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Is mapping modding?

Posted on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

User Comments

 

In the literal sense - anything that alters the game from when it was sold off the shelf is a game modfification.

Posted by StrYdeR on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

mapping is mapping, modding is modding don't mix these 2.

Posted by Nemo06c on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

I have to agree with Stryder. I think the confusion comes when mods are referred to as mods, but maps arn't called mods. Atleast in the general community of gamers.

Posted by supersword on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

No good mod without new maps so mapping is a part of modding imo

EDIT: well atleast for bigger mods then

Posted by KilLjoY on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

what does it matter?

Posted by mwasley on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

Modding -> Modifying.

I think you can talk about modding when you adapt an excisting file. When you create something from scratch its still called modding because it goes almost the same way.

So in my opinion it's both modding, the second example I gave is just harder and made all by the modder him/herself.

Posted by Rammelslakje on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

i dont really think its 1 of both options:

ill explain meself lol

making a map is using new diffrent style and additions then instead of scipting or modding

in both options it had actually nothing to do with acutally making a map with houses etc... you cant really make houses from a script you have to build it same goes with modding you can edit something or make with a modding programm your own shaped house but then again you still have to putt in ur map so that will conclude modding your own map... which aint a mod/script yet.


ehhh... i hope you people understand because i have lost track in middle of story


Darkthrone.

Posted by Darkthrone on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

Mapping is mapping, modding is modding cant say it another way

Posted by Sc00by22 on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

hmm its a tricky one

well if you say to somebody your modding, it always means your doing somthing like scripting or making a new compass or somthing.

And if your mapping its always been classed as mapping...

If your making a map you dont say "ye im making a really cool mod" or "talk to ya soon im off to do some modding"

So modding is script based or making new pictures for huds n stuff

Mapping is making a new level in a mapping program

well thats my oppinion, lol!

Posted by Ricsta on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

maping is moding we are modifing the game by adding new maps for ppl to play with its just like mods we add new features for ppl to play with.

same difference so mapping is modding :D

Posted by sevensniff on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

I think its fine to consider mapping and modding all part of a modding comunity, but the difference between modders and mappers does clear up confusion into what they specifically do

Posted by Raaaaa on Tue. Sep. 12, 2006

 

when your creating a bran new game you are not modifying nothing. There for things are broke down into coders, skinners, modellers, mappers

Modding is just a word used to describe your a person that is modifying somthing, could be anything, dont even need to have anything to do with computers.

a mapper is a mapper, a coder is a coder, a skinner is a skinner

I think ya get the point now, lol

Posted by Ricsta on Wed. Sep. 13, 2006

 

Most of the comments tend to agree that mapping is a form of modding. This is just as scripting, coding, skinning, etc. are also all forms of modding. Modding is a general term defined as the act of modifying. Anything that changes a game from its original state is a form of modification. Maps that don't come with a game are therefore modifications for that game. Just because it's in addition to the game doesn't mean it doesn't change it from the original form.

Back to my comment title...
How is it that most of the comments here agree that mapping is a form of modding yet the scoring (at this time) reveals that most people think mapping and modding are unrelated?

Posted by foyleman on Wed. Sep. 13, 2006

 

I always considered mapping to be level-editing (taken from the earliest days of Wolfenstein3D that's really what it was).

My personal view, if you change the theme, goals, and/or gameplay significantly then it becomes a mod. IMHO ;) You have to change the way the game plays for it to become a mod.

For example, in the pre-commercial days, Red Orchestra was a Mod for UT2K4. (In fact it became a TC - total conversion, but the term doesn't seem to be used any more) It significantly changed the gameplay, the scenarios, the rules etc. However you were still able to create maps (levels) for the game. In this case I would have said you were mapping for the RO Mod and not modding for the RO mod.

DoDPro is an example mod for DoD Source. Here, the gameplay has been changed at an engine level. The ballastics have changed, the recoil of weapons, sprinting etc ... It still uses the same dod source maps (level) though. There is still a difference between the mod itself and the levels that it uses.

There always seemed a pretty distinct difference simply mapping and modding. However the borders seem to be merging.

