|
|
Line 1: |
Line 1: |
− | =Creator Guidelines - Create a Sim Screens= | + | =CAS Screens= |
− | | + | |
− | Have you made a new Create a Sim (CAS) screen and want to share it? This guide will walk you through every step of what we require on MTS2. Please make sure you read these guidelines carefully, as our standards have changed over the years, and there may be some items you weren't aware of before.
| + | |
| | | |
| + | When uploading a custom CAS screen 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. |
| | | |
| ==Quality== | | ==Quality== |
− | This is by far the most important factor in all uploads, but also the hardest to quantify.
| |
| | | |
− | {{Guidelines-Quality-TimeandEffort}}
| + | {| class="nicetable" style="width:100%" |
− | {| class="collapsible collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%" | + | |
− | |-
| + | |
− | ! style="text-align:left" | Uniqueness
| + | |
− | |-
| + | |
| | | | | |
− | No matter what style or design you choose, your CAS screen should be unique and different. A slight tweak to the existing screens really isn't worth anyone's time to download, so, along with the concept of time and effort, you should work to create an interesting and unique overall look.
| + | *'''Lighting:''' CAS Screens should be nicely lit so that users can see their sims clearly. You don't want it too dark/dim, but you also don't want it too bright. Make sure to remove any lighting hacks before creating your CAS screens so you can be sure you're creating a CAS screen that is properly lit. |
− | |}
| + | |
| | | |
− | {| class="collapsible collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%"
| + | * '''No Seasons:''' This is very, very important! If you have the Seasons expansion pack installed, you cannot make CAS screens normally! You MUST use the AnyGameStarter to create your CAS screen without Seasons! If you do not do this, any sims in the CAS screen will turn blue and freeze. There is no known way to remove the Seasons defect from an existing CAS screen - if you've already made one in Seasons, you will have to remake it without Seasons! |
− | |-
| + | |
− | ! style="text-align:left" | Lighting
| + | |
− | |-
| + | |
− | |
| + | |
− | CAS Screens should be nicely lit so that users can see their sims clearly. You don't want it too dark/dim, but you also don't want it too bright. Make sure to remove any lighting hacks before creating your CAS screens so you can be sure you're creating a CAS screen that is properly lit.
| + | |
| |} | | |} |
| | | |
− | {| class="collapsible collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%" | + | |
− | |-
| + | ==Screenshots== |
− | ! style="text-align:left" | No Seasons!
| + | |
| + | {| class="nicetable" style="width:100%" |
| |- | | |- |
| | | | | |
− | This is very, very important! If you have the Seasons expansion pack installed, you cannot make CAS screens normally! You MUST use the [http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=250555 AnyGameStarter] to create your CAS screen without Seasons! If you do not do this, any sims in the CAS screen will turn blue and freeze. There is no known way to remove the Seasons defect from an existing CAS screen - if you've already made one in Seasons, you will have to remake it without Seasons!
| + | * '''Icon:''' You must include your major's icon, or a picture of it in-game. |
| |} | | |} |
| | | |
− | ==Screenshots==
| |
| | | |
− | People want to see what they're downloading! Your screenshots sell your upload - if people don't like the look of your screenshots, they're not going to download - and if your screenshots are too bad, you won't get your upload approved.
| + | ==Information== |
| | | |
− | {{Guidelines-Screenshots-BigEnough}} | + | {{Template:Guidelines-InfoFiles-TitleDescription}} |
− | {{Guidelines-Screenshots-WellLit}}
| + | |
− | {{Guidelines-Screenshots-Angle}}
| + | |
− | {{Guidelines-Screenshots-Photoshopping}}
| + | |
− | {{Guidelines-Screenshots-InlineandAttached}}
| + | |
− | {{Guidelines-Screenshots-AdultContent-Nudity}}
| + | |
− | {{Guidelines-Screenshots-Tips}}
| + | |
| | | |
− | {| class="collapsible collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%" | + | {| class="nicetable" style="width:100%" |
| |- | | |- |
− | ! style="text-align:left" | Required Screenshots | + | ! style="text-align:left" | Required Information |
| |- | | |- |
− | | | + | | The following information is required for your CAS Screen: |
− | These pictures are required for all CAS Screen uploads. Please make sure to take your pics with your CAS working as an actual CAS - that is, don't take pics while you're creating it, as they won't be of the right angles.
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | '''Sim Creation Part'''
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | [[Image:CAS-SimPart.jpg|right|300x300px]]You need to include at least one picture of the sim creation part, zoomed out fully. You can do this with a sim, or without a sim.
| + | |
− | <br style="clear:both" />
| + | |
− | | + | |
| | | |
− | '''Family Part''' | + | * '''No Seasons:''' Because of the issue of sims freezing in CAS screens made with Seasons installed, you must state somewhere in the text of your post, "I have used [http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=250555 AnyGameStarter] to create this CAS screen without Seasons" OR "I do not have Seasons installed." |
| | | |
− | [[Image:CAS-FamilyPart.jpg|right|300x300px]]You also need to include at least one picture of the family screen, zoomed out fully. You will need to create a sim (or pet) in order to get to this screen to take the screenshot.
| + | *'''Custom Content:''' If you use custom content in your CAS screen, you must provide a link and credit for every single item used in the CAS screen - this means you must put what the thing is, the creator's name, and a working link to where the content can be found (For example: "Arch by HugeLunatic: <nowiki>http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=437197</nowiki>) |
− | <br style="clear:both" />
| + | |
| |} | | |} |
| | | |
− | ==Right Info and Files==
| + | {| class="nicetable" style="width:100%" |
− | Once you have your creation made and screenshots taken, you need to make sure you have all the fiddly bits in order.
