More Awesome Than You!

The fire works and stuff got to me, but we only get it here the 17th or something. Althoug, I usually don't play "seasins" in ym game, like winter or xmas or halloween.....

Still, I can't say no t fireworks! ;D

You're joking!  I'm not buying something we should have got as a gift!!!!! After all, we who bought the original game paid more for it anyway!

I will maybe get it this month or more probably in Jan. because I'm going to visit my sister and her family for Christmas in California and I'm in Utah.  So we (Husband and I) are trying to save trip money.

It's funny you say that because I bet I Will get it as a gift. Someone is bound to get it for me for Christmas. I'm sure I'll enjoy it and thank them.

I have no plans to get it....nothing except the fireworks interest me and I am sure (just like the 'exclusive' hot rod) it will be up on a lot on the Exchange  ;)

The only thing that would interest me would be new animations or new interactions.

The fireworks are semi-interesting, but I can live without them.

I'm not planning on buying it. I don't see why I should pay more for something that other people are basically getting for free. If they hadn't Sims2 Holiday edition cost the same as regular Sims2, I may have considered it. If I end up wanting it, I'm sure it'll be up on bittorrent.

I might just buy it simply because we won't be having much of a Christmas this year due to moving.  :P

I will only buy it if the fireworks are guaranteed to burn my sim's house down. Although I saw the video and it did not look promising. They were lighting fireworks in the house and no flamage. Wtf?! I guess one sim kinda burned up....

I'm with dawnkeeper here.  Unless I can make an M-80 go off in a sim's hand and see fingers flying off in different directions then there's really no appeal to this holiday pack for me.   ;D

I won't buy it, but I'm sure someone will buy it for me. Makes for an easy present. ("Let's get h-l something to do with The Sims..."). Heh.

Refuse to buy it, on matter of principle. If they don't value me, the person who bought the game as soon as it came out, I'm not giving them money. My sims will be godless Communists!

LOL I'm with you two. I don't plan to purchase it, but it may end up on my hard drive somehow or other. ;)

I second that  ;)

Well as others have said, it probably will end up on my harddrive anyway. I have no plans of buying it (when I aforementioned, I meant someone buying it for me) because I have too many games I want. Namely The Movies, and a few others that I can't think of right now.

I won't buy it but will download the 12 free things from it that will be put on the official BBS very soon.  I never paid for custom stuff before (pay fan sites) so I don't see why I would pay Maxis for objects and stuff.  Expansion pack no problem, party pack not for me.

Nope, not getting it either.  It truly doesn't interest me, especially not enough to pay for it.  I have enough to do with what I already have and my new game The Movies. 

Same here, it doesn't interest me at all. And I'm stilled cheesed about people getting the holiday items "free" if they are just now getting around to buying TS2 but I'm expected to pay more for a "party pack". >:(

No interest in it all all.

Now if it somehow ends up on my computer anyways...welll *cough*

I bought it because I love christmas the rest  I could have cared less about

I certainly won't be buying it.  I don't like the party aspect of the game anyway, never have.  I remember getting Houseparty more so I didn't have any gaps and I hated it.  Had one party, that bloke I'd never heard of came to it, Drew Somebody-or-Other and I thought "OK, fine, so was that IT?".  Worst expansion pack ever.  I still miss Makin' Magic, though.  Pro rata, I don't think they've equalled that yet.

I have no intention of buying it. Like 25 bucks or whatever (I'm Canadian) for a bunch of objects that will probably be all over the exchange within a week anyway.

On a list from 1 to 10 this x-mas pack gets a whopping -20! I wouldn't have gotten it even if it was for free.

I remember buying the expansion packs for Sims 1 just to get the items each one added.my favorite expansion pack was superstar in Sims 1.

I completely agree - I'm sure someone will be so kind as to upload a lot that includes every single object anyway (I already have them lined up *cough*)

I can do that after I recieve my copy any one for an empty house with the nothing but holiday items?

I just came back from the official sites and it's stated that reposting is concidered piracy! :o And that nothing should be uploaded to the exchange etc. ::)

Really? No shit!?  ::)

Well people will do it anyway. They've uploaded the hotrod. They've uploaded stuff from paysites. People have extracted objects from NL and Univerisity and uploaded them so you can get them with just the base game etc.

Heck no.

Even if it weren't pay, and unfair on those who got the game last year, and all thwe other fine points that others have raised, I'm incredibly anal about not connecting my Sims to the 'real' world. I even refuse to download clothing/items with English script on them. Christmas does not happen in Simworld. Llama Day, however...

What can I say, I prefer the wacky/fantasy aspect... with a dose of soap opera, yes, but only a dose.

Hear hear. I'm greatly looking forward to Open for Business, but I really hope we get a TS2 Makin' Magic after that.

your'e right Motoki I downloaded a house the other day and what did it contain? you geussed it the Hot Rod!I also Downloaded a house that was suposed to be only for base game owner and it contained  Uni and nightlife Items.annyhoo my  holiday pack shipped today  from the EA Store so it will be here in my hands next week .

You're kidding, right? lol

leave it to ea to claim that :P

A couple of weeks after the hotrod got uploaded to the exchange, I noticed that slowly they were all going away.  I doubt it was the creators removing them, unless they were told to officially.  I bet it will be the same with this - the quicker you are to download the lot, the better chance you have of getting it.  What are they going to do - sue some 10-year-old kid for uploading that stuff?

there's a lot up onthe exchange now with the hot rod and second of all there are umpteen Places to upload a lot to that arent the official exchange. its a matter of figuring out how to package the lot into a rar or zip file and once thats done people can email the file or place it else where

There's no way they can prove intentional piracy unless someone out and out states "Here, I am pirating this". It's quite possible and happens all the time that all sorts of stuff gets accidentally shoved into lot files due to the way the game packs up lots. Many people who upload lots are quite unaware of it and are not doing it on purpose at all. Your average BBSer does not use Sims2pack Clean Installer and has no clue about all the junk being stowed away along with their lots.

Also, you'll have to forgive me if I have little sympathy in their anti-piracy crusade for this. Basically it's like "Merry Christmas, you bought the game early so now you have to pay us $15 for this holiday stuff we're giving away free to new buyers.".  >:(

Amen to that.

I feel the same way, but I pre-ordered anyway, and it's in transit.

I'm weak, what else can I say?

BUT, if it turns out that I could have gotten those fireworks FREE in the Give-Away and saved myself $16 (incl. taxes ~ got free shipping), I will still be pissed off. I'll also be pissed off if nothing is recolorable.

Speaking of which, the "Classic Wreath" comes in several colors, so it is recolorable. That made my Mood Bar a little greener.

mine is in Transit as well and I didnt get free shipping it was offered after I ordered it >:(

So, are you thinking what I'm thinking? That overall, this whole Party Pack thing is a collossal fuck up?

The "exclusive" objects we end up with had better be S P E C T A C U L A R.



 ::)

YEP

IMO, they should have packed up University with the original game and offered the holiday pack free to everyone. It would have created a lot less hard feelings among the fans that way and pretty much everyone who wants university has it by now. If I were a new buyer, having the package include university would also entice me to buy it a whole lot more than some flimsy holiday pack where half of the stuff is available online for free anyway would.

I guess they figured they could still milk some sales out of university though.  ::)

I was thinking of getting it, but they are giving 12 of the 40 new objects away for free, right? That leaves 28 objects for $15? Hmm, I don't know. Money isn't the object here, it's just that I'm unlikely to be incorporating Christmas into my game for very long. I'll have to hear whether these 28 objects are really worth it before I decide for sure.

Yes, those 12 are included in the 40. As far as I can tell, so are the previously released Christmas tree, Menhorra, Kinara, 3 Halloween decorations and probably the snowman too as they said those holiday items from last year would be in the pack. The didn't explicitly state they were part of the 40, but that's the impression I got.

Some of the new items are also paintings which really aren't any big stink and anyone with 2 minutes can make new paintings with the google image search and SimPE.

I bet you they also include the santa outfit and hat separately towards the 40 count. :P

Right now, being in Canada, there is pretty much nothing they can offer me in this holiday pack that will make me want to buy it.  I can't justify spending $25 (or whatever, after the exchange rate) on some objects.  If I wanted to spend my money on new stuff for my Sims, I would buy a subscription to a pay-site, because at least I can get my money's worth, with the sheer volume of items available on some of those sites. 

Plus, I know I will be able to get all this stuff for free from others who do buy it.

I cant create a thing except a mess

I won't buy it because it's a huge stinkin' marketing ploy, absolutely no motive behind it other than for EA/Maxis to earn a few more bucks!  I bought TS2 when it came out because I love the game.  I bought NL when it came out because it offered things I wanted.

If people feel this party pack thing is a good buy and it's something they really want, then they should buy it but I still feel like those who've already bought their game before this Christmas are getting completely ripped off.

Also, there's the whole value thing.  I paid $30 for NL which offered oodles of new objects, great interactions and much-needed dimension to my game.  Considering what the party pack contains, again, it's a rip-off.

As for the piracy issue, Maxis has a valid point.  This is stuff they've created and acquisition by any other means than purchasing it legally is software piracy. 

Yet if their own software is the thing that's responsible for its distribution in the first place, they can't really rightly complain. After all, everyone knows the Exchange is pretty much a garbage collector of everything Sims-related. There's simply no way for the typical user to stop it from sucking up everything they have on their hard drives and packing it along.

Why, it's even been know to steal office documents!

You've got a point there!  The site software is absolutely horrid.  I rarely upload anything to it for fear of what it's going to suck out of my PC.  Even so I don't think I'd feel comfortable about accidentally-on-purposely downloading the content.

Misty: You deserve the Gali Goody-Goody of the week award. ;)

Precisely why I ordered it. I may end up feeling like a chump, but I'll feel like an honest chump.

