While browsing Technic Platform for modpacks I came across a couple of packs that had donation buttons. Since I know the rules of modpacks very well specifically "Do not use to gain money" which is almost always on the forum page of mods I believe that using the donation button (Paypal) is wrong. However because the modpack author doesn't charge the players for the modpack but gives them the opinion to donate (Which they don't get anything special) I'm starting to change my mind. But is it right or is it wrong? What do you think?
Is it right for modpack authors to gain donations?
- Thread starter Darth Sith
- Start date
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it's quite difficult to say for me... I believe some modpack developers have put so much work and dedication into their packs that they should be allowed to be rewarded for their work, and then there are some modpack developers who just threw some mods together and call it a pack, and sadly there's always the third category, people who see they could potentially make money from it, so they either copy the popular packs or put together a horrible pack and really advertise their donation button... so it's a tough choice, but I do like what mod developer do nowadays, instead of mentioning that people could donate, they just drop a simple link to their patreon page
I read the question as "Should modpack authors be allowed to get donations". And to that i say yes. If someone really spends a lot of time to make an awesome pack (like AgS), then why not? And if someone seriously wants to pay a mod pack author for doing a shoddy job.. well, that's their call 
As long as it stays voluntary of course
As long as it stays voluntary of courseIf you look through pages and pages and pages of forums at minecraftforum.net you'll probably find it's the users that ask the modders in most cases if they have a donation option.
Personally there's nothing wrong with a donation option/button, it's not compulsory to press it and donate, however I do have severe dislikes to the patron pages which if you donate, in some cases give you access to dev versions or beta versions. Whichever way you want to spin that you are PAYING for access to dev/beta versions, not "donating" for access. That has to be pretty close to breaking Mojang's rules.
Anyway each to their own opinion, I don't mind donating, but if a modder starts patron for beta/dev builds then they get crossed off my xmas list.
Personally there's nothing wrong with a donation option/button, it's not compulsory to press it and donate, however I do have severe dislikes to the patron pages which if you donate, in some cases give you access to dev versions or beta versions. Whichever way you want to spin that you are PAYING for access to dev/beta versions, not "donating" for access. That has to be pretty close to breaking Mojang's rules.
Anyway each to their own opinion, I don't mind donating, but if a modder starts patron for beta/dev builds then they get crossed off my xmas list.
On the other hand (at least for me personally) i don't care for dev builds. i want mods that behave and leave the 'latest and greatest' to others
It's against most mod rules to make money off of packs and the pack authors still do.I read the question as "Should modpack authors be allowed to get donations". And to that i say yes. If someone really spends a lot of time to make an awesome pack (like AgS), then why not? And if someone seriously wants to pay a mod pack author for doing a shoddy job.. well, that's their call
I don't care. If someone spends a lot of time doing something other people enjoy, i have no problem with donations. as i said, so long as they are voluntary and don't give you anything extra
So what would be the point of getting permissions for mods in the first place if they're going to break one of the most important rules? In my opinion that's the same as stealing.
Celestialphoenix
Too Much Free Time
I don't see anything wrong with it as such- as long as it stays an optional donate button.
On the question of receiving/asking for donations for redistributing a mod
- should Project:Red take donations?
(given it's effectively an updated Redpower2, and Elo was one of the modders who said 'no' to redistributing with donations)
Should the Curse-Forge collect/profit from ad revenue with their distribution network?
(and as long as the mod authors allow it- a few say you cant; ask permission not forgiveness ect guys)
Either way, as long as it doesn't escalate into offering rewards- or worse; those very irritating ad.fly links/sticking ads in the launcher.
- should Project:Red take donations?
(given it's effectively an updated Redpower2, and Elo was one of the modders who said 'no' to redistributing with donations)
Should the Curse-Forge collect/profit from ad revenue with their distribution network?
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Yes, they should collect profit from ad revenue but asking for donations on a mod pack (Collection of mods) without permission and when the modders say don't do it is pretty messed up.
