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

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==Checklist==
 
==Checklist==
 
 
 
 
 
 
==Adult Content/Nudity==
 
 
MTS2 is not an adult site.  We do have an adult site affiliated with MTS2, [http://www.sexysims2.com Sexy Sims 2] where adult content may be uploaded.  But because MTS2 is a PG-13 site, no adult content may be uploaded to MTS2 itself.
 
 
===Skintones===
 
 
Skintones uploaded to MTS2 must be completely "barbie" below the waist.  That is, you cannot include genitals or pubic hair for either gender.  Skintones uploaded to MTS2 may include female nipples, or you may leave them off if you prefer, for a Maxis-like skintone that is completely "barbie."
 
 
You must obscure your skintones even if they are completely "barbie."  Please see the section above under Screenshots, ("Obscured Skintones") for exact details on what you must obscure, and how to do so.
 
 
===Other Adult Content===
 
 
Content with swear/curse words or sexually suggestive themes may not be uploaded to MTS2.  Please upload these items to the adult site instead.
 
 
Items relating to illegal drugs do not belong on MTS2. You -may- post items relating to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as alcohol and tobacco on MTS2, but items related to illegal drugs should go on our adult site.
 
 
"Nude clothing" uploads are not allowed on MTS2 - that sort of thing needs to go on the adult site.
 
 
For more information and a further list of items we do not allow on MTS2, see: [[MTS2:Uploads_NOT_allowed_on_MTS2|Uploads Not Allowed on MTS2]].
 
 
 
==Right Info/Right Files==
 
 
===Right Files===
 
 
Make sure your sim is a .sims2pack file, packaged from Body Shop.  Please follow the instructions above under Packaging Your Sim for instructions.  We do NOT accept sims packaged on lots.
 
 
===ZIP or RAR===
 
 
You will need to put your .sims2pack file(s) into a RAR or ZIP file to upload here. Please see [http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=148592 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.  Q-Xpress will not properly unpack these files, and it makes extra unnecessary steps for downloaders.
 
 
===Upload in Sets===
 
 
If you have created several sims in a set, or similar sims 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.
 
 
 
===Meshes Needed/Included?===
 
 
'''Do you need a mesh?'''  If you are including a recolour of a hair, clothing, or accessory, downloaders may need a custom mesh for the sim's content to work right.  If you don't know whether a custom mesh is required, it's very easy to check: cut and paste the contents of your Downloads folder somewhere else temporarily.  Then put in only your sim and its associated files (just double-click on the sims2pack file to install it to your game, just as if you had downloaded it), and load the game or Body Shop.  If it shows up correctly, you don't need a custom mesh.  If it doesn't show up correctly and shows a Maxis default instead, you do need a custom mesh, and you'll need to figure out what one it is.  This can be tricky if you have a lot of meshes - best way is to make sure you know what mesh is required before you go and put an item on a sim!
 
 
Once you've identified what mesh it is, you need to check back with the original creator on their site or forum and see what they say about that - look for a FAQ or policies page to see what they have to say about including their meshes.  They may not want you to include their mesh, or they may only be okay with it if you include their readme file as well. 
 
 
'''Including Meshes:'''  If your creation does require a custom mesh, you may be able to include it if:
 
* You have made the mesh yourself.  In this case, please include a numeric [[Game Help:Poly Counts|poly count]] for your mesh somewhere in the post.
 
* You have recoloured the item the mesh is required for yourself, and if the creator allows redistribution of their meshes with recolours.
 
 
Please do not include meshes that are uploaded on MTS2, even if the creator says it's okay - this creates redundant uploads.
 
 
Do not include meshes that the creator says not to include, or if the creator doesn't say.  If you get special permission to include a mesh that normally cannot be included (or the creator's policies don't say anything) please say in the text of your upload post that you have permission - we can't read your mind!
 
 
If you do include the mesh, make sure you include a credit and link in the text of your post - and make sure you state that the mesh is included!
 
 
'''Linking to Meshes:''' If you cannot include a mesh, or the mesh is hosted on MTS2, link to the mesh in the appropriate spot when uploading - when you mark your upload as a New Mesh Recolour you will get a screen asking you to link to the mesh.  Please give as direct a link as possible - to the page where the mesh is, if you can.  If you cannot give a direct link, or if there are a lot of meshes on the page, please give directions in the text of your post, as clear as possible... i.e. "Look under Female, Adult, Everyday, then go to Page 4, and download the black dress with the blue belt outfit - the mesh is included with it."  Please do not hotlink the mesh - i.e. you want to link to the page it can be downloaded from, not the actual rar or zip file with the mesh in it - hotlinking is bad manners.
 
