View source for Video game modding

{{Short description|Modification of a video game}}
{{Video game industry}}

'''Video game modding''' (short for "modifying") is the process of alteration by players or fans of one or more aspects of a [[video game]],<ref name=Poor>{{cite journal |last1=Poor |first1=Nathaniel |title=Computer game modders' motivations and sense of community: A mixed-methods approach |journal=[[New Media & Society]] |date=24 September 2013 |volume=16 |issue=8 |pages=1249–1267 |doi=10.1177/1461444813504266|s2cid=39280896}}</ref> such as how it looks or behaves, and is a sub-discipline of general ''[[modding]]''. A set of modifications, commonly called a '''''mod''''', may range from small changes and tweaks to complete overhauls, and can extend the replay value and interest of the game.

Modding a game can also be understood as the act of seeking and installing mods to the player's game,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Olson|first1=Cheryl K.|last2=Kutner|first2=Lawrence A.|last3=Warner|first3=Dorothy E.|last4=Almerigi|first4=Jason B.|last5=Baer|first5=Lee|last6=Nicholi|first6=Armand M.|last7=Beresin|first7=Eugene V.|title=Factors Correlated with Violent Video Game Use by Adolescent Boys and Girls|journal=[[Journal of Adolescent Health]]|date=July 2007|volume=41|issue=1|pages=77–83|doi=10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.01.001|pmid=17577537}}</ref> but the act of tweaking pre-existing settings and preferences is not truly modding.<ref name=Poor/>

Mods have arguably become an increasingly important factor in the commercial success of some games, as they add depth to the original work,<ref name="auto3">{{cite journal|last1=Postigo|first1=Hector|title=Of Mods and Modders|journal=[[Games and Culture]]|date=October 2007|volume=2|issue=4|pages=300–313|doi=10.1177/1555412007307955|s2cid=143727901}}</ref> and can be both fun for players playing the mods and as a means of self-expression for mod developers.<ref name=Olli2010/>

People can become fans of specific mods, in addition to fans of the game they are for, such as requesting features and alterations for these mods.<ref name=Olli2010/> In cases where mods are very popular, players might have to clarify that they are referring to the unmodified game when talking about playing a game. The term ''[[Vanilla software|vanilla]]'' is often used to make this distinction. "Vanilla ''[[Minecraft]]''", for example, refers to the original, unmodified game.

As early as the 1980s, video game mods have also been used for the sole purpose of creating art, as opposed to an actual game. This can include recording in-game actions as a film, as well as attempting to reproduce real-life areas inside a game with no regard for game play value. This has led to the rise of [[Video game art|artistic video game modification]], as well as [[machinima]] and the [[demoscene]].

Popular games can have tens of thousands of mods created for them.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dey |first1=Tapajit |last2=Massengill |first2=Jacob Logan |last3=Mockus |first3=Audris |title=Proceedings of the 2016 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play Companion Extended Abstracts |chapter=Analysis of Popularity of Game Mods |date=16 October 2016 |pages=133–139 |doi=10.1145/2968120.2987724 |isbn=978-1-4503-4458-6 |s2cid=12003615}}</ref>

==Development==
[[File:CJ, Kratos and Snow White in Guitar Hero.png|thumb|220px|right|Custom character models such as [[Kratos (God of War)|Kratos]], [[Carl Johnson (Grand Theft Auto)|Carl Johnson]] and [[Snow White (Disney character)|Snow White]] in ''[[Guitar Hero World Tour]]'' are a popular form of modification, allowing fans to come up with their own humorous [[fictional crossover]]s.]]
Many mods are not publicly released to the gaming community by their creators.<ref name=Poor/> Some are very limited and just include some gameplay changes or even a different loading screen, while others are total conversions and can modify content and [[gameplay]] extensively. A few mods become very popular and convert themselves into distinct games, with the rights getting bought and turning into an official modification, or in some cases a stand-alone title that does not require the original game to play.

Technical and social skills are needed to create a mod.<ref name="auto3"/> A group of mod developers may join to form a "mod team".

''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'' (1993) was the first game to have a large modding community.<ref name="auto"/> In exchange for the technical foundation to mod, [[id Software]] insisted that mods should only work with the retail version of the game (not the demo), which was respected by the modders and boosted ''Doom''{{'}}s sales. Another factor in the popularity of [[Doom modding|modding ''Doom'']] was the [[History of the Internet|increasing popularity of the Internet]], which allowed modding communities to form.<ref name=":2">{{cite book |last=Lukkanen |first=Tero |year=2005 |title=Modding scenes: Introduction to user-created content in computer gaming |url=https://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/65431/951-44-6448-6.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128211333/https://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/65431/951-44-6448-6.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |archive-date=28 November 2018 |publisher=[[University of Tampere]] |place=Tampere |series=Hypermedia Laboratory Net Series |volume=9}}</ref> Mods for ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'' (1996) such as "[[Capture the flag|Capture the Flag]]" and "Team Fortress" became standard features in later games in the shooter genre.<ref name="auto"/> While [[first-person shooter]]s are popular games to mod,<ref name=":2" /> the [[virtual pet]] genre with games such as ''[[Petz]]'' (1995) and ''[[Creatures (video game series)|Creatures]]'' (1996) fostered younger modders, particularly girls.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Denton |first1=Abby |title=Artificial life finds a way: the legacy of Creatures |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/12/creatures-fans-mods-artificial-life/ |access-date=27 November 2018 |work=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |date=12 January 2018}}</ref>

