(Person) Percentage - Sabanci University Research Database

The Asian Media & Mass Communication Conference 2010 Osaka, Japan
Most of the time, smaller add-ons are designed by individual programmers with intention of adding
new dimension to the gaming experience. These add-ons are shared to the gaming community, who
are usually limited to familiar players, to test its design and solicit feedback on their own work. The
gaming community in return put ratings and compliments on their add-ons as a way of encouraging
the fan-programmers. Most small add-ons that are below 10MB take about an estimate of 20 to 40
hours of work time to finish although the complexity of the design and time needed to finish it is not
dependent on the file size alone. In some cases, smaller maps may require a longer time compared to
a larger map depending on its design and the skills of the fan-programmer in using the tools provided
by the game designer. This devotion of time by the fan-programmers may be equated to the savings
that the game developers will have as each fan-programmer develops and improves the game’s
storyline, maps, designs, or the gaming experience as a whole.
What is surprising with modders is their motivation to devote their time on producing something
which they are not paid for. A substantial amount of time and money (creation of mods require
higher hardware specifications than usual computer sets), regardless of file size and kind, is needed
in order to develop a mod. One of the modders mentioned,
creating mods allows me to feel good about myself especially when the community recognizes my
effort. It’s difficult to balance real work and voluntary service, but the compliments from those who are
satisfied with my work are worth enough to actually produce more of this [sic]. (Mileg, author
QuestHelper, email interview, 2009)
Another one stated,
the fact that I can do mods is an achievement in itself. It gives me pride and joy. Well, I don’t really
expect much from the other players to use my mods or give me star ratings, but the act of finishing
mods that are working and, for me, wonderful is satisfying enough. (Bedazzzzled, author InfoTracking,
email interview, 2009)
Recognition is one thing among others that drives the modders on devoting numbers of hours in
developing mods. This recognition is attained whenever members of the community give “thumbsup”
to their creation. On the other, producing mods provide a feeling of self-satisfaction regardless of
compliments and ratings. The ability of the modders to produce technical creations gives them a
satisfying self-worth.
Furthermore, there are also some who finds modding as an expression of creativity. The modders
find it as a form of technical art that allows them to produce something with value. For instance, a
modder stated,
I see myself as a creator of beauty . . . technical, that is [sic]. I feel like an artist whenever I accomplish
a mod regardless of its complexity. Adding details or even creating a character that is unique, ornate
and symmetrical is a creative venture. You wouldn’t be able to design beauty unless you know how
beauty looks like. (JeanClaude, mapper/modder, email interview, 2009)
The technical challenges that modders face in creating mods also pose as a motivating factor to
create and share their works. A modder stated,
The latest mod I designed for WoW took me roughly around [sic]100 hours spread in 2 months. It’s a
small visual enhancement patch to assist players during raiding. I thought it would be easy, but it
imposed a lot of technical difficulties to me. It was a great challenge to perfect and overcome my
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