Talk:Mod (computer gaming)

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VG To-do:

Instead of listing Modifications here, should there be a Category:Modifications, with sub-categories like Category:Quake Modifications, Category:Half-Life Modifications, and so forth? --NeuronExMachina 02:54, 16 Jul 2004 (UTC)

  • Something like that is already at work. look at: [Category:Computer_and_video_games] and Fan-made Modifications.. --Horst_F_JENS 12:43, 2004 Jul 16 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Fox Legal Action

In the Fox'ing section, it says: "Some strictly non-commercial mods appear to be tolerated." What exactly does this mean? Does this mean only mods not based on movie franchises are safe from corporate legal action? Kendricken 06:26, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

No, it means mods that aren't created for profit(Sold). Gelston 09:14, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mod (computer gaming)?

Should this article be moved to mod (computer gaming) (or something similar)? Many of the links to this article use [[modification|mod]] and I more frequently hear them called "mods". Modification would then become a disambiguation page with links to mod (gaming) and other special meanings of "modification" (such as modifications (genetics) and grammatical modifier). --Mrwojo 23:06, 3 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Yes, it should definitely be moved. Fredrik | talk 02:13, 4 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Change REDIRECT of Modder

Modder currently redirects to Mod_(computer_gaming). Since there are other kinds of modders working in other fields than computer gaming, Modder should redirect to Modding. - 200.141.231.146 16:35, 12 January 2006 (UTC)

Agree and done --W++ 11:12, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Team Fortress

Shame this article doesn't mention one of the first major Quake mods that was really really popular. :( CheapAlert 20:37, 23 February 2006 (UTC)


I just read this whole page and was extremely disappointed with just the single reference to Quake. There hasn't been a mod scene like Quake's until UT2k4 and it's mod contests. Team Fortress is the most memorable, but there was also Air Quake, Quake Rally, Mega TF. Most mods after the first Quake are rehashed Quake mods. It's really a shame to have WoW on here, and no Quake or other games that had unique moding systems. Take Starsiege Tribes for instance. Not really known for it's mods because they were so seamless. Nearly all were server side mods (required no downloads). All of the game's scripts were editable in a C++ like language, and you could even do some coding from the in game console. No tools other than notepad required. I might just contribute to this article, it really needs some gamer "historians". If WoW's damned macros are on here, then Quake's proxy's (are item respawn timers cheating controversy) should be. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.122.41.10 (talk) 05:14, 29 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] modifying game language

I recently bought the Fallout Ultimate Collection, from ebay. The game box is written in english, german and french. However, the games are in german. I don't understand german. I want to change it to english language and dialogue. Any ideas on how I can modify this? It is for windows.

[edit] controversial uses of modding

There should be a section discussing how mods are sometimes made which do rather controversial things, like add nudity/sexual content (I've heard there are a number of Sims mods like this), since this phenomenon has gotten modding/video games alot of bad press recently. An espesially obvious and prominent example would be the hot coffee mod for GTA:SA - although it should be noted that that was unusual in that it unlocked content already in the game rather than adding it. 207.69.139.134

[edit] History

I notice there isn't a History section in this article. These are my memories of gradual acceptance of modding, in id Software games - but I'm not adding these to the article yet because I don't have any references:

  • Wolfenstein 3D
    • The map format for the game was reverse engineered, which gave rise to map editing. Only existing maps could be changed - so the modding meant editing original game files.
  • Doom (and Doom II etc)
    • Embraced "custom maps" - the spec for Doom maps was opened, allowing maps to be created and stored as their own file. The maps could only be played by using a command line parameter to specify the file name of the map. Sprites could also be changed in the same way, by specifying an alternate WAD file on the command line.
    • Actual gameplay rules could be changed with a tool called 'dehacked' - could change amount of damage done by certain weapons, or the speed of a rocket, for example.
  • Quake (1)
    • Introduced the console, which allowed game parameters to be changed mid-game, also the loading of custom maps.
    • Embraced actual "gameplay modding" by using a language (QuakeC) to program gameplay actions and released the code to the public.
    • Introduced the format of alternate "mod" directories under the main game directory (or was this Quake 2??)

