MEET THE GC’SPECTRES

MEET THE GAME CHANGERS

Ninnster

1. How did you become a Game-Changer?

I joined the program in 2018 after submitting an application. It was when SimGuruKate was CM and they were trying to diversify their members by focusing on adding creators of all sizes from rarely represented platforms. I was chosen as a Gallery creator.

2. Who inspired you to apply for the Game-Changer programme?

There are a lot of people I admire in the program, for example, Simarchy inspired me to start streaming, and Sims4creations, Aveline and Simproved are some of the many builders I adore, but they weren’t the reason I applied. I wanted to see if I could make it. That’s what it came down to. This was before I actually started on Twitch, so it was solely based on my gallery creations at the time and the small building community I had around me on the official forums and on Twitter.

3. What are your favourite and least favourite parts of the Game-Changer programme?

Not sure I have favourites, but the program certainly has positives and negatives. A big positive for me was to get closer to the SimGurus and get to know them and how they work. They are so very passionate about what they do, and to me, they are all inspirational. They are able to keep their love for the game alive, despite the world of social media being such a volatile place. They all deserve high praise for the hard work they put in! As for the negative, I think I’d have to say communication. As much as they try to give us the information we need, we are often left with holes, or the information given isn’t clear enough so that we are left not knowing what is expected. That can be hard to navigate.

4. How does being a Game-Changer fit into your everyday life?

For me, it was never a thing to “fit in” anywhere. Joining the program never changed what I was doing, or my plans going forward. I felt like it was a title I earned, but I have never felt expectations from anyone in the program to have to grow bigger. My goal has never been to become a full-time content creator. It’s a hobby I am extremely passionate about, but I have a family and kids, and I have a full-time job that I love, so the Sims and the GC program is simply one aspect of my life. This I actually mentioned in my application too. To me, the fact I was still selected meant that they appreciated the community I had, and what I had accomplished and that it was enough.

5. If you could choose just one pack to keep, which one would it be and why?

It’s a tie between getting Together, Cats and Dogs and Snowy Escape. If you twist my arm to make a choice I’ll say Snowy Escape since a Japanese inspired pack was my most wanted pack for the game and it has a very special place in my heart. For a game pack, it would be Jungle Adventure, and for a stuff pack, it would be Tiny Living.

6. If you had to get rid of just one pack, which one would it be and why?

If I can go with game packs it’s easily Journey to Batuu, simply because I’m not a Star Wars fan. I can also easily name stuff

packs I don’t need; Luxury Party Stuff, Fitness Stuff, Spooky Stuff and My First Pet Stuff. For expansion packs, though it’s almost an impossible choice, I think I’d say Get to Work. I love the pack and I use it a lot, but compared to the others I think I could live without it. I think.

7. Do you prefer building, CAS creation or gameplay? Or something else entirely?

Those who know me know I only do one thing: I build. I’ve played since the original Sims was released, but I used to play on and off. I would do gameplay intensely for 2-4 weeks, then I’d get bored and take a break for a few months until new content was released. This cycle continued until I decided to start building about 2 years after Sims 4 was released. I have barely stopped since because I just have so much fun with it! A less known fact though is that I do enjoy doing some CAS when I need a break from building. I really enjoy sculpting new Sims, but I have to admit I don’t like dressing them as I find that really tedious.

9. Where do you find the inspiration for your creations?

They can come from many places. When I need to create a new challenge I, first of all, think about the season and month we are in. Are there holidays or events I want to use as inspiration? I take pack releases into account as well. Is a new pack planned, or has one recently been released? I also have a notebook of previously ‘not used’ ideas I can look at for inspiration. In the end, it’s whatever I feel like building that wins out. In my mind, if it’s something that inspires me, surely it will inspire others! I also try to diversify the different options in the challenge so I can cater to different types of builders, at different stages of experience. I strive to create something everyone can find inspiration in.

12. Who is your favourite SimGuru and why?

Inspiration can come from a lot of places. It can be a house I see in a TV show, a house in my neighbourhood, or a house I see while browsing social media. The majority of my inspiration though comes from build challenges hosted by community members. We have some creative people out there who make great challenges with fun themes, and often they will trigger an idea and then off I go to build!

10. What is your favourite social media platform for all things Sims and why?

I would say Twitter because the SimGurus and the official Sims account are quite active and interact a lot with the community at large. The hype when the SimGurus start trolling before the release of a new pack, the latest news on what’s going on and seeing both the Sims account and the Gurus sharing posts from the community is the reason why it’s my pick. As it is a social media platform though it can be a volatile place, and I would recommend everyone to protect their online space and not be afraid to block/report/mute if needed. The SimGurus are people, and they are all unique and wonderful in their own way. I think if you like a Guru it’s because their personality happens to be one you get along with, just like with friends. I can name a few I love and why. SimGuruNinja for always trolling the community at large, stopping by streams and generally being great at interacting with Simmers everywhere. SimGuruPopcorn for being warm and friendly, inspiring builders with her own build challenges and having a

welcoming streaming space. She’s also into DnD and anime, just like me! SimGuruNick for being on top of bug reports, answering posts from community members and posting patch notes and laundry lists. He does a wonderful job! Lastly, I’d also like to mention SimGuruFrost since he as the community manager has a difficult role, but I think he manages to balance it so well. I see him posting important information about releases, streams, packs, patches and maintenance, but I also see him answering Simmer questions, saying Happy Birthdays and trolling SimGuruNinja. The Gurus are all amazing!

13. Where can readers find and follow you

If you want to check out my builds you can find me on the Sims 4 gallery under Gallery ID: Ninnster. On my Twitter, I will post all my creations and you’ll always find my current build challenge pinned on my profile. You can find me @Ninnster00. If you are on Twitch and enjoy live streaming you can find me there building twice a week, as well as touring challenges at the end of the month.

You can find me there every Sun & Wed at 8:30 PM CET/CEST: twitch.tv/ninnster