Testers Wanted: No Random Crush Holiday Mistletoe (Updated 6/4/2006)

[syberspunk]

Note: This mod is large because essentially, it is the original download from the official EA/Maxis The Sims 2 site. I do not have the Holiday Pack installed. Therefore, this will mod essentially is a hacked version of the original Maxis object. As such, it will probably show up as a separate/custom object under Decorative -> Plants. If you have the Holiday Pack, this most likely will not replace or override the existing Mistletoe. This is a self contained object and essentially what you would have/might download from the Official site, only I've modded the BHAV so it hopefully isn't as threatening to existing relationships.

On the other hand, it has been reported that the Downloaded version may not have needed the fix at all. *shrugs* The code is a bit confusing, so I am not entirely certain whether it is necessary or not. That's why I need testers and people to report back. If you want to compare to the original unmodded version, you can simply download the it from the official EA/Maxis site.

Unfortunately, the file is far too large (1.23 MB zipped) to upload here. However, I do not want to officially release it elsewhere just yet. At least not until I've received some feedback. If I get positive feedback, I may try and post it at MTS2. For now, I have uploaded it to megaupload.com.

Download available at MTS2

No Random Crush Holiday Mistletoe v1.7 for TS2OFB v1.0p1
Made by: syberspunk (with code appropriated from FFS)

Edit: Updated 5/22/06

I have updated this and done some more testing. I am also releasing a version that allows Teens to interact with older sims. This was made awhile back, but was previously not available on MTS2. I am now posting it on MTS2 as the previous location for the download has expired. It should still work the same as before, only slightly better. It should continue to prevent inappropriate autonomous use between sims, unless the initiating sim has a crush, is in love, engaged, married or going steady with the target sim. If not, then autonomy should only happen for sims who are not in a committed relationship. Be forewarned, jealousy can still occur autonomously with sims who are romantically involved with multiple partners. I highly recommend using Pescado's romancemod to lessen the insanity.

:!!:TESTERS WANTED:!!:

Ok, basically I stole stole... er... borrowed code from norandomflirtwants in order to limit autonomous Holiday Kissin' a bit more. I left the autonomous same sex code alone, well just cause BUT, it should now check to see if the sim is already in love with someone else, or if the target sim is engaged or married. If any of these cases are true, then sims should theoretically not attack the target sim with a Holiday Kiss that could potentially wreck existing relationships. The exceptions are if the sim is already in crush, love, engaged, married, or going steady with the target sim, then they should still have autonomy when it comes to the Holiday Kiss. And I think users can still direct sims to Holiday Kiss others, if they intentionally want to wreck homes. :devil:

Additionally, it seems that Maxis saw fit to restrict Holiday Kissing with Teens i.e. Teens can only Holiday Kiss other Teens. This is "by design" If this mod works as I expect it to, I may either make further modifications to permit Teen Holiday Kissin' with older sims, or make a separate version that includes that functionality, which would have to be used with caution since Holiday Kisses can lead to crushes or fallin' in love.

Finally, as I mentioned above, I need testers. In theory, this should work, and although I have tested it in my game, I do not really have a sufficient set up to thoroughly test whether the autonomy restrictions are working. In other words, I don't have tons of houses with sims already set in specific relationships that may potentially be destroyed by what would've been a platonic Holiday Kiss between best friends but actually turns out to be a disasterous surprise crush/love inducing, home wrecking "present" for the Holidays.

So please, please, please! Test this and report back! I need to know whether my efforts were for naught (and therefore I should give up the ghost, chuck this onto the scrap heap, go back to the drawing board, and heed Pescado's sage advice and avoid the Holiday Mistletoe like the plague the likes of which one cannot escape given the Maxis AI )!


INSTALLATION:
These MUST be in your Downloads folder, typically found under:

C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\My Documents\EA GAMES\The Sims 2\Downloads


Compatibility:
All EPs - This is essentially a hacked object, a modified version of the publically available Holiday Mistletoe from the Official EA/Maxis www.thesims2.com site. Therefore, this should be compatible with all versions.

I have tested this in my game and it appears to work fine.

This hack is compatible with most, if not all mods by MATY crew (Pescado, TJ, and CBoy), dizzy, and probably more. Again, up to you to help me determine any possible conflicts.


REMINDER and fine print (to cover my ass ) :
Remember to ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR DATA BEFORE INSTALLING NEW HACKS. By using this hack, you agree to absolve me of any responsibility or liability for any potential loss of or damage to your data. You have been warned.

HOW TO REPORT: Conflicts, problems, or errors
I would appreciate any constructive criticism and feedback that is actually helpful. With that in mind, it would be helpful, when reporting any conflicts or issues, that you include the following:

1) thorough but reasonably brief description of what you were doing
2) clear, comprehendible explanation of your problem
3) list of hacks that may be related to kissing
4) archived (.rar or .zip) of log produced by error

Posts which do not include a clear description of what your problem is will be pretty much ignored. (i.e. posts such as "This does not work! I am taking it out! You suck! Nice try! etc.") I can't and won't help you if you don't explain what's wrong.

Please be nice when trying to explain your problem and I might be nice and help you.

Finally, my Thank Yous go to:

J.M. Pescado, in particular, since I pretty much stole the code from norandomflirtwants (so actually I don't deserve any real credit for this, I sort of just plugged in that code to work here) as well as twojeffs, dizzy2, and jase439 for being excellent tutors and providing excellent models in their mods. As always, thanks to those creators who've put out some excellent modding tutorials, Quaxi and co for SimPE, and dizzy2 for disaSim2, and the finally letters T and S, and the number 2, all of whom, without which this mod would not be possible.

