The Holiday Issue 23
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smagazineofcl.webs.com | @smagazineofcl | Issue 2, December 2013
Welcome to Issue Two of SMAGAZINE, and the Festive Special. Of course, it won’t be just holiday festivities however, we’re also going to be taking a trip to the future to check out some of the new houses you lot have made with them. We can’t wait to be able to share some of the best houses made with the new expansion pack. We’ve also got a bunch of great interviews lined up for you with people like BeyondSims and Rachybop. This issue also has a bigger focus on the Sims themselves (wow, now it sounds like a Sims 4 promotion) as we see just what some of the most talented members of the community can do with a pose player, some props and a bunch of Sims. We’re also venturing into EA’s homes for the first time and completely revamping the interiors. By the looks of things, that might be a bit of a challenge… So I ask you to carry on reading, even if you don’t think anything inside this magazine interests you. Because, trust me, you’ll find something interesting, I promise. That’s how it works with the Sims—you need to be open-minded to new things and you won’t regret it—take Supernatural for example. I always swore by keeping The Sims 3 realistic, but now I really enjoy playing with my supernatural Sims. So please sit back and relax. I hope you’ll enjoy this issue as much as I do.
George B
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Houses
06 Home SOS: Sunset Valley
Game talk
10 Interior Tips & Tricks
Features
16 Interview w/ Dan from BeyondSims 20 Quadri 23: A Christmas House by steph0sims
26 Fire Storm: The future is big by ChrillSims3
34 Interview w/ Rachybop Thank you SO much for 14k guys! Just realized it,love u all so much ♼ @LollypopQueenee on Twitter
36 Pod-Alpha by TheSimSupply
42 Cozy Cabin by DeggDegg
50 Lincolnshire by fredbenny
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Awww part 1 of setra just hit 10,000 views! thank you all so much <3 @steph0sims on Twitter
64 How did that happen? The most...impressive glitches.
72 PCh Home for the Holidays by Pinecat
80 At The Bridge by Maxi Sims
You've proven time and time again that you are a fighter a strong person, this time should be no different, you have all of us @TheSimSupply on Twitter
*Parties with ducks* @JustMaxiee on Twitter
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home
SOS
EA created Unabridged with amazing views and even access to a small beach right in front of the house. The house is split into two parts, with a bridge connecting the two. And what is this bridge going over? A large pool that goes around the house like a river. This house had very dated furnishings and decorations. To me, the house seemed like a modern house, and it felt a waste to not take advantage of that. The house also has amazing views that seem like only the most expensive houses would have. Naturally, therefore, my first task was to open up the living area into one huge open-plan space, as well as making sure you could see from one end of the
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house to the other. The living space consisted of kitchen, dining area and a lounge, all of which stayed in their places, but with new looks.
The kitchen cabinets are from the custom HINJI Kitchen set, and resemble the look of some kitchen counters you’d see in an IKEA store. The living area is left a bit empty, as I pictured this house would be the base of quite a few parties, as there’s two bedrooms, both with double beds, so this isn’t really a family house, and this is reflected in the design.
Onto the other side of the house now, and to the bedrooms. The original house had two bedrooms with double beds, so EA probably doesn't intend for it to be a house for a family anyway. Both of the bedrooms have great views and have their own bathrooms. The corridor was also done up.
This house was in need of renovation, because EA’s furnishings really didn’t fit the design. Our new design provides a new look for this home and maybe even turns over a new leaf. Finally, if you’re interested, here’s the floor plan.
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tips & tricks interior design
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TIP #1 Feature Walls Feature walls are a great way to make a statement in any room. Choose a wall, then choose a colour that contrasts the other walls. Use this colour on one wall only—preferably a wall that you see when you come in to the room. Don’t hang anything on it unless it’s a large wall, because this detracts from the effect of a feature wall.
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TIP #2 Use your view If your lot has a great view (common in lots in Isla Paradiso and Sunlit Tides), take advantage of it! Put a dining table in front of a panoramic window. Put some sofas by your open sea view. Loft in the city? Put your bed in front of the large factory -style windows. After all, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the point of having this view if you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take advantage of it?
