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Gamers seem to really be taking to Starcraft 2's create-your-own map feature, and that means one thing: "Inappropriate" maps. Unlike the free-for-all for maps in the first game, Blizzard has created a mechanism to flag and remove maps that are deemed inappropriate for various reasons.
According to Blizzard community manager Lylirra on the game's official message board:
While players are encouraged to share the maps they create through Battle.net, published maps are subject to review to ensure that they promote a fun and safe environment for all players...
If a map is found to contain inappropriate content, it will be removed from Battle.net and the map maker will be contacted via email.
Case-in-point: SC 2 user Cyrileo. Cyrileo started a protest-thread because his popular map was pulled without explanation. At first, Cyrileo thought Blizzard pulled the map due to language concerns. Apparently, the map used the words "badass" and "redneck."
Blizzard, however, says that language has nothing to do with why they pulled the map.
"The map that was removed, and for which this thread exists, WAS NOT removed for using the words 'bad ass'. But we're not going to publicly release why or for what reasons we do remove maps."
Cyrileo apparently heard back from Blizzard, and believes the map was removed because the pathing in it could result in a racially insensitive symbol being displayed. Either way, Blizzard isn't saying. It's their policy not to publicly reveal why they pull content.
As anyone who reads the internet probably suspects, the response from some of the more vocal members of Blizzard's message board was "OMG! My freedoms are being oppressed!" Not so, according to Lylirra:
"Keeping people from seeing your hate speech and obscene images on our private game service is not the same as relinquishing your constitutional freedoms in the hopes of increased personal/familial security. Ben [Franklin] would tie you to a kite and let go of the string for making such comparisons."
Personally, I love obscene images, particulary, maps shaped like penises. This is not because of some personal affection for male genitalia, but rather because the inventiveness and ingenuity displayed in the production of dong-themed computer entertainment is truly inspiring. Also: It's funny. But I get why serious players wouldn't want Battle.net clogged up with a ton of silly maps.
But the hate speech? I can do without that, people.
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Comments
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Dr Shrapn3l
I really need to get a new computer. I need this game so badly. I'm going to be making so many maps. Blood Gulch, maps from Warcraft II. This is awesome. Terran powers away!!!
Zzanzabar
Since when did the term 'red neck' become a curse word? Even red necks like to be called red necks!
olympicheropaul
You are EXACTLY right "hoof", it is Blizzard's right to pull any map for any reason. This has absolutely nothing to do with freedom of speech or censorship. True censorship is when the government or the law gets involved and punishes someone for their thoughts or beliefs. Blizzard has the right to do what they want with their servers. That being said, I like "Thogin's" response when he says he will speak with his wallet and not buy the game because he does not like their policies. That is how it is supposed to work. Don't go around claiming your freedoms are in danger just because you don't agree with something. If you don't like Blizzard, don't buy their games.
micrapple
1 lousy map is being removed... Big Fffing deal. You have plenty of map to play with so get over it already.
hoof_hearted4
well here is how i see it. i think people should be able to make whatever kind of map they want showing whatever pictures, symbols, themes, etc they want. most of those maps are fun! if it offends someone then there is nothing making them click the play button, they dont have to ever play it or see it. and if it ends up offending anyone, then it wont be played and will be lost in the long list of maps that people will make. that said, it is blizzards server and game so they have the right to pull whatever map they want for whatever reason, and they even have the right now to tell you why (though come on they should, pulling it for no reason or not saying why is just lame.) but its not like they didnt expect people would do things like this. its was done on the original starcraft and on warcraft 3, it was obvious it would be done in sc2. honestly i think they should just deal with it, blizzard has always been an "adult game" anyways, much like command and conquer, let people do what they want.
Thogin
Blizzard is just having a field day of power trips, come on if is a bad map no one is going to play it anyways, I am on blizzard on this one, who is to say what hate speech is or inappropriate... are you going to have a long booklet on those two things and define them.
