I'm Not A Gamer, So I'm Probably Late To The Fallout London Party, But This Looks Amazing.

For those who’ve been concerned about losing quality with smaller texture sizes, I thought this might be worth showing. This is a texture I made just for this purpose in 2048x2048 and then resized it. All textures were built with DXT3 format and file sizes are the compressed ones. In my opinion 1024x1024 looks the best in-game. 512x512 is what Maxis originally used for this sofa and it would be a better option performance-wise, though.

These pictures were taken with a full HD display, meaning that it can show resolutions up to 1920x1080 (but not anything beyond that) and with a game that’s set up to use that resolution too. Please keep in mind that the lower your game’s resolution is, the less likely you would notice a drastic difference between 512x512 and 1024x1024 textures in-game.

Update 5: added archives section. I think it warrants a reblog (updates aren't showing up on reblogs).

Sims 2 Databases Database

(Alright it's an index, I just had to)

Made it for myself, I might as well share. If there's something I've missed please let me know.

CC:

Sims 2 Object Default Database

Sims 2 Default Database [CAS]

Sims 2 Hair Database

Shoes Database

EA Sims 2 Store Items 2016

Sims 2 Functional Finds [Sorted by function]

Resource list: Clutter and decorative items [massive index at GoS]

TS1 to TS2 Conversion/Recreation Database

TS3 to TS2 Conversion Database

Sims 4t2 CAS Conversion Archive [EA]

Custom Clothing Conversion Database [Custom - ts4 only?]

Sims 4t2 Build/Buy Conversion Database [EA]

4t2 CC Database Build & Buy [Custom]

TSM-to-TS2 Conversion Database

The Sims spin-off games to the PC TS2 [&3+4]

CC Archives:

Sims Cave.

Sims Graveyard.

Liquid Sims - Community Archives.

Sim Archive Project, at The Internet Archive.

The Booty, at PSMBD.

Sims 2 Packrat, on Tumblr [Watch out for the recent SFS Hacking problem].

Resources:

CEP-Extras List, Huge Lunatic @ Sims 2 Artists.

Several Lists of Maxis Resources for Modding, under Notes. Pick'n'Mix Mods, own website.

Sims 2 Painting Sizes Database.

The Sims 2 Tutorials Database.

Sims 2 GUID Database Revival (Yes I'm shamelessly promoting it).

Update: added EA ts2 store items, Painting sizes db, Tutorials db. Update 2: GUID db Revival. Update 3: believe it or not, there's more - Shoes db, Sims 2 Functional Finds [sorted by function]. Update 4: Resource list: Clutter and decorative items, at @gardenofshadowssims Update 5: added archives section.

Resources for Creating: My Go-To things.

Update: I’ll be updating the list on this page from now on, since Tumblr can’t handle so many hyper-links in one post, on Dreamwidth - right here, so I won't have to update it multiple times. Please note: I keep updating this list, and updates aren't showing up on reblogs. Please check the original post for the most up to date list.

Sooo this is going to be a long comprehensive list. I got back to this game after a long time and with a different computer, with a dedicated graphics card, hurray! It made me want to return to making things, so while gathering back all the necessary stuff, I've complied this list. It might be is updated as I go along, but these are the main things I use. Maby one day i'll even finish something. So here are my go-to resources & tutorials; I'm posting it here for safekeeping, and hopefully others will find it helpful. Everything that's listed is here free. So many wonderful things for free under the cut.

Programs – General:

Creating: Blender. Blender Addons: 3D Print Toolbox – comes with blender, enable it from within the program. Originally for 3d printing. Good for fixing flipped normals, and some quick general repairs. Source Tools And source tools wiki – for exporting as SMD!!!! (SimPe: to enable bump maps for the mesh on import). GMDC Addon for Blender 4.0+ by Nopke.

GIMP. GIMP Addons: G'MIC-Qt. Resynthesizer. Nvidia dds?. Doesn’t it come with Gimp?

Other: Nvidia Texture Tools Exporter (iirc it works with all graphic cards that are compatible, doesn’t require Nvidia). For making Normal / Bump / Cube Maps. For high quality compression.

NormalMaps - Online, For making all types of maps, has good setting menus. A very cool tool.

