YAY!  *applauds wildly*  Ren's one of my favourite artists and this is fantastic news.  I was so hoping she'd go that route!

Can we call this one a HUGMARK or maybe a SNUGGLEWIN rather than a KILLMARK?  

A lot of the guidelines are outdated and we're looking into updating some of the wording as a lot of changes in policy have happened since much of that was added.

SimChic stuff is a special case, having a weird policy.  Their meshes can be included as they have specifically said that their meshes can be redistributed - including the pay ones.  You don't have to pay for anything to get everything there, so it's okay.  And if other creators allow their meshes to be included, that's fine too.  Normally if it's on MTS2 it's really not necessary to include it - no need to duplicate files that are already on the site, just link to it.  But elsewhere, it's fine and is done all the time, as you'll see if you look at the recent clothing downloads.  They're also allowed on sims if you've recoloured the clothes (or hair or whatever) and the creator's okay with meshes being included with recolours.

MTS2 wasn't -on- the fansite list in the first place.  I doubt any staff member ever bothered submitting us, and they don't look to have been updated in a long time anyway.

kariminger - I think that'd be fine.  As long as the mesh can be obtained for free from the creator's site, TSR holding their files hostage for pay is between them and TSR.

Nohead, in the case of something like a static object - let's say it's a living room chair, that might be possible.  You could put together a file that, say, had the GUID, description, name, mesh, and textures all in it, and have that separate, with a program that would put together something for the end user.  But whether or not that program could be fundamentally separated from the game's coding...  I would think a program that could output working .package files would have to have a lot of information within itself about .packages to do that.  I'm not a programmer, but it seems like to give that end result you'd have to have bits and pieces in there that would be EA's stuff...  And if you're selling the stuff along with a program to package things as game content, I think that's still going to fall under the reverse-engineering type stuffs.

But for anything more complicated - anything that goes on a sim like the ever-popular Peggy, Rose, Raon, etc. hairs, the mesh cannot be separated from the original game's skeleton without losing the bone assignments (at least not by any method I know of) and if you lose those, the mesh is useless to the end user.  Anything hacked as well, I don't think you could possibly separate the hacky bits from the original game bits required and still be able to put it back together properly.

All in all, it's far too much effort for everyone involved - the paysites that would have to learn how to somehow do what has never been done with all the efforts of the free community, and for the end user, who would have to go in and put together every single item in a process that is far more effort for them with stuff they'd be paying for than getting free content and just using it.

I can't see that happening, or working.  Beyond the simple technical expertise required to make something capable of doing that being pretty hard to come by, all the expertise of the free community hasn't made something capable of doing that.  SimPE still takes a lot of learning to use any one part of it and it's by no means automated for many processes.

I also can't see being able to make a program to make something game-workable - with the express purpose of using it to sell content -  without being in violation.  I don't think you could completely separate all the game's information from it and still have it output something like that.

Hair meshes would also be completely impossible to do via that method, too - no user would be willing to sit and reassign every one of those vertices with multiple bone weights because it had to be separated from the skeleton to be sold clear of original game components.  And body meshes are already irrelevant, containing original game parts in 99.9% of body meshes.

I don't think it's possible to properly separate most things out like that.  Completely static objects, perhaps, but once you get into hacked objects and anything more complicated, it just wouldn't work.

Of course, the technical issues are really not that important, as users wouldn't go for it.  They whine and cry if a hair is left un-binned... they're not going to follow a tutorial and instructions to put together each individual piece of content, especially if they've already paid for it.

I have some plans to send a little something along to some of the "less evil" paysites like ATS, Holy Simoly, and Rensim.  I'd personally prefer they not be shitstirred at, as they're not near as bad as some of the others and could probably be swayed to fully free, but I won't tell ya what to do.  

You'll need to rehost, I think, as MYP has a non-referrermajigger.  But sure, I don't mind people going, "Hey, lookit this!" and it's just a Firefox screenshot, not a drawing or anything.  Go for it.  

Sure, Hecubus.  Go for it.  

Rose's recent arguments about her making her own meshes and textures and that making it hers, and others having used that argument, or at least bringing it up as a possible justification, was exactly why I asked about stuff made without their tools with completely original meshes and textures.  

Can't just slap a new windshield and a fresh coat of paint on a Ford and claim it's a Rose.

Of course, it wouldn't -stop- paysites and they'll just come up with yet another whiny excuse as to why they don't have to listen, and EA will do nothing, but it is very very nice to see it confirmed.

Question about the links to paysites on the official site in the community fansites section and whether or not paysites will be invited to any future EA functions... sent.  

It's not my legal name.  

Yeah, I know, Calalily.  I thought of blanking it out, but I really don't care - ain't nobody gonna be able to track me down with that.  

http://www.modyourpanties.com/hosting/070720024748-ReplyFromEA.jpg

Yeah, I know Nouk's correspondences with EA have probably been posted somewhere here repeatedly and there's probably already an appropriate thread, but this is brand spankin' new, and I don't feel like wading through the old stuff to find where to put it.

Sure, I'm lazy, but I will accept hugs and flowers nonetheless.  I think that's about the best statement on the whole subject we're gonna get from 'em.

Pretty sure the last argument the paysites have to stand on is "Waaah, you're mean!" now.

BTW, PM me over on S2C if you want a name change.  I make no guarantees, as name changes are granted based on whim and whether I like you - but you don't have to hide.


Psh, only now?  We weren't before?  DID LAST NIGHT MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?!   :cry:


Awww, your nose feels so nice up my asscrack.  Please remember to swipe your Visa card when you're done down there.  


Awww, nigglesnush.   *pinches Heccie's cheekies*

Well, I'm mean and vindictive, but kept on a short leash.  And no, you wouldn't get banned on S2C for using the same username here, or on SFV.  Linking to here used to be against the rules on S2C, but isn't anymore.  Ya'll pirates are cuter and cuddlier than you initially seem.

I resent being called reasonable, though.

Heh, there are plenty of people that cross over those modding communities.  I noticed Exnem's stuff on TESSource weeks ago - his bodies are pretty nice, though more boobful than I'd want my athletic adventurers.  I use the BAB bodies for my Oblivion game as they're nice and athletic but less dumpy than the originals.  He made some nice runeskulls with lovely textures though.

Other crossovers: Ren/Louis (made some of the only custom hair for Oblivion, and the very popular Mystic Elf race) and Enayla (skintones).  I've played with modding some houses and stuff for it but nothing too complex.  Great game though - one of my favourites.  I like playing it one heck of a lot more than TS2.

He's not going to be selling Oblivion content, though - I can guarantee you that one... or if he tried to, he wouldn't be at it for very long.  Bethesda (Oblivion's maker) simply wouldn't allow it.  Not afraid to pull out their lawyers - they have before.  Nor would people in that community actually pay - the Oblivion modding community is WAY different from the Sims 2 modding community and their culture would, well, laugh at him until he went away, or until he got a cease and desist, if he were to try that.