The New Ling
I think Michelle could use a roommate.
This is Ling. I was playing around in CAS and decided to try out CC on her. I thought the new look was cute and wanted to play her immediately, so Michelle gets a roommate.
So... now for a career. She is the opposite of Michelle. She's quite sweet. I'll put her in business. This is good time to try the new career. They both like money, but Ling earns it legally.
These two are going to be a real odd couple.
Ugh, Michelle woke up all grungy.
Never mind the new girl in the house, go use the toilet and take a shower.
I kind of wish sims would acknowledge a total stranger moving into the house in some way. I think that could be funny. How would you like it if someone decided you needed a roommate?
Anyway, it's already nice that she has some to talk too over brunch.
Brunch that just went bad.
Funny! A perfect reaction from Ling.
They need a new house. I don't want to use the Urbanite, but I do really like the rooms of that house. I also don't feel like building.
This is a perfect test for constructing a house from saved rooms. I saved the rooms from the Urbanite house and built this one.
What's wrong? You don't like it?
Oh, they are feeling achy from sleeping in cheap beds.
It's not as the ultra modern as the Urbanite, but it still doesn't fit well with Willow Creek.
Ok, get inside. The interior is already finished.
I still love the inside. I don't mind playing in it again.
Go check out the news, business woman.
Travis stopped by for a visit the next day. Ling can start working on building a network of friends.
Michelle moves in for a hug.
Hey, is he eying your roommate?
Those eyes better not wander too much.
Go home Travis as I tweak this house to fit in better with the neighborhood. This still isn't enough.
Ling gets a banzai tree hobby.
This is better, but it still could use more tweaking.
Those clouds get way too transparent. It looks like the moon is in front of the clouds.
Ling has homework. She has to fill out reports for work.
Michelle has been chatting her up the whole time.
See, you really did need a new roommate.
Cue the odd couple music.
They have really different schedules. Ling works during the day and Michelle works during the night.
Wow this is the first time I noticed how dynamic the lighting can get. Nice shadow effect.
Ling looks so polished. I may find myself taking lots of Ling shots.
And then the make up comes off.
No offense, you're still cute.
I refuse to look at anything. I'll read it later. I'm sure I'll love it, though. I understand not having enough content. I'm starting a new story where I commentate. Probably somewhat similar to yours, I suppose, but with my own twists. Anyway, I plan on poking some fun of my own at the game. I'm sad to see you not around, but I completely understand.
I refuse to look at anything. I'll read it later. I'm sure I'll love it, though. I understand not having enough content. I'm starting a new story where I commentate. Probably somewhat similar to yours, I suppose, but with my own twists. Anyway, I plan on poking some fun of my own at the game. I'm sad to see you not around, but I completely understand.
I am feeling the pressure to buy Outdoor Retreats and Get To Work. They would give me more things to work with.
It's good to see something from you again. I miss your updates and wish you were playing more, but do understand why you aren't.
I am looking over my pictures and I have 1,603 pics.
Not all of them are worth posting, but I do have some funny moments in there. Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do.
Mastermind
A new roommate already?
Well, yes... and no. Andre DaSilva is here temporarily.
"I can't believe my luck! I am living with two beautiful women now."
"I think I will bake them one of my special cakes."
Cool cake there, Andre.
But let's get to the real reason why you are here.
In you go. You are here to take a swim.
An eternal swim.
Then again, that looks like it will take forever. Get out.
Go for a serious jog. Maybe we can tire him out faster and then take a dip.
The stereo just went on the fritz.
The timing is perfect!
He's all grungy from the jog. What a mess.
I have a little repair work for you, Andre.
Yeah, he stinks.
But this is being done for you, so you will have to suffer it.
Keep going there, Andre.
Repairing that with zero handiness skills should do the trick.
Don't look at me like that, Ling.
It's not my fault that earning the Mastermind trait requires that Michelle witnesses another sim's death.
There is no way we are going to go around town stalking elders in the hope that one will drop dead. Someone has to meet with an unfortunate "accident". Andre is a Maxis bin sim anyway. He won't even be missed.
Michelle's public enemy aspiration has seen her being mischievous, mean, disliked, criminal, and fighting lots of enemies. All that remains is seeing someone die.
Aww... Hugs!
I knew Ling would be good for you.
Whoa! A little zap there, Andre?
Hmm... I hope this doesn't take...
Oh! There ya go!
Yep, he is a goner.
And from the look on his face, I believe he knows he is a goner too.
This is so much faster than drowning.
Congratulations! You are now a Mastermind.
Michelle is speechless, but Ling...
"What...? Really...? I don't even... This is awful!"
A sacrifice had to be made.
"There is a dead guy in our living room!"
Oh, Michelle is so saddened by this.
That music... Grim is here.
And so is Travis--bad timing Mr Scott. You don't need to see this, so we will not answer the door.
Hey, this is my first time seeing Grim.
Well isn't that cute.
Gosh, I thought the emotions here would be reversed. Ling should be the sad one and Michelle should be... not so caring.
Sorry, but you are the one with the Public Enemy aspiration.
"Mummification--amazing that I still get those."
"Zombism--those are always fun, so much fear, drama, and screaming around them.
