Guidelines

These are the rubrics that MTS staff use for evaluating TS3 Lots shared here.



Note to moderators: This first post (the summary) must be maintained manually. If you delete or add a rubric item or reorder anything, please edit this first post. All edits to Common Rubrics requiring editing its summary must be manually updated on every single individual rubric thread. Please copy the # link to use in the summaries, not the post number, to view the individual post.

Quality
1. Realism
2. Architecture
3. Playability
4. Roofing
5. Landscaping
6. CAST - Textures
7. CAST - Colours
8. Flat Lot
9. Other Content

Files
1. Correct File Type
2. Furnished & Unfurnished
50. (From common rubrics) Rar, zip, 7z

Information
1. (From common rubrics) Title
2. (From common rubrics) Description
3. Lot size
4. Lot price
5. Custom content - Credits and links
6. Custom content - Included/required
7. Expansion Packs and Stuff Packs

Screenshots
1. Front view
2. Floor plans
3. (Optional) Additional screenshots
4. EA makeover pics
50. (From common rubrics) Size
51. (From common rubrics) Lighting
52. (From common rubrics) Clarity
53. (From common rubrics) Distance
54. (From common rubrics) Distortion
55. (From common rubrics) Photoshopping
56. (From common rubrics) Attached
57. (From common rubrics) Show all items
58. (From common rubrics) Inline images

Other
1. (From common rubrics) Pay or pirated content
2. (From common rubrics) Adult content
3. (From common rubrics) Content we do not allow
4. (From common rubrics) Credits

Special

Note: These are the only rubric items that can be rejected for on their own, with no other rubric items selected at all.

1. (From common rubrics) Uploader requested
2. (From common rubrics) Stolen content
3. (From common rubrics) Other
4. (From common rubrics) Duplicate
5. (From common rubrics) Uploads in Sets
6. (From common rubrics) Not Completed Requested Changes

1:The lot does not resemble the type of building it is supposed to be. Take a look at some real lots of the same type, and try to reproduce them as closely as possible with the build tools available.

1:The lot is not very realistic. While creativity and exploration of the build tools is great, the end result should be somewhat plausible, logical, and realistic.

2: The lot somewhat resembles the type of building it is supposed to be, but could use some more work. Take a look at some real lots of the same type, and try to reproduce them as closely as possible with the build tools available.

3:The lot is fairly plausible, logical, and aesthetically pleasing.

4:Your lot is quite plausible, logical, and aesthetically pleasing.

5:Your lot is very realistic, plausible, logical, and aesthetically pleasing. Lovely!

5:Your lot is based on a fanciful and unrealistic concept, but you've managed to make it really work, so that it's still plausible, logical, and aesthetically pleasing. Cool!

1:The architecture of the lot needs quite a bit more work. Perhaps try some of the tips in this tutorial: Building Great Realistic Houses - From the Ground Up

2:The architecture of the lot has some good points, but still needs some more work. Perhaps try some of the tips in this tutorial: Building Great Realistic Houses - From the Ground Up

3:The architecture of the lot is pleasing.

4:Your lot's architecture is lovely!

5:Your lot's architecture is amazing! Excellent work!

1:The layout needs a bit more work. Try to avoid sparsely furnished/too cramped rooms, items blocking the way, long narrow corridors where sims get stuck, or making a house unrealistically large so that sims take a large number of sim hours to fill basic needs.
1: We cannot make a comment on the layout as there are no attached floorplans
2: We cannot make a comment on the layout as the floorplans are too small to see the layout.


3:The layout is nice and playable.

5:The layout looks great and very well designed!

1:The roofing looks somewhat awkward and/or is unsuitable to the lot's style. Make sure all roof pieces join each other nicely and do not leave gaps, the angle of the roof is not too high or low, and is suitable to the lot's style.

2:The roof could use a bit more work. Make sure all roof pieces join each other nicely and do not leave gaps, the angle of the roof is not too high or low, and is suitable to the lot's style
2:The roof could use a bit more work. With flat roofs ensure that they do not end too abruptly giving an unfinished look and only use where suitable for the lot style.

3:The roof is suitable for the lot and looks nice.

5:The roof looks great and suits the lot very well!

