Cyclonesue / Blog

Author: Cyclonesue | Posted Oct 30, 2011 | 4 comments

The urban viaduct: something I've built for every Sims game - only in Sims 3 you get to build your own.  Well, I expect I'll build one too for all those who positively hate building (and for my own ego-gratification from succeeding in building a row of boxes in the name of lot design).  But you don't have to have my lot this time; just don't even contemplate making a better viaduct than mine, because I'll have to come destroy your PC if you do.

So far, the set contains a steel rail bridge (fence), rail track (fence), brick arch (decorative curtain-thing), sized-to-fit 3-tile windows (er, windows) and a notable absence of doors because I haven't had the patience to make any yet.  Everything else in the piccie you've already got, unless you kept fluffy hills, fluffy trees and fluffy bunnies in your game instead.  The fact you're even at my minisite gives me hope for you though.

And I LOVE that fabulous subway grate that came with, er, um, [insert-name-of-pack].  Anyway, thank you EA!!!  Who knew it could be this cool?!  Makes a great top-surface for the steel bridge.  Anyone wishing to point out about how the rail track stops dead at a barrier will be unceremoniously awarded my Golden EBO award (Expert in the Bleeding Obvious).  Yes, I know it does.  I'm currently inventing some grisly story (a.k.a excuse) in my head about it.

And a new picture to show taller viaducts (the arches like to be placed on walls so I used the moveobjects cheat...

Author: Cyclonesue | Posted Oct 27, 2011 | 2 comments

I've been fixing content - making improvements that are long overdue.  Trouble is: even though they'll be listed in your Updated Content page, they'll probably be buried in your Pets-fixed stuff, so I'm going to list here what has been fixed and why. 

In every case, please uninstall the original before installing the replacement.  Unless otherwise stated, the replacements will reappear in lots where you've used them because the replacements have retained their same internal ID numbers...

FIXED SETS AND OBJECTS

Details of fixes and what you need to download are set out below:

Gravestone set - complete overhaul

This entire set has been updated and improved.  Every item can now be placed on slopes, repeat-buy is enabled and faulty sunshadows have been fixed.

Note: the original skull file could not be opened, so this new skull will not replace the old (you'll need to re-add it to anywhere you used the skull).  Everything else in the set will replace the old.

Ghastly Graves set

Prison set - bedding and desk slots fixed

The RigFixer did not fix bedding problems and so I fixed these myself, and the desk lost its computer-placement slot too.

Top bunk (ladder on right)
Top bunk (ladder on left)
Single cot bed (and bottom bunk)
Wall-mounted 1-tile modular desk

Colonial windows - Late Nights wall-masks problem fixed

All the 2-tile windows in this set were affected by the Late Nights bug, which meant that the wall masked part of the window when these windows were placed on diagonal walls.

The one-tile windows were unaffected and are fine.

Colonial windows

LOTS AFFECTED BY THE ABOVE CHANGES

These changes have meant a few of my lots needed to be updated with the new content.  If you want the updated versions, uninstall the above-listed content first so that the lot can install the new updates...

The Old Clockwork Mill

Download (opens in new window)

Bracemoor Medium Security Jail

Download (opens in new window)

Spooky Hollow Graveyard

Download (opens in new window)

Author: Cyclonesue | Posted Oct 14, 2011 | 1 comments

To accompany the Gypsy Build Set being released, I've put together a very simple 10-step tutorial.  As well as demonstrating every part to creating a lot like the one shown on the right, it explains:

• how to build the bases
  
• which doors to use for which wagon
  
• how to match your wallpapers to the wagon roofs

Link: Build Gypsy Caravans Tutorial

Author: Cyclonesue | Posted Sep 27, 2011 | 3 comments

Whilst on the subject of construction, how could I resist the humble Porta-Potty, or as we often refer to them here in the UK (Porta-Loos - a phrase our American friends find totally hilarious).

This version is decorative only but there will be a working version too.  The only toilet without 'privacy' problems is (alas) the 2-tile stall toilet, but I can place two cabins together - the toilet in one, and the animated door on the other, and it should look convincing enough.

I could of course make a 1-tile version too, but it could have no animated door and Sims will demand privacy before using it.  I might make one for kicks anyway - just to laugh ruthlessly at shy construction workers!

Author: Cyclonesue | Posted Sep 12, 2011 | 13 comments

It's been a while - a LONG while!

I hate gardening.  I mean I REALLY hate gardening.  If I lived in an apartment, my upstairs neighbours would by now be complaining about my weeds blocking their window daylight.  However, no-one lives above me to complain and I don't have to look at it.  It's not MY problem if my neighbours find it fruitful to glare at my urban rainforest, but it IS my problem that everyone else has Posh Gardens, because they only do this to make me the Worst Neighbour.  They are trying to make me Worse Than Them.

So I've made this deluxe gardening set.  It's designed purely to make someone else's garden look worse than yours.  When someone is Worse Than You, you will feel fulfilled, you will sleep easily, you will be fantastic-looking, intelligent and very rich, so make someone Worse Than You today by crushing their prize geraniums with a nasty old cement mixer.  To be published next week.

