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EA Sets Ground Rules For SimCity Modders
In a post on the official SimCity blog, Maxis and Electronic Arts offer its blessings for those who want to mod SimCity, but not without a few restrictions.
You can see the full list of rules and stipulations by heading here. Most of it is reasonably straightforward asking that modders not to inject licensed properties into their mods, or utilize inappropriate or age-sensitive material. Other rules are a little tricky, like the very first rule:
Mods must not jeopardize the integrity of the gameplay or harm the experience of others. Mods that affect the simulation for multiplayer games and multiplayer features, such as leaderboards or trading with other players, are not allowed.
SimCity's multiplayer is integrated into the core experience, so this rule heavily restricts what players are able to change and modify.
Electronic Arts also reserves the right to use and distribute your mod without compensation or credit, something Electronic Arts has been careful to include in all recent legalese related to user-created.
To read our review of SimCity, head here.
[Source: SimCity, via PC Gamer]
Our Take
Much like EA's Code Wars Hackathon contest, its rules and stipulations discourage participation. There simply isn't much incentive to get involved in the SimCity mod community with the limitations imposed by Maxis and EA, and the knowledge that Electronic Arts can use distribute your mods as its own.
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