I have a new finished map over in the competitive form. A couple of people want me to make an MLG version to submit to MLG. I've never been involved with MLG and really know nothing about them, aside from knowing that they have a playlist in matchmaking. I went over to their site to see what specifications a map needs to be a true MLG map, and I didn't find any. Does anybody on here know, or can someone direct me to a list of official specifications? Also, if I go through with it, could I put "MLG" in the title of my map like: MLG [map name], or is that considered disrespectful to MLG, because only official maps can have that?
Do not put MLG in the title, because only maps in the circuit should have them. All you need is weapons that are in MLG on your map (DMR, Needle Rifle, Plasma Grenades, Frag Grenades, Health Packs, Sniper, Rocket Launcher, Grenade Launcher, Plasma Pistol, Custom, Camo, Evade). Not all of them, just whatever you feel suits the map. And they should be on MLG weapon and powerup times. I don't know what the times are.
The power weapons also need to be on drop spawn. I think the sniper timer is 120, 118 with drop spawn, with 1 spare clip, and the rocket timer is 180, 178 with drop spawn, with 1 spare clip as well. I think the DMRs nd NRs are on 10 second respawns, wih 2 spare clips. I've no idea about the PP, the grenades, the GL or the powerups any more.
But isn't it true that MLG maps are seriously competitive in design, not just which weapons or how they spawn?
Really, every competitive map can be considered MLG if it has the correct weapon set-up and uses the official MLG game-type. I suppose another thing that makes a map MLG would be (tac) jumps specifically suited to the jump height and movement speed of that game-type. Also, they are expected to have zero frame rate issues, which leads to the generalization that all MLG maps are bland, boring, bare-bones symmetrical maps made of 2x4s and brace larges. On a side note, MLG really needs some asym maps in rotation.
To my knowledge, I believe these to be the allowed weapons and spawn times. Power weapons: Rockets, 178, 1 SC Sniper, 118, 1 SC Grenade Launcher, 118, 4 SC Custom, 120 Evade/Jetpack, 1 (second) Other weapons: DMR, 10, 2 SC Needle Rifle, 10 2 SC Magnum, 30, 2 SC Plasma Pistol, 90 Grenades, 30 Healthpack, 30 - unless it's been changed recently. This makes me feel like quite a bit of the maps in the competitive section of FH shouldn't be there, then... Most MLG maps are generally less room-based and more top-mid control based, IMO.
Yeah, most mlg maps are 2-base arena maps, but that is just the problem with the forgers. MLG maps can still be room-based, vertical, asymmetrical. In fact, these are things MLG forgers should aim for. But designing them is incredibly hard. @OP: What makes an MLG map is one that eliminates every possible gimmick (Camping, for example) in order to make it competitive. Think about the top rooms of Sword base, the powerhouse, or the back building on Boardwalk. K now stray from things like that...the opportunities to camp. As for weapons, they pretty much have been listed in earlier posts, with timers and everything. Those timers are only the "standard" though. If you feel that timers should be quicker or there should be more/less clips, then you are more than obligated to change them. How I see it, include the most power weapons you can with the most clips and the shortest timers without breaking the map. They are meant for promoting map movement, and some maps will stress the need for map movement more than others.
The real problem is that many maps posted to the competitive section aren't actually competitive in nature. Certain design elements are required to make a map actually play in a competitive manner. I've seen your map threads and from those alone I can tell you have an understanding of what these are, so I don't feel the need to prattle on about them. Many maps posted to the competitive section are only competitive it the sense that they are not casual (if you get my meaning). I suppose I would call them "Slayer" maps instead. Usually you can tell the two apart just from the pictures, though not always.