PMBD

Important:

Helaene.com may be closing in the near future.
Please download everything you'd like while you can.

If the site closes, I will do my best to make sure all
content is uploaded to free sites such as ModtheSims2

ALL of my content (past & present) can be redistributed,
as long as you give me credit for creating it, and it is free.

I plan to continue uploading new, free content at ModtheSims2 and possibly elsewhere.

Thank you for understanding!

<3 Helaene



http://www.helaene.com/inside.html



sad that she maybe closing the website but im happy that she is keeping everything free and that if the site closes  people can share her files i have tons of helenes stuff in my game  

The thing that got me was "possibly elsewhere"

WTF does that mean?  She's selling out to TSR?  I bet it does.

accordig to her site shes part of the  frederation of free sites so i cant see her doing that

Can she upload free content at TSR?

Glad to see she's uploading her stuff to MTS2, and keeping them free.

It seems like everyone is closing their site lately. I'm still reeling over boutique emilie being gone. It was my favorite site :(

She already has some uploads at TSR.

She's having her stuff being put up at MTS2. Its a new year, maybe real life demands some changes. Or shes just burnt out, wants to do something else.

Lots of people have some stuff at TSR even exnem, doesnt mean shes going that route. When Aikea Ginea moved to TSR if i remember i think she pulled stuff from MTS2 maybe wrong.

that reminds me. what happen to sims2sisters? didn't they move to TSR too?

it closed. But it went to TSR

Oh that is what I thought. Thanks. :)

ii really respect helene she ahs been my fave sim creator  for ages  im glad that she is keeping  her stuff free

She is talking about S2S

Or she could mean insim *shrugs*

Theres also forums like Wicked Sims that are free too and great, that she could use. But even if she did put it up at TSR if shes not a FA, her content would be free there. As a federation member it will probably be a solely free site.

Speaking of whom: looks like aikea_guinea is our new TSR FA.

She can't be in the fed if she uploads any new content to TSR (captive old content is excused) so I guess she will post to a free site.

well, she uploaded all the stuff she recently uploaded at mts2 to tsr. i don't know what that means...

http://www.thesimsresource.com/artists/Helaene/

Well it's a bit close to the edge, but as long as she doesn't do it *after* she becomes a member, it just about squeezes through under the "captive content" clause.  And needless to say it must not be in the subscription section.

Inge, what if her stuff was pay at TSR but free at MTS2? Would that be OK? I'm just being curious.

No it wouldn't pass the requirements for membership of the fed.  Members cannot be doing anything to help paysites.  Captive content implies the creator would have liked to move it off TSR but was unable to do so.   I'd be a bit cynical of someoene who deliberately uploaded a lot of stuff there and then came straight to the fed trying to join.  Not sure how precise the constitution is on that one...

I hope she stays at MTS2. She has been uploading a lot of stuff there lately. I really like her stuff, and it would be a shame to lose her work to TSR. I guess we will just have to wait and see. Being that she is in the Federation of Free Sims Sites... I can't really see that happening.

Wow that's sad, but damnit I'm STILL waiting for her to upload those nighties again!!!

I still don't understand the point of being in this federation.  I personally do not care at all if people I download from are in it, and I am just about as anti-paysite as they get.

blue,
The way I understand is the federation is for 100% free.By being a member, they are like agreeing to that premise.

That's scary. I hope she doesn't :(

Which is completely ridiculous.  Making up arbitrary rules to follow does not a federation make.

I initially believed in the site, before a consitutution and a bunch of silly rules were made.  Then it got to the laughable stage and then I deleted my account.  I'd rather not be associated with it.  And last night, both Pescado and I received invitations to join, become federation members and overturn some silly vote happening now to allow others who link to paysites to not only join, but actually have some voting powers!  Ohnoes!

Anyhow, I think the original concept is good - have a resource site for people to find information on inexpensive hosting, HTML tutes, etc. etc. and stay free just because they want to, not because a random group of people promised them something shiny.

Lol!  I didn't send that!