 
===Expansion/Stuff Packs Required?===
 
 
Please read this part carefully to ensure people know exactly what expansions may or may not be required for your sim.
 
 
* The Sim's face, geometry, and features sculpted in Body Shop: No expansions required under any circumstances. Your sim's facial features will work in ANY game. You probably don't need to check anything under expansions for a sim, so anyone can use it.
 
 
* Maxis hair, clothing, or accessory meshes or recolours of those from an EP: The sim may require the EP the item is from but only for that item... How crucial that piece is to your sim varies depending on the sim - someone may just not look right without their gorilla suit, and so you would mark that expansion as required for the sim. BUT... if the EP-required item could be changed without fundamentally changing your sim, you don't need to mark the expansion as required. DO make sure to tell your downloaders that the item you used was EP-required, and to remove any recolour of the EP-required mesh you may have included when installing, using Clean Installer.
 
 
Downloaders can then just change that particular part on the sim to whatever they may have that is appropriate.
 
 
* If the sim is wearing custom hair, clothing, or accessory meshes and recolours, or your recolours of custom hair, clothing, or accessory meshes, they will not require an expansion for these items.
 
 
* Custom makeup, skintones, beards textured onto the skin (not the Father Time beard), full-face makeup, brows, and eyes do not require expansions.
 
 
* Sims packaged as Young Adults will require the University expansion. Please consider packaging your sim as an Adult instead, so anyone can use it in their game. If University owners would like to create your sim as a Young Adult they can quickly and easily switch it to Young Adult using Body Shop.
 
 
* The Pets Exception: If you (or the original creator) have the Pets expansion installed and have created any custom content (recolours or meshes) for a sim in the version of Body Shop that installs with Pets, that content will require the Pets Expansion. It is strongly suggested that install the [[Game Help:Patching Your Game|Pets Patch]] and then reimport your project so your content will not needlessly require Pets.
 
 
===Where to Upload===
 
 
Please make sure you upload to the correct category. Click [http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=145 here] to see what forums we have for offer:
 
 
* Anime, Comic & Gaming Characters
 
* Celebrities and Real People
 
* Horror and Gothic
 
* Sci-Fi
 
* Other
 
 
Self-sims do NOT go in the Downloads forum - please do not upload sims of yourself or people you know... you may share them by email but due to the limited demand for downloading random users' self-sims, we do not allow non-staff self-sims posted in the Downloads forum.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Make sure you have carefully read everything above to make sure you understand what is required. We understand it's a bit complex, but so is creating for Sims 2, so do make sure you fully comprehend everything above.
 
 
* Your sim, packaged as a sim in sims2pack file from Body Shop, compressed inside a rar or zip file.
 
 
* At least one close-up and at least one full-body shot of your sim, in JPEG format.
 
 
* If your sim is based on a celebrity or character, at least one comparison picture showing the person your sim is based on and your sim, preferrably side by side and wearing similar expressions.
 
 
* A text file containing full links and credit for every piece of custom content used on your sim, including specific mention of any pieces you have made yourself, and links to where downloaders can get any custom meshes, if they need them.
 
 
===
 
 
 
==Checklist==
 
 
This is a checklist of everything gone over above so you can be sure you've done everything you need to do to ensure your submission is correct.  This is just for your own use - checking these boxes doesn't actually -do- anything, just is an easy way to keep yourself organized.
 
 
===Quality===
 
 
<html>
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Highlights and Shadows</b> - Textures look realistically light and dark in the right places, and are not just a solid bucket fill.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Photoskinning</b> - If textures are from a photo, care has been taken to choose the right source images, and adjust it so the details are in the right place.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Not Too Bright</b> - If the creation is brightly-coloured or neon, the colours aren't truly neon in colour, but still look nice and bright in-game.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Black and White</b> - If any part of the creation is black or white, those areas are not true, pure black or white, but shades of light or dark grey.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Crisp/Unpixellated</b> - All textures look crisp and clear, with no blurriness or pixellation.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Bump Mapping</b> - If you've done bump mapping, it's not just a straight desaturation of the texture, but care has been taken to adjust it to bump in the right places.  If you cannot view bump maps, you have instead filled the bump map texture with 50% grey, so people who can view them won't see wrong ones.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>No Simple Slider Changes</b> - You've made an effort to create a nice new texture for your creation, rather than just slightly modifying an existing texture.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Time and Effort</b> - Have you spent a substantial amount of time and really tried to create something nice that is worth putting your name on?</input><br />
 
