Hi! Who wants a test drive of the updated Ava Nails Box?
Originally made by @platinumaspiration using Ava's nails, updated by Puhlinnos and now getting two major features from me
(EDIT: turns out Puhlinnos replaced most of the nails in this set, I may have to redo it with the originals 😅)
Features:
pick nails by icons in selection dialog window
open a nail salon! (sort of)
as a bonus, smoothed out mesh
If you set the nail box for sale in an owned business, customers will browse and buy manicures. You decide if you want to actually choose and apply nail designs. If not - customers will pay money and move on, don't worry, they won't put on random overlays autonomously! Also, there's a menu setting to disable sales pop-ups if you get tired of doing everyone's nails, but still want the money flowing. When you don't play the owner, customers just look busy, but nothing happens
At home, it costs §10 to do nails, §50 at businesses, §0 to remove. The nailbox itself costs §5 I think and is found in Misc./Dressers
Dialog with icons allows for multiple selection, but in this case, all the nails are mutually exclusive, sims won't wear more than one design
Try it (same GUID as the original, only use one at a time)
Let me know what you think! 😊
Note to creators: please don't clone this object!
I made handy template files and a tutorial on how to use them to create your own overlay/tattoo/accessory/nail box with icons and OFB functionality. I will release them as soon as we ironed out this baby. There may be things I didn't think of
Shamelessly borrowed trait mesh from @hexagonal-bipyramid, it was perfect for the icons, if you're reading this, thank you! And thank you to all my friends who contributed ideas, I mostly captured what was already in the air, typed the code and made some files 💙
What if all you had to do to create a default replacement was open this tool, find the item you want to replace, and upload the CC you want to replace it with and you'd have the .package file in less than 60 seconds? 😉
So far, so good, but there's going to be *so* much testing required to get it working flawlessly. If it's something you'd be interested in testing for me as I continue to build it out, let me know!
Hi! Who wants a test drive of the updated Ava Nails Box?
Originally made by @platinumaspiration using Ava's nails, updated by Puhlinnos and now getting two major features from me
Features:
pick nails by icons in selection dialog window
open a nail salon! (sort of)
as a bonus, smoothed out mesh
If you set the nail box for sale in an owned business, customers will browse and buy manicures. You decide if you want to actually choose and apply nail designs. If not - customers will pay money and move on, don't worry, they won't put on random overlays autonomously! Also, there's a menu setting to disable sales pop-ups if you get tired of doing everyone's nails, but still want the money flowing. When you don't play the owner, customers just look busy, but nothing happens
At home, it costs §10 to do nails, §50 at businesses, §0 to remove. The nailbox itself costs §5 I think and is found in Misc./Dressers
Dialog with icons allows for multiple selection, but in this case, all the nails are mutually exclusive, sims won't wear more than one design
Try it (same GUID as the original, only use one at a time)
Let me know what you think! 😊
Note to creators: please don't clone this object!
I made handy template files and a tutorial on how to use them to create your own overlay/tattoo/accessory/nail box with icons and OFB functionality. I will release them as soon as we ironed out this baby. There may be things I didn't think of
Shamelessly borrowed trait mesh from @hexagonal-bipyramid, it was perfect for the icons, if you're reading this, thank you! And thank you to all my friends who contributed ideas, I mostly captured what was already in the air, typed the code and made some files 💙
One installer. Every essential fix, mod, and tool for The Sims 2, set up for you in a few clicks.
I got tired of hunting down the same "must-have" fixes every time I reinstalled The Sims 2 (to the point where it has kept me from playing), so I made a tool that does it for you! 🥳 You choose the fixes, mods, and tools you want, click through, and it installs them all — with automatic backups and a built-in undo, so nothing is permanent and nothing gets lost.
It works with both the 2025 Legacy Collection (Steam and EA App) and the older Ultimate Collection.
⚠️ One heads-up: I only own Legacy (on Steam) and the Ultimate Collection, so I haven't been able to test the EA App or Epic versions of the Legacy Collection myself. They should work, but if you run into any issues on those, please let me know and I'll push out a fix!
Most importantly, none of this content is mine. Every fix, mod, and tool belongs to the creators who made them — I only automate installing them. Full credits and links are in the guide that comes with it. Please go support these people 💜
⬇️ Download: SFS | GitHub
📋 Want to see exactly what's included first? Here's the full list of every mod, fix, and tool, with credits: https://github.com/familyfunds/sims2-essentials-setup-tool/blob/main/GUIDE.md
More details under the cut 👇
What is it?
