Answer: Yes, current options do not provide enough creativity and people are now trying new paths.
You are mad. There are
so many things left to be done within the normal confines of the standard cp/ctf/pl/tc maps I've got enough ideas to be mapping till I die.
The problem is people make one off gametypes that are poorly thought out and simply suck, so no one else uses it, meaning we have a bazillion shit maps each with thier own game type. If these idiots were actually smart enough and devoted anough to make a decent game type, polish it and release a prefab for it (all praise to roden for actually doing this) then that would save us from all these 'gimick' maps.
The other option is for new mappers to stop thinking they are the shit, because they are not, they suck. its plain and simple: if you've never made a map before then the map you make will be total shit, regardless of how super awesome you
think it is.
I mean seriously; I was mapping for nearly a year before I had the balls to release anything, and even then I made a pretty shit map (anyone remember cp_station..........) but then the next map I released (bloodstained) I improved but had still not perfected the art, and hopefully map #3 (hoodoo) will be one step closer to my goal of being on par with the stock maps.
Most of me wants to discourage places like this, here its so easy to get your first shit-box map tested and get good feedback mappers dont have the fear of the evil comunity that they should. So mappers are fine with releaseing their
very first map as something they are proud of. WTF! would an art student release the very first crayon doodle they did as a child and be proud of it? hell no! Of course they wouldn't, they probably want to hide it away in shame and never let anyone see it. THAT is how you should feel about probably your first, second and probably your third mapping attempt (attempt not public release).
Yes a big part of me wants to tell 80% of the comunity here to buck up their ideas and go back to actually playing and let those with devotion release maps for it. - you can still map in secret, sharing with your friends though, thats after all, a good way to start. (its what I did)
Basicly what I'm trying to say is:
We are seeing plenty of gimicky maps or shit maps because of places like this, encouraging mappers to map. We're all too nice and willing to test people first maps rather than tell them it sucks like we should - then only the ones who
REALLY want to map will keep going, only the ones with the dedication to stick it though will learn from their mistakes and improve themselves.
Number of times I re-wrote this post: 3