The Sims 4 For Rent - new EP coming soon!

December 7th a new Expansion Pack is released for The Sims 4. I am excited, although I'm not yet sure whether it will be a release day grab, or not. More about that further down. Main reason for this post is to highlight a few of the features I'm looking forward to, the most. Well, with the upcoming gaming stream session hosed by EA, we will probably learn more about features we did not yet know about...

My biggest ahoy is the world Tomarang. It looks tropical, colorful, bright and inviting. Like a more urban Sulani, with more focus on builds and street life, and less beach life. The main selling point is the management of rental units, meaning you can play as a Landlord or Tenant. To many of us this will be a game changer, because households will be more diverse, and it will also be a fun build challenge creating a functional lot wit multiple rental units and shared areas etc. It's fun having a feature that won't get repetitive so soon, because there are so many sorts of complexes that can be built, and there might be more to it than what we know today. Another big thing for me is the new culture that I can't wait to explore.

My 20 Years Anniversary

I just realized it's been 20 - TWENTY! - years since my first The Sims web site was released in February 2002*! So to celebrate this amazing anniversary I invite you to dive into the past to explore bits of this journey.

My first site was for The Sims 1, and already back then I had a community focus with a council, experts on food and babies and much more. It was perhaps the first sims site out there that was "for sims, by sims". SUN, anyone? The site had guest writers from other games, and it turned out as a nice role playing universe.

Graphics - Let the sunlight in!

(Year 229) I can't believe I did not up the light settings much earlier! I had them at medium, because my graphics card is integrated (which normally means low quality with no dedicated video RAM), so I thought my computer could not handle the better settings, but I was so wrong!

From my new Chateau Peak - still in progress - a mini series from the building coming soon!

I set the lighting to max, and compensated by reducing sim details. I'd love those details, too, but to be honest I don't see much of a difference. And - the sunlight coming into the rooms makes up for it a million times! I love how the light effects creates depth, direction and sometimes quite spectacular effects. And they change all the time depending on the hour, giving a totally new reason to plan your layout - what rooms should get daylight effects at what time of the day?

My Wedding Stories Game Pack - Tartosa World, Trailer and Live stream

So, the new game pack is finally being announced! A trailer is online, and this Friday, tomorrow, there will be a live stream, hopefully answering all our questions.

I had decided not to get a wedding pack as i hardly ever play weddings - if I do there is no real party. But the new little Tartosa Beach World looks stunning, and there seems to be some nice decor and features that won't be strictly limited to weddings. I will need to check this out!

I took some screenies to study the world more, and here's sharing, just in case you like to stare at pictures forever to spot new details, like I do :)

TS4 Roadmap 2022

While I prepare my future updates, here is the freshly released 2022 roadmap for The Sims 4! The highlight is obviously the Romance gamepack.

I assume it might cover 1st half of the year, but dates were not (yet) given.

Free Download: Framed Medals

July 2022: Downloading from this blogger post no longer works, so please head over to a new page listing all my TS4  custom content. All free. DOWNLOADS

This CC I created long ago for my own game, but I thought it might be interesting to a few of you, also. So, because I'm rather lazy updating my blog bar a few video releases this Christmas, here is a new download for you - framed medals!

This item includes 10 swatches for variety. Five of the medals are the top 5 ranks medals from the Military career, but you won't need the career (which requires StrangerVille game pack). You will need the Paranormal stuff pack, though, as this object is based on the small framed silhouette portrait from that pack.

Download - 8 Solid Color Photo Studio Backdrops

July 2022: Downloading from this blogger post no longer works, so please head over to a new page listing all my TS4  custom content. All free. DOWNLOADS

(January 2022: DOWNLOAD LINK WAS BROKEN - fixed)

I love taking photos of my sims to decorate their wall. Sometimes they create several copies, and then visit relatives to gift them one. Show me the Granny who would not appreciate a portrait of her grandchild?

But this post is all about the  photo backdrops. In the past I created 3 new versions of TS4 Photo Studio (GTW pack), with each their theme: In-game destinations, noble backgrounds and Victorian paintings. My top society often make use of the two latter. But most of my sims are actually quite regular, they need backdrops that are less complex.