"Scuba deaths--ugh! I hate water work."
"Ah, death by electric shock."
Ling is so casual about it all now.
Yow!
Awesome reaping skill, Grim.
Yes, he is a harvester of souls.
That was an awesome performance by grim, but I don't know. He comes across as a grim monk to me instead of the Grim Reaper. I guess it's the robes. They should have went with a darker look and perhaps a hood with more angles to it.
Okay, you now have some new skills in your arsenal. Now you know what to say to cause anger, sadness, and jealousy in other sims.
We have to try those out on someone. Hmm...
Oh well, what are friends for? Test it out on her. Sadness will do.
Aww... I feel bad now.
But this should come in handy for the list of enemies she has. She can get in that last word for some emotional angst.
She will make it up to her later.
Grim is still hanging about.
Being a mischief maker, she has to try him.
"Oh really? Well you look more like a depressed monk than the Grim Reaper."
"Who picks out your robes for you? Your Mom? You should fire her."
Oh, that might have pushed it to far.
Back off, girl. Back off.
Still there is one more thing we have to try.
I wonder if she can.
Oh yeah. Never let Michelle this close to you, Grim.
He's going to wonder how he lost some Simoleons in the morning.
Ling went for a dip in the "pool". I need to delete that.
Michelle needs some food first.
Goodbye, Grim.
She completed her Public Enemy aspiration. She will go after the Chief of Mistress aspiration. Not a bad day, although someone had to die for it.
She did have a very difficult sleep that night, so she does have a heart in there somewhere.
Although I am not playing much, I am not ready to throw in the towel on this game. Why?
I really like my sims. I had a nice little moment while looking up something for a general discussion thread on TS4 graphics. I copied that post over to here:
The team loved the sims in 2 and 3 to be smiling all the time too by the way, though not as intrusive as in 4. The problem accompanying the fact that I don't want them to smile by default is that the smiles they use are very silly. Mouths don't turn into half moons when a person smiles, only on smileys.
This half-moon smile?
Yeah, she does look like a human emoticon, or the Joker.
I try to avoid capturing that smile in shots.
I noticed that these sims do smile a lot. I was taking pictures of a scene in a dance club. Everyone was smiling a similar toothy smile. It just felt a little weird.
It's a dance club so it looks appropriate, but they do it other places. I guess it's mainly when they are happy.
I just went into the game to check out a conversation and did not see it while my sims were interacting.
Olivia was visiting Ling and Michelle. Olivia was not happy, quite sad actually.
She would drop the sad face a bit when going through her socials.
But her ruling emotion was sadness.
Ling's emotion was confident and she was more straight-faced.
She suddenly felt the need to dance and left ol' sad face behind.
Wow, that's extreme.
I wish this was the face for the highest level of sadness. I don't mind that there are extreme animations in the game as I see it as part of the humor, but they should be for extreme levels of emotions while the lower level emotional expressions should be more subtle.
Poor girl.
You're sad and Ling left you to deal with it on your own.
So I sent in Michelle.
Yeah, that smile is for the happy emotion.
Michelle will help you out.
You should feel honored, for Michelle usually leaves a path of angry and emotionally broken sims in her wake.
It would more sense for Ling to help her out, but I like the unexpected.
What's really going on with you, Olivia?
It seems serious, I really wish I knew how she became so sad. This is what a memory system should capture.
I have no idea what it's about, but since Michelle is happy, she can cheer her up.
It's all better now.
Hugs!
Michelle as Dr. Feelgood, who knew?
Happy now with dat smile.
Maybe off-topic since we are mainly talking about graphics here, but animations are part of the graphics.
I have to say these sims are mainly why I have not given up on this series. I had to custom them up to get the sims I wanted. Their emotions may fluctuate too much, and emotional situations are hit or miss. Their expressions can be too exaggerated at times and they are multi-tasking busy bodies who can never sit still, but I really like my sims. And I loved this simming moment. I am adding it to my simming moments thread.
It's obvious that I have totally rejected the hair art style. It just doesn't say Sims to me. It's more anime, Final Fantasy, and My Sims than The Sims. The graphics are colorful. The image resolution looks clear and sharp. There are lighting and other special effects that makes the game look nice. But at the same time the meshes are blocky and lack detail and textures look smeary and blurry. They did not skimp on clothing, in my opinion. I love the mesh detail of Olivias top and her hat is nice and curvey. The art style pushes the cartoon level into My Sims territory. I can see why simmers either love the graphics, feel mixed about it, or hate it. I am mixed about it.
I like the effects, although I did tone the depth of field down. I am getting used to the color saturation. I like the overall image sharpness, but I don't care for the lack of detail in meshes and textures, and I really dislike those hand drawn storybook clouds. I replaced the grass textures. It's just the sky and trees and other overly cartoonish textures that I want to replace.
Graphics are just one aspect of the game, that has me concerned. Age stages, career game play, service NPCs, community lots, and the world structure pretty much have me just sitting here looking at my sims and waiting for expansion and game packs. I don't play much.
Sorry about the long post, but if you know me, you know what happens once I get started.
