The Custom Map Community

• WarCraft 3 custom games more popular than original games.
  
• StarCraft 2 editor more powerful than WarCraft 3 editor. More on this in the SC2 panel.
  
• Item system available for map makers.
  
• Map publishing makes it easy to share maps. Can download maps without joining games. Can choose to play maps available on Battle.net, all published maps.
  

SC2 Marketplace

• Easy to find and browse maps.
  
• Maps can be commented and rated.
  
• Free and premium maps. Premium maps have to be bought, and the profit goes to map makers.
  

BlizzCon SC2 Development Panel:

• Lead designer on SC2 is talking about how the RTS games have changed in focus over the years. Now SC2 is supposed to be more story based with deeper characters and actual heroes. More available choices for each mission and paths you can take. Similar to Dawn of War 2, you choose what items to use and such.
  
• Desgner talking about the lava world. Two distinct cliff types (metal and rock). New water tools (ability to make lava overflow). Built in lighting effects for maps.
  
• Agra level (the truck mission from the demo vid) has alpha texture blending. No two parts of the
  map will looks the same due to alpha textures. Hard tiles available (road). Custom terrain foliage, and you can generate doodads.
  
• SC2 editor trumps WC3's. They're talking about how common it is for Blizzard to hire map makers.
  
• Custom map with an Uberlisk with units attached to his back, and he gets swarmed by 100 zerglings, explodes and kills everything.
  
• Custom map of a third person perspective shooter map. Use keyboard to move and mouse to aim. Uses custom UI to talk to other characters. All on 3rd person, great for RPGs or sniper/shooters. Ability to travel underground if desired.
  
• Last custom map is a Galaga-type map with a ship on the bottom of the screen shooting oncoming units like the arcade game.
  

SC2 Development Q&A:

• Guy asks them to clarify the term mod (they call WC3 maps "mods"). They consider all custom maps to be "mods," including SC maps - they love all types of mods.
  
• They're looking into the possibility of shareable libraries, since all maps are ultimately openly published.
  
• Tauren Marine will be in SC2 editor. Won't say about any other units.
  
• Someone asked about adding custom units (similar to what we deem "modding" for SC1). They say that they may allow it in the future, but wont be available at ship.
  
• Some guy asked about map stealing. They said it's a huge issue that they really dislike and they think publishing will fix it.
  
• Ability to adjust armor as a percentage like Warcraft 3 rather than a set value like Starcraft.
  
• They say it is pushed into 2010 and not only because of battle.net. They just aren't done with the game.
  
• Someone asked about saving heroes from a map to use in another game of the same map (like RPGs). They say you can save data from specific maps, but I don't think it's the same concept.
  
• Someone asking about character customization like having a ghost use a marine's gun. That is possible, and should be a "30 second change."
  
• They look at battle.net and monitor popular maps. If they love maps they have in the past offered jobs to map makers. Battle.net 2.0 will make this easier theoretically.
  
• Editor will be available with beta release.
  
• Map makers may be able to release betas of maps with friends.
  

BlizzCon Vids and Images:


BETA WILL START BY THE END OF 2009
(Says one of the lead developers in an interview with the DirecTV commentators)

Quote from DevliN

• premium maps. Premium maps have to be bought, and the profit goes to map makers.
  

Really? Wow, this isn't Xbox (Even nobody earns profit from Far Cry 2's editor), but having the entire StarCraft community make maps and earn profit? Oh boy, we're going to see A LOT of crappy, crappy maps filling the custom games list and asks "Would you like to purchase this map for $___"

Yep. They're trying to turn it into a marketplace like those you find on PSN or X-Box Live. I think the idea is that there are so many clones of Tower Defense and DotA that you have to pay for, and the original creators get nothing from it. Now if you have an incredible map worth paying for, you can actually make money on it.

Premium Maps? Panzer must be writhing in his grave.

I don't know if I approve of premium maps. Someone could just copy your map and make a free version, would there be a dispute then?

Who decides whether a map is premium or not? The comunity? Some blizzard team?

They will have a system in place to stop that probably, although people will find ways. Well I ain't selling maps, freebies for everyone!

I think the creator chooses to sell the map, not Blizzard.