Blizzard is basically saying I have the power to pull maps if i feel like and their hiding under the words of because is inappropriate and insight hate or whatever...and don't have to explain myself
Thx blizzard you just made me want to buy the game even less because you sound like APPLE now and I F-en hate apple not because they have bad products they have good products but their F-en consumer policies in place.
Do whatever you want Blizzard but I am not going to spend my money on SC2 anytime soon.
BoydofZINJ
The worse part of this is... you have to play on BNET to play your maps, if I am not mistaken. So if someone wants to make an adult map... then bewarned... it will be pulled?
goricky
The Blizzard employees probably saw that if you look at the map at the right angle, tilt your head the right way, sacrafice a goat to the demon king and recite the entire Alphabet backwards on the eleventh day of christmas, the map sort of resembles a swastika (most popular as the symbol of the nazis) or the star of david; because I believe all of us can rule out swear words as the reason for the deletion
goricky
The Blizzard employees probably saw that if you look at the map at the right angle, tilt your head the right way, sacrafice a goat to the demon king and recite the entire Alphabet backwards on the eleventh day of christmas, the map sort of resembles a swastika (most popular as the symbol of the nazis) or the star of david; because I believe all of us can rule out swear words as the reason for the deletion
Ryan.Marinoff
I personally have no issues with anything created by the creative minds of the
public when it comes to modding games in any way, including the creation of
maps. I believe it is a wonderful thing that companies are allowing the public
to legally change their creations that is normally protected by copyright laws
and such. Now the issue with hosting this created content, well I believe that
Blizzard did no wrong. It is up to the host of a site or service to determine
what is appropriate or not appropriate, and they have every right to deny any
content on their hardware and service. So deleting maps off of battle.net is
what Blizzard wishes to do, then by all means do it. They don't have to give any
reason but to say "we don't want it". Now if they gave a reason, that would be
very kind and helpful so someone else does not spend hours of work on a map just
to be deleted. If there is a way you can share maps outside using the battle.net
service ( I have yet to play SC2 ), then Blizzard has no say what can be shared,
just like they have no say what I create on my own PC and not share.
wolfman01
Why is it Steve Johnson always has the best articles?
SneakySnipes1
But as far as private servers goes, geez they should definatly allow you to do whatever you want, it's your own "private" server, definatly a place where ultimant freedom should exist
SneakySnipes1
I think it should all be ok to put up, mostly because I believe in complete freedoms to everything except physicall violence etc... and also because I don't get offended by anything. I always liked the do onto others as you would like undone you (not that im religious) just because then everyone would be saying or doing most anything they want publicly and no one would be offended by it. On the topic of rascism, I hate racism by itself solely, but rascist jokes, yes I laugh at them, yes I find them funny, because the point of them is to laugh, not to hurt someones feeling. I make rascist jokes even about myself. My question to the author of the maps would be what was his purpose of the maps he created, and how did most people view it as? That would determine if I pulled it or not.
SeanIsAHero
how i love elipses. they can turn "i love penis-shaped maps" into "i love penis..." bwahaha I'm quoting that one.
The_Great_Old_Ones
In the modern American society Ben would need a lot more kites.
Skodmunk
WHAAT ?? there will be no Britney Bound ?!?
Wozman23
You can't tell me they didn't expect this. 100% of the time, it happens every time. I guess I'll have to say goodbye to my swastika mosaic level made entirely of penises, child pornography, and n words.
JustTheBeginning
Whats up with guys (presumably a good chunk of gamers are guys) always creating penis maps anyways. I mean shouldn't it be the other way around o.0
XwingVmanX
I will admit, when I first played starcraft I was just hitting puberty so I enjoyed looking at the "porn" maps. But thinking back to it now from an artists perspective, they had to have a LOT of artistic skill to do that and have so much detail in the image.
Unless they had some way of scanning an image into the map editor and then the map editor populated the map to look like the image.
sevendust06
lol
johnson loves penis-shaped maps
johnson=penis
anyone find this a surprise? jkjk
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