As you may know, from time to time we provide content updates to StarCraft II. Some of these updates are simple balances changes, while others are completely new maps, or even official custom mods that provide new styles of gameplay. These mods are essentially custom maps, which we plan to make available to our community over time. At the recent BlizzCon 2010, we previewed a few of the mods we have planned for release, including Blizzard DOTA, StarJeweled, Aiur Chef, and Left 2 Die. While we haven’t officially released the maps yet, we plan to do so in the future under the names announced at BlizzCon.
Since our announcement at BlizzCon, it has been brought to our attention that the Survivors vs. Swarm map that you previously published has been recently renamed to Left 2 Die. We realize great minds sometimes think alike, but unfortunately, this name is reserved and unavailable for community publishing. As such, we’ll need to remove your recently renamed map (Left 2 Die) and the name will no longer be a valid name for you to republish the map under.
We’re genuinely sorry about the confusion and would like to minimize the inconvenience this may cause as much as possible. We know what it’s like to work hard on a custom map you’re proud of, and we’d like to work with you to make sure your map has as little down time as possible. Toward that end, we would like to give you time to upload a new version of the map with its previous name, Survivors vs. Swarm (or a new name or your choosing), which will replace the current version.
We will be formally reserving the name “Left 2 Die” on Friday morning at 11am Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). This timeline can not be moved, and we request that you rename your map before that time. If the name is still in use after that time, we will need to make it available by removing any map that is using it. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
While no action is being taken against your account, please understand that this name will absolutely be reserved at 11:00 Friday morning.
If you experience any difficulty republishing your map under a different name, please let us know by responding directly to this email and we’ll do our best to assist you. We appreciate your understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience.
As you may know, from time to time it comes to a designers attention that a system is fundamentally what we like to call "broken". Sometimes this is because the system in place makes it entirely impossible for one to promote a quality product, such as new custom maps, or content for your game, "Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty". Instead we are forced to endure wave after wave of games with no creativity, thought, or quality flooding the top of the list, making really and truly creative minds that think alike discouraged from flexing their creativity. At a recent meeting of minds, IRC #SC2Mapster 2010, about 1 and a half weeks ago to be exact, I belayed to my colleagues for a name that would be more catchy than "Survivors vs. Swarm". I am unsure if "belayed" is the word, I am sorry I do not have a dictionary on hand and I have not quite yet finished high school at the tender age of 26, so big words are a little difficult for me. Please bear with me as I have spent the last 16 hours forming a proper response to your well-articulated message.
Anyway, I seem to have gotten off track. The name "Left 2 Die" was the first suggestion given. I passed over it, seeking perhaps a name that was more, "epic". Unfortunately after 2 days of deliberation, I decided to go with "Left 2 Die". I made a neat little poster spoof of the Left 4 Dead loading screen, and I have a trailer being done by someone who has spent over a week on it, using the name Left 2 Die throughout the video.
Now I realize this may seem like an event that did not happen sporadically. As of course we all know everyone in the world loves Blizzard and follows their every move. So naturally it can be assumed that I saw this at Blizzcon, somehow without attending, or even knowing that it was going on until pointed out to me days after I published the map. I apologize if that was rude of me, but no I do not really follow every thing that you guys do around the clock. I'm sure your coffee runs are not that interesting. I know mine aren't. In fact if the office there is anything like the office here, - actually let me correct myself. I do not really drink coffee. It is unhealthy and I really feel it is for game developers specifically, who must endure 80 hour shifts to make deadlines, ban random maps with mildly offensive words, and also maps that interfere with their global plans of world domination. I apologize again if I interfered with your plans. Unfortunately I assumed that if the name were slated for use, instead of, infact just being a spur of the moment publish, that the name would have been reserved.
In the professional business world, we usually think ahead of our actions, you know, plan in advance. Er, sorry since you are probably not quite up to that point in your career, (being a GM and all, I know, it's not easy. I once had to work as a customer service representative too) so for your integrity, i'll put this into terms you can understand.
Let's say you picked Terran, and you are now matched up vs. a Zerg player. As a terran, you have many measures you can take to know exactly what the Zerg player is doing. In this case, me, the Zerg (I am quite good at Zerg, by the way.), have absolutely no scouting options available to me. In this case, I cannot tell what you are planning to do because you have supply depots blocking your ramp. In this case, some convention I didn't care to attend. From what I heard, it involved some odd man revealing discrepencies in your lore and another whom broke his leg doing some kind of worship-based cult dance I did not understand.
