BUILDERS: Please, Please, Please, Please, PLEASE

GalacticGal · March 2021

Builders, besides play-testing your lots before you share them in the Gallery, kindly make sure Sims visiting the lot, especially venues, are able to use the bathrooms! I placed a very nice looking remodel of Orchid A Go Go, and added a karaoke machine (the small one) as I always did in the original venue. This is a good place for a budding singer to show off their talent and earn those much-needed celebrity points. So, I took my Teen who is currently a Rising Star back over there to strut his vocal chords and in general earn those points! All was well, until two of his siblings were suddenly doing the Potty dance, as it were. I panned around and discovered where the bathroom was. I clicked on the toilets (there were three to send them to empty their bladder. Then I didn't give them a second thought. Suddenly, the third sibling is really prancing about. But, alas, it was too late. He wet all over the floor.

Then I noticed their only sister was needing the bathroom again. Again? How many cream sodas have you had, missy? Well, I decided I had to take a look at the bathroom. Then I discover not one of the three stalls had doors. There was simply no access. Obviously, this venue was created prior to University, as the stalls were player built ones. Nice, but no doors. I went in, moved the toilet and the potted plant to make room for a door and fixed the problem.

Do I upload it with a note? Or just let the builder discover their own mistake? Or, did they use a pack I didn't have? I'm going to suggest that builders stick to base game doors as much as possible, since not all players have every single pack. Just sayin'.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Dianesims · March 2021

I would add a comment to let the builder know.
I play-test my builds but sometimes you forget to check everything (although bathrooms should be on the top of the list).
I wish people told me when there’s a problem so I can fix it.

Auroraskies · March 2021

I think the game should replace any items from pack not owned.

I know it is probably best to let the builders know, but I never do that, perhaps the house wasn't intended to be played in. I just take a note of who it is and don't download from them again.

GalacticGal · March 2021

Auroraskies wrote: »

I think the game should replace any items from pack not owned.

I know it is probably best to let the builders know, but I never do that, perhaps the house wasn't intended to be played in. I just take a note of who it is and don't download from them again.

It was a venue. A remodel of Orchid A Go Go Lounge that came with Get Famous. But I will take note just who it is and at least be prepared to go through it with a fine tooth comb, so to speak.

GalacticGal · March 2021

Dianesims wrote: »

I would add a comment to let the builder know.
I play-test my builds but sometimes you forget to check everything (although bathrooms should be on the top of the list).
I wish people told me when there’s a problem so I can fix it.

I think I will go back and make a comment. I totally agree with you. Most of us would like a chance to know something is not working so we can fix it.

Simmingal · March 2021

did you enable moo cheat before placing? could be that the doors were too close to something and got deleted

or then yeah maybe they used pack you did not have and game failed to replace the doors

lzbthnndgls · April 2021

The game does replace doors. The builder just left them off.

Also, I don't think it's fair to blame builders. I thoroughly playtest all my builds and I have a running checklist of things I normally forget like trashcans, mailboxes, toddler potties, etc and I forget things all the time. My most recent forget was forgetting an ENTIRE BEDROOM. Literally, I made three kids beds, furnished the entire house, and then uploaded it. When my playtest parents were going to sleep, they went to the kids' rooms... because there was no master. We're human. We forget things. Just because our builds are fantastic and incredible doesn't mean they aren't flawed. Yelling at us does nothing. If we forget things, we'll say something in a comment. If you find something, you can comment it too (nicely though). I just think this was uncalled for.

Xinqun · April 2021

Yeah, also check to see how old the build is. Some things that were totally fine once, now have problems. Some of my builds in the gallery place without the stairs I put in them, because the placement rules have changed in the time since I uploaded them. Something similar could have happened with the doors in this build.

GalacticGal · April 2021

lzbthnndgls wrote: »

The game does replace doors. The builder just left them off.

