Why don't some downloads work?

[UrbanX 0]

Why do some mod downloads not work? I click to download the Dramatic Lighting mod, wait on adfly page for download to start and then it kicks me to the forum page.

[Cyclone Boom 17,033]

When attempting to download from the STEX, make sure you're signed into your Simtropolis account.
 
This should bypass the AdFly redirection before downloading. This is enabled for guests, and is a pay per click service which helps with the site's operational costs.

 

Hope this clarifies.

[UrbanX 0]

When attempting to download from the STEX, make sure you're signed into your Simtropolis account.

 

This should bypass the AdFly redirection before downloading. This is enabled for guests, and is a pay per click service which helps with the site's operational costs.

 

Hope this clarifies.

Ok, download worked. Though it is bit confusing when it only certain downloads wont start at all for guests and using forum redirects instead of displaying a message "you must be a member to download this file". Its not very user intuitive to deny download without a text saying why. You guys should fix this design flaw of silent rejection and variable download restrictions and make it constant across all downloads.

 

An other question. Why is this site often so slow a lot of the time? Most downloads I see here are tiny yet site behaves like its resources are maxed. I have a hard time believe it would be getting hit by 300+ download per sec 24/7. I know the slugishness isn't on my end considering its only on this site in particular.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

There is something intermittent going on.  Recently the whole site was so slow I was beginning to think it was down, but pages were coming in.  It is definitely not at my end because other sites are normal.

[Indiana Joe 1,752]

You can download any file without being signed in.  You just have to navigate through the AdFly ads.  They are designed to trick you by putting a big "your download will be ready in..." in the middle of the screen, while the "skip this ad" button (because it's not really your download at all) is hidden in the corner.

 

But there is a limit to the number of files you can download in a day when you're not logged in.  And the download problems are probably because the site gets overcrowded whenever a new game comes out (SC2013, Skylines) and the staff can't afford to upgrade the bandwidth.  Nobody donates anymore.