I ordered it for the same reason

Oh my god, so many goody goodies! I feel like I am in Care Bear Land. *vomits*  ;D

bo goody goody here .If I upload a house with the objest in it Im not gonna feel guilty .I am not going to disable my game folders just to make sure its stripped of all CC. since Inever upload sims I dont wory about CC on them. if I get a house with a hack I dont want I take a jaunt through clean installer and remove the hack.but Im not going to waste time running the house for CC. hacks yes CC no   apparently I will have the holiday pack in my hands tommorow as EA shipped it From Little Rock.or at least thats what UPS says about it when I clicked the tracking#

Which is why we should eat them. Also, they're an excellent source of fiber.

Not that tempted to get it at all. I hear that most of the objects are decorative with makes me go "meh". I'd also have to have it shipped from Europe which would probably make the total cost around $28. That emaciated Santa just down't cut it.

Now, if one of our wonderful modders took the fireworks or sparklers and make them combustiable I'd REALLLY be tempted. BURN THE WHOLE TOWN DOWN! Ok, I'm back to normal now.

P.S: I would love to know what kind of gifts Santa leaves behind.

Doyou add salt and pepper to your office documents before you eat them or do you have a plateful plain?

Hmmm, not mine, I'm afraid. Not unless chronic heartburn is on your list of "jolly things to do before I die"?

I'm not going to buy this. I wish I hadn't bought Uni as it has added very little to the game from my point of view.

Uni  is boring I hate to say it the skinny Santa looks more fun than Uni

Never mind the Xmas pack.  There's a new survey on the official BBS asking how likely we'd be to buy another add-on pack, this time the Shopping pack.  There are actually some suggested things in this I would consider buying it for, however - namely: facial modifications, careers, hairstyles and outfits.   Certainly sounds better than the Xmas pack but asking about it the day that comes out?  Talk about money-grabbing!

Thanks for the heads-up on the survey, Ancient Sim; I actually got there quick enough to take it!
It does seem more then a little money-grubbing to be putting out the feelers for what their next "party pack" will be when the first one was just released today. However, I'm always more then happy to give my opinion, I just wish there was an essay question involved. :D

I just downloaded it :P I'm a sucker. But I'll be a pissed sucker if it turns out this holiday pack messing with file formats again so people who download my lots on TSR won't be able to use them if they don't have it >:( Has anyone who knows about such things taken a look at it to see if that's the case?

Jen

I am goona have a look see if they can be packaged to share with another person then it shouldnt be a problem if the lot has some or all of objects in it remember the hotrod it showed up on the exchange and in peoples games when they downloaded the lots with it

Dangit, I missed the survey! Oh well. These things fill up fast. Or maybe I'm having issues like Motoki was with the previous one? Hrm...

Oh well. If anyone has their X-mas pack already, please post more info about it and let us know if there are any new, significant or interesting interactions or objects that are supposed to be exclusive. That way we can decide if it's worth the trouble. :P

Ste

Please read the following:
A "Shopping Pack" is a new game idea that is different from our current Expansion Packs:

A Sims 2 Expansion Pack offers a new theme with all-new gameplay, new locations, and over 125 new items.
A Sims 2 Shopping Pack would offer a themed assortment of objects and/or items that you could use in the Sims 2.


The below description is for a Sims 2 Shopping Pack:

Deck out your Sims' homes with all new furniture, décor, flooring and wallpaper options. Select from dozens of new outfits including new hairstyles and clothes. Build out their neighborhood with all new lots and houses, or even choose from a variety of new landscaping items.

Due to the bitching and whining I've been getting I've pulled the links off the board for the backups. Sorry I just hate reading bitchy emails.

Linda! I love the way you think. You GO! :) LOL Thank you for your kindness in helpin gall those un PC-friendly people. :) LOL

Wow! Look here! http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9IIPX68L MegaUpload is a great place! :)

LOL SO WHERE IS MY DAMN BENE NOW HEHE.

*covers eyes* your appreciation is more than enough. lol Its hard trying to announce such a kind deed as offering backup copies to all these legal owners without sounding Illegal *bats eyes*.

Heh, just tried the damned thing and whenever my sim tries to make the Christmas cookies she goes to pull them out of the oven, grabs a plate out of the oven, then a jump and the plate and cookies are gone. POOF!

Santa got pissed about no cookies and left my sims coal.

Now we know the real reason why this Santa is so skinny, the cookies are bugged up and he can't eat them!  ;D

Oh and I see no sign of this supposed "feast" they mentioned, unless they just mean turkey. :P

A skinny Santa from a stingy Maxis.

i got a remote control car. SHEESH

yay remote control car. Nothing like a present for making your game EXPLODE in a BIG FIERY BALL THAT IS VISIBLE FROM SPACE.

I'll take the coal, thanks.

Maybe it's because of the cooking skill of your sim, Motoki?

Just what everyone needs right? ;D

Mine can make cookies without problems. But Santa is damn annoying, everyone runs to hug him for some reason. I like Father Time better. At least he explodes.

I found a glitch with the fireworks. The red ones suspended from the ceiling. Don Lothario lit them, got burned, and then got the little flame from the lighter permanently stuck a short distance in front of his hand. This did not go away after several showers, carpool, and a number of other things including a forced reset. I finally deleted him and reloaded the lot, and that fixed it.

Also, the fireworks last for ten seconds. Someone needs to mod that cone thing so that it lasts at least an hour. I wouldn't mind having a permanently lit one for decorative purposes. I bet it would look cool at night clubs as a centerpiece.

Oh, and my very first party ended with the XMas tree blowing up. Did it used to do that? I used it many times before (it's the free one from the Exchange) and it never caught fire until now. Although, I have some fire-modifying hacks, so it's possible one of them prevented it from catching fire. I took all hacks out to install the Pack, just in case.

(http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/1999/glitch5kt.th.jpg) (http://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=glitch5kt.jpg)
(http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/8369/poordon1wv.th.jpg) (http://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=poordon1wv.jpg)
(http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7206/cone2kd.th.jpg) (http://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cone2kd.jpg)
(http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7562/fathertime5it.th.jpg) (http://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fathertime5it.jpg)

I'm a bit unimpressed by it. The little dancing snowman thing seems to be bugged - I had one person turn it on, then another decided to turn it on autonomously, so I had two loud obnoxious Christmas songs playing at the same time from the same Snowman. One ended when I had someone turn it off, but the other kept on playing AFTER I sold the dang thing!

Also had the same experience as SaraMK with the Christmas tree spontaneously combusting. Santa thought it was the funniest thing ever - he laughed at it, shat out a teddy bear, and laughed some more. I'm not entirely convinced he didn't set the silly thing on fire.

(http://home.insightbb.com/~eahall/Evil-Santa-thumb.jpg) (http://home.insightbb.com/~eahall/Evil-Santa.jpg).(http://home.insightbb.com/~eahall/SantaDaPyro-thumb.jpg) (http://home.insightbb.com/~eahall/SantaDaPyro.jpg)

(Click to enlarge)

And what has Santa been drinking that requires him to "drain the reindeer" three times in a row? Did he get a UTI for Christmas?

I do rather like the new carpets, though. I'm off to try the New Year's party - an exploding elder should be entertaining.

Oh my god Twiki.....that was entertainment at it's best....specially Santa 'draining the reindeer' shitting a teddy bear and the exploding elders... ;D  Oh lordy!!

He EXPLODES? Cool! Time to get this and make the Suicide Bomber NPC. :P

Now your Sims, too, can live in Iraq!

OMG!  ;D My visit from Santa was BORING in comparison! All he did was pee. And pee. And pee. And pee...

HA! Brilliant pics ;D Someone on TSR said their tree caught on fire too, I love it. Reminds me of the running with scissors thing, lol.

Actually, with the packaging, I was more worried about the pack changing the way files are saved, as the expansion packs did. Folks without NL can't properly use lots created in NL, even if they have no NL objects, for example.

Pescado, I have no words for the suicide bomber NPC :o

Jen

 ::) She had 10. Besides, sims with lower cooking skills don't jump and have their plates dissappear, they just can't make the damned food. :P

Wait a minute. The remote control car still isn't fixed? I don't want to come across as whiny, but why the hell not? Rassafrackin' idiots.

Ahem... I guess I need some coffee, or maybe some ice-cream (well, maybe not ice-cream, it somehow causes my jeans to shrink :P)

I think several people have claimed with NL & the patch it doesn't corrupt the objects.package anymore. I still get sound issues with the damned thing though and I just don't trust it. :P

I agree with you there Motoki. I will not use the damn thing unless someone I completely trust tells me it's safe to use it. Even though I've made the objects.package 'read only' I'm still paranoid about maxis' stuff. They are so good with implementing bugs, deep down inside I probably think they'll find a way around the 'read only' and still manage to blow up my game somehow.

I guess the 'jump-bug' in the original game way back when scarred me for life. I still remember vividly the frustration at being told for the longest time that it was my own fault, my computers fault, global warming, deforestation... anything but their own incompetence, and then to top it off, having to wait several month for an official fix. Nevermind that I had the one from MTS2 long before they came out with one, it's the principle of the thing. :D

speaking of Bugs and the Holidays.....just because I haven't ranted in a while on the BBS...and because I think EA/Maxis is a bunch of morons at times.....

