Difference between revisions of "Sims 3:Modding"

Revision as of 11:57, 10 August 2009

CAS (Create a Sim)

Things you can stick on your sims - skintones, clothing, and more.

General CAS Tutorials

• How to Make a Simple Texture Replacement by ThomasRiordan - Scroll down to post #17 by HystericalParoxysm for info on replacing skintones and eyes.
• Creating Default Replacement Skintones for TS3 by Aikea Guinea
• Default Replacement Eyes, Plus Changing The Whites by Aikea Guinea
• Sims 3 Hair Basics by HystericalParoxysm

CTU Tutorials

Tutorials on using Delphy's CTU:

• Quick and Dirty Guide to the CAS Unitool by Hanlon Razor

• Creating Custom Clothing Stencils by daluved1

• Adding Custom Clothing Stencils by daluved1

• Creating A New Base Texture by daluved1

• Replacing Textures by daluved1

• Basic Mask Editing by daluved1

TSR Workshop Tutorials

Tutorials on using TSR Workshop:

• In depth clothing tutorial by Sinastra

• Creating a clothing mesh tutorial by sww_sww_sww

• Understanding complates (advanced) by Murano

• Adding Logost to Clothing (beginner) by kittyispretty69

CAS Tools

Blender GEOM Mesh Plug-In By morgade

Morgade is currently working on a GEOM (body meshes) import/export plugin.

• GEOM Mesh Plug-In

Delphy's CTU

Currently in beta - allows creation of new stencils, full clothing retextures, and more.

• Delphy's CAS Texture Unitool

Delphy's Acronym Bending Original Output Barber Shop (aka DABOOBS)

This program allows you to create non-replacement custom hair meshes for The Sims 3. It generates entirely new hair packages that can be placed in game, and contains all possible linkages and correct file assignments.

• DABOOBS

TSR Workshop

This program allows you to create non-replacement clothing, hair, make-up and accessories. At the moment you can edit existing meshes to create new looks, unlimited mesh editing will soon become available. Simple to use GUI and a live 3D preview makes content creation a breeze. No limitations on usage, the tool is free and you retain ownership of any files created with it.

• Download TSR Workshop here

• TSR Workshop discussion forums

Patterns

Burberry, burberry, burberry.

Tools

Delphy's Pattern Packager

The Pattern Packager program allows you to add new Patterns (aka items that appear in Create a Style) to your Sims 3 game.

• Delphy's Pattern Packager

TSR Workshop

The TSR Workshop tool has a pattern plugin that can be used as an alternative, offering a somewhat easier GUI and auto-upload to TSR, if you are a member there.

• TSR Workshop

Pattern Tutorials

• Four-Color Patterns In Paint Shop Pro 9~Graphic Intensive! by Misty 2004

• Pattern Guides at TSR

• Colour Patterns in Paint Shop Pro by Regina

• Separating Patterns Without Vectors by JaneSamborski

• Custom Patterns by HystericalParoxysm - French - German - Italian

• How to convert a Sims3Pack file to a Package file

General Modding

Creating gameplay modifications and the like.

Tools

The Lepid Llama Unpacker by Echo

This is a fairly simple tool to extract the contents of a sims3pack exported file. Simply choose the sims3pack file when prompted, then select the file to extract and click the "Export Selected" button on the bottom left.

• Lepid Llama Unpacker

Postal Package Editor by Echo (Alpha)

If you're joining in the fun of figuring out file formats and how to make mods, this is a pretty good place to start. If you're looking for content-creation wizards, this is probably not what you're after just yet. This is a very generic tool, for exploring the innards of the game's package files.

• Postal-Package Editor

S3PE Demo Package Editor

This is a package editor, created mainly to test and demonstrate the s3pi library, but it is quite a useful package viewer/editor and packer in its own right. Created by Peter L. Jones.

• S3PE Demo Package Editor

s3pi Library - Programmers Only

This is the rudiments of an open source library to support people wishing to make tools for The Sims 3. It is written in C# under .Net 3.5 and contains wrappers that implement methods to read and write package files, unpack packed files, and interpret several file types. Created by Peter L. Jones.

• s3pi Library

TS3 STBL Editor

With this editor you can change ingame text, like item description, job description, job names, etc.

• TS3 STBL Editor

Sims 3 Package Explorer

A tool to examine, extract, replace and modify Sims 3 package content, by Okeanos.

• Sims 3 Package Explorer

Neighborhood Workshop (formerly Save Game Editor)

• Neighborhood Workshop-now with simple painting replacement by TigerM

Snaitf's FNV Generator

• Snaitf's FNV Generator

Simple Encoder for Making Hashes

• Encoder for Making Hashes by ChaosMageX

Experimental Object Cloner

ObjectCloner is a tool intended to create new Sims 3 objects by copying and renumbering parts of an original game object. Created by Peter L. Jones

• Experimental Object Cloner

Modding Tutorials

• Sims 3 Gameplay Modding for Dummies by Inge Jones
• Sims 3 XML Tuning Modding (a more user friendly version of the above tutorial, with pictures)
• How to Make a Simple Texture Replacement by ThomasRiordan
• Core Modding Tutorial (For complete and total nincompoops, like me!)
• Creating a New Book
• Adding Clothing to a Category (for beginners)
• IL and DLL overview / tutorial
• Custom Painting In Sims 3 by Snaitf and Srikandi
• How To Clone A Painting And Change the Texture
• Mini-Tutorial: linking stairs, railings, and fences by Srikandi

Installation and Content

To help you get custom content working in-game, and other related utilities.

