Issue 4 -D Dec 2020 Editors LETTER

Issue 4 -D Dec 2020 EDiTORS LETTER

SulSul Simmers, Welcome to issue 6 of SimmedUp Magazine. The community magazine, created by Sims fans for Sims fans. This month we bring you yet another jam packed issue, we also celebrate with a few more team members joining us! Not only do we have the Wonderful Machinima creator ‘TheMomCave’ we have Award winning journalist Antoinette Muller joining us, and we are also working with her own website Extra Time Media. We are all so excited to have so many talented members on our team, all of whom dedicate their time for free. It really does go to show when you have the communities best interests at heart, everything else just falls into place. On that note, what have we got coming up, dare I tell you? We have the amazing and super talented Celebrity and Good Witch ‘Patti Negri,’ talking about the paranormal to celebrate The Sims ‘Paranormal pack’ game release, the inspirational XfreezerBunnyX - GameChanger chatting with Ivana, Karen Keren brings you more top TSM tips, we have the all new ‘Simspiration’ with K8Simsley and ‘Building a better life’ with TheMomCave, Antoinette is all in with Maxis Match and we have the ‘Romance’ Mod review with Grace, just too many to name, but yes we have it all and more. February is the ‘Love’ Month, whether you celebrate or not! This issue we hope, has just the right balance for those of you who are loved up, and those of you that are wishing it was March already! But we also have some sad news, the lovely and very talented Karen Keren is leaving us this month, to go off on her own amazing adventures, I am sure you will all join us, in wishing her well and that the future brings her everything she dreams of, and thank you so much for being a part of our team. So from me to you, I wish you all the most amazing and productive February, but most of all, that cupid sends a little love your way. Benzi chibna looble bazebni gweb SiMSiMMERLY

44TITANARCHITECTS: #SHOWUSYOURBUILDS. WITH NATASHAACREATIONS

50FANART:SIMS2COMICS 54RETROCORNER: ROMANCEFROMSIMS2/3 60INTERVIEW: ANOTHERPLUMBOB 68YOURSIMS: SHOWCASING YOUR SIMS 70LOVETOSHOP: EXCLUSIVEMERCH&CC 74BUILDABETTERLIFE: WITHTHEMOMCAVE 80SIMSPIRATION: WITH K8SIMSLEY 88POPUPS: WITH ARDI 22INTERVIEW: 96MAKINGASIMMER: GAMECHANGER STORYTIME WITH MURKY MINRAED XFREEZERBUNNYX 28CCTOPPICKS: EDITORS CHOICE

30SIMS4CC: 106ROMANCEMODS:TO MAXISMATCH&ALPHA ENCHANCEYOURGAME;BY EXPLAINED-BYA.MULLER GRACE 34CELEBRITYINTERVIEW: 112T.O.O.LMODREVIEW: WITHPATTINEGRI APARTMENTS BY A.MULLER 44TITANARCHITECTS:

PHOTO CREDiT TO:ELLiANDRA

SHOWCASING YOUR SIMS

74BUILDABETTERLIFE: BROKEN CC?

88POPUPS:

96MAKINGASIMMER: STORYTIME WITH MURKY MINRAED

106ROMANCEMODS:TO ENCHANCEYOURGAME;BY

112T.O.O.LMODREVIEW: APARTMENTS BY A.MULLER PRACTICE Just SIMLISH FORFun

HOW CAN A MARRIED COUPLE WHO HATE EACH OTHER AND AREONTHEBRINKOFDIVORCEENJOYAROMANTICDINNER 1 AND A BOTTLE OF WINE AT THE SAME RESTAURANT? ? I CAN MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY, I CAN MAKE PEOPLE CRY. I CANMAKEPEOPLEWANTME,ANDICANDRIVEPEOPLE CRAZY. WHAT AM I? 2?

I CAN BREAK, I CAN BE CLOGGED, I CAN BE ATTACKED, I CAN BE GIVEN, I CAN BE KEPT, I CAN BE CRUSHED, YET I CAN BE ?3 WHOLE AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT AM I? ? ? Za Woka Genava!/I think you are hot

PRACTICE Elicanto!/You are looking good! SIMLISH Ravasheen!/ ooh, I look like a smokin' hottie in this!

Send Your Answers to: [email protected] & You could See your NAME/Social media HERE! ? ? ?

LAST MONTHS ANSWERS: DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? 1. A COIN

2. LAWSUIT 3. THE MAN IS A BARBER! ? GUESS THE CAS! ? ANSWER: AUDREY HEPBURN If you play with Sims 4 mods or CC, then you are probably familiar with the hellish visions of Sims being transformed into punctuation marks that look like they have crawled out from the underworld. (PS: Wouldn’t an underworld pack in The Sims 4 be awesome?).

Moving on. We love using Sims 4 custom content. That’s not hating on EA or The Sims 4 team, there’s just so much gorgeous stuff available. And bunk beds. There are functional Sims 4 CC bunk beds.

The problem with Sims 4 CC is that sometimes it can break. Mods and CC break with updates or sometimes you download them in a broken state. It can be quite traumatising to see the Punctuated Sims from Hell appear. But there is an easier and far less traumatic way to fix broken CC in The Sims 4. It works best for Create a Sims (CAS) content that’s broken, but you can also use it to get rid of Build/Buy custom content that’s broken or that you no longer use or simply don’t like the look of.

It is also a great way to find any custom content that might be missing from your game. This is useful if you have downloaded some Sims households, lots or objects that do not show up in your game.

Best way to fix broken or bad CC in The Sims 4

To easily fix broken or bad custom content in The Sims 4, you will need to use the Sims 4 Tray Importer from L'Univers Sims. It's a completely free download and it is safe to use. You can download The Sims 4 Tray Importer from the official website over here.

This little application is life changing for Sims 4 players who usealotofCC.Ifyouhaveabad batch of broke custom content, it can help you clean things up in no time.

Once you have installed The Sims 4 Tray Importer (which runs separately to your Sims game), you will be able to quickly delete any broken CC whenever you want. It can even help you clean up your library if it has gotten a bit full. Here is a household of ours. For our

American readers, this is the national rugby team of South Africa. Well, our version of some of them anyway. For our English readers: Do you remember the 2019 Rugby World Cup? Once you have found the offending family (they will show up like the zombies from CAS, or you can name the family "broken" or "delete this" to make it easier).

If you want to just get rid of a household, room or lot without also deleting the CC, you can switch over to the files tab. Highlight the files and right click.

Then select the "Show containing folder" option. Your Tray folder

To get rid of broken Sims 4 Custom Content or find missing CC by using TS4TI, switch over to the CC tab on the application.

You will see a list of all the CC in use for that household, room or lot.Any missing mods or CC will show up highlighted in red like in the screenshot ON THE RIGHT..

If you want to find the missing CC, recently reported that there are issues with this right-click and use the "Find on Google" option showing up. If you are having option. Note: Some users problems, refer to the TS4TI

HOW TO CHEAT:PRESS CONTROL + SHiFT + C ON YOUR KEYBOARD iN ORDER TO OPEN UP A CONSOLE iN THE TOP-LEFT CORNER OF YOUR SCREEN. THiS iS WHERE YOU TYPE CHEATS. PLAYERS ON CONSOLE CAN PUSH ALL FOUR SHOULDER BUTTONS AT ONCE TO BRiNG THiS UP support forum. There could be an issue If you select more than one item of Sims with your firewall blocking access or 4 CC to delete, several windows will you might be running an out of date open up with the selected items version, or other similar issues. It is best highlighted in your mods folder. You can to check with the app's developers for just delete them one-by-one by going troubleshooting. If the option is there, a through each window and hitting delete. browser tab will open and you will find And that's it. This easy way to find and the websites where the CC is hosted. You delete broken or bad CC in The Sims 4 can then download it and add it to your works for rooms, lots and CAS items. mods folder. This is quite useful to help

find missing meshes. Written By antoinette muller

Do you ever want a relationship story that will You can start a relationship by introducing unlock your heart’s desire? In The Sims yourself to another sim by selecting how you Mobile, there are 25 Relationship Stories that would like your relationship to be like. As the you can complete by selecting your sim or other story progresses, you’ll level up your sim’s player’s sim to start a relationship story from relationship status which will unlock in CAS being friends, a romantic relationship, and items as rewards from finishing the getting into a rivalry story that way your story relationship story. What kind of relationship makes it unique from any other sim. What do you desire?As for Hana and Steph, not only makes it exciting is that you can engage with are they building their friendship story they are other players and share what’s going on with also matchmaking their Sims and making their your Sims -- making a connection not only as life together forever. A connection that will in-game friends but you can turn into real-life make a mark in their Sims story but also in the friends. Did that happen to you? I definitely can attest that Hana and Steph are one of the few hearts of players which makes bonding as that I know who became besties. strong as ever.

