Mod

If you like computer game and are not Japanese, perhaps you know "Mod".

Mod or modification is a term generally applied to computer games, especially first-person shooters, RPGs and real-time strategy games. Mods are made by the general public or a developer, and can be entirely new games in themselves. They can include new items, weapons, characters, enemies, models, textures, levels, story lines, music, and game modes. 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. [Wikipedia ]

"Mod" grows game developers. Many students and many holiday developers have the experience which has completed games. That's quality assurance of developers. Business employes those amateur developers. They might not be called as professional developers, but they are better than inexperienced people.

"Mod" is useful for the leraning of game designers, level designers, artists and programmers who don't still begin hard-core programming. Game designers can instantly begin video game development by his idea, because required engine, required graphics and sounds already are there. Also artists can make building, terrains, soldiers and weapons. Those graphics show up on real game directly. Many visual tools are free download for personal developers.

Some game engine for Mod is possible by script programing. Normally, level designers learn the script and use it, but it might be the first stage that grows professional programers. If they want to learn full-fledged game development programming, they can get easy game engine or hard-core game middleware. There are free engines, charged engines and ABC books for learniong.

I respects powers of the situation. That's heaven of any game developers.

In Japan, "Mod" is not known very much. Not only "Mod", all categories of amateure development are not hot. A few people get English software and enjoy to make "Mod". I don't know whether that is favorable for the employment. Video game development companies in Japan employes highly capable students and educates them. I feel that those companies are good at educations. That comes along well at the time of the present, but it sounds that the condition is the last straw.

Japanese people likes to make something. But, maybe, video game development is hard work for them. You may feel that all amateure game development activities are not there in Japan. Deactivate circumstances are enough to loss passion of them.

Japanese game develop companies are alarmed by the situation. Mr, Kiyoshi Shin who is the head of IGDA Japan is propounding "Basic Maginze 2.0" to resuscitate hot air of amateure video game development. What's "Basic Magazine"? That's one of important items on the computer histories of Japan. I will write about it at some early date.