More Awesome Than You!

It's a pain in the ass having to dig through the original thread for templates, so I made a thread here.

Emma's 4shared. (http://www.4shared.com/dir/4323880/c0795b00/EmptyHoods.html)

I'm going to make the master list here. Links will fill in in a few minutes.
You need all of the clean templates for all of your games.
Base (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,4306.msg218734.html#msg218734)
University
Nightlife
Open for Business (http://moreawesomethanyou.com/bastdawn/cleanhoods/EmptyTemplatesUni-NL-OFB.7z)
Pets (http://moreawesomethanyou.com/bastdawn/cleanhoods/Empty_P001.7z)
Seasons (http://moreawesomethanyou.com/bastdawn/cleanhoods/G002_Neighborhood.rar)
Bon Voyage (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,4306.msg264144.html#msg264144)
Freetime (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,4306.msg317272.html#msg317272)
Apartment Life (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,4306.msg369354.html#msg369354)

You also need to go here (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,7.0.html) and click the link for your latest EP. Click 'hacks,' and then retrieve these.
antiredundancy
nossrepawn
nostrayrespawn
notownieregen
nodormieregen (this one is in the director's cut zip, not in the 'hacks' section)
Unzip and place in Downloads folder, preferably subfoldered under 'Essential' or some sort.

And follow Jordi's Clean Custom Neighborhood Tutorial (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,5861.0.html) for installing you new templates.

Remember, if you create a new neighbourhood and minimize and see character files in your characters folder, then something went wrong. Don't continue; see what you're missing or what step you missed.

Oh, and the box.net links are working for me, so I linked to SaraMK's originals.

List updates go here.
Comments go here. (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,4306.0.html)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s18/liveangel93/Lolmacros/cheezburgerGoesHere.jpg)

Credits:
Kazzandra, for making the original list (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,4306.msg336261#msg336261).
Jordi
SaraMK
Argon
IAmTheRad
Giggy


Moderator edit: I changed the links that pointed to this post (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,4306.msg120424.html#msg120424) to new download links for files now hosted on MATY.  All clean templates are now hosted on-site!  Thanks for making the new thread, Liveangel.

Further edit:  Did you screw something up while installing clean templates, and failed to make a backup?  Aren't you foolish!  Thankfully, Witch has kindly made all of the original templates available.  Get your Maxis original hoods here: http://moreawesomethanyou.com/bastdawn/maxishoods

All of the clean templates are now hosted on MATY.  The agreement for doing this was "MOAR Emma torture."

(http://moreawesomethanyou.com/bastdawn/cleanhoods/cleantemplates1.jpg) (http://moreawesomethanyou.com/bastdawn/cleanhoods/cleantemplates2.jpg)

Oh, yes. That is pure torture.

*Emma giggles

It would be good to add nodormierespawn to the list of needed hacks and mention that it's in the director's cut.

Yes, yes.  Standard contract clause and all that.  That said, THERE IS NO GOOPY!



Make sure you have latest versions of notownieregen and antiredundancy for AL.  AL will create necessary NPCs (witches, etc.), same as any other EP, even with an empty template.  It also will create townies to fill apartments, as necessary.  It should not create all sorts of extra townies - it does not do so in my game.  If you are getting all kinds of extra townies showing up, you likely have tight pants.  Check your hacks.

Does Rod Humble create a character file?

Yes, I saw it last night in SimPE.

There ya go then. Have you got the anti-Humble mod by Pescado, southy?

If that doesn't solve it (and we all hope it does), you might try hunting for stray hacks in other parts of your Downloads folder.  I occasionally end up with a hack I did not want that sneaks in with a downloaded lot (even with clean installer), which causes amusing problems until I find it and remove it.  Inadvertent tight pants is still tight pants.

That "hideous custom content" piece is probably the bigfoot hair.

Oh, thank you so much for this - I really need to redo all my sims downloads, and redo the clean neighborhoods, because somehow I goofed with the BV ones and still have the Travellers in my bin.

Thank you.  ;)  this has made finding the necessary files easier and pain free. 

OMG I just realised I am going to miss Goopy as well  :'(   NOT, LMAO, no fugly sims!

This is great. I can't wait to get rid of all those fugly townies.

