Getting Started with Mods tutorial

The best part of modding is playing them and it could not be easier with 99% of released mods only a short download away. Still, for those unsure what this all means, the following guide explains how to find, download, install and fire-up the mods you want to play.

Find Mods

With over 3,800 mods (1,831 released and counting) from 508 games it should not be too much of a struggle to find a mod. The best place to start is over at the mod listing where you can choose what you are after (i.e. multiplayer, fun, first person shooter) and let the site do the work for you. It is also good to keep up to date with the latest news and features which are bound to cover the best and most active mods out there! If you are still not satisfied head to our games list, choose your favourite and you'll be shown the released and most popular mods for it, it's that easy!

Download

Before you begin downloading, remember you must have the original game installed to be able to play a mod based off it. A simple requirement but an essential one, so don't run off and download 100 mods thinking they are just going to work!

So you have found a mod you like, what now? Well the obvious check is making sure it is released to the public! This can at times be a frustrating 'cross your fingers' ordeal with so many mods in development (and supposedly near completion) versus mods which are finished and there to play. To compound the confusion - mods can be released as an internal alpha or private beta where only a select number of people have access to it! To help you out we've got our download center and the ability to search for released mods only. To make things easier we'll assume you have downloaded a mod you're dying to play.

Installation

You are now ready to install. Unfortunately to put it bluntly - this can sometimes be a real tough process with plenty of interaction and manual configuration required. This is especially the case with non-mod friendly games where files must be shifted about and occasionally even overwritten. If this is the situation consult any readme you can find and the mods homepage / forum which is bound to help you out. If all else fails, post a question on the mods profile in Mod DB, someone is bound to have had and solved a similar issue. Fortunately however, especially now that developers and game companies are becoming increasingly more professional in dealing with and creating mods, this is generally not what happens. All you need to know is how to click 'next twice' and you're done!

Every mod is different, there are no established standards therefore that is all we can say to help you out. If in doubt RTM (read the manual)... annoying aren't they!?

Get Playing! Load. Select. Configure. Game. Repeat!

• Load the game
• Select your mod
• Configure any settings
• Start gaming!
• Stop for food, school, sleep
• Repeat!

If you have made it this far, why are you still reading... get playing! Just don't forget to contact the mod team, provide feedback and let them know you have given their mod a shot! The majority of developers do it for the fans, so speak up and show your support. Who said nothing good in life is free?