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TIP #3 Use Alt and some cheats Leaving chairs untucked makes houses look more used. Type in ‘DisableSnappingToGridsonAlt true’ as well as ‘moveobjects on’. Press alt and untuck your chairs!
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TIP #4 CASt is your friend Most rooms have a clear colour scheme, and furnishings are designed to fit in to that. Use the Create-a-Style tool to recolour your furnishings to match the colour scheme of your house. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go over the top thoughâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a bright pink oven might be a bit too far.
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We spoke to Dan from the popular Sims fansite BeyondSims abo
I first played The Sims around 2001/2002. I was quite young and found the game with SimCity 3000 in my Dad’s game collection. He hated the games so I grabbed them, installed them, and fell in love with The Sims and SimCity game franchises. So it was by pure luck that he had the games that I got hooked - from there I kept buying the expansions!!
My favourite Sims 3 world has to be Hidden Springs. I don’t go crazy over store content but it seems to be the store world that I play in the most! The interiors of all the homes are great.
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I wouldn’t necessarily say I prefer one in particular. I tend to play Sims in a variety of ways. Sometimes I’ll build (and fail miserably at it), sometimes I’ll buy stuff and clutter up my Sims homes and then I’ll head into live mode to play, of course. It all depends on how I’m playing during a session really.
I don’t use a lot of Store or Custom Content actually. I used to have gigabytes worth of custom content for The Sims 2, and still do when I play it. In terms of store content I have several store worlds and a few sets which were kindly gifted to me.
out The Sims 3, his site and his thoughts on The Sims 4.
BeyondSims was actually launched as SimPrograms in August 2000 by Jud Hudson, many older community members may remember this. He sadly lost interest in the franchise and handed the site over to The Black Scorpion, who then handed the site over to me a year ago. Prior to that I wrote on the site since March 2011. But the site is VERY different now since I took over. I wanted to make the site the place full of the latest news, exclusive previews and a place that highlights the creativity of the community without losing the years of history that the site had. I rebranded the site to Beyond Sims as we no longer focus on programs and to give it a fresh start. It’s always great to be able to post about Sims & SimCity and discuss it with other community members. It’s great fun and that’s why I have continued with the website and I’m extremely proud of our team :-)
The Sims 4 looks amazing and I will defend the choices the team have made in terms of graphics. I back their decision to go for a more cartoony and stylised look. The Sims isn’t suppose to be super realistic, in my opinion, and I think the new art style will allow Maxis to fill the game up their humour and random things which we love in The Sims games, such as Claire the Bear from Sims 1 (hint hint, EA!). The new gameplay features that we know about sound great too - who doesn’t want Sims with emotions? I’m excited about the next chapter for The Sims franchise and I strongly believe that Sims 4 will be the best Sims game made to date.
Cont. onto next page
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I think EA involves it’s UK audience quite well. EA UK have a ‘The Sims UK’ Facebook page where they post UK specific content and they involve active community members in community days, so that we can find out what you guys want to know. The way EA approaches The Sims community is very special and we’re probably one of the closest gaming communities.
That’s all from this interview. Thank-you to BeyondSims for agreeing to take part in this interview, and be sure to follow him on Twitter as well.
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Q
A Chris
Welcome beautiful for your S mas.
This mamm great in all s itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s element have The Sim is built to ha rooms, four
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Quadri23
stmas house by Steph0Sims
e to Quadri 23, a Christmas house Sims this Christ-
moth house actually looks seasons, but comes into when it’s snowing (if you ims 3 Seasons, that is). It ave a whopping six bathbedrooms, three lounge
areas, two bars and open plan kitchen and dining. This house also has ‘lots of other places for having fun this holiday season!’ This house has an amazing modern-meets-old design, making it look like a house that is a family could believably live in, not like some Sims 3 houses, which are really just showhomes and nothing else. This house was furnished with loads of beautiful decorations to get you
and your Sims excited for the holiday season. Of course, it won’t take too long to delete the decorations if you’re not a fan, which also means that this is a versatile house for all seasons in the game—it does feature a large garden and patio area. Read on into our article and look at some more amazing pictures of this amazing house...
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FIRE
STORM BY CHRILLSIMS3
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Rachybop Exclusive Interview
When did you first play The Sims?
How was SimsCamp?
