Dark Thoughts: Leave it to the Modders

I just watched a new trailer for the upcoming game from Bethesda, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. First of all, I’m going to say it looks amazing: Incredible graphics, new creatures, a new style of combat, stealth insta-kills, not to mention that the NPCs look a lot more human. That said, I couldn’t help but feel like I’ve seen all this before. Oh, yes, these are all ideas from some of the most endorsed Oblivion mods. In a way this is good, seeing a game company actually listening to the desires of the fans is a refreshing change from “ignore them and hope the inbred ideas we come up with are enough to please our once loyal, now hateful and cynical fans.” This is when I realized that several new aspects of Fallout: New Vegas also contained almost exact replicas of Fallout 3 mods. I’m not really sure if I’m complaining or if I’m simply stating the facts. On one hand, Bethesda is taking some incredible ideas from several skilled scripters, artists, and writers and integrating them seamlessly into their game. No conflicts, no errors, and no half baked game crashers. On the other hand, it’s almost like Bethesda is taking credit for the hard work and ingenuity of these artists who are NOT paid for what they do. (I hesitate to call them amateurs.) Maybe I’m making too much of this. Maybe I care more than the modders who have found their ideas coded into these new games. In the end nobody can really argue considering Bethesda owns the rights to the games in question and therefore all content related to it. In the end I guess all we can do is grin and bear it…..and sleep with their wives while their away at work.

– Donny Grimm