I are having trouble. At least, I think so.  :-\ I've already downloaded all the empty templates, 'cept for the base 'hood, which I got the cleaned up version (with just the original playables). I followed jordi's instructions to the letter. Here's my problem: I use InSim to summon townies and such, and whenever I use the summoner, it shows extra families. I've since figured out that it is creating new families for all of the so-called "special" townies (Garden Club, Social Groups, etc) instead of making them part of the townie list. Is this normal? Is it dangerous? And how can I fix it?

Special families for certain townie groups is normal.  Spawning can be clamped with the use of noregen hacks.  Search if you need the latter.

I'm haveing a problem with the links to the downloads.  The links for Uni, NL and OFB, are all for the same file...the NL empty template.  ??

Check out my 4shared folder (link in OP). If any are unavailable, give me a shout and I'll reupload.

As a good little puppy I use the cleaned up templates in my game, as well as the fixed Pleasantview, and keep backups of the original files.

Or at least, I thought I did. Something seems wrong with my backup of Pleasantview, as I get no lots at all and the families in the bin appear all screwed up. I must have unintentionally messed around with it. Would a kind person share their original Pleasantview N001 folder with me please? The one you find under Program Files, that is.

Nepheris, I did a vanilla install of the sims last week. I backed up all original program files, the hoods and a clean sims 2 folder. They're on my external hard drive and as soon as I get up and load them on my big PC I'll upload N001 for you, if no-one else has by then.

I backed them all up after the vanilla install because I managed to get my files in a bit of a mess after playing round with clean templates and various config type stuff. I thought buggrit, I'm not going through the dance of the disks again anytime soon!  :D

witch, I have no problem hosting that in mah bucket, if you don't want to use mediafryer.

I'll see how it goes, not sure how big it is from memory. I think the entire prog files folder came to a couple of GBs.

Ta for the offer.

Thanks so much Witch :) You're a lifesaver. Looking forward to the files.

*Happily presses sheepy button*

Talk about senility - the sims 2 program files folder comes to 13.4GB. No wonder I put it on the external HDD.

Anyway, just uploading N001 now, from the C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods path. Hope that's what you wanted.

http://www.4shared.com/file/79507877/dc8b3569/N001.html 39MB

That's exactly what I needed. Baa!  :D  My install discs thank you as well, as they are showing cracks in the middles and probably can't handle too many dances anymore.

*squirrels files away somewhere safe*

Check your other hoods if you like, just in case ...

The other ones are fine, I checked, but thanks for your concern  :)

Hrm... I was going to ask about Belladonna Cove, but I just want it to add the apartment buildings to my lot bin. That's not worth the huge file upload...

The N001 was only 38MB zipped. If you want Belladonna I can pop it up a bit later.

If you're feeling particularly generous of your time and effort, upload all of the original files and I will save them to my MATY section and link to them in the first post.

Hey! What about my MOAR EMMA TORTURE? You can't do that unless you give me MOAR EMMA TORTURE!

Click the picture on the previous page.  If that's not enough, I'll take suggestions.

Needs more suffering. Emma wasn't unhappy enough about it. MOAR EMMA TORTURE!

'Kay, this should link you to a folder containing 16 vanilla hoods. I don't think I missed any.

http://www.4shared.com/dir/11718673/ddbf9193/Hoods.html

I certainly didn't mind doing this, after all, I've used the clean hoods often enough so this is small repayment.

witchs are teh awesome.

*Emma moons Pescado

Did you do this yet? I don't see a link in the first post. I don't mind them being in the 4shared, but if I forget to go into it at least once a month, I think, they delete all the files. It would be a shame to lose them. I just lost my internet for a couple of days and was panicking they'd disappear.  :D

I'm getting them, but I need more Emma torture before I can upload them.  I'll keep them ready in the meantime.

I don't mind taking one for the cause. :P I know a couple of files are deleted from my 4shared account because, like witch, I keep forgetting to go in there. It'd be a relief to just delete them all and have more space. Yayz.

*Emma prepares for torture

You know, the more stoic and accepting you are, the harder it will be.  I'm going to have to do something really awful if you're determined to be a good sport about it.   :P

Oh gawd, I'm going to have to fire up a Goopy and take some Emma pictures.

