Difference between revisions of "MTS2:Creator Guidelines/Majors"

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==Creator Guidelines - Majors==
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=Majors=
__NOTOC__
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Creating a custom major is a relatively simple task, but that is not an excuse for lazy uploading. The following are the rules you need to follow when creating and uploading a major - follow them and you are almost guaranteed approval!
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When uploading a custom major for The Sims 2 to Mod The Sims, we have some basic requirements to ensure that your upload is good, shown well, and has the correct info and files needed for people to use it in their games. This allows both moderators to check your uploads for quality, and for downloaders to see if your item is something they want to add to their games.
  
===Creation Requirements===
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==Quality==
  
====Theme====
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{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
The subject matter of a custom major need not be within the realms of possibility. We have magic majors, hoodlum majors, majors on how to be a ninja... no sense of reality required. However, whatever theme you choose must ''make sense'' as a major.
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*'''Theme:''' The subject matter of a custom major need not be within the realms of possibility. We have magic majors, hoodlum majors, majors on how to be a ninja... no sense of reality required. However, whatever theme you choose must ''make sense'' as a major.
  
Making majors based around games, films, books, TV shows or celebrities is very popular - but it has to be done carefully. People, and sims, go to university to learn how to be or do something. They don't go to university to learn ''about'' a TV show or a celebrity. Using a TV show or a game world as a base is fine, but a sim studying your major should have some chance of learning something they might actually care about.
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* '''Uniqueness and Grammar:''' Description, title, and classes must be new, unique, and interesting. They must also be double-checked for spelling and grammar. If you need help with proofreading, you can post a thread in the [http://www.modthesims.info/fd.php?f=473 Creator Feedback Forum].
  
The key is '''immersion''' - is anyone likely to create a sim who would want to follow this major? Someone has probably made a Buffy sim, they probably haven't made a sim who is Sarah Michelle Gellar's #1 fan. To illustrate, some acceptable and unacceptable class titles:
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* '''Clear All Languages: ''' ''Make sure'' to hit "Clear All Languages" before you upload, or your file will not work properly with non-US English games!
  
: [[Image:Tick.png]]
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* '''Overwriting:''' Unless your major is specifically intended to overwrite a Maxis major, it must have a custom GUID.
: Avada Kedavra! And Other Phrases You Should Rarely Use
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: Advanced Mechanics: Smack It Wiv' Yer Spanner!
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: Why Stargate + Black Hole = Do not Want
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: [[Image:Cross.png]]
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* '''Skill Requirements:''' If you use BCONs to alter skill requirements, test them thoroughly before you upload. Incorrectly modified BCONs can cause game crashes, so test them.
: Dumbledore Dies on Page 596!
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: Is Paris Hilton Really Straight?
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: The Hidden Message of the Fast Food Rockers
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*'''Class Title Length:''' Please ensure your class titles fit in the user interface.
  
====Other Bits and Bobs====
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* '''Custom Icons:''' They should meet the standards laid out in [http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=269957 this mini-tutorial] - that is; be the roughly right colour (if it's a single-colour silhouette), NOT be a random photo, and have a transparent background. You may use an EA icon if it is appropriate; the main purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the UI looks neat when your major is in use.
* Description, title, and classes must be new, unique, and inventive. They must also be double-checked for spelling and grammar.
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|}
'''Make sure''' to hit "Clear All Languages" before you upload, or your file will not work properly with non-US English games!
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* Unless your major is specifically intended to overwrite a Maxis major, it '''absolutely must''' have a registered custom GUID.
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* If you use BCONs to alter skill requirements, test them thoroughly before you upload. Incorrectly modified BCONs can cause game crashes, so '''test them'''.
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* Custom icons must comply with the guidelines laid out in [http://www.modthesims2.com/member/showthread.php?t=269957 this tutorial].
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==Screenshots==
  
===Posting Requirements===
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{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
You must include in your post:
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|-
* Major title and description, and class names.
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* If the major overwrites a Maxis major, you must state which major it overwrites.
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* '''Icon:''' You must include your major's icon, or a picture of it in-game.
* If you used BCONs to alter skill requirements, state which skills are focused on.
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|}
* The icon used for the major, as an attachment to the post. If you created your icon in a program which uses lurid pink to show transparency, put it on a white background; otherwise it just looks tacky.
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* It is a good idea to link to [http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=107858 FrikaC's Majors Made Easier] in your post.
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* '''Majors require University. They are not basegame compatible. They do not require Nightlife, Seasons, or anything else. Tick the University box, and that's it!'''
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==Information==
  
===Extra Stuff===
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{{Template:Guidelines-InfoFiles-TitleDescription}}
  
