New Pics

Those are clearer shots of the walls. Hopefully they're easier to look at. The space between the colorful walls is a swirl of all of them. If I had taken a closer shot, they would be a bit more defined.

Hey

I've been really busy. I traveled, then got back to work. I will repost the fuzzy tiny pics in an effort to raise downloads. And mabe I'lll maek the effort also put something else up. Thanks.

Renovations

As you can notice we've been making face lifts to the blog. We actually need some support, with our future ideas as stated in the post just before this one.

Drake

Recruiting

We're creating a magazine and I needed to recruit some people.We've already gotten some ideas down.It's a free, online monthly publication for sims interior, exterior, and fashion design.

-Opulent Sims (Subject to Change)

-SECTIONS
1.Word from the Editor
2.Index
2.Destination Design -(design with international flair)
3.Awkward Spaces: [Monthly Theme, such as Designing Under a Budget, Using One Main Color, etc] -(unusual remodeling places: classrooms, cemeteries, etc. [places not in the game community lots, speaking mostly for sims 2])
4.Advice Column for Fashion and Design
5.Renovations of Homes
6.Color of the Month -(regarding sims 3, but can apply for both games)
7.Spotlight on -(interview with designers in the Sims community)
8.Stories on sims and their design/ remodels/ etc
9.Ads
10.Challenges (Intros, Results, Winners)
11.Tutorials
12.The Afterword -(shifts who does it every month)
13.Realty- (lots for download, Realty Search [House Hunters for sims])
14. Classifieds (Mini Ads for sites)
15.FBI: Fashion Bureau of Investigation
16. Love It. Want It. Get It. (Finds)

-POSITIONS (which is why I really need people)

Assistant Editor~ layout
Writers
Photographers
Advertising
Consultants~ Permission, affiliations, interviews
Proofreader
Technicians~ broken links/files, bugs

We need LOTS of people, like at least 12.

Interested? Or maybe you know someone who is?

Email Stella at alaro18@yahoo.com
Email Drake at adhiambojordan@yahoo.com

Simply tell us you're interested, and then once we've gotten enough people, we'll send the interest of reply email to you, and then you need to respond to that.

UPDATE: Our sims games are uninstalled, pause on uploads.

Downloads

A couple new walls, floors, and a house.

House

Family Villa

Requires: Apartment

Simoleons: About 40,000

State: Unfurnished

There's lots of space for furnishing. There are no lights or anything, I left that all up to you. The lot is also spacious. There is no custom content, I made sure of it.

Download

2. Walls

Splattering Paint Wall Collection

Sorry about the blurry pics, these were from a while ago. But there is a large twist on both walls, and some stray lines. They're very artsy and fun.

Download

2. Masonry and Brick Walls

Moss Stone Wall

Download

Tuscany Brick Wall

Download

4. Flooring

Camelot Stone

Download

Rustic Pine

Download

White Wood Floor

Download

Wall I Forgot About

Squiggle Wall

Download

So we're done.

I hope you enjoy!

Update

I found a way to make my pics bigger and clearer so no more squinting. I'm about to post up a couple mroe downlaods if you were wondering.

I'm quite desperate for more viewers. Especially in the Sims Community. Please, tell your friends or something.

Some sites I recommend:

Living Sims (which I'm on, activesimmers23)

ModtheSims (I'm on, same username)

Also, if you might need your blog to be brought into the spotlight, I'll try to help. Soon I'm going launch a real website with my own URL once everything is settled.

Downloads!

Today I have for you 3 new recolors and some pics! (They're small though, but you should be able to still see the stuff.)

1.Bella Squared: 'Red Goop' Recolor

Download

2.Lily Pads by Myo Pia: "Stylish Living' Recolor

Download

3. Cooking Conundrum Counter & Island: Gray Counter Surface Recolor

Download

You also get to see the wall if you were wondering about it. I don't have the lamp picture though.

You don't need any EP. They're all from the base game. Any complications, comment on them.

