Public Apology? I've been following the Quake mod community for ages too...ever since the first Quake, and I had internet access. Actually, ID software got the idea from their previous game series, Doom, when people cracked open the .wad files and started to modify the gameplay and graphics. Ever wonder why Quake was so much easier to modify? Because that was ID's big, no, HUGE, risky idea. They released the game and made it so easy to extract models and other media, so that the community at large could modify the game. That was one gimmick behind the game. They released the code even so that people could modify the game further. All this customizability made the game much more interesting, and sparked interest. People making new models were one of the reasons Quake was a huge success, and you can bet the company was just sitting back enjoying it. Because to use all these new mods and etcetera, you had to BUY their product. (well, not really, but that was back before the warez scene was so easy to access) Point is (since I digressed alot): Most game companies support individuals messing with their games' media, because it creates interest. Some people buy games on a 'wait and see' basis, and watch to see if the mod community will pounce on the game or not. Game makers know this, and use it to their best. Side note: If you've ever done low-polygon modelling, try visitng some game sites and advertising your skills, especially in older gaming communities...they really need artists :)