Converting: Umodel, for Unreal Engine (Static meshes: export as gtlf.2. Animated meshes: export as psk. Requires Add-on). AssetStudio, for Unity. AC Viewer, self implied (+ USD Addon for blender). QuickBMS* and support forum, for basically everything else. (don't forget the required scrips, down the same page). *I haven’t tested it fully yet, but it was recommended here. A tutorial for it is listed further down. Works like a charm.

UV Mapping: UV Mapper, Classic (free) and the most recent Demo (for visualization).

Programs – Sims:

Never Mind the Bollox, Here's Osab and MAGIkarp to the rescue!

Latest version of SimPe, works with a non-default installation path. Chris Hatch's updates.

Home Crafter installation, Post by Huge Lunatic at Sims2Artists.

Repository Wizard, by Pick'N'Mix Mods. A game changer.

DBPF Compare, by Pick'N'Mix Mods.

Object Relocator, also by Pick'N'Mix Mods.

SMD Tools, by Lazy Duchess.

The Compressorizer, by JFade – Lazy Duchess's edit.

Bulk Rename Utility, to change file names in well, bulk. As explained by io here.

Lot Adjustor, by Mootilda at MTS.

Tutorials:

Override the game's graphic settings via Nvidia, as explained by iCad. The settings to Nvidia Profile Inspector she linked to at MTS have been deleted for some reason, here they are via WebArchive.

Meshing in Blender:

Mesh Optimization Info (and links), by Crisps&Kerosene.

Additional - Reducing Polycount:

Tutorial, by Flaming-Chickens (another username on other sites perhaps?)

Edge – Un-subdivide, a quick one by CG Link.

Transfer high poly details to low poly object in Blender, by 3Dnot2D.

Shrinkwrap Modifier - Blender Tutorial for Beginners - Basics, by in2vert.

Placeholder for this Addon that I want to try but haven't found, something for AR that was on facebook's defunct AR.

Scaling tips, by Blender Secrets.

How to fix inverted/ flipped normals, by ipaintsmallthings.

Converting: How to Extract 3D Models, Textures, Music from Unreal Engine Games, by iwanMods.

Extract 2D/3D/SFX Unity Assets fast & easy from your Unity Game, by iwanMods as well.

How to use QuickBMS, by darkhorse.

Guide to Converting 3t2 and 4t2 Part 01 and Part 02, by Chiaroscuro/tenlittlepandas.

Converting TS4 Windows and Doors, by Crisps&Kerosene.

Using Different Material Maps as Shading/Details for Base Texture, in Gimp or Blender, by Pineapple Forest & Crisps&Kerosene: https://www.tumblr.com/crispsandkerosene/764893644571525120/great-info-thats-the-reason-some-conversions?source=share

Texture Editing in GIMP:

Using Gimp Add-ons: G'MicQT. Resynthesizer. Both by Davies Media Design. This guy's channel for Gimp in general – here's a good one to begin with. And another one about layer masks.

Making a texture Tile Seamless: 1. My favorite - How to Make Seamless Textures for Cinema 4D - 3 Levels of Photoshop Wizardry using iPhone Photos, by School of Motion.

2. Simple Trick for More Realistic Texture Patterns in GIMP, by Davies Media Design – Quick and simple, using the Resynthesizer plugin. Good for patterns.

Making walls in SimPe out of a square texture, with minimal quality loss. To be written.

SimPe: Cloneable Objects: A List of Good Objects for Cloning, by IgnorantBliss at MTS.

Huge Lunatic's Tutorials, Her website.

Object Creation for Absolute Beginners, by Moune.

Sims 2 start to finish Object Creation Tutorial, by JWoods, Numenor, Lethe_s & IgnorantBliss.

The Material Definition (TXMT) Guide, by PixelHate – very comprehensive. Part 5 is about Bump/ Normal maps.

Null (Texture-less) Groups, by Skell. For bodyshop, for Objects see an elaboration by Midge the Tree below.

Crisps&Kerosene discovered how to add specular maps to objects! It's incredible there are still new things to discover in this ancient game.

More on Specular Maps, by Pineapple Forest.

