user-generated-content posts

Spore. LittleBigPlanet. Second Life. What do these titles have in common? Each of them allows a regular user to utilize embedded tools to create content. Although it's clearly too early to say that this is a trend, it's definitely an interesting development in game design.

Why should games offer users the ability to create in-game content? Are the risks worth the benefits? In today's column, we'll take a look into user-generated content, and whether or not it has a lasting place in video games.