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User Created Content is Key for New Games
An anonymous reader writes to tell us that recently Valve Software's Doug Lombardi has stated his strong belief that user created content is a very important part of games in the near future. "'I would argue that it's the biggest component those guys have to get over if they want online to matter.' 'Half-Life 1 was okay as a multiplayer game and Team Fortress Classic was really good, but Counter-Strike kicked both their asses no question. And that came from a kid going to college in Canada and another kid going to high school in New Jersey, who had our code and thought it would be cool to play our game.'"
Don't make a map of your school. Apparently that makes you a threat.
is to give each player their own space and let them custimize it how they want. They can put pictures of their avatar, some fascinating facts about themselves, and maybe have their favorite song playing. They could even link to other players' spaces. I'm not sure what they'd call it, though.
U R in amaze of twisty little pasages, all a like
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
And it's not the near future it's already happened. Look at Quake. I played that game for years because of some user created content called Team Fortress.
I am glad that companies are starting to think about this stuff though. It would be nice if more games had good mod kits when they are released.
Between moddable multiplayer games, MMO's with player created structures, areas, and interactables (vendors and such), and any game with comprehensive map editors being around for ages, is this even a question?
I'm pretty sure we've all known that without a massive potential for replayability in the original title, the only thing that keeps a game alive long term is the user created interactions and content (barring companies that keep ongoing updates and patch, like Cavedog did with TA back in the day [although that also had user created content]).
Ice Cream has no bones.
Are they just realizing this now? Hell, I remember modding Wolfenstein3D when I was younger. I made a Castlevania mod, if you were wondering (and I know you were).
Point being, user-generated content has always been a big part of all the best PC games; FPS's, Strategy games, you name it. When users can mod the game, they become attached to it and it develops a much more cohesive and less fickle user-base and expands the longevity of the product.
Anyone else think the comments just weren't rendering right before they turned off ABP and saw ads?
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that engaging, high-quality content is key for new video games.
If that content comes from users, great. If it comes from paid professionals, great.
Any sufficiently well-organized community is indistinguishable from Government.
The submitter left out a very important word in his summary. This article is about console games. The first sentence in the article is:
He's saying that consoles are way behind general purpose computers in online play. One of the big advantages that computers have always had is customizability and user-generated maps and mods. The online experience of consoles will remain a poor shadow of the computer game ecosystem until they enable and allow the players to share in the extension of their games.
This is a big reason why I haven't bought a full-size console since the Atari 2600. Two years after I got the Atari I also got a Texas Instruments 99/4A. I loved the ability to do wild things like save games, download levels from online bulletin boards, and even program simple games myself. Nowadays I enjoy playing Use Map Settings games in Starcraft and have created several maps of my own. That game is ten years old but still megafun due to the user-generated maps.
AlpineR
You do realize that Valve hired both the team that created CS and DOD, and the reason why they sell the both mods now is because they paid hard cash for the mods, right?
If you want to be pissed at Valve about something, please at least pick a topic where Valve isn't one of the leaders of the pack on. I don't know of any other game companies that you can speak of that have sheparded their mod community as much as Valve has.
And that came from a kid going to college in Canada and another kid going to high school in New Jersey
Haha. He says that as if being from Canada or New Jersey is akin to being in the special olympics or something.
If companies want to have more user generated content for their games, particularly when they themselves release "for sale" expansion modules ala the Neverwinter Nights series, then they must allow the copyrights to remain with the creators AND they have to give the creators a piece of the action when their content is featured in the "for sale" download area. The problem with Neverwinter Nights and other games is that they state in the license agreement that any content that you produce for their game becomes their property when you distribute it and they can re-distribute it as much as they want and even charge for it without giving you any royalties. If the companies want good user generated content then they must allow users to earn money off of their content and maintain rights to the content that they (the users) create.
We asked the three top consoles, what's the key for new games:
:(
XBOX360: Well, hot detailed graphics are definitely a key.
PS3 [looks in question list]: Hey! That's my line, you jerk! Anyway.. Blue Ray's a key too. You can make bigger games on Blue Ray to fit all the hot graphics, so I can have hotter graphics than any of you guys.
Wii and XBOX360: Yea.. Sure.. [chuckling].
XBOX360: Micro-transactions are a key as well. We sell gamers crippled games, and make them pay to buy assets. It's kinda like Scientology: by the time you understand it's all a bunch of bull, you've already paid, so you gotta keep playing and paying. Aaa.. and... and.. it also makes gaming more engaging, and bitter, just like real life is.
PS3: User content is also key. You allow the gamers to create anything they want in a game, guns, cars, roads... Wait.. this kinda doesn't fly with transactions...
XBOX360: Shhhh... damn it! Another key is online gameplay. I integrate all games with consistent online experience, which builds a great community of gamers.
PS3: Me too!
XBOX360: You too what?
PS3: I build a clone of your service by integrating a clone of Second Life in my clone exp.. I mean core experience.
XBOX360: Oh.. right...
Wii: A key in new games, and old games, is fun an inventive gameplay, you guys. You shouldn't forget that.
XBOX360 and PS3: Hahahaha. Idiot...
Wii: And new fun ways to interface with game with innovative sensor controller!
XBOX360: Hahahaha, you're making our day, Wii.
PS3: [hides the 6-axis controller behind his back] Hu-hu-hu
As one of the original DOD developers that got "bought", I have to give Valve immense throbbing sweaty kudos for how they work. Valve bought the game IP, agreed to start paying us, then told us, "Look, you're doing a really good job at what you do. We don't want to break that, so just keep doing what you do. If you need help, we're here."