I was actually talking about that grey area, and especially since the developer or publisher of that game might want to get involved. I think, that adding a donation button-- just like making paid mods available, it requires the actual developer or publisher (whoever holds the rights) to agree with that. It wouldn't normally be a concern, but a website like Nexus or a service like Steam which have a huge amount of users and mods, are special cases. They need to have a favorable relation with the publisher or developer.

But fundamentally the paid mods failed because they didn't approach it the right way, and instead went with the industry standard which doesn't really apply well to mods. It should have given a chance for players to see how messed up the industry is.

Can you elaborate? I'm much more well versed in criminal law, so intellectual property isn't my strong suit, but what would the legal problems be with an agreement between Steam and a content creator that they receive part of the money? "Donation" would be an extremely poor choice of words then, but "tip" or "contribution" would probably fly.

There is of course the issue with modding being a grey area because they're relying on copyrighted material (game assets), but that's a general problem with donations for that, regardless of whether it's through Steam or not.

That's the whole issue, and a lot of drama and hate could have been avoided if Steam was more transparent. Instead everything was done behind closed doors, NDA's and so forth, where the general opinion outside of Valve was barred. (Some modder also commented on some issues, but they weren't heard, I don't remember which one though)

So really, it just goes back to the fundamental flaw in the industry; no transparency.

Steam's system did not encourage that.

There are pros and cons about the whole ordeal and how actually paid mods could have helped. It just wasn't executed right. You've "won" nothing, nor I accept to give any importance to the venomous masses who harassed other people over this. It's one thing to be civil and express sadness or disagreement, and another to target modders and harass them.

Those people do not deserve mods; they do not deserve any creativity, time and effort of which creating, and supporting a mod does. Just because they are ungrateful, and ready to violently hit anyone who they deem right.

 It's not a vocal minority either; but it's a huge mass of people who do not see modders as humans, or probably think it's acceptable to let out their frustration on them.

They should have made the Cole Train collection.

The author's comment on someone who suggested to put it on sale.

For the moderators: I don't know if the text below infringes the ToC of the Nexus. Delete it if yes.

Thank you for your feedback, but I'd rather to allow the users the choice to donate to me or not. The Paypal Donation system on the Nexus is enough. Free feel to donate or not. This mod (and all my other mods) is not intended to be sold.

Better download it while it's still free...

Be right back, found a way to pay my college tuition.

Well, modding will change, it was just a matter of time until it happened.

Just scale down the shaders and some effects, and you'll get the final version.

What is it then?

Get your definition of sociopathy checked.

because... that's not sociopathic
at all

Yeah, Verbatim, if you don't have the maturity or the mental capability of having a discussion then you shouldn't even bother. There are other eight billion people out there, each one with their own shit going on.

It's stupid. I'll never do it, and no one else should, either.

Verbatim, please.

Yeah, you basically are, though.

The issue is that everyone complains, but still buys the games. Vote with your wallet, not your internet rants.

Oh yes we're such entitled pieces of shit because we're complaining about a 2015 game having less content than what a 2005 game has. There's nothing more entitled than complaining about being screwed over.

Change it to Guts now.

It was Gatsby at first then people started calling me gootsby then goots then gats and I stuck with gats.

gats is cool

Why now?

Isn't that the guy who rage quit after making more stupid statements, and being overly dramatic on social media? Who also was accused of rigging an indie competition for Fez? Who happened to be in a film stating that "he has no money" when he has an iMac, consoles and a large apartment filled with his hipster swag?

"Programmers sure do hate when their efforts on a game engine go towards only one product and then never see the light of day again.  Leave it the fuck alone, you amateur mongoloid."
-Phil Fish