(See photo Hana and Steph’s Sims: TOP: Nala and Love;

This love month, it is not limited to how we can show and give love to our loved ones but to appreciate ourselves and stay true to our heart’s desire. FEATURiNG THE SiMS MOBiLE PLAYER’S ART AND STORY BY RAVEN SiMS

The Sims Mobile Relationship Story HEY, GUYS! MY NAME iS ROKO, I'M FROM BRAZiL, I JUST TURNED 27 ON THE 6TH FEBRUARY. I HAVE KNOWN THE SiMS SiNCE I WAS A CHiLD, I STARTED PLAYiNG THE SiMS ORiGiNAL AND USED TO SPENT A LOT OF MY DAY iN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER CREATiNG AND PLAYiNG. MY FAVORiTE EXPANSiONS, WHiCH WERE MAKiN' MAGiC AND SUPERSTAR.

MY FAVORiTE BUiLD STYLE iS DEFiNiTELY THE ViCTORiAN, I'M REALLY OBSESSED WiTH ViCTORiAN HOUSES BUT LATELY I'M DiViNG iNTO THE MODERN ONES.

I'M SO HAPPY AND HONORED TO BE iN SiMMEDUP MAGAZiNE.

MY SOCiAL MEDiA LiNKS ARE:

HTTPS://TWiTTER.COM/ PLUMBOBKiNGDOM

HTTPS://WWW.iNSTAGRAM.COM/ PLUMBOBKiNGDOM/

HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/ PLUMBOBKiNGDOM

GALLERY ID: PLUMBOBKiNGDOM ALL

PHOTO

CREDiT

BELONGS

PLUMBOB

KiNGDOM

PlumbobKingdom Source: h�ps://recipes.fandom.com/ wiki/Sims_4_Flirty_Heart_Cookies

It's a pleasure and honor to be doing this and featuring you for our Feb. issue. Many simmers and our readers would love to know you be�er, as you're one of the biggest names in the Sims community and a Game Changer, well-known for pu�ng out various videos like LPs, reviews, and amazing builds that are detailed and informa�ve.

IVANA: First, how are you, and how you've IVANA: You have varied Sims videos on been doing during this lockdown? your channel, from speed builds to LPs and reviews, and well-known also for pu�ng FB: Thank you for asking! To be honest it out informa�ve and detailed builds. How was a tough experience being in one of the do you come up with new content ideas? world’s longest lockdowns. It definitely Can you share a bit of your process? affected my work and personal life. Where do you find inspira�on? IVANA: How and when did you discover FB: Thisisaques�onIgetaskedallthe�me and start playing The Sims? and honestly, there's no one answer because inspira�on can come from so FB: I discovered The Sims while browsing many places. My straigh�orward answer to PS2 games at my local game store. It was a this would be new pack releases. Ge�ng happy coincidence because I ended up new content and updates is always buying one of my favorite games of all �me! refreshing. But I also take inspira�on from things that interest me outside the Sims fandom such as architecture and culture. I IVANA: You’re one of the well-known Sims believe you'll find a diverse mix of content youtubers In Sims community today. What and discussions on all my pla�orms! inspired you to become a Sims content creator and Youtuber? What was the IVANA: You have experience with a wide “spark” that got you started? variety of videos, which type is your FB: I'm fla�ered thank you. When I started favorite? my YouTube journey, the community wasn't FB: By far doing builds in my favorite. It’s as big as it is now. For me, it started just interes�ng since build videos are usually researching about the latest Sims 3 pack. the ones that take the most �me and Before I knew it I was already addicted to energy to produce but I really enjoy the watching let's plays! I couldn't get enough whole process from filming to pu�ng it all of them and seeing how much fun lets together. Though re-watching hours upon players had filming and producing content, hours of footage can get tedious and very inspired me to try it out myself. draining admi�edly.

IVANA: What is your greatest accomplishment and how has this affected your channel and personal life? FB: Other than ge�ng my architecture degree, I'm very proud of my YouTube channel and what I've accomplished so far. Last year I hit the very special hundred- thousand subscriber milestone. And simply being able to survive for almost eight years on the pla�orm when there are so many challenges and hurdles. I definitely consider it as one of my biggest achievements. “Other than ge�ng my architecture degree, I'm very proud of my YouTube channel and what I've accomplished so far” IVANA: Have you got content that you wish would gain more exposure/ engagement, but didn’t?

FB: Yes of course! Sadly because the YouTube algorithm is so unpredictable, you can only hope the condi�ons are right for your video to be recommended or even appear on your subscriber's feed. I was par�cularly devastated when my "modern Bahay Kubo" video didn't get as many views as I'd hoped. As you know I am very passionate about promo�ng Filipino culture so when that video underperformed, I was heartbroken. IVANA: What is the best part of being in the EA gamechanger program? And what do you think could be improved more in the program, or you think you could do more? FB: Definitely ge�ng early access to packs! Ge�ng a few days ahead to work on videos takes away a lot of the �me pressure to get your content up as soon as the embargo li�s. One area I would like to see EA improve on is inclusivity. Take the release of Snowy Escape for example. It was disappoin�ng to see a lack of Asian representa�on. It was a missed opportunity to share the spotlight with the Asian community especially since we barely get any recogni�on in the first place.

IVANA: Have you ever dealt with nega�ve feedback/comments/dislikes as a content creator/EA game changer? If so, how did you manage it? FB: Most definitely! As an influencer, I try to look past the nega�ve and focus on the cri�cisms that I can use to improve myself but nobody should have to deal with harassment and hateful messages. That's where I draw the line.

IVANA: Who are your favorite simmers that you consider a major inspira�on and besides playing Sims, what are your other interests and hobbies? FB: I've worked with so many amazing people over the years but I can say that I really admire Simlicy and AvelineSims, Harrie for her impeccable taste, Simproved for her crea�vity, and I aspire to be as funny as DevonBumpkin. These are the people I look up to. Other than playing video games, I’m also really into watching anime and reading manga. That takes up most of my free �me.

IVANA: What advice can you give to aspiring Sims content creators and those who have hopes of making it big like you? FB: Make every post or video count! The internet is unpredictable. You have to be at your best when your poten�al audience finds you.

IVANA: Lastly, what is your favorite Sims game? :D FB: The Sims 2, 3, and now 4 will always have a special place in my heart.

Find all of XfreezerBunnyX videos on YouTube Channel XfreezerBunnyX Or Twi�er @XFreezerBunnyX

CUSTOM CONTENT TOP PICKS Love Is In The Air!

VALENTiNES SET CREATED BY: SOLORiYA FiND THiS ON: THE SiMS RESOURCE ID: 1404843

T-SHiRT CREATED BY: MMOUTFiTTERS 3 COLOURS FiND THiS iN: THE SIMMEDUP SHOP

HAiR CREATED BY: WINGSSIMS 30 COLOURS FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1503482 EYES BALMAiN DRESS CREATED BY: SELENG CREATED BY: PURESiMS 15 COLOURS FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1522963

BEARD VALENTiNO JEANS CREATED BY: MAGiCHAND CREATED BY: GOLYHAWHAW FiND THiS ON: 10 SWATCHES THE SIMS RESOURCE FiND THiS ON: ID:1520942 THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1478577 CUSTOM CONTENT TOP PICKS Love Is In The Air!

