SimmedUp Magazine Issue 6

D

Issue 4 - Dec 2020

EDiTORS LETTER SulSul Simmers, Welcome to issue 6 of SimmedUp Magazine. The community magazine, created by Sims fans for Sims fans. This month we bring you yet another jam packed issue, we also celebrate with a few more team members joining us! Not only do we have the Wonderful Machinima creator ‘TheMomCave’ we have Award winning journalist Antoinette Muller joining us, and we are also working with her own website Extra Time Media.

We are all so excited to have so many talented members on our team, all of whom dedicate their time for free. It really does go to show when you have the communities best interests at heart, everything else just falls into place.

On that note, what have we got coming up, dare I tell you?

We have the amazing and super talented Celebrity and Good Witch ‘Patti Negri,’ talking about the paranormal to celebrate The Sims ‘Paranormal pack’ game release, the inspirational XfreezerBunnyX - GameChanger chatting with Ivana, Karen Keren brings you more top TSM tips, we have the all new ‘Simspiration’ with K8Simsley and ‘Building a better life’ with TheMomCave, Antoinette is all in with Maxis Match and we have the ‘Romance’ Mod review with Grace, just too many to name, but yes we have it all and more.

February is the ‘Love’ Month, whether you celebrate or not!

This issue we hope, has just the right balance for those of you who are loved up, and those of you that are wishing it was March already!

But we also have some sad news, the lovely and very talented Karen Keren is leaving us this month, to go off on her own amazing adventures, I am sure you will all join us, in wishing her well and that the future brings her everything she dreams of, and thank you so much for being a part of our team.

So from me to you, I wish you all the most amazing and productive February, but most of all, that cupid sends a little love your way.

Benzi chibna looble bazebni gweb

SiMSiMMERLY

44 TITAN ARCHITECTS:

#SHOW US YOUR BUILDS.

WITH NATASHAACREATIONS

50 FANART:

SIMS2COMICS

54 RETRO CORNER:

ROMANCE FROM SIMS 2/3

60 INTERVIEW:

ANOTHERPLUMBOB

68 YOUR SIMS:

SHOWCASING YOUR SIMS

70 LOVE TO SHOP:

EXCLUSIVE MERCH & CC

74 BUILD A BETTER LIFE: WITH THE MOMCAVE

80 SIMSPIRATION: WITH K8SIMSLEY

88 POP UPS: WITH ARDI

22 INTERVIEW :

GAMECHANGER XFREEZERBUNNYX

96 MAKING A SIMMER: STORYTIME WITH MURKY MINRAED

28 CC TOP PICKS: EDITORS CHOICE

30 SIMS 4 CC:

MAXIS MATCH & ALPHA EXPLAINED - BY A.MULLER

34 CELEBRITY INTERVIEW:

WITH PATTI NEGRI

106 ROMANCE MODS: TO ENCHANCE YOUR GAME; BY GRACE

112 T.O.O.L MOD REVIEW: APARTMENTS BY A.MULLER

PHOTO CREDiT TO: ELLiANDRA

BRO

?

C C KEN

Just Fun FOR

1

?

3

?

HOW CAN A MARRIED COUPLE WHO HATE EACH OTHER AND ARE ON THE BRINK OF DIVORCE ENJOY A ROMANTIC DINNER AND A BOTTLE OF WINE AT THE SAME RESTAURANT?

I CAN MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY, I CAN MAKE PEOPLE CRY. I CAN MAKE PEOPLE WANT ME, AND I CAN DRIVE PEOPLE CRAZY. WHAT AM I?

?

2

I CAN BREAK, I CAN BE CLOGGED, I CAN BE ATTACKED, I CAN BE GIVEN, I CAN BE KEPT, I CAN BE CRUSHED, YET I CAN BE WHOLE AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT AM I?

Za Woka Genava!/I think you are hot

? ? ? ?

PRACTICE SIMLISH

Elicanto!/You are looking good!

Ravasheen!/ ooh, I look like a smokin' hottie in this!

Send Your Answers to: Simmedup@gmail.com & You could See your NAME/Social media HERE!

LAST MONTHS ANSWERS:

DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

1. A COIN

2. LAWSUIT

3. THE MAN IS A BARBER!

GUESS THE CAS! ANSWER: AUDREY HEPBURN

If you play with Sims 4 mods or CC, then you are probably familiar with the hellish visions of Sims being transformed into punctuation marks that look like they have crawled out from the underworld.

(PS: Wouldn’t an underworld pack in The Sims 4 be awesome?).

Moving on. We love using Sims 4 custom content. That’s not hating on EA or The Sims 4 team, there’s just so much gorgeous stuff available. And bunk beds. There are functional Sims 4 CC bunk beds.

The problem with Sims 4 CC is that sometimes it can break. Mods and CC break with updates or sometimes you download them in a broken state. It can be

quite

traumatising

to

see

Punctuated Sims from Hell appear.

the

But there is an easier and far less traumatic way to fix broken CC in The Sims 4. It works best for Create a Sims (CAS) content that’s broken, but you can also use it to get rid of Build/Buy custom content that’s broken or that you no longer use or simply don’t like the look of.

It is also a great way to find any custom content that might be missing from your game. This is useful if you have downloaded some Sims households, lots or objects that do not show up in your game.

Best way to fix broken or bad CC in The Sims 4 To easily fix broken or bad custom content in The Sims 4, you will need to use the Sims 4 Tray Importer from L'Univers Sims. It's a completely free download and it is safe to use. You can download The Sims 4 Tray Importer from the official website..

This little application is life changing for Sims 4 players who use a lot of CC. If you have a bad batch of broke custom content, it can help you clean things up in no time.

Once you have installed The Sims 4 Tray Importer (which runs separately to your Sims game), you will be able to quickly delete any broken CC whenever you want. It can even help you clean up your library if it has gotten a bit full.

Here is a household of ours. For our American readers, this is the national rugby team of South Africa. Well, our version of some of them anyway. For our English readers: Do you remember the 2019 Rugby World Cup? Once you have found the offending family (they will show up like the zombies from CAS, or you can name the family "broken" or "delete this" to make it easier).

If you want to just get rid of a household, room or lot without also deleting the CC, you can switch over to the files tab.

Highlight the files and right click.

Then

select

the

"Show

containing

folder" option. Your Tray folder To get rid of broken Sims 4 Custom Content or find missing CC by using TS4TI, switch over to the CC tab on the application.

You will see a list of all the CC in use for that household, room or lot. Any missing mods or CC will show up highlighted in red like in the screenshot ON THE RIGHT..

If you want to find the missing CC, right-click and use the "Find on Google" option.

Note: Some users recently reported that there are issues with this option showing up. If you are having problems, refer to the TS4TI

HOW TO CHEAT: PRESS CONTROL + SHiFT + C ON YOUR KEYBOARD iN ORDER TO OPEN UP A CONS CONSOLE CAN PUSH ALL FOUR SHOULDE

support forum. There could be an issue

If you select more than one item of Sims

with your firewall blocking access or

4 CC to delete, several windows will

you might be running an out of date

open

version, or other similar issues. It is best

highlighted in your mods folder. You can

to check with the app's developers for

just delete them one-by-one by going

troubleshooting. If the option is there, a

through each window and hitting delete.

up

with

the

selected

items

browser tab will open and you will find the websites where the CC is hosted. You can then download it and add it to your mods folder. This is quite useful to help find missing meshes.

And that's it. This easy way to find and delete broken or bad CC in The Sims 4 works for rooms, lots and CAS items.

Written By Antoinette Muller

SOLE iN THE TOP-LEFT CORNER OF YOUR SCREEN. THiS iS WHERE YOU TYPE CHEATS. PLAYERS ON ER BUTTONS AT ONCE TO BRiNG THiS UP

Karen Keren

The Sims Mobile Relationship Story Do you ever want a relationship story that will unlock your heart’s desire? In The Sims Mobile, there are 25 Relationship Stories that you can complete by selecting your sim or other player’s sim to start a relationship story from being friends, a romantic relationship, and getting into a rivalry story that way your story makes it unique from any other sim. What makes it exciting is that you can engage with other players and share what’s going on with your Sims -- making a connection not only as in-game friends but you can turn into real-life friends. Did that happen to you? I definitely can attest that Hana and Steph are one of the few that I know who became besties.

