There are several old arcade maps that I like to play. Unfortunately, their author are no longer active on sc2 since several years. I would like to get access to those old sc2 map and upgrade them with some minor upgrades. Is there a way to get those files?
It depends if the creator made the map as Locked or Unlocked. Usually if a map is unlocked you can find it through the StarCraft Editor.
While in the Editor go to Open / Blizzard (Log in) / Source: Map/Mod Name and type in the name. If it was Locked you won’t see it, if it’s Unlocked you can download it and modify to your heart’s content.
Unfortunately it’s not there. There’s only 102 maps on the editor.
So Blizzard keeps no files when they are submitted to the arcade? I feel like we are playing ghost maps, chasing them without even be able to touch them. Blizzard should make them available to download after 1 year without update from their owner.
What will happen when Blizzard update the arcade and they no longer become available/compatible without an update from their owner?
If it’s locked, you can’t touch it (technically).
Why should you be able to modify someone else’s work without their permission, even if it’s been a while since they’ve updated?
If Blizzard breaks old maps, that’s on Blizzard, not the owner, nor you. It’s happened before, many times. It’s not a huge deal.
You don’t “chase” maps. You play them, as given.
12 years old maps. No updates in years…
You know, even a patent has an expiry date that allow everyone to access it eventually.
Arcade maps aren’t covered under patent law. Even if someone published the first arcade map, the magical arcade patent would expire in 4 more years.
Try again.
Answer the question, why should you be able to modify someone else’s work to your whim?
Because I want to see that piece of art at it’s peak!
There is a unwritten rule on the internet, that when you post something on it, it no longer belongs to you, it belongs to the community.
I want to improve the map, it has bugs that were not fixed. The map was created more than a decade ago. I can see the owner match history is 13 years ago. Another player has updated the map several years ago, but he is offline since 3 months now (according to his match history).
I don’t know how he got the map himself, but either I contact him and ask him to update it again, or I do it myself. Since I don’t know if he will be back in sc2, I’d rather just update it myself.
So all music, art, books, even SC2, etc that are on the internet are fair game? Copyright law would like a word with you.
O.o
We both know that piracy exist, that’s not the point.
I do not look to exploit something for my own self, I look to fix bugs that will benefit every player that will play that specific map.
As far as SC2 goes, let me remind you that SC2 allow players to create mods and maps. So basically, they allow people to use the game the way they want, that’s why the arcade mode exist. They don’t stop people, under copyrights, to use SC2 an other way that they intended to.
You tried to rationalize your right to access someone else’s custom content by claiming that something on the internet belongs to everyone.
I wasn’t talking about piracy or intent. I was questioning your use of “something”, which in the context of your claim means “anything”. Which of course is nonsence.
I’m sorry, I don’t understand your point nor question.
According to Blizzard, and I quote : Ownership Custom Games are and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Blizzard. Without limiting the foregoing, you hereby assign to Blizzard all of your rights, title, and interest in and to all Custom Games, including but not limited to any copyrights in the content of any Custom Games.
Therefore, there is no valid point to tell me that I am requesting someone else work. By definition, if all arcade maps belong to Blizzard, I am therefore asking Blizzard to provide me what I paid. I paid for the whole game, I’m expecting Blizzard to provide me the whole game.
Then you expect wrong. People expecting full access to any and all arcade games without doing a lick of work can shove it.
We never said that the maps don’t belong to Blizzard. I said someone else’s work, which is correct. If the author wanted people to be able to modify them willy-nilly, they would have left them unlocked.
You’re out of luck.
I believe you do.
You said once something is on the internet, it no longer belongs to its creator, it belongs to everyone. Through examples, I countered with calling that nonsense.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Arguing with someone smart is difficult.
Arguing with a stupid person, a pigeon, or the average SC2 Forums user is impossible.
Editing someone else’s map is one thing, wanting to play an old map that disappeared or broke in an update is another.
One of the great things about brood war, and I say this as a map maker, was that map protection wasn’t very good. That actually resulted in a more vibrant custom map landscape.
Have you made any maps yourself or do you just want to edit maps? The way I learned to make maps was by editing other maps first and seeing how stuff works.