SC2Mapster

Xylophone by DrHu

Yes the Galaxy Editor is amazing. Check this xylophone synthesizer made by DrHu. The audio is recorded from his keyboard and imported to the map. Now I want a rock band game.. Or at least a piano :)

Copy Pasta Edit Box Patch 1.2 PTR

Among all of the new functionality in patch 1.2, you might be particularly interested in Edit Boxes, where you can type stuff, copy and paste easily. This could inspire many idea for custom maps. Download the map and test in 1.2 if you want to try

Yet Another Card Game by zenx1

I probably shouldn't forget newsing project in between even though patch 1.2 is so interesting to test out. If you remembered our tournament with The Card Game, this map is similar to it, just with different mechanics and more cards. Contact the author if you want to test it.

Updates 5: Even though the patch does not include the editor, we forced it to run maps and have some good news for you :). Check this thread for the latest findings

• How to run your map in PTR: Create a shortcut with command line like this

Quote from Renee:

"E:\Games\Blizzard\StarCraft II\StarCraft II Public Test.exe" -run "D:\3.sc2map"

• Mouse tracking system is implemented with MouseMoved events. Here's a video of it in action

• Bank protection is using a signature system inside the bank file. Need more investigation on that.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Bank version="1">
    <Section name="String">
        <Key name="Intro">
            <Value string="This NOT is a test"/>
        </Key>
    </Section>
    <Signature value="92DAE3793E2DA72F09F02B4350AE0AA52FD126C1"/>
</Bank>

• UI layout can be overridden with layout files. Some screenshots from Renee

Quote:

Updates 4: These info are confirmed through data mining. Posts any undocumented changes here and discuss the patch notes here. Join sc2mapster channel if you're on PTR

• Blizzard DOTA is renamed to Blizzard All-Stars. Posters for all 4 custom maps can be found in the game archive

Quote:

• Blizzard DOTA is unlikely to be released with patch 1.2. However, there seems to be achievements for 3 other maps

Quote from Achiement.txt:

224=AiurChef_01
225=AiurChef_02
226=AiurChef_03
227=AiurChef_04
228=AiurChef_05
229=Left2Die_01
230=Left2Die_02
231=Left2Die_03
232=Left2Die_04
233=Left2Die_05
234=Left2Die_06
235=Left2Die_07
236=Left2Die_08
237=StarJeweled_01
238=StarJeweled_02
239=StarJeweled_03
240=StarJeweled_04
241=StarJeweled_05
242=StarJeweled_06
243=StarJeweled_07

Updates 3: If you're in PTR server, join us on sc2mapster channels. (Remember to check the Auto-Join Channels in Options). Overall the battlenet design is improved, the new hotkey and chat channels look very nice. Posts your screenshots here.

Updates 2: The popularity system is changed to reflect map playtime in PTR server. Stay tuned for any updates.

Updates: Public Test Region is now live for NA region and any users with active account before 11/11. Check the FAQs for more info. To play in the PTR region, patch your SC2 to the latest, exit and find the "StarCraft II Public Test.exe" in your SC2 Folder

Hell, its about time !!! (sorry gotta do it)

Quote from Blizzard:

StarCraft II Patch 1.2.0 - PTR Notes

General

Battle.net

• Battle.net Chat Channels have been added:

- Players can now join others in both public and private channels.

- Added in-game chat bar command to whisper to other players. Using the /w command will pop up an auto-complete list which includes: friends, party members, chat channels, and other players within your current game.

• Added a Battle.net option to auto-join previous private channels.

• Added a Battle.net option to prevent chat channel text from appearing in the in-game chat display.

Custom Maps

• Map makers can now use custom UI layout files to create new UI or override existing game UI.

Gameplay

• Stalemate Detection has been added:

- The game will end in a tie for all remaining players if no players have income, production, or destroyed any structures for three consecutive minutes.

- A countdown timer will now appear when the game detects this scenario.

• Several help dialogue and tech tree improvements have been made:

- In-game help is now available in Battle.net.

- The help dialog’s tech tree has been improved.

- Unit information in the help dialog now displays abilities and upgrades.

• Selecting different units in quick succession will now fade out existing replies to play the most recent reply.

• When selecting a Vespene Geyser, the number of current harvesters will be displayed in the info panel.

Graphics

• An Extreme graphics option has been added:

- Players can now configure screen space ambient occlusion.

- Unit information in the help dialog now displays abilities and upgrades.

Interface

• Customizable Hotkey Support has been added.

• Mouse buttons can now be bound to the Push-To-Talk hotkey.

