More Awesome Than You!

There have been many arguments about how FFS is a ripoff because it contains only 60 items that should have been included in OFB. While I understand the argument, it really didn't sway me and I was still contemplating getting it. However, a much more cogent reason has emerged.

It seems that if you have FFS, and you upload a lot, the only people who will be able to use the lot are other people who have FFS. This appears different from the Holiday pack - if you have the Holiday pack, but you don't use any Holiday items in a lot, people can still use the lot. But now there's a new icon on the lot Exchange for FFS just like the other EPs. 

I think many people will not be getting FFS so builders beware - if you install FFS your audience may shrink considerably. It's one thing to require the newest EPs which have real building changes but to require a booster pack is a bit much.

I saw this too, and it's disappointing.  I know Maxis wants to prevent piracy by forcing you to register and the disk for playing, blah blah blah, but if I did get FFS, I wouldn't be able to upload a Sim, lot, business, anything.

Gah.

Well I'm not getting it. I can't stand OFB and have uninstalled it. I actually doubt if I would buy any more expansion packs for my game now. I like it the way it is! ;D

Yeah, I heard that it installs like an EP so I was afraid this was going to happen, dammit. I think I'm going to get it but put off installing it for a while and finish up some lots to upload before I have to add another requirement to them.

/me kicks EA.

it even has a new loading screen, no more than 4 different objects (the two pescados, the underwater dresser and the stepping stone rug) and few useful clothing items, must only for children which would be great for every age, like the accesoires.

Does it have new music in the loading screen? I know this sounds awfully picky, but I like the OFB opening music and don't want it replaced yet.

Meh. I'm definitely going to put off getting this.

Yes, it has new music...I don't have it yet, but my coadmin at the Literate Sim has it and has made a couple of posts about it (link is in my sig).

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought it was referring to the FFS Lot Debugger.  :o  Glad to see I was wrong.

An even more pertinent reason for not getting it might be that, to judge by the advance publicity, it's complete crap and is better off not being included at all. In real life I've found that, as a general rule, you should run screaming from anything that advertises itself as appropriate for a "family" setting, be it "family fun" or "family friendly" or "family entertainment". "Family Fun Stuff" seems to carry the principle over into virtual reality.

Your mileage may vary, of course.

Well, I was in Target today, and they had it on sale, so I picked it up for 'research purposes'. :)  It does install like an EP (CD code and all), because if you have only the original game it adds the relationship stuff that came in with Uni/Nightlife (influence, turn on/offs, furious reactions) and the sim inventory.  Doesn't otherwise appear to break anything, though, as there aren't any new interactions I've found yet in about 1/2 hour of poking around with it.  And most of the stuff it adds is for kids, it appears.  So for most folks with more than the base game, it's probably not worth it to buy.

FFP has new loading music and a screen. It's "SP1" (Stuff Pack 1), as opposed to XPn (Expansion Pack n).

There are NO new interactions or scenarios at all, just a few okay objects and some horrid clothes/hats. And three blank houses with some of the new objects in the lotbin.
I'm not buying or installing it.

The game will usually reset the custom content catalog - go into options, turn them on, save and exit and they should show with the next time you turn it on.

As for the flashing blue, perhaps a CEP thing that's not compatible with the booster pack?

Oh great, that's just what we need.  More ugly hats.

Had no plans on buying it anyway but will remember the ugly hats in case I have a brain fart while in a software store.

By the way, I read a post from someone claiming FFS deleted his houses.  But that appeared in the Land of the Lemmings, so it was probably user error.

Maxis has never been known for logic.  It shouldn't have been necessary, but who knows what kind of bugginess that was introduced?  We already heard of a major one direct from Maxis themselves, and I don't know if Pescado, TJ and Crammyboy are planning to get it?  If they don't, then they prolly can't make the pretty, shiny hacks either.

But the thing is... if it's just Objects... then why would/should you need fixes for Objects?!?!?! :P The majority, if not all of those objects that I've seen aren't exactly brand new. They are existing dresser/drawers, beds, carpets, and decorative stuff that isn't even all that pretty anyways.

