MTS2:Creator Guidelines/Sims 3 Worlds/Sandbox

Guidelines for Sims 3 Worlds/Neighborhoods

Creating a World is a VERY time consuming process. Creating a fully decorated neighborhood from scratch including all the lots can easily take a month or more of regular hard work. There's a lot of tedious parts to it that aren't very fun, and it can be tempting to skip over the technical parts like routing and layering, but it's important to go ahead and do it right so it will work well in the game, since you are sharing your neighborhood with other people for them to play with. Players don't want to download neighborhoods only to find out that some essential parts of the play experience are missing or done poorly.

The Create a World (CAW) tool allows you to create your own unique vision of the perfect neighborhood/world, and share your creation with other Sims 3 players. MTS hosts neighborhood/world uploads that meet our upload criteria, as outlined below:

Creating your world

Quality

Let your imagination run wild when creating your world, but remember that it will take a lot of effort for your vision to come to life. Any concept can be done well, or done poorly, and your result depends on you. Even the wildest alien world should still look good and make sense - weird for weirdness sake as a gimmick really doesn't work well for something that will be used as much in the game as a neighborhood/world. Use your imagination, but put enough work into the expression of your idea to make it look plausible. Does your world/neighborhood look nice, with a good flow to it? Is the layout attractive, interesting, and enjoyable to look at? Do you have a cohesive style or theme that works well and shows throughout the neighborhood? This is hard to quantify, so you may want to get several other opinions (from people who aren't your mom).

Playability

The prettiest neighborhood ever made is useless if it's not playable, so it's very important that it's well planned. Consider some of the following: Is there enough room for all the rabbit holes, community lots, and plenty of homes? Is there room to expand? Consider that new types of buildings will likely be added with later expansion packs. Do townies have somewhere to live? Is it going to be easy to get around the neighborhood? Are there enough roads and sidewalks, and are they connected up properly? Is the routing done right so the sims and player camera don't get stuck? Can sims collect bugs and rocks? Is your world optimized for good performance? There's a lot more to it - some covered down below, but put yourself in the player's shoes and imagine what you would want in the perfect downloaded neighborhood and build accordingly.

Basic Map

A basic map is one that does not include any buildings, but has all the rest of the neighborhood in place. Everything that needs Create a World to do has already been done, and what's left is to build the houses in-game. Some players really just want a blank canvas upon which to build (like SC4 maps for TS2) so this is the most basic type of neighborhood/world map you can upload here to MTS.

But even for a basic map there's still quite a bit that needs doing. This is the absolute minimum you need to do to upload your world to MTS:

Terrain

Natural: Your terrain should look plausible – not just flat and boring, or jagged for no reason. Terrain paints should blend in a logical way from one to another - a smooth blend from grass to sand, for example. Mountains should be dark and mountainy, grassy areas green and grassy. If you're building a non-realistic world (like an alien or fantasy environment), plausibility just as important as with a terrestrian one. No Auto-Paint: Please do not use the option to auto-paint your world in CAW - or if you do, don't just stop there. It creates a very blotchy grass-and-stone look which may be a decent start for certain areas, but a world left auto-painted just looks lazy and unfinished. Optimized: You should not use more than 8 different terrain paints per chunk, for improved performance. Custom Terrain Textures (Optional): If you make your own terrains, they should be seamless without repeating too much visually, have the right scale, and look good in-game. Easy to view: Make sure you can view all lots and other points of interest without steep hills or valleys getting in the way – be aware that the camera will move up and down with the surrounding terrain.

