simgaroop

[simgaroop]

Modern Sims 2 Custom Content is Incredible!

I spent a long time this afternoon just browsing and downloading stuff for my game, and the amount of amazing content available nowadays is overwhelming (in a good way!). I found a lot of 4t2 replacements, plant conversions, some amazing mods that add new gameplay functions like candle making, color preferences and I think I am barely scratching the surface of the options available. I had to stop before I got confused while trying to update some object defaults because that can be tricky if I don't pay close attention to my folders. I'd rather do that when I am less tired. I am very, very impressed!!

[simgaroop]

Gone CC Shoping

I spent the whole evening downloading hair for my Sims 2 game, just like the old times! Well... almost like the old times, because using the hair database is making my job so much easier!!

I found so many cool meshes that I would love to recolor or retexture, but I'll need to find an alternative to Photoshop for Mac (or Linux) because I definitely do NOT want to pay Adobe their ridiculous subscription prices.

I also want to tweak my Downloads folder and update it with a few 4t2 conversions and garden defaults to make my game look a bit more 2025-ish I guess. Not too much, though, I love the early 2000s vibe of The Sims 2! I am posting this from my Steam Deck, aka my little Linux computer. I was able to hook it to a monitor and it works like a charm! Once I have finished modding my game, I will have a portable Sims 2 machine. I am going to play my Broke Legacy from the beginning (It's been 18 years, I think I am allowed to re-start it :D) and maaaybe post a few pictures. I can't promise a story because I no longer feel confident enough to write fanfiction, but if something funny or interesting happens, I will share it here.

[simgaroop]

Simgaroop and her random comebacks... love it!

LOL, yeah, my life has been pretty random lately!

[simgaroop]

Sometimes, I wonder if re-installing The Sims games can be considered a hobby on its own? I have just installed The Sims 2 on my Steam Deck because the software I was using to run WIndows on my Macbook ran out of its subscription and I can't afford to renew it at the moment. I am actually posting this from the Steam Deck as well, because you can use it as a linux computer too. So far I have managed to reinstall many mods and I was smart enough to make a backup of my most recent CC folder on Google Drive, so I just had to download it here and I am almost ready. For some reason, the hair folder was not saved, so I'll need to take a look at DeeDee and my own archives for some of my favorite meshes.

[simgaroop]

You have no idea the joy I felt taking these screenshots!

The game is finally working properly, with ALL my custom content backup (which features a comically large amount of hair and clothing, I've realized I love taking pictures and giving makeovers to my sims the most). I am going to play a genetically correct version of Pleasantview by @thedudewiththedragontattoos, so that's why the Sims look slightly different.

[simgaroop]

It's been... quite an ordeal, getting this game to run properly with mods and CC.

I caved in a bought the Legacy Edition on Steam because of the promise of it "just working" on my Mac (through Parallel Desktop) and my Steam Deck without going through hoops and patches and graphic rules and all that jazz. It's been a long, long, long, month (but that is a story for another time) and I desperatedly needed the distraction.

I am going to be fair to EA this time. The game worked properly out of the box. I am still impressed, and I am aware that lots of players have had troubles. The issues, obviously, began when I started to mod it. It's taken me two days (but once again, I appreciate the distraction), but I have finally managed to figure out the reason why the game wouldn't show any hoods when I added my ancient backup of Maxis Recolors and why Brandi Broke wouldn't stop reseting: My Parallel Desktop setup was synched with Icloud so the files were not stable and one of my mods was not compatible with Legacy edition.

Now I'm in the process of adding back my hair and clothing default backup and praying that it works because I do not want to build it again.

But if it goes all right, I am playing my Legacy again for fun. Maybe I will share some pictures of the funniest stuff that happens (I tend to let my Sims' free will run wild). I will be starting over, and I am excited about it!

[simgaroop]

Because I have always wanted to give the Sims 2 Universities their own Mascots and Colours...

Sims State University 🦙

La Fiesta Tech 🦞

Académie Le Tour 🐲

[simgaroop]

February 4th, 2000 - 2025 25 Years of The Sims

[simgaroop]

I think I am neurodivergent.

There is no official diganosis and at this stage in my life I probably won't look for one. But in recent years I've started to think I probably am one. I even thought about asking my therapist about this, just before she released me a couple years ago. But it just felt like I was making things up at the moment. Besides, it is pretty stupid for a mental health specialist to self-diagnose, so that's why I am not saying this with complete certainty.

Huh, this is one of those posts I should be writing in Spanish.

Anyway, why am I randomly posting this in my Sim blog? Well, because I am exhausted. I've spent the last two months carrying a huge figurative boulder on my shoulders and just pretending (or masking) non stop. If you met me in person, the most likely impression you would have of me is that I am a very calm, warm and sweet person, who has her shit together, is the voice of reason, a great listener, someone who is eager to come up with solutions to any problem. Someone who has control over her emotions, who likes "normal" everyday stuff. People look up to me and I am constantly been asked for support, both in my professional and personal life. I am so nice and adaptable, that I was able to practically live in a hospital for over 5 weeks, just leaving it to go to work.

