Fortunately, Steam comes to my rescue again this Wednesday to protect me from acute topic loss. But who is surprised that one draws the wrath of many thousands when something self-evident is suddenly placed behind a monetary barrier that was neither desired nor necessary. Our Andreas has already diligently reported on the mod topic at Steam.
Skyrim: Mods for Money
For the single-player RPG “Skyrim”, there are countless modifications. This ranges from a multiplayer mode to new campaigns and a changed skill system, to the infamous nude mods from the nymphomaniac dreams of some players. “Surely, a dollar or two can be made from this,” thought the people at Steam and allowed mod providers to sell their works to make a living.
And since the Steam people are naturally kind-hearted, they only wanted to keep a meager 75% of the earnings for themselves. As compensation for the fact that the mod developers bear all legal risks, they still get a hefty 25%, essentially the lion’s share. Fair and understandable. Charity can sometimes be so simple!
Accomplished Facts: People Hate Them. Me Too.
In recent years, it has become fashionable to put people before accomplished facts. Sentences like “Only complain about the law once it’s there” are increasingly heard from politicians, and in the gaming industry, decisions are often simply waved through to wait and see what happens. Could one have foreseen the great outrage of the players? No. Could one have avoided it with a simple discussion in the forum on the topic? Definitely.
I can absolutely understand that not every little thing wants to be discussed with the players, as this can often stifle creativity. However, when it comes to changing existing systems that have worked perfectly and satisfied everyone, one must be cautious. Moreover, one could simply omit this whole thing and implement the long-demanded “donate” button for modifications in Steam. But since they probably wouldn’t get 75%, that’s of course not an alternative…
A Good Example to End With
To end on a slightly more positive note today, I would like to briefly highlight a studio that engages very thoroughly with its fans’ opinions and addresses their wishes. No, today for a change not Carbine, but Paradox. Games like “Crusader Kings”, “War of the Roses” or the woefully underrated “Leviathan Warships” are often real hidden gems because the developers actively participate in the forums and discuss decisions with the fans.
As already mentioned, this is not always a guarantee for good conclusions – but better than hiding free mods behind a “paywall” that primarily serves the game platform rather than the developer. See you, my slaves dears.
