X Mods and Nexus Mods

[Triaxx2]

Nexus search has improved quite a lot, now letting you filter out adult or skimpy content, provided it's properly tagged and if you run across something that isn't you can tag it yourself.

I've never had a problem with the community, because I don't ask for help until I'm stuck. There is also good reason that they don't support other modders projects unless asked by the modder. That kind of thing can get your work removed should the original modder decide to make a case out of it. Plus phrasing is important. Modders get justifiably upset when you say, "This is broken, fix it for me." instead of asking "This is broken, how can I fix it?"

Of course, some modders are jerks, but that's true for the rest of humanity as well.

I don't know that a nexus mod site is going to do well, unless egosoft is intent on releasing something akin to the Creation Kit or an SDK. That said, having it available as a mirror for mods would be beneficial. And before anyone says anything about comments, uploading a mod now allows you to disable comments, so you can place your own topic link in the description.

[tylitalo]

Hello everyone,
I'd just like to chime in with my 2 cents, for what it's worth (not much, I know)
-Apricot and Cycrow both raise valid points. Whether or not the two of you decide to use the Nexus site, if it were to be implemented as suggested, would be up to you. It wouldn't matter to me, I'd search out both of your mods anyway, wherever you host them.
-That said, I'd support (and use) the nexus site. I've enjoyed using the Nexus sites for my other mod-finding and mod-hosting needs over the years, and I can't help but think it would be a benefit to us all to have it available.

Thanks for your time, if you managed to read past the first two lines of my diatrebe. I'll go back to lurking now..

[Draakon]

We have a perfectly good mods download thread here. Thats the first and really only place anyone needs to look.

If an author hasnt added their stuff to that thread to be listed, thats their own concern.

There really shouldnt be any need for anything else.

From a users perspective, this system that you guys are currently using is totally broken.

First of all, finding mods: While the forums does have a nice list, I can't filter it in any shape or form. I can't get the short info (last updated, compatible game version, short description, nr. times downloaded, ratings, all that kinds of small info), most mod threads have their info cluttered around (then again, that can happen with Nexus as well, however, I will get to that in detail), dead links (oh, I have stumbled upon those a lot), not so easy to find info (search engine on the Egosoft forums is very bad) and so much more.

So, say I go to Nexus to find some kind of rebalancing mod. I can type it in the search engine, first few results get me where I need to be. Or filter based on what rebalancing I need (ships, guns, economy, etc), filter based on raitings, last updated, nr. of downloads. Or say I want to find what were recently added to the Nexus site, whats the current hot mod that I might be missing.

Finding the exact mod I need for my purpose (or just generally finding new ones to take a look or just find general info about them) takes me quite a lot longer in here. Or say I found a bug/issue/error or whatever problem. On Nexus, using some basic keywords, I can search for the same problem I have (if somebody else has encountered it already), look at possible solutions/updates on it and take actions as they are available. On here, I have to go trough pages and pages of not related text before even somebody mentions it. And then pages and pages of not related text again before a solution/update is specified.

Updates: Most people in these forums are for the most part relaying on mod author itself bumping the thread and saying there's an update available, go get it now! However, recently NMM added automatic update notifications, so I can get all my updates trough a single interface instead of having to scourge the forums again.

Also, another critical point from me (as a more power user) is the option to go back to an older version(s). Now, this is modder per modder case on how they do it, but considering that its very easy to upload mods to Nexus and have them worry about space (instead of modders), instead of somebody's own website. And granted while this might seem to be a norm now in the X modding community, using personal hosting for your releases is just a big no no. And finally, these points might seem personal complaints/issues, it is however seems to be a norm in this community because of how things have been done already.

If an author hasnt added their stuff to that thread to be listed, thats their own concern.

Another big broken part of the norm the X modding community has. Instead of you know, clicking 1 button and having all the info, screenshots and what have you submitted to 1 databse and where everything after that is done by Nexus automated backend (its own forum thread on the forums, automatically populating the mod list, not having to rely on 3rd person to populate a list) is just so counter intuitive compared to even the simplest of mod hosting sites out there (besides nexus) and long ass process, from Users perspective (and given the steps you need to do in here compared to some other places, I'd even say modders). Heck, at this point, even ModDB is better then whats going on here.

