SimmedUp Magazine Issue 4 Dec 2020

SIMMEDDUP Issue 4 - Dec 2020

XMIRAMIRA Talks to Alaeryn

Holiday Edition

Show Us Your Builds

Making A Simmer Dive In: Island Paradise Retro Sims CC WITH MMOUTFITTERS & SIMMEDUP SHOP Sims Mobile with Karen Keren Snowy Escape

SulSul Readers, Here we are in December, after what can only be described as a year of 'Turmoil' for many. Not only has the entire world been battling Covid-19, we have lost many lives along the way. We here at SimmedUp have not been 'unaffected' by what has been going on, and being scattered across the world, we have seen this disease hit us from all sides and different points of view. The one thing we can all agree on, is that, Family is worth safeguarding and each one of our readers ARE our extended family.

In August of this year, SimmedUp was formed. Not only did we have a vision, we wanted 'something', that could help us all 'give back' to the community which has supported us over the years. This was when our amazing team of dedicated writers, mod reviewers & Sims lovers was formed.

EDITOR’S LETTER .......................................................... 3 JUST FOR FUN & RESULTS PAGE .............................. 4 XMIRAMIRA ....................................................................6 GRANNY RUTH SAYS ................................................... 12 FANART ............................................................................ 16 INTRODUCING ............................................................... 18 SIMS MOBILE ................................................................. 22 CC WITH MMOUTFITTERS ........................................ 24 SIMMEDUP HUMAN SHOP.......................................... 26 REVIEW: SNOWY ESCAPE ..........................................32 RETRO CORNER ............................................................. 38 TIPS & TRICKS .............................................................. 47 SHOW US YOUR BUILDS ............................................ 48 ELF ON A SHELF .............................................................. 52 MAKING A SIMMER ..................................................... 56 YOUR SIMS ..................................................................... 58 MODS REVIEWED: DIVE IN: ISLAND PARADISE SIMS 3 ................... 60 TINY MODS FOR YOUR STOCKING ..................... 66

In 2020 many Simmers have felt 'let down' by EA for the lack of interaction with us that love the Sims. By Missing graphics like lack of skin tones and the ever present bugs and glitches that plague some of us to distraction. There is light at the end of this tunnel though! In September of this year, EA announced they HAVE been listening and we ARE getting new and improved skin tones, as well as a slider so that we can now have the Sims we want, and that includes many of us that weren't able to create our own sim selves because of this simple factor. There were a lot of cheers when this was announced within our team, as well as the community.

In November we had the new expansion pack Snowy Escape hit the shelves, this came with more much anticipated game play, including snow depth, activities, amazing builds buy items and more (Please read the review by Niz inside for information about this pack) so we can say, EA ARE listening even if it does take them a while to respond.

So with this our last magazine issue for 2020, we look forward to 2021 with hope, not only are vaccines being created for Covid-19, life IS slowly returning back to normal and once again we will be able to feel the arms of our loved ones around us. We will continue to grow in relationship between EA and us the consumer, on things that we feel need to be discussed and fixed. Let's hope 2021 will bring us so many more opportunities to become the person we are meant to be.

On that note, we wish you all a Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Yule Blessings and Greetings and Best Wishes for every holiday celebrated at this time of year, or if you do not celebrate any holidays at all, may your days be filled with joy.

Much love to you all The Team x

3

? ? ? ?

Just Fun FOR

?

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3

A MAN DESCRIBES HIS DAUGHTERS, SAYING, “THEY ARE ALL BLONDE, BUT TWO; ALL BRUNETTE BUT TWO; AND ALL REDHEADED BUT TWO.” HOW MANY DAUGHTERS DOES HE HAVE?

I’M LIGHT AS A FEATHER, YET THE STRONGEST PERSON CAN’T HOLD ME FOR FIVE MINUTES. WHAT AM I?

WHAT THREE NUMBERS, NONE OF WHICH IS ZERO, GIVE THE SAME RESULT WHETHER THEY’RE ADDED OR MULTIPLIED?

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PRACTICE SIMLISH

Whippna Choba Dog! / This is cool!

Bum Bum / Woah! This is fun

CRANBERRY CAROLS FAMILY MRS CLAUS HOLIDAYS CINNAMON EGG NOG SOCKS REINDEER SEASONS CHOCOLATES SIMS SNOWMAN MERRY ELVES GIFTS ROBINS SLEIGH YULE TURKEY

Awasa poa / I'm bored

LAST MONTHS ANSWERS: DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

1. A ONE STORY HOUSE HAS NO STAIRS.

2. THE WOMAN IS A PHOTOGRAPHER.

3. DAVID

GUESS THE CAS! QUEEN ELIZABETH

Be The Ch an ge

It is difficult to measure the entire length and breadth of Xmira’s influence on not only the Sims as a franchise but also on the Black gaming scene. Known for her unwavering commitment to representationingaming,Xmiraisatitansymbolofchange,advocacy,andsteelyresolve. Isatdownwith Xmira to discuss the often harrowing reality of being Black in a world that discounts,overlooks,and,at worst, rejects the truths of the Black experience. While the trials of blackness can feel nearly insurmountable in many social circles, this experience is particularly heightened in the gaming community,which often proves heavily dominated by white men. XMira,courageous and unapologetic, carved a place for herself and others who look like her in the gaming community by committing to not onlyhighlightingthegargantuanissuesshefaceseachday,butalsoworkingtirelesslytobethechangeshe wants to see in gaming. Streamer,content creator,and adviser to EA,Xmira is unmatched and at the pinnacle of her game.

Alaeryn:Let’s begin with the basics.You’re from New York!What part? How has life in the BigApple shaped you as a person?As a gamer?As a Sim stylist?

Xmira: I'm from Bushwick, Brooklyn. Growing up I was a stoop kid (Hey Arnold reference), not really allowed to leave the stoop, so I ended up spending most of the time inside on my game and playing with my dolls and toys.Maybe me not being allowed to have freedom outside pushed me more into gaming,I don't know.

Al:I think many of our generation grew up absolutely surrounded by video games. Many of us have been gamers since we were toddlers, and you are no exception.Tell us about your first gaming experience.

XMira: My first gaming experiences are foggy. I was four and I got my first console which was a Super Nintendo. I remember playing super Mario, Goof Troop,Toy Story etc.and just having so much fun

Al: I saw that you play a bit ofApex,a far cry from a sandbox game likeThe Sims.What other games do you play?What are your favourite kinds of games?

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Al: There is more to you and your identity of course than hailing from the Empire State or even gaming;Simmers know you best as the courageous, clever voice that often keeps gaming companies like EA accountable.In a world that often discounts and overlooks the voices of black women,when did you find your spine of steel?

