Difference between revisions of "Developing Successful Mods"
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== '''Developing Successful Mods''' == | == '''''Developing Successful Mods'' (An Introduction)''' == | ||
''' ''How to make successful mods and mods successful'' ''' | ''' ''How to make successful mods and mods successful'' ''' | ||
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'''1: ''Developing Successful Mods'' ( | '''1: ''Developing Successful Mods'' (An Introduction)''' | ||
'''2: ''Index''''' | '''2: ''Index''''' | ||
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== '''''Ideas and Drafting''''' == | == '''''Ideas and Drafting''''' == | ||
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If you're planning to make a mod, then don't dive straight for your Constuction Kit; especially if you're planning a mod of a larger scale. Get some thoughts and ideas down, and plan your mod! Write down things like names, places, quests, and sketches of maps or new model content. If you don't plan your mod, then things can lead astray, and end up of a poor quality. | If you're planning to make a mod, then don't dive straight for your Constuction Kit; especially if you're planning a mod of a larger scale. Get some thoughts and ideas down, and plan your mod! Write down things like names, places, quests, and sketches of maps or new model content. If you don't plan your mod, then things can lead astray, and end up of a poor quality. | ||
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== '''''Basic Beginnings''''' == | == '''''Basic Beginnings''''' == | ||
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Now you have most of your ideas briefly finalised, it's time to implement them! It's important that you don't try to loose faith in your mod now; you've got an idea that should shake up the way people see and play Oblivion, and you can't let it go (Read more in 4: Motivation). At this point, it's important to stick religiously to your plan, and it'll soon be time to draft additional bonus content, and to spice up weaker areas of your plan. | Now you have most of your ideas briefly finalised, it's time to implement them! It's important that you don't try to loose faith in your mod now; you've got an idea that should shake up the way people see and play Oblivion, and you can't let it go (Read more in 4: Motivation). At this point, it's important to stick religiously to your plan, and it'll soon be time to draft additional bonus content, and to spice up weaker areas of your plan. | ||
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== '''''Modding Utilities''''' == | == '''''Modding Utilities''''' == | ||
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This section, which did not feature in the original thread, has been added at a later date, so excuse any in-fluidity between the other sections and this one. | This section, which did not feature in the original thread, has been added at a later date, so excuse any in-fluidity between the other sections and this one. | ||
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== '''''Team Projects''''' == | == '''''Team Projects''''' == | ||
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If you're planning a large mod, it's generally NOT a good idea to try to involve a team. You'll find yourself spending more time managing your team than producing your mod. If you have to make a team to work on an incredibly large project, make sure you publish who's areas are who's, what each member of the team should be working on, and to keep track of progress. The last thing you want is for work to slow down because one member isn't devoted; try to ensure all goals are met. | If you're planning a large mod, it's generally NOT a good idea to try to involve a team. You'll find yourself spending more time managing your team than producing your mod. If you have to make a team to work on an incredibly large project, make sure you publish who's areas are who's, what each member of the team should be working on, and to keep track of progress. The last thing you want is for work to slow down because one member isn't devoted; try to ensure all goals are met. | ||
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== '''''Motivation''''' == | == '''''Motivation''''' == | ||
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Don't loose sight! You're mod can, and hopefully will, make Oblivion a better game. Stay organised, keep an eye on the result and take regular, short breaks; or you'll feel that you've been working so hard on the mod, and spending so much of your time on it, that it won't ever get finished. Keep a poll open, or a thread on these forums, telling people about your mod (But don't forget to claim rights to it). The feedback from these forums can boost your morale, and also raise attention on your mod. | Don't loose sight! You're mod can, and hopefully will, make Oblivion a better game. Stay organised, keep an eye on the result and take regular, short breaks; or you'll feel that you've been working so hard on the mod, and spending so much of your time on it, that it won't ever get finished. Keep a poll open, or a thread on these forums, telling people about your mod (But don't forget to claim rights to it). The feedback from these forums can boost your morale, and also raise attention on your mod. | ||
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== '''''Completion''''' == | == '''''Completion''''' == | ||
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Now you should be drawing a close to your mod. Try not to carry on adding more content, or it'll never get released! Try to get the core, but perfectly functioning and detailed, version of your mod out. Anything else you wish to add can come in an update or Additional Mod (Like an expansion pack, but for a mod.). Things should be drawing a close, and playtests should be becoming a lot more frequent. Iron out any bugs you find, replace anything of inferior quality and generally smoothen your mod. You want it to be perfect for the big day! Any Beta tests should now be closed, but feedback should still be taken into account. Beta Tests are an amazing way to gain feedback from the people you should be releasing it to, whilst raising the public awareness of your mod. | Now you should be drawing a close to your mod. Try not to carry on adding more content, or it'll never get released! Try to get the core, but perfectly functioning and detailed, version of your mod out. Anything else you wish to add can come in an update or Additional Mod (Like an expansion pack, but for a mod.). Things should be drawing a close, and playtests should be becoming a lot more frequent. Iron out any bugs you find, replace anything of inferior quality and generally smoothen your mod. You want it to be perfect for the big day! Any Beta tests should now be closed, but feedback should still be taken into account. Beta Tests are an amazing way to gain feedback from the people you should be releasing it to, whilst raising the public awareness of your mod. | ||