A Man for his Ties (Free download)

July 2022: Downloading from this blogger post no longer works, so please head over to a new page listing all my TS4  custom content. All free. DOWNLOADS

(Year 228) Well, let me just say that we need more casual suit jackets, but that did not stop me from creating some more variety to one of Maxis' formal jackets as well. Because, there is a new guy in my Region 12, Fritz Mervil and he is not unfamiliar with mixing formal with the casual.

So, while this is basically about a free download, I'll also introduce you to Fritz. He has been and will be quite central in several aspects...

Free download: Fruit Bowl

July 2022: Downloading from this blogger post no longer works, so please head over to a new page listing all my TS4  custom content. All free. DOWNLOADS

So, I did not really plan creating CC today, but suddenly I have some fresh bowls of fruit on my hands! I was tired with the base game all white fruit bowl, AND I always had problems finding it as I normally would not search for clutter like this in the §250 range of the catalog. So, I decided to make a change...

The bowl now comes in 9 new versions, plus the 3 original alternative swatches (top shelf number 2 and 3, old white not pictured). There are now 2 striped, 2 dotted, 1 with ceramic pattern (not 100% seamless, but will work if you just pay attention to the placement). 4 one colored, but with a slightly darker trim.

Planning your Farm Produce

(Year 227, Cottage Living) I like my farmers to have different goals for their efforts and produce. Although most of them grow a little bit of everything for own consume, they often have a bigger amount of one or two selected species. This might be according to their Farm Rights, which force them to deliver a certain amount, or they might have specialized in specific products or markets, such as preserves or animal treats etc.

Does your farm have such a main goal?

The Organization of a High Nobility House

(Year 227) Ever wondered how my dukedoms are organized? Then search no further, because here comes a map showing the command lines. In fact, this example is representative for all the high nobility houses, which currently include 4 dukedoms and 3 baronies.

The following is valid for the House of Ross, where Jarret Emanuel Ross is Duke of Rossie, and his brother Bennet Ross is Baron of Shiningham.

The Duke:
Head of House is of course on top of the organization, in this case Jarret Ross with the title Duke of Rossie. He is in charge of the person 1st in line of Successors, the Duchess, and the Butler. In addition he leads the Rossie Trust.

House of Hump: Founded

(Year 227) A new House was approved by the Royal Chamber; House of Hump. Last week there was a small ceremony at the Council House, where Head of the new house, Doctor Nivert Hump (54) received his framed Coat of Arms, as a symbolic approval.

Siobhan F. and Nivert Hump, with Mayor Dougham.

While the Royal Chamber is formally in charge of approving this kind of matters, whenever there is no complicated issues and no peerage nor noble title involved, the regional Council normally handles the matter on their behalf.

Anyone can apply to register a new House if certain requirements are met:
* Net worth of minimum §250,000 (can include multiple similarly named households).
* Minimum 2 central members of the House (limited to Head of House and his/her descendants)
* Coat of Arms not conflicting with existing Houses.

Our Brand New Farm Life - Part 2 of 3 (Summer)

(Year 227, Summer) In a new mini series we'll follow Antoinette Morck and Salim Benali and their 5 kids moving from a tiny rented flat in San Myshino, to run the Moo-moo Cow Farm in Henford-on-Bagley. It's not only a long distance to travel, but even more an extreme change to how they live their lives. There will be 3 parts each representing one week.

If you missed their first week, you might like to start here.

*) This is a not-in-game thing.

2nd Week - day 1

I'm Antoinette Morck. Our first week as farmers started rough, but I think we gradually found a better routine. That was before we were forced to get the fourth cow, though...

When we bought Moo-moo Cow Farm we did not realize that we had to keep 4 cows for milk production. It was challenging enough for our household of 7 just moving from San Myshuno to Henford-on-Bagley. On the picture above our farm is centered, the Watson Chicken  Farm is our closest neighbor (right), and the Rossie Palace is up there on the hill across the River Bagley (left). It's a nice neighborhood, indeed.

When in Love with a Bicycle

Have you ever been in love with a bicycle? And even worse - a digital bicycle?

Whoever purchase the The Sims 4 expansion pack Cottage Living before September 2nd will get access to 3 extra items, including the cutest TS4 bicycle I ever saw. I think it will be perfect not only for Henford-on-Bagley residents - I also have a previous Duchess in mind :)

After 2 weeks of playing I'm thrilled with this pack, that released on July 22nd. Hoping what's left of Summer will be a chilly and rainy, with plenty of days and nights for gaming (j/k).

