Idea -- Blizzard map submission system

Basically, it's a system that would allow map makers in the SC2 community to submit their personal maps for a review by Blizzard map developers and for a chance to be added to a Blizzard map database filled with official ladder, general melee, and special custom maps. When submitting a map, one would fill out some basic information about themselves (name, email, etc.) and about their map (name, type, size, #players, etc.).

After that, it would be up to Blizzard to test the maps and see if they are worthy enough to become official Blizzard maps. Map makers whose maps make it would be rewarded with having their map used by players all over the world and quite possibly even in the official ladder or even pro scene. Naturally, their names would be tacked onto their maps for recognition.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

 

Imagine how many people would send in maps..
Blizzard have other things to do

 

Exactly what Lobster said. Imagine all the good mappers sending in their pieces, plus all the nubcakes with infinite minerolz... no. Too much work on Blizzard's part for too little profit. They will know the editor more than anyone from the community, so their maps will overshadow every single melee community product, provided they release regular map packs.

 

The good community maps will be played all over b.net, so that Blizzard won't have to look far to notice the good maps. Sending them to Blizzard won't be needed.
That's how it works in Team Fortress 2: The good community made maps are obviously played more than the nuby ones, and Valve quickly take notice of them, and officially release a couple a month or three later.
Blizzard should do the same.

 

Warcraft 3 : TFT was qutie similar at one event, they had competitions, they had around 3 winners and their maps will be to be put on the game in the next patch.

 

A map making competition - YES

A map submitting tool - NO

 

Lol, right now the poll is mirrored, I think I have to say Mehh. GMG + Lobster + Kuvasz say why Im negativly oriented. But on the other hand it could be fun if Blizzard had 1-2 employs who where working with custom maps etc. finding games like DOTA and helping icefrog when problems arrive (for example like the newest patch problem). So a better connection between Blizzard and the map makers, not nessecary a system like this one.

 

It's a fun idea for sure, but I can't see it working in the long run.

Custom maps have to be constantly supported. Almost all good maps have been the end result of constant improvement over fairly long periods of time. Since the map maker isn't being paid, support isn't guaranteed. If a game breaking bug/glitch is found, who is going to fix it? Blizzard could obviously do so, but the time required to figure out how the map works probably makes it not worth it unless it's called DOTA.

The ratio of great maps to terrible maps is also minuscule and arguably about the same as one's chance to find an SoJ. Since this system would act as a kind of filter for good maps, it would just require way too much effort on Blizzard's part to make this work. Testing maps isn't a simple ordeal, let alone judging whether it is of good enough quality for "official" status.

However, mapping contests are feasible because they're one shot ordeals.

 

...i could have sworn we had this post already, and that i've posted in it.

anyways, my answer is NO.

first, most maps suck. it's like 1% acceptable, 99% crap. blizz will have to sort through a lot of stuff.

second, map testing takes time. which, given that 99% of maps are crap, means blizzard will end up wasting tons and tons of time testing stuff they're not even going to make money from. i'm happy with years of updates/patches and free online play, and there's much better things for them to waste their time on.

third, there will be multiple versions of each map. probably from the same mapmaker who's refining their work, but also from idiots who steal maps, make one tiny tweak and then submit under their own name.

we already have a map-submission and play-testing field in place: it's called battle.net. get other players to playtest the maps. if they like it, they will play it again. if they don't, well, it's probably because it sucks. if players keep playing it, along with multiple versions refining it, then blizzard will probably recognize it. like Element TD in WC3, for example.

 

"...i could have sworn we had this post already, and that i've posted in it."
The update removed some threads/posts.

 

StarCraft 2 Marketplace!

Lol, I'm amazed something like this is actually going to happen!

 

lol me too, but I'm positive they already had it in the works WELL before I suggested it.

What did surprise me was the ability to sell your maps.

 

to be honest man, i think just leaving map making and balancing to blizzard, they know wtf they are doing. theres no reason they can't work with ideas that players submit however.

 

what if every fansite gets to have a contest, then the winner goes to blizz?

 

You basically just said that dota sucks.

But seriously, this idea has no use at all. Servers get the info of the maps which are played over the time. If a specific custom map is played and exchanged a lot, Blizzard contacts its creator by its bnet account. (since serious mapmakers also include that in war3 maps) If you want to be offered cash for a licence, just be sure to include contact information in your protected maps. No difficult submission systems please. This is no "Amarican Idol" with a jury. lol