a comeback... oh well

[RjBeals]

Nobody has suggested a theme for number-4 as far as I can tell. It sure does appear that this map will be our winner - any theme ideas for the carto? It looks like the creator intentionally left it unfinished, in order to get feedback from the community. I guess thats why he/she has just the region colors for the bonus names.

[ZeakCytho]

Nobody has suggested a theme for number-4 as far as I can tell. It sure does appear that this map will be our winner - any theme ideas for the carto? It looks like the creator intentionally left it unfinished, in order to get feedback from the community. I guess thats why he/she has just the region colors for the bonus names.

You're so subtle...

Personally, I think the map is fine as is. I don't understand why every map needs to have a theme. If the gameplay is solid - and we know it is - and the graphics look good - which they are - I'll play on it.

[edbeard]

it certainly looks like a winner has been determined but there is still a second round so anything can happen. though maybe less of a possibility when it would appear that everyone will move on to the next round. But, since #1 has tons of room for improvement, I'll say it again, "anything can happen".


I do think no theme or any idea of one is a glaring minus for this map but that's juxtaposed against all the big pluses so that makes it stand out more. And, the umm, asking ideas for a theme (well actually that was Rj not the mystery mapmaker) doesn't inspire confidence in getting one. But, I am in major agreement with Z on this matter. I don't think it really needs one and if you, I mean, it gets a ton of votes in the next round without one, it should generally be left as-is because that's what people voted for.

[the.killing.44]

Looking closer, I noticed on #4's bonus that there are random splotches in the "flags." Just something to be fixed next rnd.

[whitestazn88]

What a great idea RJ!!!!!!! [/sarcasm]

^oops, forgot the first bracket!

anyways, if the cartographer really wants a theme, they can easily use a similar fantasy theme that the original centerscape had... with trolls, elves, wizards, dwarfs, men, and hobbits (err.... scratch the hobbits.) But i think that would work really well, then maybe the cartographer could incorporate little pictures into the regions or make the regions differently colored to adhere to the said species to which they belong.

i dunno if that makes sense, but if it doesn't, feel free to pm me rj.

[oaktown]

it certainly looks like a winner has been determined but there is still a second round so anything can happen. though maybe less of a possibility when it would appear that everyone will move on to the next round.

If I were the maker of #3 I don't think I'd be too excited about making a redo. With just 22 of 300 votes, it's clearly not what folks are looking for in a Centerscape map. Not that I have any insight into that mapmaker's state of mind... I'm just saying, is all.

As for a theme for #4 (and #1), I was originally disappointed that considering all of the talent we have around here only two mapmakers made the effort to lay the Centerscape gameplay over an original theme. My earlier comments should not be considered a poke at the mapmaker (who has a made a great map) but at all of the mapmakers out there who couldn't come up with something. You should all consider the brainpower that went into #3 and #2 and wonder if you capable of such feats.

The winning map can, of course, have no theme and just be called "Centerscape" but I don't think that will bring in the players that the same map will attract if it's got a really good idea behind it. Or it can be called Centerscape and create an entirely new land of dragons and magic. Hmm, a few dragons would kinda kick ass on that map.

[pamoa]

But it has no theme. Jeez, I don't get the #4 hype.

Nobody has suggested a theme for number-4 as far as I can tell. It sure does appear that this map will be our winner - any theme ideas for the carto? It looks like the creator intentionally left it unfinished, in order to get feedback from the community. I guess thats why he/she has just the region colors for the bonus names.

...anyways, if the cartographer really wants a theme, they can easily use a similar fantasy theme that the original centerscape had... with trolls, elves, wizards, dwarfs, men, and hobbits (err.... scratch the hobbits.) But i think that would work really well, then maybe the cartographer could incorporate little pictures into the regions or make the regions differently colored to adhere to the said species to which they belong.

...it can be called Centerscape and create an entirely new land of dragons and magic. Hmm, a few dragons would kinda kick ass on that map.

I do not agree with you saaimen, it has a theme. From my point of view this map can only be a fantasy map, else why should we call it centerscape as a reminder of it's previous version. I'm not saying the #2 and #3 aren't good map ideas, they are, but for Christ sake we are speaking about the bible of fantasy literature, making it a Pirates game or an Antiquity one is out of place. Now it is also true it is some short of "juice" and as RjBeals says this map has plenty of room for more developments. The whitestazn88's and oaktown's suggestions are a good start. Remember this is only a draft not a final map.

[daydream]

#2 got my vote. its fekkin awesome looking, and (no) beard cracked me up.

