Burning Tide - first official custom map for Starcraft II

I guess every player of Starcraft had a go at creating maps. It is tempting to have the same tool Blizzard is using to make their maps and see how your map compares to official ones. Sometimes (or often) it leads to disappointment and realization of how much work it takes to make a good map. By good map I consider layout, access routes, resources and aesthetics. I still have to try making a map in new editor for Starcraft II and see how long it will take me to abandon my hope.

On the other hand, some people are creating really good maps that are fun to play and look and feel like a product rather than an exercise in editor.

Therefore it is a big news that Blizzard has published this custom map. The map is taking the idea from Devil's Playground mission and bringing it up to a multiplayer level. Here is official description:

Featuring timed lava surges and collectable mineral caches, Burning Tide is a 3v3 map that combines several thematic elements from the epic single-player campaign mission "Devil's Playground." Like the campaign mission, the goal of this game is greed, and the first team to reach the specified resource total wins! Players hoping to achieve victory on this map will need to work together, carefully managing their team's unit production and safeguarding their vulnerable workers as they defend against enemy forces.

Here is how it looks.

I haven't played it yet but it obviously takes resource collection strategy to a new level. Workforce generation   and it's protection is a key for this map. Air force seems like a key player...