SHOES CREATED BY: MJ95 FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1439425

WiNGS CREATED BY: S-CLUB FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1349073

HAiR CREATOR: PiPCO FiND THiS ON: THE SiMS RESOURCE ID: 1494847

BALMAiN DRESS CREATED BY: PURESiMS FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1476580

TRAPEZE HANDBAG CREATED BY: SLYD FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1319828

CREATED BY: GOLYHAWHAW

LiPSTiCK THE SIMS RESOURCE CREATED BY: PRALiNE SiMS 15 COLOURS FiND THiS ON: THE SIMS RESOURCE ID: 1363661 SiMS 4 CC: MAXiS MATCH & ALPHA EXPLAiNED By Antoinette Muller Extra Time Media

PHOTO CREDiT TO: iSJAO.TUMBLR.COM

If you are new to playing The Sims 4 – CC is not quite the same as mods – or just new to using Custom Content – mods are files that change the way the you’ll probably see the words “Maxis game works (but that’s a lesson for Match Custom Content” or “Alpha another day). Custom Content” at some point during your CC splurges. The difference between Sims 4 Maxis Match and Alpha CC There is a lot of Sims 4 CC out there and it can feel a little overwhelming Sims 4 Alpha CC is custom content that trying to figure it all out at first. looks more ‘realistic’. It doesn’t have to Fortunately, it is much easier than it fall into a specific category like skin looks. tones for CAS or furniture, it simply We’ve slowly been working on means the texture and meshes that are curating our Maxis Match CC finds for used in this type of custom content are The Sims 4, but if you first want to get often more ‘realistic’ looking. your head around what that even means – let’s get started. Alpha CC for The Sims 4 works best on higher-spec machines, because of the Sims 4 Custom Content (CC) graphic demands it puts on the game. explained Sims 4 Maxis Match CC, meanwhile, is Let’s begin with the very basics and content that blends in better with the first answer the question: what is Sims textures already in the game. While 4 Custom Content? Sims 4 CC is many creators will still make new simply content for the Sims 4, ranging from Create-a-Sim items to Build/Buy meshes and textures for their Maxis items and everything else - that was not Match CC, these will not look as “real” created by EA. as Alpha CC. With CC hair, for example, Sims 4 You can see some of the differences Maxis Match CC will often use the between the two CC options more same colour palettes as the game itself. clearly in the video below. The video is Alpha CC will use custom textures and made by YouTuber Elliandra. tones that look more ‘glossy’ rather https://www.youtube.com/ than matte. watch?v=a6OxJgYqQeo&t=90s

The two styles of CC for The Sims 4 are notably different and many players Don't get us wrong, though, there's prefer one to the other. That does not plenty of Maxis Match CC that adds mean you can’t mix and match the two, some much-needed realism to The Sims of course - many players do. 4. Creators have added things like Vitiligo skin tones and additional For both Maxis Match andAlpha CC for wrinkles, tattoos and whole lot of other The Sims 4, you should always make stuff that fall into the "Maxis Match sure you read the creator notes. If items CC" category to the game. are recoloured – whether that is an in-game item or something from another creator – you might require Before the recent skin tone a specific pack or mesh in overhaul, Maxis Match CC order for the item to show creators helped players up in your game. make their games more diverse and inclusive If you have issues with with custom skin your CC, read our tones. quick guide for an easy way to fix broken CC in The Sims 4.

Maxis Match CC also

includes recolours to AHARRIS00BRITNEY CREDiT: PHOTO existing game items or some changes to existing items. This can include things like a Sims 4 base game bookshelf that has had all the items on it removed or a clothing item that has had a swatch added to it.

PHOTO CREDiT TO: ZiGGYMOONDUST.iMGUR.COM PARANORMAL

Behind Patti Negri sit a doll, not too dissimilar from the creepy one that came with the new Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff. It’s not an entirely unexpected guest, because Negri is a psychic-medium and “good” witch. Even at opposite ends of the world and through a computer screen, her energy radiates beautifully bright. The doll behind her, not so much.

"I have a 100-year-old haunted doll right behind me," she casually says midway through the interview, as if it's something that is easy to ignore.

“Her name is Belle. She’s a German doll. She's 105 and She was sent to me by a girl in Belgium who saw me doing a Séance with a much darker, haunted doll,” Negri explains.

The formerly haunted doll now lives in a museum while Belle is in Patti’s care – because she did not get on with her former owner in Belgium, making her feel unwell quite often. Patti, though, is what we would consider maxed on the Medium Skill in The Sims.

She’s felt a deep connection to the spirit world since she was a toddler (with the Brave Trait, clearly), rubbing shoulders with many celebrities. She’s cleared spaces on Jeff Lewis’s Flipping Out and cooked up some magic on Master Chef with Gordon Ramsey, to name a couple of examples. "I have a 100-year-old haunted doll right Negri knows her stuff, so she is the best person to ask about the addition of behind me," she casually says midway paranormal gameplay to The Sims. Surprising to those of us who aren’t versed through the interview, as if it's something in such, worlds beyond ours is about much more than just figuring out why Guidry’s that is easy to ignore. scorned lover is showing up and breaking your Sim’s toilet. The Sims franchise has always included an expansion specifically focussed on the more popular aspects of the paranormal, but there’s much more to it than that. All that appeasing your Sims do during Harvestfest, as it turns out, is not all for nothing.

"There is also what we call the 'everything else realm', which is things that were never human, that's getting into the angelic and demonic and the elemental realm of, you know, fairies and gnomes and captives and all sorts of things," Negri says.

In these trying times, video games offer an escape from the real world, but with The Sims, it is almost impossible to completely eliminate it. The game’s tagline, after all, is Play With Life.

For Negri, this is a good thing, especially when the representation and the adaption are done realistically, showing both the positive and not so positive side of the paranormal world.

And, to an extent, she muses, the paranormal in itself can be a sort of comfort blanket when it feels like everything is just getting a bit too much.

“I think it is great that gaming companies are going into the paranormal because the paranormal is big right now.

"And I believe the paranormal is big right now because, in reality, paranormal stuff is happening more and more and more. I don't want to get into the spirituality or philosophy of it, but as we've literally "I have a 100-year-old haunted doll right moved into this age of Aquarius, the veil between our world and the other world is thinning and more and more stuff is behind me," she casually says midway happening," she explains. through the interview, as if it's something “I never had to do more clearings of people, of homes, of spaces, of offices, that is easy to ignore. because crazy, unexplainable by science or logic stuff is happening,” she adds.

Ah, clearings. A key part of the gameplay of the new Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff is a career as a freelance Paranormal Investigator. This requires Sims to do “clearings” of careers - Psychic or Medium, what Negri their own, ranging on levels of difficulty. does, and Paranormal Investigator, But is this an accurate or fair reflection of which is something a little bit different. how it usually works? But the two careers do have some Considering the limited scope of a Sims 4 overlap and it’s all about opening your Stuff Pack, the answer is “sort of”. mind and allowing for a channel of communication. “If you're a paranormal investigator, you don't clear until after you investigate,” “In looking for it, when you want to talk explains Negri. to them, whether you're seeing you're in In the Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff Pack, a place that's haunted or supposedly there is a bit of investigation going on haunted, you know, there's haunted when your Sim is out on a job, but with objects like haunted dolls and things you Sim hours being somewhat shorter and want to communicate,” Negri says. their lifespans a bit more restricted than So, while your first instinct for your us mere mortals in the real world – the budding Paranormal Investigator Sim extent of opening up communication is not explored quite as much as somebody might be to just start kicking those weird like Negri would usually do. hands and creepy dolls into next Tuesday, talking to the spirits first isn’t The Stuff Pack has sort of blended two the worst idea. "You don't want to clear first. You want to "If you're using a quartz crystal ball, open up. You want to open portals. The something made from a real rock that way I work personally and I've been doing has a spirit of its own that has that it, I literally lift that veil. I lift that net mineral spirit in it. Anything animal, between and theirs lots of ways to do vegetable, or mineral has its own spirit. that," advises Negri. So, you're working through the spirit. So, it might somewhat colour what One way of opening up a portal is through a Séance. To the uninitiated, the crystal you're looking at. I use both and they ball might feel like a cheap stereotype, but both work great and they both have their it’s something Negri uses herself and if things, but most people don't know there are cany custom content creators that," she explains. out there looking for ideas on how to As for the visions that appear in the ball, improve – there’s a whole lot that can be gleaned from those crystal balls. Negri says they are a perfectly reasonable reflection, and the Sims Portals can be found in anything, Séance ritual, although a bit exaggerated according to Negri. From a bowl with levitating, reflects how all- of water, a candle flame, a consuming and raging fire, the sun or the “If you're a exhausting talking to the moon bouncing off the paranormal investigator, other side can be. water. But a crystal ball offers something tangible. you don't clear until Mediums all How useful it is, though, after you investigate” communicate differently, depends on how willing though, but everyone’s you are to let go. method is valid. And, just like in The Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff, not “I certainly use them, they're old school. everyone uses a crystal ball to open up What they are is a doorway, a crystal ball the communication channels. is for scrying. It's literally like a mirror. And you can use a mirror to a black "You have your outside vision and your mirror,butit'sforyoutoletgoofthelogic inside vision, just like you're inside and see through the veil into the other hearing and you're outside hearing and side,” she says. you might say I'm a ghost and you might And, as Negri explains, not all crystal literally hear it with your ears or you balls are created equal and CC creators might hear it in your head. have a golden (or is that clear?) "When you're working with a crystal opportunity to make a little enhancement by tweaking these. ball, you're not staring at 'you' let the eyes glaze because you're going into your "There's a difference in led crystal balls, 'inner mind'. the old school, and quartz crystal balls, because led crystal balls, regular glass “Some people literally will see it in the crystal balls, which most are represented ball, just like in the game, in TV and as those are just pure mirrors between the movies. I am seeing this appear in the worlds. They're just a window. ball. Sometimes you're seeing up here in the ball in your mind, sometimes both. But there is another type of crystal ball And both are equally valid,” Negri adds. that takes things to a whole new level, so to speak. While some might scoff at these ideas, Negri is chuffed that the craft (no, not that one) is getting some mainstream attention. Not just because of the time we are living in, but because it is all around us, quite literally.

