Starcraft 2 :: User-generated maps can be sold for money

[Krusader]

http://www.vg247.com/2009/08/22/star...-created-maps/

Activision written all over that one. Now there will be premium maps, maps generated by the fans but that are sold through microtransactions.

To me it just gives a bad feeling, fondly remembering how Blizzard made multiplayer maps for free every week for I don't know HOW many years.

I for one will probably take a wait and see approach with Starcraft 2. First off, I want to see if the "split into 3 games" is because they want more money out of the gamers or if its actually because the single-player campaign is so big. Second, I don't want to try and join multiplayer games where I get the message "You don't have the Premium map on your computer. Do you wish to go to battle.net store and purchase it?"

But the cynic in me, thinks most people won't care about this...especially the younger crowd who'll just use daddy's credit card.

[Husar]

Yes, Blizzard would never do this, just like WoW is for free and hardly netted them any profit...

I think the idea behind this is that people may be more inclined to create quality maps as they could get some actual profit from that, I guess Blizzard gets a share from sold maps as well.
And it doesn't look as if they are forcing anyone to ask money for maps or buy them.
Despite all that I guess most people would still buy this even if they decided to use StarForce.

[Meneldil]

You can bash Blizzard for making profit with WoW, but unlike many companies, they've - so far - a record of excellent games, with very good post-release support.

I'm sure as hell disappointed by the whole SC2 thingy. 3 games? What the hell? The single player game better be freaking awesome, as in incredibly better than anything released so far, because I'm not willing to pay a game 3 times to have cheap ass, or even decent campaigns.

Now, they go for purchasable custom maps? It seriously looks like good old blizzard is turning into another Activision.

[pevergreen]

Well:

1. if you read reviews, the terran singleplayer campaign has about 29 missions. Multiple RPG-esque elements etc
2. They are Blizzard-Activision now.

[Ramses II CP]

Doubtless some group will come along and make near clones of the pay maps to release for free. Heck, if the game itself is decent I might get involved with an effort like that myself. Then it'll come down to promotion; if Blizzard pushes hard enough I suppose they could make the pay maps popular. I doubt it though.

[Monk]

Oh Blizzard, is there no genre of games you can't ruin?

But in all seriousness, Micro-transactions have been done before by companies much more "sinister" than blizzard. (Capcom did it with Mega Man 9) Yeah, it's kinda shady and I'm not sure how I feel about i since it has the potential to break up the upcoming MP community into haves and have nots.

2. They are Blizzard-Activision now.

A rose by any other name..