Thanks Maxis!!!

Just thought I'd mention that Apartment Life is THE best expansion pack yet. Anyone who enjoys lurking in the darker, grimier part of The Sims will love it.

Great job, Maxis!!!

A new poll!

Woot! I know how to introduce excitement!

Market testing, consumer survey, vox populi, opinion poll - whatever you want to call them, have nothing on MY sort of screamingly thrilling poll! No clipboard in sight, no promises to take 'two minutes' of your time then drag you off to imprisonment for several hours whilst asking what on earth would make you buy my stupid unwanted product. No, just a couple of REALLY EXCITING questions about lots with custom content...

I even avoided painfully personal questions for a change!

The main reason for this poll is that I have lately uploaded lots with content that traditionally won't install nicely with the default Maxis installer. If you've downloaded lots, you may have seen this already: items with bad or incorrect textures, windows with the wrong sizw window holes (wall masks) or items that have been replaced by the Maxis object that was originally cloned. Not only do I want to measure what percentage of people use Sims2Pack clean Installer, but also how you prefer your lots to be prepared if you can't use Clean Installer.

The other reason is that I'm simply nosey and like people answering my inane questions.

If you DO download my lots, then if you could spare a couple of seconds to complete the poll in the left-hand menu, that would be great!

Backstreet Place and the Incredible Lie

The first lot of two, Backstreet Place is now released. The installation instructions advised using Sims2Pack Clean Installer to install the lot (and gave a link to this program). And that still applies - IF you can use Sims2Pack Clean Installer...

But what if you can't? My advice is no good at all for Mac users and anyone else who cannot use Sims2Pack Clean Installer, so I've updated the lot's installation instructions to advise on how to install if you cannot use Clean Installer (it simply means you downloading a couple of sets before installing the lot).

My apologies for my usual laziness, untruthfulness and thoughtlessness (and any other 'ness' you can think of adding to the list - like 'gorgeousness' for example...)

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If you cannot use Sims2Pack Clean Installer then please download the following items before installing the lot:

Derelict Windows
Rowhouse Slum Windows
Industrial Strength Doors
Castle Ruins (window holes)
Low-level window vent (single item)

Note that the Castle Ruins windows and Low window vent were missing from the 'installation instructions' due to a typo (my apologies). Hopefully, the above will ensure that the lot will install with the standard Maxis installer, but if you run into any problems, be bold, risk my unchecked wrath and let me know! I might even be helpful for a change!

Bringing things forth...

I've now uploaded the Neon Signs set and wanted to bring that forward for release this week. I usually submit on a Friday, but I already have two lots scheduled for the next two Fridays, meaning that the neoon signs wouldn't be coming to you until the very end of September...

Which simply won't do!

So, the lot I had originally scheduled for this Friday is now going out early (tomorrow, in fact - 10th September) and the Neon Lights set now takes its previous slot on this coming Friday (12th September).

So, why is it so imperative that I submit on a Friday? How on earth do I know?! I just HAVE to, okay??? It took a lot of courage and therapy to release a lot on a Wednesday, and it will take some getting over, I can tell you! It will be with much relief that I can occupy Friday slots once again.

Open and available 24 hours a day!

I thought that might get your attention, but I'm just describing the latest signs for my neon lights set. I'm really enjoying making these lights and so I thought I'd post up the latest in the hope that you will invite me to do world tours, sign autograph books, meet your country's leaders and walk on red carpet...

Three different signs (heights set so that they can be overlaid on the same piece of wall if desired). Again, these are proper wall lamps.

Anyone who would love to offer clever ideas on how to make the lamps flicker and such is cordially invited to TELL ME NOW so I can show off even more and reach even greater glory.

Or something like that.

Okay, I can take a hint!

I'm not the only fan of MsBarrows crumbling plaster walls, it seems! I have been temporarily(!) amused by the deluge of comments on my tat that run along the lines of: "Meh - it's okay, I suppose - but WHERE DID YOU GET THE FANTASTIC WALLS IN THE SCREENSHOT?!!!!!!"

I don't blame you, actually. That doesn't mean you will escape my usual wrath though.

But, I can take a hint. I have two choices: (1) tell a total lie and claim they are MY walls, or (2) give you a link to the real author's walls. As I'm feeling very slightly calm for once, I shall do the latter...


Wallpaper sets by MsBarrows

You asked, so....

...I have done it!

