So what weird things have you found that blizzard won't allow to be published in a custom map? Today I tried to publish mine and could not because the word warcraft was in the description... Serisously Blizzard? I understand that you don't want to get sued when you start making money off of custom maps, but are you going to sue yourself or something?
I'm waiting to hear back from them (and their legal dept) about putting team logos on the load screen and in-game. Also waiting to hear back on putting sponsor logos like SC2Mapster in game. Another thing that I've asked them whether or not they will ban a map +/or penalize an account for using any unedited content of there own production (as provided with zero alteration and in a non-lewd or offensive manner in and of itself). For instance, the BJ's Clam Shack... or the Real Men Drill Deep sign. Neither are offensive to me, but I can see from an objective point of view that some Ned Flanders like individual may become offended. (no offense to any religious individuals; I'm referring to zealots lol)
The way their IC policy is worded is horrendous and about as ambiguous as saying, "If we don't like it, it is coming down and you will be banned... and you'll be happy about it!" Fighting them on it on an individual basis is pointless as the entire game, all its content, and any derivation there-of can be assumed to be their property in a fashion. My hope is to have a response from them specific enough that I can use it as some grounds to stand on in the event that anything /does/ happen to a map our team creates!
Personally, I think something should be done about it if it gets worse. As a community... we /do/ have some means to have the collective voice be heard. Sadly though, they've already made their money on this game and that is not a tool that we have available to us. I'm sure with some brainstorming we could come up with creatively 'protesting'. Have everyone upload a banned map that we all rally behind as a flagship example of how retarded the system is. (Since it would be gaining attention and publicity it would likely need to be a well designed and well thought out map who's purpose was not to get banned. This map would have been banned for ludicrous reasons that we, the community, can not stand for.) So, their choice would be to let the matter rest or ban everyone that uploaded the map. Or they could continually waste their resources removing the maps until one of those two solutions comes to pass. I doubt they would ban everyone because they're looking forward to having everyone as a repeat customer during the expansions. It is generally preferred, in business, to market to existing customers than it is to attract new ones; thus making existing customers a valuable resource or commodity.
Has anyone seen Debates? It got banned (and I'm pretty sure it came back as well) for retarded reasons. They could simply absolve themselves of all liability for any online content as is standard for every other game that has ANY sort of online functionality. But then Blizz could improve on a lot of things right now if they'd stop counting their money and start serving their customers with a bit more attention. ;)
[note] I do love Blizz btw... and their customer service is actually better than most other companies; something they pride themselves on. In the grand scheme of all things our current issues are generally minor as the game works as intended presently. The game isn't broken per se. :D
I have always enjoyed the freedom that comes with making maps on Starcraft and Warcraft 3 and not having to worry about petty legal issues. But it seems that freedom is coming to an end...might as well make your own game and make money from it, with the way it's looking. The editor has a lot of potential, but Blizzard seems to be really restricting it in many ways...can't even make a playable map that uses WASD movement or 3rd person perspective. If this type of thing continues, I imagine the map department is going to be looking like Warcraft 3's with the only map playing is Dota or some other boring waste of time.
Yes, because when the information is housed on their servers they can't be held responsible can they? -,-Lets all upload models from different games and put pornography in our maps and then sue blizzard. I am kidding, however you can see the legal issues that could affect them if content is not monitored to keep porn/racism/other items that are accepted as in bad taste from being spread through the battle.net service.
Lets think for a minute what being able to monitor keystrokes client side might do. Well we just had a pretty neat custom interface contest where someone recreated something like a battle-net map lobby. Well what happens when someone makes a map that looks like the battle.net login page and starts stealing people's account information. Then from there they steal their e-mail address. Then they have their credit cards ect...
The main reason for this is because they are trying to protect their playerbase from the ever expanding sphere of malicious behavior on the internet and not have custom maps devolve into a mass of keyloggers.
Instead of complaining why not come up with a creative solution?
I mean, cmon, look at this: "The editor censors whatever Battle.net censors and refuses uploads. "Suicide", "God", and "Blow" are amongst the words that - even if only contained in editor-related strings - will prevent you from ever playing your map online"
And I quote from Blizz, "In regards to your inquiries regarding the SC2 maps and terms of use/policies I have had a look into this for you. For the unedited items in the Map Editor, you should not be actioned for anything that is released with the game. If you are actioned and the map removed, you are more than welcome to contest it. Information will be provided in the email that is sent with an action on how to do so."
I asked them about unedited content because of BJ's Clam Shack and the 'Real Men Drill Deep' signs.... Though not offensive to me, I can obviously see how some sheltered types (who likely wouldn't be playing the game) may find them offensive. hahahaha Though she only said what I already knew -that it could be contested- it still stands to reason that you COULD have Diablo if you used the Diablo unit that is in the game. hahahaha ;)
So what weird things have you found that blizzard won't allow to be published in a custom map? Today I tried to publish mine and could not because the word warcraft was in the description... Serisously Blizzard? I understand that you don't want to get sued when you start making money off of custom maps, but are you going to sue yourself or something?
lol... stupid...
