23 Aug 2020
Aspire V - Final Results
by -Mo-

Aspire V - Final Results

by -Mo-

Aspire V closes, and amidst the wake of the most creative maps this contest series has ever seen, we welcome not one, but two new Elite Mapper: Aspirants!

Update 2020-08-26: The names of the Grand Awards have been updated to better reflect their prize tier.

The finals stage of Aspire V saw 14 unique maps, each chosen as the best of their categories, take to the stage one last time to win the Grand Aspire award. However, we've decided to throw in one final surprise!

Several voices have called out to credit the entries most favourited by mappers, and we hear you. So, we are proud to present a new award: the Mapper's Pick award!

The Mapper's Pick is awarded to the map which received the most votes from ranked mappers. If you have at least one ranked beatmap at the time voting closed, then your vote would have counted towards the Mapper's Pick. The rewards for the Mapper's Pick are the same as the Grand Award's. This new award won't affect anything for the Grand Aspire award, which will counts everyone's votes including mappers.

So without further ado, here are the winners of Aspire V:

Community Pick Grand Award

KNOWER - Time Traveler (HomelyBobolink) by Mr HeliX

Check out the map here!

Taking the lead with 1687 votes is an entry utilising a beautiful fusion of mapping and storyboarding by Mr HeliX. Time Traveler offers a decent challenge featuring a mix of difficult streams and overlapping sliders, all alongside a meticulously crafted storyboard that gives you a true sense of travelling through time!

Playing this map will see you playing patterns forwards and backwards in time, and even through different versions of the game. It's a significant feat to create an Aspire map that is better experienced as a player rather than as a spectator, but this winning definitely pulls that off extremely well. Congratulations again to Mr HeliX!

Mapper's Pick Grand Award

Frums - XNOR XNOR XNOR (PitifulStoat) by fanzhen0019

Check out the map here!

Voted by 122 mappers and by far and away one of the most talked about entries of Aspire V was this entry by fanzhen0019. XNOR XNOR XNOR is a truly epic adventure of a beatmap, presenting over 9 minutes of jaw-dropping spectacles in the forms of slider patterns and exploits that, each carefully placed to highlight and augment the chaos the song itself presents.

Not only is this map a visual spectacle and a challenge for the budding player, there are also several secrets scattered throughout the map. Can you find them?

Honourable Mention

Teminite & MDK - Space Invaders (LovableChickadee) by Meow Mix

Check out the map here!

Being voted the second favourite for both the Community Pick and the Mapper's Pick is this creative entry by Meow Mix. Retro gamers will be familiar with the custom Dodge the Beat game mode that Space Invaders offers. The goal for this map, much like the original Space Invaders, is to dodge every object coming your way to obtain the lowest score possible. While this may sound like a simple task, you may find that attempting this will prove to be quite challenging.

Staying true to the theme of the song, as well as creating an extremely fluid rendition of the Dodge the Beat custom mode, this will definitely become a beatmap everyone will tell you to experience at least once.


A full list of placings and map links can be found here.

This iteration of Aspire has been quite the journey. We've received a total of 63 entries, which while a little less than expected, has featured some of the most creative entries we've seen to date. Out of these entries, a total of 27 different artists and 49 songs were used.

Once again we'd like to give a huge thanks to our category selectors, pishifat, Zelq, Nuvolina, Feerum, Unpredictable, Yumeno Himiko, Doomsday, and jackylam5. I'd also like to give a thanks to heyronii, who helped with processing the beatmaps from entry to distribution.

The enormous range of creativity and variety this iteration of Aspire has produced has been truly great to see - the changes we've made for this contest have proven to be positive. However, we know that the contest in its current format is far from perfect, and there are several things we've identified that could be improved.

The next Aspire contest won't be happening for a while, but we will be building upon things we've learnt this contest to make the next one even better. We realise that Aspire is a significant event in your calendars, whether you're a mapper or a spectator. Therefore we want to continue improving the contest series as much as possible. If you have any feedback or criticisms in the meantime, feel free to send them our way.

Until next time.

— -Mo-

Comments233

Ephemeral pinned

Just to alleviate any confusion - Grand Award AND the Mapper's Pick Award award THE SAME PRIZES. This means that they both won the contest, both mappers are Elite Mapper: Aspirants and both receive a full grand prize for their efforts.

Sort by

"The next Aspire contest won't be happening for a while"

Cadence 455656Kaylyn7

well, they weren't lying

XNOR XNOR XNOR was the most beautiful map I've ever seen, I am so glad it won. Also cool with Time Traveller, neat idea

Sotarks' Harumachi Clover should have won. I am outraged!

it's not an aspire lol

leerye2227 Pouwythegreat

r/woosh

Spoiler: the backupBG.png in XNOR contains a qr code to a youtube video (use any image editor's curve tool and drag the zero anchor to the right).