You can start a relationship by introducing yourself to another sim by selecting how you would like your relationship to be like. As the story progresses, you’ll level up your sim’s relationship status which will unlock in CAS items as rewards from finishing the relationship story. What kind of relationship do you desire? As for Hana and Steph, not only are they building their friendship story they are also matchmaking their Sims and making their life together forever. A connection that will make a mark in their Sims story but also in the hearts of players which makes bonding as strong as ever.

(See photo Hana and Steph’s Sims: TOP: Nala and Love;

This love month, it is not limited to how we can show and give love to our loved ones but to appreciate ourselves and stay true to our heart’s desire.

FEATURiNG THE SiMS MOBiLE PLAYER’S ART AND STORY BY RAVEN SiMS

HEY, GUYS! MY NAME iS ROKO, I'M FROM BRAZiL, I JUST TURNED 27 ON THE 6TH FEBRUARY. I HAVE KNOWN THE SiMS SiNCE I WAS A CHiLD, I STARTED

PLAYiNG

THE

SiMS

ORiGiNAL AND USED TO SPENT A LOT OF

MY

DAY

iN

FRONT

OF

THE

COMPUTER CREATiNG AND PLAYiNG. MY FAVORiTE EXPANSiONS, WHiCH WERE

MAKiN'

MAGiC

AND

SUPERSTAR. MY

FAVORiTE

DEFiNiTELY

BUiLD

THE

STYLE

ViCTORiAN,

iS I'M

REALLY OBSESSED WiTH ViCTORiAN HOUSES BUT LATELY I'M DiViNG iNTO THE MODERN ONES. I'M SO HAPPY AND HONORED TO BE iN SiMMEDUP MAGAZiNE. MY SOCiAL MEDiA LiNKS ARE:

H T T P S : / / T W i T T E R . CO M / PLUMBOBKiNGDOM HTTPS://WWW.iNSTAGR AM.COM/ PLUMBOBKiNGDOM/ H T T P S : / / W W W.YO U T U B E . C O M / PLUMBOBKiNGDOM GALLERY ID: PLUMBOBKiNGDOM

ALL PHOTO CREDiT BELONGS TO PLUMBOB KiNGDOM

PlumbobKingdom

Source: h�ps://recipes.fandom.com/ wiki/Sims_4_Flirty_Heart_Cookies

It's a pleasure and honor to be doing this and featuring you for our Feb. issue. Many simmers and our readers would love to know you be�er, as you're one of the biggest names in the Sims community and a Game Changer, well-known for pu�ng out various videos like LPs, reviews, and amazing builds that are detailed and informa�ve.

IVANA: First, how are you, and how you've been doing during this lockdown?

FB: Thank you for asking! To be honest it was a tough experience being in one of the world’s longest lockdowns. It definitely affected my work and personal life.

IVANA: How and when did you discover and start playing The Sims?

FB: I discovered The Sims while browsing PS2 games at my local game store. It was a happy coincidence because I ended up buying one of my favorite games of all �me!

IVANA: You’re one of the well-known Sims youtubers In Sims community today. What inspired you to become a Sims content creator and Youtuber? What was the “spark” that got you started?

FB: I'm fla�ered thank you. When I started my YouTube journey, the community wasn't as big as it is now. For me, it started just researching about the latest Sims 3 pack.

Before I knew it I was already addicted to watching let's plays! I couldn't get enough of them and seeing how much fun lets players had filming and producing content, inspired me to try it out myself.

IVANA: You have varied Sims videos on your channel, from speed builds to LPs and reviews, and well-known also for pu�ng out informa�ve and detailed builds. How do you come up with new content ideas?

Can you share a bit of your process?

Where do you find inspira�on?

FB: This is a ques�on I get asked all the �me and honestly, there's no one answer because inspira�on can come from so many places. My straigh�orward answer to this would be new pack releases. Ge�ng new content and updates is always refreshing. But I also take inspira�on from things that interest me outside the Sims fandom such as architecture and culture. I believe you'll find a diverse mix of content and discussions on all my pla�orms!

IVANA: You have experience with a wide variety of videos, which type is your favorite?

FB: By far doing builds in my favorite. It’s interes�ng since build videos are usually the ones that take the most �me and energy to produce but I really enjoy the whole process from filming to pu�ng it all together. Though re-watching hours upon hours of footage can get tedious and very draining admi�edly.

IVANA: What is your greatest accomplishment and how has this affected your channel and personal life?

FB: Other than ge�ng my architecture degree, I'm very proud of my YouTube channel and what I've accomplished so far.

Last year I hit the very special hundredthousand subscriber milestone. And simply being able to survive for almost eight years on the pla�orm when there are so many challenges and hurdles. I definitely consider it as one of my biggest achievements.

“Other than ge�ng my architecture degree, I'm very proud of my YouTube channel and what I've accomplished so far” IVANA: Have you got content that you wish would gain more exposure/ engagement, but didn’t?

FB: Yes of course! Sadly because the YouTube algorithm is so unpredictable, you can only hope the condi�ons are right for your video to be recommended or even appear on your subscriber's feed. I was par�cularly devastated when my "modern Bahay Kubo" video didn't get as many views as I'd hoped. As you know I am very passionate about promo�ng Filipino culture so when that video underperformed, I was heartbroken.

IVANA: What is the best part of being in the EA gamechanger program? And what do you think could be improved more in the program, or you think you could do more?

FB: Definitely ge�ng early access to packs! Ge�ng a few days ahead to work on videos takes away a lot of the �me pressure to get your content up as soon as the embargo li�s. One area I would like to see EA improve on is inclusivity. Take the release of Snowy Escape for example. It was disappoin�ng to see a lack of Asian representa�on. It was a missed opportunity to share the spotlight with the Asian community especially since we barely get any recogni�on in the first place.

IVANA: Have you ever dealt with nega�ve feedback/comments/dislikes as a content creator/EA game changer? If so, how did you manage it?

FB: Most definitely! As an influencer, I try to look past the nega�ve and focus on the cri�cisms that I can use to improve myself but nobody should have to deal with harassment and hateful messages. That's where I draw the line.

IVANA: Who are your favorite simmers that you consider a major inspira�on and besides playing Sims, what are your other interests and hobbies?

FB: I've worked with so many amazing people over the years but I can say that I really admire Simlicy and AvelineSims, Harrie for her impeccable taste, Simproved for her crea�vity, and I aspire to be as funny as DevonBumpkin. These are the people I look up to.

Other than playing video games, I’m also really into watching anime and reading manga. That takes up most of my free �me.

IVANA: What advice can you give to aspiring Sims content creators and those who have hopes of making it big like you?

FB: Make every post or video count! The internet is unpredictable. You have to be at your best when your poten�al audience finds you.

IVANA: Lastly, what is your favorite Sims game? :D FB: The Sims 2, 3, and now 4 will always have a special place in my heart.

Find all of XfreezerBunnyX videos on YouTube Channel XfreezerBunnyX Or Twi�er @XFreezerBunnyX

CUSTOM CONTENT T

Love I

VALENTiNES SET CREATED BY: SOLORiYA FiND THiS ON: THE SiMS RESOURCE ID: 1404843

T-SHiRT CREATED BY: MMOUTFiTTERS 3 COLOURS FiND THiS iN: THE SIMMEDUP SHOP HAiR CREATED BY: WINGSSIMS 30 COLOURS FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1503482 EYES CREATED BY: SELENG 15 COLOURS FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1522963

BEARD CREATED BY: MAGiCHAND FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID:1520942

BA CREATED

THE SI

VALENTiNO JEANS CREATED BY: GOLYHA 10 SWATCHES FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1478577

TOP PICKS

Is In The Air!

SHOES CREATED BY: MJ95 FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1439425

WiNGS CREATED BY: S-CLUB FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1349073

HAiR CREATOR: PiPCO FiND THiS ON: THE SiMS RESOURCE ID: 1494847

ALMAiN DRESS D BY: PURESiMS FiND THiS ON: IMS RESOURCE ID: 1476580 TRAPEZE HANDBAG CREATED BY: SLYD FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1319828

AWHAW LiPSTiCK CREATED BY: PRALiNE SiMS 15 COLOURS FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1363661

SiMS 4 CC: MAXiS MATCH & ALPHA EXPLAiNED

By Antoinette Muller Extra Time Media PHOTO CREDiT TO: iSJAO.TUMBLR.COM

If you are new to playing The Sims 4 – or just new to using Custom Content – you’ll probably see the words “Maxis Match Custom Content” or “Alpha Custom Content” at some point during your CC splurges.