All these initiatives have a part to play in the overall aim of getting rid of paysites.  Everyone can choose which they prefer to support or whether they support both.

I don't go around slagging off this initiative, and it would be kinda nice if you didn't keep having a pop at ours.   Thankyou.

I don't mind people having a pop.  I would like to know people's views.

I have read a few threads in different forums discussing the federation, and to be honest, a lot have some valid points.

I do enjoy being part of it, because I think the concept is very good.

Well I still think that a many-pronged fork is better than one large knife.  And it's no bad thing to have a *different* set of people on each front, cos it makes the view look more widespread than if it was just the same people going on about paysites all the time.

There's no reason at all there can't be a third scheme started, for people who don't like pirate files *or* politics.

And I would probably join them too.

The third part is already started, it's just not publicized yet.

And I didn't say you sent it, Inge, I never mentioned you at all.  Just because you own the site doesn't mean you are involved with day-to-day (I actually have no idea if you are).

Plus, I can say whatever I like, I am a proponent of free speech.  I didn't take a stab at anyone personally, I only mentioned the concept as it's been executed.

Once you put your stuff up at TSR, you aren't allowed to post those items anywhere else without "special permission". I imagine they aren't giving that permission anymore.

Though you know...I wonder what would happen if the person refused to follow that, and was popular. Besides TSR not paying them, of course.

That isn't true, you can put your stuff everywhere you wish. It isnt stated in their policy :)

Yeah--Seomi has random pay hairs over there. I don't know if it's her intention, but they're certainly pay whenever I go over there. It makes me laugh, because they're on MTS2 AND her site for free...

I was talking about FAs. Once they start getting paid, the content belongs to TSR.


She's an SA. They offered to make her an FA and she refused because she doesn't update often enough.
I believe she's disappeared again, so it's not intentional- it's the system.

I was thinking that's kind of funny that they make the content, get all pissed when we distribute it, go become an FA at TSR, and STILL don't get to keep their own creations.  I mean it would have just been better to stay free and let any body recolor your work (with credit) and get it out to the whole community. Now only a few can have it and it stays in their circle. Nobody else really sees it because they can't be *ssed to go look on a website that has goodies that they can't have.

And....I'm Done =]

I wondered if you could refuse to become a Featured Artist at TSR. I bet they would love to snatch up Helaene as an FA. I don't think she would accept though, I think she likes having all her stuff available to everyone. She seems very pro-free sites. :)

The whole TSR paradigm is screwy, free stuff part of paid subscription part? I think the site navigation has gotten weirder and weirder. I saw last night lots of free stuff compared to subscription. Getting headache just thinking about it again! :shock:  :?

Yep. I think it's part of that whole short-sighted mindset. They see themselves getting paid for their work and that's the validation they've been wanting all along- "My work is so good, people will pay to get it."

They've blinded themselves to how this is so much worse for their "rights" than before. No matter how much they're ripped off, they know that TSR paid them to hop over, and they'll always have a captive fanbase.
It's sad.


That was never their goal. They're dramaqueens- they wanted the adoration, not the respect.

Funny thing is, as FAs they can't prevent people from recoloring their objects. So they lose all around.


The creators who are selling out don't realize how much TSR is hurting. PMBD isn't to blame for starting it, either- the overwhelming amount of crap on the site drove subscriptions down in the first place. That's why they decided to become a paysite, to force people to subscribe if they wanted the good stuff.

In summary, greed makes people do stupid, stupid things.


You can- Seomi refused because she didn't update often enough.
But there's the possibility that they'll list you as "retired", and RAs are paid content too.

They certainly are money grubbing.  :(  It's too bad some of those FA's don't tell them to shove it and move their things wherever they like. People just get so power hungry. It's really sad.

Nah I don't think its the power really. I think its just we have some incredibly stupid people in our community.

FA, get paid? wow I didn't even know that :shock:  I must sound very new... :lol:

All of the greater offenders (or at least the loud and obnoxious ones) have threads devoted to them. Entertaining and educational reading. ;)

Helaene just posted an update on her website saying, "(EDIT: Someone expressed to me by email tonight that they were worried I was going to become a pay artist at TSR or someplace like that. I can assure you that is not true.
My work will always always always be free. <3 )"

Just thought I'd post an update.

