Valve adds paid modding

Warrik · Apr 25, 2015

ohmgee_sl said:
People sure are freaking out about something they dont have to use at all

No. They are freaking out because it opens the door for developers to skimp on game features that modders can eventually handle and the publisher/game developer still reaps financial rewards from the efforts of what amounts to super cheap labor.

Its another open DLC door that increases the cost of what could be considered a far from complete game experience. This is a dangerous and slippery slope.

Not to mention we currently have people uploading paid mods that are NOT the mod authors, subsequently stealing the work of others. Its a giant cluster fuck.

xzi · Apr 25, 2015

Warrik_sl said:
No. They are freaking out because it opens the door for developers to skimp on game features that modders can eventually handle and the publisher/game developer still reaps financial rewards from the efforts of what amounts to super cheap labor.

Skyrim is completely playable without mods. Clunky in some parts, yes, but this notion that HURRRDURR UNFINISHED GAME LET THE MODDERS DO IT is fucking retarded. A (AAA)developer isn't going to release an unfinished game and just say "hey modders are gonna do it", they're gonna do what they always have done and just release week 2 DLC. Smaller indie games, maybe, but the backlash will be something substantial like it ALWAYS has been. Look at any Day Z clone disaster that's been released in the last 3 years and how fast those games fucking tanked because nobody at all was okay with it.

---also stop saying "We have people uploading paid mods that are not the mod authors" because that was only one single example that was already taken care of on the same day that we all seem to be ignoring.

Fuck the game studios for taking such a gigantic cut, but honestly fuck some of the mod community and modders feeling so entitled to other peoples work. I'm never ever going to buy paid mods, but the circlejerk is so immense right now I want to be a fucktard and do it out of spite.

Vorph · Apr 25, 2015

hodj_sl said:
Here's a link to all his comments, I've posted most of them already but just in case anyone is interested. I don't think he's replying much anymore.

overview for GabeNewellBellevue

All I could think of after reading his responses:

iannis · Apr 25, 2015

So Gaben really is Jake from Adventure time!

It's fine. It's fine! It's fiiiiiine.

velk · Apr 25, 2015

xzi_sl said:
Skyrim is completely playable without mods. Clunky in some parts, yes, but this notion that HURRRDURR UNFINISHED GAME LET THE MODDERS DO IT is fucking retarded

That example doesn't help your argument at all, given Skyrim was released before this happened. To flip it around though - is it your estimation that paid modding will have absolutely no effect on the development process for games that intend to take advantage of it ? That there's going to be no change in how fixing various issues or making a good pc UI are weighted vs say, making their modding tools easier to use ?

If so, I admire your faith in humanity, given companies regularly release buggy unfinished messes even without any additional incentives.

hodj · Apr 25, 2015

Vorph_sl said:
All I could think of after reading his responses:

Pretty goddamn close to my opinion as well.

Vandyn · Apr 25, 2015

xzi_sl said:
Skyrim is completely playable without mods. Clunky in some parts, yes, but this notion that HURRRDURR UNFINISHED GAME LET THE MODDERS DO IT is fucking retarded. A (AAA)developer isn't going to release an unfinished game and just say "hey modders are gonna do it", they're gonna do what they always have done and just release week 2 DLC. Smaller indie games, maybe, but the backlash will be something substantial like it ALWAYS has been. Look at any Day Z clone disaster that's been released in the last 3 years and how fast those games fucking tanked because nobody at all was okay with it.

---also stop saying "We have people uploading paid mods that are not the mod authors" because that was only one single example that was already taken care of on the same day that we all seem to be ignoring.

Fuck the game studios for taking such a gigantic cut, but honestly fuck some of the mod community and modders feeling so entitled to other peoples work. I'm never ever going to buy paid mods, but the circlejerk is so immense right now I want to be a fucktard and do it out of spite.

I think this is mostly because it affects the Skyrim modding community which is huge. Chivalry and dungeon defenders got curated workshops back in January and nobody gavea damn. What games were unplayable on day one that absolutely required a mod?

The sky is falling mentality is based on every single modder wanting to be paid. I doubt that. Those who treat it as a hobby will still put their stuff up for donation. Others won't and the really good stuff will be bought and the crap will be ignored.

Mario Speedwagon · Apr 25, 2015

xzi_sl said:
Skyrim is completely playable without mods. Clunky in some parts, yes, but this notion that HURRRDURR UNFINISHED GAME LET THE MODDERS DO IT is fucking retarded. A (AAA)developer isn't going to release an unfinished game and just say "hey modders are gonna do it", they're gonna do what they always have done and just release week 2 DLC. Smaller indie games, maybe, but the backlash will be something substantial like it ALWAYS has been. Look at any Day Z clone disaster that's been released in the last 3 years and how fast those games fucking tanked because nobody at all was okay with it.