If a mod author wants a donate button, be my guest, just as a mod pack. heh, if you want to donate to a texture pack, why not? If you think they earned it, who's stopping you?
Celestialphoenix
Too Much Free Time
I guess its the same story with textures- if its all your own work; then do whatever the hell you like with it.
The other big area would be LPers.
- Personally I'd say yes; as an LPer isn't actually distributing or gaining directly from another's work; rather relying on their skills (and supercomputer) to produce their own product; MC/mods [games] are essentially the tools of the trade.
I suppose the general question is- at what stage do you consider it acceptable to profit/gain from someone else's work?
Even charge for access if that really floats your boat.
The other big area would be LPers.
- Personally I'd say yes; as an LPer isn't actually distributing or gaining directly from another's work; rather relying on their skills (and supercomputer) to produce their own product; MC/mods [games] are essentially the tools of the trade.
[obviously within the modders perms- it usually gets mentioned]
I suppose the general question is- at what stage do you consider it acceptable to profit/gain from someone else's work?
I said no, but only because the mod pack author (the ones who put together the packs) aren't solely responsible for creating the mods that are within it. For example, if I made a mod pack that had infinibows in it, I shouldn't be able to profit from something (even if it is by donation) from something that someone else (in this example, Myrathi)put the time and effort into making,testing, and so forth. Just my 2 cents.
LPers possibly, but not for the packs, but the time and effort they put into making a series for others to watch.
LPers possibly, but not for the packs, but the time and effort they put into making a series for others to watch.
If someone just drops some mods in a folder and calls it a pack.. that's not really working for it, is it? But take i.e. AgS. Now there has been a WHOLE lot of work to make a consistent playing experience possible. The mods make it possible to do stuff in minecraft, but in this instance the mod pack bonds it together. That's worth something in my book.
If people want to show their appreciation, then let them.
I said what i wanted to say and i'll refrain from saying more in this thread
Even though I agree with some of what you said. Mod pack makers also put a lot of time and effort into making packs. I can say that from experience as I have made around 6-7 mod packs since I joined the Minecraft community (During Beta 1.7 back in 2011).
They work hard hour after hour making each mod work with each other, they have to design everything about the modpack and must give the users the enjoyment they deserve from playing the modpack. Why shouldn't they get something in return?
I agree that mod developers should be able to claim donation's. But I don't feel like "applying for a monthly subscription" just to have a feature that may or may not be added to the mod in the future. I mean, it's not like the developer is completely obligated to oblige to his or her paytreon-nage. Perhaps I'll "donate a monthly" fee of $600 to Soaryn so I can finally be able to use a "soaryn chest" 2 years later.
Donation is a gift. Someone spend time putting mods together going through ID conflicts, config files etc and made it into a playable experience. They are not preventing others from playing with mods, they are not charging or claim any rights for a mods. All they do is give you an option to say "Thanks man great job, here is some pennies buy yourself a beer or something". Noone can prevent you from giving gift to someone else. The same way we could say is it wrong for mod authors to ask donations for their mods? Mods are based on minecraft so it is against minecraft policy to gain money from the game.
You wouldn't steal a car...
You wouldn't steal a baby...
You wouldn't shoot a policeman...
And then steal his helmet...
Then take a dump in his helmet...
And send it to his grieving widow...
And then steal it again!
No, wait, that's downloading movies illegally.
In any case, donations ain't stealing. First off, it's voluntary. If it isn't it's robbery, not stealing. You get zero extra features usually for donating unless you like pretty thingies like capes or hats, and in some cases, it's a option to test the bleeding edge version of a mod with all the "FUN" that entails. Or the slight advantage to download from a different source, maybe ahead of time, maybe with better bandwidth. Features locked away until you buy them? Not likely, but also not that hard to do either. No real benefit in Minecraft, though, unless Mojang did it. They had a good april fools joke with that idea. I quite enjoyed it.