So if all of these are pretty much just regular old objects, with maybe new meshes, why should these be buggy? It just seems really retarded to me that, in their attempt to make the content pirate proof, they buggered it all up. :P So... even those people who legally purchase it are having problems they shouldn't. How stupid is this? That outfits were the reason lots and sims were disappearing. I just don't get that. :P

I am definitely going to pass on this worthless piece 'o crap. And I encourage everyone else to do so as well. Don't be a sucka foo'!  :-X

Ste

I don't understand how a bunch of CC can make the lots disappear and all sorts of funky thing happen either.

Anyone ever have this problem with CC from fansites making the lot disappear? I know I've never had that.

Stupid Maxis.  >:(

Ugh, what IS it with Maxis and their sick hat obsession? Personally, none of my sims are behatted, if I wanted to see chavs and old people, I'd look out of my window, plenty of ugly hats there...>.>
And the FFS hats are particularly ugly, from what I've seen...

And I don't want to crap up my game even more, for the sake of some ugly hats. And also some stuff. I can crap up my game with STUFF for free, thankyouverymuch.

I think the reason that it's buggy is, because it contains some gameplay elements from nightlife. So, it's not only objects in FFS, even if someone who owns all EPs, doesn't see it in the game.
But I have all EPs, so I don't need this overexpensive 'Almost-Nothing' either.

I don't believe that Maxis is stupid anymore. I believe they have gone nuts.

well dammit I was looking forward to some more kid-friendly objects and was hoping to get this for my birthday.  I build houses though, so much for that idea.  Stupid EA.

Well, if anyone has learned anything from the last three EP's and the stupid Holiday add-on it's: Don't buy right away!

I saw a post like that too.  She uninstalled the FFS pack, restored her backup to get her lot back, and then reinstalled the pack.  She was going to work with a test lot next to see what happens.  I haven't heard anything since.

I, unfortunately, have already ordered the FFS pack, although it hasn't shipped yet.  I wonder if I can cancel the order.

i am quite happy to buy expansion packs
what i am not happy to part with my cash for is a Booster pack containing crap. even worse, crap which can interfere with how my game plays
and agreeing with Nivaya here, i would be ecstatic if maxis would burn the hats, chav (i don't need or want a bunch of ASBOs running round my 'hoods) or otherwise styled, and stupid costumes
trouble is if they did do that who knows what they would put in their place

Some folks are experiencing flashing red walls after installing this SP.
And it might just be because Maxis had upped system requirements for it, found this on BBS

Originally Posted by DitzyDahling
apparently Maxis upped the specs on the video graphics card for this booster pack. I have the same problem. I can run Sims2, Uni and OFB, but when I install FF all my walls in every house flash red/black. I've already uninstalled the booster from my game as I couldn't get it to stop and I already have the latest driver update. if you haven't updated your video driver, then try that... maybe it'll fix yours.  

I am not sure how true that is but it seems insane to increase specs for OBJECTS?! What the hell are they thinking?

Reason 23: Family Fun Stuff can be abbreviated to "FFS" which is a blatant rip-off of JM's hacks.  Maxis is just trying to capitalize on JM's success. :P

Your reason really makes me laugh and yeah I have to agree with it  ;)

I was viewing someone's profile on the BBS, and I saw the wheel icon for Family Fun (I refuse to use FFS, because that means Flying Fish Systems :P).  I had never seen it before and I checked out the properties for the icon, and I saw it had SP1 in the description.  I was thinking "Service Pack 1" like with Windows.  I was going to ask someone about it, because I wondered if Maxis had somehow slipped a patch in the pack to make people have to buy it.  ::)

I never had any interest in these object packs and never will.
Geez the least they could do is add some new interactions and aninimations

It gets worse. You may have seen, a day or two ago, MaxoidKane's posting about a bug that had been discovered about clothes disappearing from the catalog, but she also listed a workaround. I was dismayed to see a bug cropping up so soon but glad they at least reported up front and caught it before players did (although the goal is to catch these types of bugs before the pack is shipped...)

However, people have now reported that the workaround doesn't work - FFS clothes purchased for Sims at community lots have disappeared from the catalog completely.

WTF???  :o Does Maxis understand what testing means?

This is so sloppy, especially coming on the heels of the "delete a uniform and the LOT disappears!" fiasco of OFB. How can things like LOTS and CLOTHES just up and disappear?

