We ask all players to treat us and each other with respect at all times. You must treat others the way you want to be treated. If you are having an issue with a player please report the message (if over messages) or immediately alert a moderator. Our moderators cannot use screenshots as proof and cannot act on what they don't see or cannot be proven (so use that report button!).
When joining, and every six months after that all players will be required to take a short, multiple choice quiz over the rules in order to continue playing HP to ensure that players know them. Please make yourself familiar with the rules and the Terms of Service, and review them periodically to ensure that they have not been changed.
Now For Some Basic Guidelines
- Keep it appropriate!
- This means no swearing or foul language. Words like 'heck' and 'dang' are not considered foul language on HP.
- No filter-dodging. If you know it's an inappropriate word, and you misspell it to avoid our filters or for some reason our filter doesn't catch it, you will get in trouble.
- No adult-oriented topics should be discussed on HP such as sexual talk, cybering, drug references (including alcohol), talk of excessive violence, etc.
- We ask that you do not post links to inappropriate sites, and do not go into gory details about political issues such as horse slaughter, etc. If you have questions about what is and what is not appropriate please message a moderator.
- Racist, homophobic, or otherwise intolerant and/or derogatory remarks will result in immediate banning of all accounts owned by the offender.
- Please type in coherent sentences. Excessive chat speak (DiiZ iiZ 3XC3SSiiV3 C4@T SP3@KK) is very difficult to read and not a lot of fun for other players.
- Be respectful of everyone, this means staff and moderators too, at all times!
- Horse Phenomena does not allow flooding the chat rooms. Flooding is posting more than two of the same post per page at one time.
- Please keep your posts in Talk to the right boards.
- HP does not allow our players to discuss topics such as politics, religion, etc. Topics such as these start fights and arguments and we like to keep things civil.
- No trolling. Trolling is when someone posts, often off-topic or rude things, with the intention of getting an emotional response from others.
- Nothing is to be sold on HP for real money (except of course for upgrades that players auction through the Upgrade Auctions). It is far too easy for players to scam other players out of real money. We take this very seriously. Advertising for the sale of anything for real money (except for the things that are allowed to be sold) could result in a ban.
- On HP players are not allowed to trade game currencies (i.e. I'll give you 100 mill HPD for 500 mill dollars from [insert game name here]). Other games do not allow it, and therefore out of respect, neither can we.
- There is no buying or selling of accounts, or game currency on HP (unless, of course, the game's staff are selling them). This is to protect you from scams, if you are given an account by a friend it is an 'at your own risk' sort of situation, but please be aware, when a friend gives you an account, you should find out about the past Mod History, because once it is yours you are responsible for all of the warnings and punishments on the account.
- On HP we ask that no one use money animals (our bank has a money transfer system), and that no one use picture animals (we have a graphics auction, it is safer to sell and buy graphics there where we can monitor the trade).
- HP does not allow roleplaying (things like -comes in to chat- and -sits down- are not considered roleplaying on HP). You may link to appropriate role-play sites (that are not password protected) and write a small description on your homepage. You may also advertise for your roleplaying site in the Roleplayer's Association. Players are not allowed to advertise for their roleplay in talk or in their name.
- There are five basic accounts allowed per person (this is still in effect for players who change their email addresses to avoid this rule), a player can have an UNLIMITED number of upgrades (if your upgrade expires and you are over the number of basic accounts, eventually it will be deleted, but you will not get into trouble since it was once upgraded).
- Basic accounts cannot host private shows, so if a public show is marked 'Private' ANYONE is allowed to enter. Upgrades can host private shows, and when a show is 'Private' players must request a spot (if a show is made by an upgrade and is a Public show, and named 'Private', anyone can enter).
- Player point animals (animals used to gain player points quickly) are considered cheating on HP.
- Impersonating any of the HP staff and/or moderators will result in an immediate banning. Moderators have badges next to their names in Talk and on their Home pages. All staff will have a Moderator Badge.
- Hacking, cheating, scripting, or otherwise harming the game and/or attempting to do any of these will result in immediate banning.
- Asking anyone for their login and password, or for cheats, scripts, or hacking information, or any of their personal information is not allowed. Please remember that you are responsible for keeping your personal information personal.
- Slanderous and libelous talk is not permitted anywhere on HP. It's disrespectful, and there is no need for it.
- Scamming other players or linking to scam sites is not allowed on HP.
- Harassing another player on HP will result in some serious consequences. If you are being harassed, please report it immediately and use your block button. If a player asks you to stop messaging them, please do so.