1:This lot lacks landscaping or it is not well-placed; landscaping means have at least a few shrubs, flowers or trees, and some terrain paint. Don't just randomly plunk a tree in, though. Try looking at some real buildings of similar types, and perhaps try some of the tips here: Building Great Realistic Houses (Exterior)

3:The lot has landscaping that works well with the lot's style.

5:Your lot is beautifully landscaped and it works very well with the lot's style. Gorgeous!

1:Some of the textures used in CASTing seem quite inappropriate for the surface. While you don't need to feel constrained by the CAST categories, the finished look should make sense for the item and the lot's overall style.

1:Some of the textures used in CASTing look quite "repeaty" and create an overwhelming effect. Try keeping very busy patterns to smaller areas, combining them with simpler patterns so busy patterns are more of a "condiment" than a "main dish."

3:The textures used in CASTing are okay, with none inappropriate for the surface or overwhelmingly "repeaty." It might be helpful to look at real-life decorating magazines or talented sim decorators for inspiration in future, though.

4:The textures used in CASTing are good, appropriate for the surfaces and not too "repeaty." Nice!

5:The textures used in CASTing are excellent, with everything looking really appropriate for the surfaces and nothing too repeaty. Yay!

1:Some of the colours used in CASTing are far too bright/saturated, or far too dark. When using bright colours, try to use them sparingly, and not at full saturation as it can be quite blinding. When doing dark colours, try not to go too dark, or the shading and highlighting on items is lost.

2:Some of the colours used in CASTing seem inappropriate for the lot's overall style. While just about any combination of colours have a style they'll work with, matching the colours and lot are essential in creating a harmonious whole.

3:The colours used in CASTing are okay, with none too overly bright or dark, and generally working well with the lot's overall style.

4:The colours used in CASTing are good, well-chosen and work quite well with the lot's overall style.

5:The colours used in CASTing are excellent, really well-chosen and beautiful. Well done!

1:The lot has unlevel edges for no clear design reason. Unlevel lots are difficult to place and integrate into the world terrain, so there has to be a good reason in the design to have a non-flat lot.

2:The design of the lot requires it to be on an unlevel lot, but you need to make it clear in the post that the lot is not flat.

3:The design of your lot requires it to be on an unlevel lot and you have made that clear in your post. Thanks!

5:Your lot edges are flat so that it is easy to place for downloaders. Thank you!

1:The information about the lot's size and price appears to be incorrect. Please double-check this information and ensure that it is all accurate. Make sure to include exact prices for both furnished and unfurnished.

1:Please state in the upload text this lot's size and price. Make sure to include exact prices for both furnished and unfurnished.

2:The lot size is not included in the upload text, or it the information given appears to be incorrect.

2:The lot price is not included in the upload text, or it the information given appears to be incorrect. Make sure to include exact prices for both furnished and unfurnished.

5:You have included both the lot size and price in your upload text and they seem to be correct. Thank you!

1:All custom content used on a lot must be credited and linked. This means a short description of the item, the name of who made it, and a clickable, working link to where the item may be found (example: Fence by armiel: http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=446927 ). If you can't link to a download page (because of a frames/flash site), then link to the creators page or the site you got the content from, and explain in the post how the items can be found. Please do not claim unknown or other creators work as your own or just put "unknown."

2:You have credited custom content, but the links are either not clickable, are incorrect, or are not labeled clearly. All custom content used on a lot must be credited and linked. This means a short description of the item, the name of who made it, and a clickable, working link to where the item may be found (example: Fence by armiel: http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=446927 ). If you can't link to a download page (because of a frames/flash site), then link to the creators page or the site you got the content from, and explain in the post how the items can be found. Please do not claim unknown or other creators work as your own or just put "unknown."

2:You have credited custom content, but you have credited the same item multiple times or you are crediting multiple items from a set.  Please condense the credits as much as possible.  Example:  Rather than having four lines of credit for wallpapers from one set, link to the set and list which colors you have used.

3:Your lot appears to need no custom content, though this is not entirely clear from the text of your post. Please edit the post so that downloaders can be suitably impressed.

5:You have clearly stated that your lot requires no custom content. Thank you!

5:You have given proper credits and links for the custom content. Yay!

