Earlier this week, clever game modders released word (and some YouTube videos) of something called "World of StarCraft," a mod that aimed to turn StarCraft 2 into an MMO. Although the mod is far from completion, it caught a lot of people's attention, including the attention of Blizzard itself.
Something like this puts Blizzard in a slightly awkward position. On one hand, the company has to remain friendly to the mod community -- these are the hardest of the hardcore fans of the company's products, and if StarCraft is anything, it's a community-driven game. But on the other hand, they have to protect their intellectual property. We've heard rumors of a StarCraft MMO before, and although it doesn't look like it's actually in production, you have to figure Blizzard would like to retain rights to the name "World of StarCraft," so they have a vested interest (and legal obligation!) to keep people from using it.. Hence the takedown notice issued to YouTube on the videos.
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Today, the company has responded, and their carefully worded response is a minor-masterpiece in public relations, and how to politely respond to fans who love your game so much they take parts of it they probably shouldn't touch. As such, I'll print the entire response below the "Read More" tag.
"Earlier this week, a player-made StarCraft II mod called World of StarCraft and described as a “StarCraft MMO” was featured on a number of prominent gaming news sites, catching the attention of gamers as well as our own. With the name so closely resembling that of World of Warcraft, we wanted to discuss the title of the mod with the developer, and as part of our routine procedure, we contacted YouTube to request the video be removed while that discussion took place. We were also curious about the project and wanted to discuss with the developer what the mod entailed.
It was never our intention to stop development on the mod or discourage the community from expressing their creativity through the StarCraft II editor. As always, we actively encourage development of custom maps and mods for StarCraft II, as we’ve done with our strategy games in the past. That's why we release an editor with our RTS games, and why we feature top player-created content in the custom game search. It's also why we held a contest to spotlight the best community-crafted StarCraft II mods at last year's BlizzCon, and why we’ll continue to improve Battle.net to better showcase player-created content.
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Like many players in the community, we’re looking forward to seeing the continued development of this mod, and as part of our ongoing discussion, we've extended an offer to the developer to visit the Blizzard campus and meet with the StarCraft II development team. As always, we appreciate all of the efforts of the talented and enthusiastic mod-making community, and we look forward to seeing and playing what they create using the StarCraft II editor in the future."
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I imagine we'll see word of this mod again, but look for a name change of some kind. I'm no lawyer, but I'll bet you anything Blizzard is keeping the name "World of StarCraft" for its own uses in the future.
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sephirothcloud
So wait a minute, you mean to tell me the Mods had not broken Copyright Laws of anykind...yet they remove the vid via Youtube request...........This is the problem with Youtube and companies even when The freaking company admits the user didn't break copyright law they remove the video just cuz they say so.......I've lost complete respect for Blizzard now I mean...just wow
Knives39
dont go to blizzard developer of this mod blizzard will use an orc to kidnap you once you walk in and tie you up in the broom closest!!!!!!!
Madbagofhorses
Where's the 'read more'! I totally want to see the entire Blizzard statement!
Zatz
I hate blizztards.....
mattmckenna
Looks like this modder either just got a job at Blizzard or they won't be leaving that facility the same way they went in.
Lunar122
why is this even getting this much attention? First of all the mod hasnt even been released or tested, all i saw with a youtube video with some decent UI. Something that any mod maker can do . Now hes getting invites into the blizzard gaming company with a possible job .
Looks like all you have to do is put world of warcraft or world of starcraft in your mod name and you will make it into blizzard / g4 website :D .
Nothing has been tested or even played, Im pretty shocked lol..
midniteslayr
I can tell all of you right now that Blizzard isn't doing a Starcraft MMO .... yet. Simply, the World of Starcraft name is more of a copyright infringement and a dilution of both the World of Warcraft and Starcraft trademarks. Blizzard would not shoot themselves in the foot by developing a trilogy of Starcraft II games and then come out with a new MMO for the same franchise. Everyone would NOT purchase any of the Starcraft II games, and there is a massive loss in potential revenue. Maybe in about 4-5 years AFTER the final Starcraft II game is released would there be any talk of an Starcraft MMO.
From what everyone has heard of the Project Titan MMO, it is a brand new idea that hasn't been worked on yet, so let us not make immediate assumptions.
Ra3000
Dark Millennium Online Nuff' said.
mvanish
isn't this how warcraft got started. People made mods in starcraft to play diablo in starcraft. also i think warcraft was originally an rts and if it had a map editor like starcraft, they may have made rpg's within the rts to inspire blizzard to make warcraft. i do remember the many rpg's within the first starcraft, not to mention the rts's people made within the rts.
LTman86
Although, if Blizzard does make a Starcraft MMO, I'm guessing it would be more likely to call it Starcraft Universe because in the game, you never stay on one world, always traveling to other planets and so on.
Justa x Hustle
Is it just me or is "Universe of Starcraft" much more believable as a title rather than "World of Starcraft"? Just saying...
XwingVmanX
it would be funny if they are so impressed with his mod that they decide to make World of Starcraft and hire him lol
sirrogue2
Die spammer.
DarkKirby2500
Blizzard legally doesn't actually have the right to request the videos be taken down unless they've actually copyrighted the name "World of Starcraft". Furthermore, even if that HAD copyrighted the name, the videos of the Starcraft MMO mod have no actual way of damaging the Starcraft franchise or make Blizzard lose profit in any way. The only thing the videos proves is Blizzard's own incompetence as fans created what they themselves should have been working on, and are doing it for free.
malboljner29
I would so love a Starcraft version of WoW! I do enjoy WoW, it really rocks! An outer space version of the same would guarantee my interest for quite some time! I look forward to it!
khycker
"I imagine we'll see word of this mod again, but look for a name change of some kind. I'm no lawyer, but I'll bet you anything Blizzard is keeping the name "World of StarCraft" for its own uses in the future."
looks to me that they just confirmed an MMO game named "World of StarCraft"... i think...
rasta_worm
What Drakbak said :p
Drakbak
I'm behind Blizzard on this. They're trying to protect their property from any potential discrepencies.
Let's say this mod becomes popular like DOTA did on Warcraft III. DOTA is now the name of that type of game. If this mod gets popular like that and it's named "Starcraft MMO", then it puts Blizzard in a bind if it one day decides to make an actual Starcraft MMO because the marketing would be impossible. Any reference to the new game would confuse people with the mod. Any kind of search engine searches would end up with results to the mod instead of the game.
It's a smart move on Blizzard's part. I'm sure the creator can think of a creative name to use for the mod regardless.
JustTheBeginning
Those "News" things that break up the page are kind of annoying G4...
On topic: if that were the case, then change the name and all should be good lol.
Patr10t1
I think Blizzard making a Sc2 MMO
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