The Sims 2 Essentials Setup Tool is a single Windows installer (.exe file). Instead of downloading, unzipping, and hand-placing dozens of separate fixes, you run one program, choose what you want from a checklist, and it puts everything in the right place for you.
There are three quick presets so you don't have to think too hard:
Recommended — the sensible default set.
Complete — everything.
Custom — start from a blank slate and pick only what you want.
What's included
Everything here is curated to work together and this isn't a random pile of downloads. I checked every package against the others for conflicts (comparing the actual game resources each one touches), dropped or swapped anything that clashed, and set the load order in the few cases where two mods needed to coexist. So you can tick things freely without worrying that two fixes will quietly fight each other.
Over 140 hand-picked fixes and mods, grouped into:
Anti-corruption & core — the safety-critical stuff that keeps your neighborhoods healthy.
Bug fixes — dozens of fixes for Maxis bugs, from memory issues to gameplay glitches.
Helpful gameplay mods — quality-of-life tweaks that just make the game nicer to play.
Essential tools & systems:
CEP (Color Enable Package) — downloaded straight from MTS at install, see the note below
The Scriptorium
Radiance Lighting System 2.5
GunMod's Camera Mod 3.1
Rugs off-grid
TS2 Extender 0.8.1 (fixes only, optional extras off by default)
Objects.package corruption protection
Missing content restore (you supply your own Ultimate Collection or disc files — EA content is NOT bundled):
Restore IKEA Home Stuff (works on both Steam and EA/Epic — it sets up whichever your game needs)
Restore Missing Music
Missing Holiday Items
Neighborhood setup: clean/empty stealth 'hoods, or fully disable them, plus the MATY no-townie-regen mods.
Startup cheats: 45° object rotation and quarter-tile placement.
Third-party tools: SimPE, Mootilda's HoodChecker / LotAdjuster / Sims2Pack Clean Installer, and Body Shop for the Legacy Collection.
Backups & undo
This is the part I care about most: before the tool changes or replaces any file, it backs up your original first (to C:\ProgramData\The Sims 2 Essentials Setup Tool\backups). To undo anything, just run the tool again and choose Undo — you get a checklist and can roll back everything or only certain pieces. It does not add itself to "Add or remove programs"; it stays fully self-contained.
Requirements
Windows (I tested and created this on Windows 11)
The Sims 2 Legacy Collection (2025) or Ultimate Collection
For the "Missing" content (IKEA / Music / Holiday), your own UC or disc files
How to use it
First, a friendly nudge: back up your Sims 2 "Documents" folder. The tool shouldn't touch your saves, neighborhoods, or downloads — and it automatically backs up anything it does change — but it's always better safe than sorry. Just copy your Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2… folder somewhere safe before you start. (Besides… when was the last time you backed up your saves? 😉)
Download the .exe. It's unsigned (normal for community tools), so if Windows SmartScreen pops up, click More info → Run anyway.
Right-click the .exe and choose "Run as administrator" — it needs admin rights because it writes into your game folder.
Pick your edition, confirm your Documents folder, tick what you want, and click through.
That's it. To undo later, run it again and choose Undo.
A note on CEP
CEP isn't bundled in the installer — Numenor asks that it only be hosted on Mod The Sims. So if you tick it, the tool downloads it directly from MTS at install time. None of Numenor's files are redistributed here. That does mean CEP is the one thing you can't install while offline — but everything else in the tool works completely fine with no internet connection.
Credits & terms
Genuinely, all of the credit goes to the creators — Numenor, LazyDuchess, GunMod & the Radiance team, HugeLunatic, Mootilda, cyjon, Pescado & MATY, TwoJeffs, Nopke, simler90, LordDarcy, MidgeTheTree, hiloyt, CroconawSims, and so many more. The full list with links is in the included guide.
While I've reviewed everyone's terms of use in detail to make sure I wasn't breaking any rules, I'm only human and I could have missed (or misinterpreted) something. If one of your mods or tools is included in this installer and you'd like me to remove it, please shoot me a message and I'm happy to do so.
The tool itself is free and open-source — you're more than welcome to review every file and exactly what it does on GitHub. It's not affiliated with EA or with any of the creators above.
Missing something? Suggestions welcome
Think I've left out a crucial bug fix or a genuinely helpful mod? Send it my way. If the creator's terms of use allow it, I'm happy to look into adding it.
