It's never been a big issue on the Nexus because, as the largest source for Oblivion and Fallout modifications we helped to ensure this policy remained intact, so Bethesda have never had to look too deeply at the matter. In essence, we enforced the policy because our relationship with Bethesda, and ensuring modding isn't more hassle than it's worth for them (so they continue to release SDK's for their games), is more important than mod authors receiving donations. And I'll stand by that thinking.
The truth of the matter is that I coded a donation system on the Nexus many months ago, before the launch of Steam Workshop, in anticipation of any changes that the integration with Steam Workshop might bring. There's a 13 page thread in the private mod author forums, where I discussed the various options with mod authors that I started months ago as proof of this. Those changes were put on hold until we could tell whether Bethesda's policy or endorsement of mod author donations changed with the Steam Workshop integration. Steam Workshop did not offer any direct donation or payment methods, however, with the launch of Steam Workshop several mod authors have questioned recently why Bethesda/Valve were allowing mod authors to request donations on the Steam Workshop in their file descriptions, but we weren't. I assumed that, actually, Bethesda weren't allowing it, but instead were just unaware that mod authors were doing this. So this seemed like the perfect time to rock-the-boat a little and enquire further on this matter.
So I fired off an email to Bethesda this morning and we had a conversation on the matter. It was good to know that Bethesda and I are on exactly the same page in regards to this subject. However, I have now received a confirmation that if users want to ask for donations on their page then that should be fine. Which is good news. The worry is in the further ramifications, like mod authors trying to offer their services, support or files for money in any shape or form and that's something I agree with absolutely.
It's great to know that Bethesda do not have a problem with mod authors receiving voluntary donations from other users (and they used the analogy of a tip jar) but we need to make sure that's all that donations are used for. Voluntary donations are fine, but let's list some of the things that aren't fine so we're completely clear:
- Asking for donations in exchange for password protected files or additional content e.g. offering your own kind of DLC for mods in exchange for donations. All mods must remain completely open, and completely free. You cannot offer additional content for donations.
- Asking for donations in exchange for updates for your uploaded files e.g. saying "for every £10 I receive I will update my mod with new fixes and features".
- Asking for donations in exchange for help or support e.g. saying you won't help someone to install or fix problems with their mods unless they donate to you.
- Offering incentives for people who donate to you
- Anything that isn't just a straight forward, voluntary donation, in exchange for nothing
We have to be strict on this because there are bigger legal ramifications at stake when money is being exchanged. Because of this, and because I don't want file descriptions to be spammed full of "PLEASE DONATE TO ME" messages, we are going to enforce a rule of absolutely no donation solicitation on the Nexus. That means you cannot ask or talk about donations in your file descriptions, profile pages, comments or private messages. And we mean that. We have updated our Terms of Service accordingly.
I have coded a donation system in to every Nexus site that you can now configure in your preferences area. First things first, the donation system is completely optional and you most definitely do not have to use it. It's completely opt-in, so if you want to accept donations you need to fill in the required fields in your preferences.
When you fill in your donation preferences you can set where you would like donation links to show. At the moment you can set them to show on your profile page and/or all your file pages and it's a simple toggle to turn that on or off. Once on, new links will show on the pages you selected, with a donation button and text reading "Like what this author does? Consider donating money to this user through Pay Pal to help support and encourage them.". That's it. All donation links on all files are in the same place, so if a user wants to donate to you, they will. So remember the no solicitation rules in regards to donations.
I hope that this new feature within the community will be used, because god knows mod authors deserve any support and encouragement you're willing to give them, but I hope it's used properly and not exploited. We'll be monitoring the situation very closely to ensure that's not the case.
198 comments
1) companies make games that can be modded.
2) companies are able to sell games that can be modded at far greater rates than otherwise because of the mods available.
