Edit 8/6/22:
Changed thread title to more accurately reflect the below pivot from monetizing forge to turning Halo Infinite into a platform for optional high-bar content submissions to a marketplace for more content at lower costs to players.
Edit 7/31/22:
I’m really glad people pointed out issues of forge monetization or even a marketplace of forge creations. It’s been tried before in other contexts and failed or destroyed passion of what was creativity and fun for the sake of creativity and fun.
I would pivot the thought of a marketplace and the content that fills it as very custom-made materials that 343 didn’t make but made via the same or similar development tools that 343 uses. Rearranging 343 modeled, textured, and embedded into forge compared against new models, particles, textures, emblems, armor, etc created first in Maya or Blender and via development tools injected into the game engine for use in a separate self-contained experience or added to the retail MP game.
It would be a high bar of polish and originality to be able to publish to the marketplace. PvE or PvP experiences that fill a content void.
Is Garry’s mod a decent comparison? Based off of half life 2’s source engine (Valve) but ultimately had new functions and materials that were made and itself was a framework for new creations.
Projects within Garry’s mod are community-made (like forge), but Garry is editing on top of the source engine.
Marketplace content would have their original starting point via the slipspace engine, or some sort of development tools where they’re making wholly new assets built out of new programming and high-end toolsets arranged within slipspace for used within the retail game or as a separate game.
Original post:
What if, a big if, forge was part of the game package we all know and love (free with campaign purchase or bundled into multiplayer somehow) and had the same feature sets as we’ve seen leaked with scripting and such and then also had a way for content creators to sell their works?
Now imagine talented content creators being able to monetize their forge creations in a marketplace. There would still be the community as it has been, same forge and features all free if the creators aren’t selling their works, but high-end, forge-created scenarios, skins, etc created by indy studios or talented groups would be able to put their works in a marketplace. I would pay for excellent forge-made scenarios with stories and awesome craftsmanship even if it’s not made by 343.
Not only would “community forge” creations still exist and be free, bigger projects and ideas have incentives to put their development weight behind halo and create new game modes, scenarios, maps, etc.
Imagine content creators being able to make armor, skins, other decorations and such and it being in a marketplace alongside 343’s stuff.
It creates competition between 343’s artists and outside developers. The thing is, if 343’s Halo Infinite is a platform and marketplace not unlike Minecraft’s marketplace, than 343 itself can focus on the core platform and primary story telling and let outside studios take on risks and rewards for high-end development of forge scenarios, maps, customizations, game modes, etc. 343 takes on an App Store-like role to further develop the forge sandbox of features and collect 15-30% of sales.
Creating competition via content creation on Halo Infinite as a platform would transform the player experience.
The “free-to-play” model isn’t free, we all know this. Creating competition amongst creators to generate unique and engaging material is what I want most and would hope to see out of the fears of a “monetized forge” scenario.
Charging individuals to download and use forge doesn’t make sense.
A creator/developer subscription tier with access to 343 help documents, developer forum, and freedom (within reason) to develop, publish, and collect a fee for an independent dev’s labor for excellent content at the time of sale, this makes a lot of sense.