As I said, I'm not 100% accurate on this, any suggestions welcomed!

-- Chuq 08:01, 6 May 2006 (UTC)

You may want to include Tribes in there as well, as it was (as far as I know) the first game to allow for significant gameplay modification on a multiplayer level without requring client downloads, among other things. But more to the point, the list looks fairly good and to my knowledge is accurate. -- Y|yukichigai 22:00, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Total Conversion definition

The current definition of Total Conversion includes, "a mod of an existing game that replaces 100% of the artistic assets in the original game," but then goes on to define Counter-Strike as a TC. According to that definition Counter-Strike is not a TC, as it reuses a number of texture files. (e.g. the faces of some of the hostages are just the related scientist textures from Half-Life) The definition needs to be modified, as I think we can all agree that Counter-Strike is definitely a TC, and perhaps the most commercially successful one out there at that. -- Y|yukichigai 21:55, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

I agree. I changed it accordingly.--Katana314 20:10, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

"TC" was used to differentiate mods like Team Fortress from early mods that consisted of mostly just new weapons. "TC" has more to do with changing the gameplay than anything else. Don't have to be an artist to make a TC, as early Doom & Quake moders proved. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.122.41.10 (talk) 05:23, 29 September 2007 (UTC)

I wonder if there is a source which states what the first TC was? I think it might have been the Aliens TC for Doom. Marasmusine 08:16, 29 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Morrowind mods - GIANTS

DragoonWraith 05:21, 3 November 2006 (UTC): Despite being exceptionally popular, GIANTS is the result of serious copyright infringement that got Pumaman (the author) quite angry letters from Bethesda and Bioware, as he ripped models and animations from Neverwinter Nights for the mod. As there are hundreds of far better mods for Morrowind than GIANTS, I respectfully request that GIANTS be taken down from this page, and if possible, from humanity's collective memory. It's a shame against the Morrowind modding community.

I can come up with a better list of Morrowind mods if you like, or you could just link to a couple of mod download sites and MW Mythic Mods, in particular Telesphoros's list, widely (universally?) considered to be the most comprehensive list (which is not to say it has everything, just more than anyone else) of quality mods on the 'Net.

[edit] Dragoon X Omega II

As another example of a Total conversion should be Dragoon X Omega 2 to describe the practicality of this game: As quoted from the website:

"This hack is the product of over three years of work. The extent of the changes eclipses anything done in a ROM hack released to date. Final Fantasy was basically used as an "engine" to create a new NES RPG upon, so even those intimately familiar with Final Fantasy will be charting totally unfamiliar waters. The musical score is entirely new, as are the graphics, the levels, the dialogue, etc. This is truly a new RPG experience for the venerable NES."


DXO2 is in other words a total conversion of the original Final Fantasy. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 211.29.1.102 (talk) 09:56, 15 December 2006 (UTC).

[edit] Too many

Many sections of this article need cleaning up. Under WP:NOT#Wikipedia is not a mirror or a repository of links, images, or media files I suggest listing only one or two example mods for each game, with a seperate listified article for those games with many well-established mods (as already exists with Battlefield etc). I will go ahead and do this over the next few days. Marasmusine 07:41, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

Also, where there is no particular interesting aspect of a game's modability, there's no need to list it here at all, or we are going to end up with a list of every game that can be modded. The Max Payne section is entirely POV and cointains no real information. Marasmusine 07:48, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

Yes, there are too many individual mods listed. SharkD 20:06, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

We need to make an effort to stop this article just becoming a list of games and their mods, and make it more about the general nature of modding. I will scour my Edge magazines for references. Marasmusine 14:05, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Half-Life and Half-Life 2

