Even though EternalWraith comes on like a crazed fanatic, this thread requires a devil's advocate. This can't be a one-sided discussion. There ARE a large number of good features in Bnet 2. As he said, he is going to post his ideas on what this is at a future date, so I'm interested in seeing his thoughts.
As for my own thoughts. I do prefer many of the features from Bnet 1 over Bnet 2. At the same time, this video also made me realize that War3 has been seen through a rosy lens of nostalgia, I feel the old Custom map system was terrible also and would be unhappy if they reverted it to this and left it at that. It has 2 positive features (showing active map lobbies and promoting new maps), but for long term popularity I feel it would be plagued with the same repeated maps as the front page of the SC2 page and I believe Blizzard is well on it's way to developing a better system. The problem? The game is 2 years old and everyone who bought it has quit or plays ladder exclusively. This new 'arcade' and purchaseable maps will require a complete shift in Blizzards stance on the custom scene if it's gonna fix anything.
Blizzard has ignored custom maps to the extent that a majority of players playing the game have zero interest in custom maps (99%). A single melee map probably sees a hundred-thousand times more play than the most popular custom map. Blizzard needs to PROMOTE the custom map system, they need to realize that the maps they have created are terrible and that only through driving community initiative, partnering with great community maps and helping spread word, will people be interested in trying this new system they brewed up for HOTS. They need to INCLUDE major mapmakers and mapmaking sites (cough cough mapster), not tell us "I know we never communicate with you, and our attempts at mapmaking have failed in our own system, but this time we're totally on it, so without consulting the custom community about a custom tool or acknowledging it's existance, we're just going to surprise you!" Without an active participation in the community, this fancy new system will fall on it's face when it still only captures the attention of 1% of players.
They need to do spotlights of maps daily, they need to promote popular maps and host tournaments,ladders,etc (we already know you can make these systems automated). They need to make Melee'ers want to try custom maps and nonplayers to try SC and try it's custom maps free. By limiting the trial to poorly received Blizzard-made maps you are just turning them off. They need to value the custom experience as being 50% of the force behind driving game longevity. I'm no expert but it seems like the map forum is unmoderated, the custom map development team is incapable, and whoever is in charge of the editor and custom games is either inept, overworked or powerless(probably this). I mean: i feel that the editor has the detail and features that somewhere in Irvine there are a large number of people who put their time and very heart into making it, they must be as disappointed as us at it's failure. But is this entire division of the game just horribly understaffed and ignored? I mean, the facebook page seems to have more activity and a larger team than a game-component that could attract thousands, if not millions of new players.
Current "attempts" at Featured maps are such a passive route to map promotion it's not even funny. I feel like map designers are all running around with scissors in a dark room and every month or two blizzard throws in a flashlight with dead batteries, yells "we care" and leaves for another few months. Additionally, if they hope Blizzard DOTA and the Arcade will revive custom maps by just throwing it in the mix and forgetting it, they are putting all their eggs in one deformed basket as they have failed in all previous attempts at creating a fun popular map and a popularity system.
/rant
TL:DR Biggest issue with custom maps is Blizzard's complete disregard and lack of communication with the mapmaking community. In other words: this post is way off topic.
Even though EternalWraith comes on like a crazed fanatic, this thread requires a devil's advocate. This can't be a one-sided discussion. There ARE a large number of good features in Bnet 2. As he said, he is going to post his ideas on what this is at a future date, so I'm interested in seeing his thoughts.
As for my own thoughts. I do prefer many of the features from Bnet 1 over Bnet 2. At the same time, this video also made me realize that War3 has been seen through a rosy lens of nostalgia, I feel the old Custom map system was terrible also and would be unhappy if they reverted it to this and left it at that. It has 2 positive features (showing active map lobbies and promoting new maps), but for long term popularity I feel it would be plagued with the same repeated maps as the front page of the SC2 page and I believe Blizzard is well on it's way to developing a better system. The problem? The game is 2 years old and everyone who bought it has quit or plays ladder exclusively. This new 'arcade' and purchaseable maps will require a complete shift in Blizzards stance on the custom scene if it's gonna fix anything.
Blizzard has ignored custom maps to the extent that a majority of players playing the game have zero interest in custom maps (99%). A single melee map probably sees a hundred-thousand times more play than the most popular custom map. Blizzard needs to PROMOTE the custom map system, they need to realize that the maps they have created are terrible and that only through driving community initiative, partnering with great community maps and helping spread word, will people be interested in trying this new system they brewed up for HOTS. They need to INCLUDE major mapmakers and mapmaking sites (cough cough mapster), not tell us "I know we never communicate with you, and our attempts at mapmaking have failed in our own system, but this time we're totally on it, so without consulting the custom community about a custom tool or acknowledging it's existance, we're just going to surprise you!" Without an active participation in the community, this fancy new system will fall on it's face when it still only captures the attention of 1% of players.
They need to do spotlights of maps daily, they need to promote popular maps and host tournaments,ladders,etc (we already know you can make these systems automated). They need to make Melee'ers want to try custom maps and nonplayers to try SC and try it's custom maps free. By limiting the trial to poorly received Blizzard-made maps you are just turning them off. They need to value the custom experience as being 50% of the force behind driving game longevity. I'm no expert but it seems like the map forum is unmoderated, the custom map development team is incapable, and whoever is in charge of the editor and custom games is either inept, overworked or powerless(probably this). I mean: i feel that the editor has the detail and features that somewhere in Irvine there are a large number of people who put their time and very heart into making it, they must be as disappointed as us at it's failure. But is this entire division of the game just horribly understaffed and ignored? I mean, the facebook page seems to have more activity and a larger team than a game-component that could attract thousands, if not millions of new players.
Current "attempts" at Featured maps are such a passive route to map promotion it's not even funny. I feel like map designers are all running around with scissors in a dark room and every month or two blizzard throws in a flashlight with dead batteries, yells "we care" and leaves for another few months. Additionally, if they hope Blizzard DOTA and the Arcade will revive custom maps by just throwing it in the mix and forgetting it, they are putting all their eggs in one deformed basket as they have failed in all previous attempts at creating a fun popular map and a popularity system.
/rant
TL:DR Biggest issue with custom maps is Blizzard's complete disregard and lack of communication with the mapmaking community. In other words: this post is way off topic.