After the Summer, we'll be organising the 2015 edition of the Nations Challenge (formerly known as Country Championship). In order to do so, we're going to need plenty of maps (and maptesters). To give you lots of time over the Summer, we've decided to release the maprequest now.

Map requirements
Please make sure your map complies with the following requirements:

Requirements says:
Mapname: "ESL - Name"

• Add the spaces around the "-"
  
• Start your mapname with a capital
  
• Team- and playernames (exact or similar) are not allowed in the mapname
  
• No special signs are allowed in the name
  

General requirements

• Maplength: 40-65 seconds
  
• GPS, intros and outros are forbidden
  
• Give the map a delicate and nice outlook

Blockusage

• Embedded blocks are allowed (preferably not as scenery)
  
• Placing checkpoints backwards is forbidden (only in special cases)
  
• Blockmixing is allowed, if it does not produce graphical glitches or driving bugs
  
• Add a podium to your map!
  
• The scenery is up to you (make sure it doesn't produce lags, lighting problems or graphical bugs!)
  

Sign usage

• Use of the ESL signs is mandatory!
  
• Signpack announcement
  
• Dark versions available in original news
  
• Follow the guidelines in the announcement
  
• Make sure you have all signs work properly (check the dynamic signs!)
  

Map availability

• The map has not been used in any competition before
  
• The map is only known by yourself
  
• The map is not uploaded anywhere
  

Send your validated map(s), together with a replay to: tm.maps.canyon@staff.eslgaming.com

Use "Maps - CNC'15 - your nickname" as mailsubject, your mail might be missed otherwise.
The deadline for sending in your map(s) is Sunday, 23rd of August!

Map testers
Currently we are looking for map testers to help out with selecting the best maps. If you feel that you are a competent map tester, feel free to open up a support ticket (or contact TheM directly), saying why you would make good map tester. It is not our goal to restrict access to our competitions for the people who help out as map testers, though every team competing in the CNC'15 may only have one map tester in its line-up. This means that potential map testers will (also) be selected on nationality (unless they won't drive in the competition).

In order to keep a fair spirit, all ratings from the map testers will be directly send to the adminteam, who will combine a list of all ratings. This way the chance of the map testers knowing which maps will be used will be reduced, but not ruled out completely. We ask the map testers to keep good sportmanship in their minds and refrain from extensively training the maps before they are released. This also means that being a map tester is a matter of trust!

Check the original news on ESLGaming.com
Follow us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter

"Start your mapname with a capital"

Seriously? Naziest rules ever xD

It's time to begin building again!!

wormi says:
"Start your mapname with a capital"

Seriously? Naziest rules ever xD

Trying to keep the naming a bit uniform.
It won't get your map disqualified.

I sent a map

TheM says:

• No special signs are allowed in the name
  

Does this only refer to the actual text of the map name, or does this include things like italics($i), narrow($n), and so on?

Also, the art on the signs is fine, if a bit limited re: choices, but whoever had the idea of making them both white and self-illuminating/fullbright wasn't thinking things through very well. Sometimes they look okay, but other times they look terrible, depending on the lighting. If you're in shadow (like a tunnel) looking at a sign, you can't even read it.

It looks like this:


That's a right arrow.

How about spinning off another set of signs that look just like the first ones, but aren't glowy? Or allowing us to use normal TM2 signs when it's impossible for the player to read the ESL ones?

Edit: I just checked, and the default TM2 right arrow is kind of bad too (because the arrow is white and very large), but not as bad as the ESL version. I normally use Enai Siaion's MX2 signs (hosted by Mania Exchange)--they include various colors, including a black set that's easily readable in all lighting conditions. Here's the same sign using a right arrow from that set:


This wouldn't be an issue if whoever made the originals could just spin off a second inverted set w. black background--it would take like 10 minutes in Photoshop...

Final question: Can you enter more than one track?

pjw says:

TheM says:

• No special signs are allowed in the name
  

Does this only refer to the actual text of the map name, or does this include things like italics($i), narrow($n), and so on?

It only refers to the characters in the name - styling is of course allowed.

pjw says:
How about spinning off another set of signs that look just like the first ones, but aren't glowy? Or allowing us to use normal TM2 signs when it's impossible for the player to read the ESL ones?

Edit: I just checked, and the default TM2 right arrow is kind of bad too (because the arrow is white and very large), but not as bad as the ESL version. I normally use Enai Siaion's MX2 signs (hosted by Mania Exchange)--they include various colors, including a black set that's easily readable in all lighting conditions. Here's the same sign using a right arrow from that set:

This wouldn't be an issue if whoever made the originals could just spin off a second inverted set w. black background--it would take like 10 minutes in Photoshop...

Driveability is the main issue of a map. If placing such a sign is causing those problems, you can use other signs. Also think about whether or not the sign is needed.
The signs are initially created for Stadium, where such dark circumstances are far less. I'll ask for redesigned darker signs, but I don't expect them for this competition.

pjw says:
Final question: Can you enter more than one track?

You're free to send as many maps as you want. But remember: quality over quantity

Pjw: You can just go in the mediatracker of your map and set the effect: BloomHDR lower. Then you won't have these difficulties, but anyways I doubt anyone will have a problem with it in the first place because you can just turn the general bloom effect off ingame.

TheM says:
Driveability is the main issue of a map. If placing such a sign is causing those problems, you can use other signs. Also think about whether or not the sign is needed.
The signs are initially created for Stadium, where such dark circumstances are far less. I'll ask for redesigned darker signs, but I don't expect them for this competition.

Thank you for the quick answers and flexibility; it's greatly appreciated!

//>>°Lars// says:
Pjw: You can just go in the mediatracker of your map and set the effect: BloomHDR lower. Then you won't have these difficulties, but anyways I doubt anyone will have a problem with it in the first place because you can just turn the general bloom effect off ingame.

Thanks Lars! I didn't realize that was even part of the ambiance MT. I had to knock it down to .25 before things started looking okay (and I only have bloom set to "medium" in my settings). I'll probably use that solution for this track, rather than mix up sign types, which would look a little odd.

I realize that people can just turn off bloom, but I don't want to penalize the people who have it on.

Contrary to what I said earlier, dark signs are being worked on and should be ready late today or tomorrow.