Granted, it's maybe a bit late in terms of how people have already been a costumed to their way of doing things since X2/X3. However, this is 2013, not 2004. I'm not saying that "YOU SHOULD DO IT NAOW" in Arnolds voice, but what I am saying is that as a community, things needs to be changed. With X Rebirth out now, there will be a influx of new people. A influx of new people who want to play modded games. A influx of new people who might not be as good as modding the game as we are. Or finding said info.

This is also one of the main reasons I logged off from these forums quite some time ago, stopped being active and just switching over to lurking mode. As a discussion board, this works, but as for modding side of things, it doesn't and needs a much needed change.

And finally, descriptions. There is just so much stuff you can do with BBCode in the forums. There is so much better stuff you can actually do over Nexus. Granted, the layout on how you do things is up to each and every modder even over Nexus, but the quality that Nexus modders have used as well as a certain "template" also makes finding information on specific parts of the mod very easy. Not only that, but you can actually make the description page even better looking. And whats more, its not confined to the restrictive nature of a forum software, but software specifically made for such purposes.

On XDownloads: I had a look at it. First thing when I went to the site was the design. 2004-2007 style all over again. I am not saying its not a bad thing, but the overall looks is actually off putting, compared to the style and quality of websites we have these days. To somebody unsuspected, it might actually seem some kind of half-assed put together website with a template they got from the interwebs. Now I know, a lot of people know that is not true, but like I said, with X Rebirth and much more influx of people, they do not. They will think otherwise.

Color scheme is also bad. The ZIP/SPK file icons do not fit in there at all and the outline pixelation is also very horrible. That brown(ish) text on grey backround is very hard to read. Left side banner is making parts of the tabs on the left side harder to read as well. Yellow overlay effect when you select a link (but not hover above the link itself) makes it impossible to read what you have actually selected. The effect where the tab gets bigger/zooms in is unnecessary.

I am actually quite surprised that whoever is maintaining it is also uploading mods there like nobody's buisness (I might be wrong, so I apologize, but this is info from what I have read on this same very thread).

Phew, that got a bit long.

[apricotslice]

First of all, finding mods: While the forums does have a nice list, I can't filter it in any shape or form.

Why would you need to ? There are 12 full mods in 1 list, plus about 40 medium to minor mods in 3 lists, all in a single post. What is hard about that ?

Also, another critical point from me (as a more power user) is the option to go back to an older version(s).

A really bad idea most of the time. The majority of versions once a mod is complete, are patch updates. If you go back to a mod designed for an earlier version of the game, you generally bugger up something introduced in a later patch.

[Draakon]

Why would you need to ? There are 12 full mods in 1 list, plus about 40 medium to minor mods in 3 lists, all in a single post. What is hard about that ?

Like I said, so I can filter based on my requirements that I choose from the filtering system. Based on ratings, last updated, tags, etc. For example, lets say I want a new ship (for whatever reasons). With Nexus, I could specify that ship needs to be M7 ship (using tags and other filters). That way, my search list is only showing up mods that add said M7 ships. While most mods mix and match in here, there are still mods that don't add a single M7, so that way, instead of getting...30 mods (pulling a number out of thin air, I know, but that number might be a factual number one day) that add any type of ship, I can filter out those mods that don't and thus I don't need to waste time opening said threads/pages and having to skim trough the description of mods to see if they actually add the stuff I want in the first place.

A really bad idea most of the time. The majority of versions once a mod is complete, are patch updates. If you go back to a mod designed for an earlier version of the game, you generally bugger up something introduced in a later patch.

You say that as a modder. And a lot of modders agree with the sentiment. I however, do not, because at one point or the other, there might be a critical change (from my PoV) that makes the mod unplayable for me. Or said mod broke compability with other mods. Or gotten rid of a feature I liked. Or added a feature I did not. Or just some other general grievances I might have.

If you go back to a mod designed for an earlier version of the game, you generally bugger up something introduced in a later patch.

Well, that's a given. However, I know what I am doing, I know I should not use incompatible versions with each other. But that's where the availability of older versions comes into play, so I can make sure I do not use incompatible versions.

[Hornet108]

With X:Reunion busily failing and egosoft probably along with it, we should really consider moving off these forums if we want to continue to play X3.

