User Submitted Content System
 

User submitted content is a big part of Graal. The initiative is a good idea because it is a way for staff to have a loose filter that makes sure players submitting art have a basic understanding of what to do. But, since it's a guild, it is exclusive and certain players feel that they do not have a chance to supply their work to the game.

Steam uses a system called the Steam Workshop to manage player made content. If you don't use steam, it's a place where users can upload their work to be used in game and downloaded by other people. The uploads are sorted by downloads, rating and overall popularity so that the most used (and usually highest quality) player made add-ons are on the front page. If a system like this was implemented externally so that players could submit their own furniture, hats, bodies, etc. to be used in game it would replace the guilds of the initiative which some feel are too exclusive and everyone equal opportunity and give a place where players could critique work.

Far stretch, but it seems like it would solve the problems with the initiative while not adding an extra load to the staff since they don't have to sort through hundred of entries.

Sounds like a fantastic idea :)

I second this!

If only this would happen.

but it won't

Would be nice if it did happen, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be allowed

yes, it would be easy,
but i have a feeling the members of iniative will be butthurt

There is no reason, it's just the staff wont be interested enough to do it.

Would there be staff to check for copyrighted material?

There'd need to be. And not - I repeat, not - just the GPs. There would need to be one or two dedicated staff members, that don't nessacarily need to be members of the current staff team, or have another position like GP also.

Just like the forum Moderators on here (though I am aware this is a fan site). Similar position.

I like this idea.

So basically...

Any player can upload ANYTHING they want and it will be available in game...

OK so this would create more work for staff as people would upload all kinds of ****.

Issues I can see in 1ms

• There would be more uploads to handle as more players would be uploading a hell of a lot more
• Either the content will be instantly available in game so offensive/copyright material will be there or will have to be moderated (which i'd say is 99.999% likely) so it would take time to do that as well. Either way, every single entry will have to be checked by staff for offensive content (there could be a flagging system for players but thats not good enough considering it's a kids game)
• Players uploading other players stuff, trying to beat each other in rankings
• For furniture uploads, developers will need to create the subclass to actually show the furniture (which parts are blocking, can you sit on it at any point, special considerations for water, does it shoot lasers). Next it would have to be added to the global furniture system and then into a shop somewhere. It's not a simple 'upload and go' at all.

This sounds like it's just a slight change of process (with a lot of Admin overhead) rather than a miracle solution. I don't know about Steam Workshop but I know Nexus Skyrim content is simply uploaded and good to go. If there is offensive material, they just R rate it. This is not appropriate for Graal at all as we are an online game and have many more considerations.

Initiative content doesn't get uploaded straight to the server.

True...
It is still a cool idea though >.<
Now I see it would be a hassle.

No, it wouldn't be a system for uploading it's showcasing. For a game like TF2, players will create models of weapons, hats, etc. and upload it to the workshop where the community rates it and can leave comments. Then, the devs look at the more popular, higher rated uploads and maybe put them in game. So, it's a community filter but it gives everyone an opportunity.

Skyrim mods work the same way on steam, however I meant this to be modeled off the way TF2 works. I guess I didn't explain with enough clarity in first post.

I'm thinking more like having an interface where users can vote on how good certain uploads are, and the top rated ones get reviewed by staff to be added. They don't get added to the game until approved. Uploads that require staff intervention to make like furniture could be selected in smaller quantities requiring high ratings so that there isn't too much to be done. Limit users to 3 uploads a day and put a small fee on it to prevent spam.


Levels would be possible to put, but would require someone to make a program that checks for scripts in it and removes them. Should probably wait for the new editor.

As for inappropriate content, it can be separate from the game through a website that gets mentioned on Graal. It would require to link your Graal account(with email confirmation) so that users who upload overly offensive material will get banned from the system. It can't be worse than guild pictures.



It would also be very interesting if users could earn gralats for their uploads, perhaps even based on a percentage of sales of it. The only problem I can imagine is people will make reposts or recolors of previous work, and leech gralats. This is why work can be flagged for inappropriate, stolen, or recolor of a stolen graphic. In addition, people will also rate stolen graphics 1 star. If a stolen graphic manages to get uploaded, sales will be logged and if it is found out to be stolen all gralats will be taken back. If the thief used them, they will have the new items wiped from their inventory accordingly, and the user will be banned from uploading.

Oh...so this doesn't need to be in game at all. Would just be a website somewhere.

Hell, anyone could do that.