Mods for the Consoles?

[Red Guardian]

Do you think it would be possible for Bethesda to put some Mods for the players that own a console?

I'm not talking about some huge library of Mods like the PC players have but it would be nice to get a few mods for the consoles. Even if they're crappy. It's better than nothing, let's face it.

What are your thoughts on that subject?

[T PoPTartZz T]

The problem with this is that they'd have to be implemented via DLC. And,
mods can get pretty buggy. And because of the way some mods are
implemented, they would have to release patches as well to get the mods
to run smoothly. From what I know of modding (which is enough to explain
my point), some files have to be overwritten in order for some mods to work.
There's no real way to do that on a console since all the files are burned to
disk.

[TheoC]

It would be hard to make them work tbh <.< Plus I always kinda feel like mods ruin it. Just my opinion :/

[Veck]

Seeing as I'm most likely going to be playing this game on an Xbox I don't own, I would say yes, I would like to sed mods.

[Red Guardian]

@PoPTartzz: I don't understand about mods because I never tryed any of these tricks with the computer games that I played but I thought about creating this thread just to share some opinions, knowledges (or lack thereof) and etc.

But I understand your point. And this is such a shame, the thing with the files. But this applies to any mod? Even the "weak" ones?

[Master of Puppets]

Could the construction set be shipped for consoles? If so, why not have it like GHTunes, only intra-console? You go in, and it's like TESNexus, only for consoles. Then, you download them into your game, where they stay saved.

[T PoPTartZz T]

But I understand your point. And this is such a shame, the thing with the files. But this applies to any mod? Even the "weak" ones?

Not all mods overwrite files. In fact, many of them add new ones. However,
these are usually just minor object additions; i.e., new swords, spells, etc.
I have yet to see a major mod that does not need to tweak a game file to
run smoothly. Though, I could easily be corrected.

[Vendetta]

Because bethesda does not make the mods, than no. it is impossible.
Maybe simple mods if they could put some kind of mini construction set in it, and post them on some kind of xbox live store. But I do not think it would ever work for ps3

[The Tom]

It can't be that hard, since one of my favourite ever games has allowed mods on the PS3. I've seen custom weapons, custom maps, custom voices... it can be done, and I think it should!

[Lindai]

There's no real way to do that on a console since all the files are burned to
disk.

What if we were to install the disk onto the hard drive?

[JockoBeans]

Yes the mods could work for the discs. If that was the case then how would the official dlcs work?

[Spiney]

I very much doubt it. Though one way I could see it working is for Bethesda putting up a Halo Waypoint style application where users can download X-box versions of a mod. Though there is the issue of incompatibility, bugs and errors which are only really fixable on PC.

Again, I doubt it.

There's no real way to do that on a console since all the files are burned to
disk.

What if we were to install the disk onto the hard drive?

That still doesn't bypass the Disk locked content. It is made to be uneditable from an outside source. A feature built in to every console game.

[T PoPTartZz T]

And aside from all this, the modders would have to know how to format
to the console file types. The reason you can't play 360 and PS3 games
on the PC is the same reason the PC versions can't be played on consoles
and the same reason the console disks aren't interchangeable. The formats
are different, and to encrypt the mods into the file typed readable by the
consoles is an entirely new challenge for modders.

[DorostheConqueror]

I honestly don't see why they can't have mod utilities for consoles. I mean, every console these days has internet access. Most consoles have hadrdrives and processors to rival or exceed modern PCs. So why NOT have mods?

Bethesda could set up a Mod server. Official pay-to-play DLC could be released on it, as well as a section for users to upload and download community made mods. A simplified version of the CS could be released, again, for download straight from Bethesda, with an interface similar to that seen already on console-based web browsers. Now granted, there would be limitations. How would you build new meshes and textures, for example? You might be able to get around that by allowing users to create, say, .nifs on a PC then transfer the files via USB to their console's harddrive.