Silly Stupid Maxis (http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?&openItemID=item.2,item.43,item.61,item.41,item.23&threadID=1415b5329af58113570a96b2bba2e7f7&directoryID=2&startRow=1)

Well if you want another holiday "blooper", my sim walked right through santa as if he were a ghost. Perhaps I should take a picture and post it and call it a Christmas present for everyone.  ::)

...or put it on a personalized christmas card :D

according to Maxis they glitches and bugs are never ever their fault but always the fault of the end user. which of course we all know to be total and utter BS if it were our fault Modders Such as Two Jeffs and His awesomeness  J.M.Pescado wouldn't have had to have spent hours diving into the game codes to make fixes for the issues we encounter in the game. there are many more modders that have made critical and useful fixes for bugs that are supposedly all our fault..............Personally I would like Maxis to admit the obvious that the game is indeed buggy to a certain extant through no fault of the user or the users computer! :P

Seems cheap enough to purchase for a laugh. Hell, I'd love to do twisted things to Santa Claus like, make him furious with members of the household.  ;D

Yay, he's back. Twain, I love your rants and raves. I even posted in your official board thread. Gosh darn, I missed that so much. Thanks, much appreciated.

Edit: because I didn't see Bangel's response.

I agree, especially since many people are far more ready to forgive someone when they admit that they could possibly be wrong. Most other game companies have no problems admitting their shortcomings and patching their product in a speedy manner without annoying/insulting their paying customers.

I always aim to please Veilchen ;)... Actually I was quite bored and the BBS has be very boring lately.  I just like stirring the pot every so often   :P

I don't think you can. It doesn't seem like you can interact with him much. You can neglect to leave him any cookies and he'll give you coal though. :P

Well, I got it.

Santa sat down to eat a cookie, put it down abruptly, sort of did a slide-jump thing out of his seat to go "ho-ho-ho", then did a slide-jump thing back into a sitting position. Repeat process ad nauseum. Just eat the goddamn cookie, beardy. No, don't go and get another one!  >:( Eat the one you've got!

I only played it for about five minutes and found a bug already for god's sake.

A whole 5? I found one after 2.  ;D

He doesn't show up in your relationships panel at all - he's like the social bunny, except everybody can see him at the same time, and he's got less social interactions. I think you can chat to him and hug him and that's it. There's a third pie menu option, but I forget what it is.

The first time Skinny Santa interacted with each member in my test household, they suddenly became Best Friends. Nothing in the relationship panel, just the spinning bauble atop their heads. I just checked in SimPe for invisible memories, and it turns out there are some not-so-invisible ones - "Met Unknown","Made Best Friends with Unknown", "Had Two Best Friends", an invisible for the other person in house doing the same. I don't know if it's Unknown because SimPe doesn't recognize it or Unknown because Santa is inherently glitchy, but it's making me a little antsy.

Edit: And I just checked in Body Shop, and it doesn't recognize the new toddler Formal slot. Do I just have a FUBAR install, or was that overlooked?

You're right - I saw the best friends spinny bauble as well - I didn't think anything of it since I had two sims talking to each other right behind santa and his interactor, so I assumed it was from the other two. That *is* a bit worrying.

I can't help wondering if he can be bitten by a vampire, or what happens if you set fire to him. Amusing as it would undoubtedly be, I'm not sure I want to find out.

So how many actually bought the pack?? Gosh! It looks like a lot bought it!

Hasn't Maxis proven that they just want our money? For goodness sake --a 'Pack' of items that should have been offered for free to us! Haven't they proven that their personnel are not near as talented as they should be to be working on a game this complex? WHat for the SIms 2 hasn't been filled with bugs? I know, me too, I WAS addicted and I wanted everything that came out--but after Tom's attack on me over at SC2--I am not addicted anymore! Thank goodness! When 'Business' comes out I will actually have the choice to buy or not buy! :)

When Will left, he took his team with him. Pretty obvious. I bet when Spore comes out it won;'t be filled with bugs.

Seems to me if you all keep buying any ol' thing Maxis can keep selling any ol' thing, good or bad, they are gonna do it and screw what us Simmers think.

Thank goodness for JM and 2jeffs and Crammyboy and Inge and Carigon and Quaxi and Pinhead and dizzy etc etc. WIthout REAL talent the game would not be what it is for Maxis. They oughta pay these people!

Ok. Ranting over. Sorry for it, just felt it needed to be said.

I'm sure not all of us bought it.

;)

lol oh! Well good! :)

Could this be true??? (http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?&openItemID=item.2,item.43,item.61,item.41,item.23&threadID=d80bac739e6b6921bfef89ed0a0964ec&directoryID=2&startRow=1#b72b1588b896932a1c5fe9f03d1ebacd)

Now Maxis is claiming that it is impossible to upload the Holiday Pack items to the exchange...is that even possible?

Settle down there chief!

Maxis is claiming nothing!!  The post says that "she doesn't think exclusive objects will actually carry up to the exchange" (bold is my addition)!   :P

oh I am settled....I am just wondering if it is possible to keep them from filtering up to the exchange.....I am a bit confused.... ???

well if I ever get finished with my sim pe editing I will give it a go and put a house up on the exchange with the items and see if they show up

Well since I have seen lots with the cornacopia etc I tend to think that's kind of a crock. I mean the santa npc might not upload but clothing and objects probably will. Like Pesacdo said, that housing packager is a giant vaccum.

I think your probably right

And doubly so since the uploader/packager/whatever often packs up things that the person doing the uploading doesn't really want to include. How would you justifiably punish someone who unintentionally includes 'forbidden' things, especially if it's the distributors own faulty process that made it possible in the first place?

I admit that I don't know anything about uploading etc., because I don't participate. I'm too lazy to comb through my creations to weed out mods and/or custom content, so I could be way off base, but that's not an illogical thought process. Especially since many people have ended up with unwanted items and/or mods in the past.

I mean, if you want to make your own paysite without actually calling it a paysite (let's face it, that's what those add-on's are, if you think about it), then you must suffer the same issues that the actual paysites suffer, i.e. random uploads by players to an open exchange.

It appears, according to one simmer's experience, that if you don't have the  holiday pack (http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?&openItemID=item.2,item.43,item.61,item.23&threadID=44a0e6bf952376304f7d8467fd796e81&directoryID=2&startRow=1#d800ae9cfd469415d438a032a353199f) installed the objects won't appear in your game if you download them from the exchange. 

I just downloaded a house off TSR that had the cornocopia prominently displayed on the dining room table.

Very nice and all, but isn't it exclusive content? Tsk, tsk. How are you supposed to remember every crappy object Maxis have released as a freebie (or, er, not-so-freebie-after-all) so you know not to include it in lots? Jesus.

Edit: Cross-posted with Myrddin - does this mean they've done the l337 wrangling skillz to break these things if you're being naughty after all? How clever!

I don't believe the cornucopia is exclusive; it has been offered on the main site as a free download from Maxis since last fall. :-\

What I find odd is that the EA/Maxis only allows those running Win XP to download the pack. Why didn't they just zip it?

The pack does sound intriguing, though, what with the burning Christmas trees and constantly peeing Santa.  I wonder if the cow plant would lilke the old guy in the merry red suit....

Are those legal, then? I seem to remember a big fuss about them being posted on some fansite a few months back. You know, the awful giant cat and the hideous ghosts-in-the-cauldon rubbish?

I'm actually almost sorry I've got the holiday pack because now I've got to look at them - I wish there was a way you could go through the friggin' game and BIN whatever you like, even if it IS made by maxis. I think I'm gonna overwrite their GUIDs with better stuff.

Hooray for SimPE!  :D

Not that I trust anyone on the Exchange as far as I can throw them, or that I give them enough credit to figure their way out of a paper bag, but when I think about it, that could well be that case. The lot packager seems to suck up anything and everything from the downloads directory, but these holiday pack items don't get installed under downloads, they get installed where the regular game files do.

Now that brings me to another point, since EA is now seeing simolean signs in their eyes with people actually buying this pack, it sounds like we're going to get a lot more of them and probably more frequently than an expansion pack. It's bad enough to keep up with all the expansion packs and having to worry about having them all for custom downloads that people put up, but are we now going to see custom stuff that requires the holiday pack, shopping pack, yo' mama pack etc etc in additon to the addons? If so it could be a nightmare, but I suspect a lot of people are going to just buy everything just to make sure they have what they need to download whatever it is that they may want that might come along at some future point. I refuse to give into this though. :P But as we've seen even on this board, this community has no shortage of people willing to throw their money away for downloads for this game. :P

That's what I'm afraid of too. I'm one of those suckers who will throw money at EA for just about anything Sims (obviously :P) so *I* won't have any problems with it, but I can see it being a real mess too. I build lots and it's bad enough that every expansion changes so much of how the files save that folks who don't have the EP can't use the house at all, even if it doesn't contain any content from the EP. This makes stuff even more complicated. I won't be using most of that stuff though in my lots, as I pretty much hate Christmas to begin with and am already getting tired of seeing trees and wreaths. :P I've been using some of the stuff that's already been available, I'll have to look and see if the pack overwrote those or if I can still use them, as they package correctly.

Jen

You can still keep those items in your downloads folder and they will work okay with the holiday pack installed. It's just sort of rendudant to do so and waste space not to mention increasing the game's load time ever so slightly but it doesn't cause any problems no.

You know what they say about "looks." :D


I wouldn't mind that, actually. The game gets boring pretty fast after an EP. Within a month it's all old and stale. I think the Holiday pack was just TOO themed and specific. There is basically only one way to play with the objects, so if you don't do holidays/seasons, then you are practically guaranteed not to like it. If they did something like a Child-themed pack, then at least that could be used all throughout the game. It can get tedious when you're downloading player-made content and you don't have everything ever released, but as long the creators document the base object used, it's the same as hunting for the custom mesh when downloading recolors.

Uggh..I hate to even think about it.

I'm refusing to give into it as well.  Unless perhaps just maybe the come out with an add on that actually sounds good.  So far that doesn't look totally promising either.  Or if they lower the price to something half way reasonable...err wait..that doesn't look promising either.

I'm also awaiting these booster packs to find their way into feature EPs..just waiting to piss people off who purchased them seperately the first go round.  I could see it happening.

