Review [Issue 9] R.I.P. Maps - Part Four!

[skitee 555]

And here we are, another issue, another edition of R.I.P. Maps. Here we go - four more maps which once were among the most popular in the game but have since declined in fortune...

What was so good about it?

Much like Novel (which I featured in last month's R.I.P. Maps), Industrial Zone was one of the first “big, new” maps which were popular for a long time. In the same way which Novel does, Industrial Zone also contains some of the most exotic props and locations in Tanki, and the two maps are always close to each other when people are talking or thinking about Tanki Maps. But Industrial Zone is not a rip-off of Novel. In fact, whilst the styles and general outlook of the two maps are similar, that is pretty much it. Industrial Zone is its own map and its a very good own map.

Industrial Zone is laid out in what can be considered a very confusing layout, but which is simple when you get to know it. The blue team's base is located primarily inside two large buildings, with the flag located on the upper floor of the most exposed of the two. A bridge connects the two buildings, where shafts and other fellow snipers commonly camp and fire at every visible enemies. Below each of the blue team's buildings is an underground passageway – but whilst one leads all the way to deep within the enemy team's base, the other leads only to a dead end! Learn which one is which - or take the risk of disaster!

The red team is completely different to blue. Without any buildings (but does contain a host of sheds), it too has a sniper tower, in fact two, although neither is as advantageous as blue's prime sniping location, as both towers are located in corners of the map opposite each other. Even so, the red team base does still have lots of distinct features, most notably the tunnel in the centre which leads all the way into the blue team's base. A good tactic for a defender would be to hide in the sheds and attack any enemies which make an assault on your flag by suddenly darting out.

Whilst the two bases are very exciting, the neutral area in Industrial Zone is probably the most disappointing aspect of this map, containing very little to make it of interest. Admittedly, the layout of the two bases give it not very much space, but the only props that do exist there only tend to get in the way. Despite the underwhelming neutral area, the map is still very good, and was very popular for a long time after it was released. It was one of the stalwarts of the Tanki servers, being there as a map which players used to love to play to test out their sniping ability and their ability to avoid interception by enemies en route to the flag.

How did it die?

If I am honest, I do not think that I can give any real reasons for the decline of Industrial Zone. There were no sudden changes to the map, no sudden rank changes, no sudden flag moves, nothing of that ilk which would have suddenly turned people off this fantastic map. All that I can attribute Industrial Zone's recent decline in popularity to is the decline in the popularity of the larger maps which incorporate the new props (Novel, 2042, and so forth have all declined quite dramatically recently). Industrial Zone does also suffer from a small imbalance in the map – the blue team does have an advantage, and particularly when the blue team is slightly stronger there can be a very imbalanced battle. That has probably been another factor in Industrial Zone's decline.

Can it make a revival?

Yes. Industrial Zone will never be the most popular map in the game, that much is certain – the quality of the map and what players want (although the latter can change) are not good enough for Industrial Zone to become one of the top maps in the game. Even so, it does not warrant being ignored and is certainly a map too good for it to be left alone by the community. Yes, it can make a revival. But, like I always say, whether it will is another question altogether.

What was so good about it?

2042, just like Industrial Zone, is another of the “big, new” maps which I am so positive towards. So what of 2042? Well, 2042 was one of the first maps released with the new desert-props, and has for a long time been the first map in alphabetical order out of all the maps – previously, whenever you went to create a game, 2042 was the one which was in your face as the default map to create a match in. But that was not just what 2042 is about. It is also one of the best maps in the game. In terms of overall area, it is a very wide map but it does not have much depth – so, whilst it is very easy to get from your base to the enemy team's, it is, in fact, a further distance to go the whole way across your own base.

2042's name gives the impression that it is set sometime (I don't know when!) in the future, and it is true that the map itself is quite a distinct map from all the others. The central, neutral area of the map is the key to this map: unlike the majority of maps, 2042 has a very large central section and the team which controls that area has a huge advantage, particularly if one team manages to gain control of the large elevated section. A team which does that is extremely difficult to capture a flag against, and, of course, that is key to the outplaying of the game.

2042 was, as I mentioned, one of the first maps to have been made with the new “desert” props, but it also was one of the first maps to be created with the “Control Points” game mode. The Control Points game mode, is, in my opinion, in its purest form in this map – teams tend to alternately control certain parts of the map and it is very hard to wrest control from the opposition team of some points when they are captured – but if you manage to do so, it comes with great benefit to your team! I'd highly recommend playing CP in this map, even if you don't enjoy it in other maps!

What killed it?

Just like Industrial Zone, there was no sudden change that led to 2042's decline in popularity. Of course, though, there is the now-famous decline in the popularity of the “large, new” maps which I love to talk about and which I believe is completely unjustified – some of the best maps in the game are the larger desert-prop maps. And, of course, the feature whereby when you create a map the default setting is the last map which you created rather than 2042 did contribute (slightly) to the decline of popularity of this map. The map did briefly increase in popularity again after the CP mode release but now is dead yet again.