There is a "mod" for DoomIII called Classic Doom. (check it out on moddb if you are a Doom fan, it is a must-have). The team took the original level design from the original Doom but used the textures, prefabs, and monsters from DoomIII. There was a little artistic licence here and there, but you would recognise the layout immediately. Of course, this all ran on the DoomIII engine.

The thing is, the levels together formed a scenario or story. Strictly speaking they were just (sic) levels but together they formed a complete package. They didn't tweak the engine, they didn't change the gameplay, they just made new levels. But all the levels together seemed to constitute a Mod. Strictly speaking it was just a map-pack for DoomIII, although, most in the community would consider this a mod.

Now, if you read the last sentences again, you might realise that a certain company did the same thing commercially. Id software released RoE for DoomIII. Technically it was the same thing; new levels, a few new models, but no change to the gameplay or engine driving the game.

Int the commercial world this wasn't considered level-editing, or modding. This was considered an *expansion*.

Funny thing is .. if a company releases a commercial package, it is considered an expansion. And if the community release the same package it is considered a Mod.

So now the question is when we create maps and levels, are we really modding or just creating Expansions?

Posted by Gaspode on Thu. Sep. 14, 2006

 

I go with StrYdeR,

editing w/e from a game is called modding IMO.


Grtz

Posted by r0el on Thu. Sep. 14, 2006

 

My opinion they are seperate. They are both equal talents. One is affecting the players movement and one is affecting the visual environment.

Posted by {UST}Juice on Thu. Sep. 14, 2006

 

mapping is both mapping and modding. When you create a map, it is just that...mapping. but when you go and add scripts to make doors work and you modify bat files for mapping, that is modding. So you would have to say that it's both mapping and modding. But i don't think that the two should be combined. They do need seperate definitions

Posted by cybershot on Thu. Sep. 14, 2006

 

Honestly, any form of creating or adding something new to a game is MODing/ifying. You can't make a new completley different mod without any maps. Every form of adding/changing is a form of modding, including coding, modeling, mapping, animation/skinning(though ties in with modeling), sounds, ect..

Posted by Dwahlst on Fri. Sep. 15, 2006

 

I take the view that it is a little more complicated than it first seems. A map like "Second Coming" (which I like), I wouldn't consider modding - it does nothing new or different to the game. A map like "Island Madness 2" (If you haven't got it then you REALLY should) adds new features (Stargate, ring transporters etc) and HEAPS of scriptable objects, I would consider a mod.

Posted by general99 on Sun. Sep. 17, 2006

 

Mapping is creating a map to play on from scratch. Modding is editing something to look different, play different, etc.

Posted by Bob_The_Reclaimer on Sun. Sep. 17, 2006

 

Aslong as the map brings atleast a new idea/scenario/location etc to the game - then yes mapping is modding

edit// Otherwise if you modify a stock map like Newvillers....are you not changing it through mapping.... modding means MODIFYING - changing something - If you map, you ARE changing the game.

Posted by techno2sl on Sat. Sep. 23, 2006

 

There are ways to mod inside a map without changing the vaniila mod. SO in my case modding and mapping goes together.

Posted by Larven on Sun. Sep. 24, 2006

 

From Wikipedia:

Mod or modification is a term generally applied to computer games, especially first-person shooters and real-time strategy games. Mods are made by the general public, and can be entirely new games in themselves. They can include new items, weapons, characters, enemies, models, modes, textures, levels, story lines and gamemodes. They also usually take place in unique locations. They can be single-player or multiplayer. Mods that add new content to the underlying game are often called partial conversions, while mods that create an entirely new game are called total conversions.
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This should explain it. Mapping is modding

Posted by genuvine on Mon. Sep. 25, 2006

 

Agree with Nemo06c!!! Mapping is Mapping ^^

Posted by coltfinger on Tue. Sep. 26, 2006

 

Modding is editing script to provide specific game preformance from the modder (ie. making a weapon do more damage) Mapping is simply designing a map. What people might confuse is a CONVERSION, which includes both elements.

Posted by Firebomb on Tue. Sep. 26, 2006