I can only surmise that with every EP/pack they're continuing to tweak and tune the base code for speed, etc. which is good - IF and ONLY IF  it's adequately tested.

Maybe they went overboard with the vertex/polycount... who knows? :P Or it's just a big, fat conspiracy to upgrade computers.

I think not Polys are to high but it looks they have tweaket how the Grafics work its  more shiny and runs better and faster on my comp now. But the same tweaking could possibly ruin other Games as describet in BBS with incompatle Drivers or something.

Damn you Pegasys you beat me to it.  Here's the actual posting:

Recently it has been discovered that if you use one of the Family Fun Stuff
outfits in Create-A-Sim and exit the game, when the game reloads the outfit
will no longer be available in Create-A-Sim or to purchase on a Community
Lot (although the created Sim will still have the outfit).  This issue is
considered top priority and a fix for this is on its way, but for now here
is some information to help you work around the issue.

  a.. If you have not yet used an Family Fun Stuff outfit in Create-A-Sim,
it is recommended that you don't create Sims with these clothing, and
instead have them buy the clothing at a Community Lot (as this will not
cause the issue) until the patch is applied.
  b.. If you are already experiencing the issue and backed up your data
before installing Family Fun Stuff, you can restore your outfits.  First,
uninstall Family Fun Stuff, then restore your data, and finally reinstall
Family Fun Stuff to restore your clothing.  Once restored, just remember not
to use the outfits in Create-A-Sim until the patch is applied.
You have been warned!


Ain't that great?

  :(

Valerie Holland Mansion (http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/lot_detail.php?asset_id=345716&searchPage=exch&search=1&asset_type=lot&key=&order=RATING+desc&nrows=50&game_version=&custCont=1&zoneType=-1&lotSize=&lotLevel=&lotValue=&familyFund=&familyWorth=&familySize=&locality=&country=&view=new)

I don't know what the SP1 might denote, but I've read that the pack, in addition to the objects and clothes, also adds some things that come with various expansions:  romantic likes/dislikes (Nightlife) and locking doors (OFB) are the two that come to mind.  Not useful for folks who already have the expansions, but possibly a "service pack" for people who only have the base game?  I don't know, I'm just speculating on the meaning of SP.

they call it shopping pack.

I dunno, where I come from, FFS actually stands for something else, something more suitable. For Fox-ache? For Fock-sake? For Fix-sack? You get the picture.

Okay, for the builders. Last night I installed two lots packaged with the Family Fun pack (I do not have it yet). I was able to enter both lots with NO errors, NO hanging, NO crashing. One of the lots contained FF objects which didn't seem to show up (I need to take a closer look to verify that, but I'm sure it'll be the case). So, for builders not wanting it just because of that issue, it doesn't appear it's going to be a problem. Thank goodness :P

I don't know about anybody else, but it seems the more I hear about this pack the less I want it.  Between the general bugginess and the fact that there apparently are no new interactions or animations added, it sounds like it's a lot more trouble than it's worth.  And what they *did* include, I have very little use for.  Why on earth Maxis thinks it's some sort of revolutionary new concept to have matching clothing across multiple age groups, I have no idea.  That's easy enough to do without this pack, if you know how to use Body Shop.  And the animal costumes just seem silly to me, like the mascot introduced in Uni -- not something I particularly want to see in my game. 

It's a shame they wasted this opportunity.  I'm sure there are a lot of folks out there who would have loved to see some new interactions for kids, like they added with OFB.  Instead we got a bunch of useless crap that doesn't even add new functionality to the game.

Speaking of which:  does anybody remember the screenshot of the adult reading to a group of kids in costumes?  Can anybody with the FFS pack confirm whether this is in fact possible (reading to more than one child) or whether it was a staged screenshot, like some of us suspected?

Karen

I think I'd rather do without this, there is always the community after all and I didn't think the christmas party pack was worth the money I paid for it either.  It's kind of strange to me to pass up on something officially Sim, and yet I'm not bothered by it which tells me I've made the right choice.  I don't really feel like I'm missing anything at all. *shrug*

From everything I've read and seen so far, I would not install that junk on my computer if EA PAID me to do it.  ::)  I get enough bugs, glitches, and headaches from the EPs as it is without paying good money to get more with only half (or less than half) the things that make it almost worth it.