F.A.Q. File Sizes and Types

Good morning! Guten morgen! Bonjour!

File Types and Sizes

1.What are computer files and why are they important?
A computer file is a block of arbitrary* information, or resource for storing information. They help keep things in order, and the Sims 2 is just basically one whole large system of files.
*Arbitrary means unlimited, unauthorized.

2. Then what are computer folders?
They store files just like real folders. They can be organized in any way they make sense to someone, and can be subsorted. For example, Projects/Math/Semester 1/Algebra Project/ . The folders themselves take up very little space on your hardrive, around 1kb* per each since they are merely directories. Files are in folders.
*Kb= A byte. It is the second smallest unit of bytes. 1 Gb(Gigabyte)=1,000Mb(Megabyte)=1,000kb. 1Gb=10,000kb. Most laptops have about maybe 30 to 50 or so GB when bought, but you can always buy better hard drives. Desktops have maybe 60 to maybe 90 or so GB. Again, you can always buy better hard drives.

3. So what are file types?
They refer to the type of information they contain. Such as JPG for pictures. There are a couple hundred of file types, but there a just a few we need to concern ourselves with.
.rar=Compressed file
.zip=Compressed*, archive* file
.package=extracted* file
.exe=executable* file that self extracts*
.z=compressed
Those are a couple of file types a simmer might coincide with along their playing experience. If you're wondering what .exe and .z files are for, think of some programs, such as SimPe that might have those. .Exe and .z are known by a lot of Sims 2 custom content creators.
*Compressed=encoded information created so that fewer units of space can be used. They need to extracted to be used.
Archive=A collection of documentations, or files.
Extracted=to obtain or draw from a source, in this case with a use of a program
Executable=They cause a computer to perform indicated tasks
Self Extraction=Double click them and they have their own program to extract the file. You don't need something like Winzip, Winrar, etc to extract them. (You can if you want, though, but that cann cause complications and you may have to download again this time without your extraction program.)

4. What are file sizes?
Self explanatory. Look back at the second question. They are quite important though when it comes to custom content. Before you start going on a spree, check out how much space you have for all that downloading. For Windows, go to My Computer. The first icon should be local disk. Right click it and scroll down to Properties. From then on, you should find out how much space on your hard drive you have and if you need to possibly upgrade on your hard drive space. Think about the sizes of the files you are downloading, and the sizes of your Sims 2 folder and such.
Tip: Hover over the icon or folder or file to see some information. You can usually find the size and name and even more by just hovering over them.

I hope now you have a better feeling and idea for your computer. Any questions? Feel free to comment.

Stella

4x4 Ceiling Lamp Recolor

We're back with a simple recolor for the 4x4 ceiling lamp recolor.

It's with the green shade color, with a red trim.

It was actually supposed to be a totally fully red recolor, but I think some bits of files were lost while I used SimPe.

But no worry, it still looks great.

It is in-game tested. It is base-game compatible since the lamp came with the base-game. If there are any complications, inform us.

I hope you enjoy this recolor.

Download

Stella

F.A.Q. Tutorial

Downloading Custom Content
The Maxis content doesn't seem to be fitting you just right, and you're ready to get new, custom content in your game. This is the right place.

1. Find a modding* site that you enjoy, such as ModtheSims, Simply Styling, Around the Sims 2, Parsimonious, Holy Simoly, and a lot more. Download what you want. Make sure you have the software* to download.
*Modding=custom content to install to your game.
Software=archive softwares to extract from, such as Winrar, Winzip, and 7Zip. These enable you to extract from if not all, most of compressed files. The Windows Extracting Wizard only extracts .zip files, not .rar

2. Put the files in the correct folder. For Windows XP it is Documents and Settings/*Your Username*/My Documents/EA Games/Sims 2/Downloads*.
*For Windows Vista AND MAC: Users/*Your User Account*/Documents/EA Games/Sims 2/Downloads 
If you installed the basegame as Sims 2 Deluxe, Double Deluxe, or Sims 2 Holiday Edition, put your content in those Download folders. Example: /EA Games/Sims 2 Double Deluxe/Downloads.