There is a lot of Sims 4 CC out there and it can feel a little overwhelming trying to figure it all out at first.

Fortunately, it is much easier than it looks.

We’ve slowly been working on curating our Maxis Match CC finds for The Sims 4, but if you first want to get your head around what that even means – let’s get started.

CC is not quite the same as mods – mods are files that change the way the game works (but that’s a lesson for another day).

The difference between Sims 4 Maxis Match and Alpha CC Sims 4 Alpha CC is custom content that looks more ‘realistic’. It doesn’t have to fall into a specific category like skin tones for CAS or furniture, it simply means the texture and meshes that are used in this type of custom content are often more ‘realistic’ looking.

(CC)

Alpha CC for The Sims 4 works best on higher-spec machines, because of the graphic demands it puts on the game.

Let’s begin with the very basics and first answer the question: what is Sims 4 Custom Content? Sims 4 CC is simply content for the Sims 4, ranging from Create-a-Sim items to Build/Buy items and everything else - that was not created by EA.

Sims 4 Maxis Match CC, meanwhile, is content that blends in better with the textures already in the game. While many creators will still make new meshes and textures for their Maxis Match CC, these will not look as “real” as Alpha CC.

Sims 4 Custom explained

Content

With CC hair, for example, Sims 4 Maxis Match CC will often use the same colour palettes as the game itself.

Alpha CC will use custom textures and tones that look more ‘glossy’ rather than matte.

Don't get us wrong, though, there's plenty of Maxis Match CC that adds some much-needed realism to The Sims 4. Creators have added things like Vitiligo skin tones and additional wrinkles, tattoos and whole lot of other stuff that fall into the "Maxis Match CC" category to the game.

Before the recent skin tone overhaul, Maxis Match CC creators helped players make their games more diverse and inclusive with custom skin tones.

h t t p s : / / w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=a6OxJgYqQeo&t=90s The two styles of CC for The Sims 4 are notably different and many players prefer one to the other. That does not mean you can’t mix and match the two, of course - many players do.

For both Maxis Match and Alpha CC for The Sims 4, you should always make sure you read the creator notes. If items are recoloured – whether that is an in-game item or something from another creator – you might require a specific pack or mesh in order for the item to show up in your game.

If you have issues with your CC, read our quick guide for an easy way to fix broken CC in The Sims 4.

PHOTO CREDiT: AHARRIS00BRITNEY

Maxis Match CC also includes recolours to existing game items or some changes to existing items. This can include things like a Sims 4 base game bookshelf that has had all the items on it removed or a clothing item that has had a swatch added to it.

You can see some of the differences between the two CC options more clearly in the video below. The video is made by YouTuber Elliandra.

PHOTO CREDiT TO: ZiGGYMOONDUST.iMGUR.COM

PARANORMAL

Behind Patti Negri sits a doll, not too dissimilar from the creepy one that came with the new Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff.

It’s not an entirely unexpected guest, because Negri is a psychic-medium and “good” witch. Even at opposite ends of the world and through a computer screen, her energy radiates beautifully bright. The doll behind her, not so much.

"I have a 100-year-old haunted doll right behind me," she casually says midway through the interview, as if it's something that is easy to ignore.

“Her name is Belle. She’s a German doll.

She's 105 and She was sent to me by a girl in Belgium who saw me doing a Séance with a much darker, haunted doll,” Negri explains.

The formerly haunted doll now lives in a museum while Belle is in Patti’s care – because she did not get on with her former owner in Belgium, making her feel unwell quite often. Patti, though, is what we would consider maxed on the Medium Skill in The Sims.

She’s felt a deep connection to the spirit world since she was a toddler (with the Brave Trait, clearly), rubbing shoulders with many celebrities. She’s cleared spaces on Jeff Lewis’s Flipping Out and cooked up some magic on Master Chef with Gordon Ramsey, to name a couple of examples.

Negri knows her stuff, so she is the best person to ask about the addition of paranormal gameplay to The Sims.

Surprising to those of us who aren’t versed in such, worlds beyond ours is about much more than just figuring out why Guidry’s scorned lover is showing up and breaking your Sim’s toilet. The Sims franchise has always included an expansion specifically focussed on the more popular aspects of the paranormal, but there’s much more to it than that.

"I have a 100-year-ol behind me," she cas through the interview that is easy

ld haunted doll right sually says midway w, as if it's something y to ignore.

All that appeasing your Sims do during Harvestfest, as it turns out, is not all for nothing.

"There is also what we call the 'everything else realm', which is things that were never human, that's getting into the angelic and demonic and the elemental realm of, you know, fairies and gnomes and captives and all sorts of things," Negri says.

In these trying times, video games offer an escape from the real world, but with The Sims, it is almost impossible to completely eliminate it. The game’s tagline, after all, is Play With Life.

For Negri, this is a good thing, especially when the representation and the adaption are done realistically, showing both the positive and not so positive side of the paranormal world.

And, to an extent, she muses, the paranormal in itself can be a sort of comfort blanket when it feels like everything is just getting a bit too much.

“I think it is great that gaming companies are going into the paranormal because the paranormal is big right now.

"And I believe the paranormal is big right now because, in reality, paranormal stuff is happening more and more and more. I don't want to get into the spirituality or philosophy of it, but as we've literally moved into this age of Aquarius, the veil between our world and the other world is thinning and more and more stuff is happening," she explains.

“I never had to do more clearings of people, of homes, of spaces, of offices, because crazy, unexplainable by science or logic stuff is happening,” she adds.

Ah, clearings. A key part of the gameplay of the new Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff is a career as a freelance Paranormal Investigator.

This requires Sims to do “clearings” of their own, ranging on levels of difficulty.

But is this an accurate or fair reflection of how it usually works?

Considering the limited scope of a Sims 4 Stuff Pack, the answer is “sort of”.

“If you're a paranormal investigator, you don't clear until after you investigate,” explains Negri.

In the Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff Pack, there is a bit of investigation going on when your Sim is out on a job, but with Sim hours being somewhat shorter and their lifespans a bit more restricted than us mere mortals in the real world – the extent of opening up communication is not explored quite as much as somebody like Negri would usually do.

The Stuff Pack has sort of blended two

careers - Psychic or Medium, what Negri does, and Paranormal Investigator, which is something a little bit different.

But the two careers do have some overlap and it’s all about opening your mind and allowing for a channel of communication.

“In looking for it, when you want to talk to them, whether you're seeing you're in a place that's haunted or supposedly haunted, you know, there's haunted objects like haunted dolls and things you want to communicate,” Negri says.

So, while your first instinct for your budding Paranormal Investigator Sim might be to just start kicking those weird hands and creepy dolls into next Tuesday, talking to the spirits first isn’t the worst idea.

"You don't want to clear first. You want to open up. You want to open portals. The way I work personally and I've been doing it, I literally lift that veil. I lift that net between and theirs lots of ways to do that," advises Negri.

One way of opening up a portal is through a Séance. To the uninitiated, the crystal ball might feel like a cheap stereotype, but it’s something Negri uses herself and if there are cany custom content creators out there looking for ideas on how to improve – there’s a whole lot that can be gleaned from those crystal balls.

"If you're using a quartz crystal ball, something made from a real rock that has a spirit of its own that has that mineral spirit in it. Anything animal, vegetable, or mineral has its own spirit.

So, you're working through the spirit.

So, it might somewhat colour what you're looking at. I use both and they both work great and they both have their things, but most people don't know that," she explains.

As for the visions that appear in the ball, Negri says they are a perfectly reasonable reflection, and the Sims Séance ritual, although a bit exaggerated Portals can be found in anything, with levitating, reflects how allaccording to Negri. From a bowl of water, a candle flame, a consuming and “If you're a raging fire, the sun or the exhausting talking to the moon bouncing off the other side can be. water. But a crystal ball Mediums all offers something tangible. communicate differently, How useful it is, though, though, but everyone’s depends on how willing you are to let go. method is valid. And, just like in The Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff, not “I certainly use them, they're old school. everyone uses a crystal ball to open up What they are is a doorway, a crystal ball the communication channels. is for scrying. It's literally like a mirror.

