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Considering Paradox doesn't even allow modders to get donations for their mods I doubt we'll see paid mods for Paradox games any time soon.
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I guess it may be because it'd be someone else making money out of Paradox's product, but since the developer gets a cut from Steam paid mods who knows, maybe they'll consider it.
Obviously it is something they will consider. More revenue for no effort. The only cost is the so easily sparked but temporary gamer rage.
The only reason why I think games companies deserves to get a cut from mod sales on steam is because they go through the effort of implementing steam workshop that makes it all possible. Steam provides the service platform, the developer implements it and modders bring the content. All provides effort that deserves compensation even though the percentages could be discussed.
If it weren't for that.... well, it is not like car manufactuers gets compensated for all modifications to their cars after sale.
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the problem is the ridiculous price cut. the modder only get 25 of the revenue, which isn't exactly much to begin with. while valve as the platformer and [insert company here] as the producer get 75%, which is pretty damn greedy (because once again, this is pennies we're talking about). not even the youtube-nintendo deal (better known as the rome-berlin axis pact by most of the internet) gets that much of the proceeds. as for the internet rage, that may be temporary, but the stain to valves' (an extremely popular game company due to a wide variety of things, namely lord gaben) reputation isn't going to go away any time soon, even if major changes are made.
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Personally I find the mod store more compatible and in line with the purpose of a game distribution platform than other things they've done. But yes, 25% is on the low end. At least 33-33-33 wouldve had a nice symmetry to it.
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My biggest fear with all of this is that it does create potential legal issues with Intellectual Property. First of all, I know that there is a Game of Thrones mod for CK2. Even if that mod isn't shut down. There could be a chilling effect this will have on other IP properties.
Also, many of the best mods borrow and build off of each other. Would someone be allowed to steal the hard work of PDM from Vicky, MEIOU from EU, etc to create their mod? This is going to be very complicated.
Also, many of the best mods borrow and build off of each other. Would someone be allowed to steal the hard work of PDM from Vicky, MEIOU from EU, etc to create their mod? This is going to be very complicated.
This is a bad idea in my opinion. It is true that anyone deserves to be paid for their work, and that modding is work (Just compare the AGOT-mod for CKII against Sunset Invasion in features and richess. One is free and the other a DLC though), so I can get why they thought about implementing this. However, there are several design flaws behind this system :
First of all, legal issues. I'm not just talking about copyright issues (AGOT for example), but also consumer rights. Under EU legislation you have the right to know the identity of the seller, including name, address and a phone number. It is currently extremely unclear who the seller is, since Valve is taking most of the money yet refuses to take care of the after-sale, refering you instead the the modder... Who you can only contact through Steam. If this modder disappears, you're screwed. Not to mention that the 24 hours-refund policy of Steam is way to short - in my country, the legal minimum is 14 days. So Valve's implementation of it just bypasses basic consumer rights.
Secondly, the quality of the product you are buying : mods being what they are, most of them include bugs, balance issues etc... which may or not get resolved. Any patch may break your product, and if this happens after the 24h-delay... You are out of luck. There is no guarantee it will ever be updated, or that it even can be fixed. Even in a finished game like Skyrim, chances are you will run sooner or later into an issue. If it's after the 24h mark... too bad for you ! So you're buying a shady product without even being able to complain about it if something goes wrong.
Last but not least, let's say you have a project, that is big enough to be worth paying for, has an acceptable amount of bugs and has been sticking around for long enough that you know it won't disappear overnight. How many of these projects have been made by one person ? I'd bet my right arm that it's less than 20%. So, how's the money divided if a team is making the mod ? Is the system even set up properly for these 80% ? Nope, didn't think so.
Now, these problems are not unsolvable. My solution would be that some mods could be endorsed by Bethesda, with Bethesda saying *hey, you have an awesome product right there. Listen, what about we make a clear contract, in which you engage yourself to hold it up to certain standards, and we sell it for you as a DLC ?*. I can see that happening to some of the bigger mods, most definitely. But the current situation is bad - it is the Internet equivalent of going to a shady market in a suburb : you don't really know what you buy, from who you buy it, wether it will work... So I hope Valve will change their system ASAP.
First of all, legal issues. I'm not just talking about copyright issues (AGOT for example), but also consumer rights. Under EU legislation you have the right to know the identity of the seller, including name, address and a phone number. It is currently extremely unclear who the seller is, since Valve is taking most of the money yet refuses to take care of the after-sale, refering you instead the the modder... Who you can only contact through Steam. If this modder disappears, you're screwed. Not to mention that the 24 hours-refund policy of Steam is way to short - in my country, the legal minimum is 14 days. So Valve's implementation of it just bypasses basic consumer rights.
Secondly, the quality of the product you are buying : mods being what they are, most of them include bugs, balance issues etc... which may or not get resolved. Any patch may break your product, and if this happens after the 24h-delay... You are out of luck. There is no guarantee it will ever be updated, or that it even can be fixed. Even in a finished game like Skyrim, chances are you will run sooner or later into an issue. If it's after the 24h mark... too bad for you ! So you're buying a shady product without even being able to complain about it if something goes wrong.
Last but not least, let's say you have a project, that is big enough to be worth paying for, has an acceptable amount of bugs and has been sticking around for long enough that you know it won't disappear overnight. How many of these projects have been made by one person ? I'd bet my right arm that it's less than 20%. So, how's the money divided if a team is making the mod ? Is the system even set up properly for these 80% ? Nope, didn't think so.
Now, these problems are not unsolvable. My solution would be that some mods could be endorsed by Bethesda, with Bethesda saying *hey, you have an awesome product right there. Listen, what about we make a clear contract, in which you engage yourself to hold it up to certain standards, and we sell it for you as a DLC ?*. I can see that happening to some of the bigger mods, most definitely. But the current situation is bad - it is the Internet equivalent of going to a shady market in a suburb : you don't really know what you buy, from who you buy it, wether it will work... So I hope Valve will change their system ASAP.
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Valve have withdrawn the whole idea, so this thread is moot - closing.
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