EULA: do the devs of this game allow modding for personal use?

https://community.7daystodie.com/forum/22-game-modification/

Originally posted by Mr Silly Giggles: I noticed in the EULA it prohibits modding. I am guessing that is for the purpose of piracy. However, does anyone know whether the devs would permit a mod made for personal use?

You can mod the game for personal use and can also share your mod with the community as long as you don't restrict access to it behind a paywall. This game has a strong modding community and there are many wonderful mods you can download. You are welcome to join the ranks of modders.

Originally posted by Mr Silly Giggles:

Originally posted by Roland:
You can mod the game for personal use and can also share your mod with the community as long as you don't restrict access to it behind a paywall. This game has a strong modding community and there are many wonderful mods you can download. You are welcome to join the ranks of modders.

Thanks for the reply. May I ask: why does the EULA blanket restricts modding if the devs allow it?

I'm guessing this bit is what you're referring to?

Originally posted by EULA Snippet: LICENSE CONDITIONS.

You agree not to:
..
..
..
Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, prepare derivative works based on or otherwise modify the Software, in whole or in part

To preface, I'm not a lawyer; But, I do know the devs greatle encourage modding and have rewritten a lot of their game ot make it exposable via xml configging files as well as writing in it's own mod-intake system via modlets, So, While my analysis may not be 100% accurate, it should be essentially representative of the safety to mod the game.


You'll have to note the phrasing of it- It doesn't expressly prohibit modding per se, It expressly prohibits messing with the main executable file itself and other such primary files- Of the software itself... but doesn't say anything about the adjacent configuration files.

As mentioned above, TFP, the developers, have gone a pretty penny out of their way rewriting large swathes of the game to make it moddable by exposing a good deal of it and making much of it function off of XML; All of the configuration files are XML which any user can simply edit with any old text editor no decompilation needed, and which are not in and of themselves the software.

You are prohibited from: Reverse Engineering the main executable, Decompiling or disassembling the main executable, modifying the main executable, or preparing derivative works of the software as a whole (IE, You cannot legally just copy the game, make some edits, and upload it on Steam or whatever

But you're not prohibited from: Adjusting, changing, modifying the softwares' associated configuration files (XML) which is what constitutes the majority of modding in 7DTD; There is very little you can't do by just editing the XML. You can do a lot, from calling in new needed files and even DLLs iirc, to creating massive overhauls like Darkness Falls, without ever directly interacting with or reverse engineering/decompiling/disassembling the main executable.


In short, That clause is there to protect the main executable and other 'restricted' files and to cover TFP's backside; But you're welcome to modify the xml files that have been purposely exposed to user hands for that express purpose.