Something Bothering Me - Message Addressed to Sims CC Patreons
I don’t have issues with Sims CC creators desiring to get some kind of payback for the work they do.
I’ve dealt with ad.fly (grudgingly–it’s an awful experience and could infect others for barely any return)
I have tolerated and reblogged in the past those who want donations (again, not a huge issue, can be annoying if spammed
I support those who want to put their items on TSR and earn income by those who either download cc from there or buy a monthly pass.
And now there is Patreon. Which has seen an upsurgence in the S3 and S4 community.
While I have no inherent issues with people allowing others to support their work via any of these formats, I do have issue when it comes to gatekeeping content by means of putting CC behind a paywall.
And before I hear “people can do what they like”, yes they can, this is my opinion as a Former/ Retired CC creator and converter.
It’s alienating to many of the community, many young teens and adults. That demographic can maybe afford to support one or two creators, cannot pay $1-3/ avg per creator. It’s not feasible for many.
It’s also manipulative because it’s waving usually very popular content in front of others faces (by those that can afford it) and pretty much saying that unless you buy Into me ($1-2 for maybe one or two pieces of content) you’re getting screwed.
There is no way I’d pay $1-3 for one piece of virtual clothing/skin/whatever for any game, let alone Sims. Yet in this community exclusive cc, particularly clothing shared between friends or ‘popular’ simblrs brings status and further rebloggability for the simblrs they bestow it unto. It’s manipulative.
I have no issue with Patreon or giving money to creators. I have issue when it’s abused.
So the question can be asked, well what do you do instead to get more money in a less gatekeeping/paywall manipulative manner?
I will not say names, but one Simblr in particular has a good idea of how to encourage others to engage and participate in their Patreon but also not gatekeeping the creme Brûlée of their content: Timed Exclusives
Timed exclusives allows those who are willing to give a bit of money upfront to get the content sooner and therefore a slight advantage – the Patron still gets benefit. While those who are unable to pay but want to enjoy the content can still participate and download the content from their favourite creators.
I’ve never believed for myself that I deserved money for my creations (whether original or conversions) but I have tolerated and supported those when I could and support the choice of being able to be paid When it’s fair.
This message is not meant to shame but as a means of saying, Hey maybe consider the alternative of Timed Exclusives instead of gated content.
The only other alternative other than that is others taking your gated content and reuploading somewhere else – I’m old enough to remember the pirate booty during the S2 era.
Instead of leading people to desperation, keep an open mind and maybe consider this point of view
- from a former S3CC creator
jbbartram-illu
gummygunk
yousharknotpass
turnnoffyourmind
vaporwave
annaxmalina
kaledo-art
germansingergirl
