Modding has had a direct influence on many developers, game studios, genres, and helped shape the course of the video game industry itself. Bethesda Game Studios is no exception to the influence of modding, having provided official mod tools for all of their projects since 2002's Morrowind to their most recent game, Skyrim. This talk will touch on the historical and modern relevance of modding, as well demonstrating the many positive ways in which modding has affected the studio. Attendees will leave with a new perspective on how modding has influenced everything from community building, tools design, team workflow, DLC, and the recent surge of interest in user-generated content.
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11. Overview
● This talk is about:
● The history and significance of modding
● Modern relevance of modding
● How Bethesda is intertwined w/modding
● The hidden benefits modding has provided
12. Modding?
● Mod = User Modification
● Total Conversion, HD Assets, Unofficial Patch,
Tweaks, New Levels, etc…
● In General: Any user content
17. Historical Context
● Mod Scene of 90’s PC era
● Attractive to aspiring creators
● Junction of Cutting Edge and Accessibility
● Brought together vocal/active communities
18. Historical Context
● Similar to the Indie scene of today
● Unity:2010 as Hammer/Unreal Ed:1998
● Attracts vocal, driven creators
52. Mods as Expression
● Enthusiasm can extend beyond the game
● Fans want to express this enthusiasm
● Streaming
● Online discussion & Forums
● Fan-Created Music/Video
● Cosplay, Fan-fiction, etc
● Making & Playing Mods!
53. Mod Support Benefits
● Obvious Benefits:
● Develop online community (social)
● Extends lifespan of games (sales)
54.
55. Mods Can Sell Games
Typical PC/Console Sales Pattern
PC Console
Launch
Sale
Price Drop Bundle
86. Eat Your Own Dog Food
● Temptation for just-good-enough tools
87.
88. Responsibilities:
• Editor Tools
• Data Loading Systems
• ESM Optimization
• Visibility Systems
• Actor Template Systems
Responsibilities:
• Editor Tools
• Interface
• Facial data
• Material properties
89. Eat Your Own Dog Food
● Temptation for just-good-enough tools
● “Will modders use this?” test
● How Intuitive is the workflow?
● What are typical mod use cases?
● How frequently is this feature used?
90. Mod Support Benefits
● Community/Social
● Sales Lifespan
● Versatile Data Format
● DLC Pipeline
● “Alternate Realities”
● Documentation & Tools Design
● Hiring & Training
91. The “Modder Mentality”
● Resourcefulness
● Prioritizing Intent
● Swiss Army Knife Developers
● Professional Finishers