I have to agree about the My Sims thing. I never really liked that 'game' because of the graphics and it's obvious TS4 has some aspects of that art. Ah well! I'm excited to see how the new Career things work in the expansion personally. I remember being really excited for Firefighter interior design and babysitting in TS3 but wasn't completely satisfied (except for babysitting, that was actually fun). Nice thread!
I have to agree about the My Sims thing. I never really liked that 'game' because of the graphics and it's obvious TS4 has some aspects of that art. Ah well! I'm excited to see how the new Career things work in the expansion personally. I remember being really excited for Firefighter interior design and babysitting in TS3 but wasn't completely satisfied (except for babysitting, that was actually fun). Nice thread!
I never tried baby sitting.
I will have to give it a whirl. I haven't played a fire fighter in a long time and I never fully explored the Interior Designer career. I did try private investigating, but found it too linear with too much reading. However, I did make custom lots to support my private investigator and it made it more fun. I should try getting creative with the other careers.
The Urbanite goes stealthy.
The addition of friezes is helping it to blend in with the surrounding architecture.
I do like that we can throw in curves. It helps tone down the blockiness.
What cha lookin' at, Michelle?
Yeah, it's kind of growing on me too, now that I have replaced the grass texture.
Those clouds will never grow on me though.
I have been playing their careers, which still don't interest me much beyond seeing what outfit they change into for work, which Ling is not wearing now.
I thought they should have hobbies, so I gave them musical instruments.
Which are torture devices in the early stages.
Ling also took up boxing with the punching bag.
I love that face. I'm not sure what emotion is driving her. She looks tired.
Look who is up and about, I had forgotten about Andre DaSilva.
He's really angry. That's understandable since he was murdered.
The trash can?
He's green now. I guess kicking it over calmed him down.
Poltergeist or not, nobody kicks over the trash without receiving a few choice words.
There is no hard feelings about dying. What an easy going guy.
Hmm... can you still money from a ghost?
You can!
He's back to haunting.
So... is he mad that he died, or is this just a random emotion thing, or is it his trait? Probably his trait.
"What's up, Ling?"
"Reports, as in filling them out."
"Umm... exciting."
Ling got this name plate for her promotion in the business career track.
Ya know...
Andre is an uncontrollable distraction. She needs to concentrate on her reports.
He went off to do something else, but left his unfinished meal.
Eh, waste not, want not.
?
I have no idea. This all happened back in December.
I love sending my sims out for a jog.
I liked it better in TS3 because you could decide where you wanted them to run and even set up way points.
But I still like jogging.
However, the new dirt effect makes no sense to me. That's a ridiculous amount for dirt for anything less than wallowing in the mud like a pig.
She looks like she was in an accident, mugged, or worse.
Thanks for ruining extended jogs for me, EA.
Status Update
I am actually doing some building. I wanted to test out upgrading a house. This is really nice since you can move the exisiting house so it's easier to expand on and sits better on the property.
I upgraded from this.
I am about to do some experimenting with Art Deco styled homes. I am fairly excited about it and some really cool homes should come out of it.
And more with playing around in CAS with a Maxis bin sim, only confirming what I want to do to TS4 sims.
It still comes down to hair looking like hair, more evidence of skin texture (lips and around the eyes), and tweaking away exaggerated facial features.
Melonie had better watch out. Olivia is quickly becoming a favorite.
An old siggy, when simmers were harping on how TS3 sims looked, I wasn't crazy about them either, but with CC, they were looking more like my TS2 cc sims. Now I feel my TS4 cc sims look even more like my TS2 CC sims.
Cave In! Get To Work It was the aliens!
The aliens, I tell you!
The more I hear about this EP, the more I want it.
It was a very smart move, and pretty much expected by myself, that an OFB type EP would be offered first.
It was the one thing TS3 did not have, besides decent restaurants, that a large amount of simmers wanted.
So, Aliens, and science...
I loved my science geeks too, so this is perfect for me.
In TS3, when we got the Lunar Lakes alien world, I took the content and played out a scenario where two alien races had a collision over Earth and were marooned on the planet. They were quickly captured by the government and housed at a facility in Appaloosa Plains, along with a scientist and a military sim to observe and help them.
The two alien species were green and blue.
My favorite was Geewii, on the right.
We would get "real" aliens later with Seasons. The first thing I did was convert fake alien Geewii into true alien Geewii.
So I will be buying this EP and playing out the same scenario with a small twist. I will have my science/military sims work with the aliens to invent with new technologies and also work towards creating a portal so the aliens can return home.
But wait, there's more. I will certainly play the detective career, as I liked the concept of it in TS3 ambitions, but I wished there was more depth to investigating. Although the old music theme from Dragnet would be more fitting, the theme from Get Smart keeps coming to mind whenever I see info on the detective career. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI77bsnfJeo
It's mainly because of an RPG that I am playing. That music plays whenever the characters go on and investigative case.
It will probably be in mind whenever my sims go investigating.
I am thinking of turning Michelle away from crime and into law enforcement. She's bad cop material and will gleefully dive into the the enforcement part of the law.
And then there is the photography skill...
Something else I liked to do in TS3.
I am going to try to design some cool photography studios to work and hangout in, maybe even have my photographer do some simancing with clients. Not with hotdogs, that would be weird.