Roads and sidewalks

A good transportation network means sims can get around your world/neighborhood with ease; a poorly done one means routing issues and a lot of stomping and complaining. Even for a rustic neighborhood, you should still have some roads for playability's sake - you can always use custom textures to make them seem like wide dirt paths. Intersections: Place intersections where your roads meet, and at the end of any dead end road. Cars/vehicles will not be able to turn around otherwise. Smooth Grade: Use the road tools to give your roads and sidewalks a smooth grade (i.e. if you were driving down it, your car wouldn't tilt dramatically from side to side but would stay mostly level). Not Too Steep: If you have a very steep cliff, you may need to make your roads wind back and forth instead of going up near-vertically. Sidewalks: Place additional sidewalks where needed, and connect them to your road system. Custom Roads/Sidewalk Textures (Optional): If you make your own textures, they should be seamless without repeating too much visually, have the right scale, and look good in-game.

Lots

Well-thought-out placement of lots is essential to a useful and well-functioning neighborhood. Plenty of Lots: Place at least enough lots for several residential homes, all the rabbit holes (make sure they're big enough to fit even the largest rabbit holes!), and some community lots. Add a few extra in various sizes so players can add their own buildings. Too many lots is better than not enough. Standard Sizes: Lot sizes should be a multiple of 5: 10x25, 20x20, 30x50, 40x40, 50x60, etc. (the exception being the 64x64 lots the game uses as its largest size), so that players can easily move buildings around. Look at the bottom right corner in CAW when dragging out a lot to see the size - no guesswork. You -can- have other lot sizes for things like community lots or to fill in gaps, but try to make your residential lots multiples of 5 whenever possible. Flat Lots: Use the Flatten Terrain tool before placing a lot, so that you are always putting lots on a completely flat patch of ground (unless you have a very good reason to not have a flat lot, like a beach lot or one built into a hillside). This makes it easier to place and share lots. Near Roads: Lots should be placed next to a road in most cases, unless you have a very good reason not to do so. Make sure you use the grid tool so your lots are aligned right up against the roads too, without a gap.

Performance

Proper Routing: Routing for both the camera and sims should make sense - areas that look like they'd be off-limits should actually be non-routable, and areas that look accessible should be easy to reach, with no random non-routable spots. You can find more information on routing in the CAW Help Document. Smooth Edges: Make sure the edges of your non-routable areas are smooth, not jagged or blotchy, so the camera doesn't bump around. Layering Correctly done, layering increases world performance. Don't just dump everything on one layer! Items you have placed in your world (lots, decorations, effects, etc.) should be layered and grouped in a logical way.

Decoration

Additional items added such as rocks, landscaping, and effects can really give your neighborhood character and a unique and interesting feel. Aesthetically Pleasing: Your decorating should add to the overall beauty and theme of your neighborhood, with good choices and placement of items - neither too many nor too few. Thematic: Try to keep your decorations to a particular style - use trees and flowers that make sense for the type of region you're building. Giving your neighborhood a particular unique flavour and style makes it more charming and realistic than just using one of everything, or a random pyramid because it'd look cool.

Spawn points

Beetles, butterflies, fish, gems, ores, and space rocks all appear in the game because the neighborhood/world creator has placed spawn points for them. The CAW Help Document contains a list of all of the Spawners and what they produce. Full Set: You don't need to place one of each Spawner, but you probably want to place enough so that sims can collect all of the base game collectibles. Logical Placement: Place spawn points in areas that make sense - near landmarks on the map or in an area you've decorated specially for them - not just randomly, or stuck all together in one place. Balanced Rarity: Vary the type of spawn points you use so it's not too "cheaty" - use a mixture of common, uncommon, and rare spawns (not just all rare ones).

Full Map

A full map is a complete and decorated map including residential and community buildings - not just a blank slate but similar to Sunset Valley or Riverview: a complete neighborhood except the sims. Creating a full map is a really, REALLY big job.

For first-time creators, we strongly recommend to upload a few lots first before you attempt to create a full map (and also sims, if you plan to include sims with your world). Be aware that it is in no way required to build anything in a world you want to share, or to include sims with it.

The standards for the houses you build in a full map are the same as if you were uploading them separately to MTS. Please review our Lots and Houses Upload Guidelines fully!

Make sure you understand how to create lots that meet our standards BEFORE you try and upload fifty of them at once. Changing one lot so that it meets our standards is relatively easy; having to change fifty of them all at once will only lead to frustration.

