mod
Latest
Xbox One's modular racing accessories exposed
Accessories have been upgraded on the Xbox One to be more modular, Microsoft's Director of Strategic Alliance Brandan Powell explains in the video segment above. This modularity allows players to add components to their initial investment over time: You can buy a racing wheel for Need for Speed Rivals or Forza Motorsport 5, Powell says, then add gauges or custom pedal types for a more personalized set-up. Powell also says hardware now has more nuanced force feedback options. Developers, using new feedback equations within the game code, can create a more dynamic range of feedback as opposed to the sort of "canned" responses that felt so uniform in previous hardware iterations. Controller pairing, which uses Kinect to determine who a player is, is another feature hardware accessories should be able to utilize. When playing with friends on the same couch, each of whom may prefer different control schemes, Kinect will seamlessly match the appropriate profile and controls to that player, mitigating the need to dive into the settings menu. We imagine this will be a big help when sharing a racing wheel with 80 buttons on it between a couch crowded with friends.
Thief homage The Dark Mod steals spotlight for itself, goes standalone
The Dark Mod, a Thief: The Dark Project-inspired mod for Doom 3, has been made standalone, meaning you no longer require id Software's sci-fi horror romp to play. The mod was originally created by Broken Glass Studios as a way to re-experience the gameplay of Looking Glass Studios' 1998 stealth classic with updated graphics. Don't expect to play through the original Thief exactly as you remember it, though. Due to copyright issues, The Dark Mod cannot use characters, names, locations or any other copyrighted material from the Thief series. Instead, the mod offers community-created, piecemeal missions which take place in an original setting that shares the medieval and steampunk vibe of the original games. It's more of a Thief ho-mod-ge. Buh-dum-tish! Anyone with a taste for first-person stealth games can now download the game, free of charge, from the Dark Mod website. If you're hungry for an official expansion to the Thief universe, the Eidos Montreal-developed Thief is planning a heist for February of next year.
Saints Row 4 FPS mod puts Steelport all up in your face
If you want a fresh perspective on Saints Row 4's unique style of debauchery, a new PC mod will grant your extraordinarily creepy wish. The Saints Row 4 First Person view mod brings Volition's over-the-top open-world experience into the FPS realm, allowing you to wield dildo-shaped bats with increased vigor and personal aplomb. Instructions to download and install the mod are available at SaintsRowMod.com. Though the process is quite simple, the mod is still in alpha testing and suffers from a few bugs. Following the instructions, which are also detailed in the video above, will help alleviate some of the mod's initial quirks. Now ... Cry Havoc! And let slip the hogs of war. Or whatever farm animal of war.
Infinite Crisis amplifier set preview lands with October update
October's Infinite Crisis update brings a small preview of big changes. Turbine is adding an "early version" of the game's augmentation system, an addition that should help players to learn the basics of character enhancement before the full system goes live. Augmentation is accomplished via amplifier sets, which are collections of items designed to enhance champions in a variety of ways depending on role and play style. Each amplifier set is composed of four augments and three mods. Augments enhance stats, while mods enhance artifacts. Every amplifier item will be associated with a brand; each brand benefits specific champion roles. While the complete amplifier system will allow players to build their own sets from scratch, the sets introduced this month are package deals. Turbine has plans to release hundreds of augments and mods as Infinite Crisis grows. Check out the video after the jump for a quick look at amplifiers, or hit up the official post for a detailed breakdown.
Modders turn piano into Doom controller (video)
It's been almost too long since we've seen something (in)appropriated to satisfy a twisted modder's Doom craving, and this time, it's not the hardware running Id Software's classic game that's ill-fitted, but the controller. If the timeline on David Hayward's Vine account is accurate, a crew of what appear to be professional tinkerers has turned one old piano into an awkward keyboard in little more than 24 hours. Details on how this was achieved are limited, but it seems to involve some basic PC interfacing and a "load of wiring." Head past the break to catch the noisy mod in action, and if you'd like to a see a few more clips of the "Doom Piano" in development, hit up Hayward's Vine profile. Now, which one's the BFG chord?