I do believe I will have Ling run a business--probably not fashion as Melonie has always been my town fashionista.
Get to Work should give me plenty to do and I will also have Outdoor Retreat. I might as well get that too since I am caving.
My thread is boring, but should be more interesting once I get Get To Work and Outdoor Retreat.
As a matter of interest, which RPG are you playing that gets you investigating cases?
I, too, caved and preordered GTW yesterday Looking forward to all aspects of it but just a teeny weeny bit disappointed that aliens have to be bald! But I'm sure a modder will sort that out...
And also looking forward to your GTW thread and Melonie, Michelle and Ling's exploits...
I've been a lurker on this thread for a while. I always enjoy seeing your sims, your builds, and reading your thoughts on the game. I can't wait to see what you do with GTW.
I'm overly excited for aliens. I'm gonna have an alien replace a certain famous Sim and be disguised as her.
As a matter of interest, which RPG are you playing that gets you investigating cases?
I, too, caved and preordered GTW yesterday Looking forward to all aspects of it but just a teeny weeny bit disappointed that aliens have to be bald! But I'm sure a modder will sort that out...
And also looking forward to your GTW thread and Melonie, Michelle and Ling's exploits...
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. I bought it from Steam at a ridiculous sale price.
The characters are Bracers--monster fighters, but also crime solvers.
Yeah, I am a bit miffed about bald aliens. I hope it's possible to do some genetic work by playing with Genetics in CAS.
I've been a lurker on this thread for a while. I always enjoy seeing your sims, your builds, and reading your thoughts on the game. I can't wait to see what you do with GTW.
I'm overly excited for aliens. I'm gonna have an alien replace a certain famous Sim and be disguised as her.
As a matter of interest, which RPG are you playing that gets you investigating cases?
I, too, caved and preordered GTW yesterday Looking forward to all aspects of it but just a teeny weeny bit disappointed that aliens have to be bald! But I'm sure a modder will sort that out...
And also looking forward to your GTW thread and Melonie, Michelle and Ling's exploits...
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. I bought it from Steam at a ridiculous sale price.
The characters are Bracers--monster fighters, but also crime solvers.
Yeah, I am a bit miffed about bald aliens. I hope it's possible to do some genetic work by playing with Genetics in CAS.
Will check that out, thanks.
I'm sure it'll be possible to get around the hairless noggin fairly soon And I'm liking what I see so far of aliens in CAS - the skin tones and face paint - and looking forward to what the CC creators will do with it all.
Major CC downloads underway. A little bit each day, I will probably be doing it into the weekend.
Hair, make up, furniture, decorations, mods... lots of stuff that I have bookmarked since last month.
I wish CC makers would make more short and medium hair.
It will probably take Seasons and Outwear clipping into that long hair to make them see the light.
Oops... I forgot Mel'. It would be fun to have a jeaousy trait. I could have an Olivia/Melonie drama rama.
Updated update:
I now have a new sim, Kaylee Bryne.
I have no idea how I will play her.
My group of rotational YAs is getting large.
Olivia Banks
It's March, spring is here, and it's snowing outside.
But that is appropriate because my sim pics are still from December. No I still have not caught us up. This is all probably very boring for you who have Outdoor Retreat and are waiting for Get To Work, but I continue documenting my sims.
Michelle has new Mischief abilities. She can now sabotage objects.
There isn't much fun in sabotaging her own stuff, so she needs to get out and share it with her neighbors.
This home is practically next door.
Olivia Banks, motherload rich and properly snobby, I had placed her in Melonie's world, but never got around to interacting her or playing her.
Michelle has a new social to try out on her as well as sabotaging her house.
But let's get to know her a little first, after picking her pockets.
Wait, she doesn't have pockets, yet Michelle managed to get money from her anyway.
In her bra? Wow, Michelle is good!
Alright, let's commence with the chatting to raise relationship points.
He new mischief social is slap them silly.
I saw this interaction before the game was released and thought it was a mean interaction.
I thought it looked rather weak, but it turns out it's a friendly interaction.
"?"
"Uhm... yeah...ok."
That was cute.
Alright, enough with the friend making, let's get back to mischief making.
She can sabotage this sink.
Uh oh, busted in the act.
But Olivia is oblivious.
Smarter sims.
There ya go, one broken sink.
What? You're the one who broke it. Why are you complaining about it?
Smarter sims.
I will probably use this to break things so sims can fix them to work on their handiness skill, or break stereos on purpose so sims can pull another Andre death scenario.
Sabotaging your neighbor's objects seems a bit pointless.
Oh well, at least I got to see some new interactions.
Ling is back from work.
It's time to dance.
Well, anytime is a good time to dance as long as music is nearby, as far as sims are concerned.
Wait, someone is at the door.
Olivia, of course.
She couldn't wait to come and visit her new friend.
She can get to know Ling, which really is a better friend choice.
I will later add more of my favorite sims, as I wanted to start playing rotationally.
This is Olivia before I gave her a CC makeover.
She is fine as she is, but I just like more detail in my game.
Comments
I think Michelle could use a roommate.
This is Ling. I was playing around in CAS and decided to try out CC on her. I thought the new look was cute and wanted to play her immediately, so Michelle gets a roommate.