Xmira: It wasn't necessarily a spine of steel as [much as] it was realising that I can do something about it. One thing a lot of racists like to do is pull the victim-hood race card.You can't pull that when we (people of colour) are out here working and actively creating the change we want to see.I would discuss and create,work and create;I created what I wanted to see while encouraging others to do so as well.

much more. Can you speak more about how essential it is to normalise the everyday experiences of Black women?

Al: Has Maxis consulted with you about the incoming skin tone and makeup sliders?

Al:You famously created your first custom content skin-tone pack for Sims 4 called“Melanin,” after not only noticing the dearth of realistic, flattering skin tonesinSims4butalsonoticingthatsamedearthof realistic, flattering skin tone custom content in the larger Sims community.You decided to “be the change” you wanted to see. What was this process like for you? Had you created cc before?What technical difficulties did you encounter?

Xmira:Yes,they have consulted with me about the skin tone and makeup sliders.

Xmira: The process wasn't super hard, I learned graphicdesignataround13.Itwas9thgradeandmy mom had just purchased a laptop for me.I practised tutorials and that knowledge stuck,so I applied what I knew.I was already doing recolors and retextures of content,hair,art;I'd take my favourite CC lipsticks and recolour them to make them look good on darker skin tones because the creator didn't.

Xmira: While I feel like my roles are impactful, the challenges I currently face is something I lightly touched onTwitter yesterday. Colorism, which is a by-product of racism.Still being widely disregarded in this industry because I am not racially ambiguous, and I'm not conforming to make others comfortable. I'm not creating community rules and changing myself to be 'palatable'. I am ME, and that's it really.

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Al: On that note,you are a consultant for EA,a Game Changer for the Sims, and a Twitch partner. Do you feel your many roles are impactful enough? What frustrations and difficulties do you still face?

Xmira: At a certain point in my life,I began to pay attention. How black women are treated, disregarded,disrespected,cast aside for everyone and everything else. I pay attention to the verbiage and the descriptors used to describe us with our everyday behaviours and compare them to how everyone else is described and treated.It's disgusting really.I listen to the stories and do my research; I take a close look at my peersandthepeoplearoundme,andIrealisethis Al:Before shifting the subject a little and to stamp is a part of why representation is so important: theissueforourreaders,whyisskintoneavailability, how we are portrayed in media, video games, accurate representation, so crucial to a game like movies,books,and more plays into how we are Sims?What do you say to people who might treated in the real world.This is also why in the Sims I play are so many different types of black mutter,“It’s just a game?” women and black people from all ends of the spectrum.Normalising the fact that we are not a Xmira: We know representation is important monolith and we deserve respect and love like but the problem with this game in particular is this: anyone else in this world. how can we not depict LIFE in a LIFE SIMULATION GAME? It's one thing if it was a storygamethatfocusedonaparticularcultureand Al:Your site "The Black Simmer"connects race of people,but this is a sandbox life simulation Simmers of colour with one another to share game.We should be able have something as simple each others content and lift each other up.What do you think Black Simmers can and should do and as basic as quality skin tones. to improve representations of us in the larger gaming community? What can gaming Al:One thing that I’ve also always admired about companies like EA and Maxis do? you is not only your skin tone diversity advocacy but also your staunch dedication to all things Black woman.You’ve brought a lot of Black culture to the forefront of the larger Sims community discussion: dreads, baby hairs, wigs, weaves, urban wear, laid edges, curvaceous bodies, body positivity, and so

Xmira: Black simmers can continue to do their thing and create without pushing respectability politics on their peers and colorism in their content . I dealt with that so much when I first

Xmira: I've been getting a lot of rest,focusing on self-care,getting good sleep, taking vitamins.

Al: What projects are you working on now?

What’s next for you?that are wrong and unfair, while not cosigning me or speaking out publicly, years of streamers following [me] and unfollowing [me] (mainly white men) because they don't want to see "negativity.” It must be nice to have the privilege of simply clicking the unfollow button.I can't change my skin colour, and I can't change who I am and what I encounter on and offline.Yes, people are still hiding;it's sad really.

“It's bittersweet after years of watching my peers talk to me in hushed tones about things that are wrong and unfair” began creating content.There are so many peoplethatwantyoutobehaveinawaythatthey think white people will accept,going back to the conversation of being palatable.As far as EA/ Maxis, they need to continue to improve their content, go back and improve old content, add new content, and add more updates and packs that reflect the cultures of their consumers all over the world.

Al: You’ve spoken extensively about the politics of silence in the gaming community.That is, that some creators fail to speak on certain important issues until it personally affects them.

After the murder of BreonnaTaylor, George Floyd, and countless other people of color over the summer, more people broke their silence and finally, publicly stood with you in solidarity. How did that make you feel? Do you still see people hiding in silence?

Xmira: It's bittersweet after years of watchingmypeerstalktomeinhushedtones about things

Al: Howareyoutakingcareofyourselfthese days? 2020 has been an emotional whirlwind for all of us,frankly.

Al: How are you taking care of yourself these days? 2020 has been an emotional whirlwind for all of us,frankly.

Xmira: I have recently signed to Queens Gaming Collective, which is a gaming lifestyle brand that celebrates diversity in gaming and content creation. I'm also looking forward to starting a stream team and community in the near future. https://venturebeat.com/ 2020/11/17/queens-gaming-collective-raises-1-5million-for-women-led-gaming-lifestyle-brand/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/Xmiramira Xmira: I've been getting a lot of rest,focusing on self-care,getting good sleep, taking vitamins.

Al: What projects are you working on now?

What’s next for you?

Discord:https://discord.gg/xmiramira https://xmirastreams.com/ Or come chat with me on stream! https://xmiramira.tv/

Meet Grandma Ruth Pennington, SimmedUp Magazine’s very own Agony Grandma.

Grandma Ruth was born and grew up in Sunset Valley and lived in Bridgeport as a young adult working as a latenight DJ where she would take calls from all kinds of Sims to give them advice about life.

She managed to save enough money and move to Isla Paradiso to open a small beach bar where, again, she found herself listening to other Sims problems. Grandma Ruth then decided to travel the world for a few years visi�ng places like AlSimhara before se�ling down in Veronaville working as a therapist.

It is rumoured that Grandma Ruth had affairs with members from the Capp and Monty families but she has never confirmed (or denied) these allega�ons. Now an elder, Grandma Ruth decided it is �me for a change. She moved yet again to Brindleton Bay to share her vast knowledge of life with SimmedUp readers. She enjoys kni�ng while listening to heavy metal and sipping on a simoleons sunrise; she makes a living by selling her kni�ed goods on Plopsy.

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GRANNY RUTHow? n K u o Y Di d

The year 2020 has been hard for all of us in many different ways.

Let us ensure that, this holiday season, we spread as much cheer and support as we can.

Happy holidays from me, and let's make 2021 a year to remember.