I had this pre-ordered on Amazon and after reading all this I tried to cancel the order but the status is *dispatching soon*
I bet there will be a LOT of these FFS on eBay going VERY cheap  ::)

Oh, certainly. I think this is just a Maxian con to try and get more money out of us.

The sad thing is, hundreds of sheep will rush out and buy it regardless of it's worthlessness.

From the way I see it, the FFS seems to be a alpha version. I mean how can they screw up with outfits if they actually bother to do a little testing?
Maxis has disappoinited me once again...I am now a neg 5 stars disgrunted customer  >:( >:( >:(

They spent like 2 days making the Family Fun Stuff, hence the bugginess in it.  I don't see any other reason why they would mess up this badly on it.

I'm not even sure this is worth torrenting to be honest.  If it makes your stuff undistributable and bugs up your game just to add some MCC (Maxian Custom Content), then what's the point?  Not to mention the fact that they've added clothing and objects 4 times and they didn't have this problem.

I'm just waiting for Pescado to chime in if it'll be supported here or not.

Well, the FF pack hasn't really added anything new to the game if you have the other EPs, so there's probably nothing to 'support'. I played with it for a couple of hours last night, and it didn't appear to break any of the hacks I have (which is most of those here plus some others) or custom content. The only weirdness after installing it was the ususal sims standing by their beds  and the cheap stereos playing music even though they're off when you first go into the lot.

Family Fun is not fun

This pack REALLY sucks.

And I thought the holiday one was bad but it came with some new food, new music, NPCs, and even had some objects with interactions (fireworks, reindeer...).

This pack, on the other hand, is absolutely empty, comes with little content, which is mostly decorative and is very buggy. They actually have included a Nautical "collection" made of six items. This is ridiculous!

I am appalled when I remember the questions Maxis asked in their surveys about the kind of stuff we would like to see in their shopping packs, as it included careers and stuff like that.

Yup, you can get wayyy better stuff for free at some great sites!

As I'm reading about it, it's getting harder to think this is anything more than a cynical money grubbing excercise on EA's/Maxis's part.  I can't say I'm even remotely tempted to buy it.

This really sucks!!  I already ordered it.  I felt left out when they started recoloring the Santa hats and I couldn't get one--sniff.  I want some new Sim stuff!!  In bulk!! Gosh darn it!!  I'll still install it knowing me--but I'll make sure I remember to back up my games.

How could you think anything but? I don't think EA/Maxis is making any pretense about it, the "shopping" packs are pretty much meant to compete with Sims paysites. They figure if people will join paysites to get objects which have no new animations or such, then they will buy them from EA, too.

Actually, people are buying heavy amounts of this pack, either that or one very determined fan.  According to Amazon, it was the most ordered PC game.

The Sims Community brought these packs onto themselves.  People found that it was right to pay for Custom Content, and now you pay for Maxian Custom Content.

It just goes to show you!  EA is jelous of Pescado!  Why else would they be dropping clues about him?  "Los Pescados of the Wall?"  And the initials are FFS!  It's a scam!

I just got this thing from somewhere and I have this to say.  Don't install this thing if you're planning on using anything that modifies the cameras or don't like the "Family Fun Pack" logo everywhere.  They all get messed up.  After I tried fixing all of these files by deleting parts of the Family Fun Pack directory, I only ended up restoring a few parts of the OFB UI, and the UI text has to either be the family fun pack stuff or nothing.  I ended up just uninstalling the thing after seeing how much they actually added.

Before deleting anything, make sure you back it up.  I am not responsible for any damage that happens when you neuter your game.
----
To get the old music back, delete Splash.package in your TS2 FFS\TSData\Res\Sound Folder.  I personally even replaced that splash music with some of my own.
To "fix" parts of the UI, delete UI.package in your TS2 FFS\TSData\Res\UI Folder.  This will probably screw up some of your collections icons, but I haven't investigated this far before getting rid of the thing.
----

If you can get your money back from a store or EA in return for the product, I suggest you do so.  You can buy $20 games that give you more playability than this "donation" pack.

