Modding

When a video game is released, the developers put out a product that they created with their own idea on how it should be played. After awhile, people will start making mods of the game, if possible, that can alter many aspects of the original video game to increase the replay value. They can change graphics and game play elements. In major mods, people can turn the game almost completely new. By changing elements within a game, modders have taken the developers’ concept and turn it into their own game. The question is modding a really bad thing to do.

In a way, modding is an important part to the gaming industry. Even though modders change aspects of the products, the industry can benefit on what the modders do. Just by modding, it can create interest for the games. From personal experience, there are huge amounts of mods for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. There were basic mods to replace vehicles, weapons, and clothing. There were also add-ons for new game modes or animations like racing to simply smoking a cigar. Lastly, there were some mods that used the engine and graphics of San Andreas and applied to past GTA games like Vice City and GTA III. These mods added more game play and depth to the game. San Andreas has been released for quite awhile but the mods keep on coming.

Modding takes out the full potential of a video game. It does alter the original product but does create renewed interest for a game. Mods bring in more players to the game. I see that modding does not hurt the game industry as well because of those reasons. Plus, I do not essentially lose money from the mods either.

-Vircell Dayap