First off, I think anyone who buys something they neither need nor want because someone might make an object you might want based on something from the pack at someone unknown future date is the height of insanity.

Another thing that concerns me about these packs are bugs. People have already found some with the holiday pack. The turn around time for these packs seems very fast so I doubt they are testing them all that thoroughly. And you know we're not going to get patches for them. :P

Oh, and is anyone else appalled by the thought of custom content based on stuff from this pack being put up on pay sites? So we'd be paying for a recolor for an object from a mini pack we paid for, for a game that we paid for. I think Sims 2 players are some of the most nucking futs people I've ever come across when it comes to spending money. Apparently, any money people in this community have is just burning a hole in people's pockets and can't wait to be given to EA, TSR or a myriad of other pay sites all vying for our money. :P

I truly wish I could add to this, but you just about covered it all.
Nucking futs? Now that's hilarious, for a second there I thought I was cross-eyed. I've never heard that expression before, as a matter of fact, I'm still laughing ;D ;D
Deserves two smilies, sorry Nectere, but honor where honor is due.

What you said Motoki.

Smirking against my principles at nucking futs.

I build in a separate Windows account with very little custom content (and mostly walls and floors) so loading time's not an issue for buiiding. I'll probably delete them from my playing account because as you said, it's kind of redundant and waste of space.

Jen

Love the reindeer, its quite shocking!

I thought maybe if you became best buds with Santa he would leave you something better than a single lousy teddy bear, but it seems there are no interactions with Santa before he farts out the bear, only after. Of course you can sit and have cookies with him and he will talk to you, but you cant interact with him until the shatting has commenced. The fireplace proves useless so far in the way of ringing in the holiday spirit.

The tree combusting was pretty cool though, seems that if you leave it on too long it will burst into flammage. ooo pretty fire...

Thank's a lot!

This will so totally come in handy if I ever lose my official disk.

Cough.

itried and the transmission kept timing out error code 6

usually when you get error code 6 it still uploads. At least that's my esperience with albums.

I will go back and check.nope it didnt upload

.
As it turns out, you can upload holiday pack items to the exchange but if you don't have the pack installed on your comp, the holiday specific objects won't show in your game.  Basically the same as expansion packs.

So it isn't the holiday pack items causing your time out

I have the holiday pack installed on my computer along with the base game,uni and NL

bangle it might be those downloads causing the upload timeout.

So, I got my hands on the x-mas pack. (Thanks Linda!)

I decided, as usual, to use Don as my guinea pig. I always play him with the new EPs to test things out. Of course, never saving because I usually mess things up big-time.

First thing was to get rid of that ugly hair of his. The poof drove me nuts. I gave him a faghawk, and noticed there were three GIANT elf hats with silly ears attached to them. Pretty funny, didn't know the game came with those.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to make Santa come. Any tips?

That could be but I always seem to get error code 6 if I try and upload anything to  the exchange. EA said alot of it has to do with how much traffic is on the server that could be . I rarely ever upload anything. because of My CC . much of it  says do not upload to the exchange.

I understand Santa's turned on by cookies.... :D

Hook

yeah but they must be 0 calorie cookies since he sure is skinny ;D

Is there a buyable plate like last time? Or am I forced to bake them? ;D

Also, I noted there were floors. About two rows in the carpeting section were all holiday-esque carpets with decorational borders and things. Was this announced? Quite nice of them, although very dissapointed if they counted them torwards the 40+ objects.

lazy ass just bake the damn cookies lol

honestly I didnt  bother to count

The walls and floors don't count toward the 40 item count.

Ah, I see.

About Santa coming. I know this is noobish, but what exactly do I do? Does it require the new tree, because I could only find the old tree in my game.

So far all I know is you leave cookies out. Do they have to be asleep by 8pm like the old game, or what?

random question i just looked at my name and my lips are ripped? how did that happen and why? lol

My understanding is that he comes while sims are awake since he does interact with them

oh the x through the lips? it denotes standing and rank based on posts  here ie # my position is a nitwitted nuisance so I have 3  mouths with a x through them it means I have 800+ posts here.when I hit 900 I will get a new position with the same amount of lips :P

At 50 posts you get your first set ripped.

ahhh didn't even realize lol

And here I am, trying so hard to get to that magical 50th post!  It is very difficult...  I've posted here more than in all the other forums I've ever posted in since I started simming. Whew.

yikes I cant even remember what my 50 th post was and it wasnt that long ago :P

I seem to have errors baking cookies...

Don put them in the oven, took them out. He held 'em for a second and they were gone. Don't tell me Santa ate them arleady! ;D

So I tried again, same error. And again. And again.

So finally I went into buy mode and put the plate on the table before he "lost" it. No interactions, just "clean up."

I waited until ten and heard some chuckling. Lo and behold it was Satan himself. He made a "where the hell are my cookies?" gesture, and left some coal. Don cheered and Santa left.

Absolutely ravishing! I can't wait to do it again!!!

I got the errors with the cookies too. Then I tried running the game with expansion packs and the holiday pack but without any custom content and they worked fine. I think it's a conflict with some custom foods because I have a couple of those.

thanks for the info

Strange. I don't have much custom content. None really, other than walls, floors, and terrains. Maybe a few objects, keyword few. And some hacks from this place, but no custom food.

It could be something else, I just suspected custom foods since I had them. Hell it could be one of Pescado's hacks for all I know.

All I know is, when I removed my downloads folder it worked and when I had it in it didn't. :(

Hmm.. Removed your downloads folder?

Would it work if I just disabled custom content with that option that came with NL?

I have no idea, I never tried that. I always just grab the downloads directory and move it to the desktop. I don't trust the stuff if it's still sitting in there not to somehow still cause problems. :P

I had Santa coming and did his Ho Ho Ho, then he left and no coal or present. I baked the cookies do they need to be in the same room as the christmas tree? He did't go to the kitchen to get some they where there, he just left.

I've looked all over for those and can't find them! Didn't know about the ears...ew. Two are shown on the "packaging" the CD came in, but they don't appear to have made it into my game. Santa's hair/hat are there, as is the female (Mrs. Claus, I guess) version, so it's not a thumbnail problem.

 ???

Not trying to be overly picky, but could you possibly call that a fauxhawk instead?

I finally got the holiday pack working...  love the new trees!  (in the garden section) - there's even a cactus decorated for christmas...  so far it's about the only thing that comes close to resembling an australian christmas!

They came up as an option for Angela Pleasant when I wanted her to wear a Santa hat.

I'm not liking this age and sexual discrimination, you know. Why shouldn't a teenaged girl be able to wear a santa hat? Why shouldn't a toddler? Wtf?

Idid try the cookies and my sim was able to make them with no issues havent tried the clothes yet

so they added a new slot for toddler clothes (formal) in this dang holiday pack bulls___t??

arghh...

is there some way to get that kind of base game change into my game without actually spending money on the stupid thing? (or going to a lot of trouble to find the whole pack available for download) *that* kind of thing is going to be a serious hassle for custom content. It was a big enough hassle that they added YA to an EP as it was. What will happen if I download custom clothes that the creator has tagged "formal"? Will they just not show up? Will they appear in the standard toddler slot?

For objects, if the creators clone them so they come up as custom content, they're downloadable... recolors will be missing the mesh of course, but I don't really want a recolored Christmas tree anyways :p

I HATE this shopping pack crap. I'm not spending $20 once a month on this game for a bunch of junk I don't want just so I can keep up with base game changes - and adding clothing slots IS a base game change. There's nothing listed in the pack that I want at all. It all sounds like a bunch of junk. but they're messing with THE most used custom content deal out there - clothing, and I download lots of clothes. In particular toddler clothes. I don't wanna not be able to use something cuz it's set-up requiring a damned "bonus" frigging pack.

<very annoyed>

I have no idea what is causing the cookie issue. I'm not getting any errors in debug mode and I'm not really in the mood to take everything out one by one so I guess my santa will just have to shit coal. I think my sims will get over it if they don't get a 45 simolean teddy bear for Christmas. :P

I will buy the shopping pack if it contains what they are saying new hair do's and faces in addition to  clothes. etc

re: toddler formal slot

The holiday pack only comes with one pathetic "formal" toddler outfit, a Miss America style tape across the chest I guess to dress them up as a new year's baby. You can't plan their formal with the changing table. Even if it had that ability, there's only one formal outfit in existence so you still couldn't. The formal slot for toddlers doesn't show up in the bodyshop either so good luck making new custom formal outfits. You also cannot change them into formal with the changing table even if you use a hack or cheat to plan their one formal outfit.

It seems like a rather pathetic afterthought and my guess is it will be included in the next expansion pack as well as an update to the bodyshop. At least we can hope. At any rate, DO NOT buy the damned pack just for the toddler formal slot because you will be sorely dissapointed.

Oh is that how it is? I didn't even give the holiday pack more than a glance because they have nothing to offer that I want in the game, but changing the core like that is a nasty move. It ensures that one way or another everyone will have to buy their add-ons, even if the majority of the content is pure and utter rubbish.

You know what? I've had it with ea/maxis. I'm barely over the patch issue/snit, and they turn around and throw another bit of corporate greed at me. I will not buy anything else that they have to offer, custom content be damned. I have enough stuff to play right now, and I will just have to weed things out that are based on the add-ons. The way I am feeling right now, they can also stuff their new ep's where the sun don't shine, I have had enough of being exploited by ea/maxis.

What they have done, in a nutshell, is add a paysite to their inventory without actually calling it a paysite. They thrown a monkey wrench into all their custom content creators works, just so they can reap the benefits of bilking their customers out of $15 - $20 a month on a regular basis. Screw them, I've had enough, and I'm getting off this insane merry-go-round. /end rant (for now)  >:(

Edit: We seem to have cross posted Motoki, I didn't even get the 'warning' flag :D. Thanks for the clarification, but I'm still very annoyed.