• System Alert panel has been moved to the top of the screen – duration of most system alerts has been reduced.

Added a hotkey to Pause/Resume game for both single-player and multiplayer (Pause/Break key).

• Added a toggle button to the in-game replay panel to show or hide duration information.

• Added a hotkey indicator option to show the primary hotkey on top of command buttons.

• Added an option to disable any error sounds. The Response Sounds checkbox now controls whether unit-specific audio is used for error sounds instead of a generic buzz.

Leagues and Ladders

• A new Master League has been added.

- This league now represents the highest tier of ladder players.

Replays

• Several Save/Replay File dialogue improvements have been made:

- Prints current directory name above file list.

- Added sort order icons to Name and Date columns.

- Added the ability to rename.

- Added filters for Autosave and Unsaved.

- Added an option to permanently save all replays. Checking this option will mark all unsaved replays as being saved.

• Camera following behavior for observers and replays has been improved.

Balance

• PROTOSS

- Hallucination research time decreased from 110 to 80.

- Observer

Cost decreased from 50/100 to 25/75.

- Phoenix Build time decreased from 45 to 35.

- Void Ray

Now deals 20% more damage to massive targets.

Flux Vanes speed upgrade removed.

• TERRAN

- Bunker

Build time decreased from 35 to 30.

This is only a temporary change for the patch 1.2.0 PTR.

- SCV

Repairing SCVs now assume the same threat priority as the unit they’re repairing.

SCV construction movement made more consistent.

• ZERG

- Infestor

Fungal Growth no longer affects air units.

StarCraft II Editor + Bug Fixes

Read more... (3 pages of bug fixes and editor changes)

Updates: New battlenet forum for the Public Test Region that will be on patch 1.2 is already set up. The Story Forum is already live as well if you want to check it out

Patch 1.2 is imminent. Expect to get your hands on that Christmas present before the end of Dec. If you know Italians, follow some blue talks in this thread. It seems that there is a surprise feature yet to be announced :)

Corruption ORPG by JakeCake26

While gameplay might be important when developing a project, eye candies sure sells it. This ORPG really did it for me. Amazing lightning, nice visual effect and terrain. I just want to test it now but unfortunately he's from EU. Give the map a try.

Cheat Codes by Blizzard

Blizzard has published their official list of cheat codes. Check them out. Leave a comments below to help me explain all the references

Updates: Alternative cheat codes from sixen. These all works but is not documented

Storymode Campaign Tutorials by Insidious

Interested on some campaign but not sure how to make the dialog like blizzard ? Head over to this thread and find out. Feel free to contribute anything you learned from the campaign map. This video is an example of what you can do

Instead of making games and fighting with each other for the top spot in the popularity lists, there is still a potential area of the Galaxy Editor I haven't seen much love: Cinematic and machinima

Massive Warefare by hentaiforeva

Just want some epic battle with explosions everywhere? Enjoy this massive invasion from the beach lead by Commander Shepard and give your eyes a treat.

DavidCraft Ep1 by DavidCraftMachinima

Want some machinima of some tier 1 units talking about their everyday life ? DavidCraft's first episode is out now. I hope there will be more in the future.

Archi Melee Maps by Archivian

Mapster has occasionally featured many melee maps made by our users, even a melee contest recently. However it was hard to justify which maps are actually good due to my noobish melee play so I will consider awesomeness instead. This map pack with 8 maps by Archivian would definitely be considered awesome.

Quote:

Storm's Keep by Qancakes

If you have been so tired of the popularity system or multiplayer maps, try this single player campaign by Qancakes. You are a ghost send to a distant zerg infested planet to investigate the problems. Even though the maps is quite easy, you still have 45 minutes of a good story and nice terrain. Download the map on mapster or find it on battlenet EU.

Blizzard is having an epic sale for WOW and all of its expansions in preparation for Cataclysm's launch that ends in 30 Nov. Grab one now if you haven't.

New Gameplay Videos by Blizzard

A new gameplay video was released by Blizzard featuring the sexy adjutant's voice. Watch it to see how gorgeous the game looks on ultra or trying to learn some cinematic experiences.

Maze Generator by Nexius22

Not only good for games, the galaxy language for SC2 is very capable of solving complex math problems. In this map, Nexius22 used a Depth-first search algorithm to generate a random maze.

Next round of featured maps is live on US. Both of them are fun minigames.

• Roach Snake by Pakaran
• Raynor Party by Blinn

Banelings by HuskyStarcraft

You probably have seen this video, HuskyStarcraft's latest music parody of Justin Bieber's Baby has gone viral for the last 2 days. Enjoy the catchy tunes.