Author: Cyclonesue | Posted Jun 17, 2010 | 2 comments

You'll be sick of me by the time I've finished posting about this, but I'm determined you'll see this somehow and in some way...

My latest creation, the Tyre Fire, had a fault.  it wasn't a fault I spotted, because the fault actually manifested on the EA fireplace I'd used for my clone, not the fireplace I made.  My fire worked fine - succeeded in all manner of tests, and of course the orignal EA fire was still in the catalog.  All good then!

Well, no.  Baufive wrote to say that the EA fire now carried the name and description of my tyre fire!  If you're familiar with the ridiculous descriptions I often add to creations, you'll realise how funny that is.  Well, funny for an approx 3 seconds before it becomes extremely infuriating!     Therefore I apologise humbly for whatever went wrong with this.

 
IT IS NOW FIXED - DOWNLOAD UPDATE 

Please ensure you UNINSTALL the old version because this version will not replace it automatically.

Author: Cyclonesue | Posted May 25, 2010 | 6 comments

People lay down these fences to spoil your fun.  There is actually no other reason.  You want to picnic in that pretty (privately owned - minor detail) meadow?  Well, you gotta snag-your-pants to get in it.  You wanna trespass somewhere just because some boring old sign says KEEP OUT?  Yep, gotta snag-your-pants to go there.  But don't let that stop you.  Snag-your-pants and be glad. 

I'm feeling quite cruel to Sims just lately and so I want them to snag THEIR pants too.  I've made five fences (four are shown below - a fifth made this page look stupid so you can do without the fifth) and some matching gates - all in the glorious name of ruining Sims' lives.

So, have you snagged your pants lately?  Why not write in and tell us so we can all point and laugh at you?

Author: Cyclonesue | Posted May 9, 2010 | 5 comments

I'm on Facebook!

Make no mistake: this wasn't intended.  I point-and-laugh at Twit, Twitter or whatever, and Facebook even worse because you have to do that thing of having friends, and I missed that bit out and long ago opted for the School of Rudeness instead, so I have no friends - and that is therefore why Facebook is idiotic.  I have spoken.

But yes, I am on Facebook.

And so far, I have managed to make a complete and utter MESS of it! 

Firstly, MsBarrows kindly pointed out to me that I didn't actually need to post to EVERYONE.  Everyone?  I thought 'everyone' just meant everyone who was attached as friend or what-not.  Apparently not, so I apologise to Presidents, Royalty, Popes and Wil Wright (and anyone else happening to also be on Facebook) for my typo-centric posts about awful and hideous high-flush toilets.  What an idiot!  Thank goodness my mother isn't on Facebook is all I can say.  She's not is she?

Secondly, I can't stop making an ass of myself.  I submitted two posts this morning in response to another post I'd made, but now that original post is not there so my two new posts are totally out of context.  Hanging there like the conversation-stoppers I manage to throw at people in Real-Life.  The post I was replying to appears to be several weeks ago now.

Thirdly, I seem to have a growing number of pages that I'm failing to manage.  High-Flush Toilets left me a comment somehow, but in trying to deal with that the FB account known as High Flush Toilets has since disappeared.  I therefore even manage to offend my own creations.  I really should keep away.  I have three more pages including a "Cyclonesue" page glaring at me.  I simply look away and move along now.

And finally, typos!  I can make all sorts of idiotic typos when tired, but my even my most wakeful physical state is disregarded by Facebook as my keyboard rattles out utter garbage in comments I cannot return to edit several times.  So not only do I look like a complete idiot to the masses on Facebook, but an illiterate one!  All I need is for my employer to search me out and I'm doomed for sure.

Author: Cyclonesue | Posted May 3, 2010 | 7 comments

And for once it's not my fault.

My PC is toast and the crate I'm using now can barely run a Flash game without a blue-screen error, so I've been confined to spewing forth nonsense information in TSR's new Rresource Center instead.  I've left muddy pawprints in each of the following sections now...

• Meshing
• Texturing
• Patterns
• Building
• TSRAA
  

These sections aren't by any means complete - there are heaps to add as yet, but it's a start, and keeps me away from cursed blue-screens that remind me I have no decent PC, which means no Sims and no Workshop either.  When it DOES come back (in several weeks at this rate: a coolling system failure has since materialised into being a fried motherboard), I do have plans about "what next", though I shall avoid revealing them because I seem very good at announcing what I'm about to make, and then making something else instead.

Author: Cyclonesue | Posted Apr 1, 2010 | 6 comments

Yes, etcetera - for I have not only added the mop-in-bucket (thanks to Mangio, Fredbrenny, PenelopeT and GirlFromVerona who said 'do it') but there is the new 'wet floor' sign (100% recolourable, including the image on the sign). This set  (shown on the left) escapes next Tuesday (7th April)

Oh and here's a better piccie of those puddles!