Merge pull request ppy#12717 from 0x84f/NPC-2025

Add `Newspaper Cup 2025` news post

news/2025/2025-01-29-newspaper-cup-2025.md

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: Newspaper Cup 2025
+date: 2025-01-29 12:15:00 +0000
+---
+
+As we celebrate the Spring Festival and the Year of Snake, the longest-running annual beatmapping contest for novice mappers is back again!
+
+![](/wiki/shared/news/2025-01-29-newspaper-cup-2025/banner.jpg)
+
+The Newspaper Cup is originally a Chinese mapping contest to promote novice mappers, which had its first iteration in 2015. Through the past years, the Newspaper Cup has become a renowned contest for encouraging fresh blood into mapping and finding new talents across the entire mapping community, and it will always be the core value of Newspaper Cup.
+
+Newspaper Cup 2025, the 11th occurrence of this annual event, will be hosted by ::{ flag=CN }:: [Mafumafu](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/3076909), ::{ flag=CN }:: [Fycho](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/1876867), and ::{ flag=CN }:: [Atrue](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/1758523). We strongly encourage and welcome novice mappers to participate!
+
+For Chinese contestants: [点击此处查看中文版主题。](https://osu.ppy.sh/community/forums/topics/2030373)
+
+## Schedule
+
+| Event | Dates |
+| --: | :-- |
+| Beatmapping | January 29 to March 2 (23:59 UTC) |
+| Judging | March 2 to March 24 |
+| Results | March 30 |
+
+The schedule is subject to change according to the progress of the contest.
+
+## Songs
+
+You are free to choose any track listed in [the Featured Artist library](https://osu.ppy.sh/beatmaps/artists). Reasonable cutting is allowed.
+
+## Prizes
+
+| Placement | Prizes |
+| :-: | :-- |
+| 1st | 12 months of osu!supporter, $50 USD, *NPC 2025* profile badge (pending) |
+| 2nd | 6 months of osu!supporter, $30 USD |
+| 3rd | 6 months of osu!supporter |
+| 4th and 5th | 4 months of osu!supporter |
+
+Besides that, we will also have lucky draws of osu!supporter for those who successfully participated (excluding prize winners). Make sure to join our [Discord server](https://discord.com/invite/fVgU9pA) so that you can get involved!
+
+### Lucky draw
+
+One lucky contestant from all qualified non-prize winners will receive 1 month of osu!supporter.
+
+- Hosts hold the right to disqualify users from the lucky draw for reasons such as incomplete and/or random beatmaps.
+- For every 10 qualified contestants, one additional lucky winner (up to 5) will be drawn.
+
+We sincerely thank the generous sponsors that made Newspaper Cup 2025 possible:
+
+- ::{ flag=CN }:: [TtmnZk](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/2495509)
+- ::{ flag=CN }:: [Mafumafu](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/3076909)
+
+## Rules
+
+Before you start working on your submission, please make sure you familiarise yourself with the rules below.
+
+- This contest is for the osu! mode only.
+- Your submission must be a `.osz` file exported from the osu! in-game editor. You must submit at the designated submission site.
+- Your submission should comply with the [ranking criteria](/wiki/Ranking_criteria), except for those that cannot apply (e.g. spread requirements).
+- Your submission should not contain information that reveals your identity.
+- You must complete your submission independently. Do not upload or share your submission with others before the results announcement.
+- Beatmaps made by generative artificial intelligence are not allowed.
+- You are allowed to use custom hitsounds and custom combo colours. However, you are not allowed to add backgrounds, videos, or storyboards.
+- Do not modify metadata such as the title and artist.
+- **You are required to finish one and only one difficulty in your submission.**
+- **Novice Mapper Eligibility (NPC 2025 is exclusive for novice mappers):**
+  - You must have joined osu! before 1 January 2024.
+  - You are not a winner of other osu! mode mapping contests (e.g., PDC, NPC, MBC, oBWC, etc.).
+  - You have never been a member of mapping-related groups (NAT, QAT, BAT, MAT, BN, etc.) in the osu! mode.
+  - The total drain time of your Ranked [Insane (and above) difficulties](/wiki/Beatmap/Difficulty) before 1 January 2025 must be below 5 minutes. Collab difficulties are counted by corresponding sections mapped.
+  - Throughout the contest, the hosts may inspect if you qualify for novice status.
+
+### Judging criteria
+
+| Category | Details |
+| :-: | :-- |
+| Expertise (50%) | Expertise refers to how well the map reflects the music elements, with an emphasis on music reflection, pattern/rhythm consistency, coherence, and playability. As NPC is for novice mappers, judges will focus more on solid fundamental execution as the very first objective. |
+| Creativity (35%) | Creativity refers to how the map stands out compared to current mapping trends and other submissions to this NPC. Generic maps or copy-paste concepts are discouraged. Creativity built on top of solid expertise is more than important as well. |
+| Judge's Impression (15%) | Judges can award or deduct points based on specific noteworthy aspects as they deem appropriate, such as outstanding sections and hitsounds or vice versa. |
+
+Submissions are anonymous to judges, and the judging scores will be standardised.
+
+#### Judges
+
+- ::{ flag=CN }:: [Pata-Mon](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/6149313)
+- ::{ flag=KR }:: [momoyo](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/12469536)
+- ::{ flag=BR }:: [Dada](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/9119507)
+- ::{ flag=IT }:: [-kevincela-](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/266596)
+- ::{ flag=TW }:: [Alty](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/16407988)
+- ::{ flag=JP }:: [Satellite](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/1661227)
+- ::{ flag=HK }:: [seros](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/10562853)
+- ::{ flag=CN }:: [Luval](https://osu.ppy.sh/users/22414293)
+
+---
+
+Now that you are familiar with the rules and judging criteria, it's time to submit your works via the [Newspaper Cup 2025 contest listing](https://osu.ppy.sh/community/contests/236)! You can reupload your submissions as many times as you want up until Monday, March 3 (23:59 UTC), so be sure your final versions are submitted by then.
+
+Feel free to join our [Discord server](https://discord.com/invite/fVgU9pA) to receive news and future updates. For further information, please refer to the following:
+
+- [Forum post](https://osu.ppy.sh/community/forums/topics/2030364)
+- [中文版主题](https://osu.ppy.sh/community/forums/topics/2030373)
+- [Contest listing](https://osu.ppy.sh/community/contests/236)
+
+Thank you to all our sponsors and supporters, and good luck mapping!
+
+—Mafumafu, Fycho, Atrue