Veilchen: Exactly. Think of it as an EA "donation pack". :P

I mentioned this in the chat room, but I know a lot of people weren't in there. The value on these packs compared to a full game or an episode sucks. Basically, you are paying almost 1/3 of the price of the full game and 1/2 of the price of an expansion, but you are getting nowhere near 1/3 of the content of the full game or 1/2 of the content of an expansion.

The profit margin on these packs is much higher than a game or expansion and the turn around time much smaller. Because they're such small packs they can probably get away without patching them too. You can expect a lot more of these packs in the future because of this. I honestly think they got the idea from the paysites too. All of you who think it's acceptable to pay for 3rd party content this is what you get. I've never seen another gaming community so ready and willing to throw so much money at downloads for a game. Not just the game itself, or an expansion pack or a monthly online fee, but just downloads for it.

In the Morrowind community people were outraged when a gaming mag in Europe put several Morrowind mods on a free CD that came with the magazine because you had to pay for the magazine. The kind of money exchanging that goes on here is unthinkable and unacceptable in that community. I worked on what I dare say was one of the most popular Morrowind mods and one that IMO made the most difference at least in terms of visuals. We spent many months working on that mod too. But we never thought of charging for it. It never even entered our minds. It's supposed to be a hobby and fun and even when we do tedious work on mods it's ultimately so we can enjoy the game more and have more fun with it.

In this community there are even places that charge a per item fee. There's an even higher profit margin in that so I am sure EA will catch on to that sooner or later.  ::)

I think you are absolutely right to be disgusted Veilchen and I am too. But ultimately where there's a demand there will be a supply and until we all collectively just say no, they will keep taking our money.  >:(

Oh I definately *won't do*. I agree with Veilchen. I'm right on the verge of just saying forget it, I won't play the game anymore, or at least will just stick with what I've got. I'm planning on getting the movies around the holidays. I'll just see how addictive that one is.

My understanding from reading other (probably wrong, I admit) posts is that the toddler formal slot is in bodyshop. Dunno how you're supposed to change the kids, but I imagine they'll find some way if it's included. The Business EP sounds fun to me, but I dunno about including changes in toddler clothing in that - seems kinda odd. If they do, well I can wait til that comes out and see... but the shopping packs really need to not include base game changes, if they want to keep at least the me part of the customer base.

They'll have to go a far ways with something I actually want before I'd consider buying them and even then I'll think a lot about it. EPs didn't cost almost as much as the game when they first game out either. Halfway again as much for a shopping pack (which will slowly increase) is pushing it way far. The money spent : replay value ratio is getting skewed and I'm not made of money.

It isn't, I just checked.

I actually do know how to make more toddler formal outfits via manually changing flag settings around in SimPE, but I'm not going to do it because it will just encourage others to do it and make people who otherwise don't want the holiday pack feel compelled to waste their money on it.

My toddlers live in their pj's anyway  :P

Motoki, I forgot to say thanks for the info. I was too busy being mad at Maxis, sorry.

Thanks for the info! and for checking again on the bodyshop issue :) I feel slightly better now... but just a little. I'm still mad about the whole idea.

and sorry MTS2 but you are now a WAY over-moderated (primarily on the sister chat site). They won't even let people complain about the bonus pack idea and pull the threads when they do under the claim of "Maxis bashing"  ::) When did that site become an official site satellite? They're getting a lot of misinformation because they're not allowing free exchange conversation.

Motoki, I wouldn't put it past them to offer an 'exclusive' item for pay. They more or less  have done that with the butt-ugly car and the pre-order. It didn't bother them in the least that quite a few countries are not utterly consumed with corporate greed and don't offer pre-paids or pre-orders. Some simply don't want the logistics mess on their hands, so they don't offer the pre-order either. So all these people missed out on an item that they might have been willing to get via pre-order, but were unable to. They are trying to squeeze as much money as they can out of their customers, and I truly hope that this nasty habit will backfire big time on them. Not highly likely, but one can hope.

I can't wait for next spring when Morrowind releases its newest game, and I also like the Zelda (GC) games. Both have been pushed back in release, but that's fine with me. I actually like it when companies are not rushing their product out in order to test and re-test as much as they can.

Sagana, I will do the same thing. I'll go out today and search for the 'movie' game, maybe I'll even get some early Christmas shopping done ;). By the way, nothing that happens in the MTS2 forums surprises me. I have been there maybe twice, and I've been a member there since Octoberish 2004, when they first started. I stick to the creator part of the site, and there I only check on the ones I like and trust, such as Dizzy2, Besen, Shaklin (she's not there anymore though, but has her own site. She does offer english translations too ;)) and the like.

The funny elf hats are an option in Change Appearance from the mirror.

Click Hair, and select the Asterik sign. You'll find your custom hair, and strange dyed hairs that Maxis created, along with hats and things that aren't "natural" colors.

Also, I see a lot of you are upset. You have every right to be upset and disappointed with your product. (Legally purchased or not  :D)

I was a bit disappointed with the pack too, but this just makes me interested in the next pack. It makes me think "Will the next booster pack suck as much as this one? Or will Maxis really listen to the fans and give them more meaningful things?"

Hopefully the next pack isn't something stupid like Asian themed decor. Something we all could use like more hairstyles and clothes. And maybe clothes that aren't so damn flashy and ugly like the ones that came with NL.

I hope your'e right about the next one

Surely you jest, funny kingdom ;). But seriously speaking, I wish you were right Kingdom. I do enjoy the game, but they are taking the fun right out of it for me with their insatiable greed.

I my opinion, ea/maxis will go on with what they are doing unless they get hit where it hurts them the most - their wallets. The practice of punishing their loyal customers and bilking everyone as much as they can has not hurt them yet, so I'm not holding my breath.

"......It makes me think "Will the next booster pack suck as much as this one? Or will Maxis really listen to the fans and give them more meaningful things?"

Has Maxis proven that what they put out will NOT suck yet?? Haven't they had ample time/chances? Let's see-- Sims2, Uni, NL, the Patch, arg, and now the Pack...all sucky. IMO, the Pack is worst because price v. content is such a ridiculous greedy rip.

The Sims 1 team, Will and the original Maxiods, so I hear went with Will Wright when he left  (he et. al. are making Spore right now, under EA but not as Maxis.)  So we have team 2, second line Maxiods lol. hm...

Now, I have to admit that I have, on occasion, paid for custom content. However, I've used very strict criteria for deciding whether or not it was worth it to pay, such as "Can I, for around $5, get almost or over a hundred quality items that I will frequently use?" and "Am I at least reasonably sure that this money is solely going to pay site bandwidth?" If the answer to both is "yes," it's probably worth it. If the answer to either is "no," then, no, sorry, but I'll just take the free items. Okay, so, I've only actually paid for custom content one time, but I thought it was worth it for the sheer number of quality items I was able to get.

I do object, though, to this wild profiteering by EA. Because I'm a nerd, I have a formula to help determine what I'm willing to pay for various things (The base "currency" of this formula is the price of a paperback book [my entertainment medium of choice], which gives approximately four hours of reading entertainment time, plus average re-reading entertainment time of two hours per year, plus shopping time of one hour, plus thinking time of two hours, for a total of nine hours of entertainment for about $7. Anything else I buy for entertainment purposes must be at least this efficient.). The Holiday Party Pack failed this test miserably. I was quickly able to determine that it's not an efficient provider of fun and therefore not worthy of my money (it would be far more cost-effective to spend that money on books, or iTunes, or even paysites if I wanted Sims content). I may buy future party packs if they pass the test, but to do that they'd have to have killer new hair meshes, good clothing (that doesn't look stupid, like most Maxis clothes), and lots of nice (and expensive) furniture for my fortune sims, at the very least.

And to all those who say they don't use Maxis objects, wtf!? I generally think Maxis objects are pretty decent. Sure, I use mostly recolors, but I wouldn't have a problem furnishing a house with Maxis-only objects. Just don't ask me to use their walls or floors.

Well, I did enough of the "Wait and see how many bugs there are in it by watching the forums." and the conclusion is: no, I will not purchase that silly little package.

Besides, Christmas-smishtmas...BAH HUMBUG!

After my SC2 debacle with the HatedMaxiod, then having inoccent posts in another thread pulled by Lyriclee for no explainable reason other than she didn't like my signature (so pull the signature, not my posts) then getting '4 warning points' ,oooo, from delphy for using, in the War Zone, the word idot to describe no one in particular (the thread is still there -- go read it: Surviving the War Zone). I had just about had it completely with the Sims, EA, Maxis etc. for good. There's no way in the world I'd ever purchase the Pack. But reading this stuff from all of you has put the fun back into playing the game for me. Thank you.

As for more packs and more EPs: I've been thinking that if we'd quit buying the EPs, then Miche et al would have  areal chance at breaking into the animations, other modders would have a real chance to make more elaborate hacks etc etc you get my drift. But if we keep buying the EPs and the Packs (items only, won't change the core--what a crock) then Maxis has the chance to keep the modders 'down' (the modders have to spend all their time redoing hacks!)  Me: I would rather have the modders stuff anyway. Maxis has some stupid twisted ideas (a teddy baer for a gift and only a teddy bear--what cheap lazy shit is that?? and then glitchy on top of it!) anyway. I'd much rather have the phone not ring constantly, teen and casual sex, Liz Loves bed, Crammyboy's penis, Danny's girls, winkeeprs and 2jeffs cow wall trophy, oh the list is endless.

Wow--look at all those words. I've got verbal diarrehea..Sorry...