She's registering on SCF and she's on, maybe she'll post there..

EDIT: She said the same thing.

Awww, good ol' helaene :D

I had wrote her a  cheerful e-mail about it, mostly wishing her luck with whatever she does and complimenting her on her work, but I added that paysite question. This is what she wrote:



I'm really happy to hear it! :)

Yea, I think everyone is :D

This is another added reason to why I support her and her contributions to the community.  Quality, Free and with a healthy interest in the sims community and sharing not just thinking of her own ego like some.

Yea I agree. I hate ego-maniacs  :evil:

I wondered about FAs at TSR...if they ever decided they want to post their stuff somewhere else for free, couldn't they just do it under a different name or something?  Personally, if I was ever an FA at TSR(which I wouldn't be because I refuse to let that site have any money from me in any way, shape or form) and they told me I couldn't post my stuff anywhere else, I would tell them to stuff it.  
Has any FA posted their stuff elsewhere for free despite that rule yet?

They can hardly enforce it now, can they!   Can you imagine a lawyer's reply when asked by someone other than EA if they will act against someone posting game content on the internet somewhere?

Maybe they can press suit if you signed/agreed to a contract.  *shrug*

Eek, stupid forum. Ignore this post. This post doesn't exist.

The only FA I can think of that did that was that one girl with the poser hair who got kicked out of TSR for stealing poser meshes, then started her own site under a new name and denied being herself. But I don't think that counts because she was a defrocked FA.

Dr Pixel maintains his own free site though, he never updates it at all. NeptuneSuzy and a couple others also have free sites on the side too, I think. I think the issue is that you can't post the things you've uploaded to TSR anywhere else for free. Outside that, you can do whatever.

Well Sim Addict broke that rule. She posted the Storybook Set first at MTS2, then over at TSR last, now shes making some bad recolors for it. I have seen her do better recolors. Maybe shes not happy with them. I like SA I wish she'd leave TSR.

I was thinking about this earlier.
It's "stolen", if you didn't tell the truth. I can see TSR (out of the kindness of their wallets- sorry, hearts) trying to get the site shut down via the ISP. Since TSR charges a fee, the ISP is more likely to believe them, not wanting trouble. Since the ISP is under no obligation to continue hosting you unless you have verifiable proof of copyright, (ToS, baby) that doesn't take a lawyer- just persistent emails and legal threats (even if hollow).
But if you did tell the truth, TSR'd stop paying you or kick you off and keep the content they paid you to produce. The house always wins.


The door swings both ways- can you imagine anyone taking the case if you really wanted TSR to take your content off its website?


Interesting- do you remember who this was? What did TSR do with her stuff, especially the non-hair bits (if any)?


It probably would have been different if she'd posted it at TSR first. Though it's possible that TSR doesn't know, or that she got permission. Or all sorts of background things. :)

I was looking through the retired folks at TSR, DEE, BitsyBus, Betterbesims, Boutique Emille. Solander, ToddFX. all the people I liked. Maybe they get in there, and see whats it about, and drop out or burn out.

You I've noticed a lot of the same stuff on FAs' own websites and the stuff on TSR, yeah there's more on TSR but there's still some of the stuff out there for free.  NeptuneSuzy being one of them.  

BTW  have you noticed that a lot of people that have fairly large sites are posting things on mts2?  An advertizing gimmick now that they can't post their updates on s2c?  Bluesims being an example

Considering they must post a certain amount of uploads to continue being an FA, that's more than likely. I think some of those (besides BE) "retired" when TSR went pay, as well.


It occurred to me (and this applies to the above as well) that it was probably only discouraged until TSR went all-pay. Some of the FAs weren't being paid then either.
And some of those people may have been SAs at the time they posted it. Or as with the SimsAddict example, it's possible that posting it somewhere else first is/was an exception.
At any rate, that's not the way things are now that the FA content is all paid.


