I just can't agree with the judging on this contest at all, I'm sorry.
I grabbed the top 5 finalists, here are my thoughts (from the order listed on their page):
Shiota (called Shanghai in-game):
This map is visually appealing. And that is where the buck stops, unfortunately. There is NO FLOW, NO GAMEPLAY and the map is absolutely humongous. Replayability is extremely low, I couldn't even finish one match before I got bored of running for ages before finding any enemies. It has far too many open areas where sniping is just too easy and I got caught on all kinds of geometry just running around on paths that the map guides you through. Weapons are in inconvenient places, and spawns are not close to even mildly desirable map locations. Basically, the theme is nice and the map looks good but that is all.
Fun: 1/5
Gameplay: 1/5
Visuals: 4.5/5 (dropped half a point for some goofiness on corners and broken/missing blocking volumes)
Replayability: 1/5
Total: 1.8/5
Xenon (DM-Xenon in-game):
This map is alright, but it's lighting scheme is way too dark. About half the time I could not see opponents because they looked exactly the same as the architecture. The map is also extremely cramped. It's hard to use any tactics because most of the time you are stuffed into tiny little hallways. The overall look of the level is pretty bland for the most part with architecture that all looks the same and not really placed creatively at all. The flow is decent, though, and it's probably fairly replayable. However, due to mistakes like lifts looking exactly like the architecture, it was hard for me to care about the level at all.
Fun: 1/5
Gameplay: 4/5
Visuals: 1/5
Replayability: 3/5
Total: 2.25/5
WhiteRealm (WhiteRealm in-game):
Probably the best thing about this map is clever use of lighting when going into and out of the main building and to different parts of the building. If I were giving points for style, this map would certainly get them. Even still, though, the lighting effects really add to the atmosphere here and make the level really fun. It has nice flow, as well, which is surprising to me considering the theme of the level, but the author actually made it work very nicely. I also thought it was quite replayable since I played more than one match on it.
Fun: 4.5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Visuals: 5/5
Replayability: 4/5
Total: 4.6/5
Nimius (Nimius in-game):
I found this map to be the worst of them all. The layout was.... nonexistant. The low gravity made it even worse. The bots did nothing but get confused. Often bouncing off the same lift dozens of times, walking way out to the edge of the map and squatting, trying to jump on a tiny ledge and missing, etc. Part of the problem with this map is that there was not a consistent design. You could walk on certain parts of the ship, and you could not walk on other parts that looked more obviously designed to do so. There were only a few flat places that didn't require jumping so sniping is quite prevalent and works far too well. The weapon placement does not feel intelligent and I just couldn't stand to play this one for more than a few minutes. Really, really poor choice. Visually, it was okayish. I liked the idea of the map, but the execution just was not good.
Fun: 0/5
Gameplay: 1/5
Visuals: 2/5
Replayability: 0/5
Total: 0.75/5
Calibrah (Calibrah in-game):
This map also really cleverly uses lighting, but in a much different way than WhiteRealm. There is an invulnerability pickup, and whenever someone has it, the lighting scheme of the map completely changes. Typically, I would say having invulnerability in a map is a big no-no, however it is used so cleverly in Calibrah that I have a hard time faulting it for that. Visually, the map is awesome, the theme is done superbly and the design is great. Blocking volumes are placed well and weapons and spawns are as well. I find this to be the most fun of the maps in the top 5. I have it on my regular instant action rotation. The bots play it well and you could take the invulnerability out and still have an awesome and playable map.
Fun: 5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Visuals: 5/5
Replayability: 5/5
Total: 5/5
I played through Marauder and I simply cannot believe it wasn't even in the top ten. It could have been a stock map and been as good or better than any of them.
I grabbed the top 5 finalists, here are my thoughts (from the order listed on their page):
Shiota (called Shanghai in-game):
This map is visually appealing. And that is where the buck stops, unfortunately. There is NO FLOW, NO GAMEPLAY and the map is absolutely humongous. Replayability is extremely low, I couldn't even finish one match before I got bored of running for ages before finding any enemies. It has far too many open areas where sniping is just too easy and I got caught on all kinds of geometry just running around on paths that the map guides you through. Weapons are in inconvenient places, and spawns are not close to even mildly desirable map locations. Basically, the theme is nice and the map looks good but that is all.
Fun: 1/5
Gameplay: 1/5
Visuals: 4.5/5 (dropped half a point for some goofiness on corners and broken/missing blocking volumes)
Replayability: 1/5
Total: 1.8/5
Xenon (DM-Xenon in-game):
This map is alright, but it's lighting scheme is way too dark. About half the time I could not see opponents because they looked exactly the same as the architecture. The map is also extremely cramped. It's hard to use any tactics because most of the time you are stuffed into tiny little hallways. The overall look of the level is pretty bland for the most part with architecture that all looks the same and not really placed creatively at all. The flow is decent, though, and it's probably fairly replayable. However, due to mistakes like lifts looking exactly like the architecture, it was hard for me to care about the level at all.
Fun: 1/5
Gameplay: 4/5
Visuals: 1/5
Replayability: 3/5
Total: 2.25/5
WhiteRealm (WhiteRealm in-game):
Probably the best thing about this map is clever use of lighting when going into and out of the main building and to different parts of the building. If I were giving points for style, this map would certainly get them. Even still, though, the lighting effects really add to the atmosphere here and make the level really fun. It has nice flow, as well, which is surprising to me considering the theme of the level, but the author actually made it work very nicely. I also thought it was quite replayable since I played more than one match on it.
Fun: 4.5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Visuals: 5/5
Replayability: 4/5
Total: 4.6/5
Nimius (Nimius in-game):
I found this map to be the worst of them all. The layout was.... nonexistant. The low gravity made it even worse. The bots did nothing but get confused. Often bouncing off the same lift dozens of times, walking way out to the edge of the map and squatting, trying to jump on a tiny ledge and missing, etc. Part of the problem with this map is that there was not a consistent design. You could walk on certain parts of the ship, and you could not walk on other parts that looked more obviously designed to do so. There were only a few flat places that didn't require jumping so sniping is quite prevalent and works far too well. The weapon placement does not feel intelligent and I just couldn't stand to play this one for more than a few minutes. Really, really poor choice. Visually, it was okayish. I liked the idea of the map, but the execution just was not good.
Fun: 0/5
Gameplay: 1/5
Visuals: 2/5
Replayability: 0/5
Total: 0.75/5
Calibrah (Calibrah in-game):
This map also really cleverly uses lighting, but in a much different way than WhiteRealm. There is an invulnerability pickup, and whenever someone has it, the lighting scheme of the map completely changes. Typically, I would say having invulnerability in a map is a big no-no, however it is used so cleverly in Calibrah that I have a hard time faulting it for that. Visually, the map is awesome, the theme is done superbly and the design is great. Blocking volumes are placed well and weapons and spawns are as well. I find this to be the most fun of the maps in the top 5. I have it on my regular instant action rotation. The bots play it well and you could take the invulnerability out and still have an awesome and playable map.
Fun: 5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Visuals: 5/5
Replayability: 5/5
Total: 5/5
I played through Marauder and I simply cannot believe it wasn't even in the top ten. It could have been a stock map and been as good or better than any of them.