Delphy's TS3 Install Helper Monkey

Use this program for easy set-up and installation of Sims 3 .package files.

• TS3 Install Helper Monkey

Delphy's Sims3Pack Multi Installer

Designed for mass installing multiple Sims3Packs into a specific folder.

• Sims3Pack Multi Installer

TSR Merlin

This program is compatible with both Windows and Mac and lets you easily install/uninstall both .sims3pack and .package files. You can also view the content of a package before installing to make sure your files are clean. Instant installation of .sims3pack files (as compared to the Launcher installation process).

When run for the first time TSR Merlin also sets up the required framework for using .package files such as MODs.

• Download it from here (free download)

Marhis' TS3 Framework Installer for Mac OS X

Help has arrived for Mac users looking for an easier way to install Sims3 .package files.

• TS3 Framework Installer for Mac OS X

JFade's 3Viewer (Beta)

The 3Viewer aims to be a Sims3Pack Installer, Editor, and overall Download Manager all without using the Launcher provided by EA. Think of it as the Sims 3 version of the Clean Installer with additional content management capabilities.

• The 3Viewer

JFade's The Compressorizor Redux! (Beta)

The Compressorizer Redux! will compress DBPF package files to save hard drive space. Just like the Sims 2 Compressorizer, the Sims 3 Compressorizer allows you to pick a directory and will search for all known file extensions utilized by the game.

• The Compressorizor Redux

Building

Instructions and help on building the perfect lot in Sims 3.

Building Tutorials

• How to create a basic roof with different slope angles - By Feldynn
• Building an Aquarium pool in TS3 - By aphexZero
• How to build a specific lot type, where to have a party and why it matters - By Blackcat007
• How to Create Split Levels With and Without Warped Walls - By Qbuilderz
• Creating a sunken room with floor to ceiling windows By - Beefysim1
• How to build a pool in a lake - By AllHeartAnne
• How to Make Pools of Different Depths - By KRD123
• Building an Aquarium Pond - By Patul
• Half Walls and Folded Stairs in a Modern House - By Amiao103
• Indoor/Outdoor Pools - By kraslev
• Building a Yacht!! a basic framework - By Ralphaelninja
• TS3 Circular Stairway Tutorial - By Patul
• True Sunken Basement - By Flabaliki
• Split Level Stairs - By Plasticbox
• Split levelling 4-level house without warped walls - By ellacharm3d
• Bridges in The Sims 3 - By Flabaliki
• Split Level on the Second Story - By Flabaliki
• How to build a multi split level home (eqivalent to 8 clicks) - By Rosalie_Q
• Correct Pool Windows - Even After Reloading - By sims-holic
• Gambrel Roof Tutorial - By ricslady99
• Under Ground Garage - By Xeroz
• Glitch: How to Make Water go Green - By suttonbros
• Split Level Pools {Sloped} - By Moonfeather
• Fountains in a Pond - By rgarraw
• TS3 Nine Livable Levels (Illusion) by Patul
• How to make an underground carport by Xeroz
• Building a Gambrel Roof Tutorial by ricslady99
• TS3 Nine livable levels (illusion) by Patul
• TS3 Greenhouse (and custom roofing) tutorial by Patul
• "Acrostacking" Stacking Objects in TS3 tutorial by Qbuilderz
• "Geoblending" Covering Objects with Terrain in TS3 tutorial by Qbuilderz

Video Building Tutorials

• Roof Height Adjustment Tutorial{TSS}
• Connecting Garages to Foundations Tutorial{TSS}
• Split Leveling Tutorial{TSS}
• How to make Waterfalls Tutorial{TSS}
• Pool Techniques Tutorial{TSS}
• Building a Better House Tutorial{TSS}
• Tricks with Split Leveling Tutorial{TSS}
• Basements/Multilevel Basements in The Sims 3 Tutorial{TSS}
• Landscaping Tutorial{TSS}
• Landscaping Megatorial{TSS}
• Creating Bridges{TSS}

Meshing Tools

WesHowe is doing great work with some Milkshape plugins:

• Sims 3 tools (packages and mesh)

Meshing Tutorials

• Modifying a TS3 Mesh by Wes Howe

Advanced Coding

If you are interested in all the file formats that go to make up the game, check these resources out:

• Files by Type Code: Sims 3:PackedFileTypes
• RCOL (Scene) Sims 3:RCOL
• Catalog Resource Sims 3:Catalog Resource
• Key table and lists of resource references Sims 3:Key table