[whitestazn88]

But it has no theme. Jeez, I don't get the #4 hype.

Nobody has suggested a theme for number-4 as far as I can tell. It sure does appear that this map will be our winner - any theme ideas for the carto? It looks like the creator intentionally left it unfinished, in order to get feedback from the community. I guess thats why he/she has just the region colors for the bonus names.

...anyways, if the cartographer really wants a theme, they can easily use a similar fantasy theme that the original centerscape had... with trolls, elves, wizards, dwarfs, men, and hobbits (err.... scratch the hobbits.) But i think that would work really well, then maybe the cartographer could incorporate little pictures into the regions or make the regions differently colored to adhere to the said species to which they belong.

...it can be called Centerscape and create an entirely new land of dragons and magic. Hmm, a few dragons would kinda kick ass on that map.

I do not agree with you saaimen, it has a theme. From my point of view this map can only be a fantasy map, else why should we call it centerscape as a reminder of it's previous version. I'm not saying the #2 and #3 aren't good map ideas, they are, but for Christ sake we are speaking about the bible of fantasy literature, making it a Pirates game or an Antiquity one is out of place. Now it is also true it is some short of "juice" and as RjBeals says this map has plenty of room for more developments. The whitestazn88's and oaktown's suggestions are a good start. Remember this is only a draft not a final map.

i don't think centerscape is the name of the map.... it just what we had to rename middle earth. the title can be changed, as is evidenced by the title in the 2nd map

[saaimen]

I do not agree with you saaimen, it has a theme. From my point of view this map can only be a fantasy map, else why should we call it centerscape as a reminder of it's previous version. I'm not saying the #2 and #3 aren't good map ideas, they are, but for Christ sake we are speaking about the bible of fantasy literature, making it a Pirates game or an Antiquity one is out of place. Now it is also true it is some short of "juice" and as RjBeals says this map has plenty of room for more developments. The whitestazn88's and oaktown's suggestions are a good start. Remember this is only a draft not a final map.

I completely agree with the underlined part. I'm a huge fan of the trilogy, honestly. And that is exactly why I believe we cannot possibly make a map that DOESN'T look like Middle-Earth, and then try to bring it closer to the atmosphere of Middle-Earth. That's crazy. In fact the only map of Middle-Earth I would like to play on should be drawn on the original artwork included in the book. But since that's not possible, I'd rather just keep the gameplay with a completely unrelated theme, and then choose the best map. Which still isn't #4.
And #3 is, in fact, a final map. Or at least the only contestant that could be one.

[ZeakCytho]

Hmm, a few dragons would kinda kick ass on that map.

YES. Add some dragons!

[totalbasscase]

it certainly looks like a winner has been determined but there is still a second round so anything can happen. though maybe less of a possibility when it would appear that everyone will move on to the next round.

If I were the maker of #3 I don't think I'd be too excited about making a redo. With just 22 of 300 votes, it's clearly not what folks are looking for in a Centerscape map. Not that I have any insight into that mapmaker's state of mind... I'm just saying, is all.

As for a theme for #4 (and #1), I was originally disappointed that considering all of the talent we have around here only two mapmakers made the effort to lay the Centerscape gameplay over an original theme. My earlier comments should not be considered a poke at the mapmaker (who has a made a great map) but at all of the mapmakers out there who couldn't come up with something. You should all consider the brainpower that went into #3 and #2 and wonder if you capable of such feats.

The winning map can, of course, have no theme and just be called "Centerscape" but I don't think that will bring in the players that the same map will attract if it's got a really good idea behind it. Or it can be called Centerscape and create an entirely new land of dragons and magic. Hmm, a few dragons would kinda kick ass on that map.

As a former student of Near East history I would LOVE to see #3 remade as just what it is - the Epic Tales of Gilgamesh. Nobody has a copyright on Gilgamesh. The story is there, the map looks beautiful, and the gameplay has already been proven.

Don't understand this hype for #4, at all.

[saaimen]

The story is there, the map looks beautiful, and the gameplay has already been proven.
Don't understand this hype for #4, at all.

One of my kind

[mibi]

I believe #2 is none other than our own BryGuy! Well done on some markable improvement.

[RjBeals]

I believe #2 is none other than our own BryGuy! Well done on some markable improvement.

and where the hell have you been !

[WidowMakers]

I believe #2 is none other than our own BryGuy! Well done on some markable improvement.

and where the hell have you been !

haha

[whitestazn88]

I believe #2 is none other than our own BryGuy! Well done on some markable improvement.

what map has he done?