The create a map function is being altered for it's US release...

[zferolie.livejournal.com]

http://nisamerica.com/nart/pbombs/2011/152/D4%20PressRelease20110714_pb.pdf


Map Editing adjustments:
-Instead of individual blocks to create maps, a number of preset “landforms” will be available for users to create their own maps.
-Multiples of the same object, not including geo blocks or characters, cannot be placed next to or on top of each other.
-Character/map names and descriptions will be randomized.

They say this is do to regulations and laws or something. I am confused. Why would a create a map with blocks be an issue with laws, as well as the same object/character being next to each other? The names I can maybe see, with copyrights, but LBP gets away with that...

Comments

[grifstar.livejournal.com]

This is one of the dumbest things I've heard in awhile.

wtfNis :|

[zferolie.livejournal.com]

I know. I don't see the reasoning behind this really.

[grifstar.livejournal.com]

Well I can see pre-random generated maps being useful for like... people that feel lazy with their layout. But still.

What's kinda the point of having custom maps if you're just gonna take away the customizing aspect of it? I guess I really don't care if I can still make mana/exp farms, or are those even possible to begin with.

[shinhawk.livejournal.com]

At Anime Expo, one of the guys on the localization team says you can make mana/exp farms out of those maps.

[shinhawk.livejournal.com]

I'm looking on other websites and there seems to be some confusion. They're under the impression that we can't stack the same geo blocks and characters next to or on top of each other. However, the press release says that particular restriction doesn't apply to characters or geo blocks.

Time to email NIS America. ^^;

[taiga_ameca]

... maybe to prevent an attack of the penis shaped maps?

If the game doesn't have a way to report or to regulate material, it could cause some problems.

[zferolie.livejournal.com]

I suppose, but why wouldn't they have some where to regulate? Wouldn;t building penis's be an issue in japan too?

[grifstar.livejournal.com]

US = less mature than Japan? idk

I have no idea.

[aitherion.livejournal.com]

No, not really. In Japan that kind of thing isn't considered inappropriate to nearly the same degree; shows for children commonly have jokes involving characters flashing each other and whatnot.

[shinhawk.livejournal.com]

That's very true. If we're going along this line of assumption that we're being hindered by censorship, people can't really use "Japan allows it" argument because Japan is Japan, the US is the US, and so on and so forth. Its not a matter of maturity but just how a country (or at least its governing body sees such matters.

[shinhawk.livejournal.com]

I read that Sony can easily monitor inappropriate content in LBP, but I seriously doubt NIS America has the resources nor does SCEA and SCEE want to spend their own regulate Disgaea 4's customization content.

[shinhawk.livejournal.com]

It seems like much of the creativity will be lost with this feature. Unless the landforms can be edited in some way (such as building on top of them or maybe deleting space?), much of the custom maps will end up being generally the same aside from differing geo panel effects.

[shinhawk.livejournal.com]

Also, it looks like stuff shown in this link won't be possible anymore.

http://www.siliconera.com/2010/12/15/a-little-more-about-disgaea-4s-map-editor/

I can't imagine that NIS America wanted to do this to their crown jewel game. I have to think there was some sort of executive meddling on Sony's part to force NIS America's hand.

NIS America isn't Sony(who back LBP) and probably aren't giving other companies as much freedom as they(Sony) enjoy. I wouldn't be surprised if they put some sort of injunction on NIS America to limit the customization content as to not rival their product. I know its farfetched, but that's one of many scenarios I can imagine.

[maharl.livejournal.com]

"Due to regulations regarding user- created online content for the U.S. and PAL, the online user-created maps system feature within Disgaea 4 will be slightly modified for its release here in the west.

Not to worry though, dood; although there has been a small change, this insanely fun and customizable online feature will still provide endless enjoyment for all you Disgaea fans!" - NISA

Man what a big pile of BullShit!!!

I can't believe people are afraid of gamers making penis' and boobs out of M***** F****** BLOCKS!

[taiga_ameca]

True... but you know it'll happen. And they could get in trouble for it.

Sadly, it's how life works.

