MPQ Modding Shutdown Petition

I know this is a long shot, but we've put too much time in to the various mods developed at this stage to just let it be shut down without a fight. For those who haven't heard, there's a potential for all forms of MPQ modding to be impossible after the patch. You can read the details here; http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=355575

I'm aware that not everyone uses these mods, but please show your support by signing the petition. Those of us who do use or make them have had a damn fun time doing so, and it'd be such a shame for it all to go to waste.

You can sign here; http://www.change.org/petitions/blizzard-entertainment-do-not-block-mpq-modifications-in-patch-1-5-of-starcraft-2#

EDIT: added Reddit link, please upvote for extra support. http://www.reddit.com/r/starcraft/comments/x7wb9/mpq_modding_shutdown_petition/

We've all put a lot of time in to making awesome modifications for you, now is your chance to give back to us and help us keep going after the patch.

Recently there has been suspicion of the upcoming patch having the potential to block all forms of alteration to SC2's MPQ archives. It's not yet 100% confirmed, but we can't take a risk of ignoring it until it's too late. For more information, read here; http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=355575

MPQ modding causes no harm to SC2 and opens a lot of potential for the community to develop and share their creativity to the players. With current mods shared to the TeamLiquid.net community such as Stronger Team Colours by Pzea469, proven to be beneficial to players affected by colour-blindness, and various other mods like Custom Backgrounds developed by Existor and myself, Teliko, we've brought nothing but a better playing experience to the community and opened a whole new aspect of entertainment and creativity to the game.

It's clear a change like this wouldn't affect negative aspects to the game such as maphacking, so there's really no reason to shut this down. Many players continue playing the game simply on the basis of knowing they can freely make it look however they want.

If you support mods like Stronger Team Colours, Custom Backgrounds and Dark Protoss/Mercenaries, and want to see more releases and development to continue after the patch, please sign this petition.

Poll added by request. Please refrain from voting unless you fully understand MPQ editing and what this change will effect. i.e. No more Stronger Team Colour mods etc, while Maphacks will remain unaffected. Consider actually having a read through the thread to get some info.

Poll: Do you want this change to go through?

No, let us continue to mod. (400)

63%

Yes, put a stop to all forms of modding. (239)

37%

639 total votes

Your vote: Do you want this change to go through?

(Vote): No, let us continue to mod.
(Vote): Yes, put a stop to all forms of modding.

Brief compilation of what we'll be losing if this goes through

Stronger Team Colours

Significantly more infested Zerg

Broodwar Voice Swap

Custom Decals

Custom Fonts

Last edit: 2012-07-27 16:44:20

Add a drop of lavender to milk, leave town with an orange and pretend you're laughing at it.

ZidaneTribal United States. July 27 2012 08:30. Posts 2633

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stronger team color is a nice mod, maybe blizzard will implement it into hots

fuck lag

KadaverBB Germany. July 27 2012 08:30. Posts 8367

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Petition threads are usually frowned upon and get closed, but this is a good cause

(I think)

Maybe Blizzard will change their mind, i like having custom decals.

Laws change depending on who's making them, but justice is justice

IMLyte Canada. July 27 2012 08:31. Posts 671

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I signed! but the fact that it asks for your address will stop alot of people from signing.

>>[ NesTea ~ ThorZaIN ~ Jaedong ~ Grubby ] ~ Seed ~ Mvp << NesTea Montage! http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=400291 coming soon...

Lumi United States. July 27 2012 08:33. Posts 1027

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While I'm all for the cause, Blizzard won't be listening. They're a bit shit in that department =\ Also you should probably have (and still can) just make a poll here. Then forward that to a lot of blizzard e-mails if you want. Means you'll get way more feedback (because it's easier to participate in) than from a petition, which, as far as I can see doesn't hold any more or less sway over a poll.

Last edit: 2012-07-27 08:35:57

KT_Violet 1988 - 2012 | n.Die_aSam 1992 - 2012

Grampz United States. July 27 2012 08:35. Posts 2067

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Pretty sure blizz might listen to this one, browder has actually told people it was good to use the stronger team color. Maybe they will change some stuff around to allow this kind of stuff.

Xapti Canada. July 27 2012 08:36. Posts 2188

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I would think someone could still just make a hack that bypasses this data checking that the game does.
That said, I understand it's against the Terms of Use, but who cares when the intention is righteous.

That said, I guess it's still worth it to complain, but with the streaming system they have in place, maybe it's some sot of unavoidable (or at least difficult to avoid) consequence that the data can't be modified anymore.