Also, I don't think it's fair to blame builders. I thoroughly playtest all my builds and I have a running checklist of things I normally forget like trashcans, mailboxes, toddler potties, etc and I forget things all the time. My most recent forget was forgetting an ENTIRE BEDROOM. Literally, I made three kids beds, furnished the entire house, and then uploaded it. When my playtest parents were going to sleep, they went to the kids' rooms... because there was no master. We're human. We forget things. Just because our builds are fantastic and incredible doesn't mean they aren't flawed. Yelling at us does nothing. If we forget things, we'll say something in a comment. If you find something, you can comment it too (nicely though). I just think this was uncalled for.

Uncalled for? I was just venting and asking for advice on what to do. I went back and let the builder know about the problem I experienced so they could fix it. I build, too. I don't generally upload them to the Gallery, though. But, I, too, am not error-free. I discover what I forgot, generally after I've moved the intended occupants into the lot. Fine time to discover you forgot to add lights to a room(s), when your Sims are stumbling around in the dark. LOL I agree it happens all of the time. I have been involved in another thread where someone else was calling out builders to please play-test their builds. I think that had an influence over my vent. That and the fact that my Sim wet himself in public!

Note to Self: Check each lot you download for doors on the privies!

Thanks for your opinion.

Auroraskies · April 2021

I don't think most builders playtest their builds before they upload them to the Gallery, and there is no search function made for it, except the hash tag playtested, which the builder needs to add themselves to the lot description.

The Gallery is part of the game product, for anyone over a certain age, and so any wish to actually have the builds function in gameplay is a valid one. That the players who upload forget to do things happens of course, but all too often I download builds that simply doesn't work without major fixing, and forgetting something is not the full explanation for that.

It is EA's responsibility to make sure that the Gallery work for all consumers of the game, no matter if they want to build or play.

CAPTAIN_NXR7 · April 2021

Auroraskies wrote: »

It is EA's responsibility to make sure that the Gallery work for all consumers of the game, no matter if they want to build or play.

I agree to an extend but there's only so far you can go with that.

Before Sharing on the gallery we could get a pop up window asking us to check a "play tested? yes/ No? " and a "Used MOO? Yes/No" -box. I find that these two are the most problematic ones and when checked it will automatically show it on the build page, without folks needing to use hashtags for them specifically.

Still, a builder could just lie about it if they're too uninterested in play testing their own build.

I can live with one toilet or door not working in someone's build. It may have been something they overlooked. We're all human.
However, If a build has over 3 or 4 routing issues (plus if it's not related to a game bug such as the open stairs) then it's obvious they didn't play test their build. I just won't download from that person again. I don't care how gorgeous all their builds look.

Auroraskies · April 2021

Yes, I don't think a check-box would be so useful. Right now though, there is no quality check at all, and the few search functions there is are not user friendly, but very simple and geared towards popularity; not in itself linked to substance.

logion · April 2021

This is something that has not bothered me that much actually, because I imagine that builders build lots just because they like to build, not so much because they want to play in the lots that they are building. So they will combine beds and shelves if they think it looks cool and they don't really care if the beds can't be used.

So I'm kinda used to testing builds that I download from the gallery. I'm just thankful that there are people out there that can build lots that I don't have the skills to build myself.

Auroraskies · April 2021

There is no fixed line between, or substance given to the made up categories builder and player; but the game as a sandbox attracts many different players with different ways of using it. The Gallery with its lack of search functions does not cater to many of those with the emphasis on popularity.

Building for its own sake does not require uploading to the Gallery; but when doing so it is recognized in downloads and other popularity marks, which makes the Gallery able to be used by both uploaders and downloaders, but with less regard taken to the latter.

Simburian · April 2021

Downloaders should always test their downloads in my opinion. I try to mark mine not game tested but I'm not a popular lot maker and only use it for transferring lots from one PC to another older one. I'm lucky if I get one these days as they pass from sight in the Gallery after a few minutes. Popular builders could test though as they are trusted more.