The Daily Grind: Do you like a simple, complex, or customizable UI?
Is it just me, or do MMO interfaces seem as though they're slimming down as of late? The bloated HUDs of the past are giving away to streamlined, almost minimalistic on-screen elements. Maybe that's just because I've been playing a lot of Guild Wars 2 as of late. Perhaps. But that's not really today's topic, now is it? I'm curious how you like your UI. Are you all about this sort of simple, streamlined setup? Do you adore a really complex interface that gives you scads of actions and information? Or do you just prefer it when a game allows you to modify it to your heart's content? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Multi-appendaged mod sneaks Octodad into Don't Starve
Octodad is a master of infiltration, evidenced by his covert undercover operation as father to a human family in Octodad: Dadliest Catch. But now Octodad has found himself all alone and lost in Don't Starve, Klei Entertainment's wilderness survival game, through a new mod created by Klei forum user Memoski. Mods were added to Don't Starve last month when developer Klei flipped the switch on Steam Workshop support. You can check out Octodad fending for himself in the Let's Play video above or, if you want to see how long you can sustain Octodad's new rural life yourself, wrap your tentacles around the mod right now either through Steam Workshop or the Klei forums.
Mini classic Macintosh created with Raspberry Pi, runs System 6 (video)
Apple may please fans of diminutive hardware with the Mac Mini, but John Leake of the RetroMacCast has created something that can satisfy fans of miniature and classic hardware: a tiny replica of the original Macintosh. The aptly-dubbed Mini Mac sits at 1/3 the size of the original, is crafted from a PVC board and crams a Raspberry Pi inside. In order for the board to fit however, Leake had to solder wires instead of relying on connectors, trim the SD card and snip part of the USB cable. When it comes to visuals, the box packs a 3.5-inch display, which receives 512 x 384 output from the Pi. As for connectivity, the package supports a wireless keyboards and mice via Bluetooth, plus it exposes two USB ports, an HDMI slot and an ethernet jack. Not only does this slice of the 1980s have the looks to match the era, but it also features some of the old-fashioned functionality. Sure, floppies won't fit into its faux drive slot, but it runs System 6 via the open source Mini vMac emulator. Head past the break to catch a video of the model or visit the source for build shots.
Don't Starve adds Steam Workshop support on PC
Klei's wilderness survival sim, Don't Starve, has added Steam Workshop support on the PC. This allows players to better find and install mods directly through Steam. New character skins, language translation packs, world generation modifications and custom creatures are just a few of the things players can now add. With the Steam Workshop update, Klei has also added a new level to Don't Starve called The Ruins, made up of five different areas. Within players will find new items and creatures, including an Ancient Guardian and the Dangling Depth Dweller spider. There's also a new Morgue screen now that keeps tabs on all the times you died, in case you need that information for some reason.
Overkill adding 5 DLC packs to Payday 2, would 'love' to add mods
Overkill Software producer Almir Listo recently said the studio has "a year of DLC planned" for Payday 2, its multiplayer heist game that launched this week on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 (August 23 for Xbox Games on Demand). Listo tells Joystiq that five DLC packs in total are in the works. "Payday 2 - just like its predecessor Payday: The Heist - is a living thing. We have 5 DLCs planned together with 505 Games for the coming year." Listo went on to say that Overkill would continue to update the game with both paid and free content, "just like we did with the first game." In Payday 2, the same maps are recycled over many different types of jobs, suggesting a natural fit for modding support or Steamworks integration. "We would love to add support for creating community generated content," Listo said, but in the meantime the team will "continue to look into this." Listo posted a message on Steam yesterday about absent safe house customization options and Cloakers, special heavy-duty police units seen in the beta. Both will be added down the line: "The safe house is what we intended it to be at release," Listo said. "Just like Bain says when you enter the safe house for the first time, it's not much at the moment, but give it some time. He's working on it and he'll let us do some decorating soon." Finally, Listo addressed the idea of further franchise crossovers. The first Payday had a mission set in the No Mercy map of Left 4 Dead, serving as a non-canon prequel to Valve's co-op zombie shooting gallery. On this point Listo said, "We can't discuss if we have any crossovers planned right now, but we will let you know when/if that should change."
