I have mentioned in the past that content-wise, the FC5 editor is THE most massive collection of assets you can find in the industry for a UGC game, ever.
And Ubisoft is hosting its own servers that everyone can upload their levels to share with the world, using any of those assets.

They now recently added basic scripting tools too.


I recently got some free time and managed to put together a level (see the other thread about the Pew Pew Pow Pow if you want), but now that I have used scripting properly and know its strengths/weaknesses, I also see all the potential in all of this.

The next step would be an editor that can create content that can sustain the player base, AS A LIVE SERVICE.
Pitch this idea as hard as you can, because its a win-win. Give us Doom's Snapmap logic system, combined with the Ubi-verse content and we will gather up like flies, making our own games inside Far Cry Arcade.

Instead of sharing manpower between SP-MP-Editor, allocate them in the engine/UGC side of things, create a powerful engine with user friendly creation tools, then create the main story from those tools. Just go the Bethesda way, and the community will be your supporting hand. Skyrim.

In order to do this right though, shareholders will need a viable business plan. I reckon it's good to look at games that focus solely on UGC and adopt their practices when it comes to sustainability. See Gameglobe that lets you buy tools and unlock content through playing or purchase (fast-unlock). I 'd be totally cool with that as a creator (I draw the line at monthly fees though).

For example, why does Counter Strike still hold up? Why is Minecraft still going strong? The first does one thing, and does it exceptionally, the second does everything but mediocre. Focus or generalize.

Imagine a Far Cry that has true survival elements in it (hunger/thirst/wounding/clothing/crafting) and a powerful FPS engine that supports platforming and competitive play.
Get a formula going with fine-tuned animations and mechanics that games like Overwatch and CS go with. Add variety to items, inventory and supplies, create new needs so more items are needed.

Then, for the editor. The list is there already, we have already made our suggestions. But think bigger, just like Trials is doing. The editor is THE reason I am coming back for every Far Cry, and it appeals to me as a creator. If the tools are right, I can use my skillset to make the game appeal to a number of players too (generalizing). So the next entry has to let us use tools to promote our content through the platform (Arcade). Comments, screenshot showing in embedded links, a description, a rating system with tags. Make it stand out as a proper UGC, have its identity be clear so that we know what to expect. And try to tie it in with the campaign a bit more, people are still not playing Arcade, they think its either an 8-bit retro thing, or find it boring because all there is are simple missions, like kill this guy, go to this location. There needs to be a WHY, and for that we will need world-building through logic. Let us make basic conversations using NPCs through some pop up bubbles, enough to be convincing and fun to make a story. Check what "Fight the Dragon" does, with its loot system that ties into UGC-created levels. That makes players want to play and collect levels, instead of just surfing through content.

Give them a real reward for playing Arcade, they need an incentive besides basic fetch/assassination missions.


It seems to me that the FC5 team is very passionate, but cannot go fully forward unless we put those tools to the test and create some proper content that they can show to their shareholders, when pitching the FC6 editor.

So in the meantime, the community has to be strong! Get to work people! The editor is a beast and should be respected for what it can do.

While they build the next entry, they see these posts even if they dont reply. Go make stuff and they ll see. Use the new scripting tools to make new game mode ideas, make puzzles, horror scenes, remakes, go crazy!

Peace.