Can it make a revival?

I would say that it certainly can. More than that, I would say that it will, one day. One day when players actually like bigger maps with Desert-style props (What a day that will be!), 2042 will rear it's great old head again and show the Tanki world what it has been missing all this time. Until then... we'll miss you, 2042. But we will see you again one day.

What was so good about it?

Station is a unique map – one of it's kind, in reality. Whilst other maps of a similar size, such as Zone and Sandbox, only permit four, five, or at most six players per team, Station allows the massive number of eight players per team – which leads to very exciting and intense game play. Station is a great map for mid-ranged and short-ranged players, with many skills required for a team to succeed in this map. The gameplay is extremely intensive, and very entertaining.

Station is an interesting map, as the majority of the play takes place on one side of the map, where the two flags, majority of respawn points, and so forth are located. On the other side, however, there is only an elevated area (the station) for long-ranged gunners to camp (and the gold box drop zone – making this one of the only maps where campers are more likely to get the gold box) and the train tracks which give the map its name. Otherwise, the majority of the play is centered around the two flags and the large space between them.

For a long time, Station was one of the most popular maps, and it is the smallest official clan war map which was allowed for use in the Clan Championship. Players enjoy playing Station because of its fantastic gameplay. The map was small, so there is no time wasted in the process of trying to find enemies to kill. Because of how quick the gameplay is, it quickly became one of the most popular in the game.

What killed it?

Well, Station never was one of the maps at the forefront of people's minds. And when people forgot about it, the map died. As with so many maps, there is no real sudden reason why these maps fade out of existence - they just do. The same with Station. It just did. One month it was fairly popular, with a game of Station taking place most of the time, and then the next month it was dead. It just happened.

Can it make a revival?

The unlocking rank of Warrant Officer 3 is a problem – previously Station had been very popular among the lower ranks – but I would say that Station can. It is a special and unique map, one with great entertainment value and so I would say that it can and it is very likely to make a revival. One day. One day more...

What was so good about it?

If you had told people a few months ago that one day Deck-9 would be dead, they would have been incredulous. Deck-9 can't die! It's a centerpiece of Tanki, one of the cornerstones of the game! It can't die! But it has. What was so good about this map then, which made it one of the most popular maps in the game?

Deck-9 is a small map, one of the smallest in Tanki. Like most small maps, it does favour the close-range weapons, but Shaft, Thunder, Railgun and Smoky are no slouches in this map, and, used correctly, can inflict a lot of damage on another team's attacking hopes. In fact, close-ranged weapons can often be boxed in and trapped, so mid-ranged weapons – despite how small the map is – are probably the most useful to be used in this map.

Deck-9 is a very simple map. The blue team is predominantly underground, with the flag in the middle of their base. There are two side passages, which are the two ways to get from one base to the other, and that is where the majority of the play takes place. The Red team is in direct contrast to the blue team, being overground, for a start. The flag is again in the middle of their base, and above that is a canopy from where longer-ranged weapons can snipe.

There is also a small passageway from the red team to the blue team, which gives the game a lot more excitement – amazing how such little things can change a map so much! What tends to happen is that the red team manage to grab the blue flag far more often than the blues manage to, but when the blues do take the flag they are far more likely to capture! Deck-9 is possibly the only map in Tanki where that can happen!

What killed it?

Again, not too much. The rank increase to Third Lieutenant and now Brigadier, though, has to be the main factor. Players like to play maps which they know from the lower ranks, and because of the high rank requirements which are attached to this map, it gradually died.

Can it make a revival?

Possibly. It is a great map, one of the best. But gameplay here is not unique, and is quite similar to that in more well-known maps such as Farm and Sandbox – mid-ranged dominance, hit-and-run raids, and so forth. Because of that, players may prefer to play in the maps which they know well, having unlocked them at lower ranks. Deck-9 can make a revival but there is no guarantee that it will.

[inplatform 82]

Deck-9 was an awesome map and i played it very frequently before the 1.00.0 update. Thats the place where i won the highest amount of crystals (531). It was a place where all long range players could snipe and short range players could burn/freeze. It has a passage from which you can directly go and steal the flag. It was so much fun, but they increased the rank till brigadier. Which killed it.

[hogree 4,179]

Station - aww man, that map was a killer. Miss it.

[Lhamster 4,081]

I played a few good games in each of those maps, they are ok maps, but not my favourite ones.

[Raphael2 3,263]

I agree for deck-9 map, it was awesome, but 2042 isn't exactly dead. At least at my rank. I oftne see this map..

Continue this good job ! Waiting for issue 5 of RIP Maps ! :D

[Beerme 106]

Deck 9 such an epic map

Station :D the first map i ever won a dm in :D and earnt 200+ cry in.

Great article skit :P

[skitee 555]

I agree for deck-9 map, it was awesome, but 2042 isn't exactly dead. At least at my rank. I oftne see this map..