I feel sorry to hear that it was the most ordered PC game but is this accurate? I cannot imagine this winning over Oblivion, F.E.A.R, Godfather or stuff like that...
Anyway, I wouldn't want to pay for Maxian content. They suck and are US$1 each (almost) ...it's way too expensive than what I get by shoving my $ to TSR or other of my fav paid sites.

And this is not worth the effort of torrenting. If MATY won't support it, you might just render some of ur most impt hacks unusable and paying US$20 to do that to bring trouble upon yourslf is just totally insane.

After reading all the complaints on the official site and now here, I am *definitely* not getting Family Fun. It sounds like a complete waste of money to me. D:

After reading about all the problems people have had with this and how little it actually adds to the game, I am not even tempted to somehow find it on my hard drive.   ::)

These packs only adds objects, clothes and hairstyle.  No new interaction, no new gameplay experience. New gameplay experience are reserved to ep (thank God!).

So, considering this, why would I want to waste 20$ on a bunch of useless thing when there is a whole community out there that will do great stuff for free?  And worst, it is buggy like evevything else Maxis release these days.

No way I will get this for sure.  These should be included in EP instead of packs!

I probably should have clarified that it's the one of the most-ordered games for this week, not of all-time.

There seems to be a lot of excess content in the FFP that wouldn't make sense actually to add.  Why do we need GUI pictures for University, Nightlife, and OFB if they already have folders?  I'm beginning to think having a "The Sims 2 ExpansionShared" folder wouldn't be such a bad idea....  However I guess it's easier to uninstall a new EP/SP this way though.

Actually, if you didn't have the attraction system in place it was added, but there's 2 expansions that have it already.

I don't see what is wrong with buying the pack even though it only has 60+ items, some 'crappy' CAS stuff (although it depends on taste and I think the stuff is great) and a few walls and floors. It is a choice to buy, it is not forced upon you!

Actually, if they are requiring you to register it, and treating it as an EP that you have to have if you want to download a house by someone who had it, then you *are* being forced to buy it.

And what's wrong with buying it is that it only reinforces Maxis' lame attempt at a booster pack, which they clearly did not test even a little bit, and that we are all lame AOLer's who will buy any piece of buggy shit just because it says EA/Maxis on it!

Before we knew what was in this pack, I really wanted it because I was looking forward to new interactions and so on for toddlers and kids, but since it doesn't come with those it's pretty much worthless. I'm not paying $20 for a bunch of shoddy items and ugly wallpapers that I can't delete out of the catalogue! And that's not even getting into the whole bug issue. I kind of hope that it TOTALLY DESTROYS the games of all the BBSers who buy it. That would amuse me.

You're a funny dude, dude..
I fail to see how funny it would it be to see people, like my kids (who have probably spent weeks saving, and getting excited about this), lose everything.  Maybe you were being "sarcastic".... ???

Of course it's your choice to purchase and there certainly is nothing wrong with buying the pack.  People used to buy Yugos, too.

There are also more discriminating players who look for quality, not quantity, and don't want more wacko Maxis crap (or bugs)

That's the beauty of downloading custom content.  Not only can you get it free, you get precisely what you want and if you tire of it, you can remove it from your downloads folder.

Even a single week is bad enough...because it means EA will be encouraged by the sales to produce more booster packs.
Great, I anticipate the next EP(if there is going to be one) will probably be a single disc and probably only 50mb.

And managing to be the most glitched one.  :P

Adding to the crappiness, it seems that the community lot skilling doesn't work now *sigh*. I'll start the game once more to check it out though.

I hate that there's so little content in this pack and that the fairytale room set should so obviously have been included in OFB which had the fairytale build set but in softer (prettier IMO) colors.

The one thing I DO like about this pack, though are the new kiddie clothes and meshes, especially the monster PJs. Otherwise, it's a big disappointment and certainly not worth the money.

Someone on the public boards is reporting this as a bug:

I have also discovered that since installing Family Fun, recolors of
Original Maxis stuff can no longer be deleted.

I assume they mean from inside the game.

Maybe you can try return it for a refund. There is a 90 days money return after all.
Its better to spend the money on food or whatever than this  :-\

Yeah - mine is going straight back to Amazon unopened

I have found one possible hack conflict with the Family Fun pack -- since installing it, the 'noemptypot' hack (the Pesantry version found here) seems to have stopped working.  The 'nomidstreamstop' hack still works fine, though.  I don't think the FF pack added any new potties, so I'm not sure why it would break this one.