A recurring trend with video game mods is the creation of user-made skins and/or character models replacing the default ones that came with the game, the most popular of which are [[Internet meme|meme]] mods such as those of [[Carl Johnson (Grand Theft Auto)|Carl Johnson]] from ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' and [[Thomas the Tank Engine]],<ref name="Mathur">{{Cite web |last=Mathur |first=Moulik |date=2023-09-08 |title=Armored Core 6 Modders Thought It Was a Great Idea to Add Thomas the Tank Engine after CJ from GTA |url=https://in.ign.com/armored-core-vi-fires-of-rubicon/193571/news/armored-core-6-modders-thought-it-was-a-great-idea-to-add-thomas-the-tank-engine-after-cj-from-gta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324131802/https://in.ign.com/armored-core-vi-fires-of-rubicon/193571/news/armored-core-6-modders-thought-it-was-a-great-idea-to-add-thomas-the-tank-engine-after-cj-from-gta |archive-date=2024-03-24 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=IGN India |language=en-in}}</ref> though at least one modder received legal action from ''Thomas'' franchise rights owner [[Mattel]] for their unauthorised use of the ''Thomas the Tank Engine'' intellectual property in a ''[[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim]]'' mod.<ref name="Hernandez">{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=2019-05-15 |title=Thomas the Tank engine mod got Skyrim player in legal trouble |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/15/18625132/skyrim-mod-thomas-the-tank-engine-fallout-nexus-mattel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712035801/https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/15/18625132/skyrim-mod-thomas-the-tank-engine-fallout-nexus-mattel |archive-date=2024-07-12 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Tools===
Mod-making tools are a variety of construction sets for creating mods for a game. Early commercial mod-making tools were the ''[[Boulder Dash Construction Kit]]'' (1986) and ''[[The Bard's Tale Construction Set]]'' (1991), which allowed users to create game designs in those series. Much more successful among early mod-making tools was the 1992 ''[[Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures]]'' from [[Strategic Simulations, Inc.]], which allowed users to construct games based on the game world that was launched with the ''[[Pool of Radiance]]'' game.

By the mid-1990s, modding tools were commonly offered with PC games,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Burger-Helmchen |first1=Thierry|last2=Cohendet|first2=Patrick|title=User Communities and Social Software in the Video Game Industry |journal=Long Range Planning|date=October 2011|volume=44|issue=5–6|pages=317–343|doi=10.1016/j.lrp.2011.09.003}}</ref> and by the early 2000s, a game that launched with no modding tools was considered more worthy of note in a review than one that did.<ref name="auto2">{{cite journal |last1=Coleman |first1=Sarah |last2=Dyer-Witheford |first2=Nick |title=Playing on the digital commons: collectivities, capital and contestation in videogame culture |journal=[[Media, Culture & Society]] |date=2007 |volume=29 |issue=6 |pages=934–953 |doi=10.1177/0163443707081700|s2cid=154832086}}</ref> [[Maxis]] released the modding tools for ''[[The Sims]]'' (2000) before the game itself, resulting in a suite of fan-created mods being available at launch.<ref name=":2" /> The advertising campaign for ''[[Neverwinter Nights (2002 video game)|Neverwinter Nights]]'' (2002) focused on the included [[Aurora toolset]].<ref name=":2" /> The [[Warcraft III World Editor|''World Editor'']] for ''[[Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos|Warcraft III]]'' (2002) allowed a variety of custom scenarios or maps to be created for the game, such as a number of [[tower defense]] and [[multiplayer online battle arena]] maps, the most notable of which was ''[[Defense of the Ancients]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Walbridge|first=Michael|title=Analysis: Defense of the Ancients - An Underground Revolution|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/109814/Analysis_Defense_of_the_Ancients__An_Underground_Revolution.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510135818/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/109814/Analysis_Defense_of_the_Ancients__An_Underground_Revolution.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 10, 2012|access-date=2020-09-07|website=www.gamasutra.com|date=12 June 2008|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=How Warcraft 3's modding community paved the way for League of Legends and Dota 2|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/warcraft-iii/warcraft-3-mods-dota-league-of-legends|access-date=2020-09-06|website=PCGamesN|date=26 March 2018 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The provision of tools is still seen as the most practical way that a company can signal to fans that its game is open for modding.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Poretski |first1=Lev |last2=Arazy |first2=Ofer |title=Proceedings of the 2017 ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing |chapter=Placing Value on Community Co-creations: A Study of a Video Game 'Modding' Community |date=25 February 2017 |pages=480–491 |doi=10.1145/2998181.2998301 |publisher=ACM|isbn=978-1-4503-4335-0 |s2cid=18600910}}</ref> Fans may also use and create [[open-source software]] tools for modding games.<ref name="auto4">{{cite book |last1=Scacchi |first1=Walt |series=IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology |title=Open Source Systems: Grounding Research |chapter=Modding as an Open Source Approach to Extending Computer Game Systems |volume=365 |date=2011 |pages=62–74 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-24418-6_5 |language=en|isbn=978-3-642-24417-9|s2cid=8934352 }}</ref> [[Generative AI]] is expected to make developing for hobby projects easier,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lumb |first1=David |title=Generative AI Is Coming for Video Games. Here's How It Could Change Gaming |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/generative-ai-is-coming-for-video-games-heres-how-it-could-change-gaming/ |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=[[CNET]] |date=4 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref> particularly with assets such as textures and voice acting (which traditionally requires hiring capable voice actors, thereby presenting a [[barrier to entry]] for amateur mod teams), though this also led to [[Ethics of artificial intelligence|ethical issues]] over its use especially with voice actors who expressed concern regarding their characters' voices being cloned without their consent.<ref name="Stokes">{{Cite web |last=Stokes |first=Ian |date=2021-04-20 |title=Witcher 3 mod uses AI to create new voice lines without Geralt's original voice actor |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/witcher-3-mod-uses-ai-to-create-new-voice-lines-without-geralts-original-voice-actor/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Dinsdale">{{Cite web |last=Dinsdale |first=Ryan |date=2023-12-22 |title=The Witcher Voice Actor Doug Cockle Calls AI 'Inevitable' but 'Dangerous' |url=https://za.ign.com/the-witcher-3/188055/news/the-witcher-voice-actor-doug-cockle-calls-ai-inevitable-but-dangerous |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=IGN Africa |language=en-za}}</ref>

There are also free content delivery tools available that make playing mods easier. They help manage downloads, updates, and mod installation in order to allow people who are less technically literate to play. [[Steam (service)|Steam's]] "[[Steam Workshop|Workshop]]" service, for example, allows a user to easily download and install mods in supported games.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Letzter |first1=Rafi |title=Online communities are changing video games to make them better, weirder, and much more wonderful |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/video-game-modding-2015-7?r=US&IR=T |access-date=22 February 2019 |work=Business Insider Australia |date=21 July 2015 |language=en |archive-date=22 February 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222152029/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/video-game-modding-2015-7?r=US&IR=T }}</ref>

===Game support for modifications===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Audi Vice City.JPG|thumb|250px|An example of game modification in ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'': a 2005 Audi A8L W12 car. Real-life makes and models are not included in the game but can be created and added by modders.]] -->
The potential for end-user change in game varies greatly, though it can have little correlation with the number and quality of mods made for a game.

