JCS Awards 2024!

[cooba]

Doing this in lieu of PJ who's been facing some technical difficulties... hopefully I don't screw it up!

2024 was a fantastic year for JCS, and there is no shortage of outstanding work to honor. Now's your chance!

Here's the rules:


You may (but don't have to) choose up to your top 3 nominated entries per category, ranked.
You are advised to vote fairly.
You are allowed to vote for uploads that have not been listed amongst the nominations.
Only levels uploaded to J2O in 2024 can be voted on.

In order to vote, you may either:
post your votes in this thread and then immediately delete the post - this will make it temporarily hidden
use this <a href="https://forms.gle/mZSmt7bR3ooMKTt18">Google Form</a> and confirm your vote to either me or PurpleJazz over a private message or a DM. (Or by posting "Voted via the form" here.)


The nominees are (sorted alphabetically by author):

Best Battle of 2024

<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9424/a-titan-ornery/">A Titan, Ornery</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9412/starling/">Starling</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9432/zeno/">Zeno</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9400/intergalactic-destination/">Intergalactic Destination</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9433/jolly-battle-level/">Jolly Battle Level</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9429/pumpkin-park/">Pumpkin Park</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9352/knapweed-bog/">Knapweed Bog</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9363/lemondrop-labyrinth/">Lemondrop Labyrinth</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9362/razgoth-hollow/">Raz'goth Hollow</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9361/shores-of-desolation/">Shores of Desolation</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9355/mt-gongga/">Mt. Gongga</a> - Loon
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9436/the-silenced-cathedral/">The Silenced Cathedral</a> - Loon
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9426/astral-witchcraft/">Astral Witchcraft</a> - minmay
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9423/titan-armory/">Titan Armory</a> - PurpleJazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9428/necropolis/">Necropolis</a> - Superjazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9427/blood-libel/">Blood Libel</a> - Violet CLM
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9410/min-commotion/">Mini Commotion</a> - Violet CLM

Best CTF of 2024

<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9388/falkenstein-the-new-order/">Falkenstein: The New Order</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9413/penelope/">Penelope</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9418/starling-ctf/">Starling (CTF)</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9368/bioluminescence/">Bioluminesence</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9408/twilight-river/">Twilight River</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9421/willowgrove-hollow/">Willowgrove Hollow</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9386/indigo-falls/">Indigo Falls</a> - FawFuL
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9372/a-great-day-for-hockey/">A Great Day for Hockey</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9351/azure-alluvion/">Azure Alluvion</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9387/tritons-trench/">Triton's Trench</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9407/psithurism/">Psithurism</a> - Loon
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9420/copper-web/">Copper web</a> - Lynx/Naps
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9426/astral-witchcraft/">Astral Witchcraft</a> - minmay
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9373/saline-shores/">Saline Shores</a> - PurpleJazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9422/thunder-cliffs/">Thunder Cliffs</a> - Superjazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9425/spherical-coalesence/">Spherical Coalesence</a> - Warren
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9385/the-world-spear/">The World Spear</a> - Warren

Best Single Player of 2024

<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9359/diamondus-ultimate/">Diamondus Ultimate</a> - DoubleGJ
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9371/find-it-out-single-player/">Find It Out (Single Player)</a> - Superjazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9378/good-morning-turtleville/">Good Morning Turtleville!</a> - RSGDB
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9405/marbel-prize/">Marbel Prize</a> - Violet CLM

Best AngelScript of 2024 (can choose up to 5)

<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9424/a-titan-ornery/">A Titan, Ornery</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9359/diamondus-ultimate/">Diamondus Ultimate</a> - DoubleGJ
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9372/a-great-day-for-hockey/">A Great Day for Hockey</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9387/tritons-trench/">Triton's Trench</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9420/copper-web/">Copper web</a> - Lynx/Naps
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9426/astral-witchcraft/">Astral Witchcraft</a> - minmay
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9377/custom-mlle-naps-weaponpack/">Custom MLLE Naps WeaponPack</a> - Naps
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9431/bad-apple/">Bad Apple</a> - Spaz Electro
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9371/find-it-out-single-player/">Find It Out (Single Player)</a> - Superjazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9422/thunder-cliffs/">Thunder Cliffs</a> - Superjazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9357/capture-the-cow/">Capture the Cow / Melk Reskins</a> - Violet CLM
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9417/show-player-gems-v/">Show Player Gems V</a> - Violet CLM
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9399/two-dom-mutators/">Two DOM Mutators</a> - Violet CLM
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9435/defend-and-destroy/">Defend and Destroy</a> - Warren
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9425/spherical-coalesence/">Spherical Coalesence</a> - Warren

Best Eyecandy of 2024 (can choose up to 5)