And you can use a mirror to a black "You have your outside vision and your mirror, but it's for you to let go of the logic inside vision, just like you're inside and see through the veil into the other hearing and you're outside hearing and side,” she says. you might say I'm a ghost and you might literally hear it with your ears or you And, as Negri explains, not all crystal might hear it in your head. balls are created equal and CC creators have a golden (or is that clear?)

"When you're working with a crystal opportunity to make a little enhancement ball, you're not staring at 'you' let the by tweaking these. eyes glaze because you're going into your 'inner mind'.

"There's a difference in led crystal balls, the old school, and quartz crystal balls, “Some people literally will see it in the because led crystal balls, regular glass ball, just like in the game, in TV and crystal balls, which most are represented movies. I am seeing this appear in the as those are just pure mirrors between the ball. Sometimes you're seeing up here in worlds. They're just a window. the ball in your mind, sometimes both.

But there is another type of crystal ball And both are equally valid,” Negri adds. that takes things to a whole new level, so While some might scoff at these ideas, to speak.

paranormal investigator, you don't clear until after you investigate”

Negri is chuffed that the craft (no, not that one) is getting some mainstream attention. Not just because of the time we are living in, but because it is all around us, quite literally.

“The two worlds are getting closer together and kind of colliding. More and more of us on this realm are seeing stuff on that realm.”

She implores those who are curious to explore their intuition and “let go of logic” every once in a while.

"You don't have to be an intuitive or a psychic or a medium to walk into a thrift store or an antique store and just feel energetically your way around and you're going to be drawn to things with positive energy or negative energy.

“Pick it up if you can [after making sure it has been wiped down, of course) hold it and allow logic to slip away for a second and then just see the story and you will be amazed.

"If you then go talk to the shopkeeper, you might be very, very correct in what you were seeing if they even know the history of it. I think that we are all born with it, you know, we use a very small percentage of our brain anyway." Negri says.

And just like in The Sims, it is often children who are more willing to explore these curiosities. The kind of intuition and connection that is often celebrated and encouraged in other cultures – including in The Sims with Elemental Island Spirits from Sulani and the mountain spirits in Mt. Komorebi.

"I think little kids see through that spirit. I certainly did, but it usually gets taught out of us. I thought everybody could talk to the dead people that were around. But in our modern society and especially our Western culture versus some Eastern cultures…we have a mysticism."

The response seems almost exasperated, but that soon turns hopeful because she believes that the holistic inclusion of these elements in video games will awaken something in all of us.

"That's why it's great that it's coming into games and it's coming into the media, television films. Because we are not very mystical or spiritual, even with our religion. So, as it's coming back, as we're moving into that age of Aquarius, more and more is happening," she says.

While she certainly does not encourage anyone to just go around opening portals, especially without knowing how to close them again, she does emphasise that spirits can be playful.

And while The Sims 4 is yet to see the addition of fairies as a life state or engaging NPC, they are one of her personal favourites in the real world.

“Fairies are great. They will bring laughter and mischief and great. You got to bribe them sometimes because they get too rambunctious. They steal your earrings, they steal your phone, they steal stuff. You got to bribe them,” “Just give them some honey or some cream or some whiskey, they'll give it back. It's just like with the gnomes, you bribe them. You make deals,” Negri smiles.

As the interview heads for a natural conclusion, the internet connection suddenly cuts off completely, despite the laptop still being connected to an ethernet cable and no other machines dropping their line.

Negri blurs back into vision and full voice and formal goodbyes are exchanged.

Behind her, the creepy doll suddenly doesn’t look so creepy anymore. In fact, for just a few brief moments, the whole world looks a little bit sparkly and less scary.

#ShowUsYourBuilds Hello I’m Natasha and I’ve been doing builds on YouTube for just over a year but been playing the Sims since sims 2. I definitely build more than actually play the gameplay (oops) but hey I enjoy the game very much. Please follow me for more builds, all my links are below. I Hope you like my McDonalds build.

Thank You! Twi�er: h�ps://twi�er.com/NatashaaaAnnee Instagram: h�ps://www.instagram.com/tashaaannee/ Facebook: h�ps://www.facebook.com/NatashaaCrea�ons

NatashaaCreations

Hello dear reader, My name is Emma, or better known as the admin behind the Tumblr account thesims2comics. I made the account back in February 2020, as I rediscovered the game thanks to a few YouTubers talking about it. I instantly became obsessed with the game’s lore and the fan theories. Though I liked the lore and theories, my direct motivation to draw Sims characters was sparked after I read someone’s fanfiction about the corruption of Strangetown. I found it such a good story that I reached out to the writer to ask permission to adapt it to a comic. Though now the comic project has been put on hold indefinetly, I still draw smaller comics surrounding the basegame Sims. I love drawing the premades, and I’m so happy to see others share the same love for these Sims.

That’s it for now! Stay happy, stay safe and stay on Simming!

With love, thesims2comics

CORNER

Covering Your Old School Favourites From The Sims Franchise.

Generations have been inspired by the Sims Franchise since it was first released in the year 2000. Since then we have gone from the original version through 2/3 and now in 2021, we are currently playing the Sims 4. With Love being in the air throughout the month of February, we thought we would bring you a chance to reminisce with these beautiful shots of the Sims 2 and 3, brought to you by the amazing IvanaRachelle.

Lov

ve The Sims

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ANOTHERPLUMBOB ON TWiTTER, THERE ARE A LOT OF SiMMERS AND I OFTEN FiND iT HARD TO FiND AN ACCOUNT THAT STANDS OUT, BUT ANOTHERPLUMBOB GRABS YOU BY THE HAND LiKE A LiTTLE KiD AND SAYS: “LOOK! LOOK AT WHAT I FOUND!” AND CHANGES THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THE SiMS 4 AND HOW YOU PLAY iT. IT CERTAiNLY MADE ME FALL iN LOVE WiTH THE SiMS 4. SiMMEDUP MAGAZiNE DECiDED TO FiND OUT WHO THiS MASKED HERO iS AND HOW HE KNOWS SO MUCH.

Sue: Who is AnotherPlumbob? Tell us more about yourself PUCK: Sul sul! My name is Puck and I'm a 32-year-old simmer living in Spain. By day I'm a lawyer, but when the night falls (and on the weekends) I'm a full-time simmer! I'm married and have a fourlegged child, a beautiful pug named Ms. Rita.

I have been part of the community for a while, but it's only recently that I've started sharing my gameplay (first on Tumblr, and then on Twitter too). For the longest time, I was mostly a lurker and occasional commenter on the official BBS (yes, that was a thing in TS1 times) and the official forums.

SUE: When did you start playing The Sims and how did you get introduced to it?

PUCK: I actually started playing way back in The Sims 1 time (because, yes, I'm that old). I read an article in a videogame magazine about this new life simulation game that had just been released and it immediately caught my attention. So I basically pestered my parents for weeks until they gave me an advance on my allowance so that I could get the game.

Back then, only the base game had been released but I also got all the expansions as they were released. And the rest...is (a love) history! :) SUE: Which game in The Sims franchise is your favorite and why?

PUCK: This is such a hard question!

Because I actually like all the games (TS1, TS2, TS3, and TS4), and each of them have some things that I love and some things that I would change. Right now, I only play The Sims 4 and to be honest, I find it hard to go back to previous games because I'm so used to TS4 mechanics. But, being totally objective and overall, I think The Sims 2 is the most “balanced” out of the four games, and if only some features were updated (such as CAS, story/time progression, etc.) it would be almost perfect to me!

SUE: You give us a lot of tips and tricks for The Sims 4, where do you find them all?

PUCK: I think TS4 has a lot of hidden details that sometimes go unnoticed. It gives us many tools but sometimes you need to be a little creative and think outside the box or combine them to make the most of them. For example, using the market stall from Eco Lifestyle or City Living and the lemonade pitcher from Backyard Stuff you can create functional lemonade stands that kids can tend. You can also use the low fence from Toddler Stuff to create functional playpens.

So I just try to be as creative as possible and think about ways to use the tools that the game gives us to make the most of my game. I also spend a lot of time in the community which is a huge source of inspiration to me!

SUE: What are your top 5 pro Simmer tips?

PUCK: Since the game, I'm playing now is The Sims 4, I’ll focus on that game, but some of the tips may also be useful for other iterations. I’d say: • Don’t just focus on the grind; the game will get boring fast. Play slow, pay attention to your sims’ moodlets, and try to make sense of their actions even if the story is just in your head.

