Meet the most influencial map maker in recent years, Rose.of.Dream.
He has created Nostalgia, Paradoxx, and all of the WCG maps, to name a few. With such emphasis on map making these days, this should come of some interest. Also, if you remember, we at GosuGamers did a feature back in July detailing the most balanced maps from the Gillette 2004 Star League. You can read about it » here. Both happen to be created by
Rose.of.Dream. 
Q: How much time do you spend per day making maps?
- A: Map designing is a constant process that demands time whenever the occasion calls for it. I’ll explain this exactly, because it’s actually a sort of look into how to design maps well.
First, when I plan a map I think a lot about the conceptual underpinnings. For example, I think “What would it be like to have an island map with a lot of resources at the main?” Or a land map with lots of fortresses?
And I continue to think about how to best give life to that concept in the terrain, and I do a lot of sketching on paper and think and struggle with the concept. After that is the phase of moving concepts onto the map editor. In actuality making the initial draft on the map editor doesn’t take very long. But the process of playtesting, modifying, playtesting, modifying takes a long time.
- A: There are so many memorable strategies I recall.
[Nal_rA]’s double nexus on Guillotine
[Boxer]’s pressure Terran on Nostalgia
[DoGGi]’s mine vulture against zerg
[Reach]’s dark archons on Paradoxx
I suppose [Reach]‘s strategy was most memorable.
- A: I wouldn’t say popular… just that it’s a map everyone plays. Lost Temple is a traditional map that places importance on big center fights, and because it encourages the most basic strategic patterns in Starcraft, when people say, “Let’s play on Lost Temple,” it’s similar to saying, ”Let’s play on a fair and equal basis.” Also, instead of disliking other maps, people don’t play them because they just don’t know them.
Links
TeamLiquid.net - The full interview with Rose.of.Dream
Rose.of.Dream's Fan Site - This site is in Korean.
