I've put together some of my favourite shiny TXMT settings - these are for TS2 CC creators /anyone editing recolors in SimPe.
I've included two custom envcubes.
Also recommended: my Shine Removal Kit.
Shine TXMT Settings
Download: SFS | BOX
These settings should be added to TXMT with 'merge' button /not 'import'/. Instructions are included.
As is the case with StandardMaterial, envcube reflections get much stronger outdoors. This pack includes various TXMT settings for opaque object recolors, to simulate materials such as glass, porcelain, gold, polished metal, stainless metal, cars and other glossy outdoor objects.
Shine settings can be merged with all kinds of settings (tinted, transparent, with textures, or textureless).
stdMatEmissiveCoef and stdMatDiffCoef brightness might affect the intensity of reflections
Please note my shine settings can also be used for SimStandardMaterial stuff BUT results will be a little different /CAS accessories using that shader look the same indoors and outdoors/.
One of the setting files features my custom greylivingroom-envcube, it's based on TS2 gothlivingroom_01-envcube, which I very often use for glazed pottery or glass bottles -BUT it doesn't have any brassy tones, unlike original.
And there's also pfmall-envcube which I created for cars displayed indoors, but it's not exactly how I imagined it - I haven't found much use for it so far. Both custom envcubes are tiny, 64x64 px DXT5.
A Bit Of Gloss: porcelain / glass kind of shine, good for small objects, I often use it for bottles
A Bit Of Neutral Gloss: same as above, but no warm hues
Cool Sparkles: highly polished surface effect, good for small and larger objects
Shiny Gold & Stainless Steel Shine: what it says on the tin
Subtle Shine Blueish: barely visible indoors, this one is good for outdoor metals
Car Varnish Glossy Outdoor: reflection with green grass, trees and sky
Below you'll find a list of The Sims 2 Base game sound resources
that I've identified so far, along their instance number - this is for people who'd like to export particular sound, or replace it with something else.
(note: I've removed download link, the list below is more reliable)
My first attempt at replacing game sound resource with MP3 failed (older sound defaults: less dog barking in hood view and no bed woohoo music were made with resources found in the game files).
I used wrong export settings back then, now I tried MP3 32000 Hz /48kbs and it seems to work fine.
Worth noting - sound duration has to be the same as cutscene (or longer). If it's too short, it gets stretched and becomes too slow.
Please note this post might get updates so always check the >>master post<< and not the reblogs.
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ALL sound resources extracted with SimPe get .MP3 extension, even if it's in fact an .xa file. Most audio players can't open .xa files and will throw an error.
XA format files can be converted to .WAV with Xantippe app. You need to change .mp3 extension to .xa before you open it - if xantippe throws an error that means the file is actually an mp3 or spx.
'Voice' files are almost exclusively spx format, more about that here, post by lingeringwillx @ MTS2 - they created python script to decode it, post includes instructions on how to tell if a resource is .xa or something else.
Lazyduchess has shared a re-encoded version of TS2 spx voice resources, these are mostly mp3 and can be played in any app. (Patreon DL link).
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It's possible to bulk-convert xa files.
Here are the instructions written by @teaaddictyt (thanks for sharing this with me):
1. Bulk extract the resources
2. Using Bulk Rename Utility, change file extensions to .xa (*remember that some resources might actually be mp3 format, not .xa)
3. Download vgmstream (github) and extract it somewhere. I just put mine in C:\ root so it was really easy to my computer to find.
4. Go to the folder the .xa files are in, highlight the address bar and type in cmd to open it in command prompt
5. Enter this command:
for %f in (*.xa) do "C:\vgmstream\vgmstream-cli.exe" "%f" -o "%~nf.wav"
/If you put vgmstream somewhere other than root C:\ you would need to correct the file path/
6. Hit enter and watch in wonder as it bulk converts them all!
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Note that 'real' mp3 resources may include file title, so it's possible to sort these by titles in windows folder to fish them out. Xa files never contain a description.
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How to search for the sound in the game files by instance number:
Open TSData folder
[The Sims 2 / base game Folder]/TSData/Res/Sound
Open one of these three sound packages in SimPe: Sfx1, Sfx2, Misc. Browse "mp3 or xa Sound File"
open "filter resources" tab on the right,
paste Instance number (the last one in a row) and click 'set'
if nothing shows up, drop another sound package into SimPe (Sfx1, Sfx2, Misc) until you see the sound on the resource list.
(I've only specified if a file is MP3 in a few cases, but there could be more of those. Some sounds have a few versions so I can't guarantee these are actually used in the game).
"✓" check mark means it's been confirmed that the sound is used in the game
4t2 EF11 SandalsNacie on TS2 AF legs, ready to be used in outfits - for creators only. Shorts are here.
Included 14 original textures. Link below the cut.
4t2 EF11 SandalsNacie AF Download: SFS | BOX
I repeat: archive contains FILES FOR CREATORS only.
I've included all 14 textures these came with, fitted into standard TS2 body texture, with added shadow layer. Please use DXT5 format when importing textures into SimPe.