Yep, this has been going on for a long time. Exnem was especially obnoxious with it, giving one item while showing multiple large pics of pay items- sometimes unrelated to what he uploaded.
There's more now that Delphy's publicly said he's ok with it.

I did that with my last window set.  But it wasn't so much to bring more people to simlogical but that no one hardly ever comes to my site and I had worked so long on that set I didn't want it wasted unused.  I didn't put it on simlogical too though, it only went on MTS2

I go/went to simlogical...a LOT. I'm still attempting to use some of your hacks in my Pets-ified game.
Of course, none of my hacks are showing up, so it doesn't matter. :wink: But hey, it's the thought that counts, right? :lol:  8)

Ahh but I'm not OK with it.  In fact, people that do that now will quickly find themselves either getting rejected, or have thier stuff tagged or edited.  Advertising anything that isn't totally relevant to the download (like other recolours on MTS2) or even just to say "Go visit my site here!", is a no-go.

We've also removed displaying signatures in the download details since 1) Most people have crap sigs anyway and 2) Those that do have sites got free advertising from having it displayed.

Make of that what you will.

Aww. That sucks.  :cry:

Personally I like those changes.  I have nothing to make of it, it's quite plain English to me.

Sounds like a good thing to me. *if* I ever was to upload something on a spot such as that and I actually used the forum enough to bother with an av and sig, I wouldn't want my sig bogging down the bottom of all my downloads.

On TSR, her name was 'Milla' and she had/has a site called 'SimsBeauty' where she goes by the name of Katherine, I believe...I don't know about non-hair bits, but Thomas had allegedly gotten permission from the poser artist(s) to modify and reupload at least one of her hair meshes.

Another step in the right direction - thanks, Delphy.

Excellent. Thank you, that was extremely obnoxious.


Googling says her site is dead (there's a German "SimsBeauty", but it's not likely the same thing.)
For the curious, the only TSR hit I get is a Sims2Sisters recolor set as part of the TSR archive. It includes the mesh.
http://www.sims2.thesimsresource.com/downloads/sims2/body/390814/

Lessor Delphy's taking a stand with them, I say great. its not obnoxious of him, I think its great.Its hard Exnem uploads 2 varieties of his tacos , but then he says for more go to site. I go to the site, I have to subscribe 8.95 a month to get the rest. Many cave in I want that food! So he just got from MTS2 free advertising, plus all the free tools from the site to make the food with that he charges everyone for, and paid subscriptions. If it hadn't been for MTs2 he couldn't makethe cc, to add insult to injury he now uses the site to get free advertising. What if exnem says he wants to upload and Delphy said change of policy, we need new servers, you want to advertise (just making up a figure) $300 a banner per week but no uploads allowed from pay sites.

I think you read that as sarcasm when it wasn't. :)
The advertising was obnoxious, and I'm thankful Delphy's doing something about it.

i agree that including pictures of non-included items, and mentioning non-related items is annoying, but i liked having the link to a creator's site right there at the bottom of his or her initial post. But i concede that i may be in the minority on that regard. Either way, it's still a small thing to give up in order to stop the Exnem-type bs that goes on.

Thanks Delphy.

It's still in their profile, though.
Some people can't keep themselves from taking a mile out of that inch.

I also liked it - it meant I could easily find smaller sites with really good artists.

I'd prefer if it was just paysites that were banned from advertising.  If the smaller, free sites were included also, one might not even know that they have a site...

*shrugs*  I agree with Janelle

yea it was confusing looked sarcastic at Delphy I'msorry :)

The signature and site links are still available in thier profile as they are also in any normal posts the person makes.

I had originally thought of removing sigs altogether but instead replaced it with a line and a link to click to view that persons profile.  Short and sweet and to the point - and while some of you might prefer this impact only paysites, looking through a selection of downloads, I found some very annoying sigs and adverts from people who had blogs, or normal sites or whatever...

