There is precedent for having various modes corresponding to different experience levels with a piece of software. It really is not tantamount to making a separate piece of software. It usually involves hiding features and menus, and where necessary providing defaults for those features that could otherwise be fine-tuned.
You can call it making an "editor for people who don't want to invest the time to learn how the game engine works, so those people can spit out tons of crappy maps."
Alternatively, you can realize that the first bunch of maps made by someone new to the process probably will be shitty, and should be simpler than a highly customized map with it's own unique gameplay.
Softening the learning curve is a good thing, and will lead to better mappers and better custom maps.
Nog
P.S. disclosure: I have yet to play SC2, so I can't speak to whether expertise levels would actually make sense in the map editor specifically. Just that the idea has been used to good effect in the past.
@Galois1: Go
Regardless of that, if you release something as open source it is easy for people to think it is part of the public domain and as such can be used in any way they please.
Even with public domain works it is obvious that you cannot simply mis-attribute the work to yourself. Furthermore, if an author attaches their name/pseudonym to a work, they do not need to attach any specific notice, they have intrinsic copyright rights. The fact that it is easy for ignorant people to ignore the law should not be a factor.
On another note, It is disturbing to me that so many people are harping about map-locking, for a couple reasons:
1) it has never done anything to stop riggers/map stealers.
2) it HAS done plenty to stop legitimate modders and new mappers looking to learn from others' work.
Please don't blame open-source authors for having their work stolen. Galois1, you absolutely need to contact Blizzard and protect your rights under copyright law. Perhaps you should send a DMCA takedown notice for the infringing map?
And, about the infighting in this thread, please remember that someone who has just been trampled upon like Galois is probably not in the best of moods. It would be considerate to treat such cases with kid-gloves and be a little understanding of crabbiness.
0
@Galois1: Go
What do you mean getting away from the facts? We have the facts, now go report the map to Blizzard.net. Nothing more to discuss here.
0
There is precedent for having various modes corresponding to different experience levels with a piece of software. It really is not tantamount to making a separate piece of software. It usually involves hiding features and menus, and where necessary providing defaults for those features that could otherwise be fine-tuned.
You can call it making an "editor for people who don't want to invest the time to learn how the game engine works, so those people can spit out tons of crappy maps." Alternatively, you can realize that the first bunch of maps made by someone new to the process probably will be shitty, and should be simpler than a highly customized map with it's own unique gameplay.
Softening the learning curve is a good thing, and will lead to better mappers and better custom maps.
Nog
P.S. disclosure: I have yet to play SC2, so I can't speak to whether expertise levels would actually make sense in the map editor specifically. Just that the idea has been used to good effect in the past.
0
Even with public domain works it is obvious that you cannot simply mis-attribute the work to yourself. Furthermore, if an author attaches their name/pseudonym to a work, they do not need to attach any specific notice, they have intrinsic copyright rights. The fact that it is easy for ignorant people to ignore the law should not be a factor.
On another note, It is disturbing to me that so many people are harping about map-locking, for a couple reasons: 1) it has never done anything to stop riggers/map stealers. 2) it HAS done plenty to stop legitimate modders and new mappers looking to learn from others' work.
Please don't blame open-source authors for having their work stolen. Galois1, you absolutely need to contact Blizzard and protect your rights under copyright law. Perhaps you should send a DMCA takedown notice for the infringing map?
And, about the infighting in this thread, please remember that someone who has just been trampled upon like Galois is probably not in the best of moods. It would be considerate to treat such cases with kid-gloves and be a little understanding of crabbiness.
Nog