UGC - User Generated Content

User Generated Content (UGC) is exactly what it sounds like. It is the term associated with components that are created, in video game terms, by the consumers of the games, to allow a higher level of personalisation and creativity in many various forms. UGC can range from creating items that assist you within the game to whole new levels themselves to enhance the gaming experience.
A prime example of a game that highly utilises the use of user generated content is Little Big Planet. Little Big Planet is all about the creativity of the player as throughout the game they will collect a wide range of stickers, additional props/clothing and objects that can be used to build and share their own levels.

One clear advantage of user generated content is that it prolongs the life span of games as new content is always being shared and updated/upgraded, meaning people will always be creating new experiences due to the new features. Also UGC creates a sense of involvement with the consumers as they get to create and essentially be part of the game rather than just play a standard RPG and complete a mission.
However, developers have  raised the concern that the use of user generated content within games will reduce DLC sales as if consumers could create and get free levels and items in a game, then why spend money on DLC that is not required??
Also if user generated content was to become the future, it would see the end to huge franchises such as GTA etc as it is very unlikely that role playing games with characters that have background history and a set storyline will become open to be changed from content created by the consumers. These huge franchises are not popular for nothing, and so makes the future in UGC very unlikely.