So... now for a career. She is the opposite of Michelle. She's quite sweet. I'll put her in business. This is good time to try the new career. They both like money, but Ling earns it legally.
These two are going to be a real odd couple.
Ugh, Michelle woke up all grungy.
Never mind the new girl in the house, go use the toilet and take a shower.
I kind of wish sims would acknowledge a total stranger moving into the house in some way. I think that could be funny. How would you like it if someone decided you needed a roommate?
Anyway, it's already nice that she has some to talk too over brunch.
Brunch that just went bad.
Funny! A perfect reaction from Ling.
They need a new house. I don't want to use the Urbanite, but I do really like the rooms of that house. I also don't feel like building.
This is a perfect test for constructing a house from saved rooms. I saved the rooms from the Urbanite house and built this one.
What's wrong? You don't like it?
Oh, they are feeling achy from sleeping in cheap beds.
It's not as the ultra modern as the Urbanite, but it still doesn't fit well with Willow Creek.
Ok, get inside. The interior is already finished.
I still love the inside. I don't mind playing in it again.
Go check out the news, business woman.
Travis stopped by for a visit the next day. Ling can start working on building a network of friends.
Michelle moves in for a hug.
Hey, is he eying your roommate?
Those eyes better not wander too much.
Go home Travis as I tweak this house to fit in better with the neighborhood. This still isn't enough.
Ling gets a banzai tree hobby.
This is better, but it still could use more tweaking.
Those clouds get way too transparent. It looks like the moon is in front of the clouds.
Ling has homework. She has to fill out reports for work.
Michelle has been chatting her up the whole time.
See, you really did need a new roommate.
Cue the odd couple music.
They have really different schedules. Ling works during the day and Michelle works during the night.
Wow this is the first time I noticed how dynamic the lighting can get. Nice shadow effect.
Ling looks so polished. I may find myself taking lots of Ling shots.
And then the make up comes off.
No offense, you're still cute.
It's actually cool to see her plain-faced.
It takes a few moments for the next page to show up.
Seeking a Cure for PSC
From Lifehack.org - 20 Things About Highly Creative People
Simblr
I am feeling the pressure to buy Outdoor Retreats and Get To Work. They would give me more things to work with.
I am looking over my pictures and I have 1,603 pics.
Not all of them are worth posting, but I do have some funny moments in there. Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do.
A new roommate already?
Well, yes... and no. Andre DaSilva is here temporarily.
"I can't believe my luck! I am living with two beautiful women now."
"I think I will bake them one of my special cakes."
Cool cake there, Andre.
But let's get to the real reason why you are here.
In you go. You are here to take a swim.
An eternal swim.
Then again, that looks like it will take forever. Get out.
Go for a serious jog. Maybe we can tire him out faster and then take a dip.
The stereo just went on the fritz.
The timing is perfect!
He's all grungy from the jog. What a mess.
I have a little repair work for you, Andre.
Yeah, he stinks.
But this is being done for you, so you will have to suffer it.
Keep going there, Andre.
Repairing that with zero handiness skills should do the trick.
Don't look at me like that, Ling.
It's not my fault that earning the Mastermind trait requires that Michelle witnesses another sim's death.
There is no way we are going to go around town stalking elders in the hope that one will drop dead. Someone has to meet with an unfortunate "accident". Andre is a Maxis bin sim anyway. He won't even be missed.
Michelle's public enemy aspiration has seen her being mischievous, mean, disliked, criminal, and fighting lots of enemies. All that remains is seeing someone die.
Aww... Hugs!
I knew Ling would be good for you.
Whoa! A little zap there, Andre?
Hmm... I hope this doesn't take...
Oh! There ya go!
Yep, he is a goner.
And from the look on his face, I believe he knows he is a goner too.
This is so much faster than drowning.
Congratulations! You are now a Mastermind.
Michelle is speechless, but Ling...
"What...? Really...? I don't even... This is awful!"
A sacrifice had to be made.
"There is a dead guy in our living room!"
Oh, Michelle is so saddened by this.
That music... Grim is here.
And so is Travis--bad timing Mr Scott. You don't need to see this, so we will not answer the door.
Hey, this is my first time seeing Grim.
Well isn't that cute.
Gosh, I thought the emotions here would be reversed. Ling should be the sad one and Michelle should be... not so caring.
Sorry, but you are the one with the Public Enemy aspiration.
"Mummification--amazing that I still get those."
"Zombism--those are always fun, so much fear, drama, and screaming around them.
"Scuba deaths--ugh! I hate water work."
"Ah, death by electric shock."
Ling is so casual about it all now.
Yow!
Awesome reaping skill, Grim.
Yes, he is a harvester of souls.
That was an awesome performance by grim, but I don't know. He comes across as a grim monk to me instead of the Grim Reaper. I guess it's the robes. They should have went with a darker look and perhaps a hood with more angles to it.
Okay, you now have some new skills in your arsenal. Now you know what to say to cause anger, sadness, and jealousy in other sims.
We have to try those out on someone. Hmm...
Oh well, what are friends for? Test it out on her. Sadness will do.
Aww... I feel bad now.
But this should come in handy for the list of enemies she has. She can get in that last word for some emotional angst.
She will make it up to her later.
