Reasons against Paid Mods

Keen Software House, Please do not do what Bethesda just did and allowed mod authors to charge other players for modding content on the workshop. Modding has always been a community binding that prolongs the life of a video game. On top of that the authors only get 25% of the total sale of their mods. The forums and discussions over this has turned into a raving bloodbath, Bethesda has lost long time fans over this blunder of a decision. Please do not follow their lead.

 

Until this game has been finished they shouldn't charge for mods.

 

I think the discussion would be better left until after the game is actually released 'proper'.

 

In an ideal world you are right. However Valve is pushing the issue now. With as large as the mod community is and the number of mods already on the workshop have no doubt that Space Engineers will be in sights sooner rather than later. The all mighty dollar cares not for "proper release", completeness or functionality.

 

The only problem I have with this is the fact that people will make crap mods in an effort to make money. They could post those mods and people could download them (after paying real money for them) and be ripped off. Yes, that means they will get a bad rating and be forgotten, but then again those first few people got screwed over. Worst part is, its not like a game where there are reviewers who get copies early and can tell you what it is like. There wont be that for mods.

 

mistake

 

I as a modder do not want paid mods in SE. Please KSW do not do this. I think mods allow games to be much better and last for much longer. imagine having to pay for space engineers mods! My world with 254 mods would cost something like 254 dollars! And if a server uses a paid mod then if you don't have it you won't be able to join! And if you friend doesn't have a mod you are using he won't be able to join you! I think adding it in would be a big mistake. Thank you KSW for all of the work you have put into space engineers and medieval engineers.

Sincerely,
~Ajacstern, Galactic bounty hunter

 

Trial Periods are a thing.

 

Money for Mods would probably be implemented in a very bad way. The MOST you should charge is a buck. However, people have already pointed out some of the problems and I sure as hell won't pay for a mod for a game that isn't released yet. A trial period would be cool, but how do you implement that?

 

Well I'll put my cards on the table and say, I'm for content makers to be able to charge for their content. Its not a popular view, but its the one I hold.

I use an AI mod for a game that I play, we use it in our group. Its the main game I play, SE here, is the other, but to a lot lessor degree, although that will change over time.
Its an incredible mod that took them over two years to get finished and is now a little over three years in the process. The last year or so, supporting and expanding the mod and simply making it even better. Plus they paid for professional help when and where needed during the making process.

I have donated money towards keeping it fresh and supported, along with many other players in the groups that use the mod. It is quite literally something I don't mind spending money on because it gives me the game I want to play. It changes the game into another thing altogether, far beyond what was available in vanilla or via other mod/addons.
But even before using that mod, I held the view that content makers should have the choice to charge, because lets be honest, donating just doesn't work.

However, as with any game, it should not be considered until the game is released proper, not in Alpha or Beta, but released. After that, then introduce it if that's what the devs decide. I know that Steam and the devs will take a 75% cut from the earnings, which is obviously very high. But bear in mind that some content can be downloaded tens of thousands of times. So if the charge is a few pounds, it will still be a fair amount for the content maker, even though receiving just 25%. If that spurs them on to make even better more varied content, then that benefits the game & players.
Its just my view, I understand many don't like it.

The fact pc gaming has been the centre for mostly free player made content, is true. I've been pc gaming for decades and yes mostly player made content is free. But there are some exceptions to the rule. Those do have paid for content and the games benefit from it.
I don't think it is quite the great disaster many think it might be.
But not until after the game is released 'proper'.

 

I think I agree with this. on the account of space engineers. I think it should indeed be released. especially since mods will be broken at record speeds.

 

I will not purchase mods. I don't use many as it is and won't miss them terribly if they become paid content.

 

Here's another thing you have to look forward to if paid mods come down the pike:

PCGamer: Paid-for Skyrim mod removed in a matter of hours

 

I dont see how paid mods are any different from paid games. You have a platform, and then you pay to get access to some content. I could program a virtual 'OS' and then use steam workshop as a program marketplace to download games from.

