Installation help and Website help | Contact and Policies | Tips, Tricks and Cheats
Information
- How do I install these downloads?
- The skins don't work in my game...
- The objects don't work in my game...
- What is a x-in-1 object?
- What is a mesh? What is a skin?
- I want to create fanstuff too, how do I do it?
- Disclaimer
There is no guarantee that all downloads work on your game setup. I have Deluxe and all expansions installed and sometimes an object might not work in your game if you have a different setup, even though you have the right expansions. In that case just delete the object from your game. I'm not to be held responsible for any damage the (incorrect) use of downloaded files may cause to your game or system. Use on your own risk. My system and server are virus free.- How do I install these downloads?
Each file comes with a readme, but here it is for easy reference:Skins: All skins, buyable skins and heads go to to Sims/GameData/Skins.
Floors: must be unzipped to Sims/GameData/Floors.
Walls: must be unzipped to Sims/GameData/Walls.
Roofs: must be unzipped to Sims/GameData/Roofs.
Objects: must be unzipped to Sims/Downloads. These are the only downloads that you may sort into subdirectories (E.g. you could put objects from here in a folder called "ephralon", that makes it easier to find something when you want to delete unneccessary things.). All other downloads types must be on the top level of the named folders.
I heard objects may not work from the downloads folder if you have only Deluxe installed. In that case just put the objects into gamedata/userobjects, that works just as well.
back to top
- The skins don't work in my game...
Maybe you don't have the neccessary expansion set.Lingerie: For lingerie, you must have Hot Date installed. The lingerie can be bought downtown.
Swimwear: You must have Hot Date installed for these, too. Swimsuits can be bought downtown.
Prom Dresses: And another one you need Hot Date for. Buy your gowns downtown.
Winter Clothes: These come with Vacation. Buy them downtown or when on winter holidays. If you don't have those, you can make most skins into casual clothes. For that, you have to do two things:
- Change the names of the bmps. Lingerie starts with an "L", swimsuits with an "S" etc. Change the first letter to a "B".
- Open notepad (In Windows that's start -> run -> notepad, or search for it) and load the cmx file that comes with the download. See that line that is called just the same as the cmx file? Change the first letter of that line to a "B" also (without the quotes, of course!). Save the file and close notepad. Now change the first character of the cmx file to a "B" too.
You're done. Just copy the files to your skins directory. Please note this will just create clothes for the "create a sim" screen. I have no idea how to make the swimsuits work as swimsuits in games without Hot Date.
back to top
- The objects don't work in my game...
Certain objects need certain expansion sets. Check the object description on my webbie. If it says "Requires Makin Magic" then the object won't work without that expansion installed.If you have the right expansions but still the objects don't show up, there might be problems with object IDs. Every object has a unique ID, and people who clone new objects automatically create IDs for them, too. It's unlikely that IDs collide if you download fanstuff from a single homepage or just a few, but if you download from everywhere then it can happen that two objects have the same ID number, and then one of them won't show up or even makes your game crash. There are programs out there that can fix such problems, search for paladins place on google.
I also heard that sometimes objects don't work if you have less expansions installed than the creator, because Maxis may have added patches to the object behaviour. Also that objects made with Deluxe installed might give problems if you have the original basic Sims installed, or the other way round. I have all expansions and Deluxe installed and use the object organizer to determine what expansion you will need, but sadly that's the best I can do. Sometimes not all required expansions show up, though. So I can't guarantee that an object will work for you 100%.
back to top
- What is a x-in-1 object?
X-in-1 objects were hacked to keep your catalogue shorter. Basically they are several objects in one. Often it's the same object in several colours, sometimes it's a set of similar objects, e.g. stones.On residential lots your sim can buy such an object and then change it's appearance by clicking it. You can do this anytime, at no cost. What a lucky simmie!
On away lots, e.g. downtown or on vacation island, these objects have a random appearance when you place them. If it's not the desired colour just delete the object and buy it repeatedly until you have the one you wanted. Then save your lot. Note that sims who visit such a lot can change the colour of an object while there, but this will not be saved. To make it easier for you to find them, x-in-1 objects have a greenish background in your catalogue instead of the usual blue. In case you wonder why only certain items are x-in-1, and other deco such as cars etc are not, this kind of hacking only works on 1 tiled objects with no animations. So it's mainly used for deco objects, bookcases etc. It wouldn't work for a car because that's 6 tiles, and it wouldn't work for a scratching tree because that changes its graphics as it gets (ab)used by a cat. There is one downside to x-in-1 objects, though: A 3-in-1 towel may have a smaller filesize than 3 individual towels because there's less code, but in the end it's still 3 towels. If your computer is very slow and can't take that many downloads you can't pick your fav colour to use and delete the rest. You have to either delete or keep the whole object. I'm sorry about that, but I won't offer individual versions of objects for such peeps, because for me these hacked items are incredibly useful and I don't want to waste all of my magic cookies (and server space) on clones that I have no use for. Sorry!
back to top
- What is a mesh? What is a skin?
The mesh is the actual body of a figure, like a wireframe. There are meshes for heads and meshes for bodies, also meshes for props and pets. A lot of meshes come with the game, and you can make your own skins for them. There are also many meshes created by fans, and most often you may use those for your own creations, too. Meshes for The Sims end with ".skn".A skin is the "flesh" of a figure, it's the actual skin, hair and clothes. A skin is a simple 256 colour bmp file.
Several skins can go with one mesh.
All you have to know for now is that you may often re-use meshes, but usually you may not alter, recolour or distribute skins.
back to top
- I want to create fanstuff too, how do I do it?
Welcome to the club. ^^ Sadly I didn't have time yet to scribble up some tutorials, but try google. It's really not that hard to create fanstuff!back to top
DisclaimerThe Sims, Maxis and the Maxis logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All rights reserved.This site is not endorsed by or affiliated with Electronic Arts, or its licensors. Trademark are the property of their respective owners. Game content and materials copyright Electronic Arts Inc. and its licensors. All Rights reserved. If you can't see the pics, deactivate your firewall and/or make your browser give a correct referrer. This website is part of the ephralon network: 
 T$R MUST BE DESTROYED! EA doesn't get a single penny from me until they disavow their romance with T$R and finally disallow paysites altogether! |