If I left anyone out, I apologize in advance. You know who you are and you deserve my thanks.

Version History:
v1.07 - Fixed bug that possibly incorrectly enables interactions with inappropriate sims

Here are some pics for the Teen And Older version.

[Hairfish]

I have the Holiday Pack, but this should override the mistletoe in there, since \Downloads gets loaded after the files in \Program Files (right?). I'll try it out in the same house where previously a married guy kissed another married guy whom he barely even knew, and ended up on a "crush" with him.

I couldn't find the download link at first, since most of the text on that MegaUpload page appears to me as little boxes. But for those who have the same problem, the link is inside the orange-framed box to the right of the MegaUpload logo-arrow. I don't know why it counts down, but I was able to download the file after the countdown finished.

[syberspunk]

Yeah, sorry about the upload thing. I figured it would be self explanatory. But yeah, as most free sites for hosting files work, many have a timer before you get to download the file. It's sort of a way to force users to view the ads while waiting for a free download, and it also kind of meters traffic as well.

And... I edited my post above; I am not sure if it will override the Mistletoe with the Holiday Pack. As I understand it, the Holiday Pack is essentally a bloated "patch" (bigger than a regular patch, smaller than a full expansion pack) that overwrites the game, and any new objects (and interactions) are probably added to the objects.package.

As I mentioned, I do not have the Holiday Pack installed. However, I did download the original EA/Maxis Mistletoe which was available at the official site. I am assuming that this object is based on the same object available in the Holiday Pack. However, since it is a separate download, I suspect that it is a self-contained object. Therefore, it will most likely show up as custom content, even if you have the Holiday Pack. I am not certain of this, that's why I need testers.


In my game, it shows up as custom content, but again, I do not have the Holiday pack installed. In the very least, if it doesn't override the existing mistletoe in the Holiday Pack, which I'm guessing it is the case, you can at least use/test this mod, and see if you get the same problem. Hopefully you won't.

Ste

[Inge]

If it's an object, surely whether it overrides the original or not will depend whether or not you cloned it gave it a new GUID and new scenegraph prefix, and is therefore not open to speculation?

[Emma]

Do they get crushes from using the mistletoe then? Yikes, I didn't know that I haven't actually put any in my sim's houses yet, but I think I will download this first before I do!

...and thanks...this is great

[syberspunk]

If it's an object, surely whether it overrides the original or not will depend whether or not you cloned it gave it a new GUID and new scenegraph prefix, and is therefore not open to speculation?

That's the thing. I just used the one downloaded from the main site. I have no idea if the Holiday Pack uses the same GUID? *shrugs* Since I wasn't sure, I figured it was better to err on the side of caution, in case it does show up as custom content for those with the Holiday Pack, and people wonder why it doesn't work or doesn't replace the original in the Holiday Pack.

As of now, I do not have a way to test this myself since I don't plan on getting/installing the Holiday Pack anytime soon.

Ste

[jrd]

The Maxis downloads will override the Holiday Pack items if they're in your game. Therefore your mod should as well.

[Hairfish]

IMO, this is a success!

I have the Holiday Pack; I did not download the version from the EA site. With just the Holiday Pack mistletoe in, it does NOT show as custom content. However, the hacked mistledoe DOES show as custom content.

So YES, it does override the Holiday Pack mistletoe.

And, so far, it works perfectly. Sims are not autonymously smooching one another, but will "Holiday Kiss" and "Stand Under" it to be kissed when told to.

It's a keeper!

[akatonbo]

Hm... I may have to come back for this from home. I prefer that the mistletoe kiss IS a romantic interaction, but don't want Sims being advertised strongly to do it autonomously.

[dadditude]

The download link has expired. 

[syberspunk]

I have updated this, with two versions, now available at MTS2. You do NOT need the Holiday Pack or any of the older versions. Delete them all. Enjoy.

Ste

[dadditude]

Thanks for the update. I got it from MTS2, and look forward to trying it out this Christmas (or sooner if I start feeling festive).

[MissDoh]

You know what Syber, this one looks like fun to test!

I never added any of the free holiday item from The sims 2 site, they did not interested me and from what you fix in your personal version, I was right not to download it and use it.

I will gladly test this one for you   Though it might take a little while before I report since like you, I don't have a lot of couples that are engaged or married yet.

Question though, I have the noramdomflirts mod in, do I need to remove it?  Just want to make sure they won't conflict with each other.  I also have the romance mod so I will be able to report if they are working fine together as intended.

[syberspunk]

I will gladly test this one for you   Though it might take a little while before I report since like you, I don't have a lot of couples that are engaged or married yet.

That would be lovely. No rush. Any feedback is always appreciated.

Question though, I have the noramdomflirts mod in, do I need to remove it?  Just want to make sure they won't conflict with each other.  I also have the romance mod so I will be able to report if they are working fine together as intended.

Nope. I use almost all of Pescado's mods and I tend to make my mods compatible with his, so you really shouldn't have to take anything out. Also, this is pretty much a self-contained object. So it shouldn't conflict with anything. If you use any of the hack compatibility/conflict detection tools, there shouldn't be anything that conflicts with this. I basically just took the code from Pescado's hack and stuck it in this object so that there are more reasonable checks before sims try to use the interaction autonomously. Basically making the mistletoe much smarter and moreawesome as opposed to it's former stupid and non-awesome Maxis default.

Ste

[syberspunk]

Alright, I've updated the post on MTS2. You can head over there to redownload.

Ste