“The two worlds are getting closer together and kind of colliding. More and more of us on this realm are seeing stuff on that realm.”

She implores those who are curious to explore their intuition and “let go of logic” every once in a while.

"You don't have to be an intuitive or a psychic or a medium to walk into a thrift store or an antique store and just feel energetically your way around and you're going to be drawn to things with positive energy or negative energy.

“Pick it up if you can [after making sure it has been wiped down, of course) hold it and allow logic to slip away for a second and then just see the story and you will be amazed.

"If you then go talk to the shopkeeper, you might be very, very correct in what you were seeing if they even know the history ofit.Ithinkthatweareallbornwithit,you know, we use a very small percentage of our brain anyway." Negri says.

And just like in The Sims, it is often children who are more willing to explore these curiosities. The kind of intuition and connection that is often celebrated and encouraged in other cultures – including in The Sims with Elemental Island Spirits from Sulani and the mountain spirits in Mt. Komorebi.

"I think little kids see through that spirit. I certainly did, but it usually gets taught out of us. I thought everybody could talk to the dead people that were around. But in our modern society and especially our Western culture versus some Eastern cultures…we have a mysticism." The response seems almost exasperated, but that soon turns hopeful because she believes that the holistic inclusion of these elements in video games will awaken something in all of us.

"That's why it's great that it's coming into games and it's coming into the media, television films. Because we are not very mystical or spiritual, even with our religion. So, as it's coming back, as we're moving into that age of Aquarius, more and more is happening," she says.

While she certainly does not encourage anyone to just go around opening portals, especially without knowing how to close them again, she does emphasise that spirits can be playful.

And while The Sims 4 is yet to see the addition of fairies as a life state or engaging NPC, they are one of her personal favourites in the real world.

“Fairies are great. They will bring laughter and mischief and great. You got to bribe them sometimes because they get too rambunctious. They steal your earrings, they steal your phone, they steal stuff. You got to bribe them,”

“Just give them some honey or some cream or some whiskey, they'll give it back. It's just like with the gnomes, you bribe them. You make deals,” Negri smiles.

As the interview heads for a natural conclusion, the internet connection suddenly cuts off completely, despite the laptop still being connected to an ethernet cable and no other machines dropping their line.

Negri blurs back into vision and full voice and formal goodbyes are exchanged. Behind her, the creepy doll suddenly doesn’t look so creepy anymore. In fact, for just a few brief moments, the whole world looks a little bit sparkly and less scary.

#ShowUsYourBuilds

Hello I’m Natasha and I’ve been doing builds on YouTube for just over a year but been playing the Sims since sims 2. I definitely build more than actually play the gameplay (oops) but hey I enjoy the game very much. Please follow me for more builds, all my links are below. I Hope you like my McDonalds build. Thank You! Twi�er: h�ps://twi�er.com/NatashaaaAnnee Instagram: h�ps://www.instagram.com/tashaaannee/ Facebook: h�ps://www.facebook.com/NatashaaCrea�ons

NatashaaCreations

Hello dear reader, My name is Emma, or better known as the admin behind the Tumblr account thesims2comics. I made the account back in February 2020, as I rediscovered the game thanks to a few YouTubers talking about it. I instantly became obsessed with the game’s lore and the fan theories. Though I liked the lore and theories, my direct motivation to draw Sims characters was sparked after I read someone’s fanfiction about the corruption of Strangetown. I found it such a good story that I reached out to the writer to ask permission to adapt it to a comic. Though now the comic project has been put on hold indefinetly, I still draw smaller comics surrounding the basegame Sims. I love drawing the premades, and I’m so happy to see others share the same love for these Sims. That’s it for now! Stay happy, stay safe and stay on Simming! With love, thesims2comics

CORNER Covering Your Old School Favourites From The Sims Franchise.

Generations have been inspired by the Sims Franchise since it was first released in the year 2000. Since then we have gone from the original version through 2/3 and now in 2021, we are currently playing the Sims 4. With Love being in the air throughout the month of February, we thought we would bring you a chance to reminisce with these beautiful shots of the Sims 2 and 3, brought to you by the amazing IvanaRachelle. Love The Sims Love The Sims

47 Love The Sims

Love The Sims

Love The Sims Love The Sims

Love The Sims

ANOTHERPLUMBOB

ON TWiTTER, THERE ARE A LOT OF SiMMERS AND I OFTEN FiND iT HARD TO FiND AN ACCOUNT THAT STANDS OUT, BUT ANOTHERPLUMBOB GRABS YOU BY THE HAND LiKE A LiTTLE KiD AND SAYS: “LOOK! LOOK AT WHAT I FOUND!”

AND CHANGES THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THE SiMS 4 AND HOW YOU PLAY iT. IT CERTAiNLY MADE ME FALL iN LOVE WiTH THE SiMS 4. SiMMEDUP MAGAZiNE DECiDED TO FiND OUT WHO THiS MASKED HERO iS AND HOW HE KNOWS SO MUCH.

Sue: Who is AnotherPlumbob? Tell us SUE: You give us a lot of tips and more about yourself tricks for The Sims 4, where do you find them all? PUCK: Sul sul! My name is Puck and I'm a 32-year-old simmer living in Spain. By PUCK: I think TS4 has a lot of hidden day I'm a lawyer, but when the night falls details that sometimes go unnoticed. It (and on the weekends) I'm a full-time gives us many tools but sometimes you simmer! I'm married and have a four- need to be a little creative and think legged child, a beautiful pug named Ms. outside the box or combine them to make Rita. the most of them. For example, using the market stall from Eco Lifestyle or City I have been part of the community for a Living and the lemonade pitcher from while, but it's only recently that I've started sharing my gameplay (first on Tumblr, and Backyard Stuff you can create functional then on Twitter too). For the longest time, lemonade stands that kids can tend. You I was mostly a lurker and occasional can also use the low fence from Toddler commenter on the official BBS (yes, that Stuff to create functional playpens. was a thing in TS1 times) and the official forums. So I just try to be as creative as possible and think about ways to use the tools that SUE: When did you start playing The the game gives us to make the most of Sims and how did you get introduced to my game. I also spend a lot of time in the it? community which is a huge source of inspiration to me! PUCK: I actually started playing way back in The Sims 1 time (because, yes, I'm that SUE: What are your top 5 pro Simmer old). I read an article in a videogame tips? magazine about this new life simulation game that had just been released and it PUCK: Since the game, I'm playing now immediately caught my attention. So I is The Sims 4, I’ll focus on that game, basically pestered my parents for weeks but some of the tips may also be useful until they gave me an advance on my for other iterations. I’d say: allowance so that I could get the game. • Don’t just focus on the grind; the Back then, only the base game had been game will get boring fast. Play slow, released but I also got all the expansions as pay attention to your sims’ moodlets, they were released. And the rest...is (a and try to make sense of their actions love) history! :) even if the story is just in your head. It’s always more fun that way! SUE: Which game in The Sims franchise • Be creative! Is there something you is your favorite and why? wish was in the game but isn’t? PUCK: This is such a hard question! Perhaps you can do it with some of the Because I actually like all the games (TS1, tools already available. For example, TS2, TS3, and TS4), and each of them have do you want your sims to attend some things that I love and some things prom? Why not throw a party with a that I would change. Right now, I only play bunch of teens in a community lot? The Sims 4 and to be honest, I find it hard • Don’t be afraid to try out mods. Some to go back to previous games because I'm mods such as MCCC are vital for me so used to TS4 mechanics. But, being (I use it to give my sims a custom totally objective and overall, I think The lifespan), and I just couldn’t live Sims 2 is the most “balanced” out of the without them. four games, and if only some features were • Get involved in the community and updated (such as CAS, story/time share stuff about your game! You progression, etc.) it would be almost don’t need to be a Youtuber, there's perfect to me! also Tumblr, Twitter, etc.

