You might recognize this week’s featured mapper from their tech-y style, their trippy Mapping/Noodle Extensions wall maps, or from their #00ffff colored Mapping Support presence on the BSMG Discord. Sit down with our first triple threat (mapping, lighting, wall art), CyanSnow.
- Began Mapping:Â 12/27/2018
- BeatSaver ProfileÂ
- BeastSaber ProfileÂ
- YouTube Channel
Q. What inspired you to start mapping?
A. There were songs I liked that weren’t mapped or had maps I didn’t like.
Q. What are your preferred genres of music to map?
A. EDM, Glitchhop, cat themed Dubstep, Electro Swing, Swing, Rock, Metal, Dance, Funk
Q. Are there any other things besides mapping that you’re involved with in the Beat Saber community?
A. Mapping support, modchart/json help, modeling, BeastSaber curation, on occasion I do testplays if asked, and apparently teaching people JavaScript.
Q. Which of your maps are you most proud of or is your favorite?
A. I Said Meow is probably my favorite. I like how some mismaps turned into patterns and how the overall map represents the song. There are a few hits that feel slightly odd to me, but it’s one of my maps with the least of those “I wish I made this, that instead”.
Q. You’ve become pretty well known for making immaculately designed levels for Mick Gordon songs from DOOM, to the point of staying up all hours of the night to get key 6666. What do you enjoy most about making these maps?
A. I don’t know, it’s significantly more work than other maps, I’m miserable throughout most of the process, and I often end up rushing some parts (send help). I guess it’s seeing how people react and how they are left feeling after it makes up for it.`1
Q. Your At Doom’s Gate map was the first ExtraSensory maps released and was wild to play (I almost fell over twice, but it was amazing). What went into a map like that that was above and beyond what you’ve put into your other DOOM maps?
A. Time, lots of time. Aeroluna, Reaxt, and I stayed up late almost every night for about four weeks working on all of the maps for the event. Only for me to change songs in the last week and rush it out “before” the set release date 🙂Â
Q. If you could go back in time and talk to yourself as a new mapper, what is the #1 piece of advice you would give?
A. Put more thought into exactly what you’re mapping and how you’re representing it.
Q. If there was an Amazon.com-style “Recommended Mappers” section, who would you show up under as “If you like [so and so], you’d also like [your name]”?
A. CheckThePan, Pixelguy, Saut, Squeaksies
Q. Do you have a signature pattern that you use in all/most of your maps?
A. Considering people named this hit after me, I’d say this one.
Q. What, in your opinion, is the single most challenging thing for a new mapper to master in order to be successful?
A. Learning exactly why some patterns work and others don’t. This allows you to be more adaptive and better represent the music. And the same advice I would have given myself early on, put more thought into exactly what you’re mapping and how you’re representing it.
Q. What style of maps do you most enjoy playing when you play for fun?
A. It’s more about the song for me, but if you’ve got a techy, dancey map on a song I like, I have a new favorite.
Q. Is there a mapping practice that most mappers frown upon, that you happen to think can be used really well in the right hands?
A. 90-degree hits/figure 8’s. When used well, on a fitting song, they have a unique feel and, arguably, can be used to substitute other overused patterns. They give the player a bit of control over how much movement they want to put in. You could hit them similar to horizontals, or (the fun way) hit them with the full figure 8 arcs.Â
Q. What does your mapping process look like?Â
A. I almost always map first. More and more recently I start out with timing notes, then start working on patterns. I then like to sit on the map for about 2-3 weeks followed by remapping large sections. Next I wait another 2-3 weeks and decide if I want to down map it. If I decide to, I will slowly start lighting over the next 2 weeks before getting annoyed that it’s taking so long and just crank out the remaining lights in one day. The final step is waiting another 2-3 weeks before releasing.
Q. Is there anything else you’d like the Beat Saber community to know about you, your mapping style, or your thoughts on the game itself?
A. I’m not a furry.
Q. But it’s Monday, are you sure?
A. No comment.
Have questions for CyanSnow? Hit them up in the comments!
This article has been lightly edited for spelling, grammar, and clarity.
CyanSnow is my hero the first wall map i have played it was his and i love it and love all his maps
all love <3
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