Micro Madness 2019 / MM3 --- R2 Quarter-Final 7 - Xtreme97 & Jaguar win

This was a surprisingly difficult one!

Xtreme: This was very dense.  Surprisingly so for not having a ton of height.  The theme is something we've seen before, but you've executed it really well.  I'm enjoying the partially submerged station and the fully submerged pathways in the river.  The steam sounds are a nice touch with the hidden launch tower and the piston works well within its little enclosure.  There's a pretty subtle overall elevation change to the map and it helps show off the buildings better since they're offset to each other.  I kind of wanted to see the coaster do more, but I guess the concern is clutter once you're into extra track and supports.  But it works well as-is and is the best park of the match.

Jag: FLW is definitely one of my favorite architects, so this is great.  You've captured the aesthetic really well and the palette is perfect for this.  I almost wish you didn't add the train here just because I would have preferred a more developed garden and outdoors area.  Seems there may have been other ride choices instead.  I did like the fountains especially and the shallow water object you used to lead to the waterfalls.  I think you might have been able to use some better objects for things like the car, bike, or mine cart where you might as well have just used more standard in-game stuff where the shading and detail is right.  But nonetheless this is an awesome map and got my #2 vote.

Phann: This feels way over the size limit.  Disregarding that, it's a really cool map.  Love the height of the tower, the eagle above, and the drop tower built into it.  The coaster is impressive too though the 3 colors kind of threw me off.  Little strange to see the standard queue pieces used when everything is so carefully done elsewhere.  Makes me wonder if you ran out of time. I do feel like you had room for a fair amount more detail down below where I kind of expected the focus might be, but again you've certainly crammed a lot of detail in already.  Great work overall-- hope to see you do more here in the future.

RWE- This was certainly pleasant but as said above it did feel sort of similar to things we've already seen.  I'm just waiting for more, like an underground area, or a surprise ride, or just other details.  Maybe some kind of puzzle to discover.  You've certainly captured all the details well enough here and the ship and buildings are quite nice.  But after a few minutes of viewing I'm wondering what's next.  Would love to see you continue to plus it up a little and add some more extra details in there.

Xtreme bringing it again. It did feel a little less original this time tho, like he was trying to mix Turtle and Robbie, but it's still awesome to look at. Woodland house... loved it and hated it. Loved the dark atmosphere mixed with a modern home, but hated the mini railroad. RWE, A+ on the peep scene, just not the same grade on the rest, but good stuff. Orthanc... it's really good, but I don't think it should have been allowed in the contest. It's well over the limit and other rounds have 3 entries. I hope it does not knock Jag out. I am starting the lose faith in the ability of NE to run contests with fair rules.

Quarter-Final 7 - Results

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Winners
Xtreme97: 34 + 5/2 = 36.5 points
Jaguar: 3 + 18/2 = 12 points

Eliminated
phann: 6 + 17/2 -11.5 (penalty) = 3.5 points
RWE: 1 + 4/2 = 3 points

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Xtreme97 and Jaguar proceed to Round 3.

phann is eligible as a replacement for Round 3.

Congratulations to the winners!

Ever - Wow, a lot going on here.  Ascension was more well rounded, but I love everything to do (but the glitchiness) with the Green Bridge and the bronze/glass entry way.  Steam punk all over that and the blimps I saw later.  The glass enclosed piston is a hidden gem.

Orthanc - OK, I really like this one...slightly more than the Wright House entry below.  I am guilty of voting for this and debated it from a too many blocks standpoint.  It captures Middle Earth, above and below, with a great tower and fun ride zigging between the two....but part of me wonders why some later groups still only had 3 (with all the replacements) yet this one was forced to 4.  Agree with Kumba to an extent here.  Phann, stay in the lines for less debate!

Woodland - An original or an actual, this scream FLW to me and I love it.  The mini garden train works in most places.  If I lived at this house, I'd keep the train...and the butterflies.  Almost missed them and glad I didn't.  This is excellent archy!

Sailor - Wow, excellent ship of the line and the Kraken makes me smile.  The row houses look good and I liked the insides as well, just hard to compete with Steam Punk, Wright or Middle Earth for me.