DotA 2 Official Thread (NDA has been lifted!)

[vlad321]

Killiana1a said:

Up front, I am biased. I have a few questions:

1. If IceFrog and others are taking map editors from games like Warcraft 3 and other Blizzard products, then why should we expect Blizzard to continue to provide map editors in the future when anonymous players/indie developers are using them to create a mod to get hired on by the competition?

I would expect Blizzard to have a better intellectual property legal team who cows any anonymous, indie developer not to take their material, use it as a developer kit, and create a career off of it without monetarily compensating Blizzard. Frankly, Blizzard by giving out free developer kits...excuse me, map editors, they (with DOTA 2 being developed by Valve) are basically giving out free developer kits. One hell of a free lunch if you ask me.

2. Are there any examples of a fan made mod of a mainstream game being turned into a full on game that has sold over 1 million copies?

3. How many copies you expect DOTA 2 to sell? Will it sell only to the existing DOTA playerbase or do you expect Valve to try and develop it in such a way that it can penetrate the market further?

I am just amazed in Blizzard's position. They invited DOTA 2 courtesy of Valve Corp. and IceFrog upon themselves by not realizing the legal and financial consequences of including map editors with their RTS games. Instead of a free developer kit, they should have expressed in full legal language that the use(s) of this [insert game name]'s map editor is for your sole private enjoyment and/or to be uploaded and enjoyed by the game's community. If your use of this [insert game name]'s map editor results in a video game market product and/or sequel of aforementioned video game market product, then all potential financial monies are the property of Blizzard. Furthermore your use of this [insert game name]'s map editor may not be used to further future career gain. The [insert game name]'s map editor is for recreational use only and is provided freely so long as the use of it is intended to benefit the [insert game name]'s community and Blizzard.

Ever hear of Counter-Strike? What about Team Fortress?Alien Swarm? There's actually a lot.

You sound more like a console player than a PC gamer with all this nonsesne you are talking about.