That would help out admins and keep the players with new hats  

Most player-made hats are far from the quality you'd expect from hat shops
It's also not wise to give a player bragging rights or exposure since you can't keep track of their behaviour unlike with staff members  

Posted by Gunz

That would help out admins and keep the players with new hats

hey i appreciate the though of players wanting to help out with releasing hats
but yea eugeen is right, the quality would drop quite a bit (not trying to be rude just being honest)
but dont you worry i'm going to try and push out some new things hopefully soon, ive been sorta lacking as of lately this month  

^ with Wings hustling for you guys, I don't see why you'd need more hats; he's got you covered (with standards). If this were to take effect, West would end up a massive 16yr old weeaboo "I think I know what's cool because I like ninjas and long hair and black clothes and shiny things" hack job... lol sorry but... haven't you seen those ridiculous giant red/blue anime throwing-swords? Get real.

West's biggest quality feature is Wing's GFX... best not to throw that away, otherwise you'd completely revert back to being that dusty BFE heck-hole game again.

Also, I'd like to point out: if players could willy-nilly upload their own hats... what would be the point of gang hats?

[Edited because I accidentally spelled "weeaboo" with only one "O". Ugh these pop culture internet terms...]

*picks up my paperback books and walks out  

Because if it happened there would be classic graphics staff rejects making snapbacks for olwest.  

Posted by Eugeen

Most player-made hats are far from the quality you'd expect from hat shops
It's also not wise to give a player bragging rights or exposure since you can't keep track of their behaviour unlike with staff members

This is actually something era has, I think? On the side note they also have the hat shops around era with non-player made hats. anyways nvm. js  

The irony being that the majority of the hats the iServers use were created by regular players and not staff for Graal2001 / Bomy Islands.  

Aside from the probable, extreme quality loss, West's "1800's American West" theme has barely enough to stand on, even in its current condition. Could you honestly imagine how something like this would turn out: no-filter uploads? All of these kids running around with "GFX Artist" in their statuses are bound to put you in the grave.

I'm all for free-market and individual dominance; bragging rights to the people who want to work hard enough to earn it... but you- bottom line- can't afford to have this waste what little quality you have going for you.

Besides... they've got their public-submission holiday events..... and gang hat uploads <--- which good quality is sought after.

+Two additional notes:

1. In the end, it would turn out like anything in life- the best would be brought to the forefront, and the worst thrown in the closet to collect dust. West would end up with a huge underlining scum trail of poorly-GFX'd hats while gaining only a few decent ones.

2. If the community is this worried over new hats, they're obviously bored. Get everyone to go out and base; try that "top monthly basing gang item" I suggested..... or just go play a better game.