In any case. Back to the analogy. So say you advance your army towards my base with your marines, and what do you find there? You found Roaches. Why did you find roaches? Because you failed to scout, like most terrible Terran players do. Unfortunately, your marines are melted in seconds, and the roaches make a counter-attack to your main. But now you know what is coming, and expertly create Marauders to counter my roaches. I arrive at your base after 5 seconds to find 3 Thors, and roughly along the lines of a dozen Marauders waiting for me. You A-move in my general direction, and my hatchery somehow explodes in the whole mess.
Anyway the point is, in the business world, we often times decide to pre-emptively take actions, such as reserving a name, or reserving a website address, or likewise. Fortunately, the epic custom map "Left 2 Die" has been revered as "one of the best custom maps on BNet", and also hailed as "Better than that thing at Blizzcon". My counter-offer to your proposal is that we come to a truce, and stop this senseless fighting. Innocent people are being killed every day, Soracian. Children are starving all over the world. My cat died of feline leukemia. It is a rough world out there, I know. Next time you ban a custom map, please stop yourself and think carefully, what you are about to do, the hatred and negativity you are adding to this cruel world. Step back from your coffee and GM responsibilities and money-hungry men standing behind your shoulder, Mr. Soracian. Together we can change the world. Please consider this, I anxiously await your reply.
Best Regards,
Samuel L. Jackson Jr the Third, Esquire.
P.S.: Add a search function to the Custom Maps list. It is quite atrocious and cumbersome for your average customer who has carpal tunnel syndrome. Clicking "Show More" only worsens my condition and many times at night I cannot sleep because of the pain.
P.S.S.: Please add 1000 popularity to my custom map so that I may bask in the fruitful glory of your first page.
P.S.S.S: Why is that Sentry Scramble game still featured? It's kind of lousy.
Thanks again,
Samuel L. Jackson Jr the Third, Esquire.
P.S.S.S.S: That other Zerg game that is featured, the one in chinese. That one is also kind of lousy, too.
I think your being quite rude, Mephs, or Samuel L. Jackson Jr the Third, Esquire. A Blizzard Representative sent you a formal and nice email, and you turn it around and reply to him with a butt load of crap. It really gives you popularity treating people like their dirtbags huh? It really shows on your character too. Who would want to play your map after you decide to treat that person like crap?
Out of curiosity, do you all really think that acting as douchey as possible is the best way to have your concerns listened to and taken seriously by Blizzard?
Acting like dipshits just makes you seem like you're trolling or part of the group of people that will always complain about anything ever. Either way nothing you say is going to be taken seriously.
If you didn't write such a huge nondescriptive wall of text, you might have remembered to leave the key point in. Did you name your map Left 2 Die before, or after Blizzard announced their map. If it's after, I can't really blame them for forcing a change upon you. You don't need to attend or even watch Blizzcon to stay somewhat up to date with their stuff. Besides, if not for their Left 2 Die, odds were that another one was already around. To use your own analogy - if you fail at scouting (zerg have Overlords, amirite?), then it's your own damn fault you lose the match.
If you actually changed your map name before Left 2 Die was announced at Blizzcon, you might have some argument. Even then, your mail back is stupid. You're attempting to come of clever but fail at it by not properly attaching a clue to each point you try to make - and some points are just plain bad ("Blizzard is evil, I'm mad at you").
I guess it's the Rodrigo approach. Blatantly lie about why map was taken down (yes he changed the name after Blizzard's announcement at BlizzCon deliberately to trick people), gain huge popularity for said map.
No I really was ignorant to the fact they made a game with the name. But I mgiht as well run with it since everyone has blizzard's dick firmly planted up their ass.
I hate blizzard for creating the lousy popularity/publishing systems, and then not listening to their community as EVERYONE told them it sucked.
But seriously dude? Even I have to side with Blizzard on this one, goddamn the ammount of times they said sorry in that email. I mean shit dude, they sounded like they just ran over your dog, and that's knowing you blatantly stole their map's name. I gotta give them props, sure they're a company and probably don't give a shit, but most companies will put the bare minimum in. They really sounded apologetic, and then you go and be a douche. Most uncool, bro. Most uncool.
I wasn't even being rude or using foul language. How was I being a douche?
Regardless I'm going to change the name anyway. Its not like I can fight people with a ban button 2 inches away. While we're on the topic of douchebags, how bout that custom map panel Q&A
I wasn't even being rude or using foul language. How was I being a douche?
Regardless I'm going to change the name anyway. Its not like I can fight people with a ban button 2 inches away. While we're on the topic of douchebags, how bout that custom map panel QA
The data specialist was the only guy I liked. The Blizzard DOTA guy was okay not the best.. The rest were...ignorant. and just yeah..
