It's been suggested that we give our custom mappers the recognition they deserve for the effort they put into making the maps.

So lets roll with this idea, its only early in the thought process but here's the concept.

Mappers Awards and Decorations
Voted by the community and proudly presented by AAO Test Tube Studios

Voting and presentations will be planned for every 4-6 months. All the maps that have gone final in that time will be short listed into around 5 per category. The categories would include;

* Best Overall Map
* Most Popular CoOp Map
* Most Popular MP Map
* Most Distinguished Mapper - all the mappers from the shortlist maybe its the same as Best Overall Map, depends on the criteria we use...

When voting we should all consider similar criteria.
- Evaluate the game play in line with AA values. (team work etc)
- The graphics, atmosphere, level design.
- The mission, objectives and overall fit within the map.

Shortlisting will be based upon the comments left on the map download page, the forum posts at AAOTTS and the number of downloads. I'll select a small team to ensure the shortlisting is fair.

Once the maps are in categories we'll setup voting/polls so the community can vote for their favorite.

The Awards and Prizes
- One of the prizes will see the most popular map get hosted on TT1 for the month following the final vote.
- An image of a trophy or badges relevant to each category. Like earning your stripes

Your Feedback and input
That's the concept, now we need your input, please reference the number next to the item. Unless its general feedback.
1) The title for the overall concept, "Mappers Awards and Decorations"?
2) Titles for the award categories? Different categories?
3) The criteria around what your judging the map or author on in each category?
4) How often to hold it, every 3 months, quarterly?
5) What ideas do you have for prizes?
6) Input needed for some multimedia images to promote the concept and of course the trophy / badges / stripes.
Map Download Cleanup... this whole process can help with the map management also.
7) At the end of the voting, we'll move all those maps into a new download category. For example, Jan to June 2009 this will keep the maps in smaller groups of maps and somewhat archived. Each of those smaller groups will also have a zip package for bulk download and catchup, leaving what should be the most recent and most often changing in the main download categories for MP/Coop.

Thanks all, I really like the idea of giving the mappers some recognition.

TT

Love the idea Titan. I think quarterly would be good. That would give us four sets of awards each year. I think at the years end those would be voted on for an annual award in each category as well.

Prizes? Well its not like we can give away cash or holidays, but we can give online recognition. Running the winning map for a month is cool, maybe some kind of icon which is displayed on the map makers name across the site? Be nice to have list of winner on the main page too.

Seconded.
What about Quater winners go to semi with a marathon playoff alternating maps for the Grand Final? Go Storm!
cash and holidays accepted btw

Good idea,
I can throw in a server to for running a month the winning map

great thanks chevy

We need to do something to honor the ones from the past too.

Perhaps have a catch up set, pre 2009.

I like the idea of adding the award/stripes images to the map for the author.

Any other thoughts, thanks for the feedback so far.

GREAT idea...... I can only see one problem,and its a big one....
TO MANY GREAT MAPS TO PICK FROM...... lolz