3) mod creators bust their ass creating amazing content for games they love, and share it with others who want to enjoy it
4) the users of the mods get a much greater experience than they would have without the work of mod writers
So.....the companies creating the games already financially benefit from each and every mod that is produced. Giving a couple of bucks to mod authors is going to bring about the end of the world? I just don't understand. I suggest trying I did. I took some console gamers, who had played New Vegas on consoles, and showed them New Vegas on the PC, with mods. Not even an amazing mod load, as my machine isn't that hot. Many of them are now pricing out PCs so they can play mods, as they don't have PCs capable of playing modern games right now. So.....let's see.....mod authors are benefitting the game development companies, software distribution houses (Steam, not Nexus.....I'm amazed Nexus is able to pay its bills, and bless it for being able to!), and even hardware manufacturers. I don't believe that any of the mod authors are getting a cut of any of that action. SO.....I've made donations to a number of mod authors because I really like their work. None of them asked me to. And the last time I checked, I'm not the devil (opinions vary). No one is going to mod for money....it is a lousy proposition. I understand that this happened with the Sims, but I'd have to consider the target audience for the Sims and feel that it doesn't apply. I just hope that other mod users can give a little and help promote high quality work.
And some might wonder.....well, if the money isn't worth it, why have the donations at all? Because there are people I'm NOT going to donate to. A mod author who feels that the users of their mods are idiots if they ask questions (I'm not talking about RTFM here either) isn't going to get a donation from me, at the least. Maybe, just maybe, the donations will encourage the mod authors who are not elitists to continue creating when they get frustrated. Done sufficiently, this will increase the number of active mod authors who actually like people as opposed to those that think humans are a blight. I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm just saying that I've been blown away by how vicious people can be, usually for no reason at all. I purchased FONV in April, and used mods from the start after seeing how amazing they were in FO3. I struggled for weeks to get things to work. Some of the advice I found initially was essentially If you can't figure this out on your own in 10 seconds, you're a damn fool and you shouldn't be using a computer in the first place. Since I handle the email delivery for 12000 users, this idea didn't stop me, but it did irritate. It also made me think initially that all of the FO3 modders had disappeared or been turned into angry monsters or something, and that I was just going to have to figure everything out on my own. I quite accidentally (because I had given up looking for guides) found some guides made by people who actually want to encourage people to play modded FONV. I wish I had from the beginning, it would have saved me weeks worth of my free time (which I actually don't have much of). If I can make some donations, and others do the same, and it encourages an environment where the goal is to enable people to play modded games......well then my money was very well spent indeed.
I have been modding for years to support a free community and I must admit that I am shock by the Nexus decision to allow this form of solicitation by mod authors ,
What is most bothering me is that I create (for free) body shapes and any forms of organic modelling and my work is very often used by other meshers as a base in their creations
Oh well ,If at least we have a button to HIDE this donation drive (I guess i could live with that)
This is just my 2 cent!
BobbyTH
I have nDo2, it's f'ing ridiculous with what it can do.
Honestly though I wish I was more skilled in how to use it.
I can't say I ever appreciated modders asking for endos, votes or donations, but I've always made sure I endorse the mods I use and vote each month for the game-changers. I've wanted a feature like this for years, 'cause frankly some of the issues games (Bethesda's in particular) are released with would be deal-breakers for me, but thanks to the talent and the zest of the modding community, these issues are ironed out and I'm free to enjoy the game (that I paid for) for a long time. And if you put all the extra content this community has added to the game, paid for in sweat, aching bones and bloodshot eyes, packed it into an official DLC and slapped a $50 pricetag on it, EVERYONE on this very thread would praise Bethesda for it.
It's not required of you to give a little something back to the guys and gals that helped make your gaming experience great. But if you want to, now you can.
At the end of the day, I've been doing this for fun and have enjoyed sharing my mods with people. That's payment enough, really. I just wish we could get folks to be more consistent about giving we modders the approval we so desperately need (lol) and taking the second to endorse the mods. When you've got something that's been downloaded uniquely 46,000 times and only endorsed 600 times, it's sort of a bummer