MTS2:Creator Guidelines/Sims 3 Sims
This page was last modified 10 November 2010
Contents |
Sims 3 Sims
Introduction
Made a pretty pixel dollie that you just HAVE to share? Please read the following guidelines carefully so you know what we expect for uploading your sims to MTS.
Quality
This is by far the most important factor in sim uploads, but also the hardest to quantify.
For sims based on real people or characters
Sims must bear an immediately recognizable likeness to the celebrity or character. While we understand that it's difficult to make a good likeness in TS3, that's a limitation that you have to accept if you're going to make sims - and if you can't get a really good likeness, you might want to try a different celebrity or character, or put your project aside for a while and come back to it later with fresh eyes. You can also use the Creator Feedback forum for help on getting your likeness closer.
For "other" sims not based on a real person or character
Please understand that our standards for what constitutes a unique face are quite high - if it looks like a face you could get just hitting "randomize face" a few times in Create a Sim, it's not really unique. Please make an effort to create truly unique sims that not just anyone could make with a little fiddling. We know this is hard, but really, what's the point in someone downloading a sim they could just make themselves? If you need help, ask in the Creator Feedback forum for advice with tweaking your sim.
We understand the sometimes maddening limit of facial options in the game and the tendency for a generic "sameness" quality in the faces. However, we only host sims for download which represent a genuine effort to make a unique, interesting face sculpt, beyond the regular look of TS3 sims, with all of the features (not just one or two) contributing to a unique overall look. Your sim should have distinctive features that helps them stand out from the crowd, a special something that makes people want to download them that couldn't be easily reproduced.
It's all about the face sculpt and overall look - covering a sim in custom content won't change whether they have a unique face or not.
And no, making a blue/green/red sim and calling it "fantasy" doesn't count as unique. Nor does making a freakishly weird face with a huge nose or whatever, just for weirdness sake.
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.
Required Screenshots
We require certain screenshots for sim uploads - if you do not include these screenshots, your sim(s) will not be approved!
Note: All required pictures must be taken in game and not in Create A Sim! If you only include CAS pictures, your sim will not be accepted!
Face Closeup
At least one face closeup of the sim wearing a neutral expression. This means no giant smiles, frowns, etc. - just a basic "mugshot"
Full Body Shot
At least one full body shot from head to toe. Please try for a basic pose - walking, standing, etc., rather than something that doesn't show the full body very well.
Comparison Picture
Additionally, if you are uploading a celebrity or character sim - any sim that is based on a real person or character, we also require at least one comparison picture of the real person or character. Choose a picture that shows the person's features well (in a neutral expression is best), and isn't too small.
Please note we will not accept comparison pictures that are "split pics" - that is, half sim's face, half real face, split down the middle.
Screenshot Basics
You need to make sure you have nice big, clear pictures that show off what you've made. They can't be too blurry or pixellated, and you need to know how to use the game's camera controls properly, so make sure you review the information on that link thoroughly before continuing. Do not use the in-game camera (using the C key) to take your pictures!
Tip:
For instructions on:
See: Screenshot Basics
- Taking large, clear pictures (bigger than the game will allow)
- Changing your in-game settings for best graphics quality
- Camera controls
Big Enough
Your pics should be large enough to see the detail of what you've made.
Tips:
No Over-Photoshopping
While it can be tempting to get artistic with your screenshots in Photoshop, please don't. Screenshots need to be just as things look in the game, with no extra filtering such as contrast, sharpen, blur, saturation, etc. Also, please don't too crazy when it comes to adding text - make sure your text is in blank areas of the picture or covers an absolute minimum of your creation. Remember, you're showing off what you've made for the game, not your skill in Photoshopping your pics.
Enough Light
All required pictures should be taken in an enclosed room, with good lighting!
Please don't take your screenshots at outside (day or night), or inside with no lights on. Pictures taken inside with good lighting are best to show off the shape and texture of your sim's face.
Distance
Please take your screenshots so that your sim fills the screen, not zoomed out too far or zoomed in too close.
Angle
When taking your pics, drop down to a low level with the camera, so that you are taking your pictures basically from a sim's perspective. Many beginners make the mistake of taking pictures from high above, from the normal perspective one would have as a player, which really doesn't show off your creation very well.
Uploading
Once you have your creation made and screenshots taken, you need to make sure you have all the fiddly bits in order when uploading.
