I decided to write an open letter to Episode and its team @Liz @Arlene @Tyler . I always tell my opinion and without reason to make argument, troll comments or whatever negative - like some think of me - but to clarify there are also other aspects and to get or give more view into other side.
Now here’s this big news Rules Around Using Episode Art Assets and Community Edits - #614 by ViviOfficially about using Episode backgrounds, assets and community drives, forbidding is to share and help each other. First before you continue reading this, know that this news doesn’t affect me, because I’m not one of those who use Episode assets or those few which I did, can be removed in second (are already)
This involves community which I’m part of!
I didn’t sign petition from @RudeInception (check it out and sign if you agree!) because it’s only one side petition, and the problem is wider.
Let’s be objective and say directly that Episode gives us little, and by forbidding us the use of all things mentioned, is limiting us even more.
- forbidden use of hidden backgrounds and it’s parts (assets) - this I agree with Episode!
- forbidden use of hidden props - this I strongly disagree! I agree only for props exclusively made only for featured stories for which they have contract with other companies - not individuals!
- forbidden use of assets from published backgrounds- completely disagree! Episode is a company which wants money and money it gets from good community stories - and not from Episode original stories or featured ones! I’m one of those who monthly brings money in the house- not with my stories- but with buying passes to read community stories! Good community story isn’t a story with “boring” same backgrounds seen in every other scene - but with different ones - because a variety helps me to not fall asleep while reading! It’s completely understandable that some jerk is standing there behind in a corner of the scene and is smoking cigarette - so how come we don’t see that? Because Episode doesn’t give us what’s already made to make it possible / props. As for backgrounds - if you don’t make them enough and you don’t have staff for it, how do you expect from us to write? If you give little- you will get little in return!
- forbidden selling of any art Episode related- isn’t that understandable to everyone? Who even dares to sell what’s not theirs? Well it’s their problem to have a problem with Episode. But that doesn’t mean we all need to carry the consequences! But let’s talk about selling templates. If a person, and let’s name @MdSava because she’s was named also before (sorry for pointing at you) - lets say she would sell her time for tutoring someone to understand the template, that would be quite understandable that this has a price and it’s nothing wrong if the student gets free template at the end of tutoring. In this case no one has right to point at this person for selling her time (charging tutoring).
So from Episode what I expect is to respect us writers! We want sharing - because sharing is caring and we’re community and that means we care. We’re here because we love what Episode is and not what Episode rules are. Rules are not to be broken, but rules are to get curved when they have to be. Listen to community wishes and curve them - because I know I’m not the only one thinking this way.
When you say the word “hidden is forbidden” that means many things are forbidden for us! Not only those things which I talked above, but also tappables, pannables, phone text format and all other things which you share only with beta testers. Don’t say this is not the same - because every logic says that if you went so far now with saying that people aren’t even allowed to share custom backgrounds from Episode assets - this comes same way!
When you say the word “Episode published Art is forbidden - this goes same for character edits! Don’t say it doesn’t - because it uses the same logic as forbidden assets from published Episode backgrounds. Now where are the admins @Jeremy @Sydney_H of this Forum and why don’t they do their work and close all those threads where people are offering character edits!? (To explain the way Liz explained about backgrounds: one person should not be doing any art from Episode Art for others constantly, but can do it once in a while for a friend if needed and can do it for themselves.) Last year my story was removed by violating TOS because it’s not a story but it’s customization game - and 2 of your reviewers told me when I tried to explain them that Editor Helper (as Amanda’s Editing Assistant) is there to help editors in creating characters edits (and art scenes for stories) - and they told me: if you want to help community with your tutorials, do that on YouTube! No one is saying this clearly that editors are not allowed- that simple. And yet on Instagram you repost their work and even when someone makes meme from Episode characters! Don’t say that’s not the same, because it is. If you set limits to one child - that means by being good parent same limits go for every child. Same is with rules - you make rules and ironically you don’t even know them.
So it’s time to curve your rules and make them understandable not only for us but also for yourself!
If Community doesn’t agree - who’s Episode without community which brings money in the House? Make the rules (TOS and Guidelines) with which majority agree and with which you’ll be satisfied.
If I forgot to add something, I’ll add it afterwards in this same thread first post. Comments which disagree and walk on my integrity and my believing, will be flagged immediately!