# this mod is dead status: underway https://robert-what.itch.io/this-mod-is-dead a historical ode to dead videogarme modifications and ir (perhaps innately) troubled development > failed projects don't die; they agonize mutate and compete for resources with good projects > ~ expert systems engineering professional ignacio chechile ![[this-mod-is-dead-community-garmedev-painting-editor-robert-what.jpg |600]] in which to imagine a lament for dead vidyagarm modifications. the ones that didn't make it over the garmedev hump for any number of reasons - though mostly it seems too often to do with the self-convenient myths of vidyagarm development generally within internet culture (whatever the hell that is.) basically the plain and frankly pathetic lie that garme modding for anyone; the grim un-gilded (/hyper)reality that the vast majority of mods are undead; they're so already doa (even on paper) that they're shambling zombies. yet such mods often display an admirable level of amateur kitsch well worth preserving as for the comments section (either wailing for the loss or being bitingly critical) they can be priceless 'this mod is dead' could also be a good idea for a youtube channel **suggested example reading* **+** rescue the problem project: a complete guide to identifying preventing and recovering from project failure by todd c. williams (2011) **+** death march: the complete software developer's guide to surviving "doomed" projects by edward yourdon (2nd edition) **+** software development failures: anatomy of abandoned projects by kweku ewusi-mensah (mit press) **+** the strange immortality of failed projects (from) engineering is broken: we are doing it the wrong way by ignacio chechile (springer nature 2026) https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-032-18169-5_23 // republic of bob