User blog comment:Varg Sven/LAST UPDATED: 2/13/2014 Map Contest: Varg to the rescue/@comment-3255675-20140213203506

I'm not sure if people like to play big maps. Big maps do not get played a lot on (Battle at City Center, Red Canyon, Waverider). The only exception to big maps are Fireteam maps, but you're not trying to make a Fireteam map. If you look at other successful maps, they're either small size (Dredge, Junk Flea, Grave Digger, Overdose, Sector 25, Vertigo) or medium size (Kill Creek, Ghost Town, Short Fuse). Unless it's a well thought out map (City of Wings [I think this map is popular because it's the only map that VIP Escort can only be played on], Hallow Ravine, Piazza), then must be really good. Notice the good map I mentioned have some sniping area or place in it. For some reason, a lot of players like to play snipers. The good maps also have some CQB and mid range in them (no one likes to be sniped all the time). Try to fit your map to these situations.

Do not make your map a "CAMO" setting, or have dark places (maps like Brushwood, Rural Estate, Dark Forest). Not a lot of people play on these kind of maps. Unless Nexon decides to give your map a dark setting, then I can't say anything else.

Do not make your map a similar setting like other maps. Think of a unique setting. (Sorry, I can't of any other settings, but if it's similar setting, it should have a distinct feature that less or no other maps have. It should stand out of other maps. Think outside the box, but not too hard that players will not like the complicated structure of the map.) Notice in the poll, no one wanted Desert Hole (we have desert maps already) and Space Station (we have Quantum Labs and Lunar Labs that people stop playing in after a few months).

Speaking of Quarantine, you should try to add at least 2 accessible saferooms if you can. YEEESH. * - *

Or, you can make your map, and make a separate Quarantine counterpart, like add in a few things or remove a few things. An example would be Oil Rig Quarantine. Nexon added more things to Oil Rig when it's Quarantine Mode.

If you can, support other game modes. If you can't, it's pretty fine (no one really plays a lot of Quarantine or Spy Hunt on Oil Rig and no one plays a lot of Elimination on Overdose). Different maps are good for different things, but maps are usually specialized to play a particular game mode (such as Warhead and Piazza's Search and Destroy). However, focus on Elimination the most, because it's still the #1 most played game mode.

Other than the above, good luck with making your map! When I think of more tips, I'll let you know. You have my full support! ^u^

- Jen