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

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==Creator Guidelines - Majors==
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=Majors=
  
The quality of uploads in this forum has come to staff attention, and while many files themselves are pretty much up to par, the upload posts in particular need desperate attention.
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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 for all majors'''===
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==Quality==
  
* Unless your major is specifically intended to overwrite a Maxis major, it ABSOLUTELY MUST have a registered custom GUID
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{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
* Description, Title, and Classes must be new, unique, and inventive. Make sure you check that you have hit "Clear All Languages" before you upload, or your file will not work properly with non-US English games!
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|
* If you use a custom icon, make it the right colour. You can clone the colour from the original icon using your eyedropper tool. For those with graphics knowledge, this is the RGB value: R:5 G:6 B:113
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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.
* If you use BCONs to alter skill requirements, test them thoroughly before you upload. I know from personal experience what a mess these can create if you don't get them perfect!!
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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].
  
==='''Uploading Guidelines'''===
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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!
  
The following information must be included in all Major upload posts:
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* '''Overwriting:''' Unless your major is specifically intended to overwrite a Maxis major, it must have a custom GUID.
  
* Major title and description, and class names
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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.
* Whether or not it overwrites another major. If it does: you must state which major it overwrites. If it doesn't: you should provide the unique GUID used for your major
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* If you used BCONs to alter skill requirements, you should state which skills you focussed on
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* The icon used for the major: attaching it is sufficient, you don't need to include it in the post - although of course you may do so if you wish. If you created your icon in a program which uses lurid pink to show transparency, put it on a white background. Otherwise downloaders will see that horrific background colour and think "Ah... OK... I really don't want that in my game".
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* The careers your major links to. This depends on the Maxis major you cloned from - you can find the major/career table on page 9 of your Uni manual.
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* It is a good idea to link to FrikaC's Majors Made Easier in your post.
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* Any other information you feel is necessary/useful.
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==='''Tagging'''===
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*'''Class Title Length:''' Please ensure your class titles fit in the user interface.
  
All new major threads will be checked by staff according to these criteria, as well as existing threads - which will be worked through periodically as time allows. I shall post in threads which do not comply with these rules, to provide suggestions for improvement. If they are not fixed within a week, or if we receive no indication that the creator is working on fixing things, they will be tagged. I am doing this simply to help improve the quality of the majors section. If I tag one of your threads and you disagree with my opinion, please tell me - either in the thread or via PM - I'm open to your opinions, bear in mind that I'm trying to improve the quality of downloads in this forum, in keeping with MTS2's famous high standards, I am NOT looking for a reason to delete your thread!!
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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.
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|}
  
==='''Other Notes'''===
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==Screenshots==
  
* If your thread is deleted while you are on holiday/otherwise indisposed, feel free to re-upload, and also to PM me to ask what was wrong with your original post.
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{| class="nicetable" style="width:100%"
* When you're looking for inspiration, check the Majors forum to see if your idea has been done before. There is nothing wrong with having, say, two Fashion majors - as long as they are different enough to both be worth downloading - perhaps a Post-modern fashion major and a 1960's one - what we don't need is two almost identical files!!
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|-
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|
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* '''Icon:''' You must include your major's icon, or a picture of it in-game.
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|}
  
==='''A message from [http://db.modthesims2.com/member.php?u=138496 Whiterider]'''===
 
I am a creator too, for a long time majors were the only things I created, and I was (as far as I know) the first person to break into and manipulate BCONs for Majors. Custom majors tend to be overlooked, but they can add some great variety to the game. I want as many fantastic downloads in this forum as possible!!  As such, if you need any help, ideas, or testing, feel free to [http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=User:Whiterider/Private_Messaging PM] me on site.
 
  
==='''Credits'''===
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==Information==
Whiterider for the original article.
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{{Template:Guidelines-InfoFiles-TitleDescription}}
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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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|
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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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|}
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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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|
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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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|
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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}}
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[[Category:MTS2 Creator Guidelines]]

Latest revision as of 08:34, 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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