"Blizzard is still trying to figure out how to leech money from you wallet via Battle.net."

you -> your

Sigh, ever since Blizzard and Activision merged it's been downhill for both companies.

How is this going to be good for gamers in the long term again?

Oh yeah, but asking gamers to pay money for user generated content...

Remember the day when you could download user created maps for games like Medal of Honor? Some of the user generated maps were a ton more fun than the stock fare.

It seems like so many games these days are being made in such a way that user generated content is become less and less available.

Battle.net is NOT going to be another Steam because last time I checked, I could play my HalfLife mods over LAN.

Blizzard used to be my favorite game company but ever since WoW its all about money

points is RETARTED! its just a way to get us to buy more, cause we always have points left over. I think its a good idea that they only support their games, rather than trying to organise all the 3rd parties to use it properly. as long as its like steam in EVERY OTHER way, ill be fine, most notably, no STUPID POINTS SYSTEM!
"would you like to buy some Itchy&Scratchy Money? its like real money but... fun!" "ok"..... *we don't except itchy Money* *no itchy Money* *cash only*....

I like the idea of the content developers getting paid! That'll be me

Ya paying for bullshit points is the most retarded stuff ive ever seen for gaming...it cheapens the experince and just makes...rich kids etc have an edge and does nothing to encourage skill...just spending more moneys.

I guess it was gonna come down to this eventually, we all knew it, but they are getting close to the last straw tho, just wait, battle.net will become a paid service by force. Just think about it, it makes sense, no LAN support on upcoming games, so that means you have to go to battle.net and if you don't pay you're out of luck. But the great thing about the internet is that there will always be "private" servers to link to.

I think that once Blizzard got a taste of the money it could make off of people who pay every month to play WoW, they've been searching for another method to extend that to all their games ever since.

This is the beginning of it.

I dont like blizzard anymore.. sorry i just felt like saying it out loud...

People still don't believe Blizzard is Activision's cashcow... Sigh.

Also, what happens if person A made popular map X in SC1, but user B remakes it for SC2 and makes money?

They do need a Blizzard connection on naming the points - maybe a per game name. For a start, in Starcraft II they could call them Star Bucks - oops, guess that's already taken.

Blizzard is a company. Companies exist to make money through providing services or ideas. So trying to lay blame on them for trying to make money is rediculous. Spend a few dollars. Stop expecting hand-outs and free content all the time. No one here knows just how the new system is gonna be implemented. Free free free. It's all I seem to hear now a days. Blizzard has been very successful up to date, because they do listen to their customers. They actively work based on feedback. If the products they charge for aren't worth it.. they will take it away -OR- make it better til it is. Be optimistic guys and gals. Either they earn their money, or they will be ground into dust.

I agree - they can charge what they want, and you know what, people will buy it.

Still, fuck 'em.

just pirate their shit so hard that they will go out of business, that'll teach 'em

Wait wait wait...
You mean people actually gotta pay to play maps after they already bought the fucking game???

Wait wait wait, this news can't be correct.

Like WoW Gold, there must not be a correlation with currency. The main reason why Blizzard don't want people to buy gold, is because governments may find a correlation with the currency, and thus, tax them.

Buying "Blizzard Points" is the same scheme. This may generate a private un-taxed activities. That with enough volume (and time), will be taxed.

I think somebody in blizzard should go on vacations. For a long time.

"Blizzard is still trying to figure out how to leech money from you wallet via Battle.net."

Biased much? So much for journalistic integrity...

I think by charging for user-generated content, it means that there will be an incentive for people to generate content. And for once, the people that are making good maps are going to be compensated for it. It's a brilliant thing.

The shortsighted Toms Hardware gaming community only seems to see "wahh, I have to pay for something that someone spent hours developing? Waaah. I want free. Mommy, make em give it to me for free." Such spoiled brats around here...

what ever happened to the good ol' days of when you wanted to play a game you just installed it and played? If your friends wanted to join in you had a lan party and you had a good time not to mention real human camaraderie.

I think blizzard needs to realize that gamers made it what it is.. and if we dont like it... we wont take it!

The only problem with creating user based content for sale is that there will be so much that no one will have the same map... I dont know how many times I've tried to play a custom map on starcraft that i knew i had and needed to redownload ANOTHER version of the same map. And another question, how would you keep people from creating knockoff versions of the same map and selling it cheaper? COPYRIGHT?? (That could be FUN stuff) Is blizzard going to have to be the hall monitor and make sure everyone is playing nice when creating maps and making sure that every map you buy is of quality work?

On another tangent, what about map spammers? Not to say there will be amazing map creators out there, but the guys that churn out crappy maps that look good, but have the crappiest(is that how you spell it?) mechanics with triggers and story. And you buy it. And no one else does. Not only are you screwed out of money but the map can't even act as a decoration in your yard or a paperweight. Is blizzard going to create a secure map storage location somewhere so people can't easily find the map in the directory and copy it to a friends computer, or will they make you sign into battle.net to even use the map? So many questions, so few answers. Paying for UGC throws so many wrenches into what was origionally a simple system.

You know where this is going... since WoW is requiring Battle.net conversion now for accounts, down the road I can see WoW UI-modders selling their mods on Battle.net.

Yup - you'll have to PAY to use Deadly Boss Mods, Recount, QuestHelper, Gatherer, Omen Threat Meter, etc...

No more freebies from Curse.com. You'll have to PAY for everything.

DRM for maps?

Pay for new maps? Where is that Picard WTF is this shit photo when you need it?