Paranoid Android and Azalea Get the Axe

Blue Storm, Python, and Tau Cross have been added to the map pool for WCG. While Paranoid Android and Azalea fall at the hands of the exectutioner.

In the past WCG has used the same maps every year for their tournament. Paranoid Android, Azalea, Arcadia, Reverse Temple, Lost Temple, and Gaia have all made appearances at the games. This year though they have added in three of the Korea league maps just to spice things up a bit. This could make it even easier for the Koreans to win since most of their losses can be explained by not knowing the maps.

Python, Tau Cross and Blue Storm

Python is one of the most popular maps to ever hit the scene, it can almost be called the next Lost Temple. There are many reasons for WCG to pick up this map for the upcoming WCG 08 and very few not to. The map is fairly balanced well, balanced for maps now adays, and it also is very popular not just in Korea but all over the Brood War scene.

Blue Storm is one of the most interesting two player maps ever made, with the small choke and ramp entrances and three different levels of terrain. It has been used ceaselessly this past year in OSL, MSL, and the Proleagues, not to mention clan leagues in the foreign scene. Its balance is in question at some times but overall the map is very revolutionary and should provide some great games.

The third map has been a favorite among Brood War players for some time now. Once again it makes perfect sense that WCG would pick up this map instead of one of the oldies, since it has been proven to be at least fairly balanced. With its use of no ramps there is a pattern forming of falling away from traditional maps to more unnoticed maps.

The Official Map Pool

So the official map pool will now include Python, Blue Storm, Tau Cross, Gaia and Peaks of Baekdu. The amount of maps has been pushed up as well with five instead of four now. This means that competitors will have to practice even harder to be ready for the games by the time they come up later this year. The regulations have not changed much except for a few additions so that they can match up with KeSPA.