Current as of December 27th, 2015

Introduction:

Welcome to West-Side MMD! A community for people who like to make their own models and accessories for MikuMikuDance. We accept all skill levels, so long as you've got at least one original model or accessory on display in your gallery. WIPs are also accepted, as are properly credited collaborations (ie: One person does bones, another does expressions or physics, etc.) Just about anyone can make an edit, recolour, mix-and-match various parts, or rip something from a game, but it takes alot of hard work and much love to be able to create something on your own.

Please be advised that this document is subject to updates from time to time, but we will always notify the members!

Updates:

December 27th, 2015 - First version of this journal/document

Submissions:

These are the terms that govern submissions to the group. It should be noted that a couple of rules have been condensed from the previous version (such as those covering WIPs).

1. You may submit any model or accessory you've created yourself in a 3D program (such as Blender, Sketchup, Metasequoia, Maya or others) so long as it's intended for use with the MMD (MikuMikuDance) software.

2. You may submit “parts” which are defined as any 3D mesh that's not part of complete model, but are intended to be added to another model (such as wearable items like clothes or accessories, or body parts, hair, wings, tails etc.)

3. You may submit textures, MME (MikuMikuEffect) effects and sphere maps you've created yourself (no recolours of existing textures, and no textures taken from stock or search results. You must own the rights to that image).

4. You may submit WIPs (Works in Progress), but only to the designated “Works in Progress” folder. WIPs can be helpful to new modellers as it gives them a chance to look at topology and overall mesh construction, but we still encourage users who submit WIPs to finish those models and preview them in MMD at some point. This isn't required but it's really cool to see what people are capable of and will help promote the group within the MMD community!

5. Overall, please try to submit your work to the correct folder for it's category. For multi-item “packs” there is an “Assorted Collections” folder.

6. We're still working on a formal system for “featured” content, but for the most part staff members (including myself) will move things there that we feel deserve some spotlight. Please submit to the appropriate folders where possible.

7. If you have any questions, like if you're not sure which folder best suits your creation, or are confused about a section of these rules etc. please don't hesitate to contact myself (Black-Bladen) or another staff member via note.

Content:

1. As this is a group that promotes talent in making things for use with MMD, deviations featuring edits of existing models (such as taking pre-made parts from other models like Kio, Nakao or LAT) will not be accepted.

2. Ripped/Converted accessories (ie: Sketchup 3D Warehouse or other 3D resource sites) are not accepted at this time. If you make your own Sketchup model that's fine, OR if another member agrees to collaborate you can convert their model and credit them. These entries should be submitted to the collaborations folder.

3. If you want to make YOUR OWN parts for existing models (IE: Make your own gloves or boots or hair clips for Animasa's or Kio's Miku if you're feelin' kinda frisky), THAT IS OKAY. Just make sure you mention that the item was modelled on a base, but doesn't come with that model.

4. In regards to doll sized accessories and dolls. So long as the doll sized accessory is your own creation (as in, you built it yourself) that's fine. I'm not overly strict about including dolls with the package, but if I start to see tiny models that really aren't supposed to be edited or passed around in the downloads, those submissions won't be accepted. If you do get accepted but you weren't too sure if it was okay or not though, you don't have to worry too much. I have resources so I know which ones would be okay.


Collaborations:

These are the terms that govern collaborative submissions, “collaborative” meaning that more than one user took part in making it.

1. In the case of collaborations (where multiple parts are used), obviously more than one person plays a role in creating the model/part/accessory, so credit should be given where credit is due. Whoever submits a collaborative deviation to the group must give proper credit to those who contributed. At very least, please include their DA username (if they have one, else just use whichever name/username they give you).

2. Collaborations should still feature parts that were created from scratch. I don't want to see people taking parts from existing models (ie: Animasa, Anomaro, Kio, TDA etc.), slapping it on a base and calling that a collaboration.

3. Also, don't just download a part someone else has ripped off a model they didn't make (like how people like to remove arm warmers from some random Miku they downloaded), re-texture it and call it a vuvuzela (people have done that on DA and vuvuzelas are hilarious but it's not the kind of thing we want to see here. You can still make your own vuvuzela though, I'm not saying you can't do THAT).

4. You should include something YOU made, or at least a part that someone made from scratch (not something they took off a model themselves), whether it's specifically for that model or you've been given permission to use it for that submission. As always, make sure everyone whose work was used for your model/part/accessory receives credit. Submissions of this nature will be reviewed by the staff to see if the ratio of original content is acceptable.

5. As specified in the “Submissions” rules, Ripped/Converted accessories (ie: Sketchup 3D Warehouse or other 3D resource sites) are not accepted. If you make your own Sketchup model and convert it for MMD that's fine, OR if another member agrees to collaborate you can (with their permission) convert their Sketchup model to something usable with MMD and credit them.

Honour System:

This group places a certain amount of trust in it's members, and to date there haven't been any serious issues. However, as groups get larger, things can get a little crazy.

All I ask for now is to please be honest about your material. If it's found that members aren't doing this, we may have to start checking submissions more thoroughly than we already do, leading to a longer submission process overall.