Banelings Fluid by progammer

Following the banelings trend, I have made some experiments with SC2's pathing and collision system to come up with this fluid simulation of banelings. Imagine what it would be like to bath in banelings :) (SC2's pathing system is probably the best system in gaming to date)

Dialog Designer by Doubotis

If you have ever step into designing a custom UI for your maps like I did, you probably have been frustrated by the lack of immediate results and have to test the map anytime you make minuscule changes. Dialog Designer is a map created for that sole purpose. By running the map you can create dialog, button, image, color or resize them and be able to retrieve the end results for your map via bank file. Even texture of the dialog can be changed and take effect in real time.

Another bonus: The map is available in both English and French, what more can you expect?

Battlenet Press Interview by SCLegacy

Blizzon has been over for several weeks. However SCLegacy has recently released their exclusive press interview about Battlenet. Head over to their Blizzcon 2010 coverage page or discuss them in this thread.

There are 4 parts total and this second part talks about custom map the most :)

Blizzcon Custom Map Review by SCLegacy

Not only providing detailed coverage from blizzcon, we also have 4 detailed reviews of blizzard-made custom map from SCLegacy users playing at blizzcon, from StarJeweled, Left 2 Die to Blizzard Dota :)

Quote from SaharaDrac:

Anyone familiar with the hit game Bejewled or any one of its dozens of impostors will immediately feel right at home in Starjeweled. The basic gameplay involves a grid of jewels, and players must swap one jewel at a time to make a match of three or more in a row, which will cause the matched gems to disappear. Where Starjewled differs from the standard puzzle game genre is that instead of simply earning points, you earn resources. With this simple deviation it adds Tower Defense elements to an already established game type. Resources are used to purchase units that automatically move towards your opponents base, a feature similar to the classic Warcraft 3 Tower Defense map, Wintermaul Wars. The more gems you clear and the more chain reactions you cause, the more resources you earn, and the more resources you have, the more powerful units you can send. However, you must act fast, as your enemy will be sending units to your base simultaneously.

Read more...

Quote from SaharaDrac:

Read more
.......
GRUNTY
Grunty is a Murloc Marine. He is an AGI (agility) carry type hero, with high damage and very low hit points. Think of him as the Stealth Assassin with a ranged attack replacing cloak.

KERRIGAN
Kerrigan is an AOE spellcaster INT (Intelligence) hero. She can be compared to heroes like Krobelus, Darchow, or Lion from the original DotA.

LEVEL 80 ELITE TAUREN CHIEFTAIN
L80ETC is a short-ranged tank STR (Strength) hero. He is less comparable to DotA heroes, but he has a stun similar to Storm Bolt, a scatter shot like the Dwarven Sniper, and a AOE buff like the Lycanthrope. He also has very high HP.

LEON
Leon is a new character, an AGI based Dominion Sniper. He has cloak, long ranged snipe attacks, and can call down Nukes.

MURADIN
Muradin is a carbon copy of the Mountain King from DotA, with an armor passive and a defense buffing AOE Warcry added on.

RAYNOR
Raynor is a support INT hero, featuring many buffs and reinforcement abilities, befitting his role as a battlefield leader.

STITCHES
Stitches is another carry over from DotA - Pudge from the original DotA. In addition to Pudge's classic abilities. He also has a powerful new AOE ult and and armor building passive.

SYLVANAS
Sylvanas is the Dark Ranger from DotA, with added abilities such as a spread shot to make her even more deadly.

ULTIMATON
Ultimaton the Ultralisk is an interesting tank hero that blends the functionality of the Ultralisk in StarCraft II with abilities such as trample and cleave, and Leoric the Skeleton King from DotA, including Reincarnation.

VAEVICTUS
Vaevictus the Hydralisk combines abilities like Shadowstrike and Poison, like his counterpart the Venomancer, with things like Burrowed Movement and even the activatable Rapid Regeneration, similar to Dr. Mundo's in League of Legends.

ZA'MURO
Za'Muro is a more enhanced version of DotA's Blademaster. He gains damage from the number of enemies in his area, while maintaining his classic abilities like counter attack and Bladestorm.

ZERATUL
Zeratul is an AGI hero similar to the Phantom Lancer. Only better, because he's Zeratul - period.

Read more...

Voliar's Revenge by Skoite

For those Final Fantasy fans out there that haven't' heard from any project update recently, don't worry, Skoite is still on it. Voliar's Revenge is the turn based Final Fantasy with a futuristic theme. Any details have been amazing so far :)