When will consoles embrace modding?

[Vindestructable]

Every PC gamer is pretentious by nature

Fallacy: Gross generalization.

Exaggerated for humorous effect, obviously. Though I expect that won't stop you from calling me an idiot.

 

[Hungry Donner]

I didn?t think I was about to start a major platform war. I haven?t owned a console in a long time, for a variety of reasons, but I certainly wasn?t suggesting that they are an inferior platform, and I apologize if anyone thought I was. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses, and even things like being a closed or open system has its own benefits and problems.

I agree with the people who feel Microsoft and Sony are reticent to allow modding because it could cut in to DLC sales. However I suspect this won?t actually happen, and with a little thought it might even improve DLC sales. If you have a thriving modding community than a DLC that has new options (artwork, enemies, scripts, etc.) is basically a new toybox for the community. And if a popular mod has additions that require you have an official DLC involved people could purchase it simply to have access to that toybox.

The security issues are probably the real hold up here, none of the big three are happy to open their system up. (Sony was quite liberal for a while even if Epic had to strong arm mod support, but lately they?ve been backtracking in this regard.) I suspect whoever adds mod support first will still block third party applications, so no new artwork or script extenders or modified EXEs ? and while these result in some downright awesome PC mods if consoles simply have greater access to more straight forward modding I think that?s a step in the right direction. There are some very powerful game editors out there that can create wonderful mods even with extension, and for now most of them are strict PC exclusives.

I don?t know the likelihood of more complex editors being supported in addition to mods. Editors tend to have very different resource requirements and you may not be able to streamline a console for gaming and also allow editing.

 

[PettingZOOPONY]

Every PC gamer is pretentious by nature

Fallacy: Gross generalization.

Exaggerated for humorous effect, obviously. Though I expect that won't stop you from calling me an idiot.

Nope we are pretentious pricks, its what we do.

 

[RivFader86]

My guess is that, in the past, the biggest problem with modding on consoles was that there was no way to share them with other users.

 

[Hungry Donner]

My guess is that, in the past, the biggest problem with modding on consoles was that there was no way to share them with other users.

Very true, but it shouldn't be a problem any longer (at least not for Microsoft or Sony, I don't know how Nintendo handles internet access).

 

[Pingieking]

Essentially never. The closest consoles will ever get to modding is through stuff like ModNation racers, LBP, and making maps in Halo.

As a long-time console gamer, and a long-time PC gamer, I'm forced to conclude that PC gaming is, in my opinion, better. A great deal more flexibility, better general performance, better prices. I'm not saying consoles are bad here, I'm just saying that PCs are better.

Agreed. There's really not a whole lot to argue on this subject. My PC simply outperforms my console in every way. Not trashing on consoles or console players, just saying that my PC is a technologically superior machine.

 

[Woodsey]

Because Microsoft (and to a lesser extent, Sony) is incredibly anally-retentive about giving users any control on their console.

Even if they did do it, I wouldn't be surprised if you had to be on Gold to get access anyway.

 

[Dr.Cereal1]

Ya know what? This really irks me.

I'm getting really pissed about all these PC gamers sticking their noses up in the air and looking down on the Console gamers as if they're some sort of primitive form of life.

Just because we don't have Mods doesn't make PC games any better than Console games. They both have their strong points.

And if I get suspended for speaking my mind out about this (While not being vulgar) well so be it.
Tired of PC gamers acting like they're so GOD DAMN superior. It's awful!!

Well you know the pc gamers who aren't like that are...playing the games. And console gamers make idiots out of themselves when they say pc gaming sucks!111 in response to pc fanboys makes the belief that console gamers are idiots enhanced.

 

[GonzoGamer]

I know there are a few console titles with built in modding tools

The only ones I have are Borderlands and UT3. What are the others?

I can see why it's not so popular. Console gamers are far too willing to lay down $10-20 for every crappy piece of dlc that's dropped. They figure nobody's going to buy cows when they're getting milk for free.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Exaggerated for humorous effect, obviously. Though I expect that won't stop you from calling me an idiot.

Not so obvious to me, given the bad vibes these sorts of topics generate on this website.
Your response won't force me to call anyone an idiot either; that would be an ad-hominem fallacy anyway.

 

[Aura Guardian]

I know there are a few console titles with built in modding tools ? and from what I can tell these are generally quite popular. But by in large the big three seem scared stiff at the idea of a comprehensive level editor, the sort of thing you find with Half Life 2 or Oblivion. The ?can?t manage this with a gamepad? excuse no longer applies, it?s easy enough to plug in a USB keyboard and mouse. Concerns over memory restrictions may have some weight, there are a lot of games out there that already push consoles to the limit and throwing a pile of mods on top could be problematic, but is RAM really so expensive that they can?t throw in a little extra? If you really need to offer it as a peripheral ? the basic console comes with X but you can purchase a plug-in that increases it by 50%.

I?m not expecting anything with the current console generation, but I was really hoping we?d hear something about this at this year?s E3. Console gamers seem to be clamoring for mods whenever a multi-platform release gives PC users this option but can?t extend it to consoles. I have to imagine whichever console finally embraces this will find a tremendous amount of support behind it ? it could easily be the ?motion control? of that generation with the other too rushing to include this as well.

Soon. I hope. But brawl has a few mods. So does Mariokart Wii

 

[Urh]

When will consoles embrace modding?

Short answer, never. The (relative) absence of modding for consoles has allowed developers to make obscene amounts of money via DLC. I can't see them letting go of that golden egg anytime soon.

 

[TelHybrid]

Never. Consoles are closed platforms for the sake of idiot proofing. Modding capabilities will counteract that.

Besides, if there's community based content, how will Activision make £12 per DLC pack?

 

[Ice Car]

Probably because of the negative association it has with cheating. Rather than calling it hacking or simply cheating like it really is to avoid confusion, they use the word modding for some damn reason. I accept modding if it is for positive intentions, like DLC, mods to fix bugs, glitches, etc. Modding used to enhance gameplay or "skill" so they can win I do NOT support and call it hacking/cheating rather than modding.

Actual definition of modding: Custom creations; DLCs, bug/glitch fixes, etc.
Definition of modding in today's world: HACKING CHEATING MOTHERFUCKERS

 

[Aura Guardian]

Probably because of the negative association it has with cheating. Rather than calling it hacking or simply cheating like it really is to avoid confusion, they use the word modding for some damn reason. I accept modding if it is for positive intentions, like DLC, mods to fix bugs, glitches, etc. Modding used to enhance gameplay or "skill" so they can win I do NOT support and call it hacking/cheating rather than modding.

Actual definition of modding: Custom creations; DLCs, bug/glitch fixes, etc.
Definition of modding in today's world: HACKING CHEATING MOTHERFUCKERS

It's quite silly isn't it? The examples I posted are awesome mods though. But I've seen some hackers in Mariokart(infini Mushroom,bullet bill) and some hackers troll and sometimes...it's funny (Blue Shell spam, Lightning spam)

 

[Tay051173096]

http://stalker.filefront.com/file/SMRTER_Pripyat;108615

Alters over 14000 files, oh and you layer graphic mods on top.

Thats not even touching compiling... I complete always a game in vanilla the try out different mods for a relaxed game, I know whats comming and where things are so modding gives a game a new life/challenge (died within 3 minutes due to new enemy spawn ect).

As far as I see a console is just a pure gaming computer.

 

[Vault boy Eddie]

There will be modding on consoles when the console developers decide they don't like money anymore. Being proprietary machines means they decide what console players can and can't have, and if you want some sort of mod for your game, well they'll give it to you, they'll just release it as an official expansion and make everyone pay.