MILLIONS of you asked whether lots I've featured in my latest screenshots would become available. Okay, maybe 'millions' is a slight enhancement to the reality (a small enough number to count on one hand is probably a little closer to the truth)...

Okay, two people, to be exact. But in my small, dark corner of the world, two requests in one month is like peak demand for me. Unprecedented!

Anyway, in honour of these requests, I have just uploaded two lots. They're both 'streets' (well, a motley collection of small and dilapidated buildings in need of the the tender loving care of a Sim or two). They're RESIDENTIAL lots at the moment, but you can easily convert them with the ChangeLotZoning cheat if you require a community version. If you think this is a frightful bore and you want me to upload community versions too, I will give it a go (but be warned, I haven't used this cheat since I was about four years old, and it might cause the lot to implode or something)...

I DO have a bit of a confession to make though. They weren't lots until today. I mean: the screenshots I published were deceptive - just a few random walls, not proper lots (especially in the case of the Backstreet lot). I made the screens to be the backdrop of my rotten old signs set, but then I liked the images so uploaded them. My cheating ways left me with a fair bit of building to do, but they're now fully fledged lots.

The file sizes will be a tad hefty because there is a fair amount of custom content, and they WILL need Sims2Pack Clean Installer in order to be installed properly, but I hope you enjoy them. I hope to have them slotted in the calendar within the next two weeks.

Neon lights

Sorry, I can't think of any pathetic title, no lame words I can use to spark a few wry smiles...

So, 'Neon Lights' it is. You'll just have to put up with it.

I was really happy to see how many people loved the 'signs of the ages' or whatever nonsense I called it. Hang on, I'll go look it up.... Ah, Signs of a Bygone Age, apparently (this is me showing signs of MY bygone age - snickering comments NOT required!)... Anyway, you really liked this set (well, probably a good many of you hated it too) but as my download counter exceeded 10 downloads, that's good enough for me! It's all gone to my head and I now think I'm amazing!

So, I thought I'd repeat it. Just like a second rate movie sequel, I'm back with another sign set with even louder graphics fanfare. Neon signs! Oh, how unoriginal! But I don't have any neon signs (probably because I don't have NEED of any) so I thought I'd make some. Unlike the last set, these ARE actual fully functioning lights.

Naturally, they did not come without a fight and I should have known better than to clone a Maxis neon lamp (tried and failed before). But, as usual, I went weeping and wailing with my broken won't-allow-recolours package to the Lourdes of Broken Sims Packages (fellow artists who seem to know a heap more than I'm ever capable of learning), and my calls were answered when Silvia (Spaik) good-naturedly slammed, beat and wrestled the package into submission! My lamps now contritely allow recolours.

Anyway, here is a preview of the lights (placed any-old-how in a very unrealistic way as usual)...


I've avoided Coca-colas and McDonalds and such because I don't want to be wopped by TSR for some stupid lawsuit or other, so my signs are all made up. If you have any requests, now's the time to make them. Sorry: Simlish is out. I can't do that one (though some of you have been humorous enough to ask for it!).

Applaude me now (and Silvia).

Be gone, my pretties!

This is a pointless post with one purpose in mind: those arches at the bottom of this blog page...

I figured that, if I made this pointless post, they will be shunted onto the previous page and out of direct view (if not, more pointless posts will follow). I find nice, pretty things quite offensive in this little dark corner of TSR; it is embarrassing enough that I made them, but I don't need to be continually reminded that I did so!

I have also progressed with my clean-up act on my featured items page. It looks much better now. All that sappy pretty stuff has been shovelled to the very bottom, whilst the upper slots are adorned by beautiful rust and decay. I'm particularly proud of the toilet cubicle doors that now occupy the space where the window-box of purple pansies sat (shudder). Muchly improved!

Anyway, as said, this is a pointless post. You don't have to stay with me whilst I fuss about pretty things glued to the bottom of the page if you don't want to; there are far more interesting things to do on the internet. I can be neurotic all alone - that's fine. I can do it. Really.

EDIT: the stupid arches are still on the page!!! I think I'll dig out some mammoth-sized screenshots to post.

Therapy

I hate doors. Stupid, lame, annoying, all-awkward-to-align meshes with horrible diagonal versions and double doors that really don't want to be joined in the middle.

I just hate doors, okay?

There, I've talked about it - just as the Anger Management Course advised I should.