TF2 Maps Lost to Time

14 years ago, Valve held the first and last art pass contest. Dozens of mappers entered, but only one (or two) got their map(s) added into the game, which we all know today as Mountain Lab (and Mann Manor).

But what about the other maps? What do they look like? Should one of them have been declared the winner instead?

0:00 Intro
1:14 aboojumsnark
1:36 acegikmo
2:28 balloonsfor600
2:40 beamos
2:59 cakeman
3:20 cotc
3:41 crewsayter
4:13 cynick
4:51 dabeatzproject
5:25 draco18s
5:53 froggie
6:18 fubarfx
6:46 gerbil
7:16 gooba
8:04 grazr
8:27 grimtuesday
8:53 groovypants
9:03 helljumper
9:54 honeymustard
10:17 huckle
10:43 j4ck8_b11
11:15 khuntza
11:50 languid
12:12 latteh
12:38 littledude
13:09 macgta
13:25 mangy
13:59 map_maker1, marquis_posa, mr_yellow
14:18 mrhappy
14:48 namehere
15:09 nanosheep_quarreh
15:17 petazzo
15:34 qliqqlaq
16:08 re1wind
16:35 ritz
17:10 slevin
17:20 sniprpenguin
17:50 soylentrobot
18:23 spiralshot
19:19 spud
19:55 sunshine, sven
20:06 swordz
20:40 terabytest
21:20 timberghost
22:09 ueakcrash
22:46 wurghel
23:08 xfunc_carter
23:48 zero_rogue
24:21 Outro

#tf2 #teamfortress2

[LEDs]

EDIT: The previous survey required me to PAY to have more than 10 responses, so I created a new one on Google Forms. Thank you @retrolinkx for the suggestion!

[UEAKCrash]

The artpass contest was one of my earliest projects in TF2, and my first attempt at detailing, haha

[tortilla-are-yummy]

90% of tf2 map makers create masterpieces without even knowing

[ElectroSheep_]

Hey, cool video ! This brings back some memories... I'm the maker of MountainLab. I still remember the moment I was told to be one of the winner, it was totally unexpected. I was still at school back then and ML was my first released map for TF2 and only my second source map (first was a cs:s hostage map). It was a surprise because I rushed the last point sooo badly I was kind of ashamed of it, hehe (a lot of entries have a great final like Ace's one). Now after 13 years in the game industry, ML and later lakeside are still both of my greatest pride and I couldn't thank enough TF2 community for the support it gave me for those.

[Whomobile]

It's interesting to see what names made or worked on other TF2 maps or content, You mentioned Crash but Freya (Acegikmo) and Mangy also worked on Yukon, YM made Hoodoo, Sven also rings a bell, but I forgot what they have also worked on. HellJumper is also well known for his TF2 Hat Making tutorial and worked on Byre, the arena map everyone forgot.

[acegikmo]

oh no my childhood exposed!! but also thanks for the kind words and showcase ♥

at the time of working on this, I was always (..and am still tbh) my own harshest critic - I would only ever see flaws and things left to do and improve. But, I hadn't actually seen my entry for *ages*, and it's honestly wild to see it again. I feel like I did a better job than what my memories chose to remember. It's a nice feeling! I have so many good memories working on this (and other) maps during that time of my life. I was like 100% honed in on wanting to become a level designer/environment artist at Valve back then, I even had the option at one point back when my studio was working on Budget Cuts, but, my goals and desires changed over time, and I chose a different path in the end (the, burnt out indie dev/youtuber one)

anyway, thanks again! super cool to see all these again after so much time has passed

// Freya

[ojhat]

11:15 have we... are there even all that many Australian red-dirt polished-ready maps among the broader TF2 mapping community to begin with?? I used to play on a community server for years through the 2010s and we REGULARLY cycled through basically any playable map as they came out on tf2maps if it looked at least semi-cool or the blockout was unique for gameplay. I don't recall almost any of them exploring this concept, certainly not to the level of open-air ambiance that this map explores. This is one of those maps that I wonder if it had been selected, how much that could have changed the direction of map styles the TF2 mapping community might have gone in.

[ethosaur]

Wish I was good at making maps back when the contest started originally! I was still making baby's first maps by 2012.

Really cool to see how many talented and creative people there were back then! Definitely taking note.

[rattiesteps]

I love that giant cloud in Gooba and the way it darkens what's below it so much, I've never watched that being done in a game in general

[michaeljo]

Imagine if Valve release another art pass contest. But with current size of TF2 developer team... it's very unlikely to happen.

[owndoing]

Gooba's map is definitely my favorite one. Upcoming dark turbulent skies, which obstructs sun light, is something you rarely see in maps or games in general. Skyboxes are often overlooked, but you can make beautiful settings with it. I am definitely going to make a half life 2 map with this theme someday.

[Monody]

It would be funny to set up a 24/7 server running all of these maps in rotation. (With as many missing assets fixed as possible.)

[TheRealFishyB]

Artpass competitions are always such a shame for how much 'waste' there is in peoples talents. Instead of 1 layout done 30 times, we could have 30 different maps that play different and would all stand on their own as custom maps to be played on servers.

[ruzgar]

This is about 14 years due (For the TF2tube in general) but still great video and well appreciated.

[PortalPlayer]

I like how you say “Missing texture gators” like they intended it to be that way.

[NVUSAttitude]

I think itd be cool if there was a dedicated server that had these in a rotation alphabetically. it could get a mini community following where even when it gets around to the simple re-texture parts of the rotation, they respond with a "oh shit here come the re-texture maps". (the value from the retexture maps is because theyre so underdeveloped, the matches are a lot more aggressive and optimized.)

[alexwasherefirst]

3:06 Black Ops 2* I had too, I’m sorry.

[Katy]

Thank you for introducing me to the map Khunza. I've wondered what an Australian-set TF2 map like this would look like.

[zeusthefox]

Honestly. I would love a map based around where Bonk is made like CP_Bonkworks or something?

Maybe a gimmick like there's pools of bonk on the ground that you run through. Gives you a speed boost temporarily.
But it also, after a bit slows you down like actual bonk.

And throughout it, there's lore explaining bonk a bit more, maybe making a lore explaination to the changes in bonk's effects over the years

[XxguaxinimxX.]

Great video! The community poll is interesting, too!
Actually, this could be a good idea for a future video, showcasing maps that got its popularity back them, but now are forgotten/ no one is playing them anymore, etc...