It’s always more fun that way!

• Be creative! Is there something you wish was in the game but isn’t?

Perhaps you can do it with some of the tools already available. For example, do you want your sims to attend prom? Why not throw a party with a bunch of teens in a community lot?

• Don’t be afraid to try out mods. Some mods such as MCCC are vital for me (I use it to give my sims a custom lifespan), and I just couldn’t live without them.

• Get involved in the community and share stuff about your game! You don’t need to be a Youtuber, there's also Tumblr, Twitter, etc.

I find that I have the most fun when I share my game and I love following other people's stories and games too.

• And most importantly: HAVE FUN. It’s a game, don’t stress over consistency, don’t stress over how much better other people’s games look, don’t get anxious if you’re bored of your save and need to start over. It’s a game, so find your way to enjoy it and have fun with it!

SUE: What is your gameplay style and why do you prefer it?

PUCK: I’m a mix of legacy and storyteller player. I’m currently on Gen 6 of my Legacy (the Lacey Legacy). I don’t really follow any legacy rules, except there’s always an heir that takes over the spotlight when they turn into Young Adults. I know this is not a popular opinion but I think, with all its limitations, TS4 does great at family play (even if we still need a Generations pack…) and I have the most fun when I play with families and see different generations go by. I love building family traditions, celebrating holidays and raising kids and seeing the effect of character values when they are older, etc.

SUE: Do you have any tips for Simmer who want to follow your gameplay styles?

PUCK: My playstyle is pretty basic. I play a legacy-type save, but I don't do rules, as they make it less fun for me.

What I do is each generation I try to focus on one big game feature and explore it deeply and thoroughly. For example, gen 2 was active careers, gen 3 was uni and robotics (my gen 3 heir even married a servo!), gen 4 was Selvadorada, gen 5 was painting and living the eco-lifestyle, and gen 6 was Strangerville. For gen 7 I’m focusing on Realm of Magic, a pack that I’ve barely used so far!!

This keeps things interesting for me and allows me to discover all the little details in every pack, so I love it!

ANOTHERP

PLUMBOB

SUE: What are some of the things you love about The Sims 4 and what would you like to add to the game?

PUCK: Something I love about TS4 is it’s a really good tool for storytelling and it feels like a sandbox. As I said, I think the game gives us a lot of tools for us to use in different ways, and with a little creativity, you can go a long way. Some of the game's features I just cannot live without the calendar (holidays in this game are the best ones in the franchise), University (which is more open than ever before, allowing any sim to attend even if they live at home or have kids), CAS, clubs, etc. Contrary to popular opinion I also love the emotion system and with a few tweaks (using mods) it adds a layer of depth to sims. I have a whole Twitter thread of stuff that I love about the game here.

As regards what I would like to see in the game, the list is LOOONG! But some of my top priorities are: More personality for our sims. I loved the addition of the sentiments and I think it's a step in the right direction. Now I'd like to see: a wants and fear system or at least more relevant whims (not every sim should want to buy a hot tub!).

An “interests” and “chemistry” system, possibly also tied with the addition of newspapers and magazines!

More hobbies, including bands, ballet, after school activities, etc.

Cars, together with a drive-in movie theater and drive-thru capabilities for Dine Out Restaurants.

Hotels.

Burglars.

SUE: Do you use mods and if so, which ones would you recommend?

PUCK: I do use mods! Although I’m pretty selective with them, and only add those that I consider totally necessary to enhance my experience. Currently, I'm using: MCCC Roburky’s Meaningful stories (super necessary to tweak the emotions system and make emotions more stable) LGBT mod by PimpMySims4 Lumpinou’s First Impressions Whim overhaul by Bienchen’s mods.

I also use SO MUCH CC. Some of my favorite creators are Joliebean, Renorasims, ice-creamforbreakfast, greenllamas, qwertysims, storylegacysims, savvysweet, and a long, etc.

SUE: What other games do you like to play and do any of them ever give you inspiration for new ways to play The Sims 4?

PUCK: I don't have much time left to play other games, but I do love Tomb Raider, Red Dead Redemption 2 (I may finish it one day), and graphic adventure games, in particular, the Life is Strange series and Detroit: Become Human. The stories in these games inspire me A LOT! For example, the heir and co-heir of my gen 4 were two brothers and their relationship was inspired by LIS2!

FIND ANOTHERPLUMBOB ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS BELOW: FULL LINKS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE..

TUMBLR: Another Plumbob (tumblr.com) Link to my Legacy Page: Another Plumbob (tumblr.com) Twitter: SpiritPlumbob (@AnotherPlumbob) / Twitter

COMPETITION 7 DEADLY SINS CHALLENGE Glutton at the holiday table?

Wrath towards the in-laws?

Sloth on the couch?

Show us your Seven Deadly Sins

CREATE: 1-7 Sims representing a Sin OR a build representing 1 or all of the Sins.

WIN ANY PACK OF YOUR CHOOSING No CC Check out 'MolpeTheFirstSiren' on Youtube for reviews of the entries USE THE HASHTAGS #7sinschallenge and #molpethefirstsiren when uploading to the gallery or tagging us on social media.

FOLLOW US: On Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr and Instagram (Optional but appreciated) Competition Opens 1st January 2021 Competition Closes 28th February 2021 Builds and Sims will be reviewed by MolpeTheFirstSiren and the Winner announced inside SimmedUp Magazine

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You r Si ms Get Romantic! @GLM_CREATiVE

@SiMSBYZEB

@ANOTHERPLUMBOB

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iN

@ANOTHERPLUMBOB

Did you propose, or get proposed to this Valentines day?

@SiMSLOVERDS

Love To Shop

WWW.SIMMEDUP.CO.UK

MMOUTFITTERS CC

EXCLUSIVE FOR HUMANS

‘I’M PLAYiNG SiMS SO FUCOFFEE’ NOVELTY MUG

REAL GAMERS PLAY SiMS T-SHiRT

UNICORNS LIVE WHERE? FACEMASK

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BUILD A BETTER LIFE WITH THE MOM CAVE

BUILDING LOVE THROUGH SELF-COMPASSION Hello, my Lovelies. I am so incredibly excited to be part of the Simmed Up team! I have been doing a lot of pondering lately about this exciting project. As we all know, the start of any build is the foundation. And so, I had to think about what the foundation for all other topics might be. It all comes down to one thing, love. How fitting that we are in February, The Month of Love.

Love is an action, and love starts with self-compassion. Simply put, we cannot fully give and receive love when we do not give and receive love to ourselves.

What does this all have to do with being part of a Sims community, being a creator, being a builder?

I need to start with me, who I am, and why I am so passionate and excited to be part of this project. I played the very first Sims with my kids ages ago, but that is it.

The following years were spent raising kids, growing up, and getting my education. In 2019, and during a time when my own mental health was in the garbage, I started watching The 100 Baby Challenge on Buzzfeed. I was intrigued by the game, bought it, and was hooked.

Deciding to start my channel was something I simply wanted to do to share a story about my own matriarch and her 100 baby journey.

That's it. I never anticipated anyone would watch. But here I am, a small YouTube creator and part of a large, wonderful community. It all sounds dreamy, right? It is, on most days. But there are days when self-doubt creeps in.

There are days when I compare myself to others and think, why even bother?

There's often a lot of impostor syndrome that happens for me. There are days when those long, very late nights cranking out content take their toll on my thoughts.

And this is where self-compassion comes in. This is where love comes in. And this is where a connection to all of you comes in.

As a Wellness Coach in mental health, there are three things that almost every coachee will get from me, breathing exercises, a thought record, and the link to self-compassion.org. I am a firm believer that love is an action and that it starts within ourselves. Thinking about loving ourselves can be daunting. But, selfcompassion is more action-oriented.

During those moments when we experience self-doubts (or "gremlins" – A reflection for another day), that feeling of being an impostor, and simply good ol' feelings of burn-out we might consider replacing some of the negative selfmessages with more compassionate ones

Non-judgment, realizing we are part of a shared experience, and not allowing our feelings to overtake us are the three main self-compassion elements. A simple question to ask yourself is, "What would I tell a friend in this situation?"

As I've sat with my own thoughts and feelings of being an impostor that doesn't belong here, I'd like to share some alternate thoughts that I've run through the question of what I would tell a friend.

Here's some of what I've come up with:

What I Tell Myself

What I Would Tell a Friend

I'm not as good as I have my own that other Simmer. unique and important talents that this community needs.

