Addons free from now on, per Blizzard: KeyClone okay?

[Gadzooks]

http://www.wowinsider.com/2009/03/20...les/2#comments

Developers of addons like Carbonite and QuestHelper can no longer charge for their work. I'm split on this one, myself.

But, is KeyClone going to get lumped in with addons, even though it's not an addon? I sure hope not!

[Iceorbz]

http://www.wowinsider.com/2009/03/20...les/2#comments

Developers of addons like Carbonite and QuestHelper can no longer charge for their work. I'm split on this one, myself.

But, is KeyClone going to get lumped in with addons, even though it's not an addon? I sure hope not!

keyclone isnt a wow addon, of course i dont see how they can really stop people for asking for donations for their work.

[Clovis]

I wouldn't think Keyclone would be considered this because it is not specifically a WOW add-on but rather happens to work with WOW (and other games, amirite?).

The article specifies mods that use the interface.

-Clov

[Frojax]

Oh dear, Blizzard are pulling a nasty stunt here. I for one am a user of Carbonite and I would hate to see it go. But without the cash incentive, will the people that spend God know how long making and maintaining these thing, actually want to continue with them? I know I wouldn't, I'd be tempted to move to greener pastures, WAR for instance.

/me sobs at the thought of loosing Carbonite and leaps into bed

[Sam DeathWalker]

Well I like carbonite and have been using it a lot, hope they don't fold as I was happy to pay.

They do allow donations on the web site, and they will allow advertizing on the download web site also, hopefully that will generate the funds needed to keep carbonite etc. up and rolling.

Wowhead dosn't charge and sure that takes a ton of effort to put out there.

Maybe add on developers can get together and like say Ace have a big site with lots of adds and pay out percentages to individuals dependant on download amounts etc.

Of course this could be a perview to banning all third party software on a basis that its not free..... today the addons then Keyclone then Whatever.

Wrong of Blizzard I say.

Does Home Depot say you can't use their tools to make a profit? LoL.

[Freddie]

This hurts players, add-on developers, and Blizzard itself. I can't imagine why Blizzard thinks this is a good idea.

[Svpernova09]

This hurts players, add-on developers, and Blizzard itself. I can't imagine why Blizzard thinks this is a good idea.

I think its a combination of legal liability of addon content (as they stated the addons must not contain questionable material, they don't want to be sued for the content of an addon) and the fact they just don't want someone making real world money off their product such as carbonite / soliciting donations.

[Caspian]

This hurts players, add-on developers, and Blizzard itself. I can't imagine why Blizzard thinks this is a good idea.

How many Add-Ons actually require payment? I know of only one, Carbonite. They also pre-compile their code or "obfuscate it" which is why I wouldn't use it in the first place. Other then outright charging for an add-on the only other thing they did, monetarily was to ban you from asking for donations in game. You can still ask for them everywhere else. The forcing open of the code only protects the users.

How is this bad for the end gamer?

Keyclone is not a WoW addon.

[Freddie]

How is this bad for the end gamer?

It's bad because of rule number one which forbids publishers of add-ons from charging for their work. This prohibition hurts players and Blizzard because it's a disincentive to producing add-ons.

A rule that encourages more developers to invest more time in producing more add-ons is good for players and everyone else. This rule does the opposite.

Also, on ethical grounds, it's wrong to stop people from charging for their work. People have a right to get paid for their work. This right is a good thing for society and for the individuals involved in the transaction. It encourages honesty and delayed gratification and the keeping of commitments. When a rule is made that does something unethical, like this one does, it normalizes the wrong. It desensitizes people to it. This is bad for everyone who is affected by the rule including, in this case, players.

[Caspian]

How is this bad for the end gamer?

It's bad because of rule number one which forbids publishers of add-ons from charging for their work. This prohibition hurts players and Blizzard because it's a disincentive to producing add-ons.

A rule that encourages more developers to invest more time in producing more add-ons is good for players and everyone else. This rule does the opposite.

Also, on ethical grounds, it's wrong to stop people from charging for their work. People have a right to get paid for their work. This right is a good thing for society and for the individuals involved in the transaction. It encourages honesty and delayed gratification and the keeping of commitments. When a rule is made that does something unethical, like this one does, it normalizes the wrong. It desensitizes people to it. This is bad for everyone who is affected by the rule including, in this case, players.

That rule number 1 affects exactly 1 add on (to my knowledge). As a matter of fact so does rule number 2, the same one. It looks like a targeted strike to stop a trend. This is America, the corporation is king, Nobody charged for addons before, yet they were continuously developed. They are not stopping people from making money from their work, only demanding money for it or asking for it in game. Preventing ads, making people show their code are VERY good things, making sure addons comply with the ELUA and TOS (which kills the Jamba auto follow strobe argument - if it is bad - Blizz will stop it or issue a cease and desist). Which pushes the liability for "bad addons" away from the end user and onto Blizzard and the Developer.

I see your points Freddie, software development put food on my table as a child and feeds my children today. I just don't think that WoW addons fall under the normal rules. Blizzard can, and should, decide who makes money from their game and specifically IN their game. If there are fewer addons because of it, which I doubt, then so be it. But, the intention of addons was for them to be community developed. If development stops on something because of it someone who likes it will pick up the torch. It happens just about every time someone quits wow and the addon they were working on.

I still think this was aimed at Carbonite and to nip their trend in the bud.