Grim is still hanging about.
Being a mischief maker, she has to try him.
"Oh really? Well you look more like a depressed monk than the Grim Reaper."
"Who picks out your robes for you? Your Mom? You should fire her."
Oh, that might have pushed it to far.
Back off, girl. Back off.
Still there is one more thing we have to try.
I wonder if she can.
Oh yeah. Never let Michelle this close to you, Grim.
He's going to wonder how he lost some Simoleons in the morning.
Ling went for a dip in the "pool". I need to delete that.
Michelle needs some food first.
Goodbye, Grim.
She completed her Public Enemy aspiration. She will go after the Chief of Mistress aspiration. Not a bad day, although someone had to die for it.
She did have a very difficult sleep that night, so she does have a heart in there somewhere.
Although I am not playing much, I am not ready to throw in the towel on this game. Why?
I really like my sims. I had a nice little moment while looking up something for a general discussion thread on TS4 graphics. I copied that post over to here:
This half-moon smile?
Yeah, she does look like a human emoticon, or the Joker.
I try to avoid capturing that smile in shots.
I noticed that these sims do smile a lot. I was taking pictures of a scene in a dance club. Everyone was smiling a similar toothy smile. It just felt a little weird.
It's a dance club so it looks appropriate, but they do it other places. I guess it's mainly when they are happy.
I just went into the game to check out a conversation and did not see it while my sims were interacting.
Olivia was visiting Ling and Michelle. Olivia was not happy, quite sad actually.
She would drop the sad face a bit when going through her socials.
But her ruling emotion was sadness.
Ling's emotion was confident and she was more straight-faced.
She suddenly felt the need to dance and left ol' sad face behind.
Wow, that's extreme.
I wish this was the face for the highest level of sadness. I don't mind that there are extreme animations in the game as I see it as part of the humor, but they should be for extreme levels of emotions while the lower level emotional expressions should be more subtle.
Poor girl.
You're sad and Ling left you to deal with it on your own.
So I sent in Michelle.
Yeah, that smile is for the happy emotion.
Michelle will help you out.
You should feel honored, for Michelle usually leaves a path of angry and emotionally broken sims in her wake.
It would more sense for Ling to help her out, but I like the unexpected.
What's really going on with you, Olivia?
It seems serious, I really wish I knew how she became so sad. This is what a memory system should capture.
I have no idea what it's about, but since Michelle is happy, she can cheer her up.
It's all better now.
Hugs!
Michelle as Dr. Feelgood, who knew?
Happy now with dat smile.
Maybe off-topic since we are mainly talking about graphics here, but animations are part of the graphics.
I have to say these sims are mainly why I have not given up on this series. I had to custom them up to get the sims I wanted. Their emotions may fluctuate too much, and emotional situations are hit or miss. Their expressions can be too exaggerated at times and they are multi-tasking busy bodies who can never sit still, but I really like my sims. And I loved this simming moment. I am adding it to my simming moments thread.
It's obvious that I have totally rejected the hair art style. It just doesn't say Sims to me. It's more anime, Final Fantasy, and My Sims than The Sims. The graphics are colorful. The image resolution looks clear and sharp. There are lighting and other special effects that makes the game look nice. But at the same time the meshes are blocky and lack detail and textures look smeary and blurry. They did not skimp on clothing, in my opinion. I love the mesh detail of Olivias top and her hat is nice and curvey. The art style pushes the cartoon level into My Sims territory. I can see why simmers either love the graphics, feel mixed about it, or hate it. I am mixed about it.
I like the effects, although I did tone the depth of field down. I am getting used to the color saturation. I like the overall image sharpness, but I don't care for the lack of detail in meshes and textures, and I really dislike those hand drawn storybook clouds. I replaced the grass textures. It's just the sky and trees and other overly cartoonish textures that I want to replace.
Graphics are just one aspect of the game, that has me concerned. Age stages, career game play, service NPCs, community lots, and the world structure pretty much have me just sitting here looking at my sims and waiting for expansion and game packs. I don't play much.
Sorry about the long post, but if you know me, you know what happens once I get started.
@Naralynn
I never tried baby sitting.
I will have to give it a whirl. I haven't played a fire fighter in a long time and I never fully explored the Interior Designer career. I did try private investigating, but found it too linear with too much reading. However, I did make custom lots to support my private investigator and it made it more fun. I should try getting creative with the other careers.
The Urbanite goes stealthy.
The addition of friezes is helping it to blend in with the surrounding architecture.
I do like that we can throw in curves. It helps tone down the blockiness.
What cha lookin' at, Michelle?
Yeah, it's kind of growing on me too, now that I have replaced the grass texture.
Those clouds will never grow on me though.
I have been playing their careers, which still don't interest me much beyond seeing what outfit they change into for work, which Ling is not wearing now.
I thought they should have hobbies, so I gave them musical instruments.
Which are torture devices in the early stages.
Ling also took up boxing with the punching bag.
I love that face. I'm not sure what emotion is driving her. She looks tired.
Look who is up and about, I had forgotten about Andre DaSilva.
He's really angry. That's understandable since he was murdered.
The trash can?
He's green now. I guess kicking it over calmed him down.
