An Open Call for Awesome Maps

[kaen]

I'm looking for maps for the Solid Gold Levels server. Please feel free to add your suggestions here. Solid Gold is meant to be a server of hand-picked maps (in contrast to kaen test) for playing "plain-old" bitfighter.

Maps that go on Solid Gold must:

• Be generally acknowledged as "good"
• Be interesting/fun to skilled players
• Be friendly to and playable by newcomers
• Follow the intuitive rules and rhythm of bitfighter
• Have a reasonable time and/or score limit

Maps that go on Solid Gold must not:

• Be dungeons
• Abuse the physics of Bitfighter (e.g. speedzone guns)
• Frustrate new players (e.g. speedzone traps in general)

The maps don't have to be new (or old), and you can also suggest maps that you've made yourself. I have the final thumbs up/down for any maps suggested, but I am actively seeking input and discussion from the community. If I don't pick a map, it doesn't mean I think it's bad, just that it doesn't fit what I'm trying to do with Solid Gold. You may also discuss the removal of maps from the rotation in this thread.

Here's the current rotation of the server (will be updated when changes are made):

• Gold Mine by Uncredited (Hunters)
• Bridge by By Hamster.rs & sky_lark (Team CTF)
• Geo-war by Uncredited (Team CTF)
• Honeycomb by Dr. Spacebar (Team Bitmatch)
• Spooning Leads to Forking by Quartz (Team Soccer)
• Pathetic Humans by Quartz (Team Retrieve)
• Double Lucky by Quartz (Team Retrieve)
• Encore by Quartz (Team Core)
• Endless War by By Philip Turner, polished by sky_lark (Team Retrieve)
• Fist Fight by Uncredited (Team Retrieve)
• Bubblegum Wars by Quartz (Team ZoneControl)
• Red vs Blue by Lamp (Team Core)
• Blitz by By Philip Turner (Team Retrieve)
• Snail World by Quartz (Team ZoneControl)
• Wrath of the Rabid Chipmunk by Quartz (Team Rabbit)
• The Grid by Quartz (Team ZoneControl)
• Diamonds are Forever by Quartz (Team Retrieve)
• the jog by Invisible (Team CTF)
• In The Deep by Quartz (Team Retrieve)
• Arena by bobdaduck (Team Bitmatch)
• Ninja Bunny by Quartz (Team Rabbit)
• CTF-Compass by Quartz (Team CTF)
• Tight Space by Quartz (Team Retrieve)
• Mini-Colloseum by Quartz (Team Hunters)
• Colosseum by Original Zap! Level (Team Hunters)
• Convey by qui (Team Hunters)
• Kompressor's Gambit (Zap! verison) by Uncredited (Team CTF)
• Maya by Quartz (Team HTF)
• They Call Me Crazy by Quartz (Team Retrieve)
• Around the Bend by Quartz (Team HTF)
• Push Of War by Quartz (Team Soccer)
• Cavity Search by Quartz (Team Retrieve)
• Forest of Fear by Quartz (Team Nexus)
• Firefight by Quartz (Team HTF)
• Fear by Uncredited (Team ZoneControl)
• Eden by Uncredited (Team CTF)
• Cure For The Itch by Quartz (Team Bitmatch)
• Search and Destroy by Quartz (Team Bitmatch)
• Plumbing by By Hamster, remastered by sky_lark (Team Retrieve)
• Progress by Quartz (Team Core)
• Rack City by Quartz (Team CTF)
• Serpentine by Quartz (Team ZoneControl)
• Surfing with the Alien by Quartz (Team Retrieve)
• Twofer by Quartz (Team Retrieve)
• Smile by By Drex, tweaked by sky_lark (Team CTF)

(this list is generated via an automatic script; my computer has bad English)

Obviously, some of these don't belong and other great maps are missing.

Let's make an awesome server, guys!

Edit 3/19/2013:
I dumped most of Quartz' map pack onto the server, as well as Lamp's Red vs. Blue. I will be pruning the list aggressively once I get some feedback. I want to have a manageable selection of undeniably good maps rather than a ton of mediocre ones.

Edit 3/19/2013:
Added sky_lark's greatest hits for evaluation as well as Gold Mine, Honeycomb, and Fear (I think it's the right one anyway...)

[watusimoto]

Geo War was by Qui; it was a stock level for a time because the design is so awesome, but we pulled it in part because it didn't play very well. It's essentially a back-and-forth CTF with a choke-point in the center.

The two levels I always like are the gold mining one (nexus?) and the honeycomb HTF with the forcefields dividing the cells (3 teams). Sorry I can't remember their names, but I am sure others here will know them.

[kaen]

"Gold Mine" and "Honeycomb", I believe

[bobdaduck]

You're missing "Solar Eclipse" (though the art is a bit outrageous) and "Tube", both by me.

I'll think about more though.