<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9424/a-titan-ornery/">A Titan, Ornery</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9388/falkenstein-the-new-order/">Falkenstein: The New Order</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9413/penelope/">Penelope</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9412/starling/">Starling</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9418/starling-ctf/">Starling (CTF)</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9432/zeno/">Zeno</a> - cooba
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9359/diamondus-ultimate/">Diamondus Ultimate</a> - DoubleGJ
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9368/bioluminescence/">Bioluminesence</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9400/intergalactic-destination/">Intergalactic Destination</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9433/jolly-battle-level/">Jolly Battle Level</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9429/pumpkin-park/">Pumpkin Park</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9408/twilight-river/">Twilight River</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9421/willowgrove-hollow/">Willowgrove Hollow</a> - Dragusela
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9386/indigo-falls/">Indigo Falls</a> - FawFuL
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9372/a-great-day-for-hockey/">A Great Day for Hockey</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9351/azure-alluvion/">Azure Alluvion</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9352/knapweed-bog/">Knapweed Bog</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9363/lemondrop-labyrinth/">Lemondrop Labyrinth</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9362/razgoth-hollow/">Raz'goth Hollow</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9361/shores-of-desolation/">Shores of Desolation</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9387/tritons-trench/">Triton's Trench</a> - Lark
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9355/mt-gongga/">Mt. Gongga</a> - Loon
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9407/psithurism/">Psithurism</a> - Loon
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9436/the-silenced-cathedral/">The Silenced Cathedral</a> - Loon
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9420/copper-web/">Copper web</a> - Lynx/Naps
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9426/astral-witchcraft/">Astral Witchcraft</a> - minmay
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9373/saline-shores/">Saline Shores</a> - PurpleJazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9423/titan-armory/">Titan Armory</a> - PurpleJazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9371/find-it-out-single-player/">Find It Out (Single Player)</a> - Superjazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9428/necropolis/">Necropolis</a> - Superjazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9422/thunder-cliffs/">Thunder Cliffs</a> - Superjazz
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9427/blood-libel/">Blood Libel</a> - Violet CLM
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9410/min-commotion/">Mini Commotion</a> - Violet CLM
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9425/spherical-coalesence/">Spherical Coalesence</a> - Warren
<a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9385/the-world-spear/">The World Spear</a> - Warren

Best Author of 2024

<strong>cooba</strong> - <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9424/a-titan-ornery/">A Titan, Ornery</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9388/falkenstein-the-new-order/">Falkenstein: The New Order</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9413/penelope/">Penelope</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9412/starling/">Starling</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9418/starling-ctf/">Starling (CTF)</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9432/zeno/">Zeno</a>

<strong>Dragusela</strong> - <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9368/bioluminescence/">Bioluminesence</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9400/intergalactic-destination/">Intergalactic Destination</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9433/jolly-battle-level/">Jolly Battle Level</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9429/pumpkin-park/">Pumpkin Park</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9408/twilight-river/">Twilight River</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9421/willowgrove-hollow/">Willowgrove Hollow</a>

<strong>Lark</strong> - <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9372/a-great-day-for-hockey/">A Great Day for Hockey</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9351/azure-alluvion/">Azure Alluvion</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9352/knapweed-bog/">Knapweed Bog</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9363/lemondrop-labyrinth/">Lemondrop Labyrinth</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9362/razgoth-hollow/">Raz'goth Hollow</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9361/shores-of-desolation/">Shores of Desolation</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9361/shores-of-desolation/">Shores of Desolation</a>

<strong>Loon</strong> - <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9355/mt-gongga/">Mt. Gongga</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9407/psithurism/">Psithurism</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9436/the-silenced-cathedral/">The Silenced Cathedral</a>

<strong>PurpleJazz</strong> - <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9373/saline-shores/">Saline Shores</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9423/titan-armory/">Titan Armory</a>

<strong>Superjazz</strong> - <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9371/find-it-out-single-player/">Find It Out (Single Player)</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9428/necropolis/">Necropolis</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9422/thunder-cliffs/">Thunder Cliffs</a>

<strong>Violet CLM</strong> - <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9427/blood-libel/">Blood Libel</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9357/capture-the-cow/">Capture the Cow / Melk Reskins</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9405/marbel-prize/">Marbel Prize</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9410/min-commotion/">Mini Commotion</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9417/show-player-gems-v/">Show Player Gems V</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9399/two-dom-mutators/">Two DOM Mutators</a>

<strong>Warren</strong> - <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9435/defend-and-destroy/">Defend and Destroy</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9385/the-world-spear/">The World Spear</a>, <a href="https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9425/spherical-coalesence/">Spherical Coalesence</a>


Voting closes on February 28th, at 23:59 GMT+1.

[Slaz]

Voted via the form

[cooba]

The voting deadline has been extended to February 28th (next Friday).

[cooba]

The voting deadline is now* over! Thank you to everybody who took a part in the process.

PurpleJazz will be with you to present the results shortly.

* - 10h30m after the fact... I was a bit sleepy :H

[PurpleJazz]

Apologies for the delay, I had other things (https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/9451/holiday-hare-24/) on my plate. Here are the results!