Solstice celebrations around the world The December solstice marks the 'turning of the Sun' as the days slowly get longer. Celebrations of lighter days to come have been common throughout history with feasts, festivals, and festive holiday activities around the globe.

Blessings, Granny R

THE NAME KWANZAA

THE WORDFROM "KWANZAA" COMES THE COMES FROM THE PHRASE PHRASE “MATUNDA YA “MATUNDA YA KWANZA” KWANZA” WHICH MEANS “FIRST FRUITS”MEANS IN SWAHILI. WHICH “FIRST

FRUITS” IN SWAHILI.

HANUKKAH ALSO KNOWN AS THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, HANUKKAH BEGINS ON THE 25TH OF KISLEV ON THE HEBREW CALENDAR

Diwali Is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. The festival usually lasts five days and is celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika.

EGG NOG INGREDIENTS 50GCASTERSUGAR 4EGGYOLKS 1TSPVANILLAESSENCE 397GCANOFCONDENSEDMILK 100MLBRANDY METHOD STEP1 PUTTHESUGARINASAUCEPANWITH75MLWATER. SIMMERUNTILTHESUGARHASDISSOLVED,THEN COOLANDCHILL. STEP2 BEATTHEYOLKSWITHTHEVANILLAUNTILSMOOTH. ADDTHECONDENSEDMILK,BRANDYANDCOOLED SUGARSYRUP,MIXINGWELL STEP3 POURINTOAJUGANDCHILLFORATLEAST2HRS. SERVEWITHIN24HRS,OVERICE. RECIPEBYANNEMIEBUYCK

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Cardamom Biscuits (nan khatai) Prep:25 mins Cook:20 mins plus chilling Makes 24 biscuits

Ingredients 3 green cardamom pods 40g icing sugar 100g unsalted bu�er, at room temperature 70g self-raising white flour 25g gram flour 25g semolina 24 skin-on almonds or chopped pistachios

STEP 1 Split the cardamom pods and remove the seeds.

Pound the seeds to a powder in a pestle and mortar with 1 tsp of the sugar.

STEP 2 Beat the bu�er un�l so�, then gradually add the remaining icing sugar and the ground cardamom.

Con�nue bea�ng un�l light and creamy, about 10 mins.

STEP 3 Sieve the flour and gram flour into a bowl and whisk in the semolina and a pinch of salt. S�r into the bu�er and sugar in two increments. Gently bring everything together into a so� dough.

COMPETITION Show Us Your Sims' Gingerbread Houses!

Tag us in your festive holiday builds when you upload to Origin using the hashtag

#SimmedUpGinger To gain another entry in the competition, create a

GINGERBREAD HOUSE Competition Opens: December 1, 2020 Competition Closes: December 24, 2020

STEP 4 Roll the dough into small, marble-sized balls with your hands and arrange, spaced out, on baking trays lined with baking parchment.

STEP 5 Slightly fla�en the top of each ball and press a whole almond or some chopped pistachios in the middle of each one. Chill for 20 mins STEP 6 Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Bake the biscuits for about 20 mins or un�l golden. Leave to cool before storing in an air�ght �n.

Recipe By Roopa Gula�

Delia Smith THE DELIA ONLINE COOKERY SCHOOL "My ambition and dream is that anyone who wants to learn to cook can. So we've created an Online Cookery School to take somebody by the hand and lead them through it step-bystep, and it's absolutely free’ https://www.deliaonline.com/cookery-school

WINNER Wins a Sims 4 stuff pack on CHRISTMAS DAY Open to Origin Users Only.

(So we can gift your pack)

FAN ART

NI CO LE BLOG:

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http://nicolesims3.eklablog.com/sims4-c29116572/15 T W I T T ER: @NicoleCedric13

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Introducing

‘Little Blue House’

@KEELYJINX

Hello there! My name is Keely. I am a

variety streamer on Twitch. I have been simming for many years - starting back from the original Sim City.

I adored Sims 3, and have, in the last few months, come back to the franchise and started simming with Sims4 - and I absolutely LOVE IT! My favourite thing to do in the Sims is build, although I do game play streams featuring viewers' sims. I would love to get more involved in the Sims community and meet more simmers, creators and streamers! Thank you for your time and consideration!

‘Classic English Cottage’

Sims4 ID: KeelyJinx

‘B ree zy Be ach Ho use ’ TWITTER @KEELYJINX

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Karen With Keren The Sims Mobile: Deck Your Halls with Christmas Decor It’s time to deck the halls for Christmas! Imagine that you are being transported to a venue for a holiday party.

How would you want it to feel? What would you want your friends and family to see and feel? As for my build, I created a Christmas Village with three different houses, a courtyard, and a train.

Let me guide you on how to decorate your house, and get ready to host a dazzling Christmas party!

Decorate your exterior and interior with Christmas trees, lights, wreaths, garlands, snowmen, and reindeer. (If you are a new player, you can craft these items at the Eco workshop) Landscape your space with trees, tiles, sparkling paths, and stones that will accentuate your build. (I used white tiles as an alternative to a snowy path) Add that Christmas cozy feeling! Place fireplaces to warm up your bedroom and living room.

Invite your friends to an ultimate Christmas party; make sure that you place party items so your guests enjoy the place. (When I build, I usually let my Sims walk around and check for items with blocked interactions.)

To brighten up your build, use the holiday colours green, red, gold, white, and blue.

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Add textures by using bricks and wood as your exterior wallpaper. (In build mode, when applying the wallpaper, you can choose to apply the decor to the entire room or just one wall.)

Get creative and use alternatives to achieve that venue you would want to showcase

Karen Keren

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SNOWY ESCAPE

They set up camp for the last time and slept until they saw the first rays of the sun. Caleb,Vlad, and Morgyn wore their best Kimonos in anticipation of the beautiful start of the day.They climbed up the viewing deck and faced the majestic sun while holding their hands.At last,they finally accomplished what they were here for: the renewal of their marriage vows

REVIEWED

The Snowy Escape Experience

Here comes the Shredder:Morgyn makes solid statements on skis.

It was nightfall on the ridge of Mount Komorebi.

Everything was dark, save for the snow that served as a contrast to the starry night sky.Count Vladislaus Straud IV, CalebVatore, and Morgyn Ember set their sights onto the base camp together with their butler,Patchy,and their pets.

Just like the humans, their pets showed great dedication in every step they took. Paws cold in deep snow, the cats Pumpkin Bean and Butter Toast and the Golden Retriever Charlemagne Padfoot trudged along as they followed the path.

The next day,theThrouple,their butler Patchy, and their pets found themselves confronting the Croft Icefall, the most dangerous phase of theclimb.Itwasadauntingtask:thehumanshad to make sure that they all arrived at the summit in one piece while the pets had to be carried.

