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All this PURE GOLD user created content that never leaves Boards.

Better Jungler··14 votes·1,478 views

Theres a large thread happening right now, where a community member created an intricate new map, which sounded awesome, it even got some Red text from the Riot gods. Theres alot of words on it, and it's quite the read... halfway through reading it, i kinda got bummed out, because ive seen a few ideas very very similar in complexity, and greatness over my 5 years of playing, and they just dissapear. All these great community creations go to waste, and some of the better ones create a complete template, (this goes for champs, maps, items) Sometimes the creators are even smart enough to balance the numbers (stats/damage)..

I guess the point of this, is all these great ideas are endless fun to read, and support. But we never see them get past the boards post, and its disappointing that theres not a big effort at creating some of the user created content.

EDIT not sure why im getting downvoted. Im not blaming anyone, or honestly expecting riot to create EVERY good design that comes their way. this post is just to comment on how great the communities ideas are, and how its disappointing we dont see them come to life.

18 Comments

TiiGz5 votes

I completely agree with your thoughts here because there is so much talent within our community, and it's tough knowing that almost all of it will have a short-lived limelight before it disappears. Having said that, I think there is a unique opportunity for RIOT to do something great and it is a pretty simple solution.

SOLUTION Every year RIOT holds a vote between (lets say) 5 community created champions and the community votes for their favorite to be brought into the game. Then Riot creates that champion... there are a lot of games that feature community voted content, and RIOT releases about 5 champions each year so making one of them a community created champion would have so many positives. 1. This allows the community to feel more involved in the creation of game they love 2. RIOT still maintains control of the champions they would pick for us to vote on, so it wouldn't unbalance the game state 3. Champion concept creators can be recognized for their work

I feel like there is literally no downside to this, the community gets more say while RIOT can still choose champions that fit their idea for the future of the game

I don't know if this will ever happen but it's nice to think about. There is such a huge player base that loves this game and would love the ability to have more of an impact. Even if it's just voting for a champion for RIOT to bring into the game.

The Great Jaggi1 votes

This is such a good idea

Better Jungler2 votes

That is the best idea. and deserves a ton of upvotes. ill post it in a new thread.

TiiGz1 votes

I wanted to do this but also link this thread but I couldn't figure out how to link this..

** so I did post a new thread with this idea, I'd love it if people upvoted and supported. Thanks, my post is below

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/skin-champion-concepts/EHwVzJpb-commuity-created-champion-annual-contest

LaoBushido2 votes

I agree to some extent it is sad, imo the reason these modes are not supported is because there is not enought support still, for example look at the views on the most view post (or something riot post like the rules , or a patch mote) compared to that one. And on another note look at the design stand point adding a new map takes literal years having, a shape and rules is fine but creating a virtual Representation is something else entirely if the OP of that post was a designer of some sort already created a base model then and might gain more traction in terms of riot incorporating it .

Better Jungler1 votes

I just feel like thats where the community comes in.. If Riot were to post "we like this idea, but we need the community's assistance"

I guarentee in a month we'd have a few community created map layouts and 3d art in whatever format riot wanted xD

I have faith if riot gave us a hint of support about an idea, we'd assist, and create in any way possible.

Lotsa talented people hidden in all these trolls and ragers;)

Katie McBritish1 votes

I know the post of which you speak of, I actually posted a rough concept that I put together in Unity. With the traction the post has, I figured I'd post it there and ask the OP if it was okay to move forward with the concept and expand upon the 3D representation and more forward to create a basic web build. Maybe I will continue without the OP's okay, all credit to him/her of course.

ModThe Djinn2 votes

[{quoted}](name=Tripod Fay,realm=NA,application-id=A8FQeEA8,discussion-id=Vyf6Eg1u,comment-id=,timestamp=2015-12-15T04:05:06.330+0000) I guess the point of this, is all these great ideas are endless fun to read, and support. But we never see them get past the boards post, and it's disappointing that there's not a big effort at creating some of the user created content.

We had a very similar thread pop up recently, with some great discussion on it.

The short answer is that Riot is extremely busy. Their design/development team is always working on something, and there's not a lot of time to mess around with ideas that don't have potential -- or to read through ideas to find out what really DOES have potential (since what is good design and what the community thinks is good design aren't always the same thing), let alone test them.

So there aren't really enough people on the design/development team to read the forums seriously, and there are a whole host of potential issues with using user-created content that make large companies often unwilling to do so.