That still doesn't bypass the Disk locked content

It doesn't have to. Set up the game to allow it to load content from external sources. The disc drive itself might be strictly ROM, but surely it wouldn't be hard to allow reading and fetching from software files stored on the harddrive. Hell, they already do; how else do they get save data and online updates to work? There's plenty of data stored and manipulated on the drive already.

And aside from all this, the modders would have to know how to format
to the console file types.

No we wouldn't. That's what the utilities are there for! Build a mod in the Console CS, save it, and the CS will write the data in a readable format, just like it does already.

[T PoPTartZz T]

And aside from all this, the modders would have to know how to format
to the console file types.

No we wouldn't. That's what the utilities are there for! Build a mod in the Console CS, save it, and the CS will write the data in a readable format, just like it does already.

I just hope you realize how buggy a Console CS would be.

[Ethelred]

Would I like it? Yes.

Will it happen? Not an Argonian's chance on a glacier.

[DorostheConqueror]

And aside from all this, the modders would have to know how to format
to the console file types.

No we wouldn't. That's what the utilities are there for! Build a mod in the Console CS, save it, and the CS will write the data in a readable format, just like it does already.

I just hope you realize how buggy a Console CS would be.

Couldn't be worse than the new Fallout GECK!

Seriously, all the Bethesda games I've ever got are for the PC, and the main- nay! Only reason is because of the mods. If they were to make console versions as, or almost as, open and moddable as the PC versions, I'd... well, I'd still get the PC version, but I might consider buying console versions as Christmas presents for PC-less friends.

[Kestral]

Bethesda has previously stated that this was possible. To put it simply, my copy of Oblivion for the PC has the exact same game data as one for the PS3. The only differences, really, are things like encryption keys and what not. They'd be all for having something like a mod database accessible via PSN or Live, but I believe they said that it was Microsoft or Sony that were the problems. That isn't to say that we will have it here. Literally nothing is known.

[The Gray Box]

They could pick popular mods and make them a small DLC for console players to download...
But the only problem is for Microsoft and the xbox 360...

Microsoft will most likely make or want people to pay for the mods.

(No fanboy talk by the way, It has happened with Valve when they put DLC's on the market place)

[Mr. Mischief]

They could pick popular mods and make them a small DLC for console players to download...
But the only problem is for Microsoft and the xbox 360...

Microsoft will most likely make or want people to pay for the mods.

(No fanboy talk by the way, It has happened with Valve when they put DLC's on the market place)

Like when you could buy Left 4 Dead one and two and all the DLC for about 7 bucks on Steam and only the DLC (The Sacrifice if I'm not mistaken) was like 7.50 or 8 dollars on Xbox live.

[ronenum]

um...there would be no tech problems at all adding mods for Skyrim..they did it in oblivion just fine.

[Vardark]

The only way this could be possible was if Bethesda implemented a modding tool into the game, just like the Forge in the Halo series. Then they could have this file share thing for the Xbox and Playstation, and everyone would be happy. Doesn't seem likely, though.

[Spiney]

um...there would be no tech problems at all adding mods for Skyrim..they did it in oblivion just fine.

I assume you mean mods for consoles. For one the folder system is different as well as the encryption. Plus there are issues with texture sizes, poly count on meshes and scripts possibly causing frame rate drops. It is best if consoles stay unmodded and unmoddable.

[FivePercentSure]

hey, some of you are confused sorta, weren't a lot of Oblivion DLC just mods you paid for, like say the Wizards tower? it wasn't there when i didn't have the DLC but when i have it downloaded the tower is taking up real estate that was previously unused.

so the answer is some mods could be integrated as DLC however some can not due to the fact that they may change way too much of the games code and or script breaking some other quests and such.. mods such as new races and hair and weapons, maybe even houses COULD very well be an option.

[ace62394]

Even if you get past all the technical stuff, there's no way Microsoft would allow free content! Heck, the creators of Super Meat Boy had to pull lots of strings just to give players free content.