by SotaPoika on Tue May 01, 2012 8:39 pm
I first started modding as just a hobby. My modding in the beginning was to just make small CSS GG/FY maps, which were basically just shootout maps. Stuff was simple, I enjoyed seeing my own work ingame. My CSS maps were played occasionally by some random player or two, because after compile (if run game after compile was chosen), Hammer always created non-LAN server for anyone to join. It was fun.
After I did those small maps for years along with middle-school (ya know, 7th-9th grade), I thought I wanted more. When I started high-school, I started working on my biggest map-project ever: nmrih_hidden. Yes, it was a map for No More Room In Hell. By the time, I was just community member and I worked rather hard to get my map to point, that when mod is released, I can release my map very soon after it. Well, many of you know NMRiH "died" in 2008 due to intruder-in-the-base scenario and it was bit sad seeing it happen, mapping wise too as I spent alot of time on my map. Well, NMRiH was summoned up again by new team-lead (which this time knew actually how to run a team and had a proper goal), I asked if I had a chance. I did, which is why I'm now in NMRiH team as Lead Level Designer.
So, in NMRiH team, I just thought it was awesome to work in proper project and in a team with talented people (some were talented, but lazy, which resulted in boot-mark in their asses). I was getting better almost every week as we were testing gameplay stuff and designing the gameplay. I was also super excited to work on a big thing, not "just" a map. At this point, my high-school was in mid-point, so I started to think what I want from future. Seeing how many modders got into game industry and I really enjoy creating levels, I began to also think my work as a portfolio pieces I could use when applying for real studio. I wanted to in the industry one day. I am still working on NMRiH, as it's in beta. Lots of things to do.
I guess I haven't really answered to the question yet. I think I do modding (mainly), because there's freedom to do things pretty much how ever you want, no more waiting for some big company to do it with huge budget. You have nice base to build your stuff on, no need to code everything from ground up. I also think, it's nice to create something many can enjoy, giving people free stuff to play (those who have the game obviously, except now Source2007 is free basically). Besides, like I said before, I want to work in the industry one day too, so that's ne reason too. I also enjoyed building with lego or whatever equal to it when I was a kid, so maybe it's just that creative part in me that just wants me to make stuff and have that "replay-value" out of everything as long as possible.
Okay, I don't know about the quality of the text. I'm tired and I tend to easily lose my thought then, so.. yea, I hope you can make something out of that text.
Also, modding rules! We need to tell this to more people so big companies might wake up (DICE, Craptivision, etc.) and "give back" the ability to mod big-titles again, besides UDK/Source/CryEngine.