I think the point of this contest...as all creative contest are ( in arhitecture , design and so on ) - is to "fish" for ideas. The Dev's can make similar scenes with the same principles that could be 65% similar and integrate them in to the game officially. They can also hire the modders as part-time map makers for them to do them under contract with different modifications and that way they are under Taleworld contact of intellectual propriety. They can also make offers to the modders to be involved in interesting projects in the future. They need talented people and now they have a "short-list" of them ( that prove they can work with the modding tools ).
Based on the ambitions of the game - the fact that each month some 10 maps [ done by ex-modders hopefully part time collaborators ] can be made for the game is a good thing. Bannerlord can have 30 new scenes that receive the stamp of Taleworld approval in a short time. Of course this modders can not work full-time and do not have the staying power of a Dev but they can offload some time/work from the Devs so they can concentrate on other things.
They may be a need for the future for some 300-500 maps/scenes to be done...someone has to do them.
I think the point of developing the modding tools and empowering the community is to actually use the benefits of that work in some way back in to the game ( vanilla ). ( Of course there must be agreement, credits provided, some type financial compensation, community events invitations, trips to Turkey for vacation and visiting the game studio - it must be something that should have a benefit and bring happiness for the people involved ).
I was watching some old development movie with the map editor and it says there 8 years ago. Imagine what could have been done by the community in 8 years if all they did was maps for the game. As a plea to Taleworld : let the kraken loose and release some of the creative control and let the community explore ways to help you. If they pass your "standard's" & what they achieve fits with your vision - you should find ways of integrating that work in to the vanilla and provide opportunity's for the modders. The safest approach is to stick to the maps & 2D art & music as they do not impact in any way the grand vision of the game.
