It’s Ced here, and it’s been an exciting few months as we’ve been amazed by the sheer creativity and ingenuity of the modding community. We’ve had the pleasure of experiencing survival on the moon, building massive race tracks, having epic battles in tribe warfare, and enjoying some fantastic views on many of the breath-taking maps that were submitted to our second mod contest. We are blown away by the talent of the modding community and are forever grateful for the efforts of those who bring these custom experiences to all ARK players worldwide - and soon Xbox.
It was no easy feat to pick the winning entries for this mod contest due to growth of the talent level and understanding of the development kit. We are excited for the future of modding and look forward to seeing what the community has in store for the future!
Instead of the traditional workshop spotlight this week, I will be doing a video review of each of the winners in preparation for next week’s community crunch. Subscribe to our YouTube workshop channel if you’d rather not wait to see all of the finished videos in next week’s community crunch. Without further ado, here are the winners!
PRIZES:
Seventeen (17) prizes will be awarded. 1st thru 5th, places for each category and honorable mention for the mods and maps category:
1st Place: $10,000 in each category
2nd Place: $5,000 in each category
3rd Place: $3,000 in each category
4th Place: $2,000 in each category
5th Place: $1,000 in each category
6th Place Honorable Mention: $750 in each category
$64,500 TOTAL PRIZE POOL!
MAPS
#1 - Valhalla
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You wouldn’t be able to tell the map is only 80% complete if you’ve ever had the pleasure of exploring Valhalla. With land mass and water area 6 times that of the normal island, it’s enough to keep you exploring for days. The amount of work that went into creating this map is nothing to underestimate. Beautiful vistas and abundant areas of exploration makes this a community and dev favorite!
#2 - Roraima
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Although Roraima doesn’t have the following of some of the other maps in the workshop, it absolutely blew us away! The naturalistic land formations and the strategic layout of this map makes it a standout entry in the category. While it isn’t as big as some of the other maps, it is clearly a map that makes you feel like you’ve been transported to a real-life area in the world. The team were literally shocked at the natural beauty in this map.
#3 - Umassoura
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Ummassoura is another massive map that is a truly unique entry in the map category. We were taken back by the massive caves, breathtaking waterfalls, and diversity in the creatures that live in each of the uniquely placed biomes. The level of detail and care that was taken in creating this map was evident and greatly acknowledged by the team.
#4 - Madagascar Evolved
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There aren’t many maps that make you feel as if you are in a specific place in the world. We fell in love with Madagascar Evolved and its ability to accomplish this with its stylistic approach in its level design. Immediately we felt as if we were flown to a safari in the middle of Africa and left to survive with the vicious animals that call it home. We see a very bright future for Madagascar Evolved!
#5 - WickWillow
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Wick Willow gave us an unforgettable experience when exploring its unique set of biomes. Each biome is distinctly different from the next which provides for an interesting set of challenges and gameplay experiences. We walked away with an appreciation for the strategic vision that went into the creation of this stunning map.
Honorable Mention - Epic Islands
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We couldn't think of a better name to describe this map. It’s vast landmass provides the perfect opportunity for exploring and building an epic base. Although it’s still a work in progress, one can’t help but to imagine what this map will look like once it’s complete. I know we’ll be keeping our eye out!
TOTAL CONVERSIONS
#1 - Tribe Wars
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Tribe wars is a thrilling game mode that offers a PVP-based experience that stays true to the core of what ARK is. The objective is simple; defend your flag while trying to destroy your enemies flag. The comprehensiveness of this total conversion and the talent that went into creating it did not go unnoticed. It is tons of fun and we had the pleasure of taking it for a spin!
#2 - ARK Moon Survival
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There isn’t enough that can be said about the creativity and talent that went into creating this Total Conversion. It’s an unbelievable entry and we were amazed by the user interface and subtle touches that were put into this experience. Although it’s an astonishing feat in its current state, we look forward to what other experiences that will be created while trying to survive on the Moon.
#3 - Otherworld
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This total conversion pits you against waves of terrifying creatures as you try to escape what is known as the Otherworld. It’s always nice to play a different game mode for ARK and Otherworld is one of the few that are available in the workshop. We loved the style of this entry with its distinct and unique level design.
#4 -Cool 15 New Creaturesv
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It’s always fun to see how modders use existing content and modify it to create new experiences. Cool 13 New Creatures gives an exciting new way to look at some of the ARK creatures you’ve grown to know and love!
MODS
#1 - Advanced Architecture Mod
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Taking the top vote in the category, the Advanced Architecture mod is one of the most popular builder based mods in the workshop. We had a blast building castles and experiencing a royal setting while reviewing it!
#2 - NPC Bush Peoples
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This was, hands down, one of our favorite mods to review. NPC Bush Peoples allows you to spawn a collection of humans to enhance your current ARK experience. We were impressed with the level of talent that it takes to pull this off and are looking forward to the exciting future of this mod.
#3 - Annunaki Genesis
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There are enough balance changes and additions in this mod to make you think it were a Total Conversion. The support from the community is undeniable and after reviewing this mod we understand why. There aren’t really words to describe the experience this mod gives so we suggest you go check it out for yourself!
#4 - Dino Racing: Evolved
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I think all of us at one point thought of reliving our Mario Kart racing adventures. Dino Racing: Evolved, is a completely customizable way of creating a race track that’s perfect for server events. This entry definitely lets us know that someone knows there way around the development kit.
#5 -MRRadTools.INC Content Pack
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With a lot of competition in the structure/building types of mods, it’s hard to stand out in the crowd. Well, MRRadTools.INC Content Pack is clearly one of the standouts! Each asset displays his amazing artistry and level of detail he takes in his work. It blends very well with the current game and deserves a place in the winner's circle.
Honorable Mention: Ark Futurism
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ARK Futurism explores the advanced and futuristic side of survival on the island. With tons of unique and beautifully made assets, we had to make sure that the work of this modder did not go unnoticed.
For the rest of the community crunch, be sure to check out the SurviveTheArk community website