Presentacio seminari mediaccions

Modding practices as co-creation: analysis of motivations in a virtual filmmaking community.

Seminari Mediaccions1 de març 2011

Antoni Roig Telo Jordi Sánchez Navarro

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)

Gemma San CornelioElisenda Ardèvol

Antoni RoigJordi Sánchez Navarro

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)

Index

1. Modding practices and machinima2. Modding as co-creative practices3. The conditions for creation: description of the case4. Objectives and methodology5. Case analysis6. Conclusions

1 Seminari Mediaccions

Modding practices and machinima.

Machinima and game modding as exponents of juxtaposition of game and media practices

Quake done quick

Retaliation

A few good G-men

Dracula’s Guest



Modding as co-creative practices

•Modding as co-creation: motivations and rewards → ‘intrinsic’ and ‘extrinsic’ (Banks & Potts, 2010).•Labour issues → ‘playbour’ (Kücklich, 2005)

•Theory of practices as a useful theoretical and methodological tool (Schatzki, 1996, Warde, 2005):

•Motivations and rewards as constitutive elements of practices•Conflict and negotiation about the meaning of the practice•Normativity (implicit rules, hierarchy)•Performative practices of identity•Affective engagement

Moviestorm (MS) allows us to observe and analyze how dualisms referring to motivations (profit/extrinsic and communitarian/ intrinsic) are challenged.


The conditions for creation: description of the Moviestorm case

•Community based stand-alone machinima tool → defined as a ‘virtual moviemaking tool’

•Independent company, set up in 2007

•Users own all rights over content (MS is only to be credited)

•Fostering modding through specific additional tool: Modder’s Workshop

•2009 sees a change of business model → from base pack and commercial addons to a subscription model → Users have to subscribe to make or use mods.

Seminari Mediaccions6


http://www.moviestorm.co.uk/community/index.php?page=videos&section=view&vid_id=101483


Research objectives:

• How the relationship between company and community articulates the processes of co-creativity.

• Motivations and rewards for contributing to the community.

• How community identity, normativity and hierarchy are produced through practices.

Methodology

Controversy around the change in MS business model between company and dedicated users (particularly modders) → Forum thread analysis

Our focus is not business model but negotiated meanings of co-creation and engagement, related to performative identity and motivations of the community, specially their dedicated users.


Moviestorm and the perception of its users

• “I use Moviestorm to make commercial films. You can look at my IMDB page.” (Lucindamc123, Pioneer)

• “it is fun to just ‘play’ with it, but I think the end goal is (eventually) to make movies.” (Rgr, Pioneer)

• “Well, I write a story and use MS to tell it. I have fun creating it and expect nothing in return, except my own satisfaction in doing so. So yeah, it is like a game, but more like a hobby. So for me MS is a hobby tool to express my (so called) art.” (MefuneAkira, Pioneer)

• “I'm definitely a movie-maker. Even when I'm gaming, I don't enjoy the playing part nearly as much as designing levels […] As a TV writer […] I've been testing the limitations of the medium and most recently Moviestorm.” (Writerly)


Categorizing users: performative practices of identity.

• “Only the true dedicated modders will stay to create their content. In the end, it’s all about raising the bar professionally, and that’s the part I like a lot.” (Kuroken)

• “Advanced modders are in a sense working for Moviestorm for free.” (ChatNoir)

• “As an ardent MS supporter, I strongly opposed the restriction of modding and 3rd party content.” (Sean Heimbuch)

• “Moviestorm customers can be generically clumped into three categories: New Users, Old Timers… and The Freeloader.” (AngryBuddhist, Pioneer)


The conflict: community perspective.

• “You are forcing us to pay for content that you don’t offer. In other words, you are going to profit from something you didn’t create and are not going to compensate the creator for that.” (Harb40)

• “If that's the case, I feel that Moviestorm (the company) is taking value away from Moviestorm (the software), and to a certain extent, stealing my ability to use the fruits of my own labor.” (Sfdex)

• “It essentially limits the market to only modders, and its going to create a subculture of hackers (just like every other machinima-used game in existence that doesn't have a legitimate modding tool included).” (StormScape)

• “Compromise. Even a blind person can see the feedback you've gotten about this screams for it. We represent your market...hell, in part we ARE your market. Pay attention to what we are saying.” (Armanus, Pioneer)


The conflict: company answers.

- “If you want to do more than just the basics, then we’re asking you to pay. We are, after all, a business. […] There seems to be a strong feeling that we’re ripping off modders by taking all the money for their hard work. That’s the last thing on our minds […] What some of you seem to be asking for is for us to provide a free tool which you can sell mods for. That’s, quite simply, not in our interest.” (MattKelland)

- “[…] we ask you contribute to the running costs.” (Chris Ollis)

- “As always, I can't help feeling upset if we've done anything to upset our customer-base. But I think […] everyone will benefit.” (Jeffz)

- “OK, OK, we hear you!!! […] Keep talking to us!” (MattKelland)


Controversy key issues: diversity of motivations

- “3rd-party content is ultimately going to be a driving force on sales for MS, since each piece of content produced that fills gaps in what MS is providing gives the overall product added value […] They need […] to have a truly robust modding community to support and add value to their product.” (Sean Heimbuch)

- “I suspect that in many NGOs in other developing countries [subscription] wouldn’t be an option. The free version would have limited interest once the kids had found they couldn’t reproduce their own environments.” (Primaveranz, Pioneer)

- “For me this has nothing to do with how much it costs. It is to do with the fact that I could suddenly lose control of something that I thought I owned.” (Iceaxe, Pioneer)

- “I myself have put considerable time into adding to this documentation […] My goal has always been to help expand the size of the modding community but now it seems as if it's potential has just been snipped.” (AngryBuddhist, Pioneer)



Company:

“If you want to make and sell mods, then please, by all means, do, and we’ll support you […]Let me emphasise, there’s nothing to stop you setting your own shop up, and you can take 100%.” (Matt Kelland)

Users:

“My concern with content is mainly within the ‘but I want control of my own content’ area. If someone spends a lot of time creating their own content, they are not likely to feel comfortable with it being restricted.” (Sean Heimbuch)

“If I make something cool […] I want everyone who wants it to have it. If people have to pay Ms to allow them to use something I’ve made for free use, am I going to continue to develop for Moviestorm, or am I going to start looking at other platforms where I can share my work without it being monetized.” (Kuroken)

"Selling mods kills the very ideals of a community for me.” (MefuneAkira, Pioneer).

Controversy key issues: misunderstanding motivations and rewards

Conclusions

• Conflict and negotiation about the meaning of the practice: compromise

• Key identity and motivation issues arise in changing constitutive rules.

• Multiplicity of motivations, not envisaged by the company.

• Dualism between ‘intrinsic’ (pleasure through creation) and ‘extrinsic’ (profit) is challenged: not everything is for ‘fun’ or ‘profit’

• Emotional involvement: dedicated users don’t want MS to become as ‘other’ tools

• Self-conscience of the contribution of modding practices to MS. Modders as authority.

• Demand of control over content creation and production processes: effective participation.


Thanks for your attention

Questions?

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