Poltergeist or not, nobody kicks over the trash without receiving a few choice words.
There is no hard feelings about dying. What an easy going guy.
Hmm... can you still money from a ghost?
You can!
He's back to haunting.
So... is he mad that he died, or is this just a random emotion thing, or is it his trait? Probably his trait.
"What's up, Ling?"
"Reports, as in filling them out."
"Umm... exciting."
Ling got this name plate for her promotion in the business career track.
Ya know...
Andre is an uncontrollable distraction. She needs to concentrate on her reports.
He went off to do something else, but left his unfinished meal.
Eh, waste not, want not.
?
I have no idea. This all happened back in December.
I love sending my sims out for a jog.
I liked it better in TS3 because you could decide where you wanted them to run and even set up way points.
But I still like jogging.
However, the new dirt effect makes no sense to me. That's a ridiculous amount for dirt for anything less than wallowing in the mud like a pig.
She looks like she was in an accident, mugged, or worse.
Thanks for ruining extended jogs for me, EA.
My audience is small to non-existant, so I need a new concept: The Filler Post.
If you see one of my old siggies, it's a filler post.
I am actually doing some building. I wanted to test out upgrading a house. This is really nice since you can move the exisiting house so it's easier to expand on and sits better on the property.
I upgraded from this.
I am about to do some experimenting with Art Deco styled homes. I am fairly excited about it and some really cool homes should come out of it.
And more with playing around in CAS with a Maxis bin sim, only confirming what I want to do to TS4 sims.
It still comes down to hair looking like hair, more evidence of skin texture (lips and around the eyes), and tweaking away exaggerated facial features.
Melonie had better watch out. Olivia is quickly becoming a favorite.
An old siggy, when simmers were harping on how TS3 sims looked, I wasn't crazy about them either, but with CC, they were looking more like my TS2 cc sims. Now I feel my TS4 cc sims look even more like my TS2 CC sims.
It was the aliens!
The aliens, I tell you!
The more I hear about this EP, the more I want it.
It was a very smart move, and pretty much expected by myself, that an OFB type EP would be offered first.
It was the one thing TS3 did not have, besides decent restaurants, that a large amount of simmers wanted.
So, Aliens, and science...
I loved my science geeks too, so this is perfect for me.
In TS3, when we got the Lunar Lakes alien world, I took the content and played out a scenario where two alien races had a collision over Earth and were marooned on the planet. They were quickly captured by the government and housed at a facility in Appaloosa Plains, along with a scientist and a military sim to observe and help them.
The two alien species were green and blue.
My favorite was Geewii, on the right.
We would get "real" aliens later with Seasons. The first thing I did was convert fake alien Geewii into true alien Geewii.
So I will be buying this EP and playing out the same scenario with a small twist. I will have my science/military sims work with the aliens to invent with new technologies and also work towards creating a portal so the aliens can return home.
But wait, there's more. I will certainly play the detective career, as I liked the concept of it in TS3 ambitions, but I wished there was more depth to investigating. Although the old music theme from Dragnet would be more fitting, the theme from Get Smart keeps coming to mind whenever I see info on the detective career.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI77bsnfJeo
It's mainly because of an RPG that I am playing. That music plays whenever the characters go on and investigative case.
It will probably be in mind whenever my sims go investigating.
I am thinking of turning Michelle away from crime and into law enforcement. She's bad cop material and will gleefully dive into the the enforcement part of the law.
And then there is the photography skill...
Something else I liked to do in TS3.
I am going to try to design some cool photography studios to work and hangout in, maybe even have my photographer do some simancing with clients. Not with hotdogs, that would be weird.
I do believe I will have Ling run a business--probably not fashion as Melonie has always been my town fashionista.
Get to Work should give me plenty to do and I will also have Outdoor Retreat. I might as well get that too since I am caving.
My thread is boring, but should be more interesting once I get Get To Work and Outdoor Retreat.
I, too, caved and preordered GTW yesterday Looking forward to all aspects of it but just a teeny weeny bit disappointed that aliens have to be bald! But I'm sure a modder will sort that out...
And also looking forward to your GTW thread and Melonie, Michelle and Ling's exploits...
I'm overly excited for aliens. I'm gonna have an alien replace a certain famous Sim and be disguised as her.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. I bought it from Steam at a ridiculous sale price.
The characters are Bracers--monster fighters, but also crime solvers.
Yeah, I am a bit miffed about bald aliens. I hope it's possible to do some genetic work by playing with Genetics in CAS.
I really like that!
I think I know who.
I'm sure it'll be possible to get around the hairless noggin fairly soon And I'm liking what I see so far of aliens in CAS - the skin tones and face paint - and looking forward to what the CC creators will do with it all.
... and grain, and fibers, and simply sharper details.
So off I go seeking CC textures to bring more of that to my game.
Oh yeah...
It is time for an all out assault on cartoon bricks.
Arrrrrgh! Huh! [slap slap smack]
That felt good.
This woman was out for a pleasant stroll and looked so cheerful and happy. Michelle could really use some of that energy.
There is nothing like great conversation to...
...totally ruin your day.
She can use the voodoo doll. It was nice of this woman to be strolling by to help see what it can do.
We will start with something simple.
