Offline Modding Rules

[aereus 106]

So anyone know if the Modding Rules from the January news post on the EA site are active for modding in Offline mode as well?

 

They pretty expressly state you can't modify almost anything about the game that matters. Are we allowed to fiddle with the .com, .dlls, etc. to make custom agent stuff and custom regions now, or no?

[migamin 38]

No.

[aereus 106]

Welp. Time to ignore the game for another 9 months again until they pull their head out of their butt another inch

[DamienMB 58]

I like how you ask 2 specific questions, some person just says "No" and you take that for an answer.

If you read Maxis's latest blog post: http://www.simcity.com/en_US/blog/article/simcity-offline-play-now-available-for-pc-and-mac

 

Offline Play opens up a whole new world of possibilities for our Modders. They’ll now be able to Mod components of the game without harming the integrity of the Online game. It’s more than just buildings and palette swaps, they’ll be able to dig into the UI, modify the simulation and more. Yes we’ve mentioned Oppie’s Train Station in the past, but check out Guillaume’s fun UI Mods over at Simtropolis. Maxis has a long history of supporting Mods and we continue to be Mod friendly to this day. Take a look at our past if you want an idea of how we intend to manage our community of Modders for this SimCity.

[migamin 38]

 

I like how you ask 2 specific questions, some person just says "No" and you take that for an answer.

If you read Maxis's latest blog post: http://www.simcity.com/en_US/blog/article/simcity-offline-play-now-available-for-pc-and-mac

 

Offline Play opens up a whole new world of possibilities for our Modders. They’ll now be able to Mod components of the game without harming the integrity of the Online game. It’s more than just buildings and palette swaps, they’ll be able to dig into the UI, modify the simulation and more. Yes we’ve mentioned Oppie’s Train Station in the past, but check out Guillaume’s fun UI Mods over at Simtropolis. Maxis has a long history of supporting Mods and we continue to be Mod friendly to this day. Take a look at our past if you want an idea of how we intend to manage our community of Modders for this SimCity.

 

Man - it was the answer! Simply no.

 

What are the Rules?

We highly value our community, other content creators, and the integrity of our multiplayer experience in SimCity. We want to make sure that SimCity Mods used will reflect those values too and we expect you to follow these rules:

1. Mods must not jeopardize the integrity of the gameplay or harm the experience of others. Mods that affect the simulation for multiplayer games and multiplayer features, such as leaderboards or trading with other players, are not allowed.
2. Mods must not infringe any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret or other intellectual property right of any third party and will not include content that is unlawful, tortious, defamatory, obscene, invasive of the privacy of another person, threatening, harassing, abusive, hateful, racist or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate. SimCity has an age rating of ESRB Everyone 10+ and PEGI 7, and similar ratings from other ratings boards around the world. EA requires that Mods not include any material that would not be allowed under these ratings.
3. Mods may not modify any .com, .exe, .dll, .so or other executable files.
4. The terms and conditions of SimCity EULA and EA’s Terms of Service are specifically incorporated into this policy by this reference. In the event that the terms of this policy are in conflict with the terms of the SimCity EULA or EA’s Terms of Service, the terms of this Policy shall supersede and govern over any such conflicting terms.
5. To maintain the integrity of SimCity and ensure the best possible gaming experience for our players, EA reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to revoke permission to use, distribute or make Mods at any time, to disable any Mod within SimCity and to take disciplinary action against players who harm the experience of others.

[aereus 106]

 

I like how you ask 2 specific questions, some person just says "No" and you take that for an answer.

If you read Maxis's latest blog post: http://www.simcity.com/en_US/blog/article/simcity-offline-play-now-available-for-pc-and-mac

 

Offline Play opens up a whole new world of possibilities for our Modders. They’ll now be able to Mod components of the game without harming the integrity of the Online game. It’s more than just buildings and palette swaps, they’ll be able to dig into the UI, modify the simulation and more. Yes we’ve mentioned Oppie’s Train Station in the past, but check out Guillaume’s fun UI Mods over at Simtropolis. Maxis has a long history of supporting Mods and we continue to be Mod friendly to this day. Take a look at our past if you want an idea of how we intend to manage our community of Modders for this SimCity.

 

 

They're doing a really poor job of conveying this info then. Google only comes up with info on the old January article, the FAQ doesn't mention that info at all, and the Modding changes are buried in a paragraph of a tangentially related blog post only. And when I went to ask on the official forums their Mod/PR staff didn't seem to have an answer for me when asking about it either.

 

I assume the tools to do this more in-depth editing is forthcoming yet, as I haven't heard anyone talk about any sort of API or modding methods for agents, etc.

[zombie12 14]

We're allowed to but we have to tell people to not use it in online otherwise they are risking an origin ban

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

Mods must not infringe any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret or other intellectual property right of any third party 

 

 

Does this mean we cant make anything with a real logo or company name on it? By this rule, the Burger King and McDonalds mods would not have been able to be made. But i never saw EA complain about that. They need to explain their rules more. 

[gothic0023 18]

lol yeah they aren't really specific and really I think they mean trademark of them and origin, that places like McDonald can fend for themselves. So really from what I am seeing, they are covering their back and origin. Which I can understand why, but when they use these vague terms like any third party... then their is some debate into who or how far do they mean they will go with not using trademarks. So I fully agree with you Xyloxadoria, while some rules are completely spelled out other ones are not.

[DrWatson 29]

I'm still going off of what Meghan McDowell said in her response to offline. And I hope other people will do the same.

[aereus 106]

Simtropolis is pretty influential in Sim City circles for a fan site -- would we have any clout here to basically put it to EA that no modding will be done until they change the legalese about giving them perpetual license to take all mod content for their own for any profit they want, without credit, and without recourse? That is pretty much the deal-breaker for me being willing to do anything for them. I've never heard of a restriction like that before.

[DonVitoCorleone 20]

Not a mod maker or lawyer. But I do got the occasional nugget of info that helps.

 

I am going to use a website domain name as an example. So anyway, walmart owns walmart.com pure and simple. Yet I (if it wasn't owned already) could legally make a website domain name that includes walmarts name in it yet obviously is not walmart. However I cannot make a website that intends to mislead customers into thinking that it IS walmart.

 

Example:

 

Walmart.com (legal)

Walmartisgarbage.com (legal)

Walmartcustomerservice.com (illegal (if not owned by walmart and assuming people may be misled by the name)

 

So regarding the EA factor of mods with trademarks- yeah it potentially I am guessing would be like sc4. But they would be hesitant to outright endorse a HUGE EA-owned/endorsed database of  "McDonnigans" fast food restaraunts or "HamburgerKing's".

 

A cease and desist would likely shut down endorsed modding and further infuriate a already upset community. It'd likely be the finishing blow- and they are nervous about it.

 

Just some thoughts.

 

Don Vito Corleone

Olive Oil Store Owner / Don / Mayor