Agreed.  When I first heard of the booster packs I wasn't at all thrilled.  Now the more the bring them out the less thrilled I am.


It didn't bother me in the least that there was only one disk for OFB--in fact, I was rather glad of it.  I just wish they'd have left out the ridiculous statues and 'mascot' uniforms and hats and given us a few more objects.  Overall, the build mode stuff is way nice, though.  The problem with too much of the content in x-packs is that it's merely a novelty that wears thin after a very short time.

Meh.  I never had any desire to get the holiday pack.  I have even less desire to get this.

I'd much rather wait for the next EP to break my game instead of this.

I will say that in comparison, the Holiday Pack seems like it was a far better value. I did get the Holiday Pack, and was pleased enough with it; it included object-based interactions (does FFP have any new object interactions at all?), two new NPCs, a new party, a new way to die, fireworks which can be used at any time, etc.  But the main reason the Holiday Pack was preferable is that it wasn't presented as a mini-EP; it didn't change the splash screen, music, add yet another folder, or apparently change any hacks or other custom content.

That's also a "feature" of OFB.

http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?threadID=b1b9f42ed4fd1027f0054f07f1725eac&directoryID=103&startRow=1&openItemID=item.103,root.1,item.43,item.41,item.23

Check the reviews of the product on Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EHIXJY/ref=wl_it_dp/102-3120709-9548942?%5Fencoding=UTF8&colid=3NFZ9BCEMSA52&coliid=I1RE081K9TV27N&v=glance&n=468642

The average ratingi is 2.5 stars.  I gave it one. 

I thought the review from Katherine Pitts was most interesting.  She gave it 5 stars even though she says it wiped out all the stuff from her collection that she had downloaded.  Other than that, she says it's awesome.  ::)  Also, every sentence ends with a !, which is a pet peeve of mine.  :P

Wow.  I thought you may be exaggerating about that review, Rainbow, but you were really not.  ::)  Oi.

I could not get lots from the Exchange that required the FFS pack to install in my game with the TS2 Package Installer.  The Sims 2 Pack Clean Installer worked fine.  I had no issues with the lots once installed other than some barren walls and stuff.  (I have no idea if the random lots I downloaded had any FFS content in them.)  But your average sims player does not use the the Sims 2 Pack Clean Installer to install lots.  Depending on how many people purchase the FFS pack, your audience could be limited if you like to build. 

SMRalph, however, states that the 'issue' has been reported to Maxis (http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?&threadID=9246f56b44d56378808f769a9294a4aa&directoryID=2#d14bf95315d04f658748e8054e84a07a).  But I think he was partly trying to head off a serious criticism of the FFS pack more than question whether or not this was intended.

I don't think they will. Parents still need to keep their kids quiet and completists will desire to buy anything with a Sims logo.

Pssttt....Jysudo.

Gotta delete some PM messages, your mailbox is full.

I would consider myself a completeist but I think I will break my record and give this a miss.

Well, hearing about the bugs, the price of it, and the fact there's (apparently) NO new intereactions, NPC's etc, I'd say that's rather wise.
I won't be buying this, at the moment I couldn't even afford to, and I prefer realism in my game, and somehow have a ship steering wheel in the middle of my living room walll doesn't seem very realistic to me, plus I'm just not interested in Nautuical themeing. I was never really hugely completeist with the game anyway, I had only 2 expansions with The Sims 1.

Looking back on the Holiday Pack, it wasn't really so bad compared to the FFP.  It didn't require a disk, install music, create duplicate packages, or seriously affect the game.  FFP is making people who have outdated cards no longer to play the game, which even though they should upgrade it's idiotic to introduce the new requirements in an object add-on set.

I am also a completist, but the health of my game takes precedent.

 :D We have one sitting on our fireplace mantle...

You can take $20 and get subscriptions to wonderful sites and get a crap load of stuff, that won't turn your game to mush.

I'd rather Maxis takes their little packs and shoves them up their rumps. :P

Hehe, what a nice way to put it!  :D

Guess what, I am now feeling good that I brought the holiday pack...because it seems value for money compared to this shit  ::)

I feel sad I am a sims fan. Other games don't give people these kind of shit and still end up as best selling game... :-\

I guess this means the next EP will also make this change for people who didn't buy the FFP.  Sigh.  I wonder if my system will run it.