SIM File Only
When you save your sim in-game, please use the button to save your sim to the bin and then upload the .sim file which is created in your My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\SavedSims folder - NOT the .sims3pack created in Exports when you "share sim".
Why? The .sim file is about half the size, and can just be tossed into SavedSims when people download it rather than having to double-click and run the launcher to install. The Launcher doesn't work for many people!
Custom Content
If your sim is shown with ANY custom content, then you will need to provide links and credit for ALL pieces of custom content shown on your sim! This is not optional! Downloaders will need to follow the links you give as a "shopping list" to get your sim to look as it should in-game.
Make sure to provide links and credit for any:
- Hair
- Skintones
- Eyes
- Clothing
- Patterns
- Custom Sliders
- Makeup
- Eyebrows or Beards
A link and credit means writing something like: "Everyday hair by Anubis360: http://www.modthesims.info/d/402962" - it states the item (hair, lipstick, whatever), the creator's name, and gives a direct link to where it can be found.
You may use content from the EA Store on your sim, but again, you need to link and credit it as such, so people can get it.
No Pay Content!
- No Pay Items: As per the news item of July 2007, do not use pay items on your sims. A pay item is an item that you'd have to pay money to access if you went to the original creator's website. It doesn't matter if you can get it for free through a file sharing site, or if it's a pay hair that was retextured and the retexture is available for free - it's still a pay item. Don't use pay items in your screenshots either, even if they are not included. Links for "optional" or "recommended" content may be included as long as they are free sites only. See this news item for more details: Site News - New Creator Rules re: Paysite recolours, General Rules and Others
- This includes ALL items from The Sims Resource (TSR) - whether they are currently free or not - due to the regular changes of what is free or pay on TSR. Featured Artists are under paid subscription, and Select Artists or Non-Select Artists have their own terms of distribution, most of which are not clearly posted. Select Artists or Non-Select Artists can become Featured Artists at anytime, therefore preventing their items from being downloaded freely in the future. This includes all FA's free items. If a TSR artist has uploaded the same/similar item here or elsewhere, and they have allowed redistribution, please credit the appropriate thread and not their TSR profile.
Package WITHOUT Hair and Skin
If you are using custom hairstyles and/or non-default skintones in your game, make sure that when you save your .sim file to the sim bin, that you REMOVE any custom skintones or hairstyles and use default, base game hairstyles and skintones.
You MUST state specifically in the text of your post: "This sim is packaged without custom hairstyles or non-default skins!" as we do not download your sim to check it in-game.
This is because if the downloader cannot or does not download a custom hairstyle, then clicking on the sim in the bin can cause their game to crash; with some major hair creators disappearing, removing their content, or going pay, their hair may be unavailable for download - making your sim that is packaged with it completely useless and crashy because people can't get the hair.
Additionally, non-default skintones are not meant to be packaged with sims and can cause issues. If you are using a non-default skin in your pictures, you still need to link and credit it so people can apply it to the sim in-game, but do not package it with your sim, please!
ZIP or RAR
You will need to put your .sim file(s) into a RAR or ZIP file to upload here. Please see here for instructions on doing so. Please do not include both a ZIP and RAR with the same contents - just choose one.
Please do not double-compress your files - you should not have a ZIP inside a ZIP or a RAR inside a RAR. This does not compress the files any more and just makes an extra step for downloaders.
Upload in Sets
If you have created several items in a set, or similar items in the same sort of theme at the same time, please upload these together in a single set, all on one thread (instead of all separately, one by one, on different threads). This is easier for everyone: on our upload moderators, as they only have one thread to review rather than several... on you, as submitting a single thread is much quicker and easier than several... and on downloaders, as they can get everything they want all in one place rather than having to hunt around.
Good Title
You'll need a good title for your upload – something descriptive, like "Elegant Redhaired Beauty" or "David - Rugged Manly Man" work well for a title. "My first upload!!!" or "sim by simmer121!!!" is not.
Good Description
You'll need to write up a little basic description of what your upload is... you don't have to get too fancy, but you do need to write something to get people interested.
For instance, "This lovely lady is a sharp wit and gets herself into trouble all the time, with a temper that matches her fiery hair," is a good description.
"This is my first upload! I don't know what to say here. My English is not good" is NOT a good description.
Additional Stuff
- 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 sim is ready for uploading, use the Creator Feedback Forum to get feedback on it.
