40 replies to this topic

[MaddMaxx]

The Dev's would need to release the in game Mapping Tool (not at Launch) but Maps via a "Competition" would be be OK.

[Kenyon Burguess]

theres no balance to player made content. just one persons view of OP weapons, maps and mechs.

[MaddMaxx]

Geist Null, on 05 March 2012 - 10:45 AM, said:

theres no balance to player made content. just one persons view of OP weapons, maps and mechs.

Very narrow view there dude.

Weapons and Mechs sure.

Maps? Some of the best game Maps played in a lot of Games are Community/Player made.

How do you make a Map OP and expect it to WIN any competition?

Th Game needs Maps and lots of them. If Dev's authorize/tweak those that make the Winners circle, it only adds to the over-all Pool.

Win Win.

Edited by MaddMaxx, 05 March 2012 - 10:50 AM.

[Mechteric]

Assuming we can take it as a given that battles will have an affect on the planetary map, I'd think custom maps would be counter to that since they need to have control over which battles are fought and in what specific environment.

So really the only player made content that I could see as a possibilty is in the paint/camo schemes and logos. So long as these are moderated with clearly defined rules I have no problem with them.

[Morashtak]

Laaaaater (if at all).

[Exilyth]

This poll is seriously lacking an option for 'maps and static assets only'.

Of course, player created maps should only be available for game modes which don't award XP/C-Bill, unless reviewed and tested by the devs.

Edited by Exilyth, 05 March 2012 - 02:59 PM.

[Aegis Kleais]

If player-made content is allowed, I feel it should be filtered out by default unless the user indicates specifically that they want to play on user-created maps.

As far as user-created content goes, as long as it's just cosmetic, and there is an option where the player can disable the rendering of cosmetic items.

The moment user's are allowed to modify things like weapon statistics or create mods that alter the game experience, I feel that they become more of a nuisance than they add to the value.

[Sp12]

Geist Null, on 05 March 2012 - 10:45 AM, said:

theres no balance to player made content. just one persons view of OP weapons, maps and mechs.

Pretty much wrong. Look at the history of any popular competitive multiplayer online game with custom maps. Almost universally the best maps end up being community made. No map is going to get played if it sucks. Mechs and weapons don't really work, but I'd be open to an online submission system for them that the community at large can vote on and the devs can have the final say on before they integrate their version of it.

[Zakatak]

Here's my opinion.

Player can make lore-friendly content. If the developers like it, they add it in the game themselves. If the developers like it but want some changes to the designs, they do what they please with it and then add it to the game. If the developers don't want it, it doesn't go in the game. Agree?

This sounds all very communist, but I am very OCD. And there is nothing I hate more then every server playing a map with a name such as LOL_mariokarttrack_699.

[Maverick Howell]

add more work onto those lazy dev's! =D

just kidding. in all seriousnessess's i dont think that this will ever happen. But once the game is established i'm sure this might be something to put some time and effort into making.

[990Dreams]

I vote yes, but i think that only veterans (or people who played from the begining) should be able to create levels/content. There should also be a report system, for those mean spammers . Maybe it could be unlockable? But if there is a weapon design/mech chassis design system, it should automaticly adjust the price based on tonnage, power, speed, size, armour, etc.

[Silent]

DavidHurricane, on 06 March 2012 - 08:06 AM, said:

I vote yes, but i think that only veterans (or people who played from the begining) should be able to create levels/content.

Why only veterans? Just because someone has been around a long time, or from the beginning, doesn't mean that they are any good at making levels or content.

[Captain Red Shirt]

I would agree for some way to make custom maps and possibly mechs, but all of these (especially the mechs) would have to be sent in to the devs first for approval, and then have some option for it, as stated plotter if there was some bi-monthly (I'd say weekly but that might be too frequent, and I'd say monthly but that seems like a lot of time) competition or contest, or maybe just some judging method it might work out well enough

[FinnMcKool]

BMP

[Agent CraZy DiP]

They could do what World of Tanks does... Have map contests... Winner gets a Dev Makeover.

[Fooooo]

A monthly contest for map creators / designers is probably the best option.

That way the devs receive the maps, weither already half created in SDK or just a design sketch, and then go from there fixing up the maps so they are playable in game.

It works in PotBS, although its not maps its actual ships & not a contest.

There is a very tight criteria to adhere to when you DO try to create a ship for them. Poly counts, parts must look EXACTLY like the design of the actual ship or very close, they even had a review commitee that would look over what you have done and tell you what needed to be fixed before you submit it.

Even then there is still a LOT of work for the devs to do to actually get the thing in the game. (LOD's etc etc).

Edited by Foòóoo, 31 March 2012 - 09:15 PM.

[Ravana]

I would agree that a contest is a good idea. They could have a contest for maps and mechs. This would allow for an influx of content for free to the developers and they could award those who designed the best/most balanced mechs/maps with a mech of their choice, or if their mech design was picked a free copy of that for themselves.

This would give people an incentive to design. However it would also require the developers to design a set of tools for people to use, but it is a cheap way to get alot of map/mech designs. Though I would think maps they could do like bi-weekly, were mechs would be bi/tri-monthly so we don't have an influx of random non-canon mechs.

The developers could even make criteria for maps such as, "this week we want a frozen city map" or "this week we are looking for a moon base map." Things like that, that would allow them to define what people will be designing.

Edited by Ravana, 31 March 2012 - 10:50 PM.

[Exilyth]

I think aside from maps, players could provide non-critical game assets (e.g. trees, houses, civillian vehicles) and textures (e.g. loading screens, camo shemes). Players should not be able to provide game critical assets (e.g. mechs, weapons, equipment), because that would lead to one hell of a balancing issue very fast and/or lead to plain silly ideas (Dare I say Lava Canon?).

