This is much appreciated. I think there has been a total of two sims that wore glasses in any of my hoods ever. Same with facial hair.

Something to think about is editing your startup apps and processes. You can try changing them in the programs themselves or by typing msconfig into the run text box and selecting the startup tab. Here is a site that will help you determine what is and isn't needed: http://www.processlibrary.com. I guarantee that almost everyone has more shit running than they need. Won't solve the problem, but maybe will increase the playing time.

It's not JUST Norton, it's Norton in conjunction with nVidia and possibly system specs. Read and use logic dammit!

If you have an ATI card, this does not pertain to you...

I am so glad you updated! This is the best mod eva and I was finding it hard living without it.

I would like to see vacation time run on return, too. I usually only send a few sims on vacation and leave the rest at home.

It's probably a combination of the factors; system specs, nVidia, and Norton. I have 6 computers in my house, only one of them has nVidia and only that one crashes. I chuck it up to the card and the lack of RAM in the machine. Turning off Norton doesn't help, but that is probably because the RAM is so low, it wouldn't run the game either way. And...don't think just because your machine is relatively new (a couple of years old) that it'll run the game fine. That computer is a Media Center PC, purchased in 2006. It's newer and it doesn't play the sims. nVidia causes graphics issues and crashes the game.

This is great! I used to put phones and things on them, but hated the animation. I only use them for deco stuff now, but at least I can go back to putting the phone in different locations again.

Handover the superhero badge...and the free flashlight!

You just achieved superhero status!! I've been tinkering and trying to make my own from scratch, but this will work, too.

With 'boolprop dormspecifictoolsdisabled false'

jolrei, by any chance, do you have 'Always Perfect Plants' in your downloads folder? I was having a similar problem as you and removing that hack fixed the problem.

How long does it take for sims to gain enthusiasm? I've been playing a test family with a kid whose predestined hobby is nature, but I had him playing the violin. He's been playing since he was a child. He is now an adult. He has ZERO enthusiasm points for music and dance. I tried on several other sims and none of them are gaining enthusiasm for anything. I'm assuming this is not supposed to be a long arduous process and the first few should be easy to gain like skilling. Is anyone else having a problem like this? Is it fixable?

My hack list is:
updated FFS hacks
ACR
sit on floor to watch tv

Not one of my sims has gained a point of enthusiasm. The kid spent the whole of his life playing the violin, now he's an adult with no enthusiasm points. Is this normal or should I be having a WTF moment?

Or you can just let the sims run their course through life, ignoring the aspiration shit and be done with it. If they get bonuses, good, if they don't, tough. Life doesn't always have to be perfect in Simland.

You guys are so silly. If you don't like having tons of perma-plat sims in your hood, stop making them achieve it.

I think I only allowed that privilege to 3 sims ever and not all with the same install. heh...my sims are more like real life, I guess. I do like the new lifetime aspiration meter. I don't like that from the time of toddler-hood you get so many rewards. During playtime yesterday, a toddler grew to a young adult and maxed out the lifetime aspiration bonuses which made him pretty boring.

A few that I noticed straightaway:

Any pre-made sims LTW changes after install without choosing a secondary aspiration.

All of the walk-bys are in their PJs.

Queue dropage.

I also have graphical issues now. A few of the items are semi-transparent now. A few right off the top of my head are the matress in the crib, the dj booth, a couple of chair frames...

I got a new computer a few months ago. The game works fine, no graphical issues, except maybe the TV screen. It has only ever displayed the movies a few times and very sporadicly. Any ideas on whether this is actually a graphics problem or could it be something else? I have the Directors cut, a few Syberspunk mods, a few TJ mods, and nothing that involves tvs.

Ya know, I hate the showheadlines off one. It doesn't just hide the thought bubbles, it hides the announcement ones, too. I often miss the ones that say "get your sim up, it's time for work". What kind of half-ass shit was that to program in?

If I remember correctly, it was Jade Elliot who knew  of a way to rid herself of the plumbbobs. Try doing a search for her name and plumbbob.

The thing I despise about Targa's stairs and the reason I refuse to use them anymore is that if you are playing in 3-speed, there is a 90% chance that your sim will get stuck behind the stairs. If you enclose the stairs like I usually do, your sim is stuck there until you realize it and teleport or move them manually. It's a pain the arse, not worth the trouble, really.

I haven't tried the new ladder stairs, but thanks for the heads up...I don't really see those things as a big deal. Non-modular stairs have always had their limitations, but I think it will be good to have those leading to an attic or something.

Looking at the picture, it looks like a completely new animation. The sims grab the side of the ladder while they climb and the animation is for all ages, except toddlers cause they can't go up the stairs.

Have you guys seen this...it looks pretty awesome. It's a remake of Targa's stairs, I think, with proper animations. I would use these because I like when it looks real. The new animation makes it drool worthy! http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=241795

It seems that Ford is advertising a car that hasn't been released to the public, yet. It says coming out in September. I don't mind them advertising cars at all. 'smatter of fact, one a month would be nice!

Like the title says, get it HERE

I don't like 'em because they look weird in homes. I have used Targa's stairs, but won't ever again because my sims kept getting stuck behind them. Meh, I'm ok with using the regular modular stairs. They may take up a lot of room, but I find ways to work around it.

I'm not sure but I remember seeing my sims flirst and kiss autonomously since uni or nightlife (or that could just be when I actually noticed it happening). I also saw visitors autonomously flirting with the playables. I had a visitor flirt with the wife and, of course, stupid sim behavior forced her to accept right in front of her husband. That broke up their marriage and I was really pissed. Snatched the romance mod as soon as it came out!

I build, decorate, and play families.


Highly decorated, walls cutaway, with the camera zoomed out enough that I can see the whole house (my lots are usually very small)


I do generations (and believe it or not, never have tried a Legacy). The whole population of my neighborhood's playable sims consisted of generations of 2 families.


I build my own hood then play until I get the sudden urge to start over. BUT, I have been building an urban hood and it's taking forever to do and I do not want to do it again. I will probably stick with this one until it becomes a fireball, then whip out the pristine backup.


Both, but I don't care how they turn out. I like having perfect genius sims and really shitty, always in aspiration failure sims.


Thankfully, lot load is only about a minute so I do play lots of community lots.


Definitely CITY!


Hell no! Hate themes!


A little, depends on how many are in the family. Most elders get a cat.


No, I keep my game as real as possible, not even a servo.



Definitely harder, but I also make things easier choice-wise using certain mods...like with ACR, I let them decide on how many kids if any. I have Insim, but maily only use it for the teleport here feature. I don't use Inteen.



I dunno...is 1 gig a lot or a little? I have build items the most, next would be bedroom sets.



I build houses. More recently, I started building sets and whole neighborhoods to share.