Our Brand New Farm Life - Week 1 of 3 (Spring)

(Year 227, Spring) In a new mini series we'll follow a family of 7 moving from a tiny rented flat in San Myshino, all the way to Henford-on-Bagley. It's not only a long distance to travel, but also an extreme change to how they live their lives. There will be 3 parts each representing one week, starting with the dreams & moving, then there will be improvement of farm and routines and blending into the local community, and finally a quick summing it all up.

OBS: The first part is a long read, come back with a cup of tea when you got the time needed, or prepare for just scrolling the pictures. The next two chapters will be shorter.

This Fall, head of the household will be guesting the HIP Studio show, that will return!

But first - let's get to know this big household!

Antoinette Morck (42) might ring a bell with many, well known from co-hosting the annual Reg12 NEWS. However, she is more of a private person, and never worked hard on building fame beyond the expected minimum. Not many knew that she lives together with Salim Benali (51), and that they over 6 years had a total of 5 kids!

Online Residents Registry Upgrade

(Y227) Cottage Living comes with lots of new animals and produce, and my online residents registry had to be upgraded with some of the new content. Farm Rights were updated (although the system is being looked into on request by the MIDDLE party), but even more interesting is that HOUSEHOLD INFO has been added to each personal bio-page.

Politician Fanny Silverbone has her hands full at home - 2 cows, chicken coop, and more than 30 produce plants.
Plenty of chores for herself and hubby George, and their 2 children, 3 dogs and 1 cat!

In the past each bio page was including personal stuff only, but now you will see all members of the household with name/age if you point at their mini icon, and link to their personal bio page for more info if you click the icon.

House of Saxor: Splitting up

(Region 12, Y227) House of Saxor reports major changes to their organisation.

Duke Victus (53) and Duchess Gloria (71) of Meadows. The Duke now Head of House of Saxor.

Auphor Saxor (86), ex-Duke of Meadows and now Baron of Verde, has changed last name from Saxor to Sax-Donnersmalt. He left the Meadows dukedom to his son, Victus Amador Saxor, years ago, but while a high nobility Peer has the privilege to step back at any time, this is not possible for Head of House. So, Auphor Saxor stayed Head of House of Saxor, despites leaving San Myshuno for Oasis Springs.

Misc pictures #2

(Year 227) I'm still out of town missing out on the Cottage Living release, but in a few days I'll join the farm life, and I can't wait! I've planned Henford-on-Bagley in detail, in my online residents registry you'll fin all HoB residents, and for some I even created a back story including local ancestors (linked from top of blog's front page). The biggest surprise migh be that Agnes Crumplebottom is registered with a son (!). Portraits must of course wait untill I get back to my game.

Meanwhile, here's a quick post with a few recent pictures...

Janet Mugger at my old Mugger Farm is one of my old households that will soon be joined by farm animals! They also have a dog, cat and toddler - but no money, so I guess it will be an interesting upgrade.

History of Henford-on-Bagley

(Year 227, Henford-on-Bagley) Right before TS4 Cottage Living expansion pack release, here's my take on the Henford history!

It's both fun and challenging trying to blend in a new world with my existing history of 227 years, not the least because Henford-on-Bagley is actually the main seat of one of my most prominent families and dukedoms; House of Ross. They held the Rossie dukedom since the very start, and throughout all these years they contributed to the development of this countryside community, not the least the trades of various farming crops.

Geographically Rossie is 3/5 of Region 2, located just outside my focused Region 12. Rossie covers the districts Henford-on-Bagley, Britechester and Hollow. This places the Rossie dukedom among the largest peerages of the entire Mazaloom, territorically. 

Misc pictures #1

 (Year 227) I'm out of town for the Summer, meaning I'm off my game. When I get back home the Cottage Living will just have released, and I'm looking forward to catching up with everything.

Meanwhile I will share some screenies gathered over the last months. I'll keep the text at minimum :)

This is Chaos Kessler (33), a hopeful Actor residing with his father, Psychologist Salvador Kessler (81, known from my As Sims Go By video series). Chaos' twin sister Micka is currently in University. Chaos had to practice a romance scene, and invited a co-actor over. Typically, his old dad walked in on them, and I have no idea what he might be thinking...