[apricotslice]

Like I said, so I can filter based on my requirements that I choose from the filtering system. Based on ratings, last updated, tags, etc. For example, lets say I want a new ship (for whatever reasons). With Nexus, I could specify that ship needs to be M7 ship (using tags and other filters). That way, my search list is only showing up mods that add said M7 ships.

There are only 14 mods listed with new ships in them. Just how long does it take to check the first post of 14 threads for an M7 ?

Your making sense, but the sheer lack of mods makes the facility you want, overkill.

You say that as a modder.

Yes.

Given what you want, I'm surprised you havent become a modder yourself and just changed whatever mod is closest to what you want.

However, I know what I am doing, I know I should not use incompatible versions with each other. But that's where the availability of older versions comes into play, so I can make sure I do not use incompatible versions.

For the record, I've never had a request for an older version. But if I did, its easy enough to make it available. You just have to ask.

With X:Reunion busily failing and egosoft probably along with it, we should really consider moving off these forums if we want to continue to play X3.

Except for the game name being wrong, I cant argue with that. The logic is undeniable.

However, any demise is not imminent. According to Egosoft, 10,000 people are playing Rebirth at the moment, and thats a solid cash injection for them, that should keep them going for quite some time.

Edit :

On another note, directed back to an earlier comment directed at me, this whole argument is very likely irrelevant to me now, as its getting more and more unlikely I will be modding Rebirth. So where mods reside, wont matter to me.

[Draakon]

There are only 14 mods listed with new ships in them. Just how long does it take to check the first post of 14 threads for an M7 ?

Your making sense, but the sheer lack of mods makes the facility you want, overkill.

Yet. With X Rebirth out, new people are finding about the series. That influx of people means sooner or leader, the facilities at the moment used over here are not going to be enough.

Yes.

Given what you want, I'm surprised you havent become a modder yourself and just changed whatever mod is closest to what you want.

And I am saying from a Users perspective.

I just don't have the time do make mods myself.

For the record, I've never had a request for an older version. But if I did, its easy enough to make it available. You just have to ask.

And have to rely on you? And waste your time and resources?

[drowningfly]

I'm ok with the Egosoft forums now, after a couple of years of X modding, now that I have a good idea of the mods I want and where to find them (including some not in the sticky), but I remember when I first came here looking for mods and saw hundreds of pages of forum threads. My first thought was "I wish there was an X Nexus". I must have spent hours reading through the first 30 or so pages to get an idea of what was available, as I don't know how through the sticky is.

These forums do work for people who are used to them, but possibly do put of a lot of people who would otherwise join the modding community.

I'd still love to be able to go to the Nexus and say I am looking for trade scripts, show me the most recently updated or most popular ones at a glance.

[apricotslice]

And have to rely on you? And waste your time and resources?

Response time = 0 to 48 hours.
Time to upload = < 30 seconds average.
Resources = Not an issue. I have more space allocation for my site than I will ever use, so duplicating a mod, even the Merge Mod, isnt an issue. Likewise traffic allocation.

I cant speak for others, but its not a problem for me.

[Draakon]

And have to rely on you? And waste your time and resources?

Response time = 0 to 48 hours.
Time to upload = < 30 seconds average.
Resources = Not an issue. I have more space allocation for my site than I will ever use, so duplicating a mod, even the Merge Mod, isnt an issue. Likewise traffic allocation.

I cant speak for others, but its not a problem for me.

Well, that's mighty kind of you, but I presume a lot of people don't have the same luxury.

[Wolfie]

My two cents:

The Egosoft forums seem to work well as a good place for folk getting advice about playing the X games, how to mod them, getting advice on what mods to use, collaborating on mods, etc, etc, etc. However, it's absolutely shit for actually hosting mods, or seeing what mods are available, simply because it's a pain to try to find mods, and only seems to work at all because there isn't a ginormous amount of mods available. X Nexus, or something similar, if it gains the support of the X modding community, would be BRILLIANT for this, even if support for the Nexus Mod Manager doesn't happen or is impossible, as using NMM is not mandatory to use the site, by any means.

[Barleyman]

Hear hear.

It's not just once I've wished I could see overview of mods sorted on popularity or ratings here. Nexus also has forum for the mods where you can *search* the mod threads in case your question was already mentioned during last 1000 posts or so.

As in, search invidual threads.

There's no real disadvantage and a plenty of advantages. NMM is nice and all but I think it's pretty much for skyrim/fallout/oblivion games only.