Difference between revisions of "MTS2:Creator Guidelines/Sims 3 Game Mods"

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===Not just a cheat or exploit===
 
===Not just a cheat or exploit===
  
At MTS, we are not interested in hosting "get everything for free with no effort at all!" type hacks/mods.  We do not host mods that make it so hard to obtain items are free or only a few simoleons, or make it so sims are millionaires by default, or get tons of lifetime reward points without earning them - these things are of limited usefulness and are really just cheats.
+
At MTS, we are not interested in hosting "get everything for free with no effort at all!" type hacks/mods.  We do not host mods that make it so rare/special items (like seeds, fish, etc) are free or only a few simoleons, or make it so sims are millionaires by default, or get tons of lifetime reward points without earning them - these things are of limited usefulness and are really just cheats.
  
 
If you create a mod that, for instance, makes it so a hard to obtain item is buyable, then make the price make sense - it should still be expensive (and thus not super easy to obtain).
 
If you create a mod that, for instance, makes it so a hard to obtain item is buyable, then make the price make sense - it should still be expensive (and thus not super easy to obtain).
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===Good Title===
 
===Good Title===
  
You'll need a good title for your upload – something descriptive, like "Autonomous Woohoo" or "Buyable Omniplant Seeds" work well for a title.  "My first upload!!!" or "cool mod!!"  is not.
+
You'll need a good title for your upload – something descriptive, like "Autonomous Woohoo" or "Buyable Omniplant Seeds" work well for a title.  "My first upload!!!" or "cool mod!!"  is not. Make sure that if your mod ''disables'' a feature, that you have "No" in the title - ie "No Autonomous Sprinkers"
  
  
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* '''What type of mod it is:'''  Is it a texture replacer, XML tuning, or a full script mod?  This is VERY important since it will effect what your mod will conflict with.
 
* '''What type of mod it is:'''  Is it a texture replacer, XML tuning, or a full script mod?  This is VERY important since it will effect what your mod will conflict with.
 +
 +
* '''If it overrides something:''' Please make ''sure'' that you list the defaults too.  For example, if you upload a mod to make showers take less time, please state the original time that it would take a Sim to shower, along with your changed values (and see the note about multiple versions).
  
 
* '''Known conflicts or issues:''' Do you know of things that your mod won't work with?  Make sure to let people know!
 
* '''Known conflicts or issues:''' Do you know of things that your mod won't work with?  Make sure to let people know!
  
* '''Any special instructions:''' Does anything in particular need to be done to install your mod?
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* '''Any special instructions:''' Does anything in particular need to be done to install your mod? This is ''very'' important for .ini file mods!
  
Please format your description in a readable format.  Lists, headings, and proper use of bold text where appropriate is a heck of a lot easier to read and follow than a giant block of text.
+
Please format your description in a readable format.  Lists, headings, and proper use of bold text where appropriate is a heck of a lot easier to read and follow than a giant block of text.  On the flipside, don't just put in a one-liner.  Explain something about mod and why you made it.
  
  

Revision as of 08:31, 4 July 2009

Contents

Sims 3 Game Mods

Introduction

Made a cool new mod for The Sims 3 and want to share? Please read the following guidelines carefully so you understand what we require for MTS uploads.

Quality

This is by far the most important factor in all uploads, but also the hardest to quantify.


Usefulness

Is the mod you've created something people will actually want? Does it make sense? Will people get a lot of use out of it?


Not just a cheat or exploit

At MTS, we are not interested in hosting "get everything for free with no effort at all!" type hacks/mods. We do not host mods that make it so rare/special items (like seeds, fish, etc) are free or only a few simoleons, or make it so sims are millionaires by default, or get tons of lifetime reward points without earning them - these things are of limited usefulness and are really just cheats.

If you create a mod that, for instance, makes it so a hard to obtain item is buyable, then make the price make sense - it should still be expensive (and thus not super easy to obtain).


Multiple versions

If you create a mod that you change the time or amount of something, rather than just changing it to some random arbitrary number, try making it half (or double) and then a quarter (or 4x), etc. and upload multiple versions so people can choose the type they want. For XML tuning mods, this is super easy and takes no more than a few minutes to do, so there's no reason to not let people pick and choose from the version they want.


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 know it can be difficult to capture something useful in-game for many game mods, but we do require -some- sort of illustrative in-game screenshot. In fact, with no screenshots, your upload won't even show up in the Downloads section.


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:
RightArrow.gif For instructions on:
  • Taking large, clear pictures (bigger than the game will allow)
  • Changing your in-game settings for best graphics quality
  • Camera controls
See: Screenshot Basics



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.


Essential Files Only

Please don't upload a Resource.cfg with your mod, or with a full subfolder structure. Just the essential files, as simply as possible. You can include a Readme.txt file if you choose, but don't clutter up the file with a bunch of stuff that will just confuse downloaders.


ZIP or RAR

You will need to put your 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 mods in a set, or similar mods 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 "Autonomous Woohoo" or "Buyable Omniplant Seeds" work well for a title. "My first upload!!!" or "cool mod!!" is not. Make sure that if your mod disables a feature, that you have "No" in the title - ie "No Autonomous Sprinkers"


Good Description

For mods, a good description is essential - perhaps more so than any other area on the site.

People need to know:

  • What your mod does: What is it for? What does it change in-game? Where should they expect to see the changes? You need a good description of exactly what it's for and what it does.
  • What type of mod it is: Is it a texture replacer, XML tuning, or a full script mod? This is VERY important since it will effect what your mod will conflict with.
  • If it overrides something: Please make sure that you list the defaults too. For example, if you upload a mod to make showers take less time, please state the original time that it would take a Sim to shower, along with your changed values (and see the note about multiple versions).
  • Known conflicts or issues: Do you know of things that your mod won't work with? Make sure to let people know!
  • Any special instructions: Does anything in particular need to be done to install your mod? This is very important for .ini file mods!

Please format your description in a readable format. Lists, headings, and proper use of bold text where appropriate is a heck of a lot easier to read and follow than a giant block of text. On the flipside, don't just put in a one-liner. Explain something about mod and why you made it.


Additional Stuff

  • If your upload is rejected or marked as changes required and you're not sure why, ask in Creator Issues.
  • If you want some feedback before uploading, post info about your mod in the Creator Feedback Forum to get feedback on it.
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