What can I say? I am getting used to the Goopy torture, especially as he seems to have disappeared from Awesomeland :P

I will remind you that Emma Torture day is coming up next month though. Don't use up all your torture ideas or you will never win the Grand Prize!

The required Emma Torture (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,14283.0.html) has been posted.  I will be adding the vanilla hoods over the next day, and I will edit the first post of this thread to link to them when the process is complete.

Thanks for this synopsis. Considering the differant definitions I've read for clean/fixed/vanilla hoods - and that not all the templates you list go to a downloadable, I'll be getting 3 from 1one link, and 12  from the 4-share link in this thread. Would prefer hoods with the playable families (with clean DNA) but happy to take whatever I can get. But {ducking in preparation for blows with stupid stick} Jorid's directions are not specific for this process of replaceing default hoods. I would guess removing (backing up) folders (just individual hoods?). And can I (do I need to) run patches after installing the defaults?

All of the files are hosted on MATY, using links the in the first post that immediately follow the link to Emma's 4shaded account (although you can certainly use the 4shared if you prefer).  Patches should be irrelevant to these defaults, and you should always back up game files before replacing them with mods -- but if you don't, the replacements are in the last link in the original post.

Feeling brave, I submit another question: am I correct to assume that an empty OR a "cleaned" hood {meaning playable sims are still in houses} will no longer function as a master or stealth hood? i.e.: Pleasantview & Bluewater will no longer create townies or sims in bin when a new hood is created? I have found a template for G--2, the stealth aspect of G001 (Bluewater).

Yes, that is mostly the point of doing it.

This should have been so simple, but the bin is FULL of Sims! On new computer, I re-installed packs (I have all, plus Glam Life), got the antiredundancy,  stuff, default faces, etc. Went through replacement process with 3 Cleaned hoods (from 1st page of the original post, and 13 hoods (from 4Shared link), made carefull notes of process. Entered game FOR THE FIRST TIME; went to Stranagetown & looked in bin - it's full! I was expecting occupied houses in the hood (I didn't even look in the lot bin), but no one in bin. Went to Disiderata & looked in bin - also full.  Since these were "vanilla" - and I've read differant definitions of that - I wasn't sure what it would have; maybe occupied houses, but still expected empty bins.  I ran away AARRRRGGG...OK what now? And yes, I have read both strings AGAIN, CAREFULLY, and nothing matches this virgin installation that was supposed to be so easy. (Easy? a week of research, and takeing all day to do everthing so c a r e f u l l y?). And while I am new at computer stuff, I aren't stuupid. Alas, I have obviously f..s... messed up. Details provided if you need more torture. Helpers will be blessed with special Wiccan blessy thingy.

 
 Something simple to try first.  Delete the Sims 2 folder in My Documents, then start your game.  Who shows up that you don't want?  Did you replace templates in Program Files with Empty or Cleaned and Fixed? 

Did. No change; like the first time, I only went to sim bin & it is full-o-jerks. Double crap I forgot about my new downloads folder , and days of work o god o god and my computer guy has not installed that super do dad that automatically backs up everything to an off-site ogod have to go kill myself now.

 Did you ,with any hope, not empty your recycle bin recently?  I usually zip whatever folder I'm going to change before I change it.

I emptied it - never content to just FUBAR myself part way. But pushing on: I re-read instructions, and re-installed 2 other hoods, with the same results. It's not that difficult, it works for other people.. but if you have any suggestions, I will try anything. I HAVE saved all the originals, in my usual through fashion, which was totally unnecessary as they were never worked (had re-installed everything.)

 Check your messages.


edit:  Your inbox will only hold five messages.  So if you are wondering why you haven't gotten any responses you may wish to delete something.

Hello i have a very curious question about this issue, the thing is, i always try to create the minimum total of sims in my game to reduce the game size regarding to the memory to make it speed up... sorry for my english is not my mother language so im trying to be most clear i can :), so what i want to ask you is... when you kill a sim or for example when a sim dies and you delete it's tombstone will it 'file' be permanently deleted? and it will reduce the game size, do you get me? or it will still be the same thing? and what's the best way to reduce the size, because i have the feeling when the game is full of sims playables and non playables including townies it makes the game be slow load slow etc, so im abit confused too, is this thread regarding to what im talking(reducing size of game) or something completely different? Thanks very much for reading me. ::)

First of all: When a sim dies, their file is still fully intact and will not be any smaller than when s/he was still alive, even if you delete the tombstone. In fact, you should not delete the tombstone as this results in unlinked garbage data in your neighbourhood. There is a way to delete the whole sim, but this requires a lot of work and preparation and is not really recommended for a sim that has family relationships.