Sadly, this sort of development is for our amusement only, basically. Comments and minor changes to existing kits on existing champions? Sure. Riot has mentioned a few suggestions along those lines being decent ideas in the past. But testing out entire kits or completely redesigns isn't something that's practical, unfortunately, even in the rare Riot-quality champion/map concept that comes along.

Take the recent map, for example: there are a number of design issues you could raise against it (although it's a fun idea), and it would be a TON of work for the design / dev / art team to produce. So you'd need to pull a team to build it, test it, alter it, adjust coding, adjust balance, rebuild it, redesign it to fit the new structure...and so on. That's a LOT of people needed to properly test a piece of community content.

ExileSorrow1 votes

I mena what are they busy for some concepts are far superior than the champions they creae. I've seen atleast 15 better and morebalanced an unique champions than illaoi even though i come rarely to NA forums

ModThe Djinn3 votes

{quoted}

I mena what are they busy for some concepts are far superior than the champions they creae. I've seen atleast 15 better and morebalanced an unique champions than illaoi even though i come rarely to NA forums

That's an interesting perspective, since I'd argue Illaoi is one of the most thematically strong, mechanically unique, and conceptually interesting champions League has created.

As for what they're busy for? They're a bunch of highly talented game designers working on producing highly polished concepts for release into the world's biggest competitive game. That's a difficult task. They may not always hit the mark perfectly, but crowd-sourcing design is a sure-fire way to get an inconsistent game experience. There's no major game company that does it: if it worked reliably and was worth the time, someone would have turned it into a business model by now.

ExileSorrow1 votes

I can sense slight bias here. Player know how to balance numbers too and come on don;t throw BS like there can't be few employyes that review concepts because there was beofr eand now that is trashed. Champion cocnepts were graded and some parts were added to league....I had highly grade dold forum concept oince for a support champion and riot took the windwall mechanic and implemended it to yasuo but now none. No rioter cares. Illaoi is thematically strong but balancing mess like very champion recently while i could see more mechanically balanceable and still unique concepts The only thing that suprised me is the lack of spaghetti code that is usually implemended and the kit is fairly not buggy (which i salute riot for) but i wouldn;t say highly polished.

Well thats just me they could pay 3-4 employyes for the champ concepts it wouldnt hurt their budget so much but really if atleast highly upvoted concepts are seen there could be reasonable mechanic ideas and even perfecte champions done.

ModThe Djinn2 votes

Some bias, yes. Mostly personally experience though: I've been to Riot for an interview for a game design, and so I know a bit about the dedication of the employees and the amount they work.

They also don't typically lift mechanics: things like Vi and Kindred were already in development when the similar fan creations appeared, and things like projectile blocks and other "community creations" tend do be mechanics that most designers would end up thinking of: fee ideas are truly unique.

Lovely Pants1 votes

As someone who loves fan creations and infrequently involves themselves in such projects, you should really never anticipate any of your efforts as a fan creator making their way into the object of your affection in an official manner. For something as big as League, it's just astronomically low odds and would more often than not be more work than its worth to adopt fan creations.

As a creator, you just have to learn that you can't live vicariously through someone else's product. If you have great ideas and want to see them go somewhere you can share with others, you're going to have to work your way into the industry of your choice. Fan work is useful for personal growth and inspiration.

ModThe Djinn1 votes

Fan work is useful for personal growth and inspiration.

Fan work is also useful as portfolio material if you're seeking industry jobs. I've used my amateur work on League concepts / pen & paper RPGs as resume material for several game design interviews so far. Don't expect it to be used by the companies in question, but if it's quality work it CAN help show that you know what you're talking about.

Vorazun1 votes

I've never applied for a job with such work, but how is it weighted in general? It seems like something arbitrary to include, maybe some more 'professional' work in general, rather than just fan concepting.

ModThe Djinn1 votes

{quoted}

I've never applied for a job with such work, but how is it weighted in general? It seems like something arbitrary to include, maybe some more 'professional' work in general, rather than just fan concepting.

I can't tell you how it is weighted (I haven't been given that information), but to some extent design work is design work. Published professional stuff is better to have, definitely (and required for mid-level jobs and up), but for entry-level personal projects, game design documents, and homebrew game content is perfectly acceptable. As long as you have some insight into how you work and how you design/analyze things, it will have some use to someone trying to get a read on your abilities.

In short, if you have some quality material that you're proud of, you should put it on your portfolio in much the same way an artist might put a personal painting they really like.

ExileSorrow1 votes

Lets not forgte random downvotes (experienced not only on my threads but on many good concepts

Zyorhist1 votes

they need to remember where MOBA's all started...the people that they used to be are striving to help out too.

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