[shinhawk.livejournal.com]

Still... could be worse. I mean at least its not like Mortal Kombat and Australia. ^^;

With it being a Teen-rated game, NIS America could very well get in trouble when some rather tactless people decide to abuse the customization which could cause parents to complain. I know its BS, but I wouldn't want Disgaea 4 to be pulled off shelves due to that.

Everyone seems to be blowing this situation way out of proportion though. Is this situation really going to ruin the game to the point where the game is not fun anymore? I understand its going to dent the replay value a bit, but the game has enough content and charm that everyone can get their money's worth.

[taiga_ameca]

I'm going to have the unpopular opinion here and say that people just like complaining. Yes, censorship sucks, but in this case, NISA outright said "It's these alterations, or the entire function will be removed". Yeah, I'm going to take this as it is, because it honestly sounds as if they didn't have a choice. It's not like they cut it off because of fixable glitches or laziness. They have to do it, and maybe later, if the problems are solved, they could re-insert it via the magic that is patches. But yeah, it sucks, but in between having it scalpeled and not having it, I'm gonna take the presets.

[burnfist23.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna have to agree with both of you. As awesome as an unrestricted map creator would be and that Sony is being ridiculously anal about this, it's either this or no map creator or, heck, even no Disgaea 4 at all. We've played the last three games without a map creator and I'm not the creative type (I just play LBP to play everyone's levels and create Disgaea sackpeople), so it really isn't that much of a loss to me. It sucks because it was such an anticipated feature but I think we'll live with it.

I do hope that if they're going with presets that they throw in some interesting presets.

[zferolie.livejournal.com]

Have you played my Disgaea map in LBP?

But yeah, I want to see how it plays out. WHo knows, it might be more fun!

[burnfist23.livejournal.com]

Which one is that? Is that the one that ends with Flamaz as the end boss?

[zferolie.livejournal.com]

No, it ends with Laharl being a boss, though due to level restrictions, its not much of a boss, lol.

It's called Little big disgaea, and the user is my name.

[burnfist23.livejournal.com]

Wait, is that the one with the corridor of Magic Knights shooting ice magic? The one I can never beat?

[zferolie.livejournal.com]

I do have something like that, one shoots ice, one shoots wind, the other shoots fire. The trick is to change planes. The color of the magic shows what plane it is on.

[shinhawk.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm thinking that as well. I take several minutes even trying to come up with a character name ^^;. I know trying to come up with a map from square one is going to take me a long time as I'm really nitpicky and anal about these kinda things, so the presets will save me a lot of time and keep me less frustrated. I never got that far in the Japanese version, but were there presets in that version as well?

If they have about 20 preset maps, I think I can live with that.

[shinhawk.livejournal.com]

Same here, I'm able to get through quite a bit of the story and my previous experience with Disgaea helps me get through, but damn there's so much kanji I've never seen that it becomes really difficult.

[maharl.livejournal.com]

My problem is that if one is afraid of people making lego penis' one might as well ban hot dogs and any other penis shaped thing.

[yuriranch.livejournal.com]

I guess I'm the only one who has no interest whatsoever in this feature.

Although I do agree that Sony probably has a strangle hold on this stuff in the US and such and are forcing NISA into this situation.

[shinhawk.livejournal.com]

I actually have no interest in this feature as well. I only intend to use the network mode sparingly and despite my initial doubts on creativity, I'm sure people can still make sadistic... I mean interesting maps with these presets.

[burnfist23.livejournal.com]

I think the one thing that's pissing me off, though, is NISA is once again being incredibly vague about these laws and regulations. What laws and regulations is the map creator infringing.

[zferolie.livejournal.com]

Thats exactly what's bothering me. I just want to know why they had to do this, and what they said never really answered anything.

[hukuzo.livejournal.com]

This mostly bothers me as a matter of principle. Sure, it's a shame we won't be able to have as much freedom with this extra feature, but I hate the fact that it has to be changed and for an unexplained reason on top of that.
I'm happy as long as the main game is left alone. Imagine if they removed all of the side stories and characters or something ridiculous.