In general the most modification-friendly games will define gameplay variables in text or other non proprietary format files<ref name=Sihvonen2011p37>{{cite book |last1=Sihvonen |first1=Tania |title=Players Unleashed!: Modding The Sims and the Culture of Gaming |pages=37–86 |date=2011 |publisher=[[Amsterdam University Press]] |location=Amsterdam |jstor=j.ctt46mt37.5 |chapter=Cultural and Commercial Appropriation|isbn=978-90-8964-201-1}}</ref> (for instance in the ''[[Civilization (video game)|Civilization]]'' series one could alter the movement rate along roads and many other factors), and have graphics of a standard format such as [[bitmap]]s.<ref name=Sihvonen2011p37/> Publishers can also determine mod-friendliness in the way important source files are available, such as ''Doom'' having its art assets separate from the main program, which allows them to be shared and modified.<ref name=":2" />

Games have varying support from their publishers for modifications, but often require expensive professional software to make. One such example is ''[[Homeworld 2]]'' (2003), which requires the program [[Maya (software)|Maya]] to build new in-game objects. However, there are free versions of Maya and other advanced modeling software available. There are also free and even [[open-source software|open-source]] modeling programs (such as [[Blender (software)|Blender]]) that can be used as well.

For advanced mods such as ''[[Desert Combat]]'' that are total conversions, complicated modeling and texturing software are required to make original content. Advanced mods can rival the complexity and work of making the original game content (short of the engine itself), rendering the differences in ease of modding small in comparison to the total amount of work required. Having an engine that is for example easy to import models to, is of little help when doing research, modeling, and making a photorealistic texture for a game item. As a result, other game characteristics such as its popularity and capabilities have a dominating effect on the number of mods created for the game by users.

A game that allows modding is said to be "moddable". ''[[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim]]'' (2011) as well as its predecessors, ''[[The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind|Morrowind]]'' (2002) and ''[[The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion|Oblivion]]'' (2006), are examples of highly moddable games, with an official editor available for download from the developer. ''[[Daggerfall]]'' (1996) was much less moddable, but some people released their own modifications nevertheless. Some modifications such as ''Gunslingers Academy'' for ''[[Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy]]'' have deliberately made the game more moddable by adding in scripting support or externalizing underlying code. ''[[Supreme Commander (video game)|Supreme Commander]]'' (2007) set out to be the 'most customisable game ever' and as such included a mod manager which allowed for modular modding, having several mods on at once.

The question as to how much the game industry should embrace the players' contribution in creating new material for the game or mod-communities as part of their structure within the game is hotly contested. Some software companies openly accept and even encourage such communities, with some games even having the capacity for modifiability as a contributing factor to the games' success. Others though have chosen to enclose their games in heavily policed copyright or Intellectual Property regimes (IPR) and close down sites that they see as infringing their ownership of a game, an action which can have an equally detrimental affect on the sales of the game(s) in question.<ref>Flew, Terry and Humphreys, Sal (2005) "Games: Technology, Industry, Culture" in Terry Flew, New Media: an introduction (second edition), Oxford University Press, South Melbourne 101-114.</ref>

===Portability issues===
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2011}}
For cross-platform games, mods written for the Windows version have not always been compatible with the Mac OS X and/or [[Linux]] ports of the game. In large part, this is due to the publisher's concern with prioritizing the porting of the primary game itself, when allocating resources for fixing the porting of mod-specific functions may not be cost-effective for the smaller market share of alternate platforms. For example, ''[[Battlefield 1942]]'', ported by [[Aspyr]] for Mac OS X, had file access issues specific to mods until the 1.61D patch. ''[[Unreal Tournament 2004]]'' does not have a working community mods menu for the Mac OS X version and, until the 3369 patch, had graphics incompatibilities with several mods such as ''Red Orchestra'' and ''Metaball''.

Also, mods compiled into platform-specific libraries, such as those of ''[[Doom 3]]'', are often only built for the Windows platform, leading to a lack of cross-platform compatibility even when the underlying game is highly portable. In the same line of reasoning, mod development tools are often available only on the Windows platform. [[id Software]]'s Doom 3 Radiant tool and [[Epic Games]]' [[UnrealEd]] are examples of this.

Mod teams that lack either the resources or know-how to develop their mods for alternate platforms sometimes outsource their code and art assets to individuals or groups who are able to port the mod.

The mod specialist site for Macs, Macologist, has created GUI launchers and installers for many UT2004 mods, as well as solving cross-platform conversion issues for mods for other games.

===Unforeseen consequences or benefits of modding===
In January 2005, it was reported that in ''[[The Sims 2]]'' (2004) modifications that changed item and game behavior were unexpectedly being transferred to other players through the official website's ''exchange'' feature, leading to changed game behavior without advance warning.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Will |title=Supernatural powers become contagious in PC game |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6857-supernatural-powers-become-contagious-in-pc-game/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=New Scientist |language=en-US |date=7 January 2005}}</ref>

After the [[Hot Coffee (minigame)|"Hot Coffee" mod incident]], there were calls from the industry to better control modders.<ref name="auto"/>  There is concern about mods that show [[nudity]], and [[Bethesda Softworks|Bethesda]] does not allow mods with such content to be uploaded on its website. Nexus allows for mods which allow nudity as long as nudity is not present in the preview image. One of the most popular mods of this type is Caliente's Beautiful Bodies Edition, which allows for body modification in Bethesda's ''Skyrim'' and ''[[Fallout 4]]'', and has been downloaded at least 8.2 million times.<ref name="auto8">{{cite journal |last1=Kretzschmar |first1=Mark |last2=Stanfill |first2=Mel |title=Mods as Lightning Rods |journal=[[Social & Legal Studies]] |date=17 July 2018 |page=096466391878722 |doi=10.1177/0964663918787221|s2cid=149824659}}</ref>

