Gameplay Journal #3: Mods

Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man on PlayStation 4 finally gave players an amazing Spider-Man game for the ages, but what if you’re on PC, only have Grand Theft Auto V, and don’t have a PlayStation 4? You mod in Spidey to GTA V of course. Modding has been a huge part of the PC gaming scene for decades. It provides limitless opportunities like adding characters/skins from different IP’s, custom weapons, and even your own campaigns.

Modding, of course, requires knowledge of the chosen game’s engine. Adding in stuff that’s not original to the game is kinda like a parasite invading a host which is based on Anne-Marie Schleiner’s concept of modding. Modders “..infiltrate a wealthier ‘host’ game system” and “take advantage of the game at his or her fingertips” (Schleiner, page 4). Modders can change up the game any way they want; they have the ability to push game’s engine to it’s absolute limit to the point of causing the game’s systems to break before the player’s eyes as seen in countless mod videos for Grand Theft Auto V and Skyrim.

Using Grand Theft Auto V as my example, the Spider-Man mod uses the existing engine to generate new ways to play the game. The modder who created this mod used in-game mechanics to simulate web-swinging with a grappling hook by using a handgun. Just point, shoot, and you’re web swinging! The “web” can link with objects such as buildings and aircrafts thus making it new, yet funky way to navigate the game world of Los Santos. The mod also bares resemblance to Just Cause’s grappling hook where you can link multiple objects to your liking. As seen in this week’s Let’s Play video, Funhaus attempts to replicate those mechanics with the mod while trying to save Mary Jane.

Works Cited:

Schleiner, Anne-Marie. The Player’s Power to Change the Game: Ludic Mutation. MediaMatters. 2017.