I can't remember exactly but I'm pretty sure it was in the very early days of the Sims 1 coming out. used to play on my laptop with my little sister. She would kill my Sims whenever I left the room (nice). I didn't realise there was expansions and stuff packs back then, it wasn't until the Sims 3 that I became completely obsessed and had to buy everything!
It was amazing! I was so sick afterwards because it was so full on, we had a heavy schedule of awesome things to do and see the whole time. It's an experience I will never forget, I feel extremely lucky to of been a part of it. I made some great new friends too.
What is your favourite thing about The
The main thing I love is that it has no di you want to do and play it your way. It's
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We got to exclusively interview Rachybop, a British vlogger and Simmer, about how she plays the Sims and her trip to SimsCamp in Germany this year. By George Bishop.
Have you played Into The Future yet? If so, what are your thoughts? Yeah I've played quite a bit and I'm still not sick of it! It was an expansion that I wasn't hugely excited for initially but I've changed my mind after playing it. It has an amazing amount of content, I love it! (The interview took place just after the
Do you play SimCity? Only everyday! I wasn't really into SimCity until I got to play the new one and I became hooked! I passed 200k population the other day. I feel so accomplished.
Build/buy or Live mode?
launchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Ed.)
e Sims?
irection, no end goal. You decide what s quite unique in that sense.
Live mode. I am experiementing more with build mode these days but that's not the main part of the game for me.
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EMPTY W Welcome to Pod-Alpha, a fine example of the way physics has no place in The Sims 3 thanks to TheSimSupply. Inside this interestingly-shaped house there is one bedroom, one bathroom and open-plan living, kitchen and bathroom. Whilst it looks very white and bland on the outside (and the inside, actually) during the daytime, you just wait for night to fall over Oasis Landing. The house will be awash with bright, vibrant colours, making it a perfect house to throw parties at night. Or at least you might think it is. The drawback of this house’s unique entranceway is that floor space is limited and only one Sim can really get up at any one time. This makes for the fact that it’d be near impossible to make this house work for a family. Don’t let this put you off though—this is a brilliant house.
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WORLDS
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Coz
I love Christmas—it’s my favourite time
cozy little house has one bedroom, a
comfort inside t
of year. Your Sims can learn to love it
combined kitchen and diner, a bathroom
this house down
too with Cozy Cabin, a beautiful little
and a living room, complete with fire-
trees have spac
cabin that’s perfect for your Sims to cel- place and Christmas tree. Your Sims can room for expan ebrate in during the holiday season. This come together for a gift-giving party in 42
zy Cabin
A Christmas house by DeggDegg
the Cozy Cabin. Just plop
n onto a 50x50 lot (so the
ce) and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty of
nsion too.
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Download for free
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Lincolnshire A Christmas lodge from fredbenny
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Download this house for absolutely free
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How did tha
Here’s some of the more...interestin
“Captain wants to be a human. Down, Captain.”
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at happen?
ng looking gameplay screenshots.
“What’re you looking at?”
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;We celebrate birthdays differently in this family.â&#x20AC;? 66
“Well, you are beautiful.” 67
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Have you considered a career in modelling?â&#x20AC;? 68
“Hey, my eyes are down here!” 69
“Look Mama, I’m flying!” 70
“That’s inappropriate talk for the dinner table, darling” 71
Created by Pinecat on TSR 72
Home for the Holidays
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DOWNLOAD
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At the bridge B Y M A X I S I M S
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Download
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Copyright SMAGAZINE 2013 © Any copyrights mentioned throughout this publication are the property of their respective owners. ‘The Sims’, ‘The Sims 3’ and the respective brand assets are all the property of Electronic Arts and/or Maxis. SMAGAZINE is in no way endorsed or funded by Electronic Arts, Maxis or any other companies. This magazine is run not-for-profit and we do not collect any earnings. SMAGAZINE is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. This means that no derivative works may be made of this publication and commercial use of this work is not allowed. If you wish to find out more about our copyright policy or anything else to do with the magazine, please e-mail the editor at smagazineofficial@gmail.com
The fact this was a Christmas special does not imply that anyone on the SMAGAZINE team is against other religions that do not celebrate the holiday of Christmas. SMAGAZINE is in no way associated with Electronic Arts and/or Maxis.