3. Extract your files*. Right click the .zip and .rar (etc.) for interactions such as Extract, or the name of the installing software and then Extract.
*If it's a Sims 2 Pack File, double click it and a message will pop up asking if you would like to install.

4. Delete compressed and Sims 2 Pack Files. They take up unnessesary space. You don't need them. Make sure you keep your .package files though!

5. Go through your .package files. Installing software usually places the content into folders. Look through the folders to see if there are any compressed/Sims 2 Pack files inside of them. Also check for ReadMe documents, such as XM, HTM, HTML files or anything of that nature. The game can't read them. Delete them after reading.

6. Turn on your game. Check through your game catalog. If you can't find your custom content, go to game settings and check to see if Custom Content is allowed in catalogs, and off for the custom content list that pops up right before the neighborhood menu if you have Nightlife and newer expansion packs.

7. Enjoy your content!

8. Is it not showing up? Make sure you've followed every step thoroughly and you understand everything. Read through it again.

9. Is it still not showing up?
Maybe it would help to check out this excellent tutorial from ModtheSims.
Downloading for Fracking Idiots
Still no custom content??? Check out this second tutorial from ModtheSims also.  Getting Custom Content to Show Up
For general custom content issues: Game Help: Custom Content

I hope this helped a lot, more F.A.Q. will be coming up.

Questions I won't answer:
Questions that have been answered in this tutorial.
I will however answer any specific questions, even if they are explanations for types of files or such.

Up Next: File Sizes and Types
On: May 25, 2010

Petition!

This petition is for another expansion pack for sims 2.

I support it; I think we might need another one.

Why?

Sims 3 is cool, but with Sims 2 you had more power and freedom. Now with Sims 3, you can only focus on one family. And nonetheless, the Sims 2 was a major success for Maxis and EA. Adding another EP to the franchise series could make some major bucks. I think it would help, because if you have all the EPs and SPs for the Sims 2, you eventually get bored with the constant items. And yes, we have custom content, but the Maxis items are pretty cool too. Sometimes it's great to have your own stuff, but a lot of the times, it's also great to have items, effortlessly in your game.

Just, if you can, please sign the petition. Your signature could be the turning point for the petition.

Thanks!!!

To see the full blown petition:http://www.edge-online.com/blogs/the-sims-3-really
To sign the petition:http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/newepforsims2

Custom Content

Our first custom content!

It is called Royal Country. It is Sims 2 Wall. It's a zip file, so most of you should be able to access it.
It is in-game tested. I would say it is not the finest quality, but I'm just critical of myself.

*MAC USERS:MY CONTENT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK IN YOUR GAME. IF NOT, PLEASE INFORM US SO WE CAN FIX THE PROBLEM. DON'T WORRY, THIS IS NORMAL.

If there is any other complication, just comment on it.
IT IS BASE-GAME COMPATIBLE. AGAIN, PLESE INFORM US OF ANY COMPLICATION! WE DO HAVE SEVERAL EXPANSION PACKS AND STUFF PACKS AND DO NOT USE CLEAN PACK INSTALLER PROGRAMS TO FILTER OUT THINGS FROM THE EPs AND SPs.

Download

Pilot

If the sidebar didn't give you enough information, let me list what we'll be doing.

*We'll be writing reviews on CC (Custom Content) sites, the game (Sims 2!), etc.
*F.A.Q. Posts will be posted up and they give helpful tips that others may not.
*Frequent updates, quizzes/contests.
*Links
*We'll take questions!
*Post up our OWN CC.
*Teach you some important Sims 2 Technical Language, i.e. CC, EP, .zip/.rar, etc.

For right now we aren't posting up any of our own CC. (Hey, it takes some time and work!)

Stella & Drake