Making new flooring & walls with SimPE, by Charisa. Includes adding Bump/Normal maps. She added a file to clone from in the comments below. It works for normal maps as well. Here's cool discovery in the game files.

Expanding footprint: a mini tutorial, by Deedee.

How to add correct drop shadows to objects, by Yuxi, via Wayback Machine.

Making Objects Viewable in Neighborhood View, by iCad.

Making Objects Visible In Build/Buy Mode, Invisible In Live Mode, by Midge the Tree.

Making Seasons-Friendly Trees, by Echo.

Io/ Serabiet's resources list, mainly for Bodyshop but not just.

Pineapple Forest's Tutorials, useful tips for efficiency and optimization.

MTS modding forum in General.

The Sims 2 Tutorials, on Tumblr. A database, is more updated.

Sims2Artists tutorials section.

LeeFish modding forum.

Garden of Shadows, Tree of Knowledge section.

Troubleshooting: What to do if you get a System.OutOfMemoryException Error, SimPe Forum, via WayBack Machine. Thank you @fanseelamb for the find.

How to read object error logs: I just want to know what causes it!!, by Episims.

Common TS2 errors, by Midge the Tree.

General game fuckery: How to Stop Sims 2 Crashing (Memory Allocation Fix and 4GB Patch Repair), by Jessa.

Graphics card problems, LeeFish forum.

Graphics help - DIY, by Kiri. How to fix faulty Texture Memory allocation, and the problems that stem from it. Tumblr can't handle anymore hyper links so here it is: https://celebkiriedhel.tumblr.com/post/189431721483/graphics-help-diy

General: Switching between save folders without renaming them, by Nopke.

Resources:

3D Models Online*: Various furniture designers' websites: Porada, Zanotta, Muuto, Hay, Poltrona Frau, many luxury furniture designer basically.

3D Warehouse, belongs to Sketchfab (get the Collada files).

Scan the World.

Wikimedia Commons. And more.

*(NOT OPTIMIZED).

Textures: Architextures.

Fabrics & Wallpapers: Natural Stones: Wall Plasters:

iCad's Woods. Shastakiss's Cluedo Metals, Yeti Metals, Pirate Woods. Goat's Woods.

Textures from other games: Dishonored, Thieve and much more, by Saricoya at GoS. Dreamfell by io.

Resource sharing threads at Garden of Shadows.

SimPe - General: CEP Extras list, HugeLunatic at Sims2Artists.

TXMT settings for different materials, by Hafiseazale.

Extended SimStandardMaterial Shader for the Sims 2 + Optionally Brighter Sims, by Crisps&Kerosene.

Custom CubeMaps, by Crisps&Kerosene.

Shiny TXMT Settings & Cube Maps Packs, by Pineapple Forest.

Build/ Buy: Templates for Recoloring Maxis items; MTS Templates sction, Hafiseazale (+cc), ZeroDark.

Template for Seasonal Trees, Gwenke at Sims2Artists.

Making Roof Recolors, Tutorial & template by Numenor, great template by iCad.

Pack for making food clutter usable, by DeeDee.

CAS: Default Makeup Packages - BYO Packages, by Huge Lunatic.

Body shape, Io/Serabiet on Tumblr.

Skin template, Io/Serabiet on Tumblr.

Hair texture, iCad.

Color Actions, Pooklet on Tumblr.

That's it for now.

Edit: forgot about CEP extras. Added more links. Edit 02: Added Troubleshooting section under tutorials.

Hey sim 2 players there has been news that vegan-kaktus's uploads have also been compromised i know thats a sims 2 archive thats trying to preserve S2 cc from being lost

Can anyone confirm that vegan-kaktus has also been compromised? Do they have .exe or .bat file extensions do they have zips that get flagged when downloading?

As always be safe while checking have your anti Virus running while doing so.

Great info! That's the reason some conversions from newer games have flat and unsaturated textures.

It's a great method for shading even if you don't have a normal map. Make one out of the texture with an image editing software, or with Nvidia Texture Tools Exporter. If the texture is too flat, it can be made out of the mesh itself in blender, like so.

Shout-out to people converting objects to TS2 from other games. Don't ignore normal maps!

You can retain many details by desaturating (the right way) normal map and using it as overlay.