Lots

Rabbitholes Rabbit holes provide places for your sims to do important tasks as well as attend school and their jobs. Full Set: There are 16 different rabbit holes - make sure you include them all for sims to have a nicely functioning neighborhood and be able to get all jobs. If you choose to omit some of them, it should make sense for the theme of the neighborhood, and you should add some extra lots big enough to fit the rabbit hole objects, so players can place their own. Decorated: Rabbit hole lots require decoration to make them look part of their neighborhood - benches, trees, terrain paint, etc. - if you're going to tell people where the rabbit holes should be, you should make an effort to decorate the lot so it's integrated into the rest of the neighborhood's style. Community buildings Full Set: You should build all or most of the various community buildings (art gallery, gym, etc.) which are not rabbit holes. If you don't build them all, you should leave empty lots for the player to build or place their own. Residential buildings Enough Lots: You should include several residential buildings in a variety of sizes. Make sure the lot sizes are multiples of 5 (25x30, 50x50, etc.). Some/all residential buildings can be vacant, but all of the houses need to be furnished (see our Lots and Houses Upload Guidelines).

Sims

Quality: If you are doing a full map and including sims for a populated world (including sims is completely optional!), please make sure that your sims meet the MTS Creator Guidelines for Sims. Unique faces for random "other" sims and good likenesses if you're trying to make them look like real people. The standards for sims uploaded with a world are the same as if you uploaded them separately, so make sure they're good!

Uploading your world

Title and description

It's important that you include certain information so that players know what to expect when they use your creation! Part of this is also so the MTS moderation staff knows your world has been made right. You may want to copy-paste the headings here to use as a template. This information should be in the text description for your upload. If you do not include all of the required information, your upload will not be approved. Title You probably already have a name for your world - it makes a good title for your upload. Description You need to write a decent description for your upload. You don't have to write a novel here, just at least a few sentences about world's theme, history, landscape, people, whatever. Let people know you've put some careful thought into your creation. If your English is not good, you can ask for help writing a description in Creator Feedback. Please also include the following information into your description: Map Size: Tiny / Small / Medium / Large Spawn Points: What spawn points are there? Are EP spawn points or relic dig sites included? Routing Info: Where can sims not go? Where can the camera not go? Layering: How many layers do you have? Textures: How many textures have you used total? Do you have more than 8 textures per chunk anywhere in the world? Lots: Number: Total number of lots, and lot sizes and quantity of each (example: 50 total lots - 25 of 20x20, 15 of 40x40, 10 60x60) Rabbitholes: None / All / Some (list) Community Lots: None / All / Some (list) Residential: Number of residential lots, and lot sizes and quantity of each (as above). (Full Map Only): For the 10 representative lots (5 residential, 5 community) you've chosen to include pictures for, you need to also include the standard required info for them. That means you need a description of the lot in text, describing its purpose, features, style, etc. You will also need the lot size (25x30, 64x64, etc.) and the lot price (the price of the lot, both furnished and unfurnished). For more on where to find and how to provide this info, please see: Lots and Houses Upload Guidelines. Sims (Full Map Only): If you are including a save file with sims, or have pre-populated your world, please include some basic information for the 5 representative sims you have chosen to take pictures of.