1:You have not stated clearly what custom content is included and what is not. Any content that has packaged with the lot must be listed as "Included". Any content that has not packaged with the lot must be listed as "Required but Not Included". If you are not sure what items are included in your file, you can check it with CUSTARD.

2:Some of the custom content included in the lot is not allowed to be included with lots, as per the creator's wishes. Please remove those items from the sims3pack using CUSTARD, and tell downloaders to download those items separately in your main text. No content by any TSR Featured Artists may be included, as per TSR's TOU. If a CC creator doesn't say whether or not you're allowed to include their CC with lots, you can assume that you are.

3:Your lot appears to need no custom content, though this is not entirely clear from the text of your post. Perhaps edit your post text to clarify?

5:You have clearly stated that your lot requires no custom content. Thank you!

5:You have clearly stated what custom content is included and what is not. Thank you!

2: Please double check that the Expansion Packs (EPs) and Stuff Packs (SPs) requirements for the lot are correct, as it appears you have forgotten to mark some packs which are needed.

5: The Expansion Pack and Stuff Pack requirements are clear and correct. Thanks!

1:Make sure to include a front view of the lot. Make sure this picture is at a sim's eye view (not high overhead), focuses on the lot itself (not too much road or sky), and shows the whole structure from the front.

2:There is a front picture of the lot, but it is insufficient to see the lot well. Make sure this picture is at a sim's eye view (not high overhead), focuses on the lot itself (not too much road or sky), and shows the whole structure from the front.

3:You have included a front shot of your lot. Thank you.

5:You have included a front shot of your lot and it looks great!

1:There are no floor plan screenshots of the lot. Make sure to include a picture of each level. Take the pictures from directly above, and zoom in to just the house (there's no need to show the gardens or surrounding area, just the structure itself).

2:There is one or more floor plan screenshots included, but they are insufficient to see the lot well. Make sure to include a picture of each level. Take the pictures from directly above, and zoom in to just the house (there's no need to show the gardens or surrounding area, just the structure itself).

3:You have included floor plan shots, enough that the lot can be seen well. Thank you!
3: You have included floor plan shots, but your furnishing and decoration would be more visible with the lights on.

5:You have included floor plan shots, and they are excellent for seeing your lot. Yay!

3:Your upload might benefit from additional screenshots to show off the lot. A picture of the back of the structure, unobstructed views (with objects or heavy foliage temporarily removed), comparison pictures if the lot is based on a real building or architectural style, and sim's-eye-view screenshots all help show off a lot and give downloaders a clear idea of what they're getting.

4:Your upload has some additional screenshots to show it off, but could benefit from more. A picture of the back of the structure, unobstructed views (with objects or heavy foliage temporarily removed), comparison pictures if the lot is based on a real building or architectural style, and sim's-eye-view screenshots all help show off a lot and give downloaders a clear idea of what they're getting.

5:You have included plenty of additional screenshots to show off the lot well. Yay!

1:Your lot is uploaded as a .package file but still has the default ebf_instancename. Please rename the file to give it a unique, easily identifiable name, like username_RedBrickVictorian

1:Your lot is an incorrect format. Please make sure to share the properly saved sims3pack or package file for your lot.

5:Your lot is in the correct .sims3pack format or is a uniquely named package file. Thanks!

1:Since this lot is a makeover of a pre-built EA lot, we need comparison pictures from the original version to see how much you've changed. Please add floorplans of every level and an exterior front view from the unmodified lot, so we can get a better sense of your renovations.

2:Please add an exterior front view of the original, unmodified EA lot which you have renovated.

2:Please add overhead floorplan pictures for every floor of the original, unmodified EA lot which you have renovated.

5:Thanks for including the exterior front view and floorplan shots of the original EA lot!

1:Since TS3 allows the player to choose between furnished & unfurnished lots in game, there is no need to supply an unfurnished lot in addition to a furnished version.

1: The other content included with the lot does not meet our creator guidelines.

2: There appears to be content included you've made specifically for this lot, but you've not included the required information and/or screenshots.

3: The other content included along with the lot meets our creator guidelines.

5: The other content included along with the lot not only meets the guidelines, but is truly excellent and well done!