Mods
Mods (or modifications) are changes in the code of a video game that change the mechanics of the game.[1] There are limitations to the abilities and content available in video games. These limitations exist for a variety of reasons. Mods allow users to add clothing and objects in the game they wish the developers had included. Mod objects can also be used to give players an advantage in a competitive game. Some actions are left out of games in accordance to the boundaries of the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) rating of the game. For example, The Sims franchise has the "Teen" rating, which is content suitable for players 13 years and older, so the code of the game doesn't allow graphic nudity or inappropriate themes for children. [2] However, using downloadable mods, players can alter the game's code to allow such prohibited behaviors as teen pregnancy or graphic nudity.
Contents
Types
Total Conversion
This type of mod replaces nearly all of the artistic qualities found in the original game. This type of mod is sometimes created in hopes of being able to sell the end product, which is why nearly all of the original features of the game are replaced.
Add-On
An add-on is typically a smaller modification that changes some slight aspect of the game. Examples include a new weapon in shooting oriented games and a new type of vehicle in racing games.
Total Overhaul
A total overhaul shifts the gameplay style, sometimes increasing the overall pace of the game and typically including a large amount of additional add-ons.
Unofficial Patch
An unofficial patch fixes game bugs that have not been addressed by the game's original developers.
Ethical Issues
Modifications, especially those of the total conversion type, can be seen to infringe upon copyright issues and in some cases, different add-ons can be seen as a way of cheating in online environments. These mods provide ethical challenges for game users and developers and raise the question of whether the ethical systems are different in an online environment. If multiple users are employing these mods, is it so bad?
Mods have also become common in first person shooting video games such as Microsoft's Halo series. In Halo 2 and 3, many players discovered how to create mods that would give them unfair advantages over the other players. These modifications would provide them with new weapons, allow them to be in normally inaccessible areas of the playing field, grant them invulnerability, and other exploitive features. Due to this unfair advantage that users would receive from mods, more players began to use them, and thus players without modifications soon could not play the game without encountering cheaters. This ruined the game for many people and eventually led to a decline in active users on Halo 2 and 3. Although Bungie and Microsoft worked together in an attempt to minimize cheating, the hackers usually prevailed and could bypass the anti-cheat tactics in order to create new modifications.
