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Planetside 2 Launches Player Studio
Sony Online Entertainment has launched Player Studio for Planetside 2, a program that allows players to create in-game items and potentially sell them in the marketplace for a real profit. Other SOE games have set a precedent for Player Studio implementation, including Everquest, Everquest II, and Free Realms.
Player Studio allows players to download sample geometry files and textures from the Planetside 2 universe. These files can then be utilized through third-party software, like Photoshop or Maya, to design and customize items. In turn, custom items can be submitted to SOE for possible inclusion in the in-game marketplace. Sony states that players who successfully submit items to the game will “receive a check from SOE every quarter for a portion of the revenue from their items' sales.”
Initial customizable-item categories include decals, hood ornaments, camo patterns, vehicle canopy overlays, and helmets. An official style guide for each of Planetside 2’s factions offers guidance for designers and mandates which items can and cannot be imported.
Game Informer has confirmed with Sony Online Entertainment that Player Studio will be included in the PlayStation 4 version of Planetside 2.
Our Take
The thought of using third-party design software to create in-game items might be intimidating to some, but SOE senior art director Tramell Isaac ensures that item creation will be accessible to all. In a recent interview with Joystiq, he stated that the simple nature of camo patterns and decal textures shouldn’t be a problem for design beginners. 3D helmet creation, on the other hand, might be a more advanced endeavor. The fact that user-created content will also be available in the PS4 version is great news for console gamers.
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