I'm waiting to hear back from them (and their legal dept) about putting team logos on the load screen and in-game. Also waiting to hear back on putting sponsor logos like SC2Mapster in game. Another thing that I've asked them whether or not they will ban a map +/or penalize an account for using any unedited content of there own production (as provided with zero alteration and in a non-lewd or offensive manner in and of itself). For instance, the BJ's Clam Shack... or the Real Men Drill Deep sign. Neither are offensive to me, but I can see from an objective point of view that some Ned Flanders like individual may become offended. (no offense to any religious individuals; I'm referring to zealots lol)
The way their IC policy is worded is horrendous and about as ambiguous as saying, "If we don't like it, it is coming down and you will be banned... and you'll be happy about it!" Fighting them on it on an individual basis is pointless as the entire game, all its content, and any derivation there-of can be assumed to be their property in a fashion. My hope is to have a response from them specific enough that I can use it as some grounds to stand on in the event that anything /does/ happen to a map our team creates!
Personally, I think something should be done about it if it gets worse. As a community... we /do/ have some means to have the collective voice be heard. Sadly though, they've already made their money on this game and that is not a tool that we have available to us. I'm sure with some brainstorming we could come up with creatively 'protesting'. Have everyone upload a banned map that we all rally behind as a flagship example of how retarded the system is. (Since it would be gaining attention and publicity it would likely need to be a well designed and well thought out map who's purpose was not to get banned. This map would have been banned for ludicrous reasons that we, the community, can not stand for.) So, their choice would be to let the matter rest or ban everyone that uploaded the map. Or they could continually waste their resources removing the maps until one of those two solutions comes to pass. I doubt they would ban everyone because they're looking forward to having everyone as a repeat customer during the expansions. It is generally preferred, in business, to market to existing customers than it is to attract new ones; thus making existing customers a valuable resource or commodity.
Has anyone seen Debates? It got banned (and I'm pretty sure it came back as well) for retarded reasons. They could simply absolve themselves of all liability for any online content as is standard for every other game that has ANY sort of online functionality. But then Blizz could improve on a lot of things right now if they'd stop counting their money and start serving their customers with a bit more attention. ;)
[note] I do love Blizz btw... and their customer service is actually better than most other companies; something they pride themselves on. In the grand scheme of all things our current issues are generally minor as the game works as intended presently. The game isn't broken per se. :D
I have always enjoyed the freedom that comes with making maps on Starcraft and Warcraft 3 and not having to worry about petty legal issues. But it seems that freedom is coming to an end...might as well make your own game and make money from it, with the way it's looking. The editor has a lot of potential, but Blizzard seems to be really restricting it in many ways...can't even make a playable map that uses WASD movement or 3rd person perspective. If this type of thing continues, I imagine the map department is going to be looking like Warcraft 3's with the only map playing is Dota or some other boring waste of time.
Gay Blizzard is Gay.... Theyre Stupid I think theyre scared.
@Sephiex: Go
Yes, because when the information is housed on their servers they can't be held responsible can they? -,-Lets all upload models from different games and put pornography in our maps and then sue blizzard. I am kidding, however you can see the legal issues that could affect them if content is not monitored to keep porn/racism/other items that are accepted as in bad taste from being spread through the battle.net service.
Lets think for a minute what being able to monitor keystrokes client side might do. Well we just had a pretty neat custom interface contest where someone recreated something like a battle-net map lobby. Well what happens when someone makes a map that looks like the battle.net login page and starts stealing people's account information. Then from there they steal their e-mail address. Then they have their credit cards ect...
The main reason for this is because they are trying to protect their playerbase from the ever expanding sphere of malicious behavior on the internet and not have custom maps devolve into a mass of keyloggers.
Instead of complaining why not come up with a creative solution?
@KineMorto: Go
Its a nice idea indeed, but doomed to fail
I mean, cmon, look at this: "The editor censors whatever Battle.net censors and refuses uploads. "Suicide", "God", and "Blow" are amongst the words that - even if only contained in editor-related strings - will prevent you from ever playing your map online"
source: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=127066]source[/url]
I really hope that things are going to change, or at least are not in as bad shape as hen that thingy I liked was posted.
Can't have Diablo. So I spelt it backwards.
He's now Olbaid, The Lord of Terror.
Couldn't have Condominium because it has 'Condom' so I shortened it to Condo.
Godzilla isn't allowed because of 'God' so I renamed the unit Megalisk, the Dyslexic Dogzilla.
Some of their restrictions are downright silly, but honestly anyone with a little creativity can manage.
And I quote from Blizz, "In regards to your inquiries regarding the SC2 maps and terms of use/policies I have had a look into this for you. For the unedited items in the Map Editor, you should not be actioned for anything that is released with the game. If you are actioned and the map removed, you are more than welcome to contest it. Information will be provided in the email that is sent with an action on how to do so."
I asked them about unedited content because of BJ's Clam Shack and the 'Real Men Drill Deep' signs.... Though not offensive to me, I can obviously see how some sheltered types (who likely wouldn't be playing the game) may find them offensive. hahahaha Though she only said what I already knew -that it could be contested- it still stands to reason that you COULD have Diablo if you used the Diablo unit that is in the game. hahahaha ;)
I did use the Diablo model, but I made it a normal unit that can move, attack, fight, and die. :P