Map Layout & Theory

The First Question

When you are creating a map, the first thing that you must consider is this: Why will people want to play this map? What does it offer that no other map does? Some maps offer surprisingly little, other than a parallel to reality (soccer), some offer an intricate web of multi-directional play (4corners, 4c2k2), and some of the most popular maps (go, 401) offer nothing other than consistency and predictability. You must create a map that is different from others, but that doesn't mean you can't apply some of the same principles that have already been applied! Get creative, mix and match, but above all, make it something new and exciting that people will want to try out!

"What kind of map should I make?"

Once you get past that, all sorts of possibilities open up. You can decide what kind of map you'd like it to be, how many teams, what game type, how many flags or switches to put in, whether to make it maze-like or straightforwardly navigable, whether you want to accommodate league-style play, or just create a fun place for Sparkers who want to mess around. Commonly, someone will make a slight variation of an existing map, with a different name (i.e. 4corners rebuilt into 4c2k2, go rebuilt into 401). This isn't necessarily bad, and in fact is often good, for it will fix some problems of the older map, but the bottom line is that it's the same map rehashed once again. Trying something completely new is what we're looking for here.

Types of Gameplay

There are three gametypes, all of which are simple to understand and create maps for:

• Flag — Each team attempts to carry any and all opposing teams' flag(s) back to their own base. Your own flag must be at home to score. 2-4 teams. This is the most popular gametype.

• Switch — Each team attempts to flip neutral switches, winning when all switches on the battlefield have been flipped to their own color. 2-4 teams.

• Frag — Each team attempts to destroy (frag) as many opposing tanks as possible. 2-4 teams.

Styles of Gameplay

There are many different styles of gameplay, and some are easier to create maps for than others. There are a few basic styles that we will cover here, but this is by no means an exhaustive list.

• League — League-style gameplay generally consists of no more than two teams playing a versus match of the Flag Gametype on a balanced (yet sometimes asymmetrical) map. This is the most difficult style of gameplay to create balanced maps for, and should probably not be attempted by a first-time mapmaker, but the successful result is satisfying and rewarding.

• Four-Team — The four-team style of gameplay is played on maps specially created to accommodate four teams. These maps, often labeled 'newb maps' by cynical bystanders, account for over half of the gameplay time in the entire Spark Community. Four-team maps are almost exclusively symmetrical, and with a bit of practice, are relatively easy to create.

• Tournament — Tournament-style gameplay is somwhat of a mixture between league-style and other styles, in that tournament maps are well-balanced, but are also often more chaotic and fast-playing than league maps. Tournament-style play consists of two or four teams, and the winner of each consecutive round proceeds to the next tournament bracket.

• Race — Race-style maps are relatively easy to create. Holding anywhere from two to four teams, a 'race' is held around a racetrack consisting of conveyer belts. Commonly thrown into race-style gameplay are bunker-walls, flags, switches, and anything else with the potential of mixing up the gameplay and making it more complex and convoluted than it already is.

• Golf — Golf-style gameplay, commonly referred to as 'bouncy golf,' is played by shooting bouncy lasers into a specifically designated area in a golf-course-like map. Sometimes, variable shot difficulties are separated into 9- or 18-hole courses designated easy, medium, and hard. Golf maps require an extreme amount of craftsmanship and attention to detail.

• Frag — Frag-style gameplay is a unique style in that it can only be played on maps specifically created for it. Frag-style maps, lacking objectives of any sort, are generally asymmetrical maps with randomly-crafted layouts, and do not commonly adhere to any map design conventions. Frag-style gameplay can have anywhere from two to four teams.

Creating Maps

The First Question

"What kind of map should I make?"

Types of Gameplay

Styles of Gameplay

Map Construction

Fine-Tuning Maps