In any other community, posting and saying "Go look at my site!!" would be considering spamming - regardless if said site is free or not.   Running your own site and using a much larger one to garner interest (and possibly subscriptions or whatever) is really not on.

The other thing I considered too was the fact that many creators have policies with recolours, uploading meshes etc that are not in thier signature but instead on thier profile page.  So this actually serves a dual purpose - it gets rid of explicit advertising, but also gets more people to read the policies and get more information about a creator, which in my eyes is a good compromise.

Banning large and annoying sigs is always a good thing, in my book.

Why the heck they don't add their TOS to the download page, I don't know.

People don't want to go chasing round for info.  IMO it should be there plain to see.  Also, a mistake could be made, if no TOS is prominent, and people don't think to look in profiles or blogs, they could inadvertently do something they shouldn't.

Who reads Tos I dont...My only concern download, open, install, and play.  8) TOS gets thrown out :twisted:

Hehe, I've some little hacks on MTS2, and I made an ironic Terms of Use on my profile on purpose.
I'm really amazed on how many people thanked me for that, like "a sigh of relief for all those silly terms of use around".

Actually, I receive more thanks for my ToU than for my hacks, that's really an interesting signal.  :D

Seconded. I hate readme files and TOSes. However, I do read some TOSes on sites. And I read the ones I know will have super cute stuff in them. Pescado's I read. ^^

Thirded. I always delete the readme files. Without reading.

People don't even read the EULAs they click on, much less something in a separate text doc.

If your files are named properly, users can go back and find you if there's a problem. The text files are just a nag, and they fail at even that.

Yes. Plus, they're all named the same thing. 100 files named "Readme" or "So&So's Readme" bug me, especially as they all contain the same nonsense. The worst offenders, however, are the ones who have a recolour readme, a clothing readme, a mesh readme, a genetics readme and a goddessknowswhatelse readme, all of which are named something different but contain the exact same copied-and-pasted crap.

Never one for large annoying sigs, me, but I do have one comment:  I've found a substantially large number of the free sites I know of through small sig links in downloads.

First thing I do if I like a download is have a look at their MTS2 profile to see if that person has anything else there, second is to look in their sig to see if they have a site.

Or have I misunderstood - are you banning all links in sigs or just paysite ones?

Sigs are banned only on download posts. It should encourage people to put that information in their profile.

I agree I mean they have it all over their website anyway so why do they need to include a TOS in my downloads. Its just taking up the space that i use for all my cardrew downloads and i wont have it! I wont have it i tells ya!  :twisted:

Same here. Like Helga, Minanna, SAU, Nouk and a few others. I mostly discover links, however, through the meshes. Then I go on a whole downloading spree!! That's the one think I like about the mesh not being included...

I found all my favorite links the hard way.

shifting through the "links" pages of other sites.

The ones that have the best looking banners are the ones I'd click first.  I figure if they can make a banner then their other stuff shouldn't be too bad.  I've been wrong, but for the most part it was not a bad system.  You have no idea how much I celebrated when I first discovered Bines Sim Revue.  lol ;)


But I also visit sig links.  I don't think of it as annoying at all, really.  If someone at MTS2 has something cool, I'll look at the bottom of their post and read to see if they have a site.  I very rarely look at the profile pages.

Believe me, you're not the only one who makes snap judgements based on button quality XD except, something I've noticed, that system really only works for body shop content. All the best build/buy stuff I have comes from the less than shiny, glossy sites.

Accidental double post...but I can't delete it.  :oops:

Helaene is now at TSR with all her site creations for free.  She is listed under the select artists, not featured.

Even if you're posting for free, why list any of your stuff at TSR when it can be listed at MTS2 which is 100% completely free?  :?

Exactly what I was wondering. We want to take the spot light OFF of TSR

I have no idea why she went to TSR instead of MTS2...

BlackPearl Maybe she is just putting her old things on TSR because she is updating on MTS2. But I still wish she would not upload to TSR.

While looking at her things there on TSR, I noticed that they were all the things from her site.  I didn't see any new items, but, it could be a little soon to see anything new.  I guess we'll see.