DARC worked many long hours daily on the map, which eventually paid off. The creative minds that came together put DARC and ES on the map in the IGI2 community online. This new map featured never-before-seen physics interaction with objects in the game, and new environmental aspects that had not been thought of or used prior. Players were ranting and raving that DARC had just created the best map that IGI2 had ever seen.
After a few beta tests, DARC released the final version of the map, featuring random-timed rainfall, air strikes, and even a final objective grand finale. Every other map's tasks prior to Canyon were simple: Once all 3 objectives were completed or defended, each team receives a MISSION ACCOMPLISHED or MISSION FAILED message. Then, the server restarts and the game begins again. Canyon's signature mark was the explosive ending, which featured the IGI team calling in for reinforcement. If all 3 objectives were completed within the 30 minute time limit, numerous helicopters would fly in and shoot missiles at all enemy areas. Explosions were everywhere, and the choppers' miniguns honed in on the enemy troops as they scattered for cover; it was an amazing sight. As soon as the message Security Forces have entered the area appeared on each player's screen, you would see every enemy soldier running for his life; hiding whereever he could to get away from the imminent catastrophy about to follow.
Also seen for the first time was the addition of "ghost players" inside the map. You see, in an online game, all the players that you see running around and shooting, are players from around the world. What has always been a computer-brained opponent has been replaced by human beings. In Canyon, players would run across "ghost players" which made the game more realistic. Helicopters now had pilots and crew chiefs, and you could even see men using a computer or sleeping in a bed. It was things like this that set DARC apart from the rest.
Once DARC appeared on the Codemasters Forum to get comments from the player community, numerous requests were given for DARC to create more maps, and even design IGI 3. DARC was listening, and contact the personnel necessary to take the next step. They made contact with a liaison from Codemasters, and proposed that DARC design and build the Multiplayer Platinum Edition: 15-30 new MP maps, as well as some training maps for some of the newer players, not yet familiar with the controls and inner workings of the game.
Codemasters finally contacted DARC and decided not to continue on with the IGI 2 community, as they felt the online presence of IGI was dwindling. DARC continued to support the players where Codemasters wouldn't. Before they left the community, DARC was the first to discover how to translate the Single Player maps into a Multiplayer format. This knowledge was given to other map designers, so that the support could continue.