When The Sims 2 came out, my system was about halfway up the list of requirements - not underpowered but not top of the pile either.  It runs the game pretty well all things considered.  The only time I see slow downs is on very large lots and I can have extra large families (10-12) without problems.  I've since updated my video card but, as my system was fairly old then (only two years old at that time, for heaven's sake), I was only able to upgrade so far.  I got the system just before the change to the newer the slot types - whatever the technical details were.  I've been pretty happy with the new video card but can't improve it any further with my present system.

The thing is I am a student and can't afford to upgrade till I get a full-time job (I'm due to finish in 2009) - if I ever get one - though I will probably try to buy a bigger system just before I leave because we get massive discounts via the computer department.  I was given this system when I started my course because I am a disabled student - it's part of my support package.  I've obviously been pretty happy about that and it's perfectly adequate for my research work.  It's all very well saying people should upgrade their systems but there are plenty of people like me who can't afford to, who don't have loads of spare cash to throw around - people with young - or elderly - families to support, people with disabilities or chronic illness, unemployed, etc. etc.  It would be nice if game developers were a bit more mindful of these things.  I can understand the desire to exploit new features and developments in hardware but people do get left behind in the mad rush to something 'better' - often only marginally better as far as I can see too.  In a long-running series like the Sims, it also seems a bit of a cheat to have the early parts of the game run on some systems and then to cut them off by upping the requirements.  And when I say long-running - in fact, it's only going to run for the base game and 7 expansions (so they say) - at the rate Maxis produces the EPs, that's only about 4 years.  I know computer technology is supposed to develop quickly but four years still isn't a long time.  (And I reckon about 90% of what people say about the rate of development is complete bollocks.)

Thing is, this is totally unnecessary. There's nothing in the damned pack that would require higher requirements. Believe me, I've seen custom content that people download with way more polys and bigger textures than what's the FFP. I really dislike that it installs like an episode, new directory, new objects.package, new bodyshop, SimPE complains about it etc etc. It's just a few objects for crying out loud. I've downloaded way more stuff than what's in this pack and it didn't make my game a new episode. :P

I completely agree. Maxis did alot of unnecessary things with Family Fun Stuff.

They're just covering their ass since Nightlife brought up the system requirements (OFB has the higher requirements too). They don't want people to expect that the game will run on lower spec systems if they have this installed (ie. someone buys Nightlife and Family Fun thinking they're be able to play Nightlife because Family fun has lower requirements, since that's the game disc used to play the game). They did the same thing with TS1 around the time Vacation came out.

As for making it a new episode, they probably did it because the HPP was so easy to pirate, it didn't need a serial to install and there wasn't really any way to show a person owned it when they uploaded a lot to the exchange (thus, missing objects).

Well, at this point I have the Family Fun on my 'throw-away' system (i.e., my laptop, where I only play TS2 while traveling, and pretty much just play the maxis provided sims).  I got back from vacation yesterday and fired up my 'real' game on my desktop, and there's no way I'm adding this to my main machine -- it's just not worth it right now, considering you don't gain much with it.  I'm just going to chalk up the cost of the FFS pack to research, so y'all can get first-hand reports on it.  ::)

This gem of wisdom in reference to FFS was found at the Amazon site.  Written by:

"Reviewer:   Jessica Savitch "co-producer of 'Goddess Worship' & 'New Sex Now' DVDs, and editor of '9 Free Secrets...' ...&... 'Free Your Love Now' ...&... 'My Name is Gary' eBooks" (The heart of the revolution, www.NewSex.org)) - See all my reviews"

Sheesh, after reading all of this I have to say that I agree. This is just a rip-off. I never had any temptation to get the Holiday Pack and I don't have any to get this. I'll just stick to the expansion packs, thank you very much.

Aw crap.

