Video game mods: the fanfictions of gamers.

The modding community for video games are some of the most talented, creative and perverted people similar to the fanfiction writers. Almost every game has some mods that can bring the game into modern times with classic games like Doom, making fun of the game with Resident Evil or creating lewd moments with the Dead or Alive series. The interesting thing about video game mods is that they provide a platform for gamers to delve deep into the codes and graphics of their favourite games which can be experimented with to create interesting results thus developing an interest and understanding of game development just like fanfiction writers learning literature through their favourite books.

For this topic, the choice of the game would be The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as it boasts a very large and supportive modding community for nearly a decade since its release. What makes Skyrim unique in this regard is its openness to mods along with its massive catalogue of lore that can be used to create new stories that would serve as expansions to the game. An example is a mod called ‘Moonpath to Elswyer’ which serves as a story expansion which gives new locations, NPCs and quests. Others can be simple from updating armor and weapons to creating new NPCs from scratch.

Over the years the original game has become outdated but due to its fanbase and its modding community, it has remained alive like a zombie in a good way as some mods of the games have become the requirement for anyone to experience the game in its glorious form. In its modified version of the game, you get more story content that has been cut from the original game due to lack of time, more ways to interact with the world in a goofy manner or pervasive manner that would people judge in a different light and even fix all the major technical issues with the game.

Unfortunately, not all game developers are like Bethesda, most developers don’t approve of these mods as it might highlight that the game is imperfect and that it requires outside support to fix or play the games. Sometimes some mods can be very controversial to the game itself with an infamous example being GTA San Andreas where a group of hackers discovered hidden code files within the game that were cut down from the original game which later on became a mod called "hot coffee" in which you get to have sex with a female NPC (Render, 2021). This mod has led to massive backlash on Rockstar Games and even got at the time US Senator Hilary Clinton to campaign against the game and join up with Jack Thompson to further censor the gaming industry (Thorsen, 2005). Although the censorship campaign was unsuccessful the game has gotten a bad reputation leading to the game being recalled and re-released without the code leading to a loss in sales for the time being.

Ultimately mods are beneficial to the overall gaming industry as being a platform for learning about game development this provides a great pool of talented and passionate developers to be recruited in the industry or even leads to new games being made as mentioned before about the Skyrim mod 'Moonpath to Elswyer’ the person who made that mod Tomas Sala has made a game called The Falconeer a fantasy flight battle game which has been nominated for the BAFTA awards. While the video game mods can be overlooked crude, perversive and unnecessary the efforts it takes to create these mods is something to be praised and respected across the industry. 

Render, J. (2021, October 21). What Was Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' Hot Coffee Controversy? Retrieved from CBR.com: https://www.cbr.com/what-was-grand-theft-auto-san-andreas-hot-coffee-controversy/ 

Thorsen, T. (2005, July 15). Confirmed: Sex minigame in PS2 San Andreas. Retrieved from Gamespot: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/confirmed-sex-minigame-in-ps2-san-andreas/1100-6129301/