What You Need to Know About Game Mods

In the last decade, the video gaming industry has grown into the largest and the most profitable in the entertainment industry. There are so many things that have contributed to this growth. Among the many things is modding. Video games live and die by their modding capabilities. Those that do not support modding in any way die a year after their release, no matter how great they are. That is because people that were interested in playing them have already done so and moved on.

What is Modding?

The term mod comes from the act of modifying a game. To mod a game refers to creating custom levels, characters, assets, and standalone or unique games from the existing game engine. Video game modding has been growing immensely, allowing talented individuals (modders) to share their creative creations for the entire world to enjoy.  

Why Modding is Important in the Gaming Industry 

In today’s world, most of the recent video games that support some form of modding. It is hard to find a new video game that doesn’t have some modding capabilities. Today, video games that are released for PC allow for several forms of modding. Modding can either be design, programming, or art-based.  

Today’s game developers acknowledge how important modding is, it returns benefits to them, and as a result, they are now opening doors to allow modding for their PC video games. Apart from game developers, modding also benefits you as a player. It opens a new library of creations for you. These creations help prolong the lifespan of the game while at the same time bringing a larger player-base.  

It is because of modding that we now have multiple intellectual properties in the gaming world. Without modding, it would have never been possible. It is also the reason for the existence of several game studios today. Most of them were formed as a result of the success of their mods. Once a mod has become successive, developers start working on it to make it a full-blown game. Video game modding also serves as a gateway for talented minds and individuals to collaborate, and the results are life-changing. Here are some of the influential PC video games that were derived from mods: 

1. Auto Chess (Created for Dota 2) 
2. Xmen (Created for Quake) 
3. The Wastes (Created for Half-life) 
4. Urban Terror (Created for Quake III Arena) 
5. Smokin’ Guns (Created for Quake III Arena) 
6. Renegade X (Created for Unreal Tournament 3) 
7. Heroes of the Storm (Created for StarCraft II) 
8. Killing Floor (Created for Unreal Tournament 2004)
   

Not all mods end up becoming a full-blown game. However, these mods make playing these games more fun than ever before. They also elongate the lifespan of these games. A good example is Witcher 3. It is one of the best games to play, but it has multiple game modes. These mods are from different communities and developers, but they make the game more fun to play. If you have just started playing it and looking for ways you can spice up your gaming experience, here are the best Witcher 3 mods that you should try out. For a better understanding of the impact of mods on the player’s gaming experience, you should start with playing Witcher 3 without mods. After completing the game, look at some of the best mods for this game and then install them. You are more likely to have a great gaming experience after installing mods. That is because mods are made to make the game more fun and enjoyable to play. 

How to Mod a Game 

Game modding is not for developers only. You can also mod your favorite games. If you are a programmer, artist, game and level designer, or passionate about game development, you should start thinking about modding some of your favorite video games. Modding is a great way to get started with game development as it makes it easy for you to grasp the key concepts that make today’s video games fun to play. As a modder, you will be able to make various video games more fun and enjoyable. 

If you are planning to start modding, you should start with the game that you love or the one that you would want to play. You can even start by creating levels and campaigns for your friends and yourself. Modding is the way to go for everyone that is looking to get started with game development. It shows that you understand what makes a given video game genre or subgenre enjoyable.  

Video games are not easy to develop. If you are planning to venture into the game development industry, having previous knowledge of working with software and SDKs can help you get your first job within the gaming industry faster. That is because modding illustrates your creativity, passion, and dedication to your employers. It shows them that you have what it takes to develop high-quality game projects.  

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