So today, while I was taking the train home from work, I had a thought. I've actually been feeling bad for console players who do only get a limited content. I know, I know, people always tell them: "Buy it for the PC!" And I've been one of those people.

Then I thought, well, how would I feel if I couldn't get mods. So I started think of solutions and I came up with this:

What if Bethesda had a modding contest? People could build mods and submit them to the community, just like they do now. Fan could nominate mods, Bethesda could select them. With a given time frame, say ever six months or whatever, Bethesda would select a mod or two and convert it to console format.

Obviously, there would have some restritions: overhaul mods would probably be out of the question, but weapons mods, small quests, house mods, things like that could be converted. Bethesda could work with the modder to clean the item or make sure it met Bethesda's quality standards or contradict existing lore.

Another issue: licensing agreement between the various console manufactures and software companies. But, while this could be a problem, it's not insurroumtable.

I admit I don't know the nuances of how consoles work or license agreements. Could be, this would be difficult. And there's the issue of charging the console players for migrating the mod over, then they're paying for something that PC player's get free (of course, if Bethesda selected the mod, it would be removed from free circulation).

But I was thinking this was a win/win. I mean, if I were on a console, I'd rather have any of a half-dozen excellent quest mods, than say, horse armor (sorry Bethesda).

If this is really a bad idea, well, we can just go back to dabating the really important issues.

~ Dani ~

I admire your thoughtfulness for console players, although this will probably get locked.

Come closer and see
See into the trees

This will get locked since modding for consoles breaks the EULA, as you stated several times.

Also, they wouldn't want do select community mods because technically they would owe the modder royalties for their work. And they wouldn't want to do it for free because it doesn't make them any money.

Just like Bungie and its Halo Community! I love Forging new maps in Halo: Reach. Bungie still hasn't used any of mine though...

What am I missing here? My post is (1) on topic (deals with modding and DLC for Skyrim); (2) does not condone any illegal activities (that I'm aware of), and (3) is sincerely offered as a viable (or sem-viable) solution to an existing problem.

But, surely, by all means: lock 'er up.

~ Dani ~

Nevermind . . . lock it up.

I like your idea, isn't like other companies haven't had similar contests before, although for games that ended up on the XBLA.

Thanks.

This was sincerely meant as a positive suggestion. However, someone just PMed me and explained that download content for Oblivion wasn't avaialble to console players. I thought it was. Sorry.

I guess it was a bad idea.

~ Dani ~

DLC is available on consoles, but as you thought, mods are not.

No need to feel bad, I for one couldn't really care less for user made mods to begin with, although more patches on consoles would be nice. ^_^

Officially released downloadable expansions were available for every platform that hosted Oblivion. . .

I know for a fact because I played it first on 360 and downloaded (most of) the official expansions. It wasn't until several years later, and a major computer upgrade, that I got the gold edition for PC and went mod crazy.

On topic, I think this is a great idea. The people whose problem it would be to implement are probably more concerned with ROI though, and that would bump something like this down on their priority list.

I guess you'll have to talk to Microsoft and Sony about it. We don't get to decide and we don't discuss mods for consoles because it breaks the EULA.