- Please do not spam other players. This includes sending random advertisements through messages, if you see an advertisement in Talk and respond to it, this is not considered sending random spam.
Why? HP is for ages 13 and up, and that variety of age levels means that we all need to do our best to watch our language and the subjects that we talk about. Just because a subject does not offend you, does not mean that it will not offend someone else.
Etiquette Guidelines
Why? Everyone deserves to be treated respectfully, at all times. If you ever feel that someone is being treated unfairly, let a moderator know of the situation! Here on HP we want to keep things fun and safe for everyone.
Trade on HP
Why? We don’t want anyone to get scammed! If you keep your transactions to legal ones on the game they are monitored, and you have a chance of getting everything back in the end. Following these rules helps keep you safe.
House Rules
Why? It was decided that since HP was a horse and dog simulation game that role play was not needed on it. However, the Roleplayer’s Association offers a fun place where role players can get together and discuss various role playing games.
The Serious Stuff
Why? Everyone on HP works hard to get where they are. Hacking, or training animals just for player points, or scamming others belittles the achievements that others have worked so hard for!
- Credits and Stock
- Full picture credits are required on all photomanipulations (this includes all layout photos, horse and dog images, and all layouts sold in auction). Every photo, drawing, all lyrics, poems, quotes, or text taken from somewhere must have full and accurate credits on the picture. This does not include fonts and brushes where the creator does not require credit, and does not include crediting the program that was used to make the art.
- All pictures used in photomanipulations must be STOCK and be allowed on SIM games. If it is your own personal photo, please say that. This means celebrity and movie photos cannot be used unless they are stock photos (they usually are not). If you are unsure if you are allowed to use a picture, contact the photographer. When in doubt, ALWAYS ask a mod before you post it on HP.
- Credits must be in URL format (user.deviantart.com not user@DA)
- Graphics and Layouts posted in the graphic auctions must have full credits on the image or in the description, or link to a full image with legible and complete credits.
How to Properly Credit: You must look above at what needs to be credits, and the you must in visible and easily readable text put on the photo manipulation all of the photos and where they came from. For example: Horse - user.deviantart.com, Background - stocksite.com.
What is Stock and Where Do I Find It? Stock photos are photos that artists and photographers post for people to use (Google Images is NOT a stock source). Some of the stock sites require money to use their stock, but there are some that are free (deviantart.com and the Creatvie Commons area of Flickr are two common ones). You must take a look at the artist's rules before using their pictures though. Some artists want to see what you make, and others ask that you not use their pictures without telling them first, so if you are unsure ask someone. You may use any picture with permission of the artist, and you may use your own personal pictures as you wish.
Other Layout and Graphics Rules
- Coverup layouts are only allowed if they correctly link to ALL of the links normally in the navigation (excluding upgrade only links and mod only links). We also ask that you do not cover up your events, horses, dogs, or shows tabs.
- Music players are not permitted on Horse Phenomena. It is far too difficult for us to monitor the content of the songs and it also frightens some people who are not expecting music to start playing.
- Showing inappropriate or pornographic pictures or linking to inappropriate or pornographic sites is not allowed on Horse Phenomena.
- Layouts with gore, including "light gore" are not allowed. Any graphic that shows any animal in pain is considered gore (including blood). "Skeleton" animals are not considered gore.
Why? Not following these rules is considered stealing and often it is copyright infringement. Not only does it make artists and photographers unhappy and not let people use their stuff on HP anymore, it also is a very serious Federal Offense. We have these rules to protect you, not to be mean. If you have questions please ask a staff member.
Why? These rules are because people of all ages play HP and what some people find appropriate, others do not. Therefore, everything on HP needs to be appropriate for all of its players!
- Clubs
- All ballots entered in to run for club president must be valid. NO entering to advertise will be allowed.
- All donation money must be used to benefit the club (use it for contests, etc.)
- People caught cheating with the 'Popular Vote' will be suspended and possibly banned from HP.
- Please do not harass the other contestants
- Associations are not to have cover-up layouts, if we cannot suspend your association or message you (the owner), we will just delete it.
- Associations must be kept active, otherwise they will be deleted. This is to keep things more organized. If you no longer wish to have your association please message me.
- Association requests must be for a breed with at least two active breeders and not for a specific discipline. For associations not having to do with HP, message me with your idea and I'll let you know if it's okay or not.
- Donation money may NOT be used to benefit yourself, it must be used to benefit the association.
Associations
Why? The clubs and associations are a fun way for the players of HP to find others with common interests! We want them to remain enjoyable for everyone.