In 2015, members from the ''Grand Theft Auto'' fan site GTAForums reported instances of malware being circulated through modifications written for ''Grand Theft Auto V''.<ref name="Seppala">{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/05/15/gtav-pc-mods-malware/|title=A few 'GTA V' mods are installing malware on PCs|last=Seppala|first=Timothy|date=15 May 2015|work=[[Engadget]]|access-date=16 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rad |first=Chloi |date=2015-05-14 |title=Grand Theft Auto 5 Mods 'Angry Planes' and 'NoClip' Infected With Virus |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/14/grand-theft-auto-5-mods-angry-planes-and-noclip-infected-with-virus |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref> Two of the modifications in question, namely "Angry Planes" and "No Clip", came with code for loading a [[Remote administration software|remote access tool]], and a keylogger for stealing [[Facebook]] and [[Steam (service)|Steam]] account credentials.<ref name="Chalk">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/gta-5-mods-angry-planes-and-no-clip-contain-malware/|title=GTA 5 mods Angry Planes and No Clip contain malware |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=14 May 2015 |work=[[PC Gamer]]|access-date=16 May 2015}}</ref> The modifications in question have since been taken out of circulation, with affected players being advised to change their social media account passwords and disinfect their computers.

The National Crime Agency of the UK has indicated that modding can act as a pathway to cybercrime for some people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/6-pathways-into-cyber-crime-1/file|title=Pathways Into Cyber Crime|author=National Crime Agency|year=2017}}</ref>

===Motivations of modders===
The [[Internet]] provides an inexpensive medium to promote and distribute [[user created content]] like mods, an aspect commonly known as [[Web 2.0]]. Video game modding was described as remixing of games and can be therefore seen as part of the [[remix culture]] as described by [[Lawrence Lessig]],<ref name="auto6">{{cite journal |last1=Scacchi |first1=Walt |title=Computer game mods, modders, modding, and the mod scene |journal=First Monday |date=3 May 2010 |volume=15 |issue=5 |doi=10.5210/fm.v15i5.2965|doi-access=free}}</ref> or as a successor to the playful [[hacker culture]] that produced the first video games.<ref name="auto2"/>

Mods can be both useful to players and a means of self-expression.<ref name=Olli2010>{{cite journal |last1=Sotamaa |first1=Olli |title=When the Game Is Not Enough: Motivations and Practices Among Computer Game Modding Culture |journal=[[Games and Culture]] |date=July 2010 |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=239–255 |doi=10.1177/1555412009359765|s2cid=59364177}}</ref> Three motivations have been identified by Olli Sotamaa for fans to create mods: to patch the game, to express themselves, and to get a foot in the door of the [[video game industry]].<ref name=Olli2010/> It has been noted that these motivations encompass [[Motivation#Types of motivation|intrinsic and extrinsic motivations]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thiel |first1=Sarah-Kristin |last2=Lyle |first2=Peter |title=Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Communities & Technologies - Transforming Communities |chapter=Malleable Games - A Literature Review on Communities of Game Modders |date=3 June 2019 |pages=198–209 |doi=10.1145/3328320.3328393|isbn=978-1-4503-7162-9 |s2cid=150367691 |chapter-url=https://pure.au.dk/ws/files/177771828/C_T19_IdentifyingGameModdingCommunities_cr.pdf}}</ref> Poor suggests becoming a professional is not a major motivation of modders, noting that they tend to have a strong sense of community, and that older modders, who may already have established careers, are less motivated by the possibility of becoming professional than younger modders.<ref name=Poor/>

==History==
One of the first games that supported user modifications as packaged was ''[[Lode Runner]]'' (1983), which included a [[level editor]] which users could make and save levels to share with other players on the same computer.<ref name="routledge chp31">{{cite book | title = The Routledge Companion to Video Game Studies | editor-first = Bernard | editor-last = Perron | publisher = [[Taylor & Francis]] | date = 2014 | isbn = 978-1-136-29050-3 | chapter = Chapter 31: Shooting | first = Gerald | last = Voorhees | pages=251–258}}</ref>

[[id Software]]'s ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]'' (1992), one of the earliest [[first-person shooters]], was released in a form that did not intend for users to be able to mod the game, but users were able to find ways to manipulate the game's files after scouring them for data locations to create their own levels and graphics. Because of this, when id developed their next game, ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'', they purposely separated the game engine and other aspects related to the game's operation from the game levels and graphics, placing these into a WAD file, "WAD" short for "Where's All the Data?" In this manner, modders only needed to change the WAD file to mod the game, launching numerous [[Doom modding|''Doom'' modding efforts]].<ref name="routledge chp31"/> id's approach of separating data file from execution files became essential for modding of video games in the future.<ref name="routledge chp31"/>

==Official status of mods==
Mods can extend the shelf life of games, such as ''[[Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life]]'' (1998), which increased its sales figures over the first three years of its release.  According to the director of marketing at Valve, a typical shelf-life for a game would be 12 to 18 months, even if it was a "mega-hit".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hyman |first1=Paul |title=Video game companies encourage 'modders' |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000484956 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506004712/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000484956 |archive-date=May 6, 2008 |date=April 9, 2004}}</ref> In early 2012, the ''[[DayZ (mod)|DayZ]]'' modification for ''[[ARMA 2]]'' was released and caused a massive increase in sales for the three-year-old game, putting it in the top spot for online game sales for a number of months and selling over 300,000 units for the game.<ref name="CinemaBlend_1Jul12">{{cite news|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/DayZ-Helps-Arma-2-Rack-Up-More-Than-300-000-Sales-44161.html|title=DayZ Helps Arma 2 Rack Up More Than 300,000 In Sales|publisher=Cinema Blend|last=Usher |first=William|date=1 July 2012|access-date=2012-07-03}}</ref> In some cases, modders who are against [[Copyright infringement|piracy]] have created mods that enforce the use of a legal game copy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Orland|first=Kyle|date=May 11, 2017|title=Pirates upset that popular graphics mod won't work for them|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/05/popular-mod-re-adds-piracy-protection-to-cracked-game/|work=[[Ars Technica]]|access-date=November 27, 2018}}</ref>

''Half-Life'' had a Valve-run annual mod expo which began in 1999, showcasing the new games built using the [[GoldSrc|''Half-Life'' engine]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Trey |title=Half-Life Mod Expo mods announced |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/half-life-mod-expo-mods-announced/1100-2875097/ |access-date=27 November 2018 |work=[[GameSpot]] |date=17 May 2006}}</ref>

Due to the increasing popularity and quality of modding, some developers, such as [[Firaxis]], have included [[fan-made]] mods in official releases of expansion packs. A similar case is that of [[Valve Corporation|Valve]], when they hired ''[[Defense of the Ancients]]'' lead designer [[IceFrog]] in developing ''[[Dota 2]]''.