I don't look like I should. No one will want to watch me.

Being authentically Me is what others need and what others want to see.

Someone disliked my Everyone has an video. This confirms opinion, and this does that it was not good. not define me as a creator.

I didn't get many [Picture that many views on this video. people in a room with you] Wow! Those people took the time to watch all or part of my work! Wow! I don't matter in this Everyone matters in community. this community, especially me. I'm part of a larger community, all sharing this experience in unique ways. I'm going to pay it forward and pour out love on a new Simmer and return the love shown to me.

What about you? What thoughts would you add, and how do they change?

Whether you create content or not, regardless of what Sims game you play.

Remember your why and that you are in this community because of a creative spark and a desire to express yourself.

Most of all, it is a desire to be part of a shared experience with others who have shared interests. This is what makes us great.

I would love to hear from you and also am looking forward to answering your other questions for me.

Send your questions on building or human life to simmedup@gmail.com, and I will address these in future articles.

You will remain anonymous, and it is all confidential.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEMOMCAVE VISIT HER ON: TWITTER YOUTUBE TWITCH AND INSTAGRAM YOU CAN ALSO FIND THEMOMCAVE ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.SIMMEDUP.CO.UK

THE SiMS 4

CHALLENGES. Welcome to the Sims 4 Challenges. This friendly intimate group is led by Admin Jesi Dechow, alongside her amazing mod team of Angie Bolster and Simming Spoonie. The group was created as a safe place to share whatever challenge you are working on, a place to find new events always going on, and a place to connect with other simmers. Challenges range in time from a single day to some events lasting 10 or 12 weeks. There are both CAS challenges and build challenges, for every simmer to join, no matter your experience level. We also have a lot of recurring challenges, like a new shell challenge, a trait challenge and the color challenge that are going on right now. So, please join us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/631766160710366/?ref=share Our next challenge, feel the love, starts February 14 and runs through February 28th, with the details below. You do need to be a member to participate in this event, so please join the group, and we would be more than happy to have you as part of this AWESOME group.

Build Challenge - Feel the Love Let’s build a romantic Airbnb getaway home!!! Since we are doing this starting Valentine’s Day the theme is romance and love. How do you imagine your perfect romantic getaway with your partner or totally on your own?

If you don't know what an Airbnb is, for the sake of ease I'll just say it's a home that you can rent when traveling or on vacation. If you want to learn more, here is a link to a site that explains more https://tourismteacher.com/airbnb-explained/.

For the complete rules about the event, and information about how to participate in this and other events, Please join the group!

Happy Simming.

Simspiration

By K8Simsley

From Foundations to Future Cubes: Quick and Dirty Sims Design.

Throw Some Shade.

Curtains are truly underrated. Adding drapes can make or break a build, and they help create an area that is cozier and more realistic. While there are not enough options available in-game, you are still likely to find a set of curtains to fit a room and make it look finished.

Pro Tip: Curtains are a great way to add some personality or introduce color in an otherwise muted space.

Think Outside The Box. The room catalog can help you design a space, but the preset rooms can be boring.

Cabinets in a foyer, a sofa in a study, or Outline a Plan Before You Begin. shelves lining a headboard can add the depth While themed bedrooms are popular, the and personality that the game lacks. Don't be house itself should have its own plan. afraid to place items in new and exciting Decide on a style and stick to it. So many ways. The results may surprise you. sims builds fail because they have no cohesive theme. All the furnishings and décor should fit the theme if you are making a farmhouse, for example. Sure a modern surprise in the form of a sofa or statue works well sometimes, but it can also go very wrong.

Pro Tip: Look at lots of pictures before you begin to get a general feel for the desired style. Go in with a solid plan, and you will come out victorious.

Less is Sometimes More.

One of my favorite things is designing and decorating tiny homes in the Sims 4.

Small spaces seem to breed creativity.

Developing innovative ways to add the items your sims require is so much fun. In my earlier days, I would create huge rooms that felt vast and empty. However, I quickly realized that I needed to scale things back if I wanted a home to feel cozy and inviting. Nothing is worse than a vast empty house that takes an hour for your sims to cross – think of the Chateau Peak lot in Del Sol Valley. Your sims house should always feel cozy – even when it is a large celebrity mansion Pro Tip: Take time to learn each item's size, so you know how large/small to make a space.

45 Interior decorating and landscaping are tricky, even in the real world.

Unfortunately, in the Sims 4, there are unique challenges. Furniture size, limits to color or design, and the basic functionality (or lack of it) can create significant obstacles. This article provides tips, tricks, and ideas that can help you create beautiful sims homes - inside and out.

Below are some great tips for interior decorating in the Sims 4.

Interior Design Tips and Tricks:

Think Outside The Box. The room catalog can help you design a space, but the preset rooms can be boring.

Cabinets in a foyer, a sofa in a study, or shelves lining a headboard can add the depth and personality that the game lacks. Don't be afraid to place items in new and exciting ways. The results may surprise you.

Below are two of my favorite 'Think Outside The Box' ideas to get you started: Use Cabinets in Creative Ways.

Cabinets are for more than the kitchen. They can be a great way to liven up a space and add personality. For example, using cabinets that have been reversed (so that the back is showing) to create a headboard or liven up a living room wall can create excitement and drama in an otherwise simple home. Use cabinets to frame a television and mimic built-ins, or create a custom desk. Use your imagination and experiment to find new uses for items in the game.

Layer them up and stack 'em high.

With the bb.moveobjects cheat, the sky is the limit.

Create a Custom Ceiling.

Use shelves and lights to create a bold, custom ceiling. Grab a flat shelf and raise it to the roof using the 9 and 0 keys. Create a frame around the top of the room. Next, grab the flat light strips used on the bottom of pools and raise them to line the shelves' edge. Once again, frame the room to create a unique custom ceiling. This trick can be frustrating at first and takes practice, but the final result is a cozy, customized space rich with drama Pro Tip: Look online for inspiration. Find images of interiors and save them for later. Pinterest is an excellent tool for gathering ideas. Use it to create a lookbook of inspiration and use it when you are ready to build.

Along with the tips above, remember the following when designing the interior of a sims home.

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Don't be afraid of DIY. Is there an essential piece of furniture that you wish you had? Why not create it yourself! Plenty of simmers are using DIY hacks to make unique, custom items in the sims, and you can too. Play around and experiment to come up with some new and exciting objects.

Mix old and new.

Mixing old antique furnishings with fresh new items creates a unique look that you are sure to love. Use an antique dresser with a modern bed, or add some contemporary curtains to a cottage-style home to make it unexpectedly interesting.

Experiment often.

When I look back at my older builds, I tend to cringe. However, all of my past mistakes helped to improve my skills. Thankfully, I am a better builder today because of them. Don't be afraid to experiment with different styles, colors, or furnishings.

Experimentation and practice are the core foundation for any skill, and building in the Sims is no exception.

If it looks awful, you can simply start over. That is the great thing about this game.

Don't be afraid of clutter When it comes to the Sims, clutter is key. Perfectly placed clutter is what makes a home look cozy, lived-in, and realistic. It adds detail to a build that cannot be achieved any other way. Add clutter to your build to create a warm, comfortable environment. Just remember to use the bb.moveobjects cheat to allow for free placement of objects, and be aware of their functional properties.

Landscaping Tips and Tricks: Landscaping in the sims can make your head spin. Reduce the stress with these simple tips and tricks. �

Copy the Neighbors.

Look around the world and copy the plants that are already there. Use the surroundings for inspiration to help your home blend in.

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Rotate, often.

Rotating your plants as you place them will help you avoid the harsh lines and manicured shapes that can happen with digital plant placement.

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Cheat the Game and Explore Debug.

The debug menu is a fantastic tool for landscaping.

To access the debug menu in Sims 4, open your cheat console by pressing ctrl + alt + c.

Type the following commands into the space that appears. bb.showhiddenobjects bb.showliveeditobjects bb.ignoregameplayunlockse ntitlement (optional – unlocks career locked items) You then type "debug" into the search field in the catalog (bottom left of the screen in build mode), and you will have access to almost every object in the game.

These items are sure to spark your creativity. Just be warned, once you start exploring debug, you may be lost for days. *Note: Many of the debug plants can have harsh shadows underneath them. Try them out and experiment with various types to create the perfect look for your home. �

Don't Go Overboard.