Kompressor's Gambit and Colosseum were Zap! stock maps.

I don't remember Fistfight, but it might be one of the Z.A.P. stock maps.

[Quartz]

You're missing "Solar Eclipse" (though the art is a bit outrageous) and "Tube", both by me.

I'll second the votes of confidence for those. Solar Eclipse is great, although it's pretty huge. Good for 4v4s and above. Tube is just awesome.

I was surprised by No Time Like the Present being on there ... it looks good at first, but honestly, I've come to learn that Teleporters in Rabbit are awful, no exceptions.

kaen, I just compiled this partly out of your request. I'm aware that well over half of those probably aren't "solid gold," solid silver perhaps but not gold (har har har). Either way, I'm sure you'll enjoy browsing through them all, and feel free to pick and choose as you please.

Some other random maps I would suggest:

Fear (cloakdood) - Plays very well, awesome design, etc.

Factory (bobdaduck) - Great combination of very solid CTF gameplay and moderately fun art. My personal favorite bobdaduck map.

Short (Hobo) - Has that stock Zone Control feel; it really seems to be a combination of Grid Iron and Diamond. It plays great.

I can get you all three of these. They should be attached to this post.

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=1828&p=18597#p18597


I'm proud of this map and it's sorta my first solid map i think

[bobdaduck]

Get rid of geo war, Colosseum, convey, fist fight, and no time like the present. Maybe kompressor's gambit too, if you don't want stock maps on the server.

[kaen]

Pretty much the day that I started this thread my living situation (which is... erratic of late) changed such that I only have Internet access via my phone. As a result, I can not access my server to make any changes. As soon as things stabilize this is my first priority. Sorry for the delay.

(It seems the contest server has mercifully stayed up, but if it goes down it will stay that way until I get everything going again)

[Quartz]

Get rid of geo war, Colosseum, convey, fist fight, and no time like the present. Maybe kompressor's gambit too, if you don't want stock maps on the server.

Fist Fight is a pretty competitive, good map. Only issue is that it has 4 flags, which is just plain too many ... it would be perfect with 3.
Convey is garbage, I agree it should go.
Kompressor's Gambit is kinda overrated, though it's certainly not bad. I certainly don't think of it as an "awesome map," but it's pretty good so whatever.
No Time Like The Present = Teleporters in Rabbit. Bad map.
Colosseum is good, but it's huge. You could always replace it with my slight edit to the map, "Mini-Colosseum."
*Shrugs*
Geo-War is okay.

Pretty much the day that I started this thread my living situation (which is... erratic of late) changed such that I only have Internet access via my phone. As a result, I can not access my server to make any changes. As soon as things stabilize this is my first priority. Sorry for the delay.

(It seems the contest server has mercifully stayed up, but if it goes down it will stay that way until I get everything going again)

That would explain things. Good luck

I personally like both Fist Fight and Geo-war. From a critical perspective I can point out some flaws in Geo-war but nonetheless it's a fun map to play. Fist Fight in my eyes is excellent and really encourages tough offense and defense from all players.

edit: of course, like pretty much any retrieve, playing 1v1 on fist fight is going to suck due to flag trading and the like. However, with 2v2 or higher it becomes a lot more fun.

[kaen]

I'm back from hiatus (for good now) so I can actually take care of all this.

my maps Swarmed and Detour are good.

sky_lark's Greatest Hits list:

- Endless War, by Philip Turner.*
- Blitz, by Philip Turner.
- Smile, by Drex.*
- Plumbing, by Hamster.*
- Bridge, by Hamster and redesigned by sky_lark.
- Eden, by absolute.

*Denotes updates.

View THIS THREAD for descriptions and map downloads.

While I wholeheartedly recommend all maps on my list, their true appeal can only be enjoyed with the presence of a large crowd and upbeat atmosphere. In other words, many of the maps on my list are simply not fun with less than 3v3, and are designed for 5v5 or 6v6. Namely, Plumbing, Bridge, and Blitz need at least 5v5 to be properly played, whereas Smile, Eden, and Endless War can make do with 3v3.

The only other suggestions I would make are either already on the list or already nominated. I love Fistfight. I don't feel bad about offending George Bush, so I'll say this: His rabbit map is not gold-worthy. There are way too many teleporters for quick exits and the TestItems are more annoying than actually useable as obstacles. To be constructive, I'm a fan of Drex's Rabbit and the original Zap! rabbit, Elmer's Revenge. (Both have been uploaded here for your convenience.)

I also support the existing nominations of Gold Mine, Honeycomb, Fear. All are quality maps and would make good additions to your server.

[Quartz]

UnderRecover by Qui. It's on Kaentest. Super cool map.

Sorry for the bump, but are all these maps on the forums? This looks like it would make a kickass playlist.

[Quartz]

Well, all my stuff is certainly on Pleiades. Almost all of them have screenshots too, finally...