The snow was falling heavily and visibility was near zero so they had to rest in between laps.

Fortunately,they all safely made it to the peak.

They finally found the base camp after hundreds of steps and a few gusts of wind. Whilst there, Morgyn lit a bonfire with a quick flick of his wand, Patchy fed the pets and cooked their meal, and Caleb andVlad went on to set up tents. Everyone was in high spirits,despite the almost-below-zero temperature.

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As they ate, theThrouple recounted how much fun they had yesterday at the centre of the town.They were thrilled that the place was bustling with people and activities.Caleb and Vlad had fun making friends with Yamachan, the town mascot. All three also had the chance to shred along the ski slopes outside the city centre -- with Morgyn and Vlad secretly agreeing that Caleb was the best skier. They chatted until it was time to take a rest before the next stage of the climb.

L-R:Patchy, Caleb, Charlemagne Padfoot, ButterToast,Vlad, Morgyn, and Pumpkin Bean

Vlad looking really *impressed* with Yamachan

THE REVIEW The Sims 4:Snowy Escape was released on the 13th of November 2020 on PC, Mac, and consoles.The Expansion Pack features a new world called Mt. Komorebi, a mountain town modelled after Japan.

Lifestyles, a new feature that is related toTraits, is shipped with the new pack together with a new career (Salaryperson), new lot assignment (Onsen bathhouse), new NPC (Yamachan), new traits (Adventurous and Proper), new skills (Snowboarding, Skiing, and Rock climbing), new Weather type (Thundersnowstorm),and new types of death (Death by falling from heights and Death by Vending Machine).As with any Expansion Pack,The Sims 4:Snowy Escape boasts a boatload of build and CASitemsperfectforthepassionatebuilderandthe enthusiastic CAS stylist.

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REVIEWED

I had my other household, the Katz-Sword family, climb Mt Komorebi to test the Expansion Pack.Julian,the dad and leader of the expedition,failed the first climb,which annoyed his sons and triggered what are called Sentiments.This new feature was shipped with the pre-Snowy Escape patch update and is accessible via the Relationship panel.According toThe SimsWiki, Sentiments are “underlying feelings Sims will have towards other particular Sims and are unique between two Sims”.These are gained when two Sims interact with each other either in a positive or negative way.In this definition,Julian generated a negative sentiment in his sons because they failed their first ascent to Mt.Komorebi.

At first,one would react“Why would she be happy about this?” But then, you’d realise that the Grim Reaper comforted her by bringing her dead dog to its final resting place.Who knows? Maybe this is the start of something new?

So,how did I find my experience playingThe Sims 4:Snowy Escape? My answer would be divided into perspectives:one as a long-time player and another as a storyteller.

Sentiments are located below the Sim Profile.His son Philipp Lukas is harbouring a negative sentiment towards him.

I realised the negative sentiments bothered me when Julian’s sonsstillharbouredthebadfeelingsdayslater.Ihadthoughts of searching for a cheat on how to delete the Sentiments (turnsoutyoucan’t)butIdecidedtoleavethembe.Ilearned to appreciate Sentiments because it somehow added a depth of humanity to the Sims.

Some Sentiments can be weird at first but are actually thought-provoking. One such case is by Twitter user @ginovasims.They tweeted this:

The honeymoon ended when I realised that the pack is just like any otherThe Sims 4 pack. Many long-time players, includingmyself,feelSnowyEscapeprovidesGame-Pack-tier content pegged at an Expansion Pack price (EUR 39,95).

Sure,SnowyEscapeisavisualtreat,butunderneathitspretty, cheery appearance is a cookie-cutter kind of pack.

Removing the new features will reveal inspirations from previous packs like Island Living, with its visually-pleasing landscapesandculturalaesthetics;OutdoorRetreat,fromits holiday-trip concepts like rental houses to its secret lot;and City Living for its festivals and new gastronomic choices.In other words, one can enjoy all these features from these three packs in Snowy Escape.

However, as a storyteller, I am still rooting for the pack because of what I had in mind for myThrouple household.

The world-building involved in Snowy Escape was wellconsidered; it totally enriched my storytelling because of LifestylesandSentiments.WatchingmySimsenjoythesights and everything that Mt Komorebi has to offer makes me happy.

NIZ

The Sims 4: Snowy Escape came at the right time while I am revisiting my love for Japanese culture, literature, and music. On the outset, I was impressed at the Japanese aesthetic, the mesmerisingvistas,andtheoveralllookandfeel of the pack.The minute it was first announced,I was thrilled not because there was a new pack coming,but because it prompted me to have a new story in mind. Amongst the few households I have, I’m currently playing with a household focused on a polyamorous relationship between vampire CountVladislaus Straud IV, spellcaster Morgyn Ember, and merman CalebVatore.They’ve been married for years and they’re looking to renew their vows while on a holiday.The Sims 4: Snowy Escape,I thought,would be a perfect vehicle for that story. (Shoutout to @VelvetMews for surprising me with a copy!)

RETRO CORNER Written

By

Melissa

Similarly,

to

The

Sims

Livin

Large,

shipped with The Sims 2: Happy Holiday Stuff pack is the appearance of Father Christmas.

The

process

of

summoning

Father Christmas is very similar to the previous iteration.

The Simmer must

place a Christmas Tree, a fireplace, and a plate of Santa Cookies.

Christmas is a Christian holiday

honouring the birth of Jesus of Nazareth and celebrated worldwide on the 25th of December annually. This holiday first appeared in an early Roman calendar in 336 A.D, and it has evolved significantly, incorporating many pagan traditions into its celebrations. Such traditions include decorating Christmas Trees, exchanging gifts, attending church services, making Christingles, visiting and sharing meals with family and friends and for children, and waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.

Traditions also vary worldwide.

In Australia, you can expect participants to go to the beach or camping as Christmas Day occurs during the Australian summer. In America, cookies and milk are left for Father Christmas. However, this tradition differs slightly in the United Kingdom, with children leaving mince pies, brandy for Father Christmas, and a carrot for Rudolph. Fun Fact: Rudolph was invented by Robert L.May in 1939. This reindeer was used to encourage shoppers to buy from the Montgomery Ward department store.

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Festive holidays were first implied in The Sims 1: Livin’ Large through the shipment of decorative objects such as the Christmas Tree. In my previous article, Autumn In The Sims, I discussed the lack of pre-made/pre-scheduled events in the first iteration of the franchise.

The same applies to celebrations and festive holidays.

However, by placing a Christmas tree and a plate of cookies on a residential lot, a Simmer can summon Santa Claus. This NPC will arrive at around 3AM Sim-time to deliver the family a gift. If the cookies are spoiled, then the Sim can expect to receive a trash can as a present, and Sims will stamp on their gifts when instructed to open them.

.