Its not squatting if I didn't know about it. Yes the email they sent me was nice and business-like, as usual. They have to put on a professional image to people, and I appreciated that they weren't being douchebags and outright banning the map. I was not rude, nor vitriolic in my reply to the e-mail, nor was I being directly abusive. I am pretty positive no one at their office will be offended, nor go home hurt or cry about it. You guys, on the other hand.
All in all, it got publicity out of the whole ordeal, WHICH IS WHAT THEY SAID TO DO, L2PUBLICIZE. So I am running with a fortunate coincidence. Simple as that. I don't squat names or do shit like this on purpose. But if I'm gonna be given the spotlight, might as well hog my 15 min. Right? Right. L2advertise indeed.
Despite being an accidental "rip-off" its retaining players simply for the fact that the map is enjoyable, and was meant to appeal to left 4 dead fans, nothing more. If it wasn't for the publicity "stunt", it still could reach page 3 or 2 on its own, it did as "Survivors vs. Swarm". I didn't NEED the publicity, nor is the map unable to retain itself, as its been to page 2 before this all in the first place.
Renaming it to something that would scream "This is Left 4 Dead, in SC2" was the objective, the name Left 2 Die was suggested in IRC before Blizzcon even happened. You can hold your ears and go la la la all you want, that's the facts. its not that clever of a name. But I suppose you think Blizzard invented Orcs and Trolls too.
In fact, Blizzard bite more things than any gaming company out there. Their entire franchise is a direct rip-off of classic Warhammer, the lore, the races, the hero figures, Blizzard was scoped to make a game FOR GW, and they split ways, bit the idea, and profitted hundredfolds off of their work.
So because blizzard create a map with the same name they are allowed to do what they want, but give no assistance when someone else copies a fellow map makers map? then its just bad luck?
On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 7:47 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:
Greetings Sam,
As you may know, from time to time we provide content updates to StarCraft II. Some of these updates are simple balances changes, while others are completely new maps, or even official custom mods that provide new styles of gameplay. These mods are essentially custom maps, which we plan to make available to our community over time. At the recent BlizzCon 2010, we previewed a few of the mods we have planned for release, including Blizzard DOTA, StarJeweled, Aiur Chef, and Left 2 Die. While we haven’t officially released the maps yet, we plan to do so in the future under the names announced at BlizzCon.
Since our announcement at BlizzCon, it has been brought to our attention that the Survivors vs. Swarm map that you previously published has been recently renamed to Left 2 Die. We realize great minds sometimes think alike, but unfortunately, this name is reserved and unavailable for community publishing. As such, we’ll need to remove your recently renamed map (Left 2 Die) and the name will no longer be a valid name for you to republish the map under.
We’re genuinely sorry about the confusion and would like to minimize the inconvenience this may cause as much as possible. We know what it’s like to work hard on a custom map you’re proud of, and we’d like to work with you to make sure your map has as little down time as possible. Toward that end, we would like to give you time to upload a new version of the map with its previous name, Survivors vs. Swarm (or a new name or your choosing), which will replace the current version.
We will be formally reserving the name “Left 2 Die” on Friday morning at 11am Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). This timeline can not be moved, and we request that you rename your map before that time. If the name is still in use after that time, we will need to make it available by removing any map that is using it. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
While no action is being taken against your account, please understand that this name will absolutely be reserved at 11:00 Friday morning.
If you experience any difficulty republishing your map under a different name, please let us know by responding directly to this email and we’ll do our best to assist you. We appreciate your understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience.
Best,
The StarCraft II Team
Greetings [email protected]
As you may know, from time to time it comes to a designers attention that a system is fundamentally what we like to call "broken". Sometimes this is because the system in place makes it entirely impossible for one to promote a quality product, such as new custom maps, or content for your game, "Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty". Instead we are forced to endure wave after wave of games with no creativity, thought, or quality flooding the top of the list, making really and truly creative minds that think alike discouraged from flexing their creativity. At a recent meeting of minds, IRC #SC2Mapster 2010, about 1 and a half weeks ago to be exact, I belayed to my colleagues for a name that would be more catchy than "Survivors vs. Swarm". I am unsure if "belayed" is the word, I am sorry I do not have a dictionary on hand and I have not quite yet finished high school at the tender age of 26, so big words are a little difficult for me. Please bear with me as I have spent the last 16 hours forming a proper response to your well-articulated message.
Anyway, I seem to have gotten off track. The name "Left 2 Die" was the first suggestion given. I passed over it, seeking perhaps a name that was more, "epic". Unfortunately after 2 days of deliberation, I decided to go with "Left 2 Die". I made a neat little poster spoof of the Left 4 Dead loading screen, and I have a trailer being done by someone who has spent over a week on it, using the name Left 2 Die throughout the video.