For example, a number of fan-made maps, scenarios and mods, such as the "Best of the Net" collection and "Double Your Pleasure", were included in the ''Civilization II'' expansion ''Fantastic Worlds'' and the ''Civilization III'' expansion ''[[Civilization III: Play the World|Play the World]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reviews.cnet.com/pc-games/civilization-iii-play-the/4505-9696_7-30742336.html|title=Civilization III: Play the World Overview|website=CNET|access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref> and in the ''Civilization IV'' expansion ''[[Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword|Beyond the Sword]]'', two existing mods, ''[[Rhye's and Fall of Civilization]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rhye.civfanatics.net/pages/civ4-RFC-description.php|title=Sid Meier's Civilization Mods by Rhye - Rhye's and Fall of Civilization|website=rhye.civfanatics.net|access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref> and ''Fall from Heaven'' were included with the expansion (the latter through a spin-off called ''Age of Ice''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kael.civfanatics.net/Ice.shtml|title=Fall from Heaven|website=kael.civfanatics.net|access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref>). [[Sid Meier]], who had opposed supporting mods in ''Civilization II'', said that "the strength of the modding community is ... the very reason the series survived".<ref name="jahromi20210922">{{Cite magazine |last=Jahromi |first=Neima |date=2021-09-22 |title=Sid Meier and the Meaning of "Civilization" |url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/sid-meier-and-the-meaning-of-civilization |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |access-date=2021-09-23}}</ref>

===Legal status of mods===
{{see also|Copyright and video games}}
Copyright law, as it relates to video games and mod packs, is an evolving and largely unsettled legal issue. The legal uncertainty revolves around which party is legally the 'copyright owner' of the mods within the pack—the company that produced the game, the end-user that created the compilation, or the creators of the individual mods.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.jipel.law.nyu.edu/2016/02/the-ip-implications-of-video-game-mods/|title=The IP Implications of Video Game Mods - JIPEL Blog|website=blog.jipel.law.nyu.edu|date=17 October 2016 |access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref> Video games are protected by copyright law as a "literary work".<ref name="auto1">{{cite journal |last1=Kow |first1=Yong Ming |last2=Nardi |first2=Bonnie |title=Who owns the mods? |journal=First Monday |date=3 May 2010 |volume=15 |issue=5 |doi=10.5210/fm.v15i5.2971 |language=en |doi-access= free}}</ref> In the United States context, the mechanisms of how the modder gets into the code of the game to mod it may violate the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] or the [[Computer Fraud and Abuse Act]] or even simply the [[end-user license agreement]] (EULA).<ref name="auto8"/> Most EULAs forbid modders from selling their mods.<ref name="auto5">{{cite journal |last1=Joseph |first1=Daniel James |title=The Discourse of Digital Dispossession: Paid Modifications and Community Crisis on Steam |journal=Games and Culture |volume=13 |issue=7 |date=27 February 2018 |pages=690–707 |doi=10.1177/1555412018756488|s2cid=149293423 |url=https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/625212/3/Joseph%20-%20The%20Discourse%20of%20Digital%20Dispossession%20.pdf}}</ref> A particular concern of companies is the use of copyrighted material by another company in mods, such as a ''Quake'' "[[Aliens vs. Predator]]" mod, which was legally contested by 20th Century Fox.<ref name="auto2"/>  Some companies, such as [[Nintendo]], discourage modding through aggressive litigation, strict EULAs and Terms and Conditions for their property.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=C. A. |title=Video game modding in the U.S. intellectual property law: Controversial issues and gaps |journal=Digital Law Journal |date=30 December 2022 |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=8–31 |doi=10.38044/2686-9136-2022-3-4-8-31|s2cid=255586687|doi-access=free }}</ref> Mods themselves may introduce other copyrighted elements into video games which further complicate matters.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}

Some regard the fan use of copyrighted material in mods to be part of a "[[moral economy]]", and develop norms about the reuse of this material,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Postigo|first1=H.|title=Video Game Appropriation through Modifications: Attitudes Concerning Intellectual Property among Modders and Fans|journal=[[Convergence (journal)|Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies]]|date=1 February 2008|volume=14|issue=1|pages=59–74|doi=10.1177/1354856507084419|s2cid=154247452}}</ref> often settling on a system of shared ownership, where mods and code are freely shared with the common good in mind.<ref name="auto1"/> It has been argued that total conversion mods may be covered in the [[United States]] under the concept of [[fair use]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=SPARE THE MOD: IN SUPPORT OF TOTAL-CONVERSION MODIFIED VIDEO GAMES |journal=[[Harvard Law Review]] |date=January 2012 |volume=125 |issue=3 |pages=789–810 |url=https://harvardlawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/vol125_spare_the_mod.pdf |access-date=2018-07-25 |archive-date=2016-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202024332/http://harvardlawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/vol125_spare_the_mod.pdf }}</ref>

Modding can be compared with the [[open-source-software movement]] and [[open-source video game]] development.<ref name="auto4"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/brief-overview-of-the-differences-and-similarities-between-open-source-software-development-and-co-creation-in-digital-games-|title=Brief overview of the differences and similarities between open source software development and co-creation in digital games|first=Jedrzej|last=Czarnota|website=[[Gamasutra]]|date=2013-08-07|access-date=2023-03-11}}</ref>