Auroraskies · April 2021

That's why the search system should take into account that uploads are made for many different reasons, for playability, for movie-making, for cloud storage and personal joy etc, and downloads are made for its own different reasons as well.

GalacticGal · April 2021

CAPTAIN_NXR7 wrote: »

Auroraskies wrote: »

It is EA's responsibility to make sure that the Gallery work for all consumers of the game, no matter if they want to build or play.

I agree to an extend but there's only so far you can go with that.

Before Sharing on the gallery we could get a pop up window asking us to check a "play tested? yes/ No? " and a "Used MOO? Yes/No" -box. I find that these two are the most problematic ones and when checked it will automatically show it on the build page, without folks needing to use hashtags for them specifically.

Still, a builder could just lie about it if they're too uninterested in play testing their own build.

I can live with one toilet or door not working in someone's build. It may have been something they overlooked. We're all human.
However, If a build has over 3 or 4 routing issues (plus if it's not related to a game bug such as the open stairs) then it's obvious they didn't play test their build. I just won't download from that person again. I don't care how gorgeous all their builds look.

This was all four toilets! None were accessible. When the player has two Sims in bladder distress and another one who wet themselves, all because the toilets couldn't be accessed, and until it happens as you're playing you might not know about it. All I can say is that's another thing on my checklist before I upload a build. Beauty isn't if it's unplayable.

Simburian · April 2021

When I download a community lot I tend to add one of those public bathrooms outside. My own public parks get two! Saves time building them.

eufl · April 2021

I don´t share my lots on the gallery, and this issue is one of the reasons for it. The gallery doesn´t have any function to prevent you from downloading bad "work". and this will then let people say: "No MOO please, no CC please!"
I tend to build with CC, and I have MOO always on. And heck, I playtest my builds for a really long time before I upload them to my blog. And I provide links, and I give clear instructions, how to install my builds to have fun with them. Also people can ask me, or tell me about bugs, that can occur even after a long time of testing.
I tend to recommend download sites, where you get checked stuff like at MTS or TSR, or blogs of simmers, I know. Simply that! But the gallery is THE place, I don´t like, cause of the lack of moderation. And all the bugged downloads, people experience there, then will harm the work of simmers, who publish only well made products.
If you want good lots, then go to a site, where uploads get checked, that is my recommendation.

Simburian · April 2021

I always hashtag, nomoo, nocc, nomods and any others, like uses "all packs" in the description below it if I think useful. but definitely think people using them should clearly say they do as it's something I like to keep clear of if downloading. It's the last minute changes that tend to cancel steps that I sometimes forget to put in if lowering base heights.

I don't download much because of it. It's a question of "downloader beware" for everything downloadable.

Peral · April 2021

I rarely download lots cause you builders create to amazing buildings, I want an average looking community with a very few lots that stand out. Its like my Sims an averga looking group with a few who stand out. What I miss with the gallery is that the creators name should always be connected with the lot even after I alter it someway. I almost always forget to write down the creator of the lot I download and it would be nice if that remained with the information about the lot.

GalacticGal · April 2021

Peral wrote: »

I rarely download lots cause you builders create to amazing buildings, I want an average looking community with a very few lots that stand out. Its like my Sims an averga looking group with a few who stand out. What I miss with the gallery is that the creators name should always be connected with the lot even after I alter it someway. I almost always forget to write down the creator of the lot I download and it would be nice if that remained with the information about the lot.

As far as I know, the original creator's name is affixed to the build. I rarely will upload somebody else's work without their express permission, which I find doesn't come. The lot wasn't fully finished (at least on the inside) so besides seeing to wall coverings I also added some walls and a second floor. I just wanted to share what I had done with an unfinished build. But, oh well.

Auroraskies · April 2021

There is a thread made in the Game Feedback section, asking for more search options for the Gallery, if anyone would like to Me Too it:
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/988909/gallery-filters#latest

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BUILDERS: Please, Please, Please, Please, PLEASE

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