They've basically turned from a tell it like it is no holds barred site to a bunch of TSR-like ass kissers who censor anything and everything they don't deem acceptable in a goody goody care bear white washed way. Don't bother posting anything there unless it's totally flattering to the creators, moderators, admins and Maxis. That is, if you actually want you post to stay up for more than 5 minutes.

I rarely ever post MTS2 asI dislike censorship and its impossible to give EA a pat on the back for being greedy.I've been a member of MTS2 since March  and still a test subject since I post there so little.Id rather post here and run the through the lip ripping LOL

I used to post there, but I haven't posted there in months.

It used to be a good site. Then Pescado left and it went down the tubes.

OK, I give up.  How does this work?  I can't find the cookies anywhere, where are they?  I tried using cookies from the fridge, but it appears you have to bake them.  Do you bake the snack cookies that come in the bag?  And how do you serve the "feast"?  I haven't seen an option to do that.  All I've managed to do so far is put a tree up that caught fire in the middle of the night because I forgot to get anyone to switch it off.  Is it necessary to put all the decorations up before the cookies appear because I don't want all that hassle (what's the point of putting all that lot up and then having to take it all down again?!).  I admit that I am totally and utterly mystified by how this works, so any help would be much appreciated!

Click on the stove/fridge and click Serve Desert > Santa Cookies.

Don't eat 'em, or clean them up. Leave them out. At 10PM Santa comes! I don't think you need the tree, but it's a tradition. (I think the cookies act like a teleporter? Or maybe the tree does?)

Unfortunately, I don't have that option.  All I get when I click on "Serve Dessert" is gelatin.  Maybe it's because I have custom foods, I'll try taking them out.  If that is the case, I won't be using the Xmas pack because I'm not doing without my custom foods on a permanent basis.  What exactly triggers Santa to come?  I don't want trees and stuff out for days on end if it's purely random. 

I won't be downloading this pack mostly because i don't even need it and paying for it?  FORGET IT.  I'm with Motoki the sims community is a bunch of money grabbers.  I've found dozens of sites that offer NICE downloads but you have to pay for them.  I'm not paying for stuff for a game i already payed for your supposed to make content for a game as a hobby not for income.  Seriously if i knew hacking i'd hack their paysites download everything and bundle it up as a free for all download, it's supposedly even written in the EULA that you can't charge for content you make so i wouldn't even be doing a crime, maybe i'd even be doing a favor.  Truth be told I've found a couple skins that even I could make because their a 2 minute job in photoshop maybe even less and yet the creator thinks they can charge people a dollar or more for this horribly crappy item.

My main reason to buy sims expansions is mostly due to mods and its only the mods really that J.M. Pescado himself makes.  I only really use game play hacks made by him as well as a few other modders, the critical fixes and a small selection of decent custom clothing.  I am seriously appauled by the lack of fixes on Maxis's part and its worse that they blame the bugs on the users when modders can clearly fix them.  Companies like Blizzard may seem heartless at times but their better than Maxis because they care ALOT more they even went through the trouble of redoing the entire skill system for diablo 2 in a patch when they didn't even have to.

When i found morrowind i was literally shocked that there wasn't a single paysite on the far horizon and to tell you the truth i was glad.  I'm just hoping the new game TES Oblivion will have the same no pay for mods thing otherwise its gameplay is going to be slashed by a couple thousand hours.

Anyway sorry for ranting but it seems the place to do it.

You need 1 cooking point.  And an oven, of course.  Several people on the BBS forgot they had the Uni Stove top which doesn't have an oven.  I don't know if the toaster oven works.

For the Holiday Roast, you need 7 cooking points, and the Cornucopia on the lot.  And an oven too.

The santa clothing and beards, and skin for the Santa-NPC appear to only be installed into the account you are currently in when you intall the Party Pack.  On my other 2 accounts, when Santa shows up he has a grey suit and no face.  A bald scalp, but otherwise his head is invisible.  My sim couldn't change appearance to the Santa hat or beard either.  I haven't checked CAS to see if the Old Father Time outfit for elders or the Santa suit is there, but I don't expect it too.  It looks like my Legacy families will be having a Very Odd Christmas since they are not on my main account.  You cannot reinstall the Party Pack in each account.  I'm a little disappointed and have no idea how to fix this.  I'll try to put a pic:

(http://img495.imageshack.us/img495/8804/invisiblesanta0qe.th.jpg) (http://img495.imageshack.us/my.php?image=invisiblesanta0qe.jpg)

You need the tree for Santa to come.  So far he's come the first night on the lots I've tried it.  But after that it appears to be random.  On one lot I saved with Cassandra about to bake the cookies (she and Don were my test subjects).  In 20 reloads, Santa came 4 times.  That was after he'd already come 2 or 3 times.  If you bake the cookies before 10pm, he shows up at 10pm.  If you bake them after 10pm, he shows up when they come out of the oven.

I'm just pissed cuz in some countries (like where I live) you can't even get the wretched thing!  You can only download it in the US and a handful of other countries.  And the only place that sells the add-on pack (as opposed to the holiday edition) wouldn't ship outside the US.  If people really do start making content based on the pack, and they start putting new features/interactions in these add-ons they're gonna screw a lotttttta their international consumers. 

I don't actually want the pack per se, I'm just ticked that I couldn't get it if I wanted to........and really pissed if Motoki's prophecies about the future mess, really come to pass *mutter*.  After all the trouble I've had with nlNL since the patch, and now this, I'm ready to toss in the towel.  I can't believe I wasted the last few years of my life giving Maxis my money!

OK, I think I get it now.  The lot I tried it on is in my new neighbourhood and the Sim has no cooking points as I recall.  I will try it on a lot with someone who has slightly more and see what transpires.  Not sure why I'm bothering really, because I know it's going to be yet another anti-climax.  Maybe I should try it in Pleasantview and perhaps lose a few unwanted characters in an unfortunate tree fire ...

Theoretically pay sites only have you pay so that they can cover bandwidth costs. At least, that's why sites originally went to paying status, like WDS and SimFreaks back in the day (Does simfreak2 even ever get updated? I looked at it the other day but there weren't any dates on the update page so I couldn't tell.). There are some sites, however, that seem to me not to be good enough to have the high traffic that would cause excessive bandwidth costs and still have big pay sections and small free sections. There are other sites though, like Lyran's, that offer excellent stuff and don't even have as much as a donation button! Personally, as far as donation sites go, I think ATS2 has the best model, where you get small exclusive items and can download the whole set/recolors in one big file, rather than having to download a dozen different things. So, basically, as long as they're using the money just to cover the site expenses, and not as their own personal income, I think it's cool (and, to your EULA argument, they're not technically charging for custom content, they're charging for bandwidth use). Unfortunately, there's really no way to make sure that the sites are doing what they're supposed to be doing with their money, so, you know.

I think a lot of the sites that were around when things first started converting to donation/pay have got it figured out and would be decent places to donate to, but I think a lot of the newer ones don't get the point of the donations and paying for content and think it's there to make money for themselves, or something. Personally, if I had a sims site, I'd be really ashamed to ask for money, but then, if my web costs were beginning to exceed $500 a year or so, I would have to.

How were we supposed to figure all this out? Osmosis?

I kind of figured the cookie part out since that's what triggered him inTS1, and I guess I can see the tree, but what does the cornucopia have to do with anything? It's purely decorative and the sim's never touch it, they certain don't eat out of it, so why it is needed to be placed on the lot before they can make a holiday feast and how we were supposed to know this?

Yes and if you believe that, I've got a nice bridge to sell you.

I'm so sick of that bullshit, why don't they just call a spade a spade and admit they are in it for profit instead of the god damned sob story about bandwidth. And if bandwidth really is a problem for some, then they are unwilling or too god damned stupid and/or lazy to find alternatives.

I know this is going to piss some people off, but I think the real problem here is that the user base in this community tends to be a lot less tech savvy and a lot more gullible. They have no clue what bandwidth or polygons etc are. If you tell them that you have to charge for bandwidth, they believe it. Tell them you have to pay for good custom content, they believe it. Those pay sites have done a good number brainwashing the community and otherwise pulling the wool over people's eyes. Some of the larger ones also crank out the PR machine full time. I had Steve at TSR actually go to Delphy and make a deal with him to remove several of my posts on MTS2 that were unflattering about their site. And everytime I hear him and Thomas talk, I swear those two really need to get into politics. Then again, TSR probably pays better. :P

They and other pay sites have also somehow seemed to make a large segment of the community into rabid attack dogs they jump on anyone who would dare suggest there is anything at all wrong with pay sites. It simply is not an acceptable opinion to have pretty much anywhere but here in the TS2 community. Even here I'm waiting for the attack dogs to come as I speak. This whole site was set up as an extreme exaggeration and mockery of the paysites and even then some people apparently seemed to take it quite seriously and were ready to dole out $40 while others think it was a nice sentiment and see nothing wrong with that. IMO that shows how warped we've all become.

If the bandwith thing or the needing to pay for good custom content thing were a universal truth, then every site for every game would be charging, but they all don't. There's some very popular sites with some very nice content for both TS2 and other games that don't charge and they get by somehow.

There's also alternatives to hosting your own files. Not all of them are perfect, but they are out there if you take the time to look. There's MTS2, there's the Exchange for some files, there's file planet, the's rapishare.de, etc etc. If you're files aren't too large there are various free forums you could use too and you can always make a forum or webpage on a free site and then link to your files on those places.

Honestly in my time modding for Morrowind, I never had a problem finding somewhere to host my files, neither did anyone else usually and some of those mods were larger in size than the holiday pack and had lots of downloads.

