If you've scoured the web, you've probably heard of "modding". Modding can be confusing because it's actually used to refer to a number of different things. However, using modding as a term to describe these things isn't inaccurate - it's just a general term, and if you don't understand the context, you might not know what they're talking about. Let's first talk about what modding, the general term, means.
ContentsWhat is modding?Hardware moddingSoftware moddingImportant mods in PC games
Hardware modification requires specialized hardware to be installed in a computer/console or simply the user to modify something like a case.
In PC building, case mods are very popular. A case mod can be as simple as a new paint job or as complex as turning an NES case into an effective computer case.
This is probably the modding you hear the most about. Software modding deals with modifying software to do something differently without changing the hardware in question. Software modding is typically used in computer and game software, either to create a different version of a program or to modify the code of a pre-existing game.
For example, modifying Android to create custom ROMs is a common practice. Popular Android mods include Cyanogenmod and AOKP.
However, software modding is controversial when it comes to talking about game consoles. In many cases, unlicensed code running a game console allows users to play illegal copies of video games in addition to their own backups and homebrew software. Modding can also be used to cheat in online games. For these reasons, modding is a dirty word in the console gaming world.
Mods can also be standalone games in their own right. More on that in a minute.
Mods are a frequently touted benefit of the PC platform, but many people may find it difficult to understand what PC game modding means, especially if their view of modding is based on how it's used in games. console circles, to cheat and circumvent copyright protection methods.
However, mods are an integral part of the PC gaming platform. The biggest PC gaming company is Valve, and they've started making the Half-Life series.
Half-Life's engine, GoldSrc, actually comes from the Engine Earthquake. GoldSrc is heavily modified, but its successor, Source, continues to power many of Valve's biggest games.
Speaking of Valve's biggest games, let's talk about the two most played games currently on Steam:Dota 2 and CS:GO. Both of these titles are sequels to what originally started out as mods for other games. Dota, or Defense of the Ancients, started out as a popular mod for Warcraft. The original Dota also influenced Dota 2's rival, League of Legends, as well as the MOBA genre in general. Meanwhile, Counter-Strike was originally a community-made mod for Half-Life.
Dota and CS have since become Valve's biggest properties. Team Fortress 2, their free-to-play (and personal darling) shooter, was originally the Team Fortress mod for Quake and has its own huge modding community eight years after release, still providing new cosmetics, weapons and more to the game.
Mods are not only used to create unique games on the PC platform. They are also used by PC gamers to add new features to a game, improve graphics (as seen above with GTA V) or even repair broken console ports.
The importance of modding in PC games is enormous. Modding in all hardware and software circles continues all the time, a community of enthusiasts always working to make the next big thing.
