Create Your Own Main Menu for The Sims 4 - Tutorial
Hey folks!
This tutorial will walk you through creating your own main menu override for The Sims 4 based on my custom repository.
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What is required:
JPEXS Free Flash Decompiler
Sims 4 Studio
Raster graphics editor (e.g. Photoshop, Gimp, Photopea)
Your Own Main Menu repository
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Step 1: Download and unzip the Your Own Main Menu repository
It's available on my Patreon page for free.
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Step 2: Prepare your custom images
There are two images that you need to customize:
SimMattically_YourOwnMainMenu_MainBG.pngThis is the main background image, where you want to put the desired graphic.Size: 1440px x 1200px
SimMattically_YourOwnMainMenu_BarBG.pngThis is the second background for the navigation bar on the right.Size: 480px x 1200px
Prepare your own images based on these templates. Do not change the size of the images.
Tips: If you're using a more complex background, such as a screenshot from your game, I recommend blurring the Bar_BG with a Gaussian Blur (~60px). Additionally, I suggest adding a white overlay with ~50% opacity and a 5-pixel wide white bar on the left edge with ~10% opacity. This helps improve the readability of the navigation bar buttons and adds an extra layer of detail to your menu design.
The repository also contains the optional file "SimMattically_RefreshedMainMenu_ScenarioButton.package" from my other mod, which replaces the Scenario button icon with a semi-transparent white version. It's up to you whether you want to use it.
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Step 3: Import the images to the .GFX file
Firstly, open JPEXS Free Flash Decompiler and then open my SimMattically_YourOwnMainMenu_Template.gfx with it.
Select "No to all" when prompted.
On the left, choose "images" and scroll to the bottom where you will see the images you just edited in their original form. Right-click on each and select "Replace." Select the custom images you prepared in step 2.
Save the file.
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Step 4: Import the .GFX file into the .package file.
Open Sims 4 Studio, then click on "My Projects" and open SimMattically_YourOwnMainMenu.package. Select "Scale Form GFX" (the one with the "gameentrylauncher" description) and click on "Import." Select the modified .GFX file and import it. On Windows OS, you need to switch from .binary to all file types to see the file.
Save the .package file via File -> Save As... Give it a custom name and place it in The Sims 4/Mods folder.
That's it! Enjoy!
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION/TERMS OF USE:
Main menu overrides can become outdated with some game updates, causing them to break the game. You will have to remake your custom main menu with a new, updated template in this case. Always make sure you are using the latest available template and that it's not outdated.
Since these mods can break the game, I do not advise sharing your custom main menus with other players. You are free to do so, but be aware that since you're relying on this repository to create your own version, you most likely won't be able to update the mod and resolve issues for other players on your own, so you take responsibility for breaking their game.
If you decide to share your version with other players, please credit my repository and link to my Patreon post.
Do not put your custom main menu based on this repository behind any paywall or early access. I made this repository and tutorial free for everyone, so keep it fair.
I do not take responsibility for people misusing this repository or breaking your game with incorrectly modified files. I do not provide support for custom main menu overrides created by other creators using this repository.
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