Should probably be moved to the "games with official modification tools" section. Even though there ARE third party modification tools, the most used ones are provided by, in conjunction with, or are a frontend for command line programs created by Valve Software. Also, I think I could greatly expand this section as I have seven years experience moddifying these two games. Also, I think I could expand it too much! Suggestions for what to include and what NOT to include would be greatly appreciated, as well as some future help with formating :) First off, would everyone agree that although Doom and Quake were the first widely MOD'ed games, Half-Life is what made it somewhat mainstream? -70.130.138.210 06:38, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

My intent for the "games with official modification tools" was for games that came bundled with editors, but if you have a rationale for it, then give it a go.
As for expanding the article, definitely go for it but avoid original research. For example, if you want to put in a sentence about Half-Life making modding mainstream, it needs to be backed up with references from reliable sources. (You'll note that most of this article is unreferenced and needs a good pruning.) Marasmusine 07:54, 13 March 2007 (UTC)
The original Half-Life came bundled with Valve's version of the Worldcraft level editor, and purchasing Half-Life2 gives you access to the Source SDK. It's a little different with Valve's games than most, because of Steam, but I definitely think that since they provided/have provided the editing tools with the same content delivery system for their games (CD/DVD media, OR Steam) that they should be moved up there. I'm moving it.
I'll try and get something really nice up in it's section over the next couple weeks. -HappyRecusant 07:58, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
Great stuff; and welcome to Wikipedia by the way :> Marasmusine 09:45, 14 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Mod for RPG games

"Mod or modification is a term generally applied to computer games, especially first-person shooters and real-time strategy games." <-- I believe this is misleading because it creates a false idea that mods for RPG games are not "mod".

Additionally, you guys left out Dungeon Siege series. In my opinion, it's a worth mention example of "modable" RPG game because it has a sizable community as well as many projects ranging from partial to total covention.

Actually, the term "mod" originated with Diablo. Doom modifications were simply known as "WAD files". When Varaya & Khan created the first Diablo mod, they had to explain what it was supposed to be and wrote, "think of it as a Doom WAD for Diablo". It's thus far more an RPG than an FPS term. Unfortunately I can't find a source for this.—Graf Bobby 00:15, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] we should include a link to a nude mods site

oh..come on..plz?search google didnt give much...

External links should be kept to a minimum, and only to reliable sites (see WP:EL). It would be better to find some magazine/newspaper articles on the subject and incorporate that into the text. MarašmusïneTalk 07:54, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Renamed Fox'ing to Foxed

There is some evidence on the web for the use of "foxed" in this sense, I even found a definition which I added as reference, but none for "fox'ing", especially not with this strange apostrophe.—Graf Bobby 00:31, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Three uses of "foxing" can currently be seen here. Also, the existence of a verb "foxing" is logically implied by the use of "foxed" in English; anyone who uses "foxed" could explain to you what "foxing" means. --DocumentN 17:32, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Jedi Knight series

From current revision: "The Jedi Knight series has also been highly modded; the modding for this game started with the release of the second official installment, Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast...". Someone actually believes that? Someone versed in the DF or/and the JK/MotS editing scene needs to fix it. Unfortunately, I don't care enough to do it myself. --DocumentN 17:32, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

  • I edited it to properly mention Dark Forces, although I didn't feel like writing a bit about Dark Forces mods themselves.--The MAZZTer 22:34, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Art

In the first decade of the 21st century, computer games have also been used as a digital-art medium. See artistic computer game modification.

I, and many others would argue that computer games ARE art. In fact I recall that a certain game sold well because it WAS art. I would suggest this be rephrased. I'd do it myself but I can't think of anything. Maybe someone else will have better luck. --The MAZZTer 22:34, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

  • Nevermind I came up with something I thought was good... ideally it should go under its own header though, with a "Main article" link and all. --The MAZZTer 22:39, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Legality

Are Mods Legal? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.239.114.51 (talk) 20:58, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:XJ8 and XJ6.JPG

Image:XJ8 and XJ6.JPG is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 07:38, 15 January 2008 (UTC)