I find that I have the most fun when I share my game and I love following other people's stories and games too. • And most importantly: HAVE FUN. It’s a game, don’t stress over consistency, don’t stress over how much better other people’s games look, don’t get anxious if you’re bored of your save and need to start over. It’s a game, so find your way to enjoy it and have fun with it! SUE: What is your gameplay style and why do you prefer it? PUCK: I’m a mix of legacy and storyteller player. I’m currently on Gen 6 of my Legacy (the Lacey Legacy). I don’t really follow any legacy rules, except there’s always an heir that takes over the spotlight when they turn into Young Adults. I know this is not a popular opinion but I think, with all its limitations, TS4 does great at family play (even if we still need a Generations pack…) and I have the most fun when I play with families and see different generations go by. I love building family traditions, celebrating holidays and ANOTHERPLUMBOB raising kids and seeing the effect of character values when they are older, etc.

SUE: Do you have any tips forSimmer who want to follow your gameplay styles? PUCK: My playstyle is pretty basic. I play a legacy-type save, but I don't do rules, as they make it less fun for me. What I do is each generation I try to focus on one big game feature and explore it deeply and thoroughly. For example, gen 2 was active careers, gen 3 was uni and robotics (my gen 3 heir even married a servo!), gen 4 was Selvadorada, gen 5 was painting and living the eco-lifestyle, and gen 6 was Strangerville. For gen 7 I’m focusing on Realm of Magic, a pack that I’ve barely used so far!! This keeps things interesting for me and allows me to discover all the little details in every pack, so I love it! SUE: What are some of the things you love about The Sims 4 and what would you like to add to the game? PUCK: Something I love about TS4 is it’s a really good tool for storytelling and it feels like a sandbox. As I said, I think the game gives us a lot of tools for us to use in different ways, and with a little creativity, you can go a long way. Some of the game's features I just cannot live without the calendar (holidays in this game are the best ones in the franchise), University (which is more open than ever before, allowing any sim to attend even if they live at home or have kids), CAS, clubs, etc. Contrary to popular opinion I also love the emotion system and with a few tweaks (using mods) it adds a layer of depth to sims. I have a whole Twitter thread of stuff that I love about the game here. As regards what I would like to see in the game, the list is LOOONG! But some of my top priorities are: More personality for our sims. I loved the addition of the sentiments and I think it's a step in the right direction. Now I'd like to see: a wants and fear system or at least more relevant whims (not every sim ANOTHERPLUMBOB should want to buy a hot tub!). An “interests” and “chemistry” system, possibly also tied with the addition of newspapers and magazines! More hobbies, including bands, ballet, after school activities, etc. Cars, together with a drive-in movie theater and drive-thru capabilities for Dine Out Restaurants. Hotels. Burglars. SUE: Do you use mods and if so, which ones would you recommend? PUCK: I do use mods! Although I’m pretty selective with them, and only add those that I consider totally necessary to enhance my experience. Currently, I'm using: MCCC Roburky’s Meaningful stories (super necessary to tweak the emotions system and make emotions more stable) LGBT mod by PimpMySims4 Lumpinou’s First Impressions Whim overhaul by Bienchen’s mods. I also use SO MUCH CC. Some of my favorite creators are Joliebean, Renorasims, ice-creamforbreakfast, greenllamas, qwertysims, storylegacysims, savvysweet, and a long, etc. SUE: What other games do you like to play and do any of them ever give you inspiration for new ways to play The Sims 4? PUCK: I don't have much time left to play other games, but I do love Tomb Raider, Red Dead Redemption 2 (I may finish it one day), and graphic adventure games, in particular, the Life is Strange series and Detroit: Become Human. The stories in these games inspire me A LOT! For example, the heir and co-heir of my gen 4 were two brothers and their relationship was inspired by LIS2! FIND ANOTHERPLUMBOB ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS BELOW: FULL LINKS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.. TUMBLR: Another Plumbob (tumblr.com) Link to my Legacy Page: Another Plumbob (tumblr.com) Twitter: SpiritPlumbob (@AnotherPlumbob) / Twitter COMPETITION 7 DEADLY SINS CHALLENGE

Glutton at the holiday table? Wrath towards the in-laws? Sloth on the couch? Show us your Seven Deadly Sins

CREATE: 1-7 Sims representing a Sin OR a build representing 1 or all of the Sins. WIN ANY PACK OF YOUR CHOOSING

No CC Check out 'MolpeTheFirstSiren' on Youtube for reviews of the entries

USE THE HASHTAGS #7sinschallenge and #molpethefirstsiren when uploading to the gallery or tagging us on social media.

Competition Opens 1st January 2021 Competition Closes 28th February 2021

Builds and Sims will be reviewed by MolpeTheFirstSiren and the Winner announced inside 25 SimmedUp Magazine You r Si ms Get Romantic!

@GLM_CREATiVE @ANOTHERPLUMBOB

@SiMSBYZEB @JASEGALViN @ANOTHERPLUMBOB Did you propose, or get proposed to this Valentines day?

@JASEGALViN @SiMSLOVERDS oeTo Love

Shop

WWW.SIMMEDUP.CO.UK MMOUTFITTERS CC EXCLUSIVE FOR HUMANS

‘I’M PLAYiNG UNICORNS I AM NOT SiMS SO LIVE WHERE? AN OBJECT FUCOFFEE’ FACEMASK NOVELTY MUG BABIES VEST

REAL I SACRiFiCE GAMERS SiMS LOVE PLAY SiMS NOVELTY FACEMASK T-SHiRT MUG

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WWW.SiMMEDUP.CO.UK BUILD A BETTER LIFE WITH THE MOM CAVE

BUILDING LOVE THROUGH That's it. I never anticipated anyone SELF-COMPASSION would watch. But here I am, a small YouTube creator and part of a large, Hello, my Lovelies. I am so incredibly wonderful community. It all sounds excited to be part of the Simmed Up dreamy, right? It is, on most days. But team! I have been doing a lot of there are days when self-doubt creeps in. pondering lately about this exciting There are days when I compare myself to project. As we all know, the start of any build is the foundation. And so, I had to others and think, why even bother? think about what the foundation for all There's often a lot of impostor syndrome other topics might be. It all comes down that happens for me. There are days when to one thing, love. How fitting that we are those long, very late nights cranking out in February, The Month of Love. Love is content take their toll on my thoughts. an action, and love starts with self- And this is where self-compassion comes compassion. Simply put, we cannot fully in. This is where love comes in. And this give and receive love when we do not is where a connection to all of you comes give and receive love to ourselves. What in. does this all have to do with being part of a Sims community, being a creator, being a builder? As a Wellness Coach in mental health, there are three things that almost every coachee will get from me, breathing I need to start with me, who I am, and exercises, a thought record, and the link to why I am so passionate and excited to be self-compassion.org. I am a firm believer part of this project. I played the very first Sims with my kids ages ago, but that is it. that love is an action and that it starts The following years were spent raising within ourselves. Thinking about loving kids, growing up, and getting my ourselves can be daunting. But, self- education. In 2019, and during a time compassion is more action-oriented. when my own mental health was in the garbage, I started watching The 100 Baby During those moments when we Challenge on Buzzfeed. I was intrigued experience self-doubts (or "gremlins" – A by the game, bought it, and was hooked. reflection for another day), that feeling of Deciding to start my channel was being an impostor, and simply good ol' something I simply wanted to do to share feelings of burn-out we might consider a story about my own matriarch and her replacing some of the negative self- 100 baby journey. messages with more compassionate ones Non-judgment, realizing we are part of a What about you? What thoughts would shared experience, and not allowing our you add, and how do they change? feelings to overtake us are the three main Whether you create content or not, self-compassion elements. A simple regardless of what Sims game you play. question to ask yourself is, "What would Remember your why and that you are in I tell a friend in this situation?" this community because of a creative spark and a desire to express yourself. Most of all, it is a desire to be part of a shared experience with others who have As I've sat with my own thoughts and shared interests. This is what makes us feelings of being an impostor that doesn't great. belong here, I'd like to share some alternate thoughts that I've run through the question of what I would tell a friend. Iwouldlovetohearfromyouandalsoam Here's some of what I've come up with: looking forward to answering your other questions for me. Send those to [email protected], and I will What I Tell Myself What I Would Tell a Friend address these in future articles. You will I'm not as good as I have my own remain anonymous, and it is all that other Simmer. unique and important confidential. talents that this community needs. I don't look like I Being authentically should. No one will Me is what others need want to watch me. and what others want TO FIND OUT MORE to see. Someone disliked my Everyone has an ABOUT video. This confirms opinion, and this does THEMOMCAVE that it was not good. not define me as a creator. VISIT HER ON: I didn't get many [Picture that many views on this video. people in a room with TWITTER you] Wow! Those people took the time to YOUTUBE watch all or part of my work! Wow! TWITCH