A quick heads-up on my philosophy, though: I originally built this for myself, and I like my game as close to vanilla as possible. So mods that change gameplay in a big way, or add features that were never in the base game to begin with, generally aren't ones I'll bundle. This isn't meant to be an "everything" list, but I'm always glad to consider suggestions, so don't be shy about sharing what you'd love to see!
Sims House Party Stripper Cake And NPC Characters Development, Overview & Anecdotes
Eric Hedman (Lead Animation on The Sims) breaking down the chaotic history, concept art, and animations of The Sims: House Party - from the iconic stripper cakes and mimes to weird NPC development!
🖼️ Insights into the Aesthetic Development of The Sims by Eric Hedman, a lead animator
1. Who was actually responsible for the visual style and art direction of the base game?
The art direction and coalescence of a bunch of the aesthetics, especially the superlative UI was handled by Mr. Charles London. He played the role of confessor and traffic cop across the original game and Livin' Large and helped establish the relationship with New Pencil. We had a few external artists contribute to various bits of things like the general aesthetic of the neighborhood screen and video intro. Generally though, the main bulk of the characters were handled by Eric Chin, and a good amount of scenic art was done by Ms. Jami Becker.
2. What exactly was New Pencil's role in the project? Why is so little known about their contribution after all these years?
New Pencil had an increasing role taking existing assets of defined footprints that Don, Patrick and I were prototyping and making mimic objects and later more fully fledged objects directly from 3DS Max templates I was building. Michael Murguia, Adam Murguia, Scot Tumlin, Scott MacIntyre, John Beebe, and Greg Faillace, were all people who had deep effect on the final product. Some ended up working with The Sims on subsequent projects. Greg himself has made quite an impact at Riot games where his eye and heart make All the stuff he touches there live quite a bit more than it would without him. In the 1990s and the early 2000s a lot of the things that we take for granted like distributed apps for records and social media/archiving were not the rule. One of the reasons the Internet Archive exists is because of the necessity to keep things from disappearing off the face of the digital earth. We had a good functioning BBS at one point which was as a good point of contact with players and developers... but that got thrown away because some folks thought it got in the way for authority and control of process. It had its problems, but it was also useful. I would like New Pencil to get its Laurels more than it has.... and as I do more videos where I can talk directly about how I ended up doing things I did, I will definitely do my best to give my perspective on how people inside and outside the team and NP did their good work.
Object Concept art and development renders, The Sims: Unleashed.
3. What were your main sources of inspiration for the expansion packs' aesthetics? I'm especially curious about influences such as Hayao Miyazaki, textures, visual language, and other artistic references.
Once things were chosen as topics and subjects, and scope was established we just started making stuff. The more time I had before we had to start handing the things off to contractors like NP or subsequent design/art houses the more I could provide more material for the artists and art supervisor folks to focus in on what was required. Before the ubiquity of internet art resources I generally relied on large amounts of art and design book reference. This is an admission that I used to be kinda ashamed of, but,... he goes... I am a bit of a weeb, except that I grew up around Japanese Americans, and Japanese nationals here in the SFBay Area... so they were always around me, and I them. My first college roommate was a guy whose parents both worked for JAL. One of my first crushes was a J.-A. girl in elementary school, just because she was so dang nice...and had the best lunches to trade with. :) . I was never an Otaku per se.
My own inflated ideas about Japan and Japanese culture did not survive past meeting people and knowing them as people. Hayao Miyazaki is a great influence as are Yoshitaka Amano, Hiroyuki Yamaga, Mahiro Maeda, Hiromasa Ogura, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Shinji Higuchi, Nobuyuki Ohnishi, Yoji Takeshige, Takashi Watabe and countless other Gainax, SanRio, and general Royal Space Force designers and artists. Also Hideki Kamiya, Mari Shimazaki, Hiroshi Shibata Masaaki Yamada....
So yes I have all the Miyazaki Art books from Japan up through Porco.... and some supplementary material....and I may have used scans from porco and kiki art for inspiration I sent to New Pencil as part of packets to inspire Old Town in Unleashed.... I will talk on this when I start making those videos.
Object and setting concept art, The Sims: Unleashed
Fun Fact: The Sims: Unleashed used Kiki’s Delivery Service (a film by Studio Ghibili) as inspiration for some of the settings in The Sims: Unleashed.
