Downloader/mod managing client for Nexus

[Blockade]

Similar to what [Blocked URL: Spamming mod authors with advertising links] does for its mods and add-ons, it would be a great boon for us to have a suite dedicated to updating/installation.

 

What do you think?

[LHammonds]

I do not play WoW so I am not familiar with that product but it would have been cool if OBMM and this site could have been integrated similar to how StarDock and WinCustomize.com handles their packages.

 

A simple theme could be nothing more than just the link to "component" mods which can then be downloaded and installed via the client browser. I believe it is too late at this point to create such a tool since all existing mods uploaded would not be compatible.

 

If something like that did come along, a project to upload special versions of existing mods that are compatible could be done but would be a long project requiring many dedicated people. Just think if you had to convert all the existing mods into OMOD-Ready format for it to work.

 

It would be nice to see this get done (at least a framework) and then implemented with future games. Would even be nicer if Bethesda provided the tool but as you are aware, they only provide the Construction Set to allow us to create .esp plugin files. The BSA, meshes, textures and animations are all hacks to the game...not something they support in any way. (read: official support not gonna happen)

 

LHammonds

[evilneko]

Isn't OMOD just a glorified zip file with a specific directory structure?

 

I don't really get the whole client thing though. With practically all mods you download an archive (zip, 7z, rar) and extract it to your /Data directory. The only potential hang ups are the multiple mutually-exclusive ESP mods and those who have the /Data directory actually in their archive, so that when you try to extract it you end up with /Data/Data/Mod-you-wanted. (and that's really annoying) There are some that don't really fit that mold: Darnified needs editing of the user's ini file, any GNR/Enclave radio replacer and music mods in general. This could be handled case-by-case in a "client" though, just as they are now by humans.

 

In short, wouldn't the client just be a mini browser that automatically extracts to your /Data directory?

 

I especially didn't understand it with WoW addons though (back when I played). They're absolutely uniform. Download, extract to the Addons directory. Done.

[LHammonds]

Isn't OMOD just a glorified zip file with a specific directory structure?

At the most basic structure, yes but only if the mod is as simple to install as copying to the Oblivion Data folder. If the mod has options such as multiple ESPs that provide compatibility with other existing mods or gameplay choices, it then becomes a bit more complicated. Some files can get installed while others do not...or maybe some files get renamed in the process as well. If you had a helmet mod, maybe there is a script that asks if your character is a beast-race or non-beast race which might rename an EGM file from "helmet-beast.egm" to "helmet.egm" so that it works with the helmet named "helmet.nif"

 

It also provides a screenshot (ore more if scripted), standard info such as author, where to download for updates, description, etc.

 

Anyone interested in how a "client" application can work with a website to download files should really look at how Stardock delivers content from WinCustomize.com.

 

A download package might have a set of cursors only but also "requires" an existing set of icons and wallpaper. If that set is already downloaded and active, it only needs to install the cursors. But if it is missing anything, it will go out and grab those files and build it into the cursor package so you do not have to download those requirements again! This could work well for those that recommend certain mods...they could have an empty "theme" package on their profile, you click it and everything they recommend that you do not have can then be downloaded and installed without you having to find each individual piece and so on. I could see how themes like this could be simple recommendations for load order that changes your load order for currently installed mods based on a load-order theme.

 

It would be awesome if there was an integration tool that linked the game, mods and tools together. OBMM is the closest thing we have but it is limited to just the "tool" and "game" categories and does not integrate with anything else. That would require cooperation between a website developer and windows client developer as well as having an incredible amount of knowledge of how everything works.

 

Like I said, this would be very valuable at the BEGINNING of a products life cycle, not after the game has been released for several years and thousands of mods have been created as stand-alone packages.

 

This does not even begin to scratch the surface of all the technical and social aspects of such a project. Look at all the people that cannot or will not use OBMM because it requires Microsoft .NET Framework in order to work.

 

LHammonds