☢️ Does ModCo exist because of what occurred at TSR? I have a more important question... -- ⚡ I added TSR's Tumblr statement at the very end.

THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THIS OTHER POST - https://../posts/124635096

—

Is it run by creators? Is it "for creators, by creators", or is it...

Our commercial vision is easing business partners into gaming platforms and 3D space. As VR and AR experiences take off, new ways to commercialize product have evolved, by injecting brands into the realms of 3D environments with personalized avatars, designer spaces, fashion and household brands.

— https://www.modcollective.gg/about

And...

Our industry vision is providing gaming assets so you don’t have to. Employing talented and skilled artists can be expensive, and often transitory. We can take care of that for you. We have a pool of talented 3D and texturing experts who can take commissions for your game, app or service. Simply contact us to find out more about what we can do for you.

These visions are the triumvirate of our ultimate goal: AI-assisted content generation for developers, gamers and commerce.

— https://www.modcollective.gg/about

If it is run by creators and there isn't a "parent company" lurking in the background waiting to exploit everyone - which is what the above sounds like - then I could... be less "me" about ModCo.

If it's run by creators, then I expect that creators will treat each other fair- I made myself laugh there. I'm sorry. I'm being an arse already, but when y'all ain't transparent about what's happening, folks like me are left to fill in the gaps, and that "About" page creates a lot of gaps for me.

I can totally get behind the idea of a central hub for our mods and for creators to flourish and to collaborate, and the idea of it being operated by creators sounds great, but Patreon was created "for creators, by creators" and we can't even get some proper post formatting options for accessibility.

Also, yes! I did read TSR's statement. It sounds very reasonable, but of course, the bit about the creators and their experience doesn't exactly match with what creators have said.

☆// - I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS:

I don't really care about the exclusivity angle. If ModCo works, then that's where we'd go anyway, but now that I understand the situation at TSR a little more...

Do you have control over your creations at ModCo, or is it just another TSR?

In the case of "CAS Filters", are you allowed to add my TAGS to your items since enabling those TAGS means that simmers have to go Elsweyr for my mod?

I don't mind uploading "CAS Filters" literally everywhere, even on Mod The Sims after that mess, and ModCo, and TSR, but I will not make "CAS Filters" exclusive to any one website, and if you can't add my TAGS to your mods to give your supporters the ability to filter your items without them having to learn how to S4S, then how is this any different?

I was a little confused when some creators said they couldn't modify all of their older content - I understand how much time it would take, but it ain't impossible. Then I started putting two and two together and coming up with four, and this video just verified it.

Y'all have no control over your content when you upload it to certain websites? What?!

With Mod The Sims' apparent approach to even mentioning content not hosted on their website, could any custom content uploaded to Mod The Sims even mention "CAS Filters" or would they get "Tagged for removal" like all of my mods were?

Is it the same with TSR?

Is it the same with ModCo?

CurseForge is a little more lax with this, but of course there's that other matter...

NexusMods probably doesn't give a !@#$. I have no idea.

Patreon doesn't give a !@#$.

Tumblr, as bad as I think it is for mods, also doesn't give a !@#$.

Why is this problem coming from the Sims-related websites?

I get wanting to generate traffic, but to be so heavy-handed with it and then expect that we're gonna have a healthy and sustainable community?

Y'all cannot be serious.

☆// - I CREATED A MODCO ACCOUNT:

You are limited to TEN (10) downloads per hour if you are not a "ClubMod" member.

Creations are divided into single downloads, as they always are unless it's in a ZIP, but this means that you can exhaust your TEN (10) downloads per hour just getting all the parts of "one" release.

Apparently, besides being a "ClubMod" member, you can also donate "ModCoins" directly to creators after buying them, but the feature isn't available yet?

Why do I need an account to download the free stuff?

☆// - WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH MODCO:

I don't actually see a problem with any creator posting exclusively to ModCo while also having a Patreon or a Ko-Fi or whatever so folks can support them further.

My issue is more with exclusivity in multiple places that you have to pay for.

It looks weird and feels weird when your supporters have to subscribe to multiple places to get all of your content. It's feels the same as publishers like Electronic Arts chopping up games to sell us as "Day-One DLC" and "pre-order" exclusives.

I won't even release an exclusive mod on Sims 4 Studio to get a badge... 😹

Who knows, I might. Something simple, like some recolors. Now that I've publicly said it though, they'll probably be like "We know what you're doing. No badge for you until you share something substantial." 😹

☆// - I PROMISE WE'RE MODDING AGAIN SOON:

There's one more of these kinda posts I want to make, but I might leave it in draft and get some work done, or I'll just finish it and post it next after this one.

P.S. I have an old TSR account and I just recently got my "not Sejian" name changed to "Sejian". I am waiting for support to followup on a query I had, and I also had full intention of uploading "CAS Filters" there, but that will only happen if I retain control of my mod and where I post it.