I don't matter in this Everyone matters in AND INSTAGRAM community. this community, especially me. I'm part YOU CANALSO FIND of a larger community, all sharing this THEMOMCAVE experience in unique ways. I'm going to pay it forward and pour out ON OUR WEBSITE love on a new Simmer and return the love WWW.SIMMEDUP.CO.UK shown to me. THE SiMS 4 CHALLENGES.

Welcome to the Sims 4 Challenges. This friendly intimate group is led by Admin Jesi Dechow, alongside her amazing mod team of Angie Bolster and Simming Spoonie. The group was created as a safe place to share whatever challenge you are working on, a place to find new events always going on, and a place to connect with other simmers. Challenges range in time from a single day to some events lasting 10 or 12 weeks. There are both CAS challenges and build challenges, for every simmer to join, no matter your experience level. We also have a lot of recurring challenges, like a new shell challenge, a trait challenge and the color challenge that are going on right now. So, please join us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/631766160710366/?ref=share Our next challenge, feel the love, starts February 14 and runs through February 28th, with the details below. You do need to be a member to participate in this event, so please join the group, and we would be more than happy to have you as part of this AWESOME group. Build Challenge - Feel the Love Let’s build a romantic Airbnb getaway home!!! Since we are doing this starting Valentine’s Day the theme is romance and love. How do you imagine your perfect romantic getaway with your partner or totally on your own?

If you don't know what anAirbnb is, for the sake of ease I'll just say it's a home that you can rent when traveling or on vacation. If you want to learn more, here is a link to a site that explains more https://tourismteacher.com/airbnb-explained/. For the complete rules about the event, and information about how to participate in this and other events, Please join the group! Happy Simming.

Simspiration By K8Simsley

From Foundations to Future Cubes: Quick and Dirty Sims Design. Interior decorating and landscaping are Throw Some Shade. tricky, even in the real world. Curtains are truly underrated. Adding drapes Unfortunately, in the Sims 4, there are can make or break a build, and they help unique challenges. Furniture size, limits create an area that is cozier and more to color or design, and the basic realistic. While there are not enough options functionality (or lack of it) can create available in-game, you are still likely to find significant obstacles. This article provides a set of curtains to fit a room and make it tips, tricks, and ideas that can help you look finished. create beautiful sims homes - inside and Pro Tip: Curtains are a great way to add out. some personality or introduce color in an Below are some great tips for interior otherwise muted space. decorating in the Sims 4. Think Outside The Box. Interior Design Tips and Tricks: The room catalog can help you design a space, but the preset rooms can be boring. Cabinets in a foyer, a sofa in a study, or Outline a Plan Before You Begin. shelves lining a headboard can add the depth While themed bedrooms are popular, the and personality that the game lacks. Don't be house itself should have its own plan. afraid to place items in new and exciting Decide on a style and stick to it. So many ways. The results may surprise you. sims builds fail because they have no cohesive theme. All the furnishings and décor should fit the theme if you are making a farmhouse, for example. Sure a modern surprise in the form of a sofa or statue works well sometimes, but it can also go very wrong. Pro Tip: Look at lots of pictures before you begin to get a general feel for the desired style. Go in with a solid plan, and you will come out victorious. Less is Sometimes More. One of my favorite things is designing and decorating tiny homes in the Sims 4. Small spaces seem to breed creativity. Developing innovative ways to add the items your sims require is so much fun. In my earlier days, I would create huge rooms that felt vast and empty. However, I quickly realized that I needed to scale things back if I wanted a home to feel cozy and inviting. Nothing is worse than a vast empty house that takes an hour for your sims to cross – think of theChateau Peak lot in Del Sol Valley. Your sims house should always feel cozy – even when it is a large celebrity mansion Pro Tip: Take time to learn each item's size, so you know how large/small to make a space. 45 Think Outside The Box. The room catalog can help you design a space, but the preset rooms can be boring. Cabinets in a foyer, a sofa in a study, or shelves lining a headboard can add the depth and personality that the game lacks. Don't be afraid to place items in new and exciting ways. The results may surprise you. Below are two of my favorite 'Think Outside The Box' ideas to get you started: Use Cabinets in Creative Ways. Cabinets are for more than the kitchen. They can be a great way to liven up a space and add personality. For example, using cabinets that have been reversed (so that the back is showing) to create a headboard or liven up a living room wall can create excitement and drama in an otherwise simple home. Use cabinets to frame a television and mimic built-ins, or create a custom desk. Use your imagination and experiment to find new uses for items in the game. Layer them up and stack 'em high. With the bb.moveobjects cheat, the sky is the limit. Create a Custom Ceiling. Use shelves and lights to create a bold, custom ceiling. Grab a flat shelf and raise it to the roof using the 9 and 0 keys. Create a frame around the top of the room. Next, grab the flat light strips used on the bottom of pools and raise them to line the shelves' edge. Once again, frame the room to create a unique custom ceiling. This trick can be frustrating at first and takes practice, but the final result is a cozy, customized space rich with drama Pro Tip: Look online for inspiration. Find images of interiors and save them for later. Pinterest is an excellent tool for gathering ideas. Use it to create a look- book of inspiration and use it when you are ready to build. Along with the tips above, remember the following when designing the interior of a sims home. Don't be afraid of DIY. Landscaping Tips and Tricks: Is there an essential piece of furniture Landscaping in the sims can make that you wish you had? Why not your head spin. Reduce the stress create it yourself! Plenty of simmers with these simple tips and tricks. are using DIY hacks to make unique, � Copy the Neighbors. custom items in the sims, and you can Look around the world and too. Play around and experiment to copy the plants that are come up with some new and exciting already there. Use the objects. surroundings for inspiration Mix old and new. to help your home blend in. Mixing old antique furnishings with fresh new items creates a unique look � Rotate, often. that you are sure to love. Use an Rotating your plants as you antique dresser with a modern bed, or place them will help you add some contemporary curtains to a avoid the harsh lines and cottage-style home to make it manicured shapes that can unexpectedly interesting. happen with digital plant placement. Experiment often. When I look back at my older builds, I tend to cringe. However, all of my � CheattheGameand past mistakes helped to improve my Explore Debug. skills. Thankfully, I am a better The debug menu is a fantastic builder today because of them. Don't tool for landscaping. be afraid to experiment with different styles, colors, or furnishings. Experimentation and practice are the To access the debug menu in core foundation for any skill, and Sims 4, open your cheat console by pressingctrl + alt building in the Sims is no exception. + c. If it looks awful, you can simply start over. That is the great thing about Type the following this game. commands into the space that appears. Don't be afraid of clutter bb.showhiddenobjects When it comes to the Sims, clutter is key. Perfectly placed clutter is what bb.showliveeditobjects makes a home look cozy, lived-in, bb.ignoregameplayunlockse and realistic. It adds detail to a build ntitlement (optional – that cannot be achieved any other unlocks career locked items) way. Add clutter to your build to You then type "debug" into create a warm, comfortable the search field in the catalog environment. Just remember to use (bottom left of the screen in the bb.moveobjects cheat to allow for build mode), and you will free placement of objects, and be have access to almost every aware of their functional properties. object in the game. These items are sure to spark your creativity. Just be warned, once you start exploring debug, you may be lost for days.

*Note: Many of the debug plants can have harsh shadows underneath them. Try them out and experiment with various types to create the perfect look for your home.