455656Kaylyn7 tjysunset

Hmmm

vivianth tjysunset

where?

the QR is literally in the middle of the screen -_-

should make an mapper's voting on next aspire
(not only in the final but in the first)

imagine being butthurt that players didn't pick your fav beatmap lmao

I'm so glad Time Traveller won. The whole reversing the map idea was so cool, and then HeliX made the whole map literally travel back in time, forcing the default skin from 2007? That was mind-blowing. Plus, the song is a bop. Congratulations to everyone who participated!

Time Traveler yay

I don't understand how people can be mad or disappointed by a COMMUNITY VOTE. Sorry that hundreds of people thought another map was better than the one you picked. I guess you think your 1 vote must really be better than hundreds, huh? Anyway, congratulations to the winners!

-Keitaro GhostlyPenguin

if this is abour xnor vs time traveler then you're forgetting the fact that mappers is a minority than players lmfao

Ascended GhostlyPenguin

objectively incorrect

Careful there, you can't just throw the word 'objectively' in out of nowhere. Explain to me what I'm incorrect about. All I did was state the obvious fact that Aspire is a competition based on community votes, and it's unfair to get pissed at the consensus of the wider community.

mopemope was mapped good, but I'm glad Fanzhen won because that shit was like pure gold

Plugin Wisoven

the fuck? mopemope is good? yeah really good cricles am right?

Damn, I wanted "The Skies Open" to win.

ShotgunApe DxxxxY

xnor too stronk

I really liked extended version of Aleph 0 but I guess these are better

Kirairi3 Dolpheyy

uwu

I think when they do the maps of the Aspire 2021 or 2028 they will be even crazier, lol

minhperry Mao Mao 19

over 1y since Aspire V and we still havent got Aspire 2021 yet

wsxdrfvyhn Mao Mao 19

i don't think the game will still exist in 2028, but hey, it already survived 13 years soooo

E-B-E Mao Mao 19

oh god....

Would love to see a backward scoreboard on Space Invader, the one with the least score is on top

LosPedros Prozimity

If I remember corectly, leader boards are hardcoded and there's no way for them to reverse it

_fluffyy LosPedros

Yeah they're hardcoded, but there's no reason they can't hardcode an exception

memes

uwaaa congrats

Limachrondeleted
Scub Limachron

lmaooooooo the audacity of this entitled shithead

Lulu- Limachron

hi!

no

"The next Aspire contest won't be happening for a while"
So the next one will happen 2 years later? Golly...

McEndu waste of space

Aside from data corruption symphony in the mania barline group, I don't really want to star any other maps there

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Wisoven -Chico

guess I'll go then

Can I just state to everybody who is bagging this competition.

I understand many people are hating on the contest and the results, but it's just so disrespectful to Mr Helix who probably spent a LOT of time on his map, yes many people find the mapping underwhelming but is it unique? Yes, I feel it was. XNOR was an insane map, people don't understand how much time and effort it takes to map sliders and even to time that song. Both mappers put in shit tonnes of effort and they deserve recognition for it. Yes, of course, some maps didn't get the recognition they should've, and I am sure they also put in tonnes of effort, but we just can't be disrespectful towards the mappers. As somebody said below, blame the voting, blame the competition. But not the mappers who put in so much effort. Essentially everybody who mapped a aspire map, well done to make it into the competition you are better off than the 1mil+ others and everybody who has tried to map. Everybody who won in categories - holy shit you are the 0.01% who have made it that far in unique mapping and you clearly have talent and skill in your regard, and for the winners and runner ups - well done! something in your map made the community love it so much! Respect other peoples opinions, but don't blatantly disrespect the people who put in so much effort, just to be met with f**kwits who don't understand what they are even saying. Be respectful, and attempt to give constructive criticism towards the competition, and don't cross the line with disrespect to the mappers.

I would just like to note that some people will say that oh you can't speak etc - yeah maybe I can't but who gives? certainly not me

Niva ltca

this is true, except that (as evident in this comment section and anywhere else) the public consensus in general is not -- and has never been -- around putting any disrespect and blame towards Mr HeliX or any other mappers throughout the competition in this case.

instead, as you already suggested, the disappointment has always been geared towards the competition's run the whole time. people were being let down with how the public voting allowed for entries such as Calamity Fortune or Flashbacklog to be cut from the finals undeservedly. people were being let down with how the public voting paved way for the "Elite Mapper" title to be decided through popularity instead of actual merit, defeating its actual purpose. but above all, people are also celebrating all the flair and inventiveness that have been put on display in this iteration of Aspire all around. the creativity will always all be there to cherish.

ltca Niva

your statement is so correct, and thank you for the constructive statement, i did find that some people but some forward some negative thoughts towards Mr HeliX etc, but thank you for adding, this assists greatly!