I'm already not benefiting financially from anything I do, so there's no way anyone gets exclusive access to anything, and certainly not "CAS Filters", which was made for everyone.

⚡// - IN FAIRNESS, HERE'S TSR'S STATEMENT:

The link don't work no more. I got this from a re-blog.

I suppose the re-blog system that sucks for mods, works as intended for other things.

It sounds reasonable. It just don't match what creators have allegedly said and the idea that they get to continue profiting from those creator's catalogs don't seem right.

9/3/2024

Addressing the Recent Changes to TSR's Artist Program - https://www.tumblr.com/thesimsresourceofficial/760591824783032320

Hi everyone,

I’m writing today to address the recent changes to TSR's Artist Program and the concerns that have been raised by members of our community. We understand that these changes have caused a lot of frustration, confusion, and disappointment. We want to provide full transparency about why these decisions were made, how they affect our current and future artists, and what this means for the TSR community moving forward.

Firstly, I want to apologise for the way the restructuring of the Artist Program was handled. I acknowledge that the communication our artists initially received could have been better. It was always our intention to follow up with support, feedback, and advice, which we are doing now. The communications for a loss of badge at TSR is structured, and I understand how this has created confusion and hurt. Please know that we are committed to maintaining an open line of communication with these former artists, we have been following up with all artists affected, and we will continue to support them in any way we can.

Why These Changes Were Necessary

TSR’s Artist Program, which has been home to nearly 200 talented paid artists, had not undergone a thorough evaluation in years. This lack of oversight led to a situation where the program became financially unstable and exposed to significant risk. Without proper management and planning in previous years, the program was not sustainable. If we hadn’t addressed these risks, it would have jeopardised the long-term viability of the program, threatening our ability to fairly compensate artists and sustain the community that depends on their creativity.

It’s also important to highlight that these financial constraints had prevented us from inviting new artists, promoting Select Artists or increasing pay for current artists, leaving over 100 talented creators waiting for up to 3 years for an opportunity to advance. 120 Artists have now finally been promoted, rewarded and acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to TSR, but unfortunately their achievements have been overshadowed by information spreading online.

Why This Was Done

The changes we implemented were not easy, nor were they taken lightly. The difficult decision to let some artists go was made to ensure that the program could continue to operate sustainably and support the 120+ artists who remain with us. Many of these artists rely on TSR for their livelihood, with some coming from countries where the additional support they receive from TSR is vital.

As part of our thorough evaluation process, we assessed the performance of each artist by analysing the value they brought to the platform relative to the investment made in their work. This included reviewing metrics such as engagement with their content per dollar spent. We deeply appreciate the work of our artists, but the financial outcomes unfortunately did not align with the investments that were being made, and we had to make difficult decisions based on these findings to ensure the overall sustainability of the program. In doing so, we were able to fairly compensate all remaining Artists.

Addressing Misinformation

We want to address the misinformation that has been spreading online. Some are claiming that more artists were let go than actually were. In reality, a number of the artists included in these rumors were not let go—they left on their own terms a few months ago. Furthermore, several of the artists who were let go had been inactive for longer than the agreed period and were fully aware of the terms they had agreed to. Some of the named Artists are actually still with us, and have been caught up in this for no reason at all other than by assumptions or a lack of research. It’s important to clarify that this is not a traditional job where someone is “fired.” TSR is a user-generated content platform that compensates artists generously based on their performance on our site.

Spreading incorrect information hurts the 120+ artists who are still part of our community. These creators have continued to pour their time, talent, and passion into their work, and they deserve your support too.

The communications with the former artists ensured they would still be paid for all remaining works they have done with us. It also included that if circumstances ever change, they would always be welcome back as an artist. We do not forget the hard work that has been done, and we do care.

Looking to the Future

Our evaluation process was thorough and took into account numerous factors, including each artist's contribution, consistency, quality of work, and the community's engagement with their creations. We are committed to maintaining a program that is fair, transparent, and supportive of our artists.

Moving forward, we will continue to refine the program to ensure it remains financially viable while fostering the incredible creativity of our artists, to prevent situations like this from happening again. We are also dedicated to providing a community where artists can thrive, receive the recognition they deserve, and be part of a vibrant, supportive environment.

Conclusion

This has been a challenging period for everyone involved, but we believe these changes were necessary to secure the future of TSR’s Artist Program. We remain committed to our artists, our community, and the values that TSR stands for. We hope you will continue to support our artists as we work to build a sustainable and thriving platform for creators.

Thank you for your understanding, your support, and your dedication to the TSR community.

Sincerely,

Queenie,

Creative Ops Manager, The Sims Resource

THE SIMS RESOURCE JUST LAID OFF 60 CC CREATORS | Everything We Know (YouTube)