Video game modding
A set of modifications, commonly called a mod, may range from small changes and tweaks to complete overhauls, and can extend the replay value and interest of the game.[8] A recurring trend with video game mods is the creation of user-made skins and/or character models replacing the default ones that came with the game, the most popular of which are meme mods such as those of Carl Johnson from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Thomas the Tank Engine,[9] though at least one modder received legal action from Thomas franchise rights owner Mattel for their unauthorised use of the Thomas the Tank Engine intellectual property in a The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim mod.They help manage downloads, updates, and mod installation in order to allow people who are less technically literate to play.Steam's "Workshop" service, for example, allows a user to easily download and install mods in supported games.[21] Publishers can also determine mod-friendliness in the way important source files are available, such as Doom having its art assets separate from the main program, which allows them to be shared and modified.For advanced mods such as Desert Combat that are total conversions, complicated modeling and texturing software are required to make original content.The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) as well as its predecessors, Morrowind (2002) and Oblivion (2006), are examples of highly moddable games, with an official editor available for download from the developer.Some modifications such as Gunslingers Academy have deliberately made the game more moddable by adding in scripting support or externalizing underlying code.For example, Battlefield 1942, ported by Aspyr for Mac OS X, had file access issues specific to mods until the 1.61D patch.Also, mods compiled into platform-specific libraries, such as those of Doom 3, are often only built for the Windows platform, leading to a lack of cross-platform compatibility even when the underlying game is highly portable.[24] In 2015, members from the Grand Theft Auto fan site GTAForums reported instances of malware being circulated through modifications written for Grand Theft Auto V.[25][26] Two of the modifications in question, namely "Angry Planes" and "No Clip", came with code for loading a remote access tool, and a keylogger for stealing Facebook and Steam account credentials.[27] The modifications in question have since been taken out of circulation, with affected players being advised to change their social media account passwords and disinfect their computers.[28] The Internet provides an inexpensive medium to promote and distribute user created content like mods, an aspect commonly known as Web 2.0.[39] Copyright law, as it relates to video games and mod packs, is an evolving and largely unsettled legal issue.[16][46] In 2006, part of the reason that Second Life generated interest was how user-generated content (mods) was central to the experience, and how the intellectual property rights remained with the creator-player.[53] Many popular total conversions are later turned into standalone games, replacing any remaining original assets to allow for commercial sale without copyright infringement.[54] An overhaul mod significantly changes an entire game's graphics and gameplay, usually with the intent to improve on the original, but not going as far as being a completely different experience.Examples of overhaul mods include Deus Ex: Revision, which was given permission from publisher Square Enix to release on Steam alongside the original game,[55] and GTA 5 Redux, which not only improves the original game's textures, but also adds a new weather system, visual effects, and adjusts the wanted system, weapons, and vehicle handling.A famous example of this type of mod can be found for the Grand Theft Auto series wherein modders may use downloadable tools to replace content (such as models) in the game's directory.Such patches are usually created by members of the game's fan base when the original developer is unwilling or unable to supply the functionality officially.An example is the Hot Coffee mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which unlocks a sexually explicit minigame.One example is the Velvet-Strike mod for Counter Strike in which the players spray-paint anti-violence messages in multiplayer games as a form of performance art.Modders fixed the game over time and received source code access, which led to an official re-release under the name IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover BLITZ Edition.[71] Following the closure of Ion Storm the source code to Daikatana was released to a select group of modders by John Romero, leading the version 1.3 patch, which also ported the game to MacOS, Linux and FreeBSD.
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