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== '''''Publicity''''' == | == '''''Publicity''''' == | ||
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This is the part of the final few stages that you should focus on. Aim to get your mod known by most people on forums, IRCs and methods, through a signature, website, and so on. Tell people how good your mod is, then make it seem better (Without lying, or you could get blamed for false advertisement). Show people how good it is with screenshots and video captures, and make sure they know exactly what the mod is about, what it should change, known bugs and compatibility. Enhance the positive points, and mask the negative ones, then make those bad parts positive! Just make sure the public loves you and your mod. | This is the part of the final few stages that you should focus on. Aim to get your mod known by most people on forums, IRCs and methods, through a signature, website, and so on. Tell people how good your mod is, then make it seem better (Without lying, or you could get blamed for false advertisement). Show people how good it is with screenshots and video captures, and make sure they know exactly what the mod is about, what it should change, known bugs and compatibility. Enhance the positive points, and mask the negative ones, then make those bad parts positive! Just make sure the public loves you and your mod. | ||
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== '''''Post Release''''' == | == '''''Post Release''''' == | ||
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Now the main excitement is over, but the mod certainly isn't. Make sure you can receive feedback from downloaders. Releasing further content, such as updates and patches will attract more attention, as people who have never heard of the mod will be able to through the forums, or media for conversation. | Now the main excitement is over, but the mod certainly isn't. Make sure you can receive feedback from downloaders. Releasing further content, such as updates and patches will attract more attention, as people who have never heard of the mod will be able to through the forums, or media for conversation. | ||
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== '''''Interviews''''' == | == '''''Interviews''''' == | ||
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This section, instead of containing information about interviews, contains some on this topic. At this current moment, I have only interviewed WillieSea, but if you're interested in being interviews, or have points that you wish to raise, please message me and I shall consider it. Enjoy: | This section, instead of containing information about interviews, contains some on this topic. At this current moment, I have only interviewed WillieSea, but if you're interested in being interviews, or have points that you wish to raise, please message me and I shall consider it. Enjoy: | ||
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== '''''Page Conclusion''''' == | == '''''Page Conclusion''''' == | ||
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Thank you for reading the page, and I hope you appreciated all I had to offer, and learn a thing or two wherever possible. Again, I shall say I will not tolerate flaming, or any other breech of the wiki rules on this page or in the forums. Anything to mock my ability or any mods I have made should be seen as immature and needless, as this isn't a page to show off that I'm well known or highly rated; because I don't generally think that. All this was for is to give guidance and to advise all those who will be willing to accept it. Anything that is flaming or spam, and also abuse to the page or me, shall be reported and deleted. If you have any problem with this, message me, or talk to yourself about it... And that's not small minded, I can take abuse and criticism, I'm just aware that people will misunderstand the page's purpose, or take abuse from it, so I'm trying to avoid confusion and possible arguments. | Thank you for reading the page, and I hope you appreciated all I had to offer, and learn a thing or two wherever possible. Again, I shall say I will not tolerate flaming, or any other breech of the wiki rules on this page or in the forums. Anything to mock my ability or any mods I have made should be seen as immature and needless, as this isn't a page to show off that I'm well known or highly rated; because I don't generally think that. All this was for is to give guidance and to advise all those who will be willing to accept it. Anything that is flaming or spam, and also abuse to the page or me, shall be reported and deleted. If you have any problem with this, message me, or talk to yourself about it... And that's not small minded, I can take abuse and criticism, I'm just aware that people will misunderstand the page's purpose, or take abuse from it, so I'm trying to avoid confusion and possible arguments. | ||
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== '''''Page's Thread''''' == | == '''''Page's Thread''''' == | ||
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If you want to feedback or criticise the page, or want something to be changed, please direct it to the below link, not to this page or this account - I'd prefer it to all be in the same place. Cheers ^_^ --Gregbert | If you want to feedback or criticise the page, or want something to be changed, please direct it to the below link, not to this page or this account - I'd prefer it to all be in the same place. Cheers ^_^ --Gregbert | ||