When landscaping, it can be easy to fill every space with plants and greenery, but you can quickly go overboard. Pick a few plants or trees to be the focal point and add others sparingly to frame the focus.

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Make a Splash.

Pools and fountains are another underrated tool that we often take for granted. Use these items to fill space and add personality to an otherwise mediocre yard.

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Get Creative.

Adding unexpected items outside can be exciting. Try placing some potted plants, a couch, or an outdoor kitchen in the backyard.

The sky is the limit when it comes to landscaping.

Only your imagination confines you.

There are too many landscaping tips to list here, and this is only a brief overview... Stay tuned for a more indepth article in a future issue of Simmed Up Magazine. For now, experiment, have fun and get creative!

Sim on Simmers!

K8 Simsley

Begin by building four level walls, set it to the highest height, and also build the ground foundation too and lift it one step above the ground.

Use half walls to make a shape of a building that you want and separate each layer by three or four tiles, definitely not less or more than that.

Connect each layer using 3x3tiles (or 4x3 tiles depend on the numbers of the tiles gap). Paint the front walls and the back drop shadow too.

Add windows, I usually use the smallest windows in the game.

Time to decorate! Because we are basically trying to replicate a paper, so try your best to use the most 2D or flat objects in game. You can throw in one or two 3D objects too, but not too much or your build will look like a normal build. You don't have to decorate the side or back part of the walls. Voila! Finish.

My social media link tree: Insta: @rd.ptra Twitter: @rdptra1 OiD: ardiputra88 patreon.com/RD_ptra1

MAKING A SIMMER

Storytime with Murky Minraed For me, Sims is storytelling. I approach everything I do with a story in mind. If I do a challenge like Murkland’s postapocalyp�c, off-the-grid challenge, a CAS or gameplay challenge, or if I build something there is always a story in my head that drives me forward. I think of myself as an aspiring writer. My whole life I have enjoyed this cra�, but I never seem to be able to get anything solid down on paper. With The Sims, the stories flow and so many more are in my head wai�ng to come to life.

Photography is another passion of mine and that too permeates my stories and my approach to The Sims in general. I bring my real-life photography training and skills to the game; I am always looking for a well-curated screenshot and will o�en spend quite a bit of �me moving things around and manipula�ng the surroundings to get that perfect composi�on. “I call this Simtography and the art of using these theories in machinima making Simatography”.

When I do my photos I hope it will inspire others to explore the possibili�es of using real-life visual art skills in their own games.

I’ve had an off and on rela�onship with The Sims, but even when I am away I am thinking of my li�le Sims and the community that is here for me when I return. As my gameplay and involvement has evolved, so has my community. This is what makes The Sims so important for me. It is a combina�on of a crea�ve outlet and a safe community. I know that many don’t feel that safety; many experience nega�vity, bullying, and a sense of rejec�on or of being “not enough”, and this saddens me. I hope that even a few people reading this will take some of my words to heart.

I am a 53-year-old woman, married with no children by choice and close too early re�rement because somehow, despite my trauma�c past, things fell into place for me and I have a good life. I suffer from intermi�ent chronic depression, ADHD, and what may be a low-grade form of BiPolar disorder called Cyclothymia. 2020 sent me for a tailspin, as it did for so many of us and I honestly believe that The Sims community around me in my personal orbit has made all the difference in me being able to keep my head above water. I cannot thank the people in my circles here enough for what they have provided me whether they are aware of it or not, directly or indirectly. This is my wish for simmers, to find this same joy that I have come to appreciate.

Crea�vity is my life’s blood and the air in my lungs. I would stop breathing if I did not have the ability to do crea�ve things, so The Sims is very important and enjoyable for me. I am doing what I do primarily for my own sa�sfac�on. I say this o�en, that I don’t worry about followers and views and traffic on my blog, but if I am to be perfectly honest then yes, I do get a warm fuzzy feeling when someone enjoys what I have created. But what I have learned through the years of my life is that you will not find joy and true sa�sfac�on and pride in what you do if you do what you think others want just to ramp up the numbers. This is not meant to disparage those who are working to build something more, like those who are Twitch streamers or YouTubers, they have goals and I respect that. I am referring to the li�le hobby creators like myself. It feels very good to have 5-10 who follow, read and genuinely enjoy what I have shared. I appreciate that more than anything. I am here for me; for my mental health, and my crea�ve impulses, and doing what makes me feel good is the best feeling ever.

Not everyone gets my humor or is interested in my stories, and that’s ok. I can honestly say that I am proud of any and all who share what they love doing and are proud of, but I don’t look at family legacies, or 100 baby challenges or “normal” builds because they are not of personal interest. Just as you may not be en�ced by my silly stories, and that’s ok because we all have different interests. It doesn’t mean that you are not good enough. Don’t take it personally. Build a small, caring, suppor�ve community circle around yourself of people with similar interests and I promise you that you will enjoy that more than a huge number of people that you feel ignored by because they don’t seem to appreciate your stuff.

You do You and be proud of that.

These are the things that are keeping me inspired lately: The Murkland Challenge and gameplay theme was created by Brennachan. Sure it started with a set of gameplay challenges, but for many of us, it is much more. My main game save is all about my evolving Murkland universe, as is most of what you will see on my WordPress.

Facebook group Murkland, or use #murkland or @brennachan on Twi�er for more info Lisabee’s Monthly Sim-Lit Challenge - a small group of writers join each month and create a li�le short story based on the provided theme. It is similar to what some wri�ng clubs do. It is open for anyone, you do not have to worry about being good enough. There is a light-hearted compe��on to it, but we are there to inspire and support one another most of all. Monthly SimLit Short Story Challenge Table of Contents – lisabeesims Three photo story-tellers, in par�cular, have really inspired me to up my game lately in the photography department; NapoleonFrost with a very hilarious gameplay based storyline in an all-male universe. NovaPark and Boolproppin who have to be named together because their style is similar and their storylines cross over. Both have a photography and edi�ng style that appeals to my senses. novapark.tumblr.com boolproppin.tumblr.com napoleonfrost.tumblr.com CASpira�ons and Simon Says offer short commitment gameplay challenges hosted on the Facebook group Sims Creators’ Consor�um.

And last, but not least cheers to the streamers on Twitch. I have learned and been inspired so much over this past year by what you do and all of the builders who submit their awesomeness to the challenges.

I hope that 2021 will be a crea�ve adventure for all of the simmers out there.

The Simaginarium | The imaginary playground of Minraed Arzhel Minraed is my name everywhere so easy to find on Twi�er, Tumblr, Facebook. I have a rela�vely inac�ve Youtube channel too. youtube.com/user/Minraed

MURKY MINRAED

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Sims In L

By G

s4ever Love

Grace

Hey everyone! Grace here. January flew by in just a breeze as we say hello again to February - or the so-called 'Love Month'. Speaking of, I am happy to share with you this February issue about the romance mods I discovered, and I will talk about everything cheesy, mushy and romantic.

Let’s start by talking about Lumpinou's Road to Romance mod. It is a Sims 4 mod that adds spice to Sims’ romantic relationships as it gives A LOT of new additional romantic interactions and moodlets. It features 'The Romance Skill' (Yes, being romantic is now a skill, thanks to this mod). The same as with any other skill, it has ten levels.

Try it out for yourself without me spoiling you with what each 'level' can make your Sim do, but all I can say is that the higher the level, the more you'll see realistic romantic interactions. *wink* Being "Affectionate" can now be experienced by Sims at higher Romance skill levels and in highly romanticallydeveloped relationships. Aside from that, Sims can go on Rabbit Hole dates with their partners. Counseling (for couples and singles) and even going on online dates are made possible.

This mod also includes a Cheat Skill, whether to increase in level or set it to max level to fully experience all romantic interactions.

One current limitation is that going on online dates “does not grant any relationship point to go with the result moodlets” as per Lumpinou.

It's important to note that this mod is for adult Sims only.

It comes in 3 versions: • Version A (Original): full version • Version B (No Romance Gain Restrictions version aka Compatibility version / NO Override version) that states, “this is for users who do not want romance points to be more difficult to gain OR users who also use mods such as "SlowerRelationshipProgression" by MeCoinpurse and "LongTermRelationshipBuilding" by Wiggler)" • Version C (More Romance Gain restrictions) "makes it so romance will always harder than without but will get significantly easier with high skill level" (Lumpinou, 2020).

