This may get me banned merely for asking, but it is worth it to me.

It occurs to me that I, like many of you modders, have spent a great deal of time and money making mods under various pseudonyms and had a great deal of fun, but only spent money to do it, sometimes a lot. That was my choice and I am not complaining about that. However, I have only spent and never earned, because I am not allowed to capitalize on the intellectual property rights of Bethesda Softworks, Inc. I signed the agreement, no problem with that, I knew what I was doing and did it while sober and under no duress. But now people are asking me to make a mod for F:NV because they liked the one that one that I made for Fallout 3 called Return to Shady Sands. I would love to, but I can't afford to now. There are many modders who have made mods for FO3 that are superior to mine in my estimation in many ways, and the money that they have spent in pursuit of making those mods is far greater than I have spent as well. Although some have made a bit of their money back probably, we are all restricted by the same ban on selling our mods. Only Bethesda has earned money from our mods, and that may be legal, but it isn't fair.

Morrowind, Oblivion, and Fallout 3 are still selling and earning money for you guys and you know damn well it is because of us, but you won't share. I had time to make R2SS because I was UB40 and had plenty of time. Now I am working and struggling to pay my bills so I have no time to indulge in my "hobby". I say that in quotations because, although even I disagree, but some people have posted comments expressing that my mod is superior to every DLC that they played. It has 14,630 unique downloads, which at even $5.00 USD would amount to $73,150 USD and not take a penny away from BSI. That is satisfactory compensation for the 5 months that I spent making R2SS. It would even allow me to pay the people who help me, and I would love to do that, but not only am I not allowed to earn any money, BSI is more than happy to punish me for earning them money and take me to court to get any money that I have made for myself. What is wrong with this picture guys? Sounds like "the Golden Rule" to me: HE WHO HAS THE GOLD, MAKES THE RULES.

Even though Microsoft was forced to relent enough intellectual property rights to Windows and Explorer, so that other companies could profit along with them, it took millions of pounds and the EU to get them to do the right thing. I can't outspend you, but I don't have to earn money for you. The only way that I can earn money from my skills is by becoming your competitor, which my son, daughter and I are in the process of doing right now. When my first game comes out it will be far inferior to FNV, but I fully plan to allow modder's of the caliber of Kai Hojiro and Skree and AlienSlof to earn money by modding it, if they choose to and keep every last BadPenney that they earn. I think by the time they are through with their mods it will be the hottest game on the planet.

In effect, my goal is to put you out of business, Bethesda Software Inc., unless you relent and allow me to feed my children and not have my wife tell me I svck for earning you money for free. I had to admit to her, she had a good point.

Not only will I not agree to download and use the new GECK, I am returning my unopened copy of FNV (haven't had time to even play it) and refuse to earn you anything. I encourage everyone to do the same.

NOW BAN ME.

Before any banning may occur, my 2 cents:

While I greatly appreciate the work of the modding community and cannot praise them enough for it, I still think modding should stay the way it is, which is free.
At least I'm convinced that for the community, modders and gamers alike, free mods are better.

Although admittedly there may be arguments pro payed mods: some modders may be able to earn their money this way, giving them more time for modding, leading again to better mods, etc.

Charging for mods is not a topic for these forums.