On Addons

Last time I wrote about players policing themselves and keeping the community running smoothly. This time I would like to talk about another interesting community that has grown around World of Warcraft, namely the modding community. Many games like to keep their source code locked up tight and only allow the game developers to release any modifications to the game. Others prefer to go the opensource route and let the players modify to their hearts content. Both these extremes are often limiting and can sometimes prove detrimental to the game’s success.

World of Warcraft has an interesting middle ground in which the core game mechanics are well protected, but the user interface is left rather open. This decision prompted an explosion of custom addons that can be downloaded and installed by users. The functions of these programs vary from simple interface changes to programs that track demographics or transactions between players. A lot of them are quite complicated. Blizzard does not claim ownership over these addons and has overall been very accepting of what the players create. Occasionally Blizzard steps in if an addon goes against the core essence of the play experience, but on a whole they have been quite accommodating.

I find the growth of these addons to be interesting. As they are player created programs, it is up to the players to make sure that they work efficiently. Therefore, these addons are under constant revision and improvement. Addons that are well scripted gain a following and receive a large quantity of helpful criticism allowing for better revisions and prolonging the life of the addon as a whole. Some of these are so well designed that they have become canon for almost anyone who is at least partially serious about playing the game.

The community improves itself by self revision of its material. This creates a self-sufficient system in which players improve the community by contributing play time. As the addons improve, players spend more and more time playing. This sort of relationship will help keep the innovation within the game going strong.