"Then he told me to tell you that he wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire" — "Well, you tell him that I said that I wouldn't piss on him if he was on Jeopardy!"

Raembo Indonesia. July 27 2012 08:36. Posts 46

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you should put a link on each of the picture of the mod for other people who might be new and is interested in downloading the mod.

totally support this petition!

"People don't change, they only adapt"

Blazinghand United States. July 27 2012 08:36. Posts 12226

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This would be more successful as a thread on the battle.net forums.

When you stare into the iCCup, the iCCup stares back.

Cire United States. July 27 2012 08:36. Posts 23

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I will quit playing this game and not buy HoTS if can no longer use Stronger Team Colors. The Zerg versus Zerg matchup is simply impossible without it.

Lumi United States. July 27 2012 08:36. Posts 1027

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On July 27 2012 08:35 Grampz wrote:
Pretty sure blizz might listen to this one, browder has actually told people it was good to use the stronger team color. Maybe they will change some stuff around to allow this kind of stuff.

I hope so. I could really go for a dose of being wrong about Blizzard messing things up atm ><

On July 27 2012 08:36 Cire wrote:
I will quit playing this game and not buy HoTS if can no longer use Stronger Team Colors. The Zerg versus Zerg matchup is simply impossible without it.

What you've said is instantly recognizable as untrue. How you have delivered the falsehood with so much conviction is beyond me xD

Last edit: 2012-07-27 08:37:40

KT_Violet 1988 - 2012 | n.Die_aSam 1992 - 2012

Tppz! Germany. July 27 2012 08:37. Posts 1312

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I do not agree at all. Its ok to loose those things if it gives Blizzard a chance to hunt cheaters/hackers etc.
Also mpq modding isnt allowed by Blizz ToS

Teliko Ireland. July 27 2012 08:38. Posts 990

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On July 27 2012 08:36 Blazinghand wrote:
This would be more successful as a thread on the battle.net forums.

It would need to be on the US forums to be more effective, and I don't have a US account. If anyone wants to volunteer to make a thread there linking to here and the petition, I'll add it to the OP.

Add a drop of lavender to milk, leave town with an orange and pretend you're laughing at it.

Petninja United States. July 27 2012 08:39. Posts 150

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Signed to save the mods. The changes won't do anything to stop map hackers, and streaming the game doesn't actually help anything.

HeeroFX United States. July 27 2012 08:40. Posts 1915

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The stronger color one is the only one you really could justify to blizzard. As far as decals, background, unit customization ect ect i feel like blizzard would not like that because that does violate the user agreement of the product and messes with the product as they intended. Decals and background and unit customization would actually be really sick if you could buy that stuff, to make yourself look unique and stuff you know?

Also you may want to make this thread on the blizzard forums, TL isn't really the place to make a plea to blizzard

Last edit: 2012-07-27 08:40:40

BoggieMan July 27 2012 08:40. Posts 463

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if this is whats needed to stop people using hacks, i don't have an issue with mods flying out the window with it.

Lumi United States. July 27 2012 08:41. Posts 1027

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On July 27 2012 08:40 BoggieMan wrote:
if this is whats needed to stop people using hacks, i don't have an issue with mods flying out the window with it.

I'd have to imagine that it's not, and that it's a lazy solution - if it even is one. The MPQ could have its constituent parts checked, rather than the entire thing.

KT_Violet 1988 - 2012 | n.Die_aSam 1992 - 2012

SeraKuDA Canada. July 27 2012 08:41. Posts 343

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Eh... Mods aren't a huge deal to lose. I think it's only a small percentage of people that use them.

Antylamon United States. July 27 2012 08:42. Posts 1376

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Here's a possible solution:

All the good things about MPQ editing are all graphical changes located in the SC2assets files and never in the SC2data files. SC2data files (90% certain, but I could easily be wrong) are where the maphacks etc. occur.

How about Blizz makes SC2data files auto-update, but not do so with SC2assets?

Last edit: 2012-07-27 08:43:50

Teliko Ireland. July 27 2012 08:42. Posts 990

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On July 27 2012 08:36 Raembo wrote:
you should put a link on each of the picture of the mod for other people who might be new and is interested in downloading the mod.
totally support this petition!

Good point. Adding them now.

On July 27 2012 08:40 BoggieMan wrote:
if this is whats needed to stop people using hacks, i don't have an issue with mods flying out the window with it.

It won't stop hackers in the slightest which is why I'm particularly annoyed about it.

Last edit: 2012-07-27 08:43:09

Add a drop of lavender to milk, leave town with an orange and pretend you're laughing at it.