Now I realize this may seem like an event that did not happen sporadically. As of course we all know everyone in the world loves Blizzard and follows their every move. So naturally it can be assumed that I saw this at Blizzcon, somehow without attending, or even knowing that it was going on until pointed out to me days after I published the map. I apologize if that was rude of me, but no I do not really follow every thing that you guys do around the clock. I'm sure your coffee runs are not that interesting. I know mine aren't. In fact if the office there is anything like the office here, - actually let me correct myself. I do not really drink coffee. It is unhealthy and I really feel it is for game developers specifically, who must endure 80 hour shifts to make deadlines, ban random maps with mildly offensive words, and also maps that interfere with their global plans of world domination. I apologize again if I interfered with your plans. Unfortunately I assumed that if the name were slated for use, instead of, infact just being a spur of the moment publish, that the name would have been reserved.
In the professional business world, we usually think ahead of our actions, you know, plan in advance. Er, sorry since you are probably not quite up to that point in your career, (being a GM and all, I know, it's not easy. I once had to work as a customer service representative too) so for your integrity, i'll put this into terms you can understand.
Let's say you picked Terran, and you are now matched up vs. a Zerg player. As a terran, you have many measures you can take to know exactly what the Zerg player is doing. In this case, me, the Zerg (I am quite good at Zerg, by the way.), have absolutely no scouting options available to me. In this case, I cannot tell what you are planning to do because you have supply depots blocking your ramp. In this case, some convention I didn't care to attend. From what I heard, it involved some odd man revealing discrepencies in your lore and another whom broke his leg doing some kind of worship-based cult dance I did not understand.
In any case. Back to the analogy. So say you advance your army towards my base with your marines, and what do you find there? You found Roaches. Why did you find roaches? Because you failed to scout, like most terrible Terran players do. Unfortunately, your marines are melted in seconds, and the roaches make a counter-attack to your main. But now you know what is coming, and expertly create Marauders to counter my roaches. I arrive at your base after 5 seconds to find 3 Thors, and roughly along the lines of a dozen Marauders waiting for me. You A-move in my general direction, and my hatchery somehow explodes in the whole mess.
Anyway the point is, in the business world, we often times decide to pre-emptively take actions, such as reserving a name, or reserving a website address, or likewise. Fortunately, the epic custom map "Left 2 Die" has been revered as "one of the best custom maps on BNet", and also hailed as "Better than that thing at Blizzcon". My counter-offer to your proposal is that we come to a truce, and stop this senseless fighting. Innocent people are being killed every day, Soracian. Children are starving all over the world. My cat died of feline leukemia. It is a rough world out there, I know. Next time you ban a custom map, please stop yourself and think carefully, what you are about to do, the hatred and negativity you are adding to this cruel world. Step back from your coffee and GM responsibilities and money-hungry men standing behind your shoulder, Mr. Soracian. Together we can change the world. Please consider this, I anxiously await your reply.
Best Regards,
Samuel L. Jackson Jr the Third, Esquire.
P.S.: Add a search function to the Custom Maps list. It is quite atrocious and cumbersome for your average customer who has carpal tunnel syndrome. Clicking "Show More" only worsens my condition and many times at night I cannot sleep because of the pain.
P.S.S.: Please add 1000 popularity to my custom map so that I may bask in the fruitful glory of your first page.
P.S.S.S: Why is that Sentry Scramble game still featured? It's kind of lousy.
Thanks again,
Samuel L. Jackson Jr the Third, Esquire.
P.S.S.S.S: That other Zerg game that is featured, the one in chinese. That one is also kind of lousy, too.
Thanks again,
Samuel L. Jackson Jr the Third, Esquire.
I think your being quite rude, Mephs, or Samuel L. Jackson Jr the Third, Esquire. A Blizzard Representative sent you a formal and nice email, and you turn it around and reply to him with a butt load of crap. It really gives you popularity treating people like their dirtbags huh? It really shows on your character too. Who would want to play your map after you decide to treat that person like crap?
Seriously.
As agreed upon in IRC, I give this a 7.4 out of 10.
Trying a bit too hard and your rage is misdirected but it was still funny.
Out of curiosity, do you all really think that acting as douchey as possible is the best way to have your concerns listened to and taken seriously by Blizzard?
Acting like dipshits just makes you seem like you're trolling or part of the group of people that will always complain about anything ever. Either way nothing you say is going to be taken seriously.