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | {| class="collapsible collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%" | + | |
| |- | | |- |
− | ! style="text-align:left" | Right Files | + | ! style="text-align:left" | Required Information |
| |- | | |- |
− | | | + | | The following information is required for your CAS Screen: |
− | Your CAS screen will be a .package file. You will have put it in your Downloads folder to test it - but you should know that as you made it in the first place!
| + | |
| | | |
− | Please also do not include any thumbs.db files (Windows thumbnail database files, which can cause folders to crash if they become corrupted) or DS_Store files (Mac system file, also not needed).
| + | * '''No Seasons:''' Because of the issue of sims freezing in CAS screens made with Seasons installed, you must state somewhere in the text of your post, "I have used [http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=250555 AnyGameStarter] to create this CAS screen without Seasons" OR "I do not have Seasons installed." |
− | <br style="clear:both" />
| + | |
| | | |
− | Please do not rename your CAS screens. Regular CAS screens will be called CAS!.package and young adult/university CAS screens will be called YACAS!.package - please leave these filenames as they are. Users should only have one CAS screen of each type in at a time, and leaving the names as they should be makes it easier to find them should they wish to remove them later.
| + | *'''Custom Content:''' If you use custom content in your CAS screen, you must provide a link and credit for every single item used in the CAS screen - this means you must put what the thing is, the creator's name, and a working link to where the content can be found (For example: "Arch by HugeLunatic: <nowiki>http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=437197</nowiki>) |
| |} | | |} |
| | | |
− | ==Uploading==
| + | {| class="nicetable" style="width:100%" |
− | {{Guidelines-InfoFiles-ZipRar7z}}
| + | |
− | {{Guidelines-InfoFiles-UploadinSets}}
| + | |
− | {{Guidelines-InfoFiles-Title}}
| + | |
− | {{Guidelines-InfoFiles-Description}}
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | {| class="collapsible collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%" | + | |
| |- | | |- |
− | ! style="text-align:left" | Expansion/Stuff Packs Required | + | ! style="text-align:left" | Expansions Required? |
| |- | | |- |
| | | | | |
− | If you use items from expansion packs or stuff packs in your CAS screen, users will need those EPs/SPs for those items to show up. They should still be able to use your CAS without the EPs/SPs - it's just that the items you used won't show up properly. So it's up to you to know which EPs/SPs the items you used are from, and to mark those EPs/SPs as required on your upload. | + | If you use items from expansion packs or stuff packs in your CAS screen, users will need those EPs/SPs for those items to show up. They should still be able to use your CAS without the EPs/SPs - it's just that the items you used won't show up properly. So it's up to you to know which EPs/SPs the items you used are from, and to mark those EPs/SPs as required on your upload. |
| + | |} |
| | | |
− | You can look up which expansion is required for a certain object in the following ways:
| |
| | | |
− | * [http://cep.modthesims2.com/ The CEP Documentation] - Download the Manual Installation file. Look in the "CEP_Documentation" folder, and you'll see files with object lists in XLS (Excel spreadsheet) and PDF (Adobe Reader) format.
| + | ==Files== |
| | | |
− | * [http://www.delphster.net/irc/ The CEP Database] - A searchable online database similar to the CEP documentation, only you don't have to download anything. This may be easier than using the CEP documentation, but it is not updated as frequently, so it may not include the newest EPs/SPs.
| + | {{Guidelines-InfoFiles-ZipRar7z}} |
| | | |
− | Unfortunately, neither of the above methods work for walls/floors!
| |
| | | |
− | Make sure you only mark the EPs/SPs required that your upload actually needs! Don't just mark them all please!
| + | ==Other== |
− | <br style="clear:both" />
| + | |
− | |}
| + | |
| | | |
− | {| class="collapsible collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%" | + | {| class="nicetable" style="width:100%" |
− | |-
| + | |
− | ! style="text-align:left" | AnyGameStarter/No Seasons
| + | |
| |- | | |- |
| | | | | |
− | Because of the issue with sims freezing and falling over in CAS screens created with Seasons installed, you MUST state somewhere in the text of your post that:
| + | * 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]. |
| | | |
− | * You have used Numenor's [http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=250555 AnyGameStarter] to create your CAS without Seasons | + | * 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. |
− | OR
| + | |
− | * That you do not have the Seasons expansion pack installed.
| + | |
| |} | | |} |
| | | |
− | ==Custom Content==
| + | {{Guidelines-NotAllowed}} |
− | '''It is strongly recommended you do not use custom content for your CAS screens!'''
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | Though CAS screens are technically lots, you cannot package them up with their needed custom content in-game the same way you do lots. Thus, if you use any custom content for your CAS screens, you must create a "shopping list" for all custom content used in your CAS screen, and downloaders must follow each link and download the content you used separately. This is a hassle for everyone involved - you, downloaders, and the moderators.
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | If you DO use custom content, you must provide a link and credit for every single item you used in the CAS screen, and make it clear exactly what users need to get - i.e. name the particular items used if the link is to a whole set. If you cannot provide a direct link due to the site using frames or Flash, you must provide detailed instructions on how to get to the proper page. Please also make sure to put a clear heading in bold above the list of required content so users know that they will need to get that content separately.
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | ==Additional Stuff==
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | * 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].
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | * If you want some feedback before uploading, post info about your mod in the [http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=473 Creator Feedback Forum] to get feedback on it.
| + | |
| | | |
| [[Category:MTS2 Creator Guidelines]] | | [[Category:MTS2 Creator Guidelines]] |
− | [[Category:Sims 2]]
| |
When uploading a custom CAS screen 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.
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.
|
|