My parents gave this to me for Easter, and while I haven't installed it, I have taken off the wrapper. Now I can't return it, I shouldn't install it, and I'm hurting my parents feelings for not liking their gift.  :-\

Actually it might depend on where your parents bought it, laylei. My husband bought a Law & Order pc game for me for Christmas the year before last but it wouldn't work on my computer; I figured it was the disc and exchanged it at Walmart (where he had bought it). The new one wasn't any better, would freeze up my computer....I took it back, fully expecting to hear "tough luck" but oddly enough they let me return it. They also let me return an opened pc game of son's as well. So, if your folks bought it at Walmart, I'd at least give it a try.

No, it was from Target. Ah well, live and learn, I guess. I'll probably install in someday... once the bugs have been hammered out.

I have Family Fun Stuff now beacause my parents knew me to love Sims 2, they always pre-order Sims games for me. I'm not boasting but we are somewhat rich. But I don't want to install that yet because of unending bugs and glitches I heard. I will install it after a new patch comes out.

I don't think I am buying anymore packs.

Good grief. Now Maxis is giving people fits. Literally.

Maxis isn't entirely at fault for the flashing textures, that can happen in any game that uses DirectX with an older video card (ex. Warcraft III did it a few times before I upgraded).

I know. But jeeez. Who wants to have a frickin' seizure playing a game for crying outloud? Sorry. I'm crabby today. :P

Heh, that is one of the best trolls I have seen in a long time. Make a complaint and fabricate a 3 day medical crisis for sympathy.

The reason they moved the reqs up is to force people to upgrade now, so they won't have to upgrade when the next EP comes out and further bloats the system.

I am so glad I read in here.  I never saw anything worthwhile in this pack so didn't consider getting it.  Thanks all for your posts.

Sheesh.

Am I the only person on the planet that has not had any problems with FFS?

You can all call me stupid or a Maxis/EA worshipper if you like  (of which I am neither).

I avoided FFS clothes (which are pretty hideous anyway) in CAS, and have had no problems whatsoever.

I am not saying I am totally thrilled with the pack, because I am not, but there are a few Items in it I really like. (The undersea stuff makes nice bathroom decor).

I was just wondering if I was the only one, and thought it would be nice to see a dissenting opinion in this thread.

I didn't have any problems with it -- I'm just not sure it's worth the money for what you get.

I got it as a gift and haven't bothered to install it yet, so I can only go by what others have said. The majority seems to be having problems, so I have decided to wait for a patch. Now that the patch is out, I will wait to see what effect the patch has. :P

Well, I am going to install it tonight.  I figure I can always uninstall it if I hate it, and I don't care about my game since I had to reinstall the damn thing again this weekend.

If you don't install mods such as Gunmod's Lighting and Radiance or Gunmod's Camera Mod this thing will work swell.  You'll just need to put these config files in the FFP directory if you're going to use them.  I just don't like how they've added it to the game, therefore I don't like it.

Well, I've played it for a while and I haven't had any probs.  It certainly not what I was hoping for, but I guess if I didn't have the other expantion packs that I would love it for giving me the attraction system;ect.  I have the camera mod that was included in Matyville(I'm not sure which one it is) and I was freaking out cause it wasn't working--till the next day when I realized that it had been written over--so I put it back and it works fine.  I guess it was too late that night to think clearly.

Am I the only one who is questioning why a person who has epileptic seizures was playing a video game that is prone to flash?

'nuff said

Well I have never had a problem with the game flashing and I imagine prior to this then this person probably didn't either.  It's quite possible that they hadn't read anything pertaining to the flashing either.

Link (http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?threadID=622f165cf2331db466500d64fc2b40ee&directoryID=2&startRow=1&openItemID=item.2,item.43,item.61,item.41,item.23)
Is that true? Why would the bed be in the Open For Business collection if it wasn't in the shipped game?

Because it was supposed to be in the game, and part of the set is, but they instead removed it from the OFB files (but left the references in place) to wring more money out of you chumps.

When is the game prone to flash? I've never had the game "flash", why would a person who has epileptic seizures be wary of playing? I've not had any problems with the FFP (apart from regretting purchasing it) but why should someone with epilepsy be wary? ??? ???

A very small percentage of people with epilepsy or a seizure disorder are prone to photosentive seizures, which can be triggered by strobe lights, flickering in video games or the television, or even sunlight reflecting off of moving water. There are many variables that have to be just right for photically induced seizures to occur and although it's highly unlikely to happen, it isn't entirely out of the question.