How about tickles.
Meh.
Boring. How about this?
Uh!
Really? That's it?
Hey, aren't you that sim that Michelle is always arguing with? You have aged.
Ok, how about this?
Hmph! That was a bit underwhelming. We will have to try the voodoo doll out later, and on a different sim.
Ling, put on some clothes.
That's a nice business causal outfit.
Sigh, fill out those reports.
Hey, cut the chatter, you have to finish that before you go to work.
Well well, look who is nearby.
Darn it. I hate when the trees disappear. We aren't even that close to them. EA should really fix that. That has to be a pain for story makers.
Anyway, this should give Michelle something to do and let Ling focus on her work.
Summer Holiday is always good for drama.
She is aging too.
Wow, it's time for work already? I think I will have fill out reports after work instead of before.
Oh, that uniform is so frumpy.
Yes, it's your old nemesis.
"Let's do this."
Grim?
Did someone die nearby? The latest patch must have changed something. I would never see Grim just strolling about before the patch.
Oh no, not the incompatible CC hair hat again. I really need to cull that hair from my game.
Never mind fighting with Summer, Michelle should be nice to her.
So she can get in close and rob her blind.
I kind of like Summer anyway.
I never really bothered to find out more about her. I think I should.
So Grim wanders the neighborhoods?
I noticed more sims becoming ghosts in my Sim's relationship panel. Grim must be pretty busy.
Don't do it, Angry Girl.
"It must be awful to always be surrounded by death and despair and never really get to live in pure joy and happiness."
Michelle!
Leave Grim alone!
Well, while she is here and being bad, why not pick pocket someone else. It is all about the simoleons anyway.
Oh my, she looks so sad, it's heart breaking.
Michelle is not the best person for this job, but maybe she can help.
Yeah, this is not your thing, Michelle, but help her out.
She's like a sad puppy.
Every little thing's going to be alright.
Good work.
She's all smiles now. It feels good to see Michelle's soft side to some good.
Aw, it's getting late. Time passes too quickly.
Whoops, sad girl slips back into depression.
Leave to the Sun Glasses Girl to work it out.
Angry Girl is now Tired Girl.
Ling is back from work and warming up to do some serious dancing.
Hopefully advanced dance moves are planned for an expansion pack. I fully expect dance moves that will rival or top TS3 Late Night dance moves.
It has to be planned. Sims can even dance with each other in the base game.
I am so glad I added Ling. I could never play a single sim for long in The Sims. It gets lonely and boring.
I love these expressions.
Oh well, like I promised, fill out reports after work.
Michelle needs to rest up for work.
I really need to personalize these rooms.
The bat?
It's for sports.
Really, it is.
Major CC downloads underway. A little bit each day, I will probably be doing it into the weekend.
Hair, make up, furniture, decorations, mods... lots of stuff that I have bookmarked since last month.
I wish CC makers would make more short and medium hair.
It will probably take Seasons and Outwear clipping into that long hair to make them see the light.
Oops... I forgot Mel'. It would be fun to have a jeaousy trait. I could have an Olivia/Melonie drama rama.
Updated update:
I now have a new sim, Kaylee Bryne.
I have no idea how I will play her.
My group of rotational YAs is getting large.
It's March, spring is here, and it's snowing outside.
But that is appropriate because my sim pics are still from December. No I still have not caught us up. This is all probably very boring for you who have Outdoor Retreat and are waiting for Get To Work, but I continue documenting my sims.
Michelle has new Mischief abilities. She can now sabotage objects.
There isn't much fun in sabotaging her own stuff, so she needs to get out and share it with her neighbors.
This home is practically next door.
Olivia Banks, motherload rich and properly snobby, I had placed her in Melonie's world, but never got around to interacting her or playing her.
Michelle has a new social to try out on her as well as sabotaging her house.
But let's get to know her a little first, after picking her pockets.
Wait, she doesn't have pockets, yet Michelle managed to get money from her anyway.
In her bra? Wow, Michelle is good!
Alright, let's commence with the chatting to raise relationship points.
He new mischief social is slap them silly.
I saw this interaction before the game was released and thought it was a mean interaction.
I thought it looked rather weak, but it turns out it's a friendly interaction.
"?"
"Uhm... yeah...ok."
That was cute.
Alright, enough with the friend making, let's get back to mischief making.
She can sabotage this sink.
Uh oh, busted in the act.
But Olivia is oblivious.
Smarter sims.
There ya go, one broken sink.
What? You're the one who broke it. Why are you complaining about it?
Smarter sims.
I will probably use this to break things so sims can fix them to work on their handiness skill, or break stereos on purpose so sims can pull another Andre death scenario.
Sabotaging your neighbor's objects seems a bit pointless.
Oh well, at least I got to see some new interactions.
Ling is back from work.
It's time to dance.
Well, anytime is a good time to dance as long as music is nearby, as far as sims are concerned.
Wait, someone is at the door.
Olivia, of course.
She couldn't wait to come and visit her new friend.
She can get to know Ling, which really is a better friend choice.
I will later add more of my favorite sims, as I wanted to start playing rotationally.
This is Olivia before I gave her a CC makeover.
She is fine as she is, but I just like more detail in my game.