You're all free to believe what you want, do what you want etc. But I still say that the whole paysite thing, which has taken off in this community like no other I know of, is what is fueling EA's corporate greed and getting them to want to get in on a piece of the action with their own 'donation packs'. As long as people pay for them, both EA and 3rd party, they'll keep doing it. And if that's okay with you (in the collective non-specific sense) then I guess it's not a problem. *shrug*

There is absolutely no need to host a paysite.  I've hosted my own FREE website that has 10+ gig of downloadable content for about a year now.  I use a free server called hostultra due to its free nature it has "some" popups but with the xp sp 2 popup blocker i don't even see them.  As for the content itself i use servers such as 35mb.com and rapidshare.de which are good for the kind of stuff i host.

The only real reason to pay for hosting is not looking around proper for free hosting or wanting to seem professional.  That does suck about the EULA i guess that means they technically can charge just by saying its going to support the website fees.  Oh and i just loathe those sites that are free but you gotta donate a certain amount so you can download anything off em.  Hahah that brings a whole new meaning to pay sites.

I have no idea, lol. I couldn't find any holiday meal at first, then saw some one mention a Holiday Roast on the BBS.  After some trial and error, I figured out that you needed the Cornucopia to get the option for the roast.  Luckily my sim had 10 cooking points.  Boolprop made it easy to discover how many points were needed. 

I would have been cooking turkey forever without your post

I'm with you there. Every time I see the word "donation" on those sites I get a flaming thought bubble over my head. These so-called donation sites have their marketing gimmicks too. They lure you in with an awesome looking "free" set of furniture, then you find that the best pieces are donation items. So you can have your chairs, but the table you'll have to pay for. The other thing that irks me is when you download a free set, then find that the meshes are not included and are donation-only. Thanks for letting me know after the fact...

I keep my packaged sims in a yahoo briefcase, of all places. I paid for it myself, a whopping $4.95 a  month, I think. But at least it allows me to keep my files private, and I can't imagine charging people for them. I make people jump through hoops to get them, of course; they have to join my forum in order to request them (my rule, lol. I could send them out to non-members, but I won't anymore. Protecting my ass, mainly, although I've done a pretty good job hunting down and crediting any custom content I used in their creation, if I do say so myself..), and then I will email them a link to the downloads. But they are, and always will be, free.

I hate the use of the word "donation" it's such a ridiculous euphamism. It's not like we're giving money to help starving orphans.  ::)

Yeah, it is a bit dramatic...

Donation is a evil word its another way of saying pay us money.  I don't give to charities but i have my own reasons for that.  One thing that bothers me about those starvation charities is they always show kids, why are they having 3+ kids if they can't even feed themselves?

I agree :)

And also about the sims2 community in general being less "tech literate" (so to speak). It's also hard to make sure the info gets to the people who need it - there have been some good sites that went down due to bandwidth issues (there was one in particular who went over to TSR and I was sorry about, but I can't remember who it was now). One of the things Delphy's been good about is picking up some of those..

boy this brought out the perve in me. Sheesh its sad lol

Heeeeeey, fellow gutter brain! LOL

gutter? lordy if only it could get that clean.

I second that  with my gutter brain I wish. mine a lot dirtier than that ;D

And our chat sessions have always been so clean, Bangel! LOL

I know when to behave myself ;D

No need to behave yourself around me...I'm often found in the gutter. Often! That's why there's a section just for "gutterish" pics at Joe's Place!

Well I still haven't got Santa to come.  Unfortunately, having Dizzy's SmartServe hack in sort of affects it a bit, because if I click "Serve" and there's only one Sim on the lot, they'll only serve 1 portion of cookies and then try to eat the things, so I have to stop them.  Didn't help that I forgot the tree until the cookies were almost fly-ridden, either ... 

Onward and upward ...

and I added a few there remember under odd things to do when naked

Everytime Santa comes, an angel gets its wings.

Well now I am having a cookie problem too, it seems to be coming from an object, only I dont know which one. I had my mods in and it worked fine, but when I put the rest back in, it stopped working and cookies started disappearing.

Yeah. Keep adding!

I caught justin in the shower but Im not adding that one and I have lexie coming home from school naked .I also have other naked photos one of Sam when she was pregnant and ready to deliver and the game had an odd glitch and she doesnt even look pregnant. that was when the game tried to send her to work at 74 hours pregnant :P

nanner nanner nanner brynne is gutter trash lol

If you figure it out let me know. I have a ton of junk when it comes to objects and I'm not looking forward to checking everything one by one. :(

I agree with everything you have said Motoki...it is disgusting what is happening in the Sims Community.

I feel that many....EA/Maxis included, take advantage of the fact that a large segment of the people who play the Sims are not your "traditional" gamer.  There is a much larger female and teen and pre-teen segment than many other games.  Since many of these people are not 'traditional' gamers, EA/Maxis and many of the PaySites can and do pretty much wave any sort of semi-technobabble, or half-assed excuses at them and for the most part they will accept it without complaint.

Look at the whole Uni-Patch mess.  Tim LeTourneau comes out and says that the game is too hard to patch...that it would take too much work...and there were people on the BBS actually thanking them for not coming out with a Patch!!!!  I mean WTF???  Could any other game get away with that??

I will admit I once thought that hosting was insanely expensive...but recently I have looked into getting hosting for a website and I have been shocked to see how reasonable it is.  There are also many many places where you can get free hosting.  Just the fact that people like J.M., TwoJeffs, and Crammyboy and the others do what they do for FREE, is beyond amazing to me.  My game would not have worked at all if not for them, and I personally can never thank them enough for doing what even EA/Maxis was slow to do.

other Game compannies can and do get away with Ea/Maxis shenanigans and a whole lot more.Some games out there are missing crucial codes and files to make fixes from. annd whats hidden in those games are totally useless.I saw a game so buggy today that it could barely load let alone get played and no patches fixes or mods are availabe and the cost of that game was a whopping 100 bucks. after the software manager at the game store told me that and showed me how bad the game was bugged I didnt buy it. he said even though the game was in stock he could not reccommend the game.He said Sims2 and EP's at least could  fixed and  hacked making it a better Buy than the 100 dollar game by far.I have to tip my hat to Modders like JM Pescado and two Jeffs and all the rest who make the Sims2 and Ep's playable.maxis could learn a thing or 2 or 3 if they would pay attention to big fixes that are creator made and work to fix critical problems.  Just my opinion of course

Oh I know other gaming companies do screw the consumer, but the Sims series is one of...if not THE most popular gaming series of all time.  One would think with all the people that play the game that a company could not get away with ignoring the needs of its consumers every step of the way.

I'm mooning you. You just can't see me.

I love you Brynne. Also, I'm right there in the gutter with you.

Mushiness over. Back to your regularly scheduled posting....

Hmmm...well I know Kitiara has a habit of drinking and posting (don't ever stop, by the way; it's freakin' hilarious), so I have to ask:  Have you been drinking tonight?   :D

How did you know, Blue?

Well, I have been drinking. Thus, the mooning and all.

Because, dear, I know you well enough to see it when it's happening.  Plus, Brynne has been too, and I am laughing my arse off over here.

I seriously need to go pass out, now...

I'm having too much fun to pass out. I think I'll sign off and wake up my partner though.
It's 3am here. He'll forgive me right?

gwrfwllldbd!!!

Mmmm? Huh? Llamas having sex? Where???

I should know better than to post and drink.
But darn it's more fun this way.

@Bagelnuts: I don't think that other games don't get away with not making patches to fix bugs, they surely do. What bothered me more about what Twain said is the gullibility of the users at the BBS who bought the lame assed explanation that the game was too complicated to patch and to add insult to injury thanked them for not patching it. I don't see that going on in other communities. :P

Twain, you're absolute right about the user base for this game being more females, teens, pre-teens and older people who aren't as tech savvy as those in other communities. Maxis and the pay sites take advantage of that. In the Morrowind community a lot of the users were guys in their late teens or twenties with some older techie types too. There was one guy who worked on Unreal Tournament and a net friend of mine who I worked with on our mod actually worked at Sony making PS2 games. If anyone ever tried to blind us with technobabble in that community people would call bullshit on it so fast it would make your head spin. In this community, even if someone tries the BBS and pay site sheep are so well trained the won't listen and go on the attack to defend EA and the pay sites who are just out to get their money. :P

i axed mi sims ef i shud gt teh hilidae pck und thy sad no sew i'm nt gutting it. nd mi hapmstir sad no two. 

Electronic Arts profit drops 47%

Electronic Arts Inc. Tuesday said its net income fell 47 percent from last year to $51 million, or 16 cents a share.
Redwood City EA (NASDAQ:ERTS) reported net income of $97.3 million, or 31 cents a share, last year.
The video game company reported revenue of $675 million compared to $715.7 million last year.
Analysts had expected a profit of 5 cents a share on revenue of $635.3 million, according to Thomson First Call.
© 2005 American City Business Journals Inc.

Could be that pissy stockholders are behind the new marketing methods.

Yep sure right blame any one but EA right.
Perhaps the Stock holders have a reason to be getting Pissie with the company.
Like say the piss poor job the company has done in providing a quality product to put on market?

Well, then they've got it all wrong because pissing off their customers by selling sub-par products is not going to do the trick.

PS: Hi everyone, another bitter ex-member of MTS2 here ;)

Being a (somewhat) older female who is not tech-savvy, let me put my two cents worth in here. I most certainly know when someone is trying to pull the wool over my head (or is that 'eyes'? Sometimes I get your metaphors mixed up, to my kids' amusement.) Even being not tech-savvy does not prevent that. I am capable of locigal thought processes, and when something sounds as if someone is trying to dazzle me with techno-babble, I will do the one thing I know how to do: I ask someone technically savvy who I can trust. I do the same with doctors, car-salesmen, and repairmen at large. I don't take anyone's word for it if I smell a rat, and I smell a rat pretty quickly. I know when people try to put one over on me, it's what I've been trained to do.

