Befuddled Newbie
stormygsa:
Being more of a lurker then a participant, I can safely tell you that you've come to the right place to learn about the game. Follow their advise and you should do ok.
One thing no one mentioned is to make backup copies of your game, especially prior to downloading hacks. I've created a folder just for hacks, each creator has their own folder it makes it easier when a new EP comes out and you have to update your hacks.
SaraMK's cleaned up hoods are great. I downloaded the hoods that have the cleaned up Maxis families in it the first time, so I could experiment with that hood. Then I started creating my own.
Good luck and have fun.
Gail
Sooze:
This is all very helpful, Thanks. I had worked some things out already and yes, I had spotted the deleting/customising townies tutorial - I put it on my "things to do when I'm feeling a bit more confident list" - I tend to find every fifth word of any computer related instructions incomprehensible (didn't understand the Deleted 2 instructions at all!).
On blank templates - are these only for some of the possible landscapes or all of them?
I've never actually played any of the main Maxi hoods, I made up my own right from the start (don't quite know why) but I am playing the standard downtown, bluewater, uni ones. I'd rather not start a new hood just yet as I'm quite attached to the current one and I haven't really played very far in time (I have made far too many playable characters and its taking ages - I need to start killing the dull ones). I will use the suggested advice when I do get round to a new hood.
Saw the thing about Groups.cache elsewhere on the site and did it (although who knows whether I will remember to do it again in the future - memory not what it once was!).
On the objects.package files - sorry to be dim but what am I looking for? went to the EA games directory - it has folders for each of the EPs but not sure what I'm looking for inside these. Also when I've found them, how do I make them read-only? Is it a standrad right-click function?
Cyjon:
I also recommend backing up your game regularly. I play each lot in sequence one day at a time and I backup the Neighborhoods and Downloads directories at the end of every game day.
Never save the game with anyone talking on a cell phone (I assume that bug wasn't fixed in Pets or Seasons). That lot will be corrupted and unplayable, though there is a fiddly way to fix it. I save each lot only at 6 am as everyone is waking up so no one is on the phone.
rohina:
I would definitely take the advice about installing hacks sparingly to learn how awesome they are. I discovered the FOJ because I was at my wits' end with the goddam homework cheering in the base game. I was a little nervous about it (you know, popping my hack cherry, as it were), but oh, the sweet relief.
I would advise against installing the director's cut right away because of its very awesomeness. Take a bit of time to learn what really bugs you about the game, but also about how things work. Have fun.
Also, read some stories.
SaraMK:
Quote from: Sooze on 2007 May 04, 23:21:38
On blank templates - are these only for some of the possible landscapes or all of them?
The empty templates work for any neighborhood terrain (I think that's what you mean by landscape).
The Pleasantview one prevents the Pleasantview townies and NPC's from being dumped into every custom neighborhood you create. The empty sub-neighborhood templates (Uni, Downtown, etc.) prevent sims from those sub-neighborhoods from being dumped into your neighborhood when you attach that type of sub-neighborhood. It doesn't matter if you use the pre-made Maxis sub-neighborhoods or if you create a new one from scratch using a custom terrain.
If you ever intend to play the Maxis neighborhoods, then I really recommend that you insall the fixed Maxis neighborhoods that I linked to before. These fix various glitches, like DNA mistakes and memory problems, AND the Pleasantview one still prevents ugly sims from being dumped into custom neighborhoods. If you install the empty Pleasantview, all the Maxis playable sims will also be deleted and you basically won't be able to play Pleasantview (because it will be completely empty).
Quote
On the objects.package files - sorry to be dim but what am I looking for? went to the EA games directory - it has folders for each of the EPs but not sure what I'm looking for inside these. Also when I've found them, how do I make them read-only? Is it a standrad right-click function?
Go to Program Files\EA Games and then do a search for objects.package. Select everything that comes up in the seach, right-click and choose Properties. Toward the bottom of the window that will pop up is a checkbox that says Read-only. Check the box (if already checked, uncheck and then check again) and click the Apply button, then the Okay button. You need to remember to do this every time you install a new patch or expansion pack.
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