For an example of a perfect upload post, see [http://www.modthesims2.com/member/showthread.php?t=100172 here].
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{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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|-
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! style="text-align:left" | Required Information
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|-
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* You must include in your post:
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** Major title and description, and class names.
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** If the major overwrites a Maxis major, you must state which major it overwrites.
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** If you used BCONs to alter skill requirements, state which skills are focused on.
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** The icon used for the major, as an attachment to the post. If you created your icon in a program which uses lurid pink to show transparency, put it on a white background; otherwise it wont look good to downloaders.
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** '''Majors require University. They are not basegame compatible. They do not require Nightlife, Seasons, or anything else. Tick the University box, and that's it!'''
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|}
  
If your upload is rejected or marked as changes required and you're not sure why, ask - in [http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=492 Creator Issues], or by [[User:Whiterider/Private_Messaging|PMing whiterider]].
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{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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|-
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! style="text-align:left" | Expansions Required?
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|-
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Majors require University. They are not basegame compatible. They do not require Nightlife, Seasons, or anything else. Tick the University box only!
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|}
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==Files==
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{{Guidelines-InfoFiles-ZipRar7z}}
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==Other==
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{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
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|-
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* If your upload is rejected or marked as changes required and you're not sure why, ask in [http://www.modthesims.info/forumdisplay.php?f=492 Creator Issues].
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* If you're not sure whether your major is ready for uploading, use the [http://www.modthesims.info/forumdisplay.php?f=473 Creator Feedback Forum] to get feedback on it.
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|}
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{{Guidelines-NotAllowed}}
  
 
[[Category:MTS2 Creator Guidelines]]
 
[[Category:MTS2 Creator Guidelines]]

Latest revision as of 13:34, 29 November 2013

Contents

[edit] Majors

When uploading a custom major for The Sims 2 to Mod The Sims, we have some basic requirements to ensure that your upload is good, shown well, and has the correct info and files needed for people to use it in their games. This allows both moderators to check your uploads for quality, and for downloaders to see if your item is something they want to add to their games.

[edit] Quality

  • Theme: The subject matter of a custom major need not be within the realms of possibility. We have magic majors, hoodlum majors, majors on how to be a ninja... no sense of reality required. However, whatever theme you choose must make sense as a major.
  • Uniqueness and Grammar: Description, title, and classes must be new, unique, and interesting. They must also be double-checked for spelling and grammar. If you need help with proofreading, you can post a thread in the Creator Feedback Forum.
  • Clear All Languages: Make sure to hit "Clear All Languages" before you upload, or your file will not work properly with non-US English games!
  • Overwriting: Unless your major is specifically intended to overwrite a Maxis major, it must have a custom GUID.
  • Skill Requirements: If you use BCONs to alter skill requirements, test them thoroughly before you upload. Incorrectly modified BCONs can cause game crashes, so test them.
  • Class Title Length: Please ensure your class titles fit in the user interface.
  • Custom Icons: They should meet the standards laid out in this mini-tutorial - that is; be the roughly right colour (if it's a single-colour silhouette), NOT be a random photo, and have a transparent background. You may use an EA icon if it is appropriate; the main purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the UI looks neat when your major is in use.

[edit] Screenshots

  • Icon: You must include your major's icon, or a picture of it in-game.


[edit] Information

Title & Description
Give your upload a descriptive title and write a text description for your upload, describing what you're uploading. Your title and description must be in English or provide an English translation. If you are not a native English speaker, using Google Translate is okay. You can also ask for help writing your description in the Creator Feedback Forum.
Required Information
  • You must include in your post:
    • Major title and description, and class names.
    • If the major overwrites a Maxis major, you must state which major it overwrites.
    • If you used BCONs to alter skill requirements, state which skills are focused on.
    • The icon used for the major, as an attachment to the post. If you created your icon in a program which uses lurid pink to show transparency, put it on a white background; otherwise it wont look good to downloaders.
    • Majors require University. They are not basegame compatible. They do not require Nightlife, Seasons, or anything else. Tick the University box, and that's it!
Expansions Required?

Majors require University. They are not basegame compatible. They do not require Nightlife, Seasons, or anything else. Tick the University box only!


[edit] Files

Zip, Rar, or 7z
To upload your file(s) to MTS, you will need to compress them into an archive file, which makes them smaller and allows you to include many files in one download. The archive file formats we currently accept are .zip, .rar, and .7z.

For instructions on compressing your files into an archive, please see: Creator Guidelines: Creating Archive Files.

  • Do not include multiple archives with the same contents - that is, please don't put your files in both a .zip as well as a .rar because some people only want .zip files. Choose one format.
  • Do not double-compress your files... a .rar file inside another .rar file (or any other archive inside another) doesn't compress it anymore, and it makes it so we can't see the contents without downloading, and also just makes an extra step for the people downloading.
  • The file size limit on MTS is 50 mb. If you exceed this limit you will need to split your archives. This should probably never come up except for large worlds for The Sims 3, or huge sets of smaller items.