Screenshots

The screenshots you take will show off the world you have made and allow people to see what they're downloading. Take some nice big (800+ pixels-ish on the smallest side is a good size to aim for), clear pictures to entice downloaders into using your lovely new creation. Please do not take the pictures in Create a World*. You will need to include at least: at least ONE picture from high above your world, showing the whole thing. If you can't fit it all in one shot, you can take several different shots as long as it's obvious you've shown everything. You can label the overview pictures with text if you want - just make sure it doesn't cover up too much. Show at least THREE other pictures of some of the views people will see in your world. This should be nice scenic views, taken from a lower angle (a sim's eye view, or a low player's eye view). You can of course take more pictures to show off all the pretty sights. Lot pictures If you have built on the included lots, you will need to give a full set of info and pictures for at least 10 lots - 5 residential and 5 community. You may choose which 10 lots you show, but we suggest you choose lots that are representative of the overall style of the world. We have this requirement so both MTS staff and people who may download your lot can see that your lots are good quality. The pictures you must include for individual lots are: Front View: One picture from the front of the lot, taken from a sim's eye view. Floor Plans: At least one overhead floor plan type picture of each floor/level. If your lot has three levels plus a basement, you will need to do four floor plan pictures. Comparison Picture: If your lot is based on a real-life or fictional lot (for example, a replica of the Falling Water house, the Disney Castle, or the house from the Munsters), you will need to include at least one comparison picture of the lot it is based on. For examples of the types of pictures required, what information you must require, and for much more information on taking good pictures, please see our Lots and Houses Upload Guidelines. Sim pictures If you are including sims with a save file, or pre-populating your world, you will need to give a full set of info and pictures for at least 5 sims. You may choose which 5 sims, but as with lots, we suggest you choose ones that are representative of your creator style and quality. This is so MTS staff and downloaders can see that your sims are good quality. The pictures you must include for individual sims are: A close-up picture of the sim's face, from the front, with the sim wearing a neutral face expression (like a mugshot) - not smiling, laughing, etc. For sims based on a person or character, a comparison picture of the real person, ideally similar to the close-up picture of your sim. You may, of course, include other pictures like a full-body picture, posing pictures, whatever, to show off your sim how you like, but please make sure to include at least the above. Do not apply filters like sharpen, contrast, etc. to the required pictures, as downloaders want to see what your sim will look like in their game, not your skills at using Photoshop. Additional Screenshots You may wish to take optional extra pictures to show off your world. Additional pictures are good! Show people all kinds of interesting stuff, all the little details you've put in. Even if you're making a Basic Map, you may wish to compose your upload in Creator Issues as is advised for Full Maps - you can add additional pictures attached to subsequent posts in the thread, which will show up on the Comments tab. *Worlds with empty lots In exception to the other screenshot guidelines, please take one picture in CAW to show how the lots are located in the world. Screenshot tips Camera Controls: Take some time to just play around with the camera. It can take a while to get used to the camera controls, and even once you are experienced in their use, it may be challenging to get the shot you want with the constraints on the controls. If you haven't taken many sim pictures before, here is a list of camera controls: TAB : Puts the game into Cameraman mode, allowing better and more control of the camera, and removing the blue user interface. Make sure you are in live mode before going into Cameraman mode or you will see grid lines on the ground and floating where floor tiles may be placed. TS3 Note: You will only be able to go into cameraman mode once per load if you are in buy/build mode (without a family moved in). You can either exit to the neighborhood and return to take more pictures, or instead just move a family in for taking your pics. W and S : W moves the camera forward. S moves it backward. A and D : A moves the camera left. D moves it right. Q and E : Q lowers the camera. E raises it. + and - : Zooms in and out. Windowed Mode: TS2: In order to take your pictures using the methods described here, you will need your game running in a window, so you can easily switch to other applications without causing major instability and lag. Instructions on setting up Windowed Mode for Sims 2 may be found here: Game Help:Windowed Mode. Windowed mode should be perfectly safe - in fact, some users actually report better game performance when running in a window. Your mileage may vary. TS3: In Sims 3, you can use windowed mode by simply choosing it in your game's options. Full instructions can be found in Game Help:TS3 Windowed Mode. Windowed mode will allow you to use Print Screen or FRAPS or whatever screenshotting program you desire, without getting dark pictures. If you choose to NOT use windowed mode for TS3, you must use the C key to take pictures using the in-game camera - taking pictures fullscreened in TS3 without using the C key will result in icky dark screenshots. C Key vs. Print Screen: TS2: In order to take nice big pics, you should not use the game's screenshot system, using the C key or the camera button on the game's controls to take your pictures. Even on the highest picture settings, pictures will still be small, with a very high level of JPEG compression, making them blurry and crunchy. Instead, use Print Screen or a screenshot program. TS3: The C key camera is much improved in TS3, making it possible to use to take pictures for upload and still have nice big, pretty pictures. You can still use a screenshot program or print screen if you desire, but you will need to run your game in Windowed Mode (see above) to keep your pictures from getting dark. Using Print Screen: If you have enough RAM to run Photoshop or another graphics editing program at the same time as TS2/TS3, you may want to take screenshots yourself, without the use of a program to store them for you. To do that, simply press the Print Screen or PrntScn key on your keyboard - it's usually off toward the right, over the arrow keys, above Insert and Delete. This will copy your current screen to your Windows clipboard, as if you had selected and copied it as an image. Then open any graphics editing program, create a new document the size of your monitor's resolution, and paste into that document. Your screenshot should appear in the document. Screenshot Programs: There are many programs available, free and pay, that will take screenshots for you by using a hotkey, and save them to a folder - just like The Sims 2 with the C key, but with options for much better quality settings. Fraps Gadwin Irfanview A quick Google search for 'free screenshot program' will also bring up many other options, which may have other features that are of interest to you. Optimizing, Editing, and Compressing Images: Many simmers struggle with getting their images to be clear, crisp and under the maximum file size while keeping the image size larger than 800px by 600px. After getting your images from the in game camera or using a print screen program you will need to resize them and compress them into a jpeg image. Many graphics programs have a built in optimizing feature. Here are a few common ones: Photoshop *Pay Gimp *Free IrfanView *Free Paint.net *Free