� Don't Go Overboard. When landscaping, it can be easy to fill every space with plants and greenery, but you can quickly go overboard. Pick a few plants or trees to be the focal point and add others sparingly to frame the focus.

� Make a Splash. Pools and fountains are another underrated tool that we often take for granted. Use these items to fill space and add personality to an otherwise mediocre yard.

� Get Creative. Adding unexpected items outside can be exciting. Try placing some potted plants, a couch, or an outdoor kitchen in the backyard.

The sky is the limit when it comes to landscaping. Only your imagination confines you.

There are too many landscaping tips to list here, and this is only a brief overview... Stay tuned for a more in- depth article in a future issue of Simmed Up Magazine. For now, experiment, have fun and get creative!

Sim on Simmers!

K8 Simsley

Begin by building four level walls, set it to the highest height, and also build the ground foundation too and lift it one step above the ground.

Use half walls to make a shape of a building that you want and separate each layer by three or four tiles, definitely not less or more than that.

Connect each layer using 3x3tiles (or 4x3 tiles depend on the numbers of the tiles gap). Paint the front walls and the back drop shadow too.

Add windows, I usually use the smallest windows in the game. Time to decorate! Because we are basically trying to replicate a paper, so try your best to use the most 2D or flat objects in game. You can throw in one or two 3D objects too, but not too much or your build will look like a normal build. You don't have to decorate the side or back part of the walls. Voila! Finish. My social media link tree: Insta: @rd.ptra Twitter: @rdptra1 OiD: ardiputra88 patreon.com/RD_ptra1

MAKING A SIMMER Storytime with Murky Minraed For me, Sims is storytelling. I approach everything I do with a story in mind. If I do a challenge like Murkland’s post- apocalyp�c, off-the-grid challenge, a CAS or gameplay challenge, or if I build something there is always a story in my head that drives me forward. I think of myself as an aspiring writer. My whole life I have enjoyed this cra�, but I never seem to be able to get anything solid down on paper. With The Sims, the stories flow and so many more are in my head wai�ng to come to life. Photography is another passion of mine and that too permeates my stories and my approach to The Sims in general. I bring my real-life photography training and skills to the game; I am always looking for a well-curated screenshot and will o�en spend quite a bit of �me moving things around and manipula�ng the surroundings to get that perfect composi�on. I call this Simtography and the art of using these theories in machinima making Simatography. When I do my photos I hope it will inspire others to explore the possibili�es of using real-life visual art skills in their games.

I’ve had an off and on rela�onship with The Sims, but even when I am away I am thinking of my li�le Sims and the community that is here for me when I return. As my gameplay and involvement has evolved, so has my community. This is what makes The Sims so important for me. It is a combina�on of a crea�ve outlet and a safe community. I know that many don’t feel that safety; many experience nega�vity, bullying, and a sense of rejec�on or of being “not enough”, and this saddens me. I hope that even a few people reading this will take some of my words to heart.

I am a 53-year-old woman, married with no children by choice and close too early re�rement because somehow, despite my trauma�c past, things fell into place formeandIhaveagoodlife.Isufferfrom intermi�ent chronic depression, ADHD, and what may be a low-grade form of Bi- Polar disorder called Cyclothymia. 2020 sent me for a tailspin, as it did for so many of us and I honestly believe that The Sims community around me in my personal orbit has made all the difference in me being able to keep my head above water. I cannot thank the people in my circles here enough for what they have provided me whether they are aware of it or not, directly or indirectly. This is my wish for simmers, to find this same joy that I have come to appreciate.

Crea�vity is my life’s blood and the air in Facebook group Murkland, or use my lungs. I would stop breathing if I did #murkland or @brennachan on Twi�er for not have the ability to do crea�ve things, more info so The Sims is very important and enjoyable for me. I am doing what I do primarily for my own sa�sfac�on. I say this Lisabee’s Monthly Sim-Lit Challenge - a o�en, that I don’t worry about followers small group of writers join each month and and views and traffic on my blog, but if I create a li�le short story based on the am to be perfectly honest then yes, I do provided theme. It is similar to what some get a warm fuzzy feeling when someone wri�ng clubs do. It is open for anyone, you enjoys what I have created. But what I do not have to worry about being good have learned through the years of my life enough. There is a light-hearted is that you will not find joy and true compe��on to it, but we are there to sa�sfac�on and pride in what you do if you inspire and support one another most of do what you think others want just to all.Monthly SimLit Short Story Challenge ramp up the numbers. This is not meant to Table of Contents – lisabeesims disparage those who are working to build something more, like those who are Twitch streamers or YouTubers, they have Three photo story-tellers, in par�cular, have goals and I respect that. I am referring to really inspired me to up my game lately in the li�le hobby creators like myself. It feels the photography department; very good to have 5-10 who follow, read NapoleonFrost with a very hilarious and genuinely enjoy what I have shared. I gameplay based storyline in an all-male appreciate that more than anything. I am universe. NovaPark and Boolproppin who have to be named together because their here for me; for my mental health, and my style is similar and their storylines cross crea�ve impulses, and doing what makes over. Both have a photography and edi�ng me feel good is the best feeling ever. style that appeals to my senses. novapark.tumblr.com Not everyone gets my humor or is boolproppin.tumblr.com interested in my stories, and that’s ok. I can honestly say that I am proud of any napoleonfrost.tumblr.com and all who share what they love doing and are proud of, but I don’t look at family legacies, or 100 baby challenges or CASpira�ons and Simon Says offer short “normal” builds because they are not of commitment gameplay challenges hosted personal interest. Just as you may not be on the Facebook group Sims Creators’ en�ced by my silly stories, and that’s ok Consor�um. because we all have different interests. It doesn’t mean that you are not good enough. Don’t take it personally. Build a And last, but not least cheers to the small, caring, suppor�ve community circle streamers on Twitch. I have learned and around yourself of people with similar been inspired so much over this past year interests and I promise you that you will by what you do and all of the builders who enjoy that more than a huge number of submit their awesomeness to the people that you feel ignored by because challenges. they don’t seem to appreciate your stuff. I hope that 2021 will be a crea�ve You do You and be proud of that. adventure for all of the simmers out there. These are the things that are keeping me inspired lately: The Simaginarium | The imaginary playground of Minraed Arzhel The Murkland Challenge and gameplay Minraed is my name everywhere so easy to theme was created by Brennachan. Sure it find on Twi�er, Tumblr, Facebook. I have a started with a set of gameplay challenges, rela�vely inac�ve Youtube channel too. but for many of us, it is much more. My youtube.com/user/Minraed main game save is all about my evolving Murkland universe, as is most of what you will see on my WordPress. MURKY MINRAED

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Sims4ever In Love By Grace Sims4ever In Love By Grace Hey everyone! Grace here. January flew by in just a breeze as we say hello again to February - or the so-called 'Love Month' speaking of, I am happy to share with you this February issue about the romance mods I discovered, and I will talk about everything cheesy, mushy and romantic.

So let’s talk about Lumpinou's Road to Romance mod. It is a Sims 4 mod that adds spice to Sims’ romantic relationships as it gives A LOT of new additional romantic interactions and moodlets. It features 'The Romance Skill' (Yes, being romantic is now a skill, thanks to this mod). The same as with any other skill, it has ten levels. Try it out for yourself without me spoiling you with what each 'level' can make your Sim do, but all I can say is that the higher the level, the more you'll see realistic romantic interactions. *wink*

Being "Affectionate" can now be experienced by Sims at higher Romance skill levels and in highly romantically- developed relationships. Aside from that, Sims can go on Rabbit Hole dates with their partners. Counseling (for couples and singles) and even going on online dates are made possible.

This mod also includes a Cheat Skill, whether to increase in level or set it to max level to fully experience all romantic interactions. One current limitation is that going on online dates “does not grant any relationship point to go with the result moodlets” as per Lumpinou.

It's important to note also that this mod is for adult Sims only.

It comes in 3 versions: • Version A (Original): full version • Version B (No Romance Gain Restrictions version aka Compatibility version / NO Override version) that states, “this is for users who donot want romance points to be more difficult to gain OR users who also use mods such as "SlowerRelationshipProgression" by MeCoinpurse and "LongTermRelationshipBuilding" by Wiggler)" • Version C (More Romance Gain restrictions) "makes it so romance will always harder than without but will get significantly easier with high skill level" (Lumpinou, 2020). Lumpinou adds, “the thing with this version is - "twice as fast" is still significantly slower than in the unmodded game” (Lumpinou, 2020).

