Hi All,

Back when MTS2 first introduced the "Game Compatibility" option that allowed people to tag their items for a specific EP, it was designed around a "Works With" mindset and functionality.

Now that Open for Business has been released, we have changed this to a "Requires" functionality. What does this mean? Well, essentially, you should tick ONLY those EPs that are required to be installed when using your item. Do NOT tick them all - it is not a Works With, but a Requires option.

This functionality will hopefully extend past OfB onto the next EP and beyond, and is a lot easier to update.

Downloaders are encouraged to leave a note in a thread if a download is classified incorrectly.

All downloads previously classified as "All" are now classified as needing only the Sims 2 Original game.

You may also notice the Requires box has icons now and not checkboxes, and the main download browser also has these same icons. This hopefully makes it a lot more visual and easy to understand which Expansion Packs you need to be able to use the specific items.

We realise it's a different mindset, but it mirrors the one on the Exchange, and is a lot more user friendly.

Regards,
Delphy

Thanks-- this makes more sense. There's been a lot of time's I've downloaded something only to find it doesn't work in my game.

Great idea! thanks.

This is great. Thank you

thanks, the changes look great, i like how you can see what they are compatible with on the main downloads page as well, very nice job :moose:

The one question I have is how we'll know what will be required? If we have all the expansions, is there an easy way to tell?

Yay! I think I've been very confused by this in the past. Thanks a lot!

wonderful idea!
the icons will help me TONS.
**smoozles**

The icons are great, thanks, Delphy! A new EP means a change, but is still great! Can't wait to get the new EP!

Reyn,

If the download has the normal Sims 2 icon on it then it's been classified as working with all expansion packs.

If it has a specific icon then it means you MUST have that Expansion Pack installed to be able to use the item.

Regards
Delphy

I really love this new feature. I recently had some computer issues, now I have to reload all games, and haven't been able to load University for a month (and I've tried it all!). I just realized I don't need it...this will make it easier!

Thank you so much for changing this policy and clarifying it. It's very frustrating when people don't label what expansions their item requires. I think most of it has to do with confusion rather than carelessness. I've had many downloads crash my game because of this confusion and I really hope this helps things to change. Thanks again!


Julie =)

this should help a lot.
thanks

Thanks! You've read my mind. I don't have any expansion packs and it was a bit frustrating when I searched for downloads that only required sims2; I didn't get the results I needed. Now this will work much better for browsing and searching.

Nono - I mean for my own creations - some are ne brainers - like a house with a driveway and garage needs Nightlife. But what about objects?

If you own or know anyone who owns a copy of Prima Guide book, the objects which came out with each ep are listed there. If you don't, you are welcome to pm me as I have all copies.

Thanx just needed to know that, many people talk and explain stuff but not many actually say something, u do.

I love it, it's a great change and I'm sure it'll make all the difference. And save simmers time to boot.

Am I understanding that if it's marked only TS2 it is supposed to work with Uni and NL? I had to dumped almost all my downloads from MtS after installing Uni because of the Maxis changes made the downloads not compatible.

Unfortunately not all downloads for TS2 without EPs work after University. So where then do items for ONLY TS2 without any EPs go?

Now there's paintings that need NL marked as TS2 and even a page of drivable NL cars ( http://modthesims2.com/download.php...D=1&gametype=Go ) marked as TS2.

Also some of the posts contained two files, one for TS2 only and one that was EP ready.

I think the new categorisations are great, BUT the ones marked as "all" should been marked as needing Uni and NL instead of being demoted to TS2 only status.

I am so lost.

Edited to fix the quote command and to add:
Here's another example....

The community lot items contain 3 pages of items of which most of them NL to work
http://modthesims2.com/download.php...D=1&gametype=Go
but are not marked as needing it.

They will NOT work in TS2 alone or in Uni or OFB alone.

I don't have time to help recat everything, but I do hope it gets all sorted out soon and smoothly.

I see many couches in "TS2" that I had to remove from my game after installing Univeristy because they didn't work in the expansion. And several lights also.

rennycaelan, all I can say is: READ THE FIRST POST.

All ready did. Several times. It doesn't fix the problem. Did you read MY post?


I guess I'm done here until everything gets recatgeorized right, which will just take time. I do think it's a good idea and easier, just going to take time to sort it all out right now.

Good luck Delphy! MtS is a great place and I'll be back!

It may have been discovered latter and posted latte ron in the thread.

renny,

It's up to the creators to tag thier items correctly. MTS2 only provides the framework for them to do so - if they them wrong then you need to let them know, but we aren't going to go through all 25,000 downloads on the site and check for compatibility.

Regards
Delphy

I think that some creators simply have no idea what their things are compatible with, so they guess. And they are often wrong.

But they won't know that they are wrong unless you tell them. They need to learn how to correctly classify their items, or else, they will continue to mismark them. So when you see something classified incorrectly, please tell the author by leaving a comment in the thread -- or by PM if there is no response to the comment after a few days.

They won't know there's a problem unless you tell them ...

I hope this does make things easier for creators and downloaders alike. As a downloader who plays without any expansion packs, I'm sure their are downloads I missed out on, because it was unclear whether or not an EP was required. And I can definitely sympathize with Venetia and Freetobejulie; it's all too easy to download an object that you think is safe for your configuration, but then it causes the whole game to act buggy! Thanks, Delphy and MTS2, for changing and clarifying the classification system.