The best way to reduce the amount of sims in a neighbourhood is to make sure you use clean templates and antiredundancy/notownieregen hacks to keep the unplayable population as low as possible. Also, don't breed your sims excessively and don't make random CAS sims that you end up not wanting to keep.

Just how many sims you can have in one neighbourhood depends on which EPs you have. There should be a list of this somewhere on the forums, do a search. It is true that a big neighbourhood loads more slowly than a small neighbourhood, but I've found that the amount of lots/houses in a neighbourhood affects this a lot more than the amount of sims. A lot file is a great deal bigger than a sim file. Keep your neighbourhoods small and don't build a whole bunch of huge houses and community lots that you're not going to use.

By the way, all of this only affects load speed within the game, i.e. loading a neighbourhood or loading a lot within the neighbourhood. The load time of the game itself is affected by three things: How many EPs you have, how much CC you have (this being the most important factor) and how good your computer is.

It also won't affect lag within a lot. Laggy gameplay is caused by big lots with a lot of stuff on them (big houses, high poly objects), many sims on the same lot at the same time, and most of all, a crappy computer - in which case lowering your graphics settings might help.

Hope that helps you.

In short: Don't delete your tombstones, it won't help you one bit.

The best way to get rid of load lag is to take your game, your saves, and all that, and install it all onto a RAMdisk. It's really not too difficult these days to and get some 30+ GBs of RAM and partition off most of it as a massive RAMdisk.

Hmmm great informations Tarlia & J. M. Pescado!  ::) Tarlia i think i been breaking the game all the time as i always was deleting the thumbstones  :o. But it was exactly what i always wanted to know... because my big worry was to breed too many sims & blabla... end up with a huge game data! Also i have a obsession for cleanning and organizing things haha  :D so these info are very usefull!  ;D Thanks Tarlia & thanks J. M. Pescado.

Sorry, posted this to the old thread first, not realizing this was newer, but I would like to request a new upload of an empty F001 / Desiderata Valley. I  have been back and forth through this topic and over google, but that is one I can't find anywhere, and Emma's 4-shared links are no longer active.

Thx.

Sorry about the necro, but I have one stupid, on-topic question and I can't find the answer in any of the several threads and tutorials (been searching for the past two hours): when installing a clean template, do I, or do I not, delete the contents of the Lots folders?

Do not delete the contents of the Lot folder.

Whew! Did it right. I hope. *bleats appreciatively*

Edit: OK, no, I did it wrong. *sigh*
I wanted clean hoods N001, 2 and 3, the rest empty. However, when I entered the game, the only option available was to create a new neighbourhood. Everything actually seems to be working properly in game--I made Testerhood, placed a lot, built a house, entered CAS, made a sim...no problems--but the pre-made neighbourhoods just aren't there. Does anyone have any idea where/how I screwed up?

Edit: NM, I figured it out. Everything that is done in the programme files must be duplicated in the Neighbourhood folder in My Documents. Somehow I missed that step. All better now, but I'm mentioning it in case someone else didn't realise the necessity...I don't think the tutorial makes it real clear.

The templates are only used when your save game has no Neighborhoods folder.  As long as you already have neighborhoods, the game assumes that you want to keep them as they are.

Thanks for the templates and stuff, you guys.

I don't mind the townies being regenerated.  I just like to be able to play certain neighborhoods minus certain playables, and since I have yet to figure out how to delete Sims safely (I did RTFM but my computer is not cooperative), this is ideal.

I go into SimPE and copy the Sims I want from each 'hood.  Then I can plop them down in empty 'hoods and use SimPE or SimBlender to set relationships.  For example, I only want the Grunts and the Beakers for Strangetown.  I extract them, then "recreate" them in CAS, then plunk them down in an empty Strangetown.