Maybe the paid mods can be modded, so in 2041 youll have to buy a platform AKA game on steam, then buy a mod to configure it for your preferences, then install free mod-mods


If SE/ME does get paid mods, they would probably only cost to the person using them on a server, while the people playing on the server dont need to pay (assuming thats possible - if not, I dont think paid mods would work too well)

This also means that the mods would get a lot bigger and higher quality, which would be a welcomed change, because IMO having <10 major internally balanced mods is much less confusing than each server having 50+ random small mods that may or may not work together. More like a custom game mode than adding small things here and there to the existing game.

 

This is not necessarily true. What it will do is cause all manner of issues with LOTS of crap mods being stuffed into the workshop for sale that will be released and abandoned and broken over time as new official updates roll out.

 

In minecraft pretty much no one sold his plugins or mods. People donated if they wanted to thank the autor of great mods or plugins.
And those few who did charge people were lucky to not get arrested for it, because they did not pay taxes for this income.
And I won't pay for SE mods. Never.
I really hope such a drivel will not be established for SE.

 

This certainly complicates the issue of including more mods, like the Fighter Cockpit, in vanilla...

I think most everyone is fine with donations, but absolutely refuse to accept any kind of paywall. Modders' work should stand out on its own merit.

 

Biggest problems in my eyes:

A: Percentage cut for content creators, the more I hear about it the less I like it.
B: Whats to stop people stealing content and selling for themselves.
C: DMCAs, will they end up being a workshop nuclear button?

 

The quality of paid mods better be as good or better than official DLC for me to consider buying it.

 

Agreed.

The mods need to be hand picked or voted before they can get placed on market. It must meet and pass all requirements, such as copyright check, stable version, etc. etc.

But what bothers me the most is that modder only get 25% of the cut. As graphic artist myself, that's seriously low-balling bullshit I've ever seen in a long while.
I can understand Valve get the cut, because it pays for the servers, network traffic and such, but... it shouldn't ask for a percentage. Instead, it should ask for a small solid fee. Like... 25 cents, a dime? Whatever. Not percentage.


I can't even understand why the frak Bethesda is asking for larger cut for something that they didn't do. Sure, they made a game... but what does it have to do with the mods a modder make?

 

It's already happening with Skyrim: https://www.pcgamer.com/paid-for-skyrim-mod-removed-in-a-matter-of-hours/

 

You know what keep alive Minecraft and Arma for so many years? Free custom user made content full modeable open for all the community.
If this crap come true it will be sad day for SE, I don't use a ton of mods but I know many people do. and if the charge for the mods and people pay for it, well, somebody is very stupid here. The modder thinking he will make a lot of money, the user that does not see or doesnt give a f*k for the damage this crap will do to the whole community. The only one winning will be the greedy steam.
For me it will be simple, you charge me for a mod, f*k it, even if you sell it for 0,01$ Im not going to use it, even for my favorite modders out there, and block user. Why don't you put a donation button or something if you want some little contributions instead? I am more against this, not because I don't want modders to do some little pennies with their work, but because it is Steam that wants this money... clearly. mother f*ers aggg

 

Steam just removed all the Paid mods for skyrim, Check it out. Click on one and a error page comes up with "This item is no longer for sale, but if you have purchased it, you will still have access to it." Community win!

 

That was a quick end to bad approach at an idea.

 

I don't know if that'll be the end of it, but it's nice to see paid mods have been disabled for the time being, there's a lot of negative feedback over them. I updated my review of the game to "negative," included a note about paid mods, then uninstalled it.

 

I doubt it's the end too but hopefully they'll implement it in a better way.

 

this game is NOT ready for paid mods. from what I understand, Skyrim is polished and good people(not to take away from SE/ME workshop users- you guys rock too!) make mods for it. Space Engineers has potential, but it would be good to let it grow and get much more polished before the workshop gets clogged with small pieces going for a dollar or more.

 

This.

I don't like the idea of obsolete mods and I don't like the idea of this game being developed on the back of the modding community. I just don't think it's right.

Once this game is finished I might be willing to pay for a mod that's good enough although I don't think the modder gets enough of the profit.

 

I don't think complete and polished will make paid mods any more tolerable for people. There is a hell of a backlash coming from the Skyrim community on Steam over paid mods. Lots of angry people.

And keep in mind... the game's publisher/developer gets 75% of the purchase price. Modder only gets 25%. The whole thing is a scam.