Continue this good job ! Waiting for issue 5 of RIP Maps ! :D

Not sure if I will do a Part 5... I might. :)

[Raphael2 3,263]

Not sure if I will do a Part 5... I might. :)

4*4=16, you already found 16 forgotten maps, it is hard to find new ones.. Anyways, good luck :)

[rasyt 1]

Another good read!

 

2042 is one of my faves too. Sad to see few people playing it. Especially with the map changes, most notably the big pipe no longer blocking the middle pathway.

 

Now there are 4 routes to either side, not including tunnel. This map is now the wasp/hunter's dream for CTF. So many routes, fewer chances to get shafted or railed.

 

I liked Deck-9 too. It was small, but felt like a royal rumble! I like this map for the same reason I liked Carousel. No snipers! Small teams, small map, only close range melee skills prevail.

[MusicJam19 737]

I loved Deck-9, but I agree, it has died cos people my rank and below cant play it :'(

And the reason why 2042 died is because it gets really laggy (well for me anyway)

[GoldRock 6,165]

Deck-9... I'd completely forgotten about it. What an awesome map it was (when I could play it)...

[JonathanBernatowicz 119]

I haven't played Deck-9 or Station. I would like (if you make another issue) that you say the new rank minimum for each map. What I really like is that some maps have made revivals, most notebly, Highland. I see that a little too and I never even knew about it before rebalance. I guess because of the not-so-high rank. What rank is Deck-9 or Industrial Zone unlocked? I want to create one and hope for some players!

[JonathanBernatowicz 119]

Oh, ok, nevermind, I see the ranks. Industrial Zone can be played at Third Leiutenant, 2042 can be played at Sergeant, Station can be played at Warrant Officer 3 (my rank!) and Deck-9 at Brigadier! Really high!! I wonder why they have minimum ranks at that high! Once you get to like Lieutenant Colonel, you should be able to play all the maps....My two former favorite maps (Rift and Lost Temple) are not unlocked until ages!! They should definetly lower those ranks. I remember having an m3 Wasp and m1 Railgun at Master Sergeant and it seemed to me that I was unstoppable at Lost Temple, especially when I was dueling. So fun! Now I have to wait for Major General??? I also (my main account) remember crushing with m3 Firebird and m0 Viking at Rift, those were good times. I like Tanki, just not the map ranking. If it was random, then that's just stupid (I bet it wasn't though) If they had it for a reason, I'd like to know what because I used to adore Rift and Lost Temple. To me it's a dead map, but I don't know if higher ranks use those a lot....

[inplatform 82]

4*4=16, you already found 16 forgotten maps, it is hard to find new ones.. Anyways, good luck :)

80% of the maps aren't played

[tkcs 0]

who could forget the industrial zone

[Reiki12345 57]

Umm,Skitee for you all maps can make revival,how about you make part 5 with 100% dead maps :unsure: .

[r_Gold-Box-100000 80]

Valley , Garder , Deathtrack , Pass , Boombox , Abyss , Crash ........... B)

^ I like those maps ^_^

[SpreadLoveNotHate 374]

Umm,Skitee for you all maps can make revival,how about you make part 5 with 100% dead maps :unsure: .

None of the current Tanki maps are 100%, people still play on most of them daily. But, there's another article, 'Maps that once were', that reviews taken out maps. Love the article :) Edited March 22, 2013 by SpreadLoveNotHate

[skitee 555]

Umm,Skitee for you all maps can make revival,how about you make part 5 with 100% dead maps :unsure: .

Most maps that can't make a revival never were alive in the first place and IMO not worth reviewing as they are useless.

[GTDONE 98]

well how about the original Bobruisk map ? i don't think that was unpopular quite the opposite and they removed it adding a horrible modified map nobody wanted it larger , wider call it how you want i cant understand why the hell they ruined a good and popular map but keep others which nobody plays so Tanki bring back the original Bobruisk map !!!

Edited March 27, 2013 by GTDONE

[skitee 555]

well how about the original Bobruisk map ? i don't think that was unpopular quite the opposite and they removed it adding a horrible modified map nobody wanted it larger , wider call it how you want i cant understand why the hell they ruined a good and popular map but keep others which nobody plays so Tanki bring back the original Bobruisk map !!!

I love the modified map. It is so much better than the old - although I do think they should have kept the old one and brought the new one out called "Bobruisk II" so players can play on whichever they like.

[r_SwagBoy110 421]

I love the modified map. It is so much better than the old - although I do think they should have kept the old one and brought the new one out called "Bobruisk II" so players can play on whichever they like.

*cough* Erhmmm.. You wouldn't happen to have a picture of Sandbox 2 would you?

[skitee 555]

:3 Yes, it's exactly the same as a picture of the current Sandbox. :)

 

Think...

[r_SwagBoy110 421]

What... Why was it named Sandbox 2 then?

Confused.

[skitee 555]

What... Why was it named Sandbox 2 then?

Confused.

Muahaha. No question is easy, dude... there was a reason.

 

Hint: There was also Boombox II and (I'm pretty sure there was this too) Sandal II.