Sims 3:Modding
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:
TSR Workshop Tutorials
Tutorials on using TSR Workshop:
CAS Tools
Blender GEOM Mesh Plug-In By morgade
Morgade is currently working on a GEOM (body meshes) import/export plugin.
Delphy's CTU
Currently in beta - allows creation of new stencils, full clothing retextures, and more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pattern Tutorials
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.
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.
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.
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.
TS3 STBL Editor
With this editor you can change ingame text, like item description, job description, job names, etc.
Sims 3 Package Explorer
A tool to examine, extract, replace and modify Sims 3 package content, by Okeanos.
Neighborhood Workshop (formerly Save Game Editor)
Snaitf's FNV Generator
Simple Encoder for Making Hashes
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
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.
Delphy's Sims3Pack Multi Installer
Designed for mass installing multiple Sims3Packs into a specific folder.
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.
Marhis' TS3 Framework Installer for Mac OS X
Help has arrived for Mac users looking for an easier way to install Sims3 .package files.
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.
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.
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:
Meshing Tutorials
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
