Blocktanks players really like Smog. The fact that players overwhelmingly vote for it at the ends of a rounds shows just how much people like it. Its much more open and less restrictive design makes gameplay flow better, and we love it!

Most Blocktanks map makers tend to over-do the wall count. They add too many little paths and corridors in an attempt to give their map personality. While their intentions are sound, the result is most Blocktanks maps have very restrictive gameplay. Tight spaces are difficult and unfun to play into, so it's no surprise players see open maps such as Smog as breathing fresh new air into the game.

Many of those who dislike Smog say that they don't hate the map itself, but they're tired of playing it all the time. This is the primary reason map rotation exists; it circulates maps through the servers to keep the experience fresh. The drawback is, when there's a map people want to keep playing like Smog, it disappears for a week or so before they have a chance of playing it again.

I propose instead of random map rotation, there should be a Blocktanks map voting system which automatically opens a map poll every week (or whichever interval map rotation is determined). Players each get six votes per category, and they can cast them toward any six maps in the game. At the conclusion of the poll, the top six maps for each category become the next week's map selection.

A system such as this keeps everyone happy. If it turns out that the playerbase is tired of Smog, it will naturally lose votes and not appear in the map selection. But in our current situation where the majority of players can't get enough of Smog, it will consistently be available as a potential map when voting at the end of a round. This system helps to filter out bad maps and promote the ones players like the best.

In addition, aside from a new voting system, Blocktanks map makers should be encouraged to examine Smog and try to understand the drive behind its popularity. The lesson they should learn is that simple map design is much more intuitive and fun than overly complex passageways. I'm not saying that all maps should be clones of Smog, but rather that good maps should avoid wall congestion. Perhaps exclusive skins or rewards of some kind could be given to the authors of popular maps to help encourage good map design.

If you've read this far, thank you! Signing this petition means you look forward to a brighter Blocktanks community!