strangetomato | Sims Talk: Kitchen and Bath Interior Design Stuff

For once, I get to hitch a ride on the bandwagon by finding myself the proud owner of Kitchen and Bath SP on the actual day that it is released. I feel like a huge geek for being so excited about this SP, but I couldn't be happier to have it in my greedy little hands right now. I've really been looking forward to this one. I have a little story idea in mind for showing it off, but I promised myself that I'd spend whatever free time I have this evening on trying to finish the second half of chapter twenty-four. I'm going to try my best.

But first, I just had to express my delight over this SP. It may not be much, but what's there makes me quite happy.

Yes, it really is everything I hoped it would be. I LOVE this hair for Frances. I've been planning a little makeover for him in the near future, as part of his move towards a new outlook on life. I've had my eye on this new hair since the early screenshots for Kitchen and Bath, and boy, does it deliver! It's exactly like his old hair, except he learned a new gel technique. I think the volume adds a nice balance to his face.

Here are a couple of different angles...

He should have no problem finding himself a boyfriend with this look. (Spoken like a proud sim mother.)

Speaking of annoyingly proud sim mothers... here I go again, pulling my little snapshot of Ripp out of my wallet and waving it around. I'm just that predictable.

Here he is the next morning, in a cute little robe, making someone (maybe even you) coffee!

My point with showing you this photo (and I do have one), is to demonstrate the use of my new camera mod. It's GunMod's Camera Mod from MTS2. This shot isn't exactly pushing it's capabilities to the limits, but it does show a lower vantage point than the default camera can achieve. It's great. Now I'm completely shocked and embarrassed that I didn't download this sooner. What was I thinking?

In all honesty, I was thinking that the control of the camera would be too different and I'd have to re-learn it, like when I re-learned how to knit. Once I got the hang of the "proper" way to knit, it was much easier, but it took quite a while. That wasn't the case with the camera mod. It's exactly the same, only better, and with more options. Very nice.

Now, I'm off to use the shiny new camera to take some photos for the next update...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Awww! That hair is adorable!

I've been playing a little with Bon Voyage today, and it's actually a pretty neat EP (and my computer is working just fine). I was even able to FINALLY take some pictures for my next update, might even use a couple of them to write a very belated drabble for the simstoryteller's community prompt.

What? You mean you haven't been using the Camera mod all this time?! O_o

Whoah! If you were able to take those shots with just the Maxis camera, I can't wait to see what you'll come up with now! I love the camera mod, it's quite easy to use (or at least I got used to it quickly, perhaps because I learned to use it at the same time I discovered the TAB controls) and it lets you take a lot of odd angles and even get really close to the toddlers.

Those of you who haven't tried the mod yet, don't be afraid of it! It's really awesome ^^ (and it works with all EP and SP's installed).

But was it hard to install?

Not at all.

You just have to choose one of the three cameras available (I always pick option "A"), download it and extract its contents on the "Cameras" folder at My Documents > EA Games > The Sims 2. You can even pick which camera-files you want to have in your game or not.

In my case, I usually just install the "FirstPersonCameras", "NeighborhoodCameras" and "CineCamCameras" files. For some reason, I get dizzy if I play with the "LiveCamera" at normal gameplay, so I ignore it and stick with the Maxis default.

Thank you, this is very helpful. :)

I'll come back to elaborate this evening when I have the time, but it looks like simgaroop answered your question for me. It's really just a matter of extracting the file into your "cameras" folder (it's a good idea to copy the entire folder to have a backup of the default Maxis cam too). I also chose option "A".

The installation couldn't be easier, really. And the controls are not all that different. The camera moves in a slightly different way, and at a different speed, but in almost every way, it's an improvement. I no longer have to use the same ridiculous strategies to get certain extreme shots. It makes the job a lot easier.

Isn't he cute with it, though?

I've pretty much decided that, when InSIM is updated for Free Time (I heard it might be within a week, so I'm crossing my fingers), I'm going to install both BV and FT. There are a number of things I really want from that, even if the vacationing thing doesn't do much for me. My main reason, again relating to Frances, is the grand piano. Someone as classy as Frances needs a classy piano.

Heheh. Nope. I've been toiling away with the default camera. I now realize how I was making my work a million times harder by sticking with that. I had no idea! (Why didn't someone tell me sooner?) The camera mod makes things so much easier! I'm just loving it.

I found it easy to adapt to too. The tab mode is very similar, but you have that simply wonderful ability to shift the camera up and down. I'm so excited to get lower vantage points. Again, why didn't I do this sooner? :P

I'm excited about getting better toddler pics! I included a couple of those in the latest update.

I second, and third, the recommendation to just get the camera mod, everyone! Do not be afraid. If you copy and back up your cameras folder, you can easily switch back anyway, but you won't want to. It's the llama's ass, I tell you! The llama's ass! *snicker*

Sims Talk: Kitchen and Bath Interior Design Stuff

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