I know this thread is old. Apologies. But after all the issues I've had in the last month trying to get my home computer up and running again, which now has me considering installing Windows 7 since XP is being a bastard, my ultimate concern was will Sims 2 run on Windows 7. And can I just say, that after everything, I am so happy that the first search result in Google for "Sims 2 Windows 7" was to this site?

I miss you guys. I don't know why I keep trying to have a social life IRL.

"Spielberg's DreamWorks had produced games for a time under its DreamWorks Interactive division, but EA bought it in 2000."

Call me cynical, but I think this is the only reason they are bringing Spielberg into anything. It was probably part of the buyout agreement. Spielberg probably started DreamWorks Interactive because he got a bee in his bonnet to make games, but he probably didn't know the first thing about running a game company, which is why EA probably walked in and bought it. Also, this comment ("Spielberg's role will be similar to that of an executive producer on a film.") seems to say that he's there to bring in capital and argue with the developers to add in whatever elements he thinks will be cool.

I think I used "Paint Portrait" once and had the experience of the subject being dumb and standing too close. I normally use "Paint Still Life" to get the poses I want. But if I remember correctly, you can hit play while the box is up to capture the picture and move sims around so you can get the positioning correct. It's been awhile since I did portraits or still lifes though, so don't quote me on that.

My roomie had the same problem when he first got the game (he had Nero, Clone CD, Alcohol, etc.). He ended up getting a no CD crack to work around it because there was no way he was taking anything off with all the CD burning he does. I think it has something to do with the SafeDisc protection which specifically bans Nero, Clone CD and Roxio, which is ridiculous considering that anyone who buys a computer these days with a burner purchases one of these programs in order to use it. I think Dell uses Roxio exclusively, which (I don't know this for sure as I haven't purchased a Dell) I think you purchase as part of your software bundle. I had something similar when I got a Gateway way back when.

I can understand their (EA's) need to prohibit copyright infringement, but I don't see where that gives them the right to dictate to the paying customer what programs he/she can keep on his/her own computer. I mean, customer support advises you to back up your game frequently, but how do you do that after they make you uninstall your CD burning software?    I just think that EA/Maxis is out of line demanding that their customers not use programs they dislike while at the same time not bothering to give them a working game.

I may get myself illegal copies from now on just to spite them.  

I answered 5, but I could be swayed if everyone here said it was good.

I think I hit the roof over this whole patch/sucky game nonsense yesterday. I've spent the last week backing up my computer and removing programs after my hard drive hit full. This required using Clone CD and Nero to burn copies of my files. Well, I've had both programs on my computer since I bought Sims 2 and never had a problem with it. After burning the last disk, I start up Sims 2 and get the "You have evil CD/DVD emulation software on your computer. You can't play the game you paid $50 for unless you remove these other programs that you are using for perfectly legal means" error window. I threw a fit. Then I uninstalled Clone CD and Nero but will reinstall them later when needed.

After that, I don't think I could stomach throwing away anymore money on a game that decides what I can and can't have on my own computer after I legally purchased said game.

I know. I figure that, like real life plastic surgery, it is only correcting God's mistakes on you, but not your children's. Vicious cycle, really.

I'll have Rosaline get some work done when she gets older and then marry her off to some sim who never saw her in her hideously ugly days. He'll never see the monkey children coming...

Nothing, if you're an evil wizard with gigantic eyebrows. Did I inadvertantly offend you?

I worry about a lot of my kids born in game though, as I can't control much of how they turn out. Like Regan and Cornwall Capp's daughter, Rosaline. She's not bad looking for a kid, and considering both her parents have those long, skinny faces with sharp chins, I figure she'll grow up to look like Jafar from Aladdin.

She's probably going to get one of those plastic surgery thingys when she grows up.

Well, your idea wasn't bad either.  So there!

I noticed that, too! Now when I make sims in Body Shop or CAS, I make an adult that I like and then age them down. Without fail they worse as children. When I use the "Make a Baby" thing in CAS with a couple, I age the kid to adult and choose from there to make sure they won't look like a monkey when they grow up.

Unless I'm going for that look, of course.

I've used Clean Installer to remove families from lots and not had a problem yet. I did the same thing Jorenne did.

I think the Sheepmasters were correct in calling you rude, LK.  

Nope, all country music does sound the same. I've listened to way more than I'd like over the last few years.

U2 is my all time favorite band. I'll listen to a little bit of everything else, though--jazz, classical, rock, reggae, ska, etc.

I gotta disagree, too. While most rappers are very bad (as many singers are very bad--see American Idol or Pop Star), there are some that are very good. For example, Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes are great. They have good tone and flow and their lyrics are well written. I'm not what you would call a rap fan, but I think there's a lot more to rap music than just talking over a beat.