Lumpinou adds, “the thing with this version is - "twice as fast" is still significantly slower than in the unmodded game” (Lumpinou, 2020).

Mod Requirement: • Lumpinou’s Mood Pack Mod Compatibility with other mods, mostly romantic mods: • SimDa Dating App by LittleMsSam (as also recommended by Lumpinou)

• PolarBearSim's Personality Please! and especially, as its a Restricted Romance module • Leap Into Arms and Carry Lovingly Mod andrian_m.l (from Mod The Sims) • Passionate Romance v1.3, Romantic Slow Dance and Romantic Skygaze by Sacrificial • NSFW/R-18+ mod: WickedWhims Road to Romance Mod Conflict • As per Lumpinou, “Version A and B will conflict with any mod that overrides the "Loot_LTR_Romance_Main" game files - in other words, mods that make romance gain universally faster or slower.”

More info about this mod is in Lumpinou’s Patreon’s post – “Road to Romance v1.1 – Mod Release Sims 4”

Meanwhile, LittleMsSam’s SimDa Dating App, as its name implies is a Sim dating app. Whether your Sims are looking for one true love, hookups, or just want to try out the world of dating, this app is the one. This dating app can be found under the Phone Social Menu.

Sacrificial's mods: 'the romantic slow dance' and 'romantic sky gaze' are mods that allow Sims to invite another Sim to be extra romantic. In slow dance, Sims can make out too. In the romantic sky gaze mod, Sims get to cuddle (unlike in the regular sky gaze or cloud gaze of the base game).

Lastly, the Passionate Romance mod also adds more romantic interactions and brings back the “Goose” and “Make Out” from previous Sims.

There you have it, fellas. Wishing everyone a love-filled month ahead!

Happy Simming everyone!

A/N: Add-on Romance Mods I highly recommend would be andrian_m.l’s Leap Into Arms and Carry Lovingly mod, LittleMsSam's SimDa Dating App, and Sacrificial’s mods - Romantic Slow Dance, Romantic Skygaze, and Passionate Romance. I personally tried and tested all these in-game together with Lumpinou's Road to Romance everything worked out just fine.

The Leap Into Arms romantic interaction is no longer a thing in The Sims 4 (sadly) so adding this mod adds a sense of nostalgia as previous Sims versions (Sims 2 and Sims 3) have it. Seeing Sims carried bridal style makes one giddy!

TWISTE

How to apartment more with T

By A.M

ED MEXI

change doors and T.O.O.L Mod Muller

If you’ve ever looked up mods for The Sims 4, you have probably come across TwistedMexi’s Take Objects Off Lot (T.O.O.L) mod. For builders, it’s a musthave, but this mod can add value to anyone’s game.

As you might have guessed from the name, the mod allows you to make changes beyond the boundaries of your lot.

Obviously, that’s not all it does (seriously, every day you learn something new), but that is what the mod is best known for.

The thing that makes the T.O.O.L mod so powerful is that the objects placed off lot are functional. This can fundamentally change not just how the worlds look, but also how you play your game.

We have already done a very basic tutorial for T.O.O.L, and while this is slightly more advanced, it’s not overly complicated and even players who are not overly familiar with build/buy will be able to edit Sims 4 apartments after a bit of practice.

Using the T.O.O.L mod to change apartments Apartments in The Sims 4 have been a bone of contention ever since the release of the City Living expansion pack. The buildings are extremely restrictive and despite some promise that some of that might change ahead of the Eco Lifestyle expansion, it was not to be.

While The Sims 4 planned to roll out the ability to edit a balcony in one of the new apartments that came with the Eco Lifestyle expansion, it was not part of the final release.

With the T.O.O.L mod, however, it is not just possible to edit the balconies in Evergreen Harbor, but you can also change the windows and doors on apartments in this neighbourhood and in City Living’s San Myshuno.

You can also make the entry ways of the San Myshuno apartments look a little less drab. You can also change the exterior to look a bit more lived in.

If you are new to using mods in The Sims 4, all of this might scare you a little, but you do not need to be. Obviously, always make a back up of your save files and your game and remember that you use mods at your own risk.

The T.O.O.L mod is widely used and TwistedMexi is super helpful and quick to fix any issues that crop up with game patches.

Adding some life to San Myshuno apartments with the T.O.O.L mod While we highly recommend that you watch the full T.O.O.L mod tutorial by TwistedMexi himself, we hope our tutorial on how to change doors, windows and the exterior of apartments in The Sims 4 helps you take your game to the next level.

We are not going to cover how to actually install the mod here, though, and we’ll assume that you are comfortable with using mods and custom content. If not, start by watching TwistedMexi’s tutorial.

We are also going to assume that you are familiar with the basics of using the mod. If not, our basic T.O.O.L tutorial might be useful. It covers how to toggle objects on, select them and move them. And that you need to be in live mode to move objects after placing them in build/buy.

Let’s start with one of the easier things: changing the hallways in the apartments that came with City Living. All these tutorials will include a short video to help you get the hang of stuff.

1. Start by placing the objects you want to move into the passageway way in your Sim’s apartment.

2. In live mode, select any items you want to remove from the passageway with the T.O.O.L mod and place them in your Sim’s apartment so you can delete them later.

3. Now, move all the objects you chose into the passageway. It is as simple as click and place thanks to the Toggle Object option on the mod. https://youtu.be/y3BEon0kxPI

The rotate function is also useful to quickly flip a hanging basket outside. Place the basket where you want it and then rotate 180. You can then go ahead and tweak the placing a bit more.

The rotate function is also useful to quickly flip a hanging basket outside. Place the basket where you want it and then rotate 180. You can then go ahead and tweak the placing a bit more.

How to change doors and windows of apartments in The Sims 4

Editing the Pinecrest Apartment This process is slightly more complicated, Balcony with the T.O.O.L mod but works the same for windows and doors.

This process is very much the same as Start by drawing a wall behind the door or with the passageways in San Myshuno, window you want to replace. You can also but you can get a bit more creative by place the new door or window you’re going using the elevate option, too. to use so long.

This will allow you to place plants and other objects on the balcony wall or add hanging baskets above the balcony – the options are endless. The rotate function is also very useful here.

In live mode, select the door or window you’re removing and place it somewhere you can delete it later. One of the things that is so cool about doing this with apartments is that you can actually change where the front door of the apartment is https://youtu.be/pdoygks0CFw completely – or have two doors if you Place the items you want on the balcony wish. inside your Sim’s apartment. Move the objects onto the balcony as you did https://youtu.be/Oc4XbpV1FWw before with objects into the passage and they should snap into position.

You can have a bit more fun by using the multi-select option (ALT-clicking objects after toggling one as active). https://youtu.be/mw71472awFY

Now you need to move the replacement door or window into its new spot. This is where you will need a little bit of practice and patience.

Select the new door and click to place on the wall. Sometimes, you will need to use the ‘gravity pull’ feature to make sure the door works. This is done by ALT clicking with the object toggled as active.

Some apartment buildings are at an angle that can make the process a bit complicated, so we recommend you either watch TwistedMexi’s tutorial explaining some of the more complex features of the T.O.O.L mod. Or you can dive in the deep end and learn as you go. ox slightly higher up and then ALT click (many times) to move the box into the correct position.

Change apartment exterior in Sims 4 City Living Finally, it is also possible to make changes to the outside of City Living apartment buildings. These are a bit tricky because the buildings themselves are selectable and, as you’ll see in the video below, can sometimes toggle as active. https://youtu.be/oLCfMcoE5PA For adding a basic flower box to the window, we’re using the same rotate method as we did with the Eco Lifestyle expansion. Once we have done that, we’ll place the box slightly higher up and then ALT click (many times) to move the box into the correct position.

THANK YOU

TO ALL OUR FOLLOWERS ON TWiTTER, FOR HELPiNG US REACH THiS MiLESTONE. YOUR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD TO US.

54

CREATED BY SIMS FANS, FOR SIMS FANS

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Antoinette is a recovering journalist, having written for Sports Illustrated, The Guardian, Daily Maverick and others. She has won multiple SAB Journalist of the Year awards, across a variety of categories. She thinks it’s strange writing about herself in the third person, unless she’s playing as herself in The Sims…which she’s been doing for over 20 years.

You can find Antoinette on Twitter @Mspr1nt Or visit her website Extratimemedia.media

Antoinette Muller