Like a lot of folks. I love to play custom games. I have also created a number of custom games. It takes a lot of work, time and dedication to create maps for the community that a handful of players love. Look at Lordaeron The Aftermath and Marsh’s games. He quit because of how labor intensive it is.
One thing these creators need is money. They set up discords for people to go to and then they set up separate websites where people can donate for ingame commodities. Why the HELL is that not a feature in the game? Blizzard already has my CC info. Why am I not able to donate directly from the platform to a creator and they get 100% (or even 90%) of my donation?).
I would gladly give 1/5/10 dollars here and there to folks that spend so many hours - but for new players this is a pain.
SC2 made this easy but allowing the description of maps to be editable with custom links that you can link out.
Why are profiles not fully built out in WC? Where I can go to the creators page and see all the maps they have created in Wc3? Why do I have to go a Third party to see that? That makes zero sense.
all of the QoL things would save the game and make it easy to create more maps, download the maps DIRECTLY from WC3 and not a separate website.
Because Bliz would have no idea if the recipient is properly and legally claiming the income, or if the income was being used for what it was intended for. Why would Bliz,or any 3rd party, insert themselves into the middle of potential legal messes?
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The service you’re describing has existed in China since 2016 through the official partner platform there. It was called Battle Platform until the ABK/NetEase split, then KK Platform. It is still active and allows map makers to monetize. When working on Reforged initially there was a plan to bring that platform global and provide those services. For a number of legal and resource reasons it was not.
If you like it is possible for westerners to play on it although you will need a ping accelerator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLlZzz2uTpM
In the west many map makers use Patreon to support their work so if there is a particular map you enjoy check for that.
Got it.
I think a simple solution would be to copy SC2. To put custom links in the game description that link out to Pateron.
You can’t even do that now.
I have some thoughts about RTS monetization long time back. Here are my two cents:
Ads
- Every game can become a live video stream (or like FloTV on W3Champions). People can watch it on a webpage or in an APP. Add some advertisements there. No intrusion into the game itself.
- Enhance current maps to have some dynamic ads display space. Every game may have different ads. Intrusive. Affects game experience.
- Ads in Observer mode, since the new Observer interface is now more simplistic and has some real estate.
- Regular payment to disable ads, like YouTube.
Marketplace
Map store
- Custom map makers make and upload their maps to Blizzard platform.
- Players can download maps from the platform.
- Download page can have ads.
- Paid maps.
- Map makers earn a share from ads, download payments, and times this map gets played.
- Maps can have paid items too.
Model store
- Free and paid models.
- Model makers earn a share from ads, payments, and times the model is used.
- To reduce the intrusion to the game, only the player itself will see the models he/she uses, other players see the default model.
Premium Features
- Create a pro ladder with official global score, ranking and level. Need an entrance fee. Fee can be used to organize tournaments.
- For non-pros, the common ladder remains free.
Retail
- New official paid campaigns according to the development of the lore (WoW has everything). Custom map makers are already doing it for free.