If you’re a long-time PC gamer, you’ve probably downloaded a lot of user-generated content for your games. Whether you’re installing the best Minecraft mods or playing the best Sims 4 mods, you’ll have found ways to expand your favorite games beyond what the developers could have imagined, or been able to include without having a long call. with Shrek’s lawyers.
You already know the ins and outs of mods and plugins, but have you ever stopped to think about what you’re installing? Are you properly verifying the sources of your files? And when one of your friends starts asking you questions about using mods, how are you going to answer them? After all, not everyone is ready to make the jump to UGC, and you may need to convince some people that their games could be better by doing so.
There are many advantages to downloading and playing with mods, but some of the disadvantages can be quite costly, not only for your time but also for your equipment. We look at both sides of the argument in the UGC debate, because while we love mods, it’s always worth keeping in mind why others might be more wary of them.
Pro: more content for your favorite games
This one is easy. After all, games can only contain a limited amount of content at launch, and even with content packs, season passes, and expansions, there will come a time when developers have to leave the game and move on. . But the community stops when it wants.
With User Generated Content, you have nearly endless possibilities for new features and content for your favorite games. Take Skyrim, for example. Bethesda may have abandoned official development years ago, but new quests and NPCs are still being added thanks to UGC, keeping the game fresh and alive well beyond its original lifespan. Some of the best Skyrim mods also help improve the game’s graphics and user interface, enhancing an already fantastic RPG experience.
Cons: Rogue UGC could brick your hardware
It’s easy to get excited about shiny new user-generated content. It is also easy to not check where this UGC came from and accidentally install a bunch of spyware, malware and other malicious programs that can absolutely ruin your computer.
Making sure you download UGC from trusted sources is a surefire way to make sure you don’t end up with a virus flooding your hard drive, but even finding those sources can be tricky for newcomers. Apps like Overwolf and CurseForge help alleviate this problem – everything downloaded from them is guaranteed to be safe for your PC, so you can choose what you like without any additional research.
Pros: You can get really wacky content
Unless they’re making a Thomas the Tank Engine game, it’s highly unlikely that a developer will get the rights to the titular train for an appearance in their game. But when the modding community is left to its own devices, this once friendly vehicle is almost guaranteed to become a devastating boss in games like Elden Ring.
From watching Kratos get beaten up by Ned Flanders to changing Mr. X’s theme song to “X Gon’ Give It To Ya,” there are a thousand ways modders have ignored tonal consistency in the game. name of pure and simple hilarity. And without mods and UGC, you wouldn’t see this level of absurdity in a game you already love.
Disadvantage: Complicated installation process
Mods and UGC are usually a bit more sloppy than the main game, as they were created by a small number of enthusiasts working for free. Unless the game comes with dedicated modding tools, that means installing UGC can be quite boring. And honestly, who wants to spend twenty minutes figuring out how to replace the Dear Esther audio files just to play some silly sandwich mod?
Of course, when modding tools and services are available, this problem is easily avoided. Downloading mods through CurseForge only takes a few clicks and you don’t have to worry about messing up any of your files during installation.
Pros: User-created apps can help you improve in competitive games
Now, let’s be very clear: we’re not talking about cheating here. Using cheats in multiplayer games is a great way to get banned, and that’s not what we’re interested in. But there are plenty of apps that can help you track your performance in games like League of Legends and Valorant, and help you study past games to improve your future results.
There are plenty of awesome apps like this in Overwolf, and they’ve all been vetted by the developers to make sure you don’t suddenly get banned mid-game. And they come with all the other goodies we’ve already mentioned: they won’t brick your PC and they’re very easy to install.
Obviously, we think mods are great; after all, we are PC gamers. But it’s still important to think carefully about what you install and make sure it’s from a reputable source, like Overwolf and CurseForge.
Be sure to check out CurseForge today and start adding to your favorite games.