This pack,

however, requires some more involvement from the Simmer. You must instruct your Sim to bake Santa Cookies in the evening before 9pm, but do not fear! Santa’s Cookies only require one cooking skill point. This can be easily found under the Serve Desserts menu on the fridge. All Sims must be in bed by 9pm.

Santa will

arrive and leave presents for the family.

He will also eat the Santa’s Cookies your Sim

prepared

prior.

The

pack

feels

heavily oriented towards Christmas.

Shipped with The Sims 3 Seasons, the main festive celebration in The Sims 3 is “Snowflake Day,” which we can safely

assume

is

likely

based

on

Before the release of The Sims 3 Seasons,

Christmas in real life. This Holiday

The Sims 3 store released several sets

is held on the last Thursday of Winter

which depicted typical Christmas themed

and

objects.

moodlet. Sims will have a day off from

The

Collection Wreath,

Happy

included

Winter

Holiday the

Wall

Winter

Wall

Garland,

and

Christmas Wall Stockings.

“More

Holiday

Furthermore, includes

Sims

will

receive

a

+10

school or work and employed Sims will receive

their

Holiday

bonus.

To

celebrate this holiday with others,

the

Sims can host a Gift-Giving party via

items:

phone. The household will receive a

St. Nick, St. Nick's Miter, and the

pile of presents, and Sims can either

notable More Holiday Presents Holiday

be commanded to open a present or will

Tree,

automatically open a random present

heavily

Presents”

Presents

all

Christmas-oriented

a

tree

heavily

CAS

based

traditional Christmas Tree.

on

a

two hours after the party commences.

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Similarly, to “Snowflake day” in The Sims 3, The Sims 4’s “Winterfest” is also likely based on Christmas. Even the icon depicting Winterfest suggests Christmas, with a spruce of holly and a golden present with red ribbon. These typically reflect the traditional colours and symbols associated with this festive celebration. Winterfest occurs in the middle of winter, and Sims have a day off from work or school. Furthermore, Winterfest traditions are very Christmas like: Sims open presents, sing carols, and greet Father Winter when he appears at the chimney.

Sims 4’s Winterfest continues its unmistakable resemblance to traditional Christmas in many more ways.

First, garnishing the house in winter décor is an absolute must during Winterfest. The Simmer must decorate the house with items such as a Christmas Tree and a pile of presents from the “holiday decorations” tab in build/buy mode.

The latter is particularly useful to help you complete the “Father Winter” tradition further on. You can also decorate the exterior of the house with items from the Attic Shack Decoration Box. Emulating real life traditions, the Sims “engage in Festive Spirit” in many ways. Sims can decorate a Christmas tree together, ask if they “deserve gifts”, and “laugh out loud.”

Similar to The Sims 3, Sims 4’s Winterfest includes a visit from Father Winter, an NPC, loosely based on Father Christmas. He will arrive at around 20:00, and should a Sim wish to receive a random present, they should speak to him. This will only occur if you have a fireplace and the “Pile of Presents” from buy/build mode. These can be opened to complete another tradition too! Finally, like previous iterations, another tradition is cooking, eating a Grand Meal with others, and engaging in Thankful Spirit.

Hanukkah Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar.This year, Hanukkah takes place on Thursday, 10th December 2020 – Friday, 18th December 2020.

This is celebrated to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt. Viewed to be a miraculous event, the menorah candles continued to burn for eight nights instead of a single day as was predicted.

Therefore, this celebration also known as the Festival of Lights, focuses on the lighting of the Menorah. On each of the eight nights, one candle is lit by the ninth candle known as the Shamash or “helper”. Other traditions include the recital of blessings and eating traditional Hanukkah foods such as latkes (potato pancakes), and sufganiyot (jam filled donuts) fried in oil.

Hanukkah is not officially celebrated within The Sims, and the only acknowledgement of the Jewish holiday is the Menorah. The Menorah was shipped with an exclusive patch update to The Sims with various items. However, it is only a decorative item and disappointingly cannot be lit or even viewed by Sims! Like its predecessor, The Sims 2 Happy Holiday Stuff Pack only includes one item symbolising Hanukkah: The Menorah.

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However, Sims can light this Menorah. It is

easier

to

unofficially

celebrate

Hanukkah in The Sims 2, but this must be done manually. I decorated the dining room with blues and golds to reflect the colours associated with the religion. Fortunately, the presents have a blue recolour, and gift-giving is one of the many Hanukkah traditions. But this is still not enough to truly appreciate this Holiday in-game.

The Sims 3 store improves slightly again.

Included in the Happy Holiday Presents Set from The Sims 3 store is the Menorah Candle Holder.

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Kwanzaa

The object description states that “This finely crafted Menorah will surely bring the spirit of Hanukkah into your home as a candle is lit on each of the eight consecutive nights.”

Furthermore, included in the More Holiday Presents set is the Floating Festival of Lights.

The Sims 4 Seasons does not come with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah automatically integrated on the calendar. However, Simmers can manually create this event.

To do so, simply select the calendar, and “Add Event”. The game recognises Hanukkah as a holiday with a badge of the Menorah available to select to represent the holiday on the calendar.

Sims can celebrate this on one day, or for eight days, reflecting real life celebrations.

The main tradition of Hanukkah is lighting the candles of the Menorah.

Simmers can light each candle individually on each night of Hanukkah.

This also completes the “Festive Lighting” tradition which can also be selected. During Hanukkah, it is a tradition that no work is completed whilst the Menorah candles are burning.

Therefore, to respect this tradition, I gave my Sims a day off from work and school and engaged in related family activities a day off from work and school and engaged in related family activities instead.

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Simmers can individually create the event on all eight days. Exchanging gifts is also a tradition within Hanukkah. Sims can purchase gifts from the phone, computer, or in build mode. Some gifts may be mailed to your letterbox, so make sure to check daily. Finally, Sims can engage in Thankful Spirit, reflecting and expressing gratitude with other Sims.

One disappointing factor yet again in The Sims franchise is the lack of representation. Now, it does improve as the games continue but it is still not enough.

I was hoping a group of Sims could play with a dreidel (a spinning top) and cook more traditional Jewish foods such as latkes and sufganiyot. Having said that, The Sims 4 Seasons has included a lot more Hannukah traditions than previous iterations, adding details to the recolours of décor, cards, banners and more to reflect the traditional colours associated with Hanukkah. The game is taking small but steady steps to ensure various holidays and celebrations can be represented in the game.

is a seven-day Afro-American festival introduced by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 to the United States as a response to the commercialism of Christmas. This year, it is celebrated Saturday 26th December 2020 – Friday 1st January 2021.

“Kwanzaa” is a KiSwahili word meaning "first." (KiSwahili is a language spoken in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.) The festival welcomes the first harvests to the home. Created by Dr. Maulaa Karenga, one of the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) is emphasized on each day of Kwanzaa.

