Community client for easy mod management

[Faerin]

Hey everybody,

You all know about the Patreon guidelines, so I won't elaborate on that.
I fixed this for my game by adding a mod option which replaces files. This might be a solution that a lot of dev's will have to use. Unfortunately it's hard to communicate about this (besides doing it here and on discord).

So we were talking with a bunch of developers on Discord and had the idea to create a client (e.g. like curse/twitch for WoW) that could help automatically downloading any mods, if available. This would just be an easy way to launch a game and check if there's a mod available for that version in some repository and automatically download/install it (just a simple file replacement). If this client would be used by a lot of developers, this could grow to become a well known tool.
We might even promote it as just a "mod" tool, as long as we don't promote any specific mods, after all the community decide which mods they make, right?
The client would just list the availabe mods for that game and the player gets to choose which ones to install.

Would this be something that you are interested in?

 

[muttdoggy]

I like the idea. You could try @ the mods on the discord and it'll get lots of eyeballs on it pretty quickly.

 

[lexus33]

I think you escalate the problem far too much. No one was banned. They simply create a backdoor if some big company want to turn away from them because of porn games, that's all. If they intend to ban adult games the current situation would be completely different. If they ban it, you will be banned anyway...

 

[irredeemable]

I prefer the idea of simply creating a mod website. There are mods here of course, but it's problematic sending your paying customers here only for them to find out them can get the game for free.

 

[muttdoggy]

I think you escalate the problem far too much. No one was banned. They simply create a backdoor if some big company want to turn away from them because of porn games, that's all. If they intend to ban adult games the current situation would be completely different. If they ban it, you will be banned anyway...

This is NOT about a ban. It's about the CONTENT that is banned.
This is about adding a way to mod their games so after they comply with Patreon, they can spread the word on discord or other sites about their mods to return the game back to their original spirit. This way, they can comply with Patreon and their Patrons can easily find a mod to return the game to what they paid for.

 

[muttdoggy]

We do have skilled members here who could help with figuring out how to code it correctly. I would suggest a shared server with files that have the same names with the one programmed into the game. (Forgot the technical wording but you get my drift..) That way, when the game checks the server, it looks for that file and automatically updates. Boom.. Miss Frida is now Mommy!

 

[Faerin]

I prefer the idea of simply creating a mod website. There are mods here of course, but it's problematic sending your paying customers here only for them to find out them can get the game for free.

Well it would not be about redirecting players here specifically, the mod client might even be included with the game (not sure, but I don't see that as a breach of any rules, it would just be a game launcher after all).
If that's not the case an external website could work, but if you're redirecting players to it anyway, I guess you might as well just include it.

We do have skilled members here who could help with figuring out how to code it correctly. I would suggest a shared server with files that have the same names with the one programmed into the game. (Forgot the technical wording but you get my drift..) That way, when the game checks the server, it looks for that file and automatically updates. Boom.. Miss Frida is now Mommy!

The coding part wouldn't be very challenging, I wouldn't mind doing it or at least helping if others would like to take the lead.
I would keep it simple and just do a simple check on game ID and version and replace the corresponding files.
This does, however, takes some upkeep on the developer's side as he/she would need to add the files for each release, but that would be minimal imo.
Then again, this would only be "worth it" in my opinion if we could get most developers in and it would actually feel beficial to them.

 

[Bagger288]

Ideally, a mod manager would work with (initially) unsupported games as well. There are a bunch of modders on here, after all, who distribute trainers, edited savefiles, and even bugfixes (in addition to walkthroughs).

edit: Something developers might be interested in is community-sourced translations.

 

[Faerin]

Exactly!
Just got word that someone else from f95 is already working on this, so let's combine efforts.
He will take the lead on this, as it might be better if a "neutral party" would maintain this anyway (imo).
Of course I'll help in any way I can!

 

[grabiobot]

I like this idea. In fact I was already thinking of doing something like this for my own game (

You must be registered to see the links

), not because I have problems with Patreon, but because I would like to offer mods for translations, changes on how characters looks and additional stories.