Bizarre Ocarina of Time mod replaces Link with Sonic the Hedgehog
Prominent streamer Vinesauce recently broadcast some The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time footage to his fans, but with a twist: Link had been replaced with Sonic the Hedgehog. [Thanks, BPMΩ.]
Dark Souls modder introduces first-person punishment
YouTuber Soul Slasher has come up with a way to make Dark Souls a more classic RPG experience in the vein of King's Field, by switching the player perspective from third-person to first-person. Soul Slasher explains in the video above that this effect was accomplished through the use of several third-party programs, including his own custom HUD mod. Unfortunately, this first-person mod isn't available to the general adventuring public. Dark Souls is an open-world action game developed at From Software categorized by its extreme difficulty and minimalist plot. Its sequel, Dark Souls 2, is slated to launch in March 2014.
Paperdude VR rides into the neighborhood with Oculus Rift, Kinect
Globacore, a creative technology company specializing in large multi-touch displays, has come up with an interesting marriage of Kinect and Oculus Rift. Dubbed Paperdude VR, this work-in-progress is a first-person homage to Atari's 1984 classic, Paperboy. As demonstrated in the video above, a player rides a stationary bike and attempts to toss newspapers into peoples' mailboxes. Except for sawhorses, the current version of Paperdude VR lacks many of the distractions and dangers the original paperboy had to pedal through in the '80s. Depending on your perspective, Paperboy tells one of two different stories: It's either about a courageous suburban paperboy dodging vicious dogs and insane old ladies seemingly hellbent on preventing the flow of news from reaching the public, or it's about an evil kid on a bike who enjoys breaking windows and damaging private property. It's open to interpretation.
Bicycle turn signals get the Ben Heck mod treatment (video)
Ben Heck's devised hacks for everything from console mashups to wheelchairs, and now he's turned his attention to the humble bicycle turn indicator -- something we've seen reinvented from time to time. Heck's take on the device uses a LilyPad Arduino and a backpack modified with an array of lights in the shape of two arrows. Merely pick a direction by jabbing one of the satchel's shoulder pads with your chin, and the appropriate lights will blink for 20 seconds. Sure, the existing contraption is slated for a giveaway, but the build process will be detailed on the next Ben Heck Show this Friday. To catch a glimpse of the construction in advance, mosey past the break for a quick video preview.
GTA 4 mod emulates GTA 5 character swapping
Can't wait for Grand Theft Auto 5? A modding group has provided a taste of Rockstar's upcoming approach, with the ability to instantly swap between three protagonists in Grand Theft Auto 4 for the PC. The character switch mod allows players to instantly swap between GTA 4 vanilla main man Niko Bellic, and DLC add-on leading men Johnny Klebitz and Luis Lopez. Klebitz is the star of The Lost and Damned, an episode devoted to Liberty City biker gang The Lost, while Lopez is the protagonist of The Ballad of Gay Tony, the second expansion to GTA 4 that tells the story of entrepreneur and club owner Anthony "Gay Tony" Prince. The mod is still under development and may contain bugs, the script notes warn, so keep that in mind should you decide to install this.
Job-seeking 19-year-old produces incredible Skyrim mod
This week marks the release of one of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's most ambitious user-created mods to date, adding over 20 hours of unique content to Bethesda's lengthy quest. Alexander J. Velicky's "Falskaar" mod, available for download from Skyrim Nexus, adds a neighboring continent to Skyrim's map. Approximately one-third the size of Skyrim's existing world, Falskaar features 9 new storyline quests and 17 sidequests, and includes recorded dialogue from a cast of more than 30 volunteer voice actors. PC Gamer reports that Velicky produced the mod in the hopes of landing a job at Skyrim developer Bethesda, and spent more than 2,000 hours working on the project over the last year. "The best way to show Bethesda Game Studios that I want a job there and should be hired is to create content that meets the standards of their incredible development team," Velicky said.
