Why are Mods free?

[Fkemman11]

I have been playing games for 3 decades now and only recently started modding. I only wonder, given how talented a group Modders are as a whole, why they refused to accept payment for their hard work. I love that they are free. But I wonder how long this will last. Sorry if this is an old topic. I ask this question because I would like to develop a few ideas I have for the Nexus.

[MellowBE]

Well, because poeple do something for a game they love, take a look at the sims 3, also has a MASSIVE collection of custom made things, all for free.

 

The other reason is, when a mod contains original things from skyrim (so for example, textures and so on), then technically speaking, you can't sell anything for your own profit, as that might be considered 'stealing' from the original game.

 

For example, Take Enderal, while that is a truly great mod, with a story of it's own, it's still made out of things existing in skyrim, and on top of that, it needs the skyrim files in order to work, If they would sell it, then it would be 'stealing'.

 

The ONLY case i see a mod being viable for selling, is when everything is made from scratch without using anything existing in the current game (also includes not using some transformed armor, or somebody else his work)

 

Now, you have those inviduals who sadly enough 'steal' other poeple their work without permission, and use it in their own mods which they sell.

 

Long Story short, Modding is free because bethesda allows modding, but doesn't allow selling it (if it contains anything from their game), and steam together with bethesda did make a attempt at starting a paid modding section for skyrim, but that failed, it however would have been the only place where you could 'legally' sell mods.

[deadblood01]

modding is a hobby not a job or profession. the reason why modding is so popular is because its free and attracts vast majority of people willing to mod their game and share their cool ideas with community, if it was paid jobs then it won't be as exciting it is now and unpopular. if you want to get paid for this kinda work become developer.

[Fkemman11]

OK. I understand what you are saying. After thinking about it some more I agree that it should remain free. Thanks for the replies! :D

[LadyMilla]

Mods are free because charging money for a mod would violate Bethesda's policies/EULA. That's the primary reason (and not because it's a hobby).

[Fkemman11]

So, the vast majority of mods are made for Bethesda games?

[LadyMilla]

So, the vast majority of mods are made for Bethesda games?

 

The majority, yes. In the past, Nexus was called TESNexus because it only featured Bethesda games. If you visit this page (http://www.nexusmods.com/games/?) and you sort it by 'total files', you will see that the first 7 featured games are Bethesda games (well, Fallout New Vegas is technically an Obsidian game, but it is subject to a Bethesda EULA).

[Fkemman11]

 

So, the vast majority of mods are made for Bethesda games?

 

The majority, yes. In the past, Nexus was called TESNexus because it only featured Bethesda games. If you visit this page (http://www.nexusmods.com/games/?) and you sort it by 'total files', you will see that the first 7 featured games are Bethesda games (well, Fallout New Vegas is technically an Obsidian game, but it is subject to a Bethesda EULA).

 

 

Do you think other devs are embracing the mod trend? Like, say, EA.

[LadyMilla]

 

 

So, the vast majority of mods are made for Bethesda games?

 

The majority, yes. In the past, Nexus was called TESNexus because it only featured Bethesda games. If you visit this page (http://www.nexusmods.com/games/?) and you sort it by 'total files', you will see that the first 7 featured games are Bethesda games (well, Fallout New Vegas is technically an Obsidian game, but it is subject to a Bethesda EULA).

 

 

Do you think other devs are embracing the mod trend? Like, say, EA.

 

 

Considering that the site grew from 7 officially moddable games to a total of 417 games featuring some degree of mod support, I think modding is definitely gaining momentum, but the process is not without setbacks (e.g. BioWare dropped mod support (officially) when they switched to the Frostbite engine).

[Fkemman11]

 

 

 

So, the vast majority of mods are made for Bethesda games?

 

The majority, yes. In the past, Nexus was called TESNexus because it only featured Bethesda games. If you visit this page (http://www.nexusmods.com/games/?) and you sort it by 'total files', you will see that the first 7 featured games are Bethesda games (well, Fallout New Vegas is technically an Obsidian game, but it is subject to a Bethesda EULA).

 

 

Do you think other devs are embracing the mod trend? Like, say, EA.

 

 

Considering that the site grew from 7 officially moddable games to a total of 417 games featuring some degree of mod support, I think modding is definitely gaining momentum, but the process is not without setbacks (e.g. BioWare dropped mod support (officially) when they switched to the Frostbite engine).

 

 

Wow! Its grown considerably. Certainly devs can't ignore the increased circulation of their games that modding generates. Soon, they will all wake-up!