</html>
 
 
===Screenshots===
 
 
<html>
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Big Enough</b> - Your screenshots are large enough to clearly see what you have made - limits are 1280x1024 pixels and 195 kbs.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>In-Game</b> - Your screenshots are taken from within the game, and are not just pictures of your textures or taken from within Body Shop.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>All Items in Set</b> - If you are uploading a multi-item set, you have in-game screenshots of every item in the set - not just Body Shop pictures or texture swatches.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Poses</b> - You have posed your models in a way that best shows off what you have created - simple walking/standing poses work best.  No twisty-torso model walk, please.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Show the Whole Thing</b> - Your screenshots show the entirety of what you have made - for clothing you haven't cropped out arms or feet but show the whole sim, head-to-toe.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Detail Pics</b> - If your textures have interesting details, you've zoomed in nice and close to show off those details with additional screenshots.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Close Enough</b> - You've shown your creation nice and close, so it fills pretty much the whole picture and can be clearly seen.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Multiple Angles</b> - For clothing, hair, and skintones, you have made sure to show the back and sides as well as the front.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Enough Light</b> - Screenshots taken outside are taken during daytime, with the sim facing the sun - or screenshots taken inside have the lights on, and enough of them so your creation is clearly visible.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Cut that Hair!</b> - The hairstyles used on your models are short styles which allow your creation to be seen - not long hair that covers up what you have made.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>No Over-Photoshopping</b> - Your screenshots show the item as it appears in-game, with no additional filters applied which change the look of the image, and any added text does not cover your creation.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Obscured Skintones</b> - If you are uploading skintones, the crotches, breasts, and butt cracks are blurred or otherwise obscured.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Try Neutral Backgrounds</b> - The backgrounds in your shots are neutral, or do not detract from the appearance of the content you've created.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Inline/Attached Screenshots</b> - Your inline screenshots are no more than 800x600 pixels, you don't have more than 4 of them, your required screenshots are actually attached to the thread, and you don't have more than 8 screenshots attached.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>No Pay Content</b> - You do not have any pay content in your screenshots, and your models are wearing free or Maxis hair.  You have also included credits for the hair on your models in the text of your post.</input><br />
 
</html>
 
 
===Adult Content/Nudity===
 
 
<html>
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Skintones</b> - If you are uploading skintones, they are "barbie" below the waist - with no hair or anatomical details.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>No Adult Content</b> - Your content doesn't have any swear words, nudity, or illegal drugs.</input><br />
 
</html>
 
 
===Right Info/Right Files===
 
 
<html>
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Right Files</b> - Your files are from your SavedSims folder, not Projects, and are .package files - not a .sims2pack as part of a full sim.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>ZIP or RAR</b> - You have compressed your files into a zip or rar archive (but not both).</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Upload in Sets</b> - If you have created a set or several similar/related items, you have uploaded them all together in one thread, rather than on separate threads.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Meshes Needed/Included</b> - You have checked to see if any meshes are needed, and if they are, you have either included them in accordance with the creator's policies (along with any needed readme) or linked to where the mesh can be found, with sufficient instructions so downloaders know which one to get.  If you have included the mesh, you have stated that you have, and you have also provided a link and credit to the creator in the text of your post.  If it's a mesh hosted on MTS2, you have linked to it rather than including it, regardless of the creator's policies which may allow you to include it.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Expansion/Stuff Packs Required</b> - You know which expansions or stuff packs are required for your content, and have marked only the required one(s) as required.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Permission/Credit</b> - If you editing someone else's creation, you have checked their policies to see if you can, and gotten permission (and stated you have permission) if needed.  You have also provided credit and a link to the original creator in your post.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Good Title</b> - You have given your creation a good, descriptive title.</input><br />
 
<input type="checkbox"><b>Good Description</b> - You have given your creation a nice description that makes people want to download it.</input><br />
 
</html>
 

Revision as of 12:20, 13 April 2008


Creator Guidelines - Sims

So you've made a Sim and you want to share it on MTS2. Below are guidelines you need to follow before you can share your Sim here at MTS2 in our Downloads section.

Quality

Screenshots

Packaging Your Sim

Credits for Included or Pictured Content

Adult Content/Nudity

Right Info/Right Files

Checklist

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