User modification, or modding of games in the open-world sandbox Grand Theft Auto series is a popular trend in the PC gaming community. These unofficial modifications are made by altering gameplay logic and asset files within a user's game installation, and can drastically change the gameplay experience: from. Mods for Grand Theft Auto are generally developed for use on the PC.

A seagull stealing a car in Grand Theft Auto V. Through a mod, the player's character model is replaced with that of a seagull.

Torrent download sites. User modification, or of games in the open-world sandbox series is a popular trend in the community. These unofficial modifications are made by altering gameplay logic and asset files within a user's game installation, and can drastically change the gameplay experience: from replacing the player's character model with a fire breathing, to spawning throughout the map.

Frequently created by anonymous ', modifications are presented in the form of downloadable files or archives. Third-party software has been indispensable for building Grand Theft Auto mods, due to the lack of official editing tools from the developer,. Mods for Grand Theft Auto are generally developed for use on the versions of the games, since the platform does not prevent modifications to installed software; however, similar content for console versions does exist to an extent. Contents • • • • • • • Background [ ] While mods for the Grand Theft Auto have been developed by hobbyists since the release of the first game, it wasn't until the release of the wildly successful on, in May 2002, that mods started to become both more accessible and more popular. The use of a 3D (the first in the series ) allowed development of custom vehicles, textures and character models, followed by new missions and map modifications; the success of these new types of mods then started to attract widespread attention. In the following years the modding scene became more sophisticated and complex, as various aspects of the game's internals are gradually being discovered and documented by hackers.

One of the best-known examples is the iCEnhancer graphics modification mod by Hayssam Keilany, praised by reviewers and labelled as 'arguably one of the best mods of all time'. In most of the games, certain data files were stored in simple archives or in plain text files, allowing modders to edit them using basic tools.

However, more complex modifications, such as changes to the gameplay mechanics or the addition of custom models and/or maps were not possible without more advanced tools specific to GTA, along with commercial-grade modelling programs such as,. For this reason modders would often collaborate on various, pooling resources and sharing documentation with one another. In a quote by Patrick Wildenborg, the modder responsible for unlocking the Hot Coffee mini-game, he stated that 'The modding community felt like a bunch of friends trying to solve a mystery'. Online modding communities [ ].

We know for a fact that there is a significant percentage of GTA fans who only buy the game for the PC because of the open-ended modification possibilities. Unnamed modder cited in Grand Theft Auto fan communities have been essential to the growth of the modding scene. Modders were able to exchange knowledge and team up in order to create new tools, mods and documentation. GTA communities,, and fan sites have also been essential, as they serve as hosts for mods.

Besides the video-sharing site, sites such as GTANet, GTAinside, GTA V Mods and The GTA Place served as platforms for content exchange, and discussion about modding and the Grand Theft Auto in general. Aspects of GTA modding [ ] When GTA V was released on PC, the question of breakthrough of new mods depended on production of new GTA-specific tools for modification. While GTA IV is one of the games with most fan made mods, GTA V modders had difficulties creating mods until completely new tools were made. One of the most notable tools that initiated significant GTA V modification is OpenIV which provided database manipulation. Many mods had compatibility issues with every new GTA V update. Grand Theft Auto V 's release on the PC offers many advantages over the console release.

Yet all of these pale in comparison to the most important advantage of all; modifications. Smith and Gabe Gurwin of Digital Trends, 9 May 2015 Mods are a part of the Grand Theft Auto franchise’s success on PCs.

Their popularity added on to the longevity and further success of the GTA series. Complex modifications as is Zombie Alarm cause the effect of creating entirely new gaming experience. Modding served as one of main channels for innovations in game play.