I am not sure yet how you intend to implement it, as linked to some sort of central repository or let developers hosts their files and links on their own server. I would opt for letting game developers having their own repositories and I would add some sort of .config or .ini file for the mod management too. In fact, it may even work with some command line parameters, in which case all games can use a shared installation of the mod manager.

I am not sure if everyone will agree with this idea, but I developed a scripting language, c-cup, which can be used to extend the mod manager with extra functionalities without having to recompile it. This may be useful if the game needs some sort of component registration (regenerating some configuration files). It could also be used to render the mod with

You must be registered to see the links

(my game runs entirely on c-cup).

As I said, I like this idea and I would have done it anyway for my game, so count me in.

 

[jande21]

I prefer the idea of simply creating a mod website. There are mods here of course, but it's problematic sending your paying customers here only for them to find out them can get the game for free.

I'm like 90% sure they know they can get the game for free anyways. Hell if I google "Teacher's Pets", the f95 thread is the 7th link listed.

 

[irredeemable]

I'm like 90% sure they know they can get the game for free anyways. Hell if I google "Teacher's Pets", the f95 thread is the 7th link listed.

I'm pretty sure at least 50% of people who pay for release don't realize that. While my link has been down I've had several people sign up then ask me for the link, even though I had (since removed) a message to google it. One guy canceled shortly after, never hcecked back in on the other guy.

 

[jande21]

I'm pretty sure at least 50% of people who pay for release don't realize that. While my link has been down I've had several people sign up then ask me for the link, even though I had (since removed) a message to google it. One guy canceled shortly after, never hcecked back in on the other guy.

Then that makes me curious, how do people find your game in the first place?

 

[irredeemable]

reddit, loverslab, fenoxo, maybe? none of those have download links. not sure what else is out there, i never really marketed much.

 

[wep]

Regardless the problem with the piracy. I think this type of repository needs a more professional and dedicated website than F95.

 

[irredeemable]

Regardless the problem with the piracy. I think this type of repository needs a more professional and dedicated website than F95.

Not only professional, but ideally it would be completely divorced from stand-alone adult content that might violate the CG. As far as I know there would be nothing guideline-breaking about a collection of mods that basically do nothing on their own and ostensibly had no connection to the Creator.

 

[anne O'nymous]

Not only professional, but ideally it would be completely divorced from stand-alone adult content that might violate the CG.

So, something like

You must be registered to see the links

? For me it seem the best option. First the community create a, more or less, central point for the mods. Then after this, if it works and grow, why not a mod manager.

As far as I know there would be nothing guideline-breaking about a collection of mods that basically do nothing on their own and ostensibly had no connection to the Creator.

If you talk about Patreon's guidelines, as long as you don't officially claim paternity for the mod, you're right ; it's neither funded nor distributed via Patreon, so it's clear. At least on this point they were clear enough.

 

[Kunguru]

Would it be simple to add code for all the various engines. I know that the most popular are RenPy, RPGM, and unity. Those use python, java, and C++. We would need someone to code an add in for all those systems.

 

[Boom's Attic Games]

Hi People !

As a couple of people have already stated, Patreon hasn't actually taken action against anyone yet as far as a Ban goes.
Because lets face it, They don't want to loose the money Erotic Game developers are putting into their pockets.
This is why they're just taking a couple of developers "Myself" induced to the side and giving us some off hand advice to stay within the guidelines.

But I do feel something like this would be good for 2 reasons.

1. A good backup plan in-case Patreon does get pressured into totally removing content such as ours.

2. To have a client that is " Hosting / Displaying links " of Erotic games all in one place " Similar to this website " is a great idea !
As long as you're getting the permission from the Developers of course as some may not wish to have their game on such client.

All in all, I wish you luck with this project and will help out if/where I can.

-Boom

 

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

Exactly!
Just got word that someone else from f95 is already working on this, so let's combine efforts.
He will take the lead on this, as it might be better if a "neutral party" would maintain this anyway (imo).
Of course I'll help in any way I can!

@Faerin Do you know who here has started this project? Do they have a github started, if not it creating one would be benifical to the project.