1.  Ms. Barrows has a couple sets that feature my screencaps, and she had gotten and still has my complete permission to have done so.  We even talked about pictures I didn't want her to use, etc.      dietofworms had emailed us just to make sure we were aware of it, and we do appreciate that.

2.  This is how it worked for us, I'm not sure if it's the same for everyone or if different FAs have different 'rates' or whatever.  Basically we got paid based on the number of subscriber downloads ('incentives'), and there were monthly caps on the amount you can earn.  I personally never even got close to the cap, nor did Gelydh (not that it was a particularly high cap).  Different kinds of items earn a different rate of 'incentive,' with meshes being 'worth more' than recolors.  (Just for the record, Gelydh and I made/make a lot of meshes because we're addicted to it; it never had anything to do with earning more money.)  Walls, floors, and lots were also figured at a higher rate because they tend to get fewer downloads. 

Thanks for all the compliments, btw.  Excuse me while I sit here in total social awkwardness and fumble over how to express my appreciation.      I know!  I'll go and make more stuff... 

Does anybody know what system or method is used to keep a running tally on the number of downloads? Is it something that could be easily manipulated? Like say, for instance, being set to count only eight out of every ten downloads.

I'm glad it is all going well for you over there at your new site aikea - I do go over and raid there often LOL

The freedom is wonderful isn't it   

Especially when the experiences of those who have left has been so positive.

Please express your appreciation through creative interpretative dance, or as an equation.  Everyone else will kill me for not saying "sims 2 content". I'm glad you're out and feeling less stressed - and the bonus is I can use your stuff now (I don't use anything from any site with pay content). So yay me! 

I don't either. Even free meshes from paysites.

Aikea, Im so glad I found your posts here, they explain a lot (Michelle from GoS, btw).

I think you're both very brave about this, and the way you have handled it is very delicate and gentle. Some people would have thrown tons of drama and thrown shit in every direction. Plus, to me, it's good to get some "proof" that TSR and Thomas actually are as bad as everyone say. I've been doubting, thinking no-one could be like that, honestly! Proves Im right, maybe I am too naive. It's really good to see you both creating for yourself again. I see in the quality of your newest things, vs the last things uploaded on TSR that you've both got the good feel about it again.

Ah heck, I can't pretend to be all serious and stuff anymore, you knw about my fangirl-syndrome all too well. 

In case anyone out there had any lingering fears that Gelydh and I may one day trip and fall back onto TSR, you can rest easy.  Last week, we went and got ourselves banned.

Turns out we'd been dragged out of obscurity and tossed on the 'Retired Artists' list while we weren't looking.  This really pissed me off, so I went and changed my profile information and made a new blog entry.  Gelydh did the same, though chose her own words.  Here's what we both wrote:





What amused me more than it should have was that my info showed up nice and noticeable at the very top of the retired artists list. 

A few days later, Gelydh went to login to her account only to find her password had been changed.  No warnings, no nothing.  Both our profile information had been deleted, as well as our blog entries, yet we're still on their 'Retired Artists' list.  Quite frankly, I'm literally angry with rage at this point.  I feel like I'm being paraded around as a name to draw people into the site, while giving people the impression that I've stopped creating.  Obviously this is hardly the case.

Anyway, just thought I'd update on our situation.