These are: ·

unity (umoja)

·

self-determination (kujichagulia)

· collective work and responsibility (ujima) ·

cooperative economics (ujamaa)

·

purpose (nia)

·

creativity (kuumba)

·

faith (imani)

Similarly, to the Jewish Hanukkah, each of the seven candles (mishumaa saba) reminds participants of the principles of the festival. The central black candle is lit first, and then alternates between the three red and three green candles. The colours represent the flags of African liberation movements. The Kinara candle holder itself reflects the ancestral origins in one of the 55 African countries.

Other symbolic elements include crops (mzao), the mat (mkeka), Corn/maize (muhindi), Gifts (Zawadi) and the unity cup (Kkimbe cha Umoja).

Disappointingly, there is no acknowledgement of Kwanzaa within the first iteration of The Sims at all. The Kinara Candle Holder does not exist in the build/ buy “lighting” section or even as a decorative object. As such a joyful holiday, Kwanzaa should have been included in a usable items update at least.

The Sims 2 Happy Holidays Stuff Pack improves on this very slightly with its inclusion of the Kinara. Each candle can be lit separately to reflect each of the seven principles. However, it is still a disappointment to see the lack of inclusivity in this stuff pack, especially as its focus is “Happy Holidays.” Surely there should be more items to fully represent these significant holidays? Where is the Mkeka (Place Mat), Mazao (the crops), or the Vibunzi (Ear of Corn)? The Sims 3 store includes two new items to somewhat represent Kwanzaa. First, the Kinara Candle Holder is included in the Happy Holiday Presents set. The Kinara Table Candle holder identifies that the seven candles symbolise each of the principles of Kwanzaa, and can be lit separately in the correct order. The object description reads, “This beautifully handcrafted candle holder is sure to bring much joy to your home.” Furthermore, Kwanzaa art is included in the More Holiday Presents Set encouraging a “family sentiment” that “can be felt through this stunning piece.”

What is thoroughly disappointing is that, within The Sims 3 store, there were plenty of opportunities to include more items from the festival in these freebie sets to truly represent Kwanzaa.

Unlike previous iterations, The Sims 3 store was more accessible to Simmers, therefore, there really wasn’t any excuse to leave out the fundamental symbols of Kwanzaa. Creating and developing three more objects isn’t really a taxing task is it?

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Similar to Sims 4’s Hanukkah experience, Simmers will also need to manually input this event onto the calendar in The Sims 4. Again, it is recognised as an official Holiday by The Sims 4 with a badge of the Kinara available to represent the holiday on the calendar. I have tried to reflect the traditions of Kwanzaa as accurately

as

possible.

The

most

important tradition is to light the Kinara. Each candle reflects one of the seven principles and one is lit on every evening of the holiday. The principle is then discussed and reflected upon. The “Engaging in Thankful spirit” option can reflect Imani (Faith). This is encouraged throughout

the

holiday.

Secondly,

I

selected Art & Music Spirit so Sims will create

art

by

painting,

dancing,

singing, listening to music, or playing an

instrument.

A

feast

(known

as

a

Karamu) is celebrated on the sixth day, the

31st

of

December.

Therefore,

I

ensured my fourth tradition was hosting a Grand Meal with friends and family.

Disappointingly, this tradition cannot be celebrated to its full extent due to the lack of The Unity Cup (Kikombe Cha Umoja). This symbol is used to perform a libation ritual during the feast.

Finally,

during

Kwanzaa,

gift-giving

(known as Zawadi) is celebrated on the seventh encourage

day.

Gifts

growth

and

are

given

success

to and

accepting these gifts promotes unity (Umoja). Handmade gifts are encouraged as they promote creativity (Kuumba), and gifts given to children are educational.

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45

TIPS &

PC, XBOX & PS4 CHEAT CODES

TRICKS

HowtoCheat

PressControl+Shift+Conyourkeyboardinordertoopenupaconsoleinthetop-leftcornerofyourscreen.

Thisiswhereyoutypecheats.Playersonconsolecanpushallfourshoulderbuttonsatoncetobringthisup

TheSims4SnowyEscapeCheats CheatingWinterSportsSkills • Stats.Set_Skill_LevelMajor_RockClimbing10 • Stats.Set_Skill_LevelMajor_Skiing10 • Stats.Set_Skill_LevelMajor_Snowboarding10 Ifthesecheatsdonotworkbecauseofyourregion,tryusing AdultMajor_insteadofjustMajor_beforetheskill's codename.

Thisappliestoallskillsinthegame

CheatingtheNewAspirations TherearetwonewAspirationsinTheSims4SnowyEscapethatyou cancheat-bothExtremeSportsEnthusiast(touseSnowboarding, Skiing,andRockClimbing),andtheMt.KomorebiSightseeraspiration.

UseAspirations.complete_current_milestone,thenpressupand enteragainsoyoucanrepeatit4xtofinishbothoftheseaspirations.

Alternatively,youcancheatthevariousrewardtraitsinthispack.

WiththankstoCarlsSims4Guide&FormoreCheatspleasevisit thewebsitebyclickingthelinkbelow: CarlsSims4Guide

resetsim firstname Resets a stuck Sim. lastname death.toggle true/ Disables death false headlineeffects on/off Enables or disables headline effects (good for screenshots). freerealestate on/off Makes homes free when typed while shopping for a house. household.autopay_b Enable or disable ills true/false bills for the household fps on/off Display the game's frames per second, useful when tuning graphics settings. hovereffects on/off Disable hover effect when you mouseover a Sim fullscreen Toggle fullscreen/ windowed mode sims.give_satisfactio Gives a Sim x n_points x amount of satisfaction points with which you can buy rewards.

Sims.give_satisfactio n_points 5000 for example. fillmotive x use fillmotive motive_energy or fillmotive motive_hunger

SHOW US BUILDS JenBuilding24 h t i w Sul Sul! I am JenBuilding24 (Instagram).

I was pretty obsessed with the Sims/ Sims 2 in the early 2000s. After a long Sims hiatus, I finally bought Sims 4 in March 2020 and haven’t looked back since. Building is my creative outlet, and I’ve enjoyed becoming a part of a really supportive community of Sims players. I love to share, create and to see what other players have made!

The pictures I’ve focused on for this feature includes my take on the Sati.Sim Village Shell challenge - a Christmas themed village which houses a Reindeer Barn, Old Pub, Sweet/Hot Chocolate shop, Toy Maker’s Workshop, and Father Winter’s Office.

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I have also included two pictures of a festive build close to my heart. Since Covid-19 has changed the face of Christmas this year around the world, I decided to explore what Christmas means to me - and created my real life parents’ living room, all dressed up for Christmas Day - my favourite place to be.

Happy Holidays to all!