I didn't quite live in Kinokunia in Japan Center in SF, but I did like looking for the books that had the hidden gold in them. I have been accused of have a good eye.... and also that I have a sponge of a memory. (infj-audhd as I am....) I am much better medicated now. :D .... I am responsible for a lot of decision and directions during House Party and after.... I was not taken as seriously at New Pencil until Vacation... so Hot Date has some aesthetic issues that I would never have chosen as approved but that is a subject for another day and....you can see the trajectory and through line to Unleashed and Supestar winning awards and then well... I got kicked out.
4. Where did the Tiki and Art Deco influences come from? What inspired you to bring these styles into The Sims?
Me. I have a full bar and scores of Aloha shirts, and have carved tikis and made 3D rear projected and animatronic talking tiki heads and faces for special events and even a now world renowned Tiki Bar. ALSO I am a California Kid so I grew up around Deco and Art Nouveau in many of its permutations. Before the resurgence of Tiki I would spend my birthday afternoon at Trader Vics in Emeryville for their Happy Hour with my almost birthday twin Marie. A decent part of the success of the Sims Ex Pack design work, Hot Date thru Superstar is my association with Jason Leong, who took the reins on making sure we incorporated the ideas behind my templates and fevered sketches into the Where's-Waldo fever dream of our Old Town, Downtown, Studio Town etc aerial perspective masterpieces.
There is a solid hunk of nostalgia. I don't think it's a specific parody of any particular show but of
the American Dream ideal of working hard and getting ahead. In many ways that is correctly
pointing at wish fulfillment and escapism. We definitely had a set of architectural blueprints for famous TV homes as they would have occurred in "reality" vs the way they were constructed to
accommodate TV audiences and LARGE TV cameras. When we personalized things like monster
potions, alien abductions, ghosts and the grim reaper, it began to have more in common with absurdisty humor than situation comedy.
It have a very specific and distinct look on Americana phenomenon. What references did you use?
TV shows, old magazine and tv ads of the 50s 60s and 70s... You can see the style change
after Livin' Large to be more directed toward art sets that were less about pieces of kitsch on their
own, and more of a set of wall, floor and object art that supports a theme. We liberally borrowed
from all sorts of places buyt then also tried to make things that felt distinctively our own.
What was that exaggeration that made Sims 1 feels almost like a soap opera sometimes? How did
you manage to not overdo it?
Some people think we over did it from the start. There is a good explanation video that
addresses this on my SimsStuff Playlist
We had very simple characters but we knew the machines of the day were going to throw a lot
of the frames out, so the poses were broad pantomime and very focused one sim to the other
except where the Sim addressed the player to complain their were hungry, etc. Even then, you had
to know what was going on, so we did our own checking and rechecking what could be done at the
scale. The expressions are closer to silent film acting or dance than standard human or animation
acting.... Until Sims 2, 3 and 4 when it was 3D and you could move the camera.
a set of unfurnished strangetown inspired family homes.
[warning: long post.... download + more photos under the cut]
hello everyone! my first official post here is a gift of four lots i spent this weekend building. they range from 3 to 8 (... i know) bedrooms, and are meant to go together as a small 'neighborhood' of sorts.
in my own personal strangetown, i've used hoodreplacer to change the terrain (this one specifically) to have more roads available, so these were created for that in mind, however these lots could easily be used in any other setting you wish! i think they'd be super cute in the monty side of veronaville.
anyway... enough rambling here is some more info + photos of the lots!
REQUIRED CC TO DOWNLOAD:
All: Thorpe Build Set by Veranka
102: Waterfront Double Arch (TSR LINK) by Windkeeper
103: Waterfront Double Arch (TSR LINK) by Windkeeper & Waterfront Two Tile Window (TSR Link) by Windkeeper & 4t2 Spanish Inquisition Gate by Kaleigh-83 & Recolors of Simogical Winding Stairs by Whysim
105: Waterfront Two Tile Window (TSR Link) by Windkeeper & 4t2 Spanish Inquisition Gate by Kaleigh-83 & Matching Gate by Cleudosims
109: Matching Gate by Cleudosims & Little Women Arch by BeautifulNerdKitty
as this is my first time ever uploading sims 2 lots, please let me know if anything is wrong or buggy. you're more than welcome to do whatever you please with these builds (other than lock them behind some sort of monetized paywall) all i ask is please tag me with whatever you do with them! id love to see :)
Cozy home
This house was an attempt at 10 minute build challenge but i failed miserably lol However i saw a potential in it and decided to make it look really decent and here is the result!
- NO CC!
- Not so speedbuild
baratheonpilled
gracieabrams
gummygunk
dailybridgerton
andulkaphoto
