The Mod Revolution

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How mods changed the face of PC gaming.

Some of you might be thinking, "What's a Mod?" well besides a syndicated 70's TV show Mod is short for modification. Though there are many types, Mods are most commonly associated with computer software that has been retooled or customized by end users (that means you) and distributed online. The purpose of Mods is to extend and expand the replay value of many games adding fresh and appealing features to a game that would otherwise have lost its luster.

Mods can be simple changes to general gameplay features like adding a new usable weapon or character into a game or tweaking the established system of controls and game difficulty. Then there are more elaborate Mods that are almost completely re-engineered using a game's basic elements to develop a totally new story line, gameplay features, and even a different look from the original. This type of Mod is often referred to as a Total Conversion.

Bard's Tale in 1991 was one of the first games that became moddable.


Modding first started in the early 90's with tools provided by developers of a few selected games like Bard's Tale (1991) and Pool of Radiance (1992), which were only partially successful. Modding was almost completely abandoned by developers and mainstream gamers alike beyond a small amount of support for a select number of First Person Shooter titles. Then in June 1999 a Total Conversion Mod was released on the Internet based on the popular FPS Half-Life called Counter-Strike. CS was an overwhelming success and ended up being published as a stand-alone title and has even produced sequels. The success of Counter-Strike and many other Half-Life mods showed developers that modding can have a great deal of value.

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