Custom content

If you have used any custom items in your world, you MUST provide full links and credit for ALL items used in the world. This means any custom build items, objects, patterns, or content used on any included sims must be linked and credited. Make sure to state whether or not the content is included or not (as downloaders need to know if they need to download it all separately or not). If you do include content, it must be okay with that content's creator. Please check their policies.

Split RAR's

For a complex neighborhood, it's likely that your upload will be over the 10 mb file limit that we have at MTS. You will need to upload your creation in parts. To do this, you will need an archive program like WinRAR that can compress a file but split it into multiple pieces. To create a split RAR/ZIP: 1. Find the sims3pack file for the world you have created. 2. Right-click on the sims3pack file and choose "Add to archive" from the menu. 3. On the box that comes up, give your file a name where it says Archive name. 4. Select ZIP or RAR (RAR is preferred). 5. Change "Compression Method" to Best. 4. Under where it says "Split to volumes, bytes" type 9 mb. Leave the other settings alone. 5. Click OK to create your file(s). This may take a few minutes. When it's done, you will have one or more RAR files, ready to upload. Uploading Full maps Because worlds are so complex, it may be easier for you to compose your upload in MTS's Creator Issues Forum rather than going through the regular upload wizard. Create a new thread - the first post will show as the main post on the upload once complete -; make sure to attach at least one picture to the first post and at least one zip or rar attachment. You can use subsequent posts (which will show up as comments on the upload) to attach files and pictures and organize showing off different parts of your world. Once you're done putting together your upload in Creator Issues, private message an Admin or make a new post at Creator Issues, to ask if your world can be moved to the Moderation Queue. For an example of a full neighborhood done like this, see Plasticbox's Elsewhere Neighborhood. Obviously it's a bit different being a Sims 2 neighborhood rather than Sims 3, but you can see how the general information and description is on the Overview tab, with the main screenshots attached to the first post to show up in Screenshots. Then click on the Comments tab and see how she has a description and pictures for each included house as well as the required sizing and pricing information. Again, the details included would be a bit different, but the concept is the same for both TS2 and TS3. Additional Stuff If your upload is rejected or marked as changes required and you're not sure why, ask in Creator Issues. If you're not sure whether your world is ready for uploading, use the Creator Feedback Forum to get feedback on it.