As long as it's a contest, people are required to do their contributions in a certain format (e.g. 'we need this texture as a 1024x1024 dds') and the devs have a final say in everything, I'd be ok with user made content. Format requirements should especially apply to mapping contests, otherwise you end up with lots of people only writing down their ideas and only a few images/plans for map structure.

Edited by Exilyth, 01 April 2012 - 11:17 AM.

[Fogbow]

Being an avid fan, player and also someone skilled in the industry I think I can offer some unique solutions to the comments regarding player made content.

First, we seem to have a varied idea of what "player made content" seems to mean. This needs to be addressed so we understand what you are proposing or asking of us.

Second, I believe you as the proprietor stand to benefit a great deal as a company from allowing players to contribute. Not only would you more fully enroll and enmesh your customers into the world they already love, but you would relieve the amount of work necessary on your staff to constantly design and develop the content at the same time. This would ultimately affect your bottom line. At the very least, we would be a think tank for you. There are many entertainment and business designs that illustrate this in the gaming world today.

We as a community also stand to gain a much more enriching gaming experience and the ability to effect our course to a degree not usually offered. Allowing well defined player made content would take the years of love and labor we have already spent and proffer it to the company and community, expanding the game beyond what you could have done on your own and give us players incentive to continue to develop vigour for the game. Instead of a static platform we get a living and thriving game for a much longer time. For those who contribute, there is the possibility of monitary benefit as well, depending on how you handle this. My own ability to model, render, texture and animate etc would be a great example.

That being said, the issue really becomes one of moderation. The gaming community as a whole, though highly skilled in some areas and also very passionate about the mechwarrior universe, can not govern themselves because of that very strength. Too much, too random, too different. As the Developers, you would need to become more in the line of TDs, approving any content we suggest adding and adjusting it on the whole to conform to the standard and style you envision for the game. Not only this, but would have to provide very clear guidlines regarding the requirements to be met for each type of content submission. Basically what your TD's or team leads already do inhouse. *shrugs*

Using myself as an example, I may design a mech, textures and maps or campaign...model, create, write, submit and you then give feedback or have your full time staff change it to fit the design and feel of the game. You assign its loadout and hardpoints, rewards, etc or modify the mission or content to conform to the technical aspects or legalities that many fans may not be aware of. Or just make it a dashboard dangly. Here comes the disco mirror ball! You as the professsionals balance and guide our work and ideas. I've been chewing my nails over the lack of ground vehicles and vtols and installations already...save yourself time and let us hand them to you! I bet someone out there has already written up a campaign for a base assault...

I believe in this way we all would gain a great deal from each other, possibly profit therebye and and also further immerse ourselves in the mech universe we all love so much. Large or small, campaign or paint job, building or mech, we all have something we would like to add that we believe would be a "nice" thing. Wouldn't it be great if we did?

Sincerely ~ Paradyne Tech

[Khanublikhan]

Fogbow, on 22 May 2013 - 11:00 PM, said:

Being an avid fan, player and also someone skilled in the industry I think I can offer some unique solutions to the comments regarding player made content.

First, we seem to have a varied idea of what "player made content" seems to mean. This needs to be addressed so we understand what you are proposing or asking of us.

Second, I believe you as the proprietor stand to benefit a great deal as a company from allowing players to contribute. Not only would you more fully enroll and enmesh your customers into the world they already love, but you would relieve the amount of work necessary on your staff to constantly design and develop the content at the same time. This would ultimately affect your bottom line. At the very least, we would be a think tank for you. There are many entertainment and business designs that illustrate this in the gaming world today.

We as a community also stand to gain a much more enriching gaming experience and the ability to effect our course to a degree not usually offered. Allowing well defined player made content would take the years of love and labor we have already spent and proffer it to the company and community, expanding the game beyond what you could have done on your own and give us players incentive to continue to develop vigour for the game. Instead of a static platform we get a living and thriving game for a much longer time. For those who contribute, there is the possibility of monitary benefit as well, depending on how you handle this. My own ability to model, render, texture and animate etc would be a great example.

That being said, the issue really becomes one of moderation. The gaming community as a whole, though highly skilled in some areas and also very passionate about the mechwarrior universe, can not govern themselves because of that very strength. Too much, too random, too different. As the Developers, you would need to become more in the line of TDs, approving any content we suggest adding and adjusting it on the whole to conform to the standard and style you envision for the game. Not only this, but would have to provide very clear guidlines regarding the requirements to be met for each type of content submission. Basically what your TD's or team leads already do inhouse. *shrugs*

Using myself as an example, I may design a mech, textures and maps or campaign...model, create, write, submit and you then give feedback or have your full time staff change it to fit the design and feel of the game. You assign its loadout and hardpoints, rewards, etc or modify the mission or content to conform to the technical aspects or legalities that many fans may not be aware of. Or just make it a dashboard dangly. Here comes the disco mirror ball! You as the professsionals balance and guide our work and ideas. I've been chewing my nails over the lack of ground vehicles and vtols and installations already...save yourself time and let us hand them to you! I bet someone out there has already written up a campaign for a base assault...

I believe in this way we all would gain a great deal from each other, possibly profit therebye and and also further immerse ourselves in the mech universe we all love so much. Large or small, campaign or paint job, building or mech, we all have something we would like to add that we believe would be a "nice" thing. Wouldn't it be great if we did?

Sincerely ~ Paradyne Tech

What he said.

Let. Us. Help. You.