#ts4 wip

[simandy]

Brain said i needed to, so i did it

[biplusco]

WIP: Pop-A-Capsule

We are ON A ROLL with making mods for The Sims 4! To be honest, we have wanted to create mods since way back in 2023, but we were intimidated by scripting and coding —mind you, we are a graphic designer and an interior designer who had never touched a codebase before. However, after our first-ever recipe mod in Asobi Part 4, we’ve stepped up with another project: a Gachapon (toy dispenser) machine!

⚠️ Warning: Lengthy post ahead! 📜

A lot of you on Tumblr have asked about our texturing process, so we wanted to take the opportunity to show it off in this WIP, plus a little bit of the modding logic.

✨The Concept✨

We always start with reference images. Our concept is a "Japanese retro gamecore" collection, so we wanted something with an arcade/convenience store/kawaii vibe 🎀. We browsed through photos to capture that energy and went from there.

✨Modeling ✨

Once we locked in our favorite gacha machine design, we worked nonstop from the block-out to the high-poly model. If you notice, the high-poly models are 600,000 triangles, while the game-ready version is only 700 triangles! We still need those high-detail models to "bake" all those yummy details into the textures.

✨The Texturing Process ✨

We usually bake these maps in Substance Painter:

Normal Map: This holds all the bumpy details, cracks, and crevices that the low-poly version doesn't have. (We also bake a World Space Normal, which has more lighting info but is similar to the standard Normal).

Color ID Map (optional): Used for quickly masking while texturing; occasionally we still hand-paint these.

Ambient Occlusion (AO): This has all the shadow and highlight info packed in, giving the model realistic depth instead of looking flat.

Curvature Map: This is the "secret ingredient" for our Maxis Match look—it creates those white edge lines you see on official in-game models!

The real work starts after the baking phase. This is where we add colors, materials, and the "spice" that makes the object come alive.

✨Labeling & Graphics ✨

For this Gachapon, the labels are the star of the show. Our process is flexible: we jump between Substance Painter and Photoshop. In Substance, we keep graphic elements simple and easy to modify (like Simlish text or basic shapes), while complex illustrations—like the toys and capsules—are done in Photoshop since it has more specialized tools. All these elements are either handmade by us or downloaded from royalty-free resources.

✨Finalizing the Mod ✨

After texturing, we combine everything in Sims 4 Studio: the maps, the models, and the script. We’ll spare you the tedious scripting talk, but to simplify: to give this machine functions like interaction, sims reactions, and inventory mechanics, we had to "borrow" logic from existing objects. We used the vending machine and looting mechanics from the game and modified them to work as a Gachapon (gacha price might change in final release lol).

For now, the rewards we are using for this machine are toys from base game, but we have big plans to create our own custom collectibles to add in the future! 🧸

✨Bonus Features ✨

We added object slot on top of machine so they can be stacked! This is perfect for creating a convenience store vibe for you grocery-loving Simmers. Or, if your Sim is more of an introvert, you can put one in their room and add clutter on top to make it feel homey.

We love sharing our journey as we continue to learn new things. This is the first time we’ve made a functional object mod, which is a huge milestone for us! Thank you all for the kind support and keeping us going❤️.

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Release Details

Time: 22/04 at 11:11 PM ICT

We’re so excited to see these in your game! 🖥️

— Chang & Yena

(Pssst, we post WIP posts on our Patreon every release, so do check if you are curious!)

🗺️ OUR SOCIAL Tumblr | Patreon | Instagram

[yibssims]

Keep building in San Sequoia.

[imgloomie]

sneak

[moonwoodhollow]

Nordhaven Art Museum (wip title)

Not shown:

3rd floor - I will keep this one empty for now, except for the floor plan, so you're free to do with it as you wish.

The basement - it connects the old main building with the modern gallery and will host contemporary art, such as video installations and sculptures. I got this idea directly from the main art museum in my town, and I think it's pretty cool

[candysims4]

HAIR Nº 199 / WIP PHOTOS

An updo with a twisted wrapped scarf and natural, shoulder-length hair with a curly texture.

I really took my time with this hair, I think I spent at least 6 hours just on the texture part! I tried my best to make the curls look exactly as planned, a more 4B/4C look, while still keeping it voluminous. I really love the end result; it looks very natural, blending the maxis match style with a touch of realism. I hope you guys enjoy it too!

Since I decided to re-draw the original to modify the light and shadow, plus fit the head wrap into the hair texture, it took a while to finish up.

My plan is to do the color swatches as usual. For the EA Color Palette, I chose a different headwrap color for each hair swatch, and I hope you like the combinations I picked!

For the Candy Color Palette, the headwrap will be white across all swatches.*

Unfortunately, to make this hair’s UV Map 0 work, I had to remove hat compatibility. 

Maybe in the future I can make a second version without the head wrap so it can easily be ‘hat compatible’ (fingers crossed!).

The head wrap will have a recolor accessory as usual.* I’m still testing the possibility of adding patterned options, and hopefully, that works out well. I’ll test it soon! But it will have the usual 55 plain/solid colors. I’m still thinking about what else I can add to it.

As for the release, my plan is to drop this hair on our usual Friday schedule as soon as it’s ready. I’m pretty far along with it, so I’m confident it will be out early in the afternoon, at the latest, early evening. Just note that I follow my country’s time zone (UTC-3).

So, I’ll see you guys soon with this hair and a few other CC posts and updates I’ve planned once I finish them up!

♥ xoxo ♥

* More renders/swatch examples below the cut.

Hair in EA Color Palette, without the 'Head Wrap Recolor Acc'. Render taken in-Blender.

Hair in Candy Color Palette, with the 'Head Wrap Recolor Acc', in 'Single/Plain Color' swatches. Render taken in-Blender.

[budgie2budgie]

🧺

[its-opheliasgarden]

accademia fiorenza |📍porto luminoso, tartosa

founded in honor of queen cordelia i and the royal house of thebe, accademia fiorenza reflects tartosa’s illustrious legacy and commitment to the culinary arts. here, aspiring chefs, bakers, and nectar makers gather to train under the tutelage of culinary masters, blending tradition and innovation.

this is the before of culinary school i started creating back in october for a hot tea legacy save that i never started. i want to bring back khosi from my aftertaste save and have her attend school abroad.

excited to fully revamp using new ep build & buy items. here's layout out so far....f you have ideas on what i should include, please share. tried to mimic real culinary schools to include different areas...

also this build is highly inspired by alma culinary school in italy, which you can see below.

-d.