JENB

4 2 G N I D L I U

Follow

JEN BU IL D ING

JenBuilding24 On Instagram

B N E J

I D L UI

24

4 2 NG

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Seasons Greetings from Alaeryn Niz SimSimmerly MMOutfitters Nela Melissa Sue

ELF ON A SIMMEDUP SHELF The SimmedUp Team kindly invited Us to be a part of the magazine this Month. So we had a little fun with Your Sims & Builds. We hope you Liked what we did. May this Christmas bring you, everything you Want and dream of. Lots of Lub. The Twins x

Origin ID: SueSimming D W ea an e r S Y d wa im L ou the nt Sk ot ’r e e s e n w d t let of w o o e L elc pu lea n, ub o v . me t y e .. ou yo u r be d T he T w in s

mu O O OO you. , S n se eto or kel r hou p it f x S im you wra ins S w ar to ed eT De lov ded h T i e W dec Lub. e f W so t Lo

so m in e th pr e ese po n ol ts . , x

ch

Dear SueSimming , We thought she should be a fairy for the top Of the tree. We hope she doesn't get splinters!

Lots of Lub. The Twins x

De Ba ar R D a l d ! We b e l C Lo ugh e m rea ter ts ad tor of . e 1 Lu ..... L him , b. ol Ba

Origin ID: SimSkeleton

Th Dear SueSimmin g, We loved your ‘Grass is Greener’ Couple.

So we gave them a makeover for you.

My sister is a budding fashionista ya know!

Lots of Lub. The Twins x

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ld

an

eT wi ns x

Origin ID: RebelCreator1

dv a

mp

ed

his

53

tiv o fes s e r we

y The c, luni nterns! oom!

E s s a r ur L ing r Mi Dea oved yo m a sitt l e We e th mak ins x We e Tw . h b T u of L Lots

e

We also left you lots of presents that are MASSIVE! Don’t forget to leave Milk & Cookies for Santa Lots of Lub. The Twins x

We But think y ou they shou should ld b m Hav e El ake lo eam f The t’s m ince ore med pie of t . and hese whe res the The snow Twi ? ns x

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CREATED BY SIMS FANS, FOR SIMS FANS

Origin ID: Miss Elunic

ARE YOU A BUDDING WRITER? THEN WHY NOT FREELANCE FOR SIMMEDUP MAGAZINE

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES & REVIEWS TO SIMMEDUP@GMAIL.COM

MAKiNG A

SiMMER

SIMMING ELEPHANT

I'm twenty years old and from Ireland, I have been playing the Sims for only four years and I love watching up and coming sim streamers such as SimATree4Erin and crazycordy.

I'm looking into starting my own stream in 2021 with whatever generation my moon family is on at the time. As a console player The moon family was the first time I had tried the gameplay aspect of the game, rather than just build-mode.

I only ever want the best of me to be shown.

The Mom: Iris Moon(adult) Third generation heir married to Nathan moon.

Aspiration: Big happy family Traits: 1) Gregarious (aspiration trait) 2) Self-assured 3) Creative 4) Music lover

Socials Twitter: @thesimmingelephant Instagram: thesimmingelephant

The Dad: Nathan Moon(adult) married into the moon family.

Aspiration: Master chef Traits: 1) Essence of flavour(aspiration trait) 2) Ambitious 3) Foodie 4) Neat

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57

You r S i ms Welcome to our all NEW ‘Your Sims’ Section.

Showcasing your Sims Creations, shared with us, by you.

Thank You

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59

ISLAND PARADISE

LETS DIVE IN Released on June 25, 2013,The Sims 3: Island Paradise is the tenth expansion pack for The Sims 3. It has a new world which is named Isla Paradiso, an archipelago with islands to explore. From exploring islands in your own houseboat to creating five-star resorts, this expansion pack gives your Sim the tropical lifestyle we all dream about. For those Sims with salt in their veins, you can set sail between islands, dive for sunken treasure, or even make friends with a mermaid.

But be careful, the great blue deep holds many dangers like sharks and the kraken.The first time I saw the Kraken swim past my Sim’s boat, I nearly had a heart attack, so you can imagine my reactions when my Sim was out fishing and the Kraken ate his boat. It is by far my favourite horrible surprise in The Sims 3, the other being that Sims can die from the mummy curse, but that’s another story.

Some of the features this pack adds are: Lifetime Rewards • Strong Stomach - Nausea and seasickness are things of the past!

• Lungs of Steel - Go scuba diving without the fear of running out of air.

(Not available to mermaids) • Hotel Mogul - Learn to squeeze every ounce of profitability out of your resorts. Hotel Moguls receive a bonus on all resort income.

• Mermadic Kelp – This will turn your Sim into a mermaid • Uncharted Island Map – Reveals a hidden island • Friend of the Kraken - The fearsome Kraken bows to your will!

Boats that you are on will never be targeted by the Kraken.

You can also order the Kraken to wreak havoc on any boat that you wish.

Permanent Mermaid - Your Mermaid Sim no longer needs frequent swimming sessions in order to maintain her fishlike features. (Mermaids only) Fun Fact: There is a difference between male and female mermaids’ tails. Go have a look!

Lifetime Wishes • Deep Sea Diver - The bottom of the ocean hides treasures and creatures never seen by land dwelling Sims. Only the bravest and most foolhardy divers can survive the deadly deep while searching for underwater riches. Be sure to bring your oxygen tank!

• Master the Diving Skill.

• Earn 40,000 Simoleons from Selling Diving Collectables

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Resort Empire - To become a true hotel mogul, your Sim will need to manage employees, maintain a profit, and always satisfy patrons. Once your Sim has created the perfect resort empire, travellers from all around will flock for a chance to stay at your luxurious getaway.

• Own a Five Star Resort.

• Collect 40,000 Simoleons in Resort Profit.

Seaside Savior - Anyone can be a lifeguard, but a Sim that rescues drowning Sims is a true hero! Be a hero in your town.

• Rescue 50 Sims as a Lifeguard.

Grand Explorer - There are mysterious lands yet to be charted by any Sim.To find them, your Sim must set sail, brave the high seas, and dive the deepest oceans.

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Search high and low for these uncharted islands and claim them as your own!

for this.You can keep the tree if you use the mods.You will need both.

• Own all Uncharted Islands.

• Routing Issues in the Resort Hobart’s Hideout

Get your Baywatch on with the new lifeguard career while listening to either Island Life or Beach party, two new radio stations. Be careful when diving, as your Sims can run out of air and die.

Problem The maintenance staff at Hobart’s Hideaway is stomping and complaining with no end.

For me, this is one of the most beautiful packs in The Sims 3, but it’s also the one with the most problems. Island Paradise is infamous for the set-your-PC-on-fire lag and rampant bugs. I made a list of all the hacks, fixes, and advice I could find.