Reading through the official board, the one's most vocal in defending the questionable ea/maxis practices are teens and pre-teens of both sexes, as well as the pre-computer generation of both sexes. Please don't lump the female population in with the kids and teens, that has been done for many centuries and it needs to stop. It has more to do with the fact that females are far more willing to give others the benefit of the doubt, once, twice, three times tops, and then we get pissed. I believe its far more a gullability issue, and gullability is not limited to gender. There is quite a bit more to it, but it's heavily involved in thought processes and personality issues, and I don't feel like getting into it too deeply right now. I'm enjoying my time off ;D

BTW folks .....
Forgive my ignorance here ....
But how the heck to I mount the pack?
I know you use alchohol 120% (we've got that)  and something about an image but beyond that I am beyond clueless.
Burn Method I know but ye old buner has taken major shit of late.
Help.
Please.

Check the Peasantry section for a tutorial by Lindaletterae (sorry if that's spelled wrong.)

Thanks Bunches  ;D
I knew it had to be under my nose.

Hmm.. I just checked there myself and I can't find it anywhere. Where'd it go off to?

Its been pulled completely.

This is what I get for being slow.

Sigh.

It isn't hard to 'Mount' a file. I can direct with IsoBuster: install the thing (read the directions) cruise over to whereever your file is that you want to read. IsoBuster had a little window that showed there was a setup.exe file within the bin file. Then you can extract the files that you see and put them into the same folder as the bin file and then go click on setup. Easy stuff. Alcohol is probably much the same.

Really? What for?

Thanks.

I'm such an idiot with these things....
Guess I could just fire up alcohol and see if I can just quess at how it works.
I usually leave these things to the boyfriend type person.
But a girls gotta learn some time.

Kingdom:

I'm thinking it may be thanks to the BBS dorks and how they responded to having such information posted over there.

kingdom - harrasment emails

Zandi: You should be able to open the program and click the virtual drive, choose mount image and choose the .cue

Linda was getting nasty emails--so she pulled everything. Small minded be like mes. Assholes by any name. Anyway--I am taking the heat now :) as long as I can take it that is :)

It's on filesharing. If you look around enough you shouldn't have a problem finding it. Search for Sims and Christmas though, not Holiday since the euro-types think a holiday is a vacation.

I think He/She already has the pack just cant figure out how to use it.

Nasty e-mails? That bites. Although I don't know how hurtful a few e-mails like "lol omg!!!11 u r teh piracry!1!" could be.

But if they were mean enough to make Linda pull it completely, idk.

Those kiddos can't read. She was posting it for legal owners who wanted to make a back-up.  :-X

Sorry about that Veilchen...I did not intended to lump the female population in with the kids and teens per say.  My point was that the Sims games are targeted more at females and teens and preteens who are not traditional gamers.  I am not trying to say that females in general are as irrational or gullible or not technology savvy.  I would be a fool for saying that...there are plenty of women around here who know this game and technology better than I do.  My point was (and I should have been clearer) that this game seems to be marketed at people who are not technology savvy at all, and for who The Sims games seem to be their first foray into the gamming world.

I have it.  Although I didn't pay for it.  *Ahem*

[Waves at Twain]

The link is on the first page.

Zandi, check your PM box.

Whoops. I left out a step, read the new one that says "READ THIS ONE!" ;)

Awww Thanks Kingdom.
Just what I needed.
Mounting for dummies.

And now time to do this and find the sports rub so that the boyfriend can be properly punnished for laughing at me.

With my luck the freak will like it.
Hummmm Ah I know  Laxitive pie....
He can't like that.

You're welcome. But really, the thanks goes to Linda for teaching it first. Luckily I read it before they freaked at the BBS. I'll be sure to keep that tutorial handy just in case anyone else needs help mounting.

Ha I love the new long beard for males. And I am quite partial to the hair underneath the female santa hat sans santa hat. hmmm

Hey does anyone know if there has been the vampire hair posted somewhere that looks correct without the head jewels? (that animates and is the proper colors) I never could get it to work myself, I must be missing a step somewhere.

nectere: I remember seeing it somewhere but lol I'll be damned if I can remember. Sorry, I'm no help. :(

It's just painted onto the texture though so AFAIK it should just require a recolor, no mesh editing.

Ok Linda Officially rocks.

And My boyfriend is gonna be loosing some serious weight soon.
He's been making this stuff out to be something like rocket sience
Or at least harder than any of the crap I do know how to do on computers.

And what 4 clicks and done?

Silly boy he knows I'm vendictive like that.

Motoki, I tried that, in so many ways, and I kept getting the bump where the jewels were and because I am picky like that I tried going into the mesh file and of course thats just when milkshape ran out and I had to learn to use Maya. I havent bothered with it since as I am still learning to use Maya.

I know about this one http://www5.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=92112&page=3&pp=25
but the texture doesnt line up.

You probably just need to fix the normal map.

OMG, I just went to VS after not having gone there in some time and the friggin front page is a free advertisement for the Holiday Pack. *vomits*

Conformity....
Must advertise Party pack and seem to be cool and on top of things.
Must kiss big EA ass.
Must do as the others do.

But it was to be expected ya know.
I'm just shocked that it's not more extravigant.

I need help mounting! Can you throw a copy of the tutorial my way?

Give me a min and check your PMs.

Thanks, Zandi! I sent you a PM saying thanks, but I don't know if it actually "sent" successfully...

I'm holding on to my $15 unless someone who has the holiday pack tells me  that it includes a day off from school for all kids, teens, and Uni students. And homework/assignments.

Betcha it doesn't....

I have the holiday pack....and I could tell you that.....I might be lying if I did though.... ;D

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


I downloaded it today. Just call me Sheep-girl.  ;) ::)

I think it's cute, and I am needing something new to do with my Simmies.  I really liked making a "Holiday Party."  I decorated the house, used Inge's Summoner to bring over a bunch of party-goers, had the mother make Holiday Roast and Cookies, Santa came over and wandered around the lot for awhile.  I think he put a present under the tree, but he did hit on the lady of the house.  ;)  I also think the mistletoe is cute. :)

I will have to try that in one of my houses with kids

Original cost of Sims2           $50
- Cost of Holiday Edition        $40
------------------------------------
=                                         $10
+ Cost of Party Pack             $15
--------------------------------------
= Actual Cost Of Party Pack   $25

No?

http://www.hairfish.com/mermaidcove/donate/index.html

I think everyone should do it my way. But I'm biased.  ;D

I just read the page you linked, and the reasons you give on another page, and I really admire that. :)

Thank you. Sometimes I worry about "overstating my case," but I leave that up. It's reality...the truth about website hosting costs. If anyone's paying more than I am, they're a fool. If I wasn't perfectly happy where I am, I'd go someplace else cheaper, plain and simple. (I'm loyal, but I'm no idiot.)

I've heard a lot of good things about PowWeb, which is really cheap, and offers a ridiculously huge bandwidth allowance.
http://www.powweb.com

My own personal, biased, opinionated, Bitch Opinion is that if a person's hosting costs exceed their ability to pay for their hobby, they need to reduce the size of their site...or find a new hobby. Before I got into Sims, I did crafts; I could easily spend $100 (that we couldn't afford) every couple of weeks at the crafts store. I gave that stuff away, too ~ it was my hobby! The Sims is actually cheaper. And no fumes or burned fingers. Although I sometimes miss the fumes... ;D (I also enjoy The Sims more because of the Community surrounding it...never a dull moment!)

That said, I do try to support one well-established, dependable, reliable paysite per month. Well...I supported EA instead, in November, by pre-ordering the Party Pack.  :P

I only know of this recolour (http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/sim_detail.php?asset_id=434621&asset_type=sim&user_id=1027759) of the Nightlife hair with the jewels removed.   I haven't downloaded it, but I think she did a pretty good job of it, from the pictures provided. It's by Starangel13, on the official site.

Hee hee...looky what I did:

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/Brynne14/gothbayfields2.jpg)

Getting the Christmas cards ready...

Well, well, Brynne.  That is just the picture of Sim family perfection there.  :)  Nice job.

Notice there are no puddles anywhere ?

edited to remove unintentional smiley...

Awwwwww...now I feel all squishy.  :)

Well, the moveObjects cheat comes in handy, doesn't it?    :P

I'm mooning you. You just can't see me...

 ;)

Brynne, you're awesome.

mwah.  :-*

You deleted all the puddles, didn't you?

I did no such thing.

Hey, this figures: frickin' tree burst into flames moments after that warm fuzzy photo was shot...

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/Brynne14/flamingtree2.jpg)

I was able to clear the room. Everyone is fine. They're all in line for the showers, but they're fine.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/Brynne14/flamingtree.jpg)

If you don't mind, may I ask where you got the bob haircut for little girls?  :)

Brynne,

That is a GREAT picture!!!

Almost makes me want to create a Sim replica of our family and send THAT out as Christmas cards instead! Your Sims pose so much better!  ;)

I agree My Sims refuse to Pose

I saw it in Body Shop when I was looking through the genetics sections.

The little blonde girl's hair is here:

http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=86741

I can't remember where I got the little brunette girl's hair, though...

Thank you!  :D

You are quite welcome.

I definetly agree with you!  I used to use hostultra, and then found that there was various lots of spyware that was coming with their popups (i never saw it, using firefox, but I know other IE users did)

I use sites like ripway.com for objects over 1mb, and www.funpic.org to host Sims Attic.  (www.simsattic.r8.org - no updated sims 2 content though)

Funpic's useful, if you ever need to move your site...

I know I´m really late with this, but I could need help mounting, too.
Is there anyone who could send me the tutorial *whine*?

OOooookay.......  I'll just pull my mind out of the gutter now.

 ;)

I was right there with ya!  ;)

LOL... dirty minds hahaha...

Um...
Try this for your "mounting"... install and point to your .cue file.
http://www.smart-projects.net/isobuster/