Imagine there's a category that has maps only have things that are rankable. I mean, things that doesn't go beyond the ranking criteria, even a BPM change is not allowed lmao. No storyboard anyways (storyboard for decoration is still allowed)

snores Lott

That’s just a normal mapping contest

McEndu Lott

Aspire is about ignoring the RC so this doesn't make sence :)

Lott McEndu

but why not? :'(

scub got robbed :(

namirin1 Kibbleru

and flashbacklog i forgot who mapped it

-Keitaro namirin1

Acylica

time traveller only one because 4head players watch koifishu play it on youtube

The results of this are an accurate representation of it being 2020. I mean they could've at least named the mappers pick the grand award and actual grand award the players pick since it's pretty universally agreed that players have no clue what should deserve a "Grand Award"

aspire is still dead

inevitable grand award

why did xnor won? this map isn't even interesting, just a pile of sounds and sliders. unshakable is better than this garbage.

hipster_spaps shuichioma

why did xnor won? this map isn't even interesting, just a pile of sounds and sliders. unshakable is better than this garbage.

snores shuichioma

why did xnor won? this map isn't even interesting, just a pile of sounds and sliders. unshakable is better than this garbage.

Rukaru shuichioma

I would like to know your complete analysis. why did you think it did not deserve being a winner?

shuichioma Rukaru

because the music is... can you even call that music? yes, some sections of xnor is cool, but it's not connected to song and most of the sliders are just...here, without sound and everything. weren't maps created to match the song? compared to unshakable, which perfectly matched the song and had different play styles (when screen rotated, falling circles, "screen error" at the end etc) xnor is, as i said, a bunch of sliders
ps: english is not my native language, if i wrote something wrong - please comment

-Rustyy shuichioma

bruh

Lott shuichioma

Well, you don't even know what is Aspire. I won't explain here since I don't have now, but I will later.

i know what aspire is, lol

ExitNoel shuichioma

this is literally what I thought when I saw Flashbacklog, xnor is better, but i personally didn't like Flashbacklog as much

Jaylen shuichioma

you don't have enough osu experience to give your opinion.

shuichioma Jaylen

like u do. seriously, this section was created for opinions, there is no rule that forbids me to express my feelings

Ancelysia shuichioma

?

shuichioma Ancelysia

¿

Scub shuichioma

holy FUCK this take actually hotter than the fuckin sun

Shii Scub

scubwub

intiaz Scub

LMFAOOOOO

LOL

Liiraye shuichioma

inb4 shitstorm

fieryrage shuichioma

XD

expected but still disappointing

Ralkinson fieryrage

this

BRING BACK JUDGING

players be disabling gameplay in the editor

Surprising outcome but congratulations to everyone~

osu

Rijrya Carcinogenesis

osu

TheMobiL Rijrya

ohio state university

The "secrets" I found in XNOR was a storyboard containing 10 nodes of the sephirot, not sure what the "p" elements are for though https://puu.sh/GkWn6/a8a4ae2035.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sefirot

"The Ein Sof (lit: without end) is an important concept in Jewish Kabbalah. Generally translated as ‘infinity’ and ‘endless,’ the Ein Sof represents the formless state of the universe before the self-materialization of God. In other words, the Ein Sof is God before He decided to become God as we now know Him.

The Sefirot are divine emanations that come from the Ein Sof in a manner often described as a flame. The Sefirot emanate from above to below. As the first Sefira is closest to Ein Sof, it is the least comprehensible to the human mind, while in turn the last is the best understood because it is closest to the material world that humanity dwells on."

So the first sefira, Keter, is the least comprehensible to the human mind. The first segment of the map is in a way one of the least comprehensible parts is it not?

Now the last sephira, Malkuth:

"Unlike the other nine sephirot, it is an attribute of God which does not emanate from God directly. Rather it emanates from God's creation—when that creation reflects and evinces God's glory from within itself."

So in other words, it's something relatable to us, humans. Something we have created. This imo is perfectly shown at the end of the map as a generic stream section 08:21:045 - It was kinda jarring to see this at first, but now I understand why it's there.

It's kinda funny that I wrote this https://osu.ppy.sh/comments/1205742 in the maps comments after watching it through once

edit: This has been confirmed to be true by fanzhen, but I think there are still things to uncover. I'm not exactly sure why there are 7 diffs with elements etc, the only ones I found relating to the sephirot was the sun and fire. I don't really have a lot of knowledge about these things just wikipedia stuff.

Karoo13 Liiraye

thats your skin not a "star of david slider"

Liiraye Karoo13

Lol true I'm dumb, rest is accurate though, I'll remove that

is this a fake post

Meow Mix

I knew I would've wasted my time LOL
Good thing I didn't xD

is there any title awarded under name of 'elite robbed'

just stop this is embarrassing. we have a contest wich is about breaking the editor and going outside the ranking criteria voted by none mappers who never open the editor. its like asking random strangers to give restuarants michelin stars. it makes no sense and if this isnt change for the future then i cant see this getting any more new mappers joining. this contest is also heavily directed by big streamers who stream one map say its realy good then all players vote for that map its just stupid

Karoo13 Kojio

i sort of agree but mappers did pick the same top 3... i would blame this more on the category judges

Liiraye Karoo13

had I know that categories made no difference I would've definitely voted differently. Sure it was my bad for misunderstanding, but dividing maps into categories heavily implies that they will be judged separately.

Scub Kojio

man ur just tilted subway deserved their michelin stars

/

man ur just tilted subway deserved their michelin stars