Mod Requirement: • Lumpinou’s Mood Pack Mod Compatibility with other mods, mostly romantic mods: • SimDa Dating App by LittleMsSam (as also recommended by Lumpinou) • PolarBearSim's Personality Please! and Meanwhile, LittleMsSam’s SimDa especially, as its a Restricted Romance Dating App, as its name implies is a Sim module dating app. Whether your Sims are • Leap Into Arms and Carry Lovingly looking for one true love, hookups, or just Modandrian_m.l (from Mod The want to try out the world of dating, this Sims) app is the one. This dating app can be • Passionate Romance v1.3, Romantic found under the Phone Social Menu. Slow Dance and Romantic Skygaze by Sacrificial Sacrificial's mods: 'the romantic slow • NSFW/R-18+ mod: WickedWhims dance' and 'romantic sky gaze' are mods that allow Sims to invite another Sim to Road to Romance Mod Conflict be extra romantic. In slow dance, Sims can make out too. In the romantic sky • As per Lumpinou, “Version A and B gaze mod, Sims get to cuddle (unlike in the regular sky gaze or cloud gaze of the will conflict with any mod that base game). overrides the "Loot_LTR_Romance_Main" game Lastly, the Passionate Romance mod also files - in other words,mods that make adds more romantic interactions and romance gain universally faster or brings back the “Goose” and “Make Out” slower.” from previous Sims.

More info about this mod is in There you have it, fellas. Wishing Lumpinou’s Patreon’s post – “Road to everyone a love-filled month ahead! Romance v1.1 – Mod Release Sims 4” Happy Simming everyone!

A/N: Add-on Romance Mods I highly recommend would be andrian_m.l’s Leap Into Arms and Carry Lovingly mod, LittleMsSam's SimDa Dating App, and Sacrificial’s mods - Romantic Slow Dance, Romantic Skygaze, and Passionate Romance. I personally tried and tested all these in-game together with Lumpinou's Road to Romance everything worked out just fine.

The Leap Into Arms romantic interaction is no longer a thing in The Sims 4 (sadly) so adding this mod adds a sense of nostalgia as previous Sims versions (Sims 2 and Sims 3) have it. Seeing Sims carried bridal style makes one giddy!

TWISTED MEXI How to change apartment doors and more with T.O.O.L Mod By A.Muller TWISTED MEXI How to change apartment doors and more with T.O.O.L Mod By A.Muller If you’ve ever looked up mods for The Sims 4, you have probably come across TwistedMexi’s Take Objects Off Lot (T.O.O.L) mod. For builders, it’s a must- have, but this mod can add value to anyone’s game. As you might have guessed from the name, the mod allows you to make changes beyond the boundaries of your lot. Obviously, that’s not all it does (seriously, every day you learn something new), but that is what the mod is best known for. The thing that makes the T.O.O.L mod so powerful is that the objects placed off lot are functional. This can fundamentally change not just how the worlds look, but also how you play your game. Wehave already done a very basic tutorial for T.O.O.L, and while this is slightly more advanced, it’s not overly complicated and even players who are not overly familiar with build/buy will be able to edit Sims 4 apartments after a bit of practice. Using the T.O.O.L mod to change apartments Apartments in The Sims 4 have been a bone of contention ever since the release of the City Living expansion pack. The buildings are extremely restrictive and despite some promise that some of that might change ahead of theEco Lifestyle expansion, it was not to be. While The Sims 4 planned to roll out the ability to edit a balcony in one of the new apartments that came with the Eco Lifestyle expansion, it was not part of the final release. With the T.O.O.L mod, however, it is not just possible to edit the balconies in Evergreen Harbor, but you can also change the windows and door on apartments in this neighbourhood and in City Living’s San Myshuno. You can also make the entry ways of the San Myshuno apartments look a little less drab. You can also change the exterior to look a bit more lived in.

If you are new to using mods in The Sims 4, all of this might scare you a little, but you do not need to be. Obviously, always make a back up of your save files and your game and remember that you use mods at your own risk.

The T.O.O.L mod is widely used and TwistedMexi is super helpful and quick to fix any issues that crop up with game patches.

Adding some life to San Myshuno apartments with the T.O.O.L mod

While we highly recommend that you watch the full T.O.O.L mod tutorial by TwistedMexihimself, we hope our tutorial on how to change doors, windows and the exterior of apartments in The Sims 4 helps you take your game to the next level.

We are not going to cover how to actually install the mod here, though, and we’ll assume that you are comfortable with using mods and custom content. If not, start by watching TwistedMexi’s tutorial.

We are also going to assume that you are familiar with the basics of using the mod. If not, ourbasic T.O.O.L tutorial might be useful. It covers how to toggle objects on, select them and move them. And that you need to be in live mode to move objects after placing them in build/buy.

Let’s start with one of the easier things: changing the hallways in the apartments that came with City Living. All these tutorials will include a short video to help you get the hang of stuff. 1. Start by placing the objects you want The rotate function is also useful to quickly to move into the passageway way in flip a hanging basket outside. Place the your Sim’s apartment. basket where you want it and then rotate 2. In live mode, select any items you 180. You can then go ahead and tweak the want to remove from the passageway placing a bit more. with the T.O.O.L mod and place them in your Sim’s apartment so you can The rotate function is also useful to quickly delete them later. flip a hanging basket outside. Place the 3. Now, move all the objects you chose basket where you want it and then rotate into the passageway. It is as simple as 180. You can then go ahead and tweak the click and place thanks to the Toggle placing a bit more. Object option on the mod. How to change doors and windows of https://youtu.be/y3BEon0kxPI apartments in The Sims 4

Editing the Pinecrest Apartment This process is slightly more complicated, Balcony with the T.O.O.L mod but works the same for windows and doors.

This process is very much the same as Start by drawing a wall behind the door or with the passageways in San Myshuno, window you want to replace. You can also but you can get a bit more creative by place the new door or window you’re going using the elevate option, too. to use so long. This will allow you to place plants and In live mode, select the door or window other objects on the balcony wall or add you’re removing and place it somewhere hanging baskets above the balcony – the you can delete it later. One of the things options are endless. The rotate function is that is so cool about doing this with also very useful here. apartments is that you can actually change https://youtu.be/pdoygks0CFw where the front door of the apartment is completely – or have two doors if you Place the items you want on the balcony wish. inside your Sim’s apartment. Move the objects onto the balcony as you did https://youtu.be/Oc4XbpV1FWw before with objects into the passage and they should snap into position.

You can have a bit more fun by using the multi-select option (ALT-clicking objects after toggling one as active). https://youtu.be/mw71472awFY Now you need to move the replacement door or window into its new spot.This is where you will need a little bit of practice and patience.

Select the new door and click to place on the wall. Sometimes, you will need to use the ‘gravity pull’ feature to make sure the door works. This is done by ALT clicking with the object toggled as active.

Some apartment buildings are at an angle that can make the process a bit complicated, so we recommend you either watch TwistedMexi’s tutorial explaining some of the more complex features of the T.O.O.Lmod. Or you can dive in the deep end and learn as you go. ox slightly higher up and then ALT click (many times) to move the box into the correct position.

Change apartment exterior in Sims 4 City Living

Finally, it is also possible to make changes to the outside of City Living apartment buildings. These are a bit tricky because the buildings themselves are selectable and, as you’ll see in the video below, can sometimes toggle as active. https://youtu.be/oLCfMcoE5PA

For adding a basic flower box to the window, we’re using the same rotate method as we did with the Eco Lifestyle expansion. Once we have done that, we’ll place the box slightly higher up and then ALT click (many times) to move the box into the correct position. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR FOLLOWERS ON TWiTTER, FOR HELPiNG US REACH THiS MiLESTONE. YOUR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD TO US.

54 WRITER? [email protected] & REVIEWS TO THEN WHY NOT contributions and cannot pay for article submissions. FREELANCE FOR Please Note, as a fan run magazine we are run completely on SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES ARE YOU A BUDDING SIMMEDUP MAGAZINE

CREATED BY SIMS FANS, FOR SIMS FANS Antoinette is a recovering journalist, having written for Sports Illustrated, The Guardian, Daily Maverick and others. She has won multiple SAB Journalist of the Year awards, across a variety of categories. She thinks it’s strange writing about herself in the third person, unless she’s playing as herself in The Sims…which she’s been doing for over 20 years.

You can find Antoinette on Twitter

@Mspr1nt

Or visit her website

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