If you didn't write such a huge nondescriptive wall of text, you might have remembered to leave the key point in. Did you name your map Left 2 Die before, or after Blizzard announced their map. If it's after, I can't really blame them for forcing a change upon you. You don't need to attend or even watch Blizzcon to stay somewhat up to date with their stuff. Besides, if not for their Left 2 Die, odds were that another one was already around. To use your own analogy - if you fail at scouting (zerg have Overlords, amirite?), then it's your own damn fault you lose the match.
If you actually changed your map name before Left 2 Die was announced at Blizzcon, you might have some argument. Even then, your mail back is stupid. You're attempting to come of clever but fail at it by not properly attaching a clue to each point you try to make - and some points are just plain bad ("Blizzard is evil, I'm mad at you").
@Mozared: Go
Mob mentality inc.
Publicity +1000.
Score, baby.
I guess it's the Rodrigo approach. Blatantly lie about why map was taken down (yes he changed the name after Blizzard's announcement at BlizzCon deliberately to trick people), gain huge popularity for said map.
@RileyStarcraft: Go
No I really was ignorant to the fact they made a game with the name. But I mgiht as well run with it since everyone has blizzard's dick firmly planted up their ass.
I hate blizzard for creating the lousy popularity/publishing systems, and then not listening to their community as EVERYONE told them it sucked.
But seriously dude? Even I have to side with Blizzard on this one, goddamn the ammount of times they said sorry in that email. I mean shit dude, they sounded like they just ran over your dog, and that's knowing you blatantly stole their map's name. I gotta give them props, sure they're a company and probably don't give a shit, but most companies will put the bare minimum in. They really sounded apologetic, and then you go and be a douche. Most uncool, bro. Most uncool.
@Colt556: Go
Shut up or buy the game,.
@BumpInTheNight: Go
I wasn't even being rude or using foul language. How was I being a douche?
Regardless I'm going to change the name anyway. Its not like I can fight people with a ban button 2 inches away. While we're on the topic of douchebags, how bout that custom map panel Q&A
The data specialist was the only guy I liked. The Blizzard DOTA guy was okay not the best.. The rest were...ignorant. and just yeah..
@Mephs: Go
Man my reference is at the Colt5whatever, not yourself. Your game name squating is a different matter altogether.
@BumpInTheNight: Go
Its not squatting if I didn't know about it. Yes the email they sent me was nice and business-like, as usual. They have to put on a professional image to people, and I appreciated that they weren't being douchebags and outright banning the map. I was not rude, nor vitriolic in my reply to the e-mail, nor was I being directly abusive. I am pretty positive no one at their office will be offended, nor go home hurt or cry about it. You guys, on the other hand.
All in all, it got publicity out of the whole ordeal, WHICH IS WHAT THEY SAID TO DO, L2PUBLICIZE. So I am running with a fortunate coincidence. Simple as that. I don't squat names or do shit like this on purpose. But if I'm gonna be given the spotlight, might as well hog my 15 min. Right? Right. L2advertise indeed.
Despite being an accidental "rip-off" its retaining players simply for the fact that the map is enjoyable, and was meant to appeal to left 4 dead fans, nothing more. If it wasn't for the publicity "stunt", it still could reach page 3 or 2 on its own, it did as "Survivors vs. Swarm". I didn't NEED the publicity, nor is the map unable to retain itself, as its been to page 2 before this all in the first place.
Renaming it to something that would scream "This is Left 4 Dead, in SC2" was the objective, the name Left 2 Die was suggested in IRC before Blizzcon even happened. You can hold your ears and go la la la all you want, that's the facts. its not that clever of a name. But I suppose you think Blizzard invented Orcs and Trolls too.
In fact, Blizzard bite more things than any gaming company out there. Their entire franchise is a direct rip-off of classic Warhammer, the lore, the races, the hero figures, Blizzard was scoped to make a game FOR GW, and they split ways, bit the idea, and profitted hundredfolds off of their work.
So don't even start to talk about biting ideas.
@Mephs: Go
Ugh I hate holding a torch for a thread for which I care little about, but okay: Give us the date you changed the name of that map to "left 2 Die".
@Mephs: Go
This thread delivers. But, OP I did enjoy your letter, but that isn't going to help your case when the deletionhammer rolls around.
Your e-mail was too long, they could have implemented a new native in the time it takes to read that.
I will when they fix the popularity system.
So because blizzard create a map with the same name they are allowed to do what they want, but give no assistance when someone else copies a fellow map makers map? then its just bad luck?
typical >.>
@BumpInTheNight: Go
I made this: http://img199.imageshack.us/i/postertemplate.jpg/
File Created date: October 18, 2010
Uploaded to imageshack to show someone: October 24, 2010 along with the game.