However, deep inside I am a very anxious woman, who is triggered by thoughts of death, disease (of loved ones), doctors and hospitals. I need to have my time to be alone. I prefer (almost need) to sleep in a very dark room and listening to movie or videogame podcasts. I've always been into videogames and animated shows, and I tend to obsess about those topics. I used to write a lot of fanfiction and loved it, but have never told a soul because I am so embarrased by it. I prefer to be alone, I hate to make and answer phone calls and when I get a notification on Whatsapp I really need to take a moment to even read the message (and it is even worse if it's a voice message). I am socially awkward in situations that are not related to work. I used to stimm a lot when I was a child, and I still do it when I am stressed. I was a picky eater. I used to be the lonely child who preferred to be by herself and only made friends because my parents were worried. I do not watch series on Netflix, but I can browse Youtube for hours and watch Lets Plays and documentaries about shows. I've always wanted to share my nerd tendencies, but I can't, because I am a woman in her forties, and my family and social circle look down on that stuff. So I constantly pretend and only when I am alone at night I can browse and look at the stuff I like, which is honestly very innocent, but I feel like I have to hide it.

And these last weeks I have had to constantly hide myself in my "social" and "professional" self. And I am exhausted. I feel like my heart is heavy. And it is even affecting my work performance.

So I come to my nerdy spot on the Internet to vent. To the one place in which I can sort of be myself and hope like someone might read this and understand.

*Reads Post* Wow, this is why I mostly lurk. I sound like a 15 year old and my urge to pretend that everything is fine with me is screaming that I do not post this. 😥

[simgaroop]

[simgaroop]

The surgery was succesful. It took 8 hours. She`s back in the room with me. Thank you so much for your well wishes. We really appreciate them!

I am emotionally exhausted. I feel like I need to take a 24 hour nap, but this is still not over yet. I will come back once my brain is a little less scattered. ❤️

[simgaroop]

Sometimes, I miss being part of a fandom. Despite being “chronically online”, I do not have a public social media presence.

I am a very introverted person and prefer to share my thoughts and pictures with my close family and friends. I dunno, I just don’t see the point and end up deleting any draft before posting.

However, there are times when I miss being part of a community and just talk about movies or games online. Especially in times like these, where I badly need the distraction.

Someone really, really close to me is going through a lengthy and difficult medical crisis. I am the only one who can take care of them at night, so I have been living in a hospital for 2 weeks, and I will probably stay here a few weeks longer. I am emotionally exhausted and despite having the support of my family (we are a team on this, and my role is the night caretaker), I feel lonely and stressed.

Wanna know what has been keeping me distracted? Fanfiction. I looked for my favorite tropes on AO3 and started reading fics that looked interesting, even if I was not familiar with the fandom.

So, considering this is my only public space, would it be wrong if I reblogged or shared non-sims stuff here? I understand if you’d rather keep your feed strictly Sim focused, though.

I will keep my Sims stuff too. I cant promise if I will create content, but maybe I will want to play Sims 2 or 3 (not 4, I am too lazy to keep track of mods)

Well, that’s it for now. My loved one will be arriving from heart surgery soon (successful) and I need to be ready for them.

[simgaroop]

I return to this simblr exactly a year later. I just noticed that my last entry was written on September 19th, 2022, a few hours after the third S-19 earthquake in my city. I swear this is not on purpose.

Macbook owners (M1 onwards), this video has finally allowed me to install (and play) The Ultimate Collection in my M1 Air:

I am so grateful for Natalie (and her graphics settings) and the folks who have been developing the Sims 2 Installer! It now includes a few tweaks, clean templates and even the store content!

I think I am going to have a very light game this time. I need to start over from scratch, after all. I will go back to my hair colors and textures though, I've missed them!

Anyway, hope you are well!

[simgaroop]

WTF

Another earthquake at the same day, hour and place.

September 19th, 1:10 pm, Mexico.

Five years later.

Everything seems OK so far, but this is freaky.

[simgaroop]

I was 20.5 years old when The Sims came out. I was instantly interested in it because I had been playing Sim City since I was 12 (the SNES version and then SimCity 2000). My very first family died in a fire in less than 20 minutes, so you could say that it was a strong first impression. I love the Vacation music.

I was 25 when The Sims 2 came out. Finding the CDs in my country was a PITA. I was 27 when I started posting to LJ after going on a massive CC shopping spree thanks to The Booty. The first Legacy I read over there was The Foxworth Legacy, and I still love it to this day. This legacy and Strangetown Here We Come were my inspiration to start playing and sharing my game.

I was almost 30 when The Sims 3 came out. I moved out of my country to study my Masters that year, so I didn't play it as much as The Sims 2. I also haven't been able to find a PC or laptop able to run it properly :(

I was 35 when the Sims 4 came out. I play it occassionally. I have never been invested on its lore or premades as I were with The Sims 2 and I wish the gameplay was as good as its graphics. It is a beautiful game that bores me to death quickly.

I turned 43 last week and have been playing The Sims 2 again.

I was 3 years old when the first sim game came out, 7 for ts2, 12 for ts3 and 17 for ts4 wbu

[simgaroop]

This is how my game looks like when I am taking pictures on a "throwaway hood". This is an Old Town remake, btw, and it is amazing!

This is only a very brief "prologue" for my Legacy .

I prefer to show instead of just telling past events, so I am going to take these pics, set up my Pleasantview and then start playing as normal. I do not want to depend on posing Sims, because that gets really boring for me after a while.

[simgaroop]

You can do things just for the sake of creating and having fun. There doesn’t need to be a greater purpose to your hobbies. You don’t need to be improving at them. You can just enjoy doing them awkwardly and imperfectly.