[fray`Alpha]

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment

Beginning with Season 4, we’ve been experimenting with prioritizing tournament-style maps on the StarCraft II ladder. Now, in Season 6, we’re giving player-created maps the spotlight!

+ [More Info] +

TeamLiquid.net recently hosted the TeamLiquid map contest to offer enthusiasts from the StarCraft II community a chance to show off their map making skills. The competitors in that contest were also tempted with the tantalizing possibility of seeing their creations featured on the official StarCraft II ladder. The contest was a smashing success and we had the opportunity to see the map contest finalists in action during the TL Open. The contest also gave you, the player community, a chance to share your opinions and shape StarCraft history by voting on your favorite maps in the wake of the tournament. The votes were tallied, the final winners were chosen, and the time has come! In Season 6, you can finally meet your fellow players in furious battle on top TeamLiquid map contest maps: Cloud Kingdom and Korhal Compound. We’re truly excited to give such high quality community created maps a place on the official ladder.

Season 6, which begins the week of February 14, brings with it the following changes to the existing map pool:

Maps being removed

(2) Xel’naga Caverns

Players have been enjoying Xel’naga Caverns since the StarCraft II beta. However, as this map is no longer preferred in a tournament setting, we’ve opted to pull it from the pool for this season.

(2) Arid Plateau

In the spirit of making every ladder map tournament viable, we added two new maps last season that would be true to that goal. We pushed some new features on Arid Plateau such as unusual natural expansions, and a lot of open areas around the map. Arid Plateau wasn’t as widely accepted as a tournament friendly map, so we’ve decided to retire it from the rotation for Season 6.


Maps being added

(2) Cloud Kingdom

By SUPEROUMAN and the other members of the ESV Mapmaking Team


(2) Korhal Compound

By monitor and the other members of the ESV Mapmaking Team

+ [Ohana will be added in a future ladder season] +

We would also like to recognize IronmanSC and the members of ESV and The Planetary Workshop (TPW) for their amazing work on Ohana, which took second place in the TeamLiquid map contest. We’re currently working with IronmanSC to help fix a few bugs while ensuring we retain the intent of the map, and once those are done we’ll be adding it to the pool for a future ladder season.

We will continue to change the map lineup on the StarCraft II ladder over time, and we’ll also maintain our focus on tournament-viable maps to ensure the fiercest competition. Maps that don’t make the cut will be replaced by maps that meet the standards set by major tournaments all around the globe.

Source: SC2 Battle.net


I am very happy with these changes

Quick Comments

	ToRSmotPokingFish:
	Fenner:	Amazing changes, best ladder pool so far
	nirvAnA:	ty for da info!
	Maynarde:	ESV MAPS
	xGKingdelete:
	SayfT:
	VB_Blake:

[Stallion]

OMG YES BLIZZARD cloud kingdom creates some amazing matches and xel naga caverns is old and arid plataeu was horrible il actually play the full map pool

also second new map looks like a modified belshir beach

[zendex]

Official News: http://sea.battle.net/sc2/en/blog/21...2_10_2012#blog

Removed:
"Xel’naga Caverns
Players have been enjoying Xel’naga Caverns since the StarCraft II beta. However, as this map is no longer preferred in a tournament setting, we’ve opted to pull it from the pool for this season.

Arid Plateau
In the spirit of making every ladder map tournament viable, we added two new maps last season that would be true to that goal. We pushed some new features on Arid Plateau such as unusual natural expansions, and a lot of open areas around the map. Arid Plateau wasn’t as widely accepted as a tournament friendly map, so we’ve decided to retire it from the rotation for Season 6."

Added:
ESV Cloud Kingdom


ESV Korhal Compound


Blizzard has hinted that ESV Ohana will follow:
"We would also like to recognize IronmanSC and the members of ESV and The Planetary Workshop (TPW) for their amazing work on Ohana, which took second place in the TeamLiquid map contest. We’re currently working with IronmanSC to help fix a few bugs while ensuring we retain the intent of the map, and once those are done we’ll be adding it to the pool for a future ladder season."

[ToRSmotPokingFish]

this i like very much

[Asrathiel]

Bwahahaha, die evil Arid Plateau!!!!

[Dox]

I was meaning to post this earlier today but work owned me. Thanks for doing this! Gonna move your post to the front page and add a bit more text/pics.

Quick Comments

syfChadMann:

nice work..

[ZergGirl]

so I suffer XNC for aaaaaaaaaaagggggggeeeeeeeeessssssssssss as Zerg, play terran for funtimes and it's removed.

so unfair :<

Quick Comments

Maynarde:

QQ more

[|Erasmus|]

Been discussed in the thread about season 5 lock for a few hours already guys... :P

[Stallion]

Originally Posted by ZergGirl

so I suffer XNC for aaaaaaaaaaagggggggeeeeeeeeessssssssssss as Zerg, play terran for funtimes and it's removed.

so unfair :<

that'll teach you for losing your self respect

Quick Comments

ToRCrispy:

[Kepler]

So happy about Xel'Naga. Now I have a free veto option.

Quick Comments

TAXanT:

[ToRSmotPokingFish]

Originally Posted by cruxStallion

that'll teach you for losing your self respect

a toss talking about self respect? :O FTW

Quick Comments

	RicocheT:	Yup Yup =D
	Lucien:	Amen

[Asrathiel]

Originally Posted by Kepler

So happy about Xel'Naga. Now I have a free veto option.

I had that and Arid both vetoed. Huzzah

Quick Comments

Kepler:

[Maynarde]

That new korhal map looks pretty AND BALANCED! Excite.

[iVnStinger]

Korhal should be Daybreak
Sad to see Xel Naga go,, GO DIE ARID.
GG thank you blizzard.

[FSBenAD]

Originally Posted by Asrathiel

I had that and Arid both vetoed. Huzzah

Haha so did I! They were my only two veto's I was using.. I am not sure if I'll veto any map now..

[rezyn8]

Happy to see XNC disappear but I loved Arid, will shed a tear for that map

Can't wait to give the new maps a spin on the ladder!

[TAEdgE]

Guess i'll have to learn to love Cloud Kingdom.

Love the map pool changes though. Can use my 2 vetoes easily (go away shattered)

[Kepler]

So glad I can use my veto on Destructible Rocks Temple.

[TABjornbrandr]

Arid and XNC made me want to stomp on a child, they were horrible and brought out my zerg tears.

[TASlowHands]

No more Xel Naga caverns?

I might actually have vetos left over for once, holy shit this is exciting