Mod DB
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| URL | http://www.moddb.com/ |
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| Commercial? | Yes |
| Type of site | Game Modifications |
| Registration | Free |
| Owner | DesuraNET |
| Created by | Scott "INtense!" Reismanis |
| Launched | June, 2002 |
| Current status | Active |
Mod Database, or Mod DB, is a website related to general computer game modding. It was founded in 2002 by Scott "INtense!" Reismanis, and quickly gained the reputation of the biggest game modification related website on the Internet. As of October 2006, Mod DB, according to its statistics, receives over 2,000,000 unique visitors a month, has over 120,000 users, and more than 6,000 modifications are currently registered.
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[edit] Purpose
The purpose of Mod DB is to list the mods, files, tutorials and information of any games that are capable of being modded with user-made content. Community involvement is strongly encouraged, and any game mod with a website is allowed to post a screenshot gallery, news, and requests for help. Scott's intentions, from the beginning, were to get the community heavily involved in the creation and development of the website. To this end, the most active members were chosen as moderators and administrators. The core staff generally remain the same, while lower positions are heavily rotated among trainee moderators, and administrator candidates. The site's staff mostly act as chaperones or librarians, keeping appropriate content available to the public and featuring the more exceptional content.
[edit] Mod of the Year
Mod DB's Mod of the Year competition, the 'Golden Spanner' awards, aim to set the industry standard in awarding inventive and high-quality mods. Mods are chosen via a community vote and are then reviewed by staff to produce the final list of winners. The competition aims to encourage all fields of modding, with different categories such as graphics and gameplay, as well as a traditional 'best mod' winner.
[edit] Winners of Previous Years
- 2002 - Natural Selection (computer game)
- 2004 - Red Orchestra
- 2005 - Garrys Mod
- 2006 - Point of Existence 2
[edit] History
The history of Mod DB begins after Scott Reismanis' former website "The ModRealm" was closed. The author, who coded the site engine himself, quickly started another project — a website which would cover all of the mod-related subjects. After months of development, Mod DB version 1.0 was released in June 2002, quickly gaining a group of core members who became the basis for the active community which the site has today. In 2004, the second version of the site was released, and many new features were implemented along with a complete site redesign. Version three followed in December 2005, once again redesigning the sites organisation and aesthetics.
A likely reason for Mod DB's popularity is the sheer number and variety of mods available at the website, since the site allows the registration of mods for any game from Age of Mythology to Wolfenstein 3D. There are also weekly articles written by the staff journalists, which cover everything from previews to interviews with mod teams. Mod-related contests hosted on the site and funded by various game companies and site staff members also attract many new members.
On 6 October 2006, Addon DB another website by the Mod DB team opened up a public beta for registered members of Mod DB. Addon DB's aim is to list additional content for game not applicable under the category of game modifications. This includes models, skins and maps. Following the creation of AddonDB, Scott Reismanis founded DesuraNET Pty. Ltd., which subsequently acquired ownership of both AddonDB and ModDB [1]