In 2006, part of the reason that ''[[Second Life]]'' generated interest was how user-generated content (mods) was central to the experience, and how the [[intellectual property]] rights remained with the creator-player. This was developed by the publisher into a market.<ref>{{cite book |last1=van der Graaf |first1=Shenja |title=ComMODify |chapter=Designing for Mod Development |pages=1–2 |date=2018 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan, Cham |isbn=978-3-319-61499-1 |language=en-gb|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-61500-4}}</ref>

===Controversy surrounding paid mods===
{{update section|date=July 2024}}
In April 2015, [[Valve Corporation|Valve]] implemented a "paid mod" feature onto [[Steam (service)|Steam]]; the first game to implement this feature was ''[[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-04/24/steam-workshop-paid-mods | title = Skyrim is first game to allow paid game mods on Steam | first = Matt | last = Kamen | date = 24 April 2015 | access-date = May 4, 2015 | work = [[Wired.com]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150505192753/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-04/24/steam-workshop-paid-mods | archive-date = 5 May 2015}}</ref> The move resulted in a swift backlash from the modding community, and after an enormous influx of complaints of overpriced mods, content that had been published without its creator's consent, and concerns over mods that contained third-party copyrighted content (i.e., material that neither Valve nor the mod creator owned),{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} Valve discontinued the 'paid mod' feature entirely and agreed to refund those that spent money to purchase a mod.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.pcgamer.com/valve-has-removed-paid-mods-functionality-from-steam-workshop/ | title = Valve has removed paid mods functionality from Steam Workshop | first = Shaun | last = Prescott | date = April 27, 2015 | access-date = May 4, 2015 | work = [[PC Gamer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://steamcommunity.com/games/SteamWorkshop/announcements/detail/208632365253244218 | title = Removing Payment Feature From Skyrim Workshop | date = April 28, 2015 | access-date = May 4, 2015 | work = [[Steam (service)|Steam]]}}</ref>  Other concerns identified included that being able to mod the game was a reason why players bought the game on PC in the first place, a worry that [[newbie]] modders would not be able to [[stand on the shoulders of giants]] by modding pre-existing mods, and that mod teams would become unworkable.<ref name="auto5"/>  The removal of the system itself was also criticized.<ref>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029183110/https://steamed.kotaku.com/some-people-are-pissed-that-skyrims-paid-mods-are-gone-1700837400 | archive-date=2018-10-29 | url= http://steamed.kotaku.com/some-people-are-pissed-that-skyrims-paid-mods-are-gone-1700837400 | title = Some People Are Pissed That Skyrim's Paid Mods Are Gone | first = Nathan | last = Grayson | date = April 28, 2015 | access-date = May 4, 2015 | work = [[Kotaku]]}}</ref>

==Types==
===Total conversion===<!-- This section is linked from [[First-person shooter]] -->
{{main|List of video games derived from mods}}
A ''total conversion'' is a mod of an existing game that replaces virtually all of the artistic assets in the original game, and sometimes core aspects of gameplay.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/galleryoftheday/13909-8-of-the-Best-Total-Conversion-Mods-of-All-Time|title=8 of the Coolest Total Conversion Mods Ever Made|work=The Escapist|access-date=2017-07-19|archive-date=2020-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121205708/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/galleryoftheday/13909-8-of-the-Best-Total-Conversion-Mods-of-All-Time}}</ref> Total conversions can result in a completely different [[video game genres|genre]] from the original.

The ''Half-Life'' modding community splintered across the different total conversions available, often modding for a particular total conversion rather than ''Half-Life'' in general.<ref name=":2" /> Examples of famous total conversions include ''[[Counter-Strike (video game)|Counter-Strike]]'' (1999), whose developers were hired by [[Valve Corporation|Valve]] to turn it into a commercial product,<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/10/best-total-conversion-mods/|title=Best total conversion mods|last=Donnelly|first=Joe|date=2017-02-10|journal=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-19}}</ref> ''[[Defense of the Ancients]]'' (2003), which was the first [[Multiplayer online battle arena|MOBA]] to have sponsored tournaments,<ref name=":0" /> and ''[[Garry's Mod]]'' (2006), for which fans created thousands of game modes over its decade-long development.<ref name=":1" />

Many popular total conversions are later turned into standalone games, replacing any remaining original assets to allow for commercial sale without [[copyright infringement]]. Some of these mods are even approved for sale despite using the [[Intellectual property|IP]] of the original game, such as ''[[Black Mesa (video game)|Black Mesa]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-20-valve-gives-black-mesa-permission-to-be-a-commercial-product|title=Valve gives Black Mesa permission to be a commercial product|last=Matulef|first=Jeffrey|date=2013-11-20|website=Eurogamer|language=en-UK|access-date=2017-07-19}}</ref>

===Overhaul===
An ''overhaul'' mod significantly changes an entire game's graphics and gameplay, usually with the intent to improve on the original, but not going as far as being a completely different experience. This can also include adding revised dialog and music.

Examples of overhaul mods include ''[[Deus Ex (video game)|Deus Ex]]: Revision'', which was given permission from publisher [[Square Enix]] to release on [[Steam (service)|Steam]] alongside the original game,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/13/9521011/deus-ex-revision-mod-release-steam|title=A massive overhaul for the original Deus Ex is now available on Steam|last=Robertson|first=Adi|date=2015-10-13|website=The Verge|access-date=2017-07-19}}</ref> and ''[[Grand Theft Auto V|GTA 5]] Redux'', which not only improves the original game's textures, but also adds a new weather system, visual effects, and adjusts the wanted system, weapons, and vehicle handling.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/that-gorgeous-gta-5-graphics-overhaul-mod-is-final/1100-6443721/|title=That Gorgeous GTA 5 Graphics Overhaul Mod Is Finally Available|last=Pereira|first=Chris|date=2016-09-20|website=GameSpot|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-19}}</ref>