Best Battle Level of 2024

http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_gold_3.png Titan Armory - PurpleJazz [4]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_silver_1.png Mt. Gongga - Loon [3.75]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_silver_1.png Astral Witchcraft - minmay [3.75]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_bronze_2.png Blood Libel - Violet CLM [2.5]

Best CTF Level of 2024

http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_gold_3.png Copper web - Lynx & Naps [3.25]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_gold_3.png Saline Shores - PurpleJazz [3.25]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_silver_1.png Indigo Falls - FawFuL [2.75]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_bronze_2.png Falkenstein: The New Order - cooba [2.5]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_bronze_2.png Astral Witchcraft - minmay [2.5]

Best Single Player Release of 2024

http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_gold_3.png Diamondus Ultimate - DoubleGJ [8]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_silver_1.png Find It Out (Single Player) - Superjazz [6]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_bronze_2.png Marbel Prize - Violet CLM [4.75]

Best AngelScript of 2024

http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_gold_3.png Astral Witchcraft - minmay [8.5]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_silver_1.png Spherical Coalescence - Warren [4.9]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_bronze_2.png Show Player Gems V - Violet CLM [3.8]

Best Eyecandy of 2024

http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_gold_3.png Astral Witchcraft - minmay [3.9]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_silver_1.png Saline Shores - PurpleJazz [3.5]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_bronze_2.png Indigo Falls - FawFuL [3.4]

Best JCSer of 2024

http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_gold_3.png Dragusela [6]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_silver_1.png cooba [3]
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/media/icons/award_star_bronze_2.png Warren [2]

Congratulations to all of the award winners! And thank you so much for voting for Titan Armory and Saline Shores, I honestly didn't expect to win either category but I'm truly thunderstruck by the reception these have received. Very well done to the other award winners! It was a very close finish - special shout out to Loon for Mt Gongga for narrowly coming 2nd place in Best Battle, which was one of the best new party-sized Battle levels of the year, perfectly suited for events such as JDC and the Anniversary Bash.

Props to minmay for creating Astral Witchcraft which was arguably the most technically impressive level of the year - really showing off the power of modern AngelScript while offering some delightfully energetic gameplay. It's no wonder it's been such a prominent feature of the awards this year! Definitely worth giving it a spin, but be sure to bring your friends! I can't wait to see what minmay has in store for us in 2025 and beyond.

We've seen plenty of other of cool things done with AngelScript this year. Copper web has one of the most unique level themes of the year and introduces a titular web launcher gun that shakes up the usual CTF gameplay by giving players a useful utility weapon for area denial. Very well done to Lynx and her script writer Naps! Meanwhile Warren has brought in some jaw-dropping visual effects and some seriously strong weaponry in his new CTF level Spherical Coalesence. Talk about power creep!

On the Single Player side of things, Diamondus Ultimate amps up the flexibility of its namesake tileset up to 11 and offers a captivating mix of old-school gameplay while simultaneously deploying AngelScript for some fun custom gameplay elements and storytelling. Find It Out is the long-awaited and highly anticipated follow up to SJ's multiplayer pack of the same name, and the wait was well worth it! It offers plenty of nostalgic gameplay while having a emphasis on story, taking full advantage of scripting for some more engaging dialogue than your typical single player episode. There's also a fun new JJ1 level to try in Marbel Prize, if you'd like to mix things up a bit. You can even play it in your browser!

There were also plenty of levels that broke new ground purely through exceptional level design alone. Shout out to cooba for making Falkenstein: The New Order, which bridges the gap between oldschool and newschool gameplay in a way not done with as much style and flair in a long time. It's reminiscent of classic OLC CTF levels in some respect but also feels like a fresh experience. Meanwhile Violet continues to do Violet things and defies conventions, this time by making a predominately vertical level that's actually a joy to play in Blood Libel, proving that there's still heaps of potential to discover if you're willing to think outside the box! I also can't go without mentioning Indigo Falls by FawFuL, which does some wonderful things with JJ2+ layer modes and feels very much like it's own environment rather than just another Carrotus level. It also offers fantastic gameplay too, check it out!

Lastly, I cannot close without giving a special congratulations to Dragusela, your JCSer of the year for 2024! You have gone from strength to strength, starting from relatively humble beginnings just a few years ago to one of the most prominent level creators in the modern day. It's safe to say that if you played JJ2 Multiplayer in 2024, you almost certainly played a Dragusela level at some point. A very well deserved win, and I eagerly await new levels from you this year! cooba also definitely deserves to be commended this year for being a creative tour-de-force, bringing out a plethora of highly innovative levels during the year that offer a diverse range of gameplay for all occasions. Props to Warren as well, hopefully we see some more explosive levels from you in 2025!

Thanks to everyone who made 2024 such a fantastic year in the JCS scene, and here's to an even greater 2025!

[FawFul]

Congrats to the winners!

[Stijn]

Hooray!