[edit] Other

  • If your upload is rejected or marked as changes required and you're not sure why, ask in Creator Issues.
  • If you're not sure whether your major is ready for uploading, use the Creator Feedback Forum to get feedback on it.
Uploads not allowed on MTS
These items are not allowed on MTS in any category.
Pay/Pirated Content

Everything required or recommended for an upload must be freely available, without having to pay.

  • No uploads requiring pay content: We do not host content (for example, recolours of a pay hair or object mesh) that absolutely require pay content to function in-game.
  • No optional pay, pirated, or stolen content: Even for optional or recommended content not absolutely required for the creation to work (for example, hair on a sim or a couch on a lot), this means:
    • No content you must pay for. This means you cannot use items that are pay, donation, subscriber only, "special gift", etc. type content, anything accessible only when you pay money or subscribe.
    • No content from sites that are repositories of unmodified content when it is still available from the original creator, whether these items are pay or free (no Booty or Simscave, torrents, sites full of stolen content or similar, but the Graveyard and sites that offer recolours or modifications with the mesh are okay).
    • No EA content simply converted to base game use with no other changes.
    • No pirated EA Store content. EA Store content, linked to the legitimate EA Store, is okay though. TS2 store content may be included, with proper credit, since the store is no longer available.
Other content not allowed
  • Items that belong on the adult site: No content posted on MTS can have visible nudity, sexual content, or adult content, and instead must be posted on our adult site, Sexy Sims. This means on MTS, you may not post:
    • Content that contains nudity, which we define as exposing the female nipples, or the butt crack/genitals of either gender, including semi-transparent stuff like a sheer bra. Items that are merely "sexy" like skimpy miniskirts or string bikinis are fine on MTS. Transsexual/transgender items are also not considered adult content unless they contain nudity.
    • Skintones containing genital details - female nipples are okay on MTS but see below regarding screenshots.
    • Images of skintones with uncensored female nipples. Please blur or cover the nipples, butt crack, and genital area when taking screenshots of your skintones.
    • Fine art uploads containing visible nudity.
    • Items with specifically sexual content (sex toys, sexual poses).
    • Items containing swear/curse words
    • Items relating to illegal drugs. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are okay on MTS though.
  • Sexualized children: We do not allow any sexy/sexualized content for baby, toddler, or child sims in any way - no breasts whatsoever on child sims, no "sexy" outfits, etc. If you want to make preteens, make a less developed body for teen sims. Sexualized child content is not allowed at our adult site either.
  • Offensive content: Racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, bigoted, hateful or otherwise offensive content will not be allowed. Again, also not allowed at our adult site.
  • Gore/violence: We do not allow uploads which feature prominent, graphic violence and/or gore. Examples of things we do not allow would include items centred around mass shootings, images showing explicit violent imagery, cannibalism, and infanticide. Limited violence and gore may be featured if not the dominant focus of the upload, and not excessively graphic. Think a PG-13 movie. If uncertain whether your upload crosses this line, we suggest making a thread in the Creator Issues forum asking for feedback from a moderator before uploading.
  • EXE installers: Creators are not allowed to post exe (or other executable) files for any area of the site but Modding Tools. If your content needs to be installed to a certain directory, you can compress your files and leave the directory structure intact, so you can tell people to just install to Program Files, for instance, and the files will go where they need to. Executable installers can easily hold viruses, and are generally not needed for installing most content.
  • Preorder bonus content: Certain items were only available if you preordered certain expansions or stuff packs from certain retailers. It's unfortunate if someone missed out on getting them, but they can't be redistributed here as EA has made it clear that they do not allow it.
  • Unmodified EP/SP/Store content: While it is common practice to modify and use bits and pieces of game content to create custom content, extracting content from an expansion, stuff pack, or Store item and uploading it unmodified is not allowed on this site. You are welcome to upload significantly modified versions of expansion, stuff pack, or Store content, but you can't just be ripping it and changing one tiny thing (or nothing) just so people who didn't purchase it can still use it.
  • Stolen/reuploaded content: This should go without saying, but do not upload content made by others and claim it as your own, in whole or in part. Don't upload the work of someone else without their permission... if they wanted to share it at MTS, they can easily upload it here themselves.
  • Uncredited content/violating permissions: If any part of what you have uploaded (mesh, textures, alphas, bump maps, coding, etc.) comes from somebody else's work, you MUST provide a link and credit in the text of your post, for the original author. State what you've used of theirs, the author's name, and give a link back to them. You must check the author's policies to see if you can use their content in the way you want, and you may not violate any policies stated. If there are no policies or they don't disallow your type of usage, or the site is permanently offline, then you can assume it's okay. Please see here for more details: Updates and Remixes of Creations.
  • Redirects: If you want to move a creation to another site, please remove your upload from MTS, don't just edit the text to point to a different site.
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