===Randomizer===
Randomizers are a type of user mod, typically atop games of the 8-bit and 16-bit generations, that keep the fundamental gameplay but randomize elements of the game to make it more of a challenge. Randomizers came out of the [[speedrunning]] community which had exhausted the challenge of racing through the game with one of the earliest being for ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' around 2015. In the ''Zelda'' randomizer, the mod moved the location of the dungeons, the layout of these dungeons, and the location of enemies in a random but procedurally generated manner (similar to [[roguelikes]]) based on a numerical seed, so that speedrunners would have to overcome these new changes.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/what-happens-when-you-randomize-the-legend-of-zelda-1758777271 | title = What Happens When You Randomize The Legend Of Zelda | first = John | last = Harris | date = February 2, 2016 | access-date = December 7, 2019 | work = [[Kotaku]]}}</ref> Their popularity grew as randomizer playthroughs were popular with streaming media.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/12/how-randomizers-are-breathing-new-life-into-old-games/ | title = How "randomizers" are breathing new life into old games | first = Scott | last = White | date = December 3, 2019 | access-date = December 7, 2019 | work = [[Ars Technica]]}}</ref> Some games have offered official randomizer modes in the game itself, such as ''[[Cassette Beasts]]'' in 2023,<ref name="RPGFan review">{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Des |date=2023-04-26 |title=''Cassette Beasts'' Review |url=https://www.rpgfan.com/review/cassette-beasts/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=RPG Fan |language=en-US}}</ref> or in [[downloadable content]], including ''[[Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night]]'' in 2020,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/bloodstained-zangetsu-randomizer-mode-release-news|title=Bloodstained Adds a New Character and Randomizer Mode, But Switch Players Have to Wait|last=Van Allen|first=Eric|date=4 May 2020|work=US Gamer|access-date=25 September 2021|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925180150/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/bloodstained-zangetsu-randomizer-mode-release-news}}</ref> and ''[[Axiom Verge]]'' in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/axiom-verge-just-got-a-surprise-randomizer-mode/|last=Prescott|first=Shaun|date=14 January 2021|work=PC Gamer|title=Axiom Verge just got a surprise Randomizer mode}}</ref>

===Add-on===
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2011}}
An ''add-on'' or ''addon'' is a typically small mod which adds to the original content of a specific game. In most cases, an add-on will add one particular element to a game, such as a new weapon in a shooting game, a new unit or map in a strategy game, a new vehicle or track in a racing game, items in a game like ''[[Minecraft]]'' or ''[[Terraria]]'', or additional content in simulation games (such as new pilotable airplanes, e.g., the [[Airbus A330]] or [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]]). An example of a mod that adds functionality to augment or enhance a players experience is ComputerCraft, a [[Minecraft modding|Minecraft mod]] that adds programmable computers and robots to allow the player to automate tasks in-game. This can be accomplished without changing any of the original game's existing content. Many games are flexible and allow this, however that is not always the case. Some add-ons occasionally have to replace in-game content, due to the nature of a peculiar game engine. It may be the case, for example, that in a game which does not give a player the option to choose their character, modders wishing to add another player model will simply have to overwrite the old one. A famous example of this type of mod can be found for the ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' series wherein modders may use downloadable tools to replace content (such as models) in the game's directory. The ''[[Left 4 Dead]]'' series can also be modded with individual add-ons which are stored in a {{Not a typo|.VPK}} format, so that a player may choose to activate a given mod or not.

===Unofficial patch===
An ''[[unofficial patch]]'' can be a mod of an existing game that fixes [[Software bug|bugs]] not fixed by an official patch or that unlocks content present in the released game's files but is inaccessible in official gameplay. Such patches are usually created by members of the game's fan base when the original developer is unwilling or unable to supply the functionality officially. ''[[Jazz Jackrabbit 2]]'' has an unofficial patch which adds and fixes many of its features.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showthread.php?t=19489|access-date=15 March 2014 |title=JJ2+ (last updated October 30, 2013) |date=2013-11-01}}</ref> One effect of this type of mod is that hidden or partially deleted content can be revealed. An example is the [[Hot Coffee mod|''Hot Coffee'' mod]] for ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'', which unlocks a sexually explicit minigame.<ref name="auto">{{cite journal|last1=Sotamaa|first1=Olli|title=On modder labour, commodification of play, and mod competitions|journal=[[First Monday (journal)|First Monday]]|date=3 September 2007|volume=12|issue=9|doi=10.5210/fm.v12i9.2006|doi-access=free}}</ref> The [[ESRB]] changed the rating of ''GTA:SA'' from ''Mature'' (M) to ''Adults Only'' (AO).<ref name="RerateToAORating">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/news/6129500.html | title = San Andreas rated AO, Take-Two suspends production | work = [[GameSpot]] | publisher=[[CNET Networks]] | access-date = July 1, 2006 | date = 2005-12-14}}</ref> In the fourth quarter of 2005, Rockstar released a "clean" version of the game with the "Hot Coffee" scenes removed (''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' 1.01), allowing the rating of the game to be reverted to its original ''Mature'' rating.<ref name="RevertToMRating">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6152490.html |title=FTC Hot Coffee ruling scalds, but doesn't burn Take-Two |work=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=CNET Networks |access-date=July 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708231006/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6152490.html |archive-date=July 8, 2006 |date=2006-06-08}}</ref> In May 2006, a similar event occurred with ''[[Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion]]''.<ref name="auto"/>

===Art mod===
An ''art mod'' is a mod that is created for artistic effect. Art mods are most frequently associated with [[video game art]]. However, modified games that retain their playability and are subject to more extensive mods (i.e. closer to total conversions) may also be classified as [[art game]]s.<ref name=cannon>Cannon, Rebecca. "Meltdown" from ''Videogames and Art'' (Clarke, Andy and Grethe Mitchell, eds.). Bristol: Intellect Books. Pp.40-42. 2007. {{ISBN|978-1-84150-142-0}}</ref> Art mods are usually designed to subvert the original game experience. One example is the ''Velvet-Strike'' mod for ''Counter Strike'' in which the players spray-paint anti-violence messages in multiplayer games as a form of [[performance art]]. Another example is Robert Nideffer's ''Tomb Raider I and II'' patches which were designed to subvert the unofficial ''[[Tomb Raider (1996 video game)#Nude Raider|Nude Raider]]'' patch of the late 1990s by altering Lara Croft's sexual orientation.<ref name="stalker">{{Cite thesis |last=Stalker |first=Phillipa Jane |date=2006-11-15 |title=Gaming in art: A case study of two examples of the artistic appropriation of computer games and the mapping of historical trajectories of "Art Games" versus mainstream computer games |url=http://ljudmila.org/~selectparks/dl/PippaStalker_GamingInArt.pdf |degree=MSc |language=en}}</ref> The origins of the art mod can be traced to the classic 1983 mod ''Castle Smurfenstein'' (a humorous subversion of ''[[Castle Wolfenstein]]'' which replaces the Nazi guards with [[Smurfs]]).<ref>{{citation |last=Bogacs |first=Hannes |url=https://www.academia.edu/2317114 |title=Game Mods: Design, Theory and Criticism |publisher=[[Vienna University of Technology|Vienna University of Technology - Design and Assessment of Technologies Institute]]|date=February 2008}}</ref> The very first art mod, however, is generally considered to be [[Iimura Takahiko]]'s 1993 ''AIUEOUNN Six Features'' (a modification of Sony's "System G").<ref name=cannon/><ref name=stalker/>

