Having recently hit the tubes to critical and consumer praise, it seems that the side-scrolling ninja platformer N+ isn't even all the game that it was originally intended to be. In an article over at MTV's Multiplayer blog, N+'s developers go in depth on the game's history concerning the plans for inclusion of an open download/upload space for level sharing (similar to Halo 3's system, which makes one wonder why that was a-okay). In fact, that very feature was implemented in the version of the game that was released onto PartnerNet for testing. However, in the game's last final months of development Microsoft shut the feature down, demanding that it be stripped back to the condition it's in today (with the ability to share user-generated content only available from the folks on your friends list.) With games being handicapped or delayed due to Microsoft's draconian ideas about sharing things, what is the future for the content of XBLM?
The interview mentions that there have been other developers (Turn 10, etc) who have had trouble regarding user-generated content, but is there any indication at all that things will get better for those 360 gamers who have creative streaks? Sadly no, as the only beacon of hope in the interview is the parting shot, in which we find out that the N+ devs were informed that "Microsoft does have a team actively working on a toolset that would allow games - down the line, anyway - to incorporate more user generated content." What does that mean exactly? Nothing. It's a marketing promise. It's too bad really, with PSN embracing user-generated content, Microsoft is losing what could potentially be a huge bullet (and selling) point.
[Via MTV Multiplayer]
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
3-01-2008 @ 10:17PM
EMOruffino said...
wtf happened to that big speech about user generated content? so gay...
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3-01-2008 @ 11:15PM
Talvish said...
As a software system designer, sounds to me the reason they don't allow it is pretty simple. MS is probably missing a few things in the system and I'm guessing they are frantically trying to address this quickly. They are missing a way to uniquely identify content and a way to mark content as inappropriate (which in essence would shutdown all uses of that content). I'm guessing they just hadn't thought of it in the latest iterations of Live. For managability issues this has to be a Live wide system, not per game. Otherwise that is just too much work for both MS and/or the game makers (e.g. Turn 10).
This isn't the same as, say, YouTube videos. Microsoft CAN uniquely identify and pull down games (say bad demo, or so)...that is more like YouTube. User generated content in game is different. What MS will do is create some libraries that all games with user generated content MUST implement. That library will properly wrap the user generated content with unique identifies and ability to pull (maybe even allow gamers to rate the appropriateness of the content).
SO, I don't believe MS is trying to prevent anything, they just need to build the system and tools for it. What is more curious is why they aren't talking about the issue and letting people know more openly that the issue is in fact being addressed.
And let's be clear, as much as everyone says the PS3 is more open, there are more games on the 360 that allow for user generated content than on the PS3. Yes, it is more restricted (ie no Unreal 3 mods), but MS DOES want it, they are just figuring out how to do it in an appropriate fashion. Which brings me to Halo 3 and the Forge...remember MS has commonly used Halo as the game to test new Live features. Expect their learnings from Halo 3 (and Forza 2), to be strong learning/starting points.
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3-02-2008 @ 12:08PM
Stranger said...
So now the trolls can say that I have to pay for a service that prevents me from doing things that are free to all on PSN... great.
It's getting harder and harder to watch MS completely blow the excellent start the 360's had (minus the rrod stuff).
Ya gotta give people what they want, and frankly, user generated content sharing should've be in the feature set since Oblivion was released.
If the software can pass cert it should be available to users, period. This is just stupid.
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3-02-2008 @ 4:00PM
DSK UK said...
You never know....this may be a feature they're working on for the spring update - a user created section for rating user created content for games. It may even have a marketplace set up - that way, they can advertise on the section that is hosting free content to help pay for it
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3-02-2008 @ 6:59PM
jtedesco33 said...
This is why N+ is going to PSN and praising Sony for their online structure. MS your not going to stay on top unless you stop running Live like the Gestapo
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3-02-2008 @ 7:40PM
Anton said...
I think we saw the signs of the user-generated content at GDC. If you've downloaded the XNA titles, you'll see a splash screen that says something like Create : Play : Review or something.
I expect you'll see user generated DLC appear in the games tab, along with some way of rating it, this might be games, mods, or levels. Remember, we've got the spring update to come and my money is on more community stuff.
MS want everything to be more unified, I expect they want all DLC to work the same way, and be able to keep content under control. Remember all the fuss people made about cars in Forza 2 with nazi symbolism on them?
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3-03-2008 @ 1:28PM
James said...
Yes it sucks, and I bet the PS3 version will have a community share (eventually...), but I see a little of Microsoft's point. You know the first time somebody makes a level that spells out "WHITE POWER" in walls or something, Jack Thompson will be all over that shit. Of course, that already happens every day on Halo voice chat, but you can't put a screenshot of voice chat on the 11 o'clock news and get some hysteric on to rant about it.
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