Improving the game with user generated content an overview of Skyrim mod users

Käyttäjien luoma sisältö on merkittävä ja kasvava osa videopelikulttuuria. Tämä tutkielma tarkastelee fanien luomia ohjelmistomuokkauksia, modeja, joilla muutetaan tai lisätään sisältöä peleissä. Tutkielman tavoitteena on selvittää modien käyttäjien motivaatiota sekä tekijöitä, jotka vaikuttavat mod...

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Main Author: Hirvonen, Eero
Other Authors: Faculty of Information Technology, Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta, Informaatioteknologia, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylän yliopisto
Format: Master's thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2017
Subjects:
Online Access: https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/56234
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author Hirvonen, Eero
author2 Faculty of Information Technology Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta Informaatioteknologia University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto
author_facet Hirvonen, Eero Faculty of Information Technology Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta Informaatioteknologia University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto Hirvonen, Eero Faculty of Information Technology Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta Informaatioteknologia University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto
author_sort Hirvonen, Eero
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description Käyttäjien luoma sisältö on merkittävä ja kasvava osa videopelikulttuuria. Tämä tutkielma tarkastelee fanien luomia ohjelmistomuokkauksia, modeja, joilla muutetaan tai lisätään sisältöä peleissä. Tutkielman tavoitteena on selvittää modien käyttäjien motivaatiota sekä tekijöitä, jotka vaikuttavat modien käyttämisen yleisyyteen. Vaikka modeja on tutkittu akateemisesti, on tutkimus modien käyttäjien näkökulmasta jäänyt hyvin vähäiseksi. Tässä tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin suositun roolipelin, Skyrimin saatavilla olevia modeja. Empiirinen osuus toteutettiin kuvailevana kyselytutkimuksena, joka kohdistettiin erääseen suureen Skyrim-modiyhteisöön. Kyselyssä selvitettiin modien käyttöön liittyviä tapoja, mielipiteitä ja kokemuksia strukturoiduin ja avoimin kysymyksin. Kvantitatiivinen data analysoitiin tilastollisesti kuvaavilla menetelmillä, ja kvalitatiiviseen dataan käytettiin temaattista analyysiä. Tulosten mukaan modeja käytetään ensisijaisesti siksi, että peleistä saataisiin parempia ja niiden pelaamisesta nautittavampaa. Tämä saavutetaan parantamalla pelien eri osa-alueita, kuten pelimekaaniikkoja, grafiikoita ja käytettävyyttä. Pelikehittäjien teknologiset valinnat, tuki ja sallivuus peliensä muokkaamiseen vaikuttavat käytettävissä olevien modien määrään. Onnistunut modien käyttäminen vaatii käyttäjältä paljon kiinnostusta, aikaa, vaivannäköä ja teknologisia taitoja, mikä vähentää modien käyttämisen yleisyyttä. Uusien internetyhteisöjen muodostuminen sekä peliaiheisten sosiaalisten alustojen suosion kasvu voivat vaikuttaa positiivisesti modien käytön yleisyyteen. Modit leviävät pääasiassa epävirallisten kanavien kautta, ja niiden olemassaolo perustuu fanipohjaisiin yhteisöihin. Modien käyttäjät haluavat toiminnan pysyvän mahdollisimman avoimena ja he suhtautuvat modien mahdolliseen kaupallistamiseen enimmäkseen negatiivisesti. Peliyhtiöiden tulisi suhtautua modeihin avoimesti, sillä niistä saatavat kaupalliset hyödyt voivat olla merkittäviä. User generated content is an important, growing phenomenon in the video game culture. This thesis focuses on fan-made software modifications, called mods, which are used to change or increase the content in games. The objectives were to identify the motivations of mod users, and to determine the factors that affect overall mod use. The subject has been studied academically, but research done in the context of mod users was very limited. An in-depth inspection of the user made modifications available for the popular role-playing game, Skyrim was conducted. An exploratory and descriptive survey was conducted on members of a large Skyrim mod community. The survey inquired various mod use related habits, opinions, and experiences with structured and open-ended questions. Quantitative data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, and qualitative data was thematically analyzed. The results indicated that modifications are primarily used to improve games and to make them more enjoyable to play. This is achieved through improving various aspects of games, such as gameplay mechanics, graphics, and usability. Game developers' technological choices, support and leniency towards modifying their games affect the amount of mods that can be used. Modification use is reduced by the high interest, time, effort and technological skill requirements to succeed in the activity. The formation of online communities and the growing popularity of gaming related social platforms may positively influence the extent of mod use. Game modifications spread mostly through unofficial paths, and their existence relies on fan-based communities. Mod users prefer the activity to stay as open as possible, and generally view the possible monetization of mods negatively. Game companies should keep an open mind towards allowing modification of their products, because the benefits can be considerable.
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spellingShingle Hirvonen, Eero Improving the game with user generated content : an overview of Skyrim mod users Skyrim (peli) modit modaus mods modding user generated content computer games game modification Information Systems Science Tietojärjestelmätiede 601 pelit digitaaliset pelit muokkaus käyttäjät verkkoyhteisöt sisältötuotanto kehittäminen peliteollisuus
title Improving the game with user generated content : an overview of Skyrim mod users
title_full Improving the game with user generated content : an overview of Skyrim mod users
title_fullStr Improving the game with user generated content : an overview of Skyrim mod users Improving the game with user generated content : an overview of Skyrim mod users
title_full_unstemmed Improving the game with user generated content : an overview of Skyrim mod users Improving the game with user generated content : an overview of Skyrim mod users
title_short Improving the game with user generated content
title_sort improving the game with user generated content an overview of skyrim mod users
title_sub an overview of Skyrim mod users
title_txtP Improving the game with user generated content : an overview of Skyrim mod users
topic Skyrim (peli) modit modaus mods modding user generated content computer games game modification Information Systems Science Tietojärjestelmätiede 601 pelit digitaaliset pelit muokkaus käyttäjät verkkoyhteisöt sisältötuotanto kehittäminen peliteollisuus
topic_facet 601 Information Systems Science Skyrim (peli) Tietojärjestelmätiede computer games digitaaliset pelit game modification kehittäminen käyttäjät modaus modding modit mods muokkaus pelit peliteollisuus sisältötuotanto user generated content verkkoyhteisöt
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