Free standalone Sven Co-Op coming to Steam with Valve's blessing
It's been almost 15 years since Sven Co-op, a mod for Half-Life that adds online co-op to a custom version of the original campaign, made its debut. Today, the Sven Co-op team announced Valve is officially embracing the mod, promising to provide a custom version of the original Half-Life engine so the group can create an updated version of Sven Co-op for Steam. The new-and-improved Sven Co-op will be a free standalone game for all Steam users and will include the original Half-Life campaign, so no purchase of the original game will be required to play. SteamPipe, a backend update delivery system, will also be incorporated to keep the updates flowing. Finally, the team promises "larger and more detailed game worlds" in the new Sven Co-op. Presumably work on the new Sven Co-op is already underway, but the announcement post offers no insight into when we'll be able to see this updated version, let alone get to play it.
Mod-heavy shooter Rekoil deploys to PC, XBLA later this year
505 Games has signed on to publish SoCal indie outfit Plastic Piranha's modular FPS, Rekoil. In development since early 2011, Rekoil is a team-based shooter targeting eSports and core gaming aficionados on PC and Xbox Live Arcade later this year. It was also one of the first Steam Greenlight games, though it failed to gain any traction. Players will be able to customize much of Rekoil's gameplay, five different classes and ten game modes. Rekoil will support dedicated servers and provide access to public server files when it launches, along with replays and a spectator mode. Rekoil will launch with 10 maps and over 40 different weapons later this year. 505 Games has not announced a price for Rekoil.
Half-Life modders gain Valve's approval, will launch new 'Sven Co-op' on Steam
Having developed Sven Co-op for the better part of two decades, the team behind the Half-Life mod has finally been given the keys to Valve Corporation's candy store. The company has granted the modding group access to the original game's engine in order to produce a custom edition that's designed to support co-operative play. In return, the next Sven Co-op, in which players have to work together to survive and solve puzzles in various time periods, will be made available through Steam as a free-to-play title. All we ask is that Daniel "Sven" Fearon uses his new-found access to hunt around for any files entitled Episode Three, and keep all of our flickering hopes alive.
Slender Man game Faceless postponed for 'partial reboot'
Ethereal Entertainment is postponing development of Faceless to make way for a" partial reboot," following the exodus of some of its developers. Faceless, a Half-Life 2 mod, has seen a few roadblocks in its development – it was held up on Steam Greenlight due to legal complications with the Slender Man IP, but was eventually able to snag a spot on Steam. Hope is not lost, Faceless Lead Promotional Designer Adam Sklar writes in an update. Faceless is on hiatus because of issues finding an AI programmer willing to follow through, Sklar says. Ethereal tried out a few programmers, but none worked out. "This became frustrating for all of us and we couldn't just go into a hiatus without letting anybody know; it had to be announced," Sklar writes. "We didn't want to leave you hanging and never finding out about what's happening with the mod. Myself in particular have always wanted to be open and honest about everything in relation to Faceless, so that's why I'm still here today to try and get it complete." The new development group will retain some previous members, and the story and style of the Faceless Slender Man will stay the same. The game will get new maps, textures and models to fit the new team. The team is hiring now. Last year, Ethereal founder Justin Ross launched two funding campaigns for Faceless and raised $2,291. Considering the changes, those who want a refund are getting one, Sklar says. "For those who have not recalled their donations, we'd like to ask you all a very important request," he says. "This is your money: Would you like it back? Or would you like us to use it to pursue a professional development team to ensure a professional and high-quality standalone Steam mod? We are not making this decision for ourselves of course, we want to ask you." If you have an answer or are curious about Faceless' changes, check out Sklar's post on Mod DB.
