"wah, wah- I want money" post on Gamasutra

[Reneer]

As for the modders cut of the profits, 25% is incredibly generous when you consider that music artists typically get about 10% or even less than that for CD/music sales and often the big record labels get a substantial cut of everything the artist produces. I doubt that Bethesda would offer a larger cut, more likely they will offer less in the long term.

Now that I think about it some more, you are likely correct. I personally would be happy with any percentage split above or around 25%, though I imagine Bethesda would give mod authors a bit more (like 30%). I honestly hadn't totally thought through that Bethesda would be doing both the job of creating the IP we all base our work on as well as hosting the work at the same time, thus making a 25/75 split decently reasonable.

Edited August 3, 2016 by Reneer

[snapper69]

Then again, if nobody modded Fallout 4, Bethesda would have 100% of nothing. They would also have to employ staff (or not) to correct some of the problems that are corrected by mods. The mod authors put a lot of talent and time into the mods ( I couldn't do it) and that should be recognised with AT LEAST 50 %.

[steve40]

Then again, if nobody modded Fallout 4, Bethesda would have 100% of nothing. They would also have to employ staff (or not) to correct some of the problems that are corrected by mods. The mod authors put a lot of talent and time into the mods ( I couldn't do it) and that should be recognised with AT LEAST 50 %.

 

Morally, yes. But in reality most modders are fungible and will get screwed over just like the rest of the world.

 

How much do average app developers make?

 

According to Forbes, about 1 to 2 CENTS per download.

Edited August 4, 2016 by steve40

[Rakshasa72]

There is people already making "quit your job money" off of "free" mods already. We call them YouTubers.

[jjb54]

 

Considering they were going to give us 25/45/30 (mod authors, Bethesda, Valve, respectively), I'll happily take anything above or equal to 25/75, since Bethesda cut Valve out of the equation. But I imagine the split next time around will be closer to 40/60. 50/50 would be amazing.

 

 

I found the 'arguments' for this to be beyond silly and lame.

 

First I heard the "RECORDING INDUSTRY STANDARD".

 

Problem 1:

I have a few friends / clients in that industry and they went, when they heard that:

"Jj, as you know, that has to be lamest 'reasoning' sales scam, given. Why doesn't Beth just say, "We want to rip you off?" Because Mod Creation is NOT even remotely like the "Record Industry."

 

Case point 1: Recording a Song.

 

Pre-Release of song:

1. Setup and Hire a recording Staff.

2. Setup and have background vocals - musicians.

3. Setup main Singer.

 

There is A LOT of pre-expenses just to record a song.

 

What does Beth do for the Mod Creator?

.. Answer: Nothing.

Beth has ZERO Pre / Post -Costs for the Mod Creator to produce their Mod. Beth invests not 1 penny.

 

The Mod Creator has to do their OWN WORK - FINDING VOICE ACTORS and all their own .. well work. They DO IT ALL AND BETH DOES ZERO TO HELP THEM.

 

Post Production Record Costs:

1. Commercials.

2. Printing.

3. Burning the CD.

 

What does Beth do to support the Mod Creator?

... Pay for commercials for the product?

> NO.

 

... The Mod Creator does his "commercials" - "printing" and such.

 

Does Beth, help in the Development of the Mod in any way, shape for form?

> NO.

 

The Mod Creator does his own:

.. Storyline.

.. Alpha and Beta Testing.

.. Art Design.

.. Programing. Pre - and Post, to fix any bugs or such.

 

So tell me again, WHY is Beth taking the largest cut of the Mod Creation, and be straight faced when you do, please.

 

Several of the Record Company friends, are gamers and when they heard that " excuse / rationalization " ... all they could say is, " WTF? Beth is preying on the ignorance of the Mod Creators, by feeding them this " line ". Like some how, the Mod Creator is in some " big debt " of gratitude for coming up with their OWN IDEAS - TEXTURES - QUESTS - and such. When Beth does, again, NOTHING to earn the largest cut of the Mod Profits."

 

So when this or other " rationalizations " are given. Just ponder for the 30 seconds - and what does - did Beth do to help the Mod Creator in any way?

 

If it takes longer the 30 seconds, ... well .....

[Royhr]

Well the only thing that Beth did other than develop the game was to make available the CK. Now granted those are sort of big deals but the game was not developed for the sole purpose just for mod authors to mod (though I guess some could or would argue that point :confused: ). And the CK was not created just for the mod authors to create mods. After all remember Beth claims that the CK is what was used to develop the game in the first place though we all know that is pretty much a farce. But it is what they claimed when they were making it available. So for anybody who honestly believes that Beth should be entitled even a 50/50 split is ridiculous. Now I can understand Beth should be entitled a fair share for basically hosting the mods but that shouldn't entitle them to a 50/50 split or more like what is suspected to be the case.

[Billy1969]

After all remember Beth claims that the CK is what was used to develop the game in the first place though we all know that is pretty much a farce.

 

Maybe it's true, took them eight years to make a sequel to fallout 3... using the CK that's pretty damn possible lmao

[lelcat]

 

What does Beth do for the Mod Creator?

.. Answer: Nothing.

Beth has ZERO Pre / Post -Costs for the Mod Creator to produce their Mod. Beth invests not 1 penny.

The most spectacularly dumb thing I have read this week.

[jjb54]

 

 

What does Beth do for the Mod Creator?

.. Answer: Nothing.

Beth has ZERO Pre / Post -Costs for the Mod Creator to produce their Mod. Beth invests not 1 penny.

The most spectacularly dumb thing I have read this week.

 

 

Okay, I'll bite - what does Beth do for the Mod Creator's creations?

[jjb54]

Understand that CK is for a reason: and up until now it was NEVER $$$.

 

Oh, what was that you ask?

 

To get people to put more interest into the Vanilla game to "Keep it alive and thriving..." so people hopefully more people will buy the game.

 

From what I understand, what we get is a Scaled Down Interface that they use, to create the Vanilla and DLC's. They have a FULL BLOWN FEATURE and we get the "scaled down version".

 

Again, this is what I was told by a few well named Mod Creators, when I first started to play with mods for SKYRIM.