To our current members: keep up the good work, and keep those submissions coming! I'm always impressed by the creative efforts of the community!
Recently we've been seeing more model of the month entries as submissions to the group. Given that many of these models use multiple parts from different sources, my co-founder and I feel that there needs to be some clarification in the rules to avoid confusion.

Currently, rule #5 states that deviations featuring edits of existing models (such as taking pre-made parts from other models like Kio, Nakao or LAT) will not be accepted, and rule #6 says no game rips (or things stolen from the 3D warehouse). This will not change. However, due to the recent number of models featuring multiple parts from multiple sources, the rules for collaborations still need to be defined...

Original Parts

Rule #8 already permits modeling parts that are intended to fit an existing model, so long as you specify that the part was intended for a base, and which base it is/who made it (ie: accessories or alternate outfits for another model). I'm seeing that lots of people already do this so that's ok. The model you use as a base doesn't have to be original, but if you decide to include a download link, please don't package the base model with your own. You can use it in the deviation that features your work as a manikin so people can see what it would look like.

Collaborative Work (More than one author)

In the case of collaborations (where multiple parts are used), obviously more than one person plays a role in creating the model/part/accessory, so credit should be given where credit is due. If your model/accessory/part uses things that you didn't make, but someone else did. Please give them credit for it (most people like to put the name of the item next to the icon of the deviant who made it), and obtain their permission in advance, or refer to any notices or readmes they may have put up.

Collaborations should still feature parts that were created from scratch. I don't want to see people taking parts from existing models (ie: Animasa, Anomaro, Kio, TDA etc.), slapping it on a base and calling that a collaboration. Also, don't just download a part someone else has ripped off someone else's model (like how people like to remove arm warmers from some random miku, recolour/retexture it and call it a thing), retexture it and call it original. You should include something YOU made, or at least a part that someone made from scratch (not something they took off a model themselves), whether it's specifically for that model or you've been given permission to use it for that submission. As always, make sure everyone whose work was used for your model/part/accessory receives credit.

As per Rule #7, Ripped/Converted accessories (ie: Sketchup 3D Warehouse or other 3D resource sites) are not accepted. If you make your own Sketchup model and convert it that's fine, OR if another member agrees to collaborate you can (with their permission) convert their sketchup model and credit them.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. We'll be giving this a trial run so if complications come up, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
We at West-Side MMD would like to wish you guys a safe and happy summer vacation (unless you're doing a summer course like me, in which case you cray cray) and Happy Canada Day/Independence Day to those in the US and Canada! No doubt the fireworks have been going on all week even if the big day doesn't start until tomorrow!

EDIT: While I have your attention, I've created a new folder for help and requests. You can submit screenshots there if you're having a problem with something. I've noticed more and more groups are using these sorts of folder systems. Just please note: This group is geared more towards modeling and texturing than animation and posing. That may or may not have an effect on response time, so please be patient. Also, should someone fulfil your request, could you please mark it as solved somehow? It just makes things easier on everybody. Thanks!
This journal has been circulating lately but due to the nature of the story I thought it might be a good idea to share with our group members. I don't know how many of our members are actively involved in the MLP groups here on DA but if you are, this warning is for you.

There've been incidents of a user joining MLP groups as a mod/admin to mess with the settings and in some cases, delete content by the folder. It also looks as if they may be creating new accounts, this person has been keeping tabs on them and their 'name changes' in their journal.

We're not a dedicated MLP group but if any of our members either belong to an existing MLP group or own their own, please talk to your admin/mods and make sure they're aware of the situation and if you are one (a mod or admin) please please consider disabling auto join on your group, as that's what this person uses to get in and make a mess. The best defense against such attacks is to ensure that your user settings are properly set up and don't allow access to features you don't want to allow that usergroup to well, use.

It's best to simply block and ignore users like this rather than confront them directly. The fact that they'd bother to make more new accounts means they have no attachment to any of them and don't care about sticking around to fight about it. It's not worth the wasted energy. If you can, just report them and either secure or salvage your group.
It's come to my attention that the group is starting to grow more rapidly, so I think we'll probably need more staff soon. I just don't want it to become me going away for weeks on end while someone else tries to manage the whole group for me by themselves. I've been in a situation where I was the one trying to handle someone else's duties and it can be a bit of a chore, especially on short notice. And that was just for a forumwide game of Werewolf.

Also, I've awarded the-horrible-mu a promotion to Co-Founder for when I'm busy with school stuff and can't be around as much. Although I still plan to check in periodically to make sure things are running smoothly. Like I said, I don't want to be the one that swaps someone else with my own responsibilities.


If you or someone you know is looking for a staff position though, here's what we're looking for:

  • Relatively active within the group, and (preferably) has submitted quite a few deviations
  • Can check back now and again to monitor submissions and member requests (these expire after one month, so you don't need to check every day)
  • Can make sure deviations are submitted to the correct folder. You can either move the deviation yourself of encourage the deviant to resubmit their work to the correct one.

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