=== Support continuation by mod ===
After EA lost its license with [[Major League Baseball]] and [[End-of-life (product)|ended support]] for ''[[MVP Baseball 2005]]'', the game's modding community has continued to support it by releasing updated roster lists and graphics every year, along with creating alternative baseball leagues (e.g. MVP Caribe, a total conversion) in the game.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-22 |title=Nine Years Later, Latin America's Leagues Keep MVP Baseball Alive |url=https://kotaku.com/nine-years-later-latin-americas-leagues-keep-mvp-base-1488236659 |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mvp-baseball-2005-mod-community-mlb-video-games/ |title='MVP Baseball … 2015'? How the Best Baseball Video Game Ever Has Refused to Retire for 10 Years |date=April 14, 2015 |first=Ben |last=Lindbergh |publisher=[[Grantland.com]] |quote=Another factor in MVP's favor: The game allows greater access to its innards than most titles. [...] 2K's failure to match MVP's approval rating despite several years of running unopposed on the PC market, made MVP the go-to game for modders even as it lost its looks relative to 2K and The Show. The community's support peaked from 2005 through the first PC edition of 2K in 2009, tailed off for a time, and then ramped up again once Take-Two abandoned the PC market in 2013 and canceled 2K entirely last year. A decade of EA development made MVP the best baseball game on the PC market in 2005, and a decade of amateur development has helped it keep that title in 2015.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Source Breathes New Life Into 'MVP Baseball 2005' Video Game |url=http://info.protecode.com/bid/74171/Open-Source-Breathes-New-Life-Into-MVP-Baseball-2005-Video-Game|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131164345/http://info.protecode.com/bid/74171/Open-Source-Breathes-New-Life-Into-MVP-Baseball-2005-Video-Game |archive-date=2016-01-31 }}</ref>

''[[IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover]]'', released in 2011, received mixed reviews due to bugs and other issues. Modders fixed the game over time and received [[source code]] access, which led to an official re-release under the name ''IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover BLITZ Edition''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/mods-saved-a-game-so-theyre-now-an-official-product-1823409264|title=Mods Saved A Game, So They're Now An Official Product|author=Luke Plunkett|date=2018-02-28|publisher=[[kotaku.com]]}}</ref>

Following the closure of [[Ion Storm]] the source code to ''[[Daikatana]]'' was released to a select group of modders by [[John Romero]], leading the version 1.3 patch, which also ported the game to [[MacOS]], [[Linux]] and [[FreeBSD]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Dawe | first=Liam | date=2016-07-20 | title=You can play controversial FPS 'Daikatana' on Linux now, thanks to a fan patch endorsed by John Romero | url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2016/07/you-can-play-controversial-fps-daikatana-on-linux-now-thanks-to-a-fan-patch-endorsed-by-john-romero/ | website=GamingOnLinux | access-date=2023-02-09}}</ref>

Some online video games are made playable after their discontinuation by modders.  Examples include [[BattleForge]], [[Need for Speed: World]], and [[The Crew (video game)|The Crew]].

===User interface mod===
A [[user interface]] mod changes parts of how players interact with the game,<ref name="auto4"/> and commonly, mods to the UI reveal information that the player or modder believes is helpful in playing the game.<ref name="auto6"/>

===Mod packs===
Mod packs are groups of mods put into one package for download, often with an auto-installer. A mod pack's purpose is to make it easier for the player to install and manage multiple mods.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://glosbe.com/en/en/modpack|title=modpack - definition - English |website=Glosbe |access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref> Mod packs may be created with the purpose of making the original game more accessible to new players or to make the game more challenging for veteran players.

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Adventure Construction Set]], one of the earliest games for which user-created content was widely made and distributed.
* [[Cartridge tilting]] which modifies a game with often unpredictable effects.
* [[Creative consumer]]
* [[Fan labor]]
* [[Fork (software development)]]
* [[House rule]]
* [[Level editor]]
* [[Minecraft modding]]
* [[Modding]]
* [[Modding in Grand Theft Auto]], for more information on the GTA modding scene
* [[ModDB]]
* [[NexusMods]]
* [[ROM hacking]], unofficial modding on consoles
* [[Skyrim modding]]
* [[Steam Workshop]]
* [[Texture artist]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Sihvonen, Tania. (2011). ''Players Unleashed!: Modding The Sims and the Culture of Gaming''. Amsterdam: [[Amsterdam University Press]]. Retrieved from [https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt46mt37 Modding The Sims and the Culture of Gaming]
* {{cite magazine |last1=Futter |first1=Mike |title=The Fallacy Of Free Mods - Paying Creators, Developers, And Valve Is The Right Move (And May Return) |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/05/04/the-fallacy-of-free-mods-why-paying-creators-developers-and-valve-is-the-right-move.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505004522/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/05/04/the-fallacy-of-free-mods-why-paying-creators-developers-and-valve-is-the-right-move.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=27 November 2018 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |date=May 4, 2015 |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=van der Graaf |first1=Shenja |title=ComMODify |date=2018 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan, Cham |isbn=978-3-319-61499-1 |language=en-gb|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-61500-4}}
{{Independent production}}

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[[Category:Video game modding| ]]
[[Category:Video game development]]
[[Category:Unofficial adaptations]]
[[Category:Fan labor]]