NOW we're talking! I'll be sure to charge out the arse for all of my maps!



(I'm kidding, btw)

I guess publishing is a way to claim that you are the rightful owner of a map.
This system puts the map stealing fault on the real creator of the map for leaking it out to someone he can't trust before publishing it.

I'm sure that nobody would consider buying a premium map if there isn't a free demo.

I hope you can get those screencaps up.

EDIT:
Would be funny to see published strip, rickroll, sexypics, etc maps.

I'm pissed. I want free streams nao

And oh snap...Now that you mentioned it, its going to be texturized units that you'll get a camera view close up of a naked chick. And since this is 3D it's going to be realistic D:

I'll say it now. Porn maps will flood SC2.

I hope someone does a conversion of Strip Shmidley.

Oh god, I can see how porn maps could be sold for money...

map making is now srs busns

get those pics up already too.

Defence of the Xel'naga - $20.00

Oh f--

They should use virtual currency though. Like you can buy avatars and crap with it, and u can also buy "premium" maps too. You can buy them with real cash if u want, but they should be acquired through winning games, or maybe gambling on matches when you're an observer?

Sorry for lack of pics so far. I'm actually on my way to BlizzCon right now. I'll get caps up tonight of everything SC2 related. Today's SC2 Lore panel is going to have a big surprise, so I'll try to get that to you guys, too.

I'm sorry but paying for maps wtf was blizzard smoking when they came up with this? Yes it gives map makers more incentive to make games i guess but at what cost? Sheesh bliz you sure know how to screw your fans. Bet your gona make me play per month on d3 also.

Tricia Helfer from Battlestar Galactica is doing the voice of Kerrigan. Not sure if there's more yet.

Starcraft 2 gameplay panel now. They says they're going to tell us about the tools they used to make maps.

Some lead designer on SC2 is talking about how the RTS games have changed in focus over the years. Now SC2 is suppsed to be more story based with deeper characters and actual heroes. More available choices for each mission and paths you can take. Similar to Dawn of War 2, you choose what items to use and such.

Talking about a few missions now. Getting into map tools soon.

He's talking about the lava world. Two distinct cliff types (metal and rock). New water tools (ability to make lava overflow). Built in lighting effects for maps.

Agra level (the truck mission from the demo vid) has alpha texture blending. No two parts of the
map will looks the same due to alpha textures. Hard tiles available (road). Custom terrain foliage, and you can generate doodads.

Now talking about editor, and famous custom maps - Tower D and DotA.

SC2 editor trumps WC3's. Teyre talking about how common it is for Blizzard to hire map makers.

They're showing a custom map with an Uberliak with units attached to his back, and he gets swarmed by 100 zerglings, explodes and kills everything.

Now they're showing another map of a third person perspective shooter map. Use keyboard to move and mouse to aim. Uses custom UI to talk to other characters. All on 3rd person, great for RPGs or sniper/shooters. Ability to travel underground if desired.

Last custom map is a Galaga (forgot the game's name) type map with a ship on the bottom of the screen shooting oncoming units like the arcade game.

Some guy asked them to clarify the term mod. They consider custom maps to be "mods." they love all types of mods.

They're looking into the possibility of shareable libraries, since all maps are published.

Tauren Marine will be in SC2 editor. Won't say about any other units.

Someone asked about adding custom units. They say that they may allow it in the future.

Some guy asked about map stealing. They said it's a huge issue and they think publishing will fix it.

Ability to adjust armor as a percentage like Warcraft 3 rather than a set value like Starcraft.

They say it is pushed into 2010 and not only because of battle.net. They just aren't done with the game.

Someone asked about saving heroes from a map to use in another game of the same map (like RPGs). They say you can save data from specific maps, but Idon'tt think it's the same concept.

Someone asking about character customization like having a ghost use a marine's gun. That is possible.

They look at battle.net and monitor popular maps. If they love maps they have in the past offered jobs to map makers. Battle.net 2.0 will make this easier theoretically.

Editor will be available with beta release.

Map makers may be able to release betas of maps with friends.


---

That's all. I'll try to get screenshots from the DirecTV thing if they aired it (I hope they did).