Console Game Mods

[Bluntknife]

This has been bugging me for a long time.
Why can't console gamers mod their own games, similar to the way Pc gamers can.

Now I'm a Pc gamer but I hate to see my console brothers not being able to customize thier games for added play time and new experiences.

To me its seems like a relativly simple task for devolpers to be able to provide the SDK tools on the game disk, or be able to load the SDK onto your Pc and transfer the mod to your console.
It would be great to have a system like Xbox live or Playstation network to be able to support all the user created content that can be installed to your hard drive (for free)

The only reason I see for not being able to mod console games is the fact that devolpers proberbly wouldn't be able to sell you their add ons.

This is where you come in.
If you were able to mod games on you console would you?

 

[damion559]

hell yeah

 

[DragunovHUN]

Are you serious? Have you even thought about what kind of enormous effort it would take to make an SDK that's easy enough to use that a casual player could handle it?

Have you looked at a professional modeling program? They're not easy to use at all. And if developers of these programs can't make them user friendly how are GAME developers supposed to take on that task? It would take about 10 times as much work as the GAME itself. For FREE. Then there are textures, and finally they'd have to figure out a way to let players edit the text files(code/script whatever) without enabling them to screw the game up.

The only thing i can imagine working on a console, without the user having to learn it for months, is a map editor.

 

[Danny Ocean]

But then they would lose money.

They'll need to make new servers, re-configure old ones, and alter the firmware without compromising security or stability.

And you don't really think a high-end SDK could run on a 360, do you?
Possibly the PS3 in the future, but 360 or Wii? Nah. The hardware isn't powerful enough to produce good mods (Which take months, even with high-end hardware and skills) at a reasonable pace.

Even then, mods require teams of people to work. Who's going to store all the data? How will it be transferred?

The generic internet is a wonderful thing the PC has access to, because all these things are so easy to do with it because it isn't a walled garden.

The Day consoles have the capability to make mods, is the day they become unrecognisable from mid-high end PCs (Apart from the control scheme.).

Besides, why invest in all of that if they can force you to buy any extra content direct from them?

 

[Fraught]

Yeah, modding is good as it is now.
Modding on consoles would be far too complicated.

 

[jamesworkshop]

You can provided you have enought money to buy a PS3 software development kit Console owners make all their money this way

 

[Shadow Law]

A computer is ment to run things the way the buyer wants it to while on the other hand a console is ment to run the way the comp. selling it wants it to run with no twiks.

 

[Clemenstation]

A few glaring problems:

Controller is a pretty poor interface for any kind of real customization work.

No access to original resources (textures, art, models, etc.).

Issues with user-created content and tightly-regulated content systems (all of the problems Little Big Planet has with 'offensive' or copyrighted material, times ten thousand. Plus complications with content ratings boards.).

I'd say the closest we've gotten so far are those XNA Community games that eventually make it onto Xbox Live for purchase. Still, though, the development kit used to make these things is both pretty pricey and interfaced through the PC.

 

[Ionami]

Are you serious? Have you even thought about what kind of enormous effort it would take to make an SDK that's easy enough to use that a casual player could handle it?

Have you looked at a professional modeling program? They're not easy to use at all. And if developers of these programs can't make them user friendly how are GAME developers supposed to take on that task? It would take about 10 times as much work as the GAME itself. For FREE. Then there are textures, and finally they'd have to figure out a way to let players edit the text files(code/script whatever) without enabling them to screw the game up.

The only thing i can imagine working on a console, without the user having to learn it for months, is a map editor.

Bethesda does a pretty decent job. Bioware too. Very user friendly.

 

[Bluntknife]

Are you serious? Have you even thought about what kind of enormous effort it would take to make an SDK that's easy enough to use that a casual player could handle it?

Have you looked at a professional modeling program? They're not easy to use at all. And if developers of these programs can't make them user friendly how are GAME developers supposed to take on that task? It would take about 10 times as much work as the GAME itself. For FREE. Then there are textures, and finally they'd have to figure out a way to let players edit the text files(code/script whatever) without enabling them to screw the game up.

The only thing i can imagine working on a console, without the user having to learn it for months, is a map editor.

I was more talking about putting the SDK on a computer then uploading the mod to your console.
Not Developing the mod on the console, without a mouse and keboard that would be a huge pain.

 

[Nerdfury]

Creating mods is far beyond the scope of most people and not something the 'casual hardcore' would pick up.

 

[curlycrouton]

Because consoles are like toys, whereas PCs are more like.....giant monoliths representing all that is good in the world.

I kid, I agree with Danny Ocean.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Possibly the PS3 in the future, but 360 or Wii? Nah. The hardware isn't powerful enough to produce good mods (Which take months, even with high-end hardware and skills) at a reasonable pace.

You can actually mod a couple of games on the PS3. The only one I have is UT3 and the only thing (so far) you can do with that is upload your own skins like with the original UT.

 

[ForrestDixon]

I think that would be really nice but then there comes the problem of multiplayer games with mods. I also dont think that every developer would be willing to let people mod there games (its like there baby, you know?) willy-nilly. I think it would take effort on everyones part for this to come true. And the people that know how to do game moding on a pc have to have some idea of what there doing and because of that it makes most mods semi good mods. Im not saying you wont come across a bad one though. PS I made a dildo sword in Oblivion. BEST SWORD EVER!!!!

 

[oliveira8]

Mods are for the PC master race! DONT TOUCH MAH MODS!!! RRRRRRRRRRRR!

 

[zirnitra]

I think Xbox live has some rules about not letting game developers allow user created content hence why the PS3 version of unreal tournament three has mods and the xbox version doesn't.

that probably has something to do with developers not making modding tool for consoles.

 

[shadow skill]

UT3 does allow this. More games should, it' a great way to add value to a game.

 

[oliveira8]

You guys call LittleBigPlanet what exactly?

Custom maps are not mods. Same thing as a regular Map Editor from previous games that had Map Editors(I remenber Tenchu and Tony hawk Pro Skater), the diference is that you can put them over net.

 

[Spudgun Man]

This has been bugging me for a long time.
Why can't console gamers mod their own games, similar to the way Pc gamers can.

Now I'm a Pc gamer but I hate to see my console brothers not being able to customize thier games for added play time and new experiences.

To me its seems like a relativly simple task for devolpers to be able to provide the SDK tools on the game disk, or be able to load the SDK onto your Pc and transfer the mod to your console.
It would be great to have a system like Xbox live or Playstation network to be able to support all the user created content that can be installed to your hard drive (for free)

The only reason I see for not being able to mod console games is the fact that devolpers proberbly wouldn't be able to sell you their add ons.

This is where you come in.
If you were able to mod games on you console would you?

i belive little big planet tried to confront this problem but only managedto come up with level editing.

 

[caz105]

Off topic: can you use a mouse and keyboard to game on the PS3 because there are USB ports
OT: They will probably incorporate it into the next generation. Fingers crossed anyway.