---also stop saying "We have people uploading paid mods that are not the mod authors" because that was only one single example that was already taken care of on the same day that we all seem to be ignoring.

Fuck the game studios for taking such a gigantic cut, but honestly fuck some of the mod community and modders feeling so entitled to other peoples work. I'm never ever going to buy paid mods, but the circlejerk is so immense right now I want to be a fucktard and do it out of spite.

Yeah bro go buy some mods "out of spite". Sounds like you got that "being a fucktard" thing totally covered.

Praetorian · Apr 25, 2015

People who do not think this "pay for mods" scheme is a horrible idea are the same idiots that thought "early access" games were also a good idea. It's not a slippery slope, it's a cliff and people are walking off the edge Lemmings style.

ohmgee_sl · Apr 25, 2015

Praetorian_sl said:
People who do not think this "pay for mods" scheme is a horrible idea are the same idiots that thought "early access" games were also a good idea. It's not a slippery slope, it's a cliff and people are walking off the edge Lemmings style.

You act like they are forcing you to pay for mods if a mod costs money you dont have to buy it

Seananigans · Apr 25, 2015

ohmgee_sl said:
You act like they are forcing you to pay for mods if a mod costs money you dont have to buy it

No, he's acting like there are other consequences to this shit-fest than simply offering optional purchases.

Big Phoenix · Apr 25, 2015

ohmgee_sl said:
You act like they are forcing you to pay for mods if a mod costs money you dont have to buy it

The consequences of this are more than you having to decide whether or not to pay for a mod...

Warrik · Apr 25, 2015

ohmgee_sl said:
You act like they are forcing you to pay for mods if a mod costs money you dont have to buy it

You are not seeing the big picture. This isn't about having to pay for some non essential cosmetic bullshit mods for Skyrim. Take the long view and you start to understand how this opens all sorts of bad doors for the consumer.

Palum · Apr 25, 2015

I wanted to really like the game but the $18 for community modpacks to fix bugs just didn't seem worth it. WHY DIDN'T WE LISTEN!

Praetorian · Apr 26, 2015

ohmgee_sl said:
You act like they are forcing you to pay for mods if a mod costs money you dont have to buy it

You'll be forced to buy mods if you want more than the bare minimum experience.

You're going to see bare minimum titles coming out with developers knowing damn well they are going to make money on you wanting more. There will be zero incentive for a developer to try hard when they will let modders do it and take their cut.

Palum · Apr 26, 2015

Oh shit, maybe I can pay for bug fixes from modders first then 3 months later pay for the DLC content pack including official bug fixes... that would be AMAZIIINGGG!!!

Jait · Apr 26, 2015

Haven't read the thread. My thoughts:

I'm being charged for something tomorrow that was free yesterday. I don't buy into any argument that it will encourage more games to allow modding nor will it produce better mods. The community already had this sorted out and now someone found a way to tax these mods while stifling any creativity from the idiot savants who over the years came out of left field with something great.

It's the American Idol Curse. The biggest expense in the pop music industry was always developing talent. The hundreds of bombs, the handful of one hit wonders, and the Madonna's or Britney Spears. Someone found a way to let the consumer do all the work in finding the talent AND they can charge to consumer for doing so. At the end of the day not only did they make a ton of money allowing you to choose your singer, they also know exactly how many albums they will sell, what venues to play, etc..etc.. Even the hick that finished in 43rd place is performing gigs out wherever they got 800k texts from in the South with the same agency as the person who won. It's Idiocracy and we deserve President Mountain Dew Camacho.

Argarth · Apr 26, 2015

Palum_sl said:
I wanted to really like the game but the $18 for community modpacks to fix bugs just didn't seem worth it. WHY DIDN'T WE LISTEN!

Exactly! and by the way, I couldn't care less about Skyrim anymore, it's not even installed.

However, if/when Elder Scrolls VI or Fallout 4 finally land, and they arrive with the same utter disregard for the PC platform that Skyrim did (dog-shit UI, controls, textures, meshes, etc) then I won't be buying either of them at release.

Especially, since purchasing any mod to fix these things will be putting even more money straight back into the hands of Bethesda. I'm not talking about an actualcontentmod like Falskaar. I would happily pay significant $$ for a mod like that, but only if I was able to give all or most of the money directly to the author. Therefore it won'teverbe happening via the Steam workshop.

I think Bethesda has just shot to the very top of my shit list, and Valve is catching up.

Zastlyn · Apr 26, 2015

The way he talks in his emails/responses sound so much like business speak, really corporate. It just seems like he's lost touch. If his general opinion is to follow where the money is, then we should start moving our wallets over to GoG and other such sites.

OneofOne · Apr 26, 2015

I support GoG, and until they start shitting the bed, I'm sticking with them. Gabe has pulled a McQuiad - his ego has gotten the best of him.

Valve adds paid modding

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