Making a Good Game: a Modding Case Study

Student Author Information

Jessica Ritenour, University of LynchburgFollow

Location

Room 214, Schewel Hall

Access Type

Campus Access Only

Entry Number

41

Start Date

4-10-2019 3:45 PM

End Date

4-10-2019 4:00 PM

College

Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Communication Studies

Abstract

Video game modification, or fans creating game components from their original assets, has the potential to reveal community ideology and values about how to improve a game. Especially when made available online, users have the ability to customize existing games to their liking. In this study, I will be analyzing one modding community over the course of the game release; Skyrim and its mods have been around since its release in 2011, and thus allow for an in-depth analysis of trends, modding type, and the connotations of those trends therein. Thus, the patterns of mod development can be beneficial to game developers to predict how a game ages among its fans.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Cheryl Jorgensen-Earp

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