I’ve tried many of these with great success, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will work for you.

• Delete the Scott Family and their house • Use the cheat DiscoverAllUnchartedIslands to make all islands visible. I'm aware that this takes away from the fun but it seems to help some.

• Make sure you have no stuck Sims in your town (use the cheat resetsim * to reset all sims in your town and put them to a safe location) • Use Overwatch and ErrorTrap (those are mods. Just Google Nraas mods.)

• Check for any abandoned boats in your game and delete them by typing testingcheatsenabled true, shiftclicking on the boat, and choosing “object-delete.”

• Sims in slow motion Problem My Sims move in slow motion and the

Cause The resort has multiple routing issues but the most annoying are the bug spawners which are located underground. Since the bugs then spawn underground too, it’s hard for the staff to get there and complain. clock stops from time to time only to skip forward in time later.

Cause An alarm that is firing over and over causes the whole game to come to a halt and prevents it from running smoothly.

The Tree of Prosperity causes this alarm.

It does not matter if you actually use the tree in your save game. It fires a faulty alarm over and over.

Solution Uninstall the Tree of Prosperity. Affected save games should be back to normal afterwards. If you can’t find the tree in your launcher, re-download it from the Sims 3 Store and install it again.

Afterwards you should find it either on top or on the bottom in your launcher.

Uninstall from there.

This bug seems to be contagious from save game to save game. If you have a game that is directly affected by the bug and you load another one through

the main menu (without turning off the game entirely), the other game will also become affected by this and will be unplayable. Try restarting the game completely when you need to load another save.

Identification of faulty alarms If uninstalling the tree does not solve the issue for you, it’s possible that another alarm is at fault. To find the faulty alarm, you’ll need DebugEnabler by Twallan.

Go to map view and click on the town hall icon Choose NRaas –> Debug Enabler –> Options:Town hall –> Dump Alarms This will generate a scriptError in your user files that can be opened with a text editor (use a proper editor since those are large files) and analysed Mods that help with the issueOverwatch V110 and higher and ErrorTrap V94 and higher have a fix

Solution Move the spawners so that they are above ground (or delete them if you don’t want any roaches).

Be aware that the spawners only seem to show if the roaches are active.Also, if you can’t go to the required level, build a small pool and it should work.

To make them visible do the following: Press clt-shift-c Type testingcheatsenabled true and hit Enter Press ctl-shift-c Type buydebug on and hit Enter Go to buy mode while you are on the lot (or choose from the resort menu) Click to go to the lowest floor level Now you should see the spawners (white square boxes).

Press ctl-shift-c

Type moveobjects On and press Enter Now you can move the Spawners up or delete them entirely Credits: Crinrict's Sims 3 Help Blog https://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2013/06/ routing-issues-in-the-resort-hobartshideout.html • Use NRaas Mastercontroller to delete all wild animals and all homeless sims • Untick the box that allows for strays and wild horses.

SUE

This is the best island pack in The Sims franchise for me (not counting The Sims 2 Castaway). It has everything I could ask for in a tropical paradise and more. Try this fun challenge if you’re looking for a more castaway kind of game play https:// m o d t h e s i m s . i n f o / showthread.php?t=623087

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TInY mODs FOr YOur StOCkiNg

Let’s start with the queen of small mods, LittleMsSam. https:// l i t t l e m s s a m . t u m b l r. c o m / p o s t / 175435360448/mod-overview-list LittleMsSam has so many good little mods that it is hard to pick which ones to mention. Here are some I use regularly and that really change my game

• No Burning Sun In Forgotten Hollow: Something the developers should have thought of, No Burning Sun makes Forgotten Hollow safe for vampires to move around in no matter what time of day.Why have a world just for them if it’s not safe?

Thank you LittleMsSam for thinking of our fangy friends.

• Autonomous Repairs: Finally, I don’t have to tell my sim to fix the toilet.

• Power Napping on Sofas:This is a real thing for humans so it should be for Sims too. Really helps when your Sim is the park bum and sleeps on a bench.

• Autonomous Thermostat: This is my favorite one. It’s no longer my job to keep an eye on the heat or cold.

• Choose Your Roommate: Sometimes, I want to share rent with a buddy and not a total stranger.

• Choose Your Helmet: This is The Sims and what our Sims wear is about 50% of the whole game, so why not be able to choose the helmet that would best go with your Sims outfit?

• Random Bug Fixes: There are too many fixes to list all of them, but one I really like is the breakthrough fix that only allows Scientists and retired Scientists to have breakthroughs.This is a must have bundle.

• SimDa Dating App: Now you can go on blind dates, chat online, and fall in love with the Sims of your dreams.All with this fun little app. Finding love has never been this easy.

• Go For A Walk With Dogs Will Fill Up Needs: It only makes sense to me that a walk with the dog would make not only my dog happy but my Sim too • More Best Friends: I think our Sims are adult enough to maintain more than one best friend relationship, don’t you?

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Language Barrier by Frank https://mods.frankkulak.com/ - /ts4/ languagebarriers This has to be my favourite mod for 2020.

Frank explains, “A world where everyone speaks the same language is unrealistic. This mod adds new languages to the Sims universe, which introduces a unique challenge to the game.”

Features Six languages:

Fish Are Friends by KawaiiStacie https://www.kawaiistaciemods.com/post/fish-are-friends-mod Your Sims can interact with their pet fish. Feed them, clean their bowl, take pictures and breed them.

• Komorebigo, • Selvadoradian, • Simlish, • Sixami,

•

“A world where everyone speaks the same language is unrealistic.This mod adds new languages to the Sims” Communication between Sims is limited when they do not share a language. New interactions unlock as you learn more of the other Sim's language(s).

Sims may miscommunicate when they do not share a language. This results in an embarrassed, angry, or tense moodlet that will get worse the more they talk.

• Toki Sulani • Windenburgish.

Native languages are assigned to Sims (children and older) depending on their home world, traits, and occult type.

https://modthesims.info/m/9963874 Whenever lightning strikes near your house during a big thunderstorm, you better get out the candles until Landgraab Power Company can get the electricity back up. Only off-grid items will work during this time.

Automatic burn scars is a mod that will make sure your Sim doesn’t walk away from a kitchen fire untouched. The scars don’t last forever and Sims close to the burned Sim will have a sad moodlet seeing someone they love hurt.

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Toddlers will acquire their native language(s) once they become children. The languages they acquire depends on which ones they have been exposed to while growing up.

It adds a bit more urgency to getting that cooking skill up right?

Sims can learn another language by using Simlingo, reading a textbook, or interacting with other sims who speak it.

Do you have any small mods you think Simmers should add to their stocking?

Let us know at @SimmedUpMag on Twitter or join our group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 232326154871071

SUE

Power Outage and Automatic Burn Scars by Flerb

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