Blizzard Supports Mods/Campaigns!

[Lavarinth]

In a recent discussion with Karune from Blizzard, I asked the following:

[11:05] Lavarinth:You've mentioned before you enjoyed the fact fans make campaigns for Blizzard products, do you believe creating custom MPQs that add new unit/portrait graphics, new cinematics, features, AI, MP3 support, etc, to games that previously didn't support that (like StarCraft) with the use of modding programs is.. A negative movement on the games?
[11:08] Lavarinth: I ask because some of our projects (including those featured on three different gaming magazines including PC Gamer) have used custom MPQs (which is the same as replacing WAV files to get new audio, which was somewhat the inspiration to it all.)

To which Karune's simple reply was:

[11:11] Karune: nope, once the game is bought by you guys..its yours
[11:12] Karune: u can do what you want as long as your not charging the community for it

Well, there you have it folks. Our projects portraying alternate storylines to StarCraft, completely new gameplay through modding, and new features through adjustments in data are all within terms of agreement.

I asked this question, of a few others (such as bringing us into the Blizzard Fansite Program), to reassure ourselves that what we've created will always be here to stay. I know at one point, long ago, Blizzard was shutting down projects adjusting gameplay and so-forth, (although they were arguable considering it involved projects like "SC>WC," "WC3>SC," or "SC3D,") this makes sure we're doing things within reason.

[Anonymous]

Uh, they've always not cared about mpqs. They shut down SC2wc3 because of artwork and some other stuff I believe, not because it was a mod in itself; otherwise other mods of the time, ie dominion wars, would have also been shut down.

And they've already said this anyway... I mean you could have asked something like, "Will sc2 have softcoded AI?" or something actually new... /wrists

[Lavarinth]

And they've already said this anyway... I mean you could have asked something like, "Will sc2 have softcoded AI?" or something actually new... /wrists

(See Staff Forum )

[Zilla-]

i cant

[Lavarinth]

i cant

Oh really- But there's a thread started by you in there- OH WAIT! That's the spam we split from other topics that you made and transferred them to Staff to get them out of the way. Thanks!

Anywho, I know you can't. It was directed towards Isk.
[me=Lavarinth]points at Doctor Doack.[/me]

[Zilla-]

WTF IS THIS I CANT EVEN VIEW MY OWN SPAM OH DEAR GOD ITS ORANGE WTF

[Maglok]

It's still nice to get official word.

[Mr.]

A guy from Blizzard said "u can do what you want"?

Well then... that's kinda sad...

[Marco]

Finally, the approval I need to make a porn campaign.

[Zilla-]

Seen it already, watch shadow play anything in which she has access to hentai tentacles.

[UntamedLoli]

I'm more curious if they are going to alienate Vista users with the exporting tools in max.

[Jadefang]

It is amazing that Blizzard seems so indifferent/negative to custom campaigns. I mean they put not too sophisticated fanart and stuff on their site, why not custom campaigns, which are so much more creative!?

I think they don't have any interest in this , because ultimately it could distract from the original SC2, or it might even jeopardize selling an ADD ON CD to SC2. The less material freely available, the more demand (=$) for further Blizzard releases.

[Marco]

Indifferent perhaps, but not negative.  I also think support for the community, including custom campaigns, will be much better now that they have more community communication.

[Whiplash!]

I agree [imgwh 32x32]http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3817 ... teryn0.gif[/imgwh]

[Jadefang]

Indifferent perhaps, but not negative.  I also think support for the community, including custom campaigns, will be much better now that they have more community communication.

Honestly, to me saying: "once the game is bought by you guys..its yours" in response to such an empathetic attempt to talk about community made campaigns in future SC2 is pretty negative, at least by American standards. Think of how much they embrace all other community activities like artwork, questions, and pictures of people holding I love SC2 signs, etc. I believe that at the end of the day, they are primarily interested in activites that will enhance selling of their products. My concern is that custom campaigns can always be perceived as a potential interference.

However, having said that I hope you are right nonetheless. 

PS @mantis: great pic of the cookie monster