TAMPEREEN YLIOPISTO hypermedialaboratorio Modding scenes Introduction to user-created content in computer gaming Tero Laukkanen 2005 Hypermedialaboratorion verkkojulkaisuja 9 ISSN 1458-9974 http://tampub.uta.fi/tup/951-44-6448-6.pdf Hypermedia Laboratory Net Series 9 ISBN 951-44-6448-6 Modding scenes Introduction to user-created content in computer gaming Featuring case studies of “Half-Life”, “The Sims” & “Grand Theft Auto III / Vice City” modding scenes Tero Laukkanen
[email protected] October 2005 University of Tampere Hypermedia Laboratory http://www.uta.fi/hyper/ MODDING SCENES: INTRODUCTION TO USER-CREATED CONTENT IN COMPUTER GAMING 2 Table of contents 1. Executive summary 4 2. Introduction 5 2.1. Modding as participatory culture 5 2.2. The evolution of the modding culture 7 2.3. About the research 14 2.3.1. About terminology 15 2.3.2. Release note (about releases) 17 3. Case study: Half-Life 18 3.1. Description of the game 18 3.2. Overview of the modding scene 20 3.2.1. Organization of the modding scene 21 3.3. User-created game content 30 3.3.1. Maps 32 3.3.2. Textures 36 3.3.3. Prefabs 38 3.3.4. Map models 40 3.3.5. Custom characters (models and skins) 42 3.3.6. Weapon models & skins 45 3.3.7. Sprites 47 3.3.8. Logos 48 3.3.9. Sounds 48 3.3.10. Code modifications 49 3.3.11. Total conversions 52 Examples: Multiplayer 55 Examples: Single player 57 3.4. Summary and notes 59 3.4.1.