Modding has had a direct influence on many developers, game studios, genres, and helped shape the course of the video game industry itself. Bethesda Game Studios is no exception to the influence of modding, having provided official mod tools for all of their projects since 2002's Morrowind to their most recent game, Skyrim. This talk will touch on the historical and modern relevance of modding, as well demonstrating the many positive ways in which modding has affected the studio. Attendees will leave with a new perspective on how modding has influenced everything from community building, tools design, team workflow, DLC, and the recent surge of interest in user-generated content.

1. How Modding Made
Bethesda Better
Joel Burgess, Senior Designer

2. A Note About This Presentation
These slides have no speaker notes.
I will be posting a free, written transcript
online at a later date. Please feel free to
contact me for details on how to access
that. (contact info on last slide)
In the meantime, please enjoy!

4. (This is Steve)

8. Epiphany: Cross-Discipline Tools
● I cannot program, therefore:
I cannot make games.

9. Epiphany: Cross-Discipline Tools
● Programmers can create tools that
empower other creators

10. Player
Consumption Modder
Tinkering
Developer
Creation

11. Overview
● This talk is about:
● The history and significance of modding
● Modern relevance of modding
● How Bethesda is intertwined w/modding
● The hidden benefits modding has provided

12. Modding?
● Mod = User Modification
● Total Conversion, HD Assets, Unofficial Patch,
Tweaks, New Levels, etc…
● In General: Any user content

13. Historical Context
● Mod Scene of 90’s PC era

14. Historical Context
● Mod Scene of 90’s PC era
● Attractive to aspiring creators
● Junction of Cutting Edge and Accessibility

15. Silicon Graphics Octane 2
• OpenGL chip
• Dual 550mHz processors
• 8GB SDRAM
• 1920 x 1200 max resolution
MSRP $75,000 (1997)
3Ds Max R2
$3,495 (1997)

16. Unreal
• Fully 3D Environments
• Free Level Editing Tools/Documentation
• Compatible w/Consumer-grade hardware
• ~$1,000 - $5,000
Retail $50 (1998)

17. Historical Context
● Mod Scene of 90’s PC era
● Attractive to aspiring creators
● Junction of Cutting Edge and Accessibility
● Brought together vocal/active communities

18. Historical Context
● Similar to the Indie scene of today
● Unity:2010 as Hammer/Unreal Ed:1998
● Attracts vocal, driven creators

19. What Mods Can Do
Past, Present, Future

20. Mods Blaze Trails
● Mods attempt what “Big” games may not
● Experimental, Unusual, Risky

21. Mods Become “Real” Games
● Blurred lines between mod and new game
● Can become standalone games

22. Mods Launch Careers
● Mods & Individual Creators

23. Mods Found Studios
● Mod Teams can become “Pro” teams

24. Mods Create Whole Genres

25. Mods & Modern Dev
Are Mods Relevant Today?

27. “User-Generated Content”
● The hot Buzzword of GDC 2015?

29. Recent Games Supporting UGC
● Far Cry 4
● Disney Infinity
● Minecraft
● LittleBigPlanet
● Project Spark
● Mario Maker
● Halo’s Forge

31. User Generated Content
● Buzzword implies new concept
● But creation as play goes way back

33. 2008 2011 2014
2009 2012

34. Warioware DIY
(2008)

35. Timesplitters 2
(2002)
Tenchu 2: Stealth Assassins
(2000)

36. High Heat Baseball 2000
(1999)

37. Myth II: Soulblighter
(1998)

38. The Incredible
Machine
(1992)

39. Excitebike
(1984)

40. Pinball
Construction Set
(1983)

41. Adventure
Construction Set
(1984)

42. Player
Consumption Modder
Tinkering
Developer
Creation

43. Bethesda & Modding
An abbreviated history

44. Bethesda Games Modding History
Morrowind
2002
Oblivion
2005
Fallout 3
2008 Skyrim
2011
Steam
Workshop
2012

45. Benefits of Mod Support
(The Obvious Stuff)

46. Mod Support Benefits
● Obvious Benefits:
● Develop Community (social)

52. Mods as Expression
● Enthusiasm can extend beyond the game
● Fans want to express this enthusiasm
● Streaming
● Online discussion & Forums
● Fan-Created Music/Video
● Cosplay, Fan-fiction, etc
● Making & Playing Mods!