No, the roomie is not Amish, he's just a cracker. However, I am doing an Amish challenge. It was the roomie's idea, but I'm the one who plays Sims more so I get to test it.   

We're still working out the rules, but as for the phone, we are allowing one phone per Amish home but it has to be outside, away from the house. I used to live in Lancaster for a short time, but I've learned more about the Amish in the last week than I ever did living there. We are taking the view that the Sims would have to be New Ordnung Amish or they would die--no fridge would mean no food. Some orders of the Amish community allow phones but keep them in the front yard. So we're working with that.

I'm still working thorugh the challenge to see if there are any problems that will pop up with the mating requirements we have and any other technical issues. I will be sure to share the complete rule set once we have one though. Thus far, it has been extremely challenging for me, especially with keeping the kids happy! Not having a TV or a radio sucks.

I played Stars Wars online for about a year, as that was the amount of time it took for me to realise I don't like to socialize on the computer in real time. It also got boring after one of my friends got banned permanently for making a giant creature named "I'm a moron" follow some guy around who annoyed him. We thought it was funny. I don't know what the guy's problem was.

Anyway, I've never been into the D&D thing even though my house was host to many game. They spent more time arguing over the rules and smoking than they ever did playing, so I never saw the point to the whole thing. Maybe they were a poor example. I'd be interested to see what you come up with though, Oddysey. If it sounds fun, I'd be willing to try it out.

I'll try it on someone tonight to see if it happens again. (Things are entirely to quiet in my Prosperity Neighborhood anyway.) I've avoided this action in certain situations since getting that first affair memory, so I, too, wondered if the patch corrected it.

My cats were quite the little huntresses. The older one loved the slow torture method--hold onto them, then let go so the prey thinks if can get away and then before it does, smash her paw down on it again. This would be on until the bug died from exhaustion. My younger cat never attacked anything that moved--light, shadows, feet. She wasn't big on torturing the bugs, but once they were on their backs, she would leave them for me to dispose of.

Ah, I don't chat. I type too slow.

Wait, there's more than one here? Now I'm confused...

Oh, and since we are on the topic of flamingoes:



This is from the aftermath of the tornado that hit Clito, GA in 2003. My roommate took it.

You're not the first person to tell me that!   My mom was a tomboy, so when she had me, she wanted a little girl, not a little tomboy. I got all the Barbies and My Little Ponies I could ever want. But I loved when my cousin came to visit because then I could play with "boy" toys--Star Wars, GI Joe's, etc.

Mom Betty-Crockered me as much as she could. I blame her for my lack of physical prowess at sports.  


Thank you! I tried the shotgun argument on my roommate and (as usual) my lone opinion wasn't enough. He's totally caved. Flamingo kicking is in.

So Amish people offend you? Is that what you're saying? You, cultural elitist!


Well, in one house, it will work as I have two teens and a child living together and for this challenge, teens can do whatever they want so they aren't going to care if the kid is doing it. So long as I keep the adults busy inside at my other homes, the kids can kick free.

I'm pretty sure if nondestructively kicking a flamingo is too violent, the dollhouse will similarly be too violent. Not to mention expensive and prone to getting stuck in manner fixable only by buyable fires.
As long as they don't break the dollhouse, it should be cool. I haven't had a problem with the dollhouse-stuckage yet. ::knocking on wood::


Oh. I forgot about that one. Mary Mark involves hand-slapping though so I'm not totally dumb!   

I've really gotten into the challenge thing. I get bored playing without some kind of goal or rule set. But then I get bored with the goal or rule set and have to find something new! I still have to try Email, but I have a sim all created and ready to go when I decide to finally get to it. I've started Legacy and Prosperity and am only on Generation 2 in both. The only challenge I finished was Toddler Mania (because it's short) and, wow, I sucked at it. But I would try it again now that I now what not to do.

I don't play enough to get very far with challenges (or my non-challenge families) and sometimes I just want to build. I love reading people's stories (like Reggiko's) and would love to do stuff like that myself, but I get so caught up in playing I forget to take pictures.


That's gotten the approval of the roomie, however, I feel weird having the boys play with it (and so far all my kids in this have been boys). Maybe it's because Mom wouldn't let me play with the GI Joe's and Transformers I wanted when I was little. I'll give it a shot though.

I've now been told kicking is too violent a behavior for this challenge. Man, I'm thinking this was a bad idea. It gets more un-fun all the time...

Ok, we found a compromise. Kids can kick the flamingo but only if an adult does not see them. I can live with that.


For whatever reason, my kids always get shot down for Mary Mack, and Cops and Robbers is so slow to refill fun. By the time that does the trick, they have to go to bed and haven't done their homework. Toys from the toy box are slow, too, although they will play with those when they are red. If they are in the red, they refuse to play the piano or chess. (I hate these kids!) I haven't tried bed jumping yet, though. Hmm.