GUID Database Revival

I've finished setting up a way to revive the GUID database, albeit not an automatic one, it is low-key, but rather simple. Instructions are on the pinned post. [It's a Dreamwidth community, basically one webpage where people can dump their GUID info, straight from Excel or a list].

It is searchable with multi search add-ons for browser. Search for multiple entries in one go.

Avoid conflicts with originally registered GUIDs (Not foolproof; assuming GUIDs where assigned in a certain way).

Avoid conflicts with new random GUIDs (that are in the DB).

Creators are indexed - see if your favorite active creators are on there.

Everyone can join, but only members can post. Happy Simming! https://sims2-guid-database.dreamwidth.org/ Example:

Obligatory CCR music:

3t2 - Antique Adornments 7

"As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live." ~~Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Faust, First Part

Episode 7 of the 'Antique Adornments' series. How many more to come? Oh, that's a good question! 💭

Find a detailed list of all of the conversions in this WordPress post.

Mediafire / SFS

Credits: floor by MsBarrows, rug recolor by kjkjljkjkjkjljkj, red paneling by unknown, wallpaper by SIP

Tumblr can defiantly close down without sufficient notice, I've read someone here saying it happened to them on another site before. I've been meaning to make other/backup accounts - as to not put all of my eggs in the Tumblr basket. Got Pillowfort and Bluesky now, and will probably get Dreamwidth as a more proper blog, now that WordPress is out of the question. So far it's a bit empty out there for ts2, but it'll probably grow.

Most importantly there's the regular forums and sites, which I believe to be better for sharing information & downloads. Nothing gets lost that way under endless scrolling. These (anti)social media sites are like chat rooms, good for chat, not for archiving information. I recently got back to modding, and because of the forums I got all the information I needed to mod this relic of a game.

Oh and if anyone's interested these are my accounts, I've also added links to the profile description.. Pillowfort BlueSky Garden of Shadows Mod the Sims Simblr.CC

matt just fired half the remaining tumblr support staff lmao

New Mods Finds

I tend to avoid reblogging, I should probably set up a finds blog, but for now, here's a list of all the new mods I've found and started using for The Sims 2 in the last few months:

Shiftable Everything by @lamare-sims

50 New Lifetime Wants by @lamare-sims

Invisible Kitchen Surface by @lamare-sims

PSBs From Planter’s Paradise Recolors Fix by @simnopke

Time & Weather Manager by @simnopke

Convenience Store Clerk Outfit Fix by @simnopke

Longer Novel Titles by @simnopke

Immersive Rain by @bstu

Fix for Old Pine Trees by sam&skye

Max Slope Value Mod by @catherinetcjd

Go Steady Wants Fix by zachjohnunlimited

Trait Based Skill Gain Speeds by @fwaysims

Amicable Unbonding by @equinoxts2

Community Espresso Machine Now Sells Espresso by VirtualAlex

Fix for Broken Break Up Want by @profesionalpartyguest

4t2 Little Campers Functional Toddler Skill Toys by @elvisgrace

Closest Fridge for Cooking by @picknmixsims

Leftovers Overhaul by @picknmixsims

Charisma Gain while Chatting by @picknmixsims

Rabbit Pen as Toy Dog Pen Default Replacement by @deedee-sims & @episims + Rustic Edit by @pforestsims

No Caffeine Jitters by @episims

Crib Teeth Animation Fix by @episims

Colour Traits by @episims + all the mods for them:

Toothbrushes by Color Traits

Gifts by Color Traits

Coffee Mugs by Color Traits

Pencils by Color Traits

Engagement Ring Stones by Color Traits

Compatibility Addons/Edits by @jellymeduza

I have a mod list with all the mods I use, but I tend to keep new mods 'in testing' for a while before adding them to my list. I also get lazy and sometimes don't get round to updating it for ages. So most of these amazing finds are not yet on my full list, but I'm pretty sure they'll all be sticking around so will be on there soon! Check it out for more mod recommendations.

I'll be releasing some stuff myself soon so keep an eye out👀

Look what I found! This tool is so good.

Found it through github, it produces all types of maps. Haven't seen it being mentioned anywhere... I used a Maxis floor as an example. It produced very nice results on images of floors I got online.