53. Mod Support Benefits
● Obvious Benefits:
● Develop online community (social)
● Extends lifespan of games (sales)

55. Mods Can Sell Games
Typical PC/Console Sales Pattern
PC Console
Launch
Sale
Price Drop Bundle

56. Long-Term Sales Taper Off Over Time
PC Console
Launch

58. Mods Can Sell Games
• Long-term replay value

59. Mods Can Sell Games
• Long-term replay value
• Notable mods keep game in public eye

60. Mods Can Sell Games
• Long-term replay value
• Notable mods keep game in public eye
• Game becomes platform for mod(s)

61. Benefits of Mod Support
(The Less Obvious Stuff)

62. Less Obvious Benefits:
● Modular Data Format for ease of integration

63. Collaborative Data Format
Plugin
ESM
Plugin
ESM
PluginESMPlugin
Base Game
Master File
(ESM)

64. Mod integration w/Base Game
Base
Game
ESM
Mod 3
Mod 2
Mod 1

65. Less Obvious Benefits:
● Data format cleanly adapted to DLC delivery
DLC!
DLWTF?

66. Mod/DLC integration w/Base Game
Base
Game
Mod 1
DLC 1
Mod 2
Mod 3

67. Figuring Out DLC
● Modular Pipeline as Head Start, but…
● What do we make?
● What deployment issues exist?
● What should we charge?

68. Yup. Horse Armor.

69. Yup. Horse Armor.
● Proved DLC deployment pipeline
● Led way for more complex DLC
● Gave internet something to make fun of

71. DLC: The “New” Mods?
● Love it or Hate it… DLC is here to stay

73. Post-Release Choices
● 1985: Sequels
● 1998: Sequels, Mods, Expansions
● 2015: Sequels, Mods, DLC, UGC, IAP, Updates

74. Modders & Paid Mods
● Modders Get Paid
● Games Live Longer
● Direct Fan Support
● Everyone wins

75. Mod Support Benefits
● Less Obvious Benefits:
● Observe “alternate realities” of your game
●Like: What if Fallout 3 had greenery?

79. Alternate Realities
● Ideas we avoided, cut, scaled back etc
● Less polish required, no canon restrictions
● Able to reveal unexplored paths

80. Alternate Realities
Oscuro’s Overhaul
Influenced Fallout 3 level systems
Deadly Reflex
Inspired Skyrim archery feel
Open Cities
Attempted prohibitive layout concepts

81. Mod Support Benefits
● Less Obvious Benefits:
● Community Documentation & Practices

84. Mod Support Benefits
● Less Obvious Benefits:
● Publically-accessible training tool

85. Mod Support Benefits
● Less Obvious Benefits:
● Influence on internal tools design

86. Eat Your Own Dog Food
● Temptation for just-good-enough tools

88. Responsibilities:
• Editor Tools
• Data Loading Systems
• ESM Optimization
• Visibility Systems
• Actor Template Systems
Responsibilities:
• Editor Tools
• Interface
• Facial data
• Material properties

89. Eat Your Own Dog Food
● Temptation for just-good-enough tools
● “Will modders use this?” test
● How Intuitive is the workflow?
● What are typical mod use cases?
● How frequently is this feature used?

90. Mod Support Benefits
● Community/Social
● Sales Lifespan
● Versatile Data Format
● DLC Pipeline
● “Alternate Realities”
● Documentation & Tools Design
● Hiring & Training

91. The “Modder Mentality”
● Resourcefulness
● Prioritizing Intent
● Swiss Army Knife Developers
● Professional Finishers

96. Thanks!
Questions?
@joelburgess
joel@joelburgess.com