Sandbox: Player Created Content?

                 I am new to the community, but I had an idea that I thought would increase the amount of content in MxO.  It probably has been suggested before but here goes...

                I thought that a new contact could be added allowing players to make their own missions.  I am aware that this sounds ambitious, but this process could start very simply and expand from there.

                As you know, a contact gives the player the option of picking a mission from a small set of criteria.  Player can choose to assassinate someone, rescue someone, or act as a courier for example.

                In the beginning this system would allow the creator to rename the mission from assassination to something that fits the title of their newly created content.  The player could then edit the dialog of the mission.  To start out, this would be all this new system would entail for the creation of content.

                The flip side of this system would include searching capabilities and ranking of the user created content.  Players would need some sort of way to sift through the new content and after completion of the mission rate it.  After that, new players could see what user created content was popular and what missions were the highest rated.

LATER:::::

                After the system is in place other things could be added allowing creators to make the missions more memorable.  They may be able to dress the npcs in their missions or pick where the story will take place.  Creators could then make their own story arcs introducing new characters to the game.  It could constantly have new features added to improve the quality of the content created.

                An interesting idea would be a story line that was written by the most popular creators of this content.  Every month, players could vote on whose mission was the most enjoyable for that month.  The top player could then create a mission for an over arcing story line created by previous and future winners.

                In my personal opinion this would have many benefits.  It would allow the dev team the time to fix issues with the game and improve core aspects of the game such as the marketplace.  Finally from a players' perspective, it would afford them an endless stream of new content.

Pirates of the Burning Sea accepts some player made content.

The idea is not bad, but the problem I forsee is that some citizens from the USA are very litigious and prone to take action at any moment. User/player created content is a can of worms, even with EULA or TOS that might protect SOE against such actions. While SOE might eventually win, the procedure will cost them money. So, I don't think it could happen.

You've got a point.

But still, I follow the philosophy that some is better than none.  I don't know if it could be done well, or at all, but it might be something to try, even on a temporary small-scale.

For example, what if MxO hosted a contest for players to submit their ideas for new neighborhood contacts and respective missions?  Anything's possible.

Because people have a serious incentive to do neighborhood missions. Right.

The small allowed Player-made content allowed for PotBS is like making your own flag for your ship and getting approved by the game for application onto your boat. Things like that have surfaced around a few MMO's, but it really has to be worked into the game's engine for you to be able to do that. I see what you mean in your idea, but players actually creating the content is impossible for this game. The only thing we can do, and we have been doing, is just giving developers input from the players which they take that recollection and then go from there.

Honestly, I think the only thing players really need to do is just play the game for what it is. Having full control over stuff usually isn't that appealing, at least to me. It's like player moderators and even LESIG to an extent. I'd rather have employees working under direct supervision to exercise what and will go into the game and how the content is provided, as opposed to half-assed player ideas. I'm not saying all player intentions and ideas should be thrown out the window, but they should be definitely be thoroughly looked through.

A good example of that to look at would be Second Life.

       I am surprised that no roleplayers have said anything yet on this. 

       It seems to me that player created content should be a direction that mmo's should take.  Spore is so creative -as far as we know now- because it will consist primarily of content created by other players.  Also, City of Heros/Villians is going to this route...--just found this out after I posted this topic...check this quote and go here to see it all.....http://eu.cityofheroes.com/news/article/3170/

       "I can't tell you how excited I am for our game's future, and although we have some major announcements yet to be made, one of the things I can talk about is a feature that we are planning. Similar in concept to our character creator, it allows you, the players, to create missions and story arcs for your characters and others to participate in. You'll be able to pick the map, villain group, and objectives, as well as write the dialogue and any clues needed for the missions. When you are satisfied with it, you can upload it and have other players across all servers play it and rate it. Fame will come to the players whose stories rate the best overall. It is features like these that we never dreamed of including when we first shipped, but are excited to be able to offer players very soon."

 - Lead Designer, Matt Miller (Positron)

        Also, Star Wars Galaxies now to my knowledge as storyteller tokens so you can do something similar, but on a watered down scale.....

       It could be made clear that this is player created content in the game, and players could be forbidden from using characters already in the storyline. 

       Also, having a rating system could weed out the poor content from the quality content.  Content that does not have a set number of positive votes, or has not been played for a set amount of time, could be deleted.

       Anyways, it seems to me that it could be done.....I say that but I know very little about game design...so.....