Maxis Taste Dare No. 26

[strangetomato]

Is anyone else thinking about participating in Maxis Taste Dare No. 26: Second Chances? The idea of this one appeals to me, though I'm struggling with who to focus on. My recent playing of the entire uberhood has given pretty much everyone a chance, though I guess the point of the exercise would be to find something more to like in a character that you're not too fond of. So maybe Gunnar Roque? Haha. But disliking Gunnar is a fanon tradition, right? I sort of like him the way he is, in a love to hate sort of way.

I think part of what I'm struggling with is that some of my unfavourites actually get quite a lot of attention from other simmers, and I think this is a significant factor in my dislike of them. I honestly don't get it and I resist giving them any more of the spotlight. (Come on, admit it. I know I'm not alone in this.) Ajay Loner comes immediately to mind, with his boring Face One (or very slight variation, if you insist) and lack of storyline (beyond counting grains of sand for fun in his bio) and relationships, and yet he's pretty much universally adored in the fandom. I guess in the spirit of the dare, I should definitely give him a second third fourth chance. Or maybe I can keep digging for someone I truly ignore entirely. I'm sure there are others I'm not thinking of right now.

Then there's the issue of my computer refusing to start up at all, so playing is sort of out for the next little while, and I can't even access any of my files until I either get it repaired again (throwing good money at bad?) or the new computer arrives. I finally ordered a new one, but I need to wait a few weeks for it to get here.

Comments

[w-sims.livejournal.com]

I chose the Tinkers. It's not that I dislike them, but the brief says "least favourite", not "most hated" and I've never played (or wanted to play) the Tinkers that much so they seemed like the idea candidates.

Making over their house is a challenge, though... not being allowed to change the walls! Bluewater Village homes are quite large and that's not my style but it's comin along quite well!

And I have no strong opinions on Ajay! :P

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

The Tinkers are a good choice, I think. They seem to be ignored by most simmers, so it works well all around. It took me many years to get around to trying them out. And there's something about their house (maybe the layout and size, like you said) that makes that lot a little cumbersome to play. I've really come to like Melody after playing her, and I love running the toy store (though it's way back there in the back of the lot).

Not being one for participating in house makeovers, I wonder about the rule to keep the existing walls. I guess that's meant to mke it more challenging or to keep it more recognizable? I can see that, but even in real life renovations people add and remove walls and windows, etc. don't they? For the huge rooms, you could divide them up in other ways, and go for a sort of open concept look.

Haha! Are my opinions of him strong? I'd classify them as "agreesively neutral" when it comes down to it. :P

[w-sims.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought the rules for the home makeover were a little odd, but its quite unusual in any Sim challenge to not touch the walls at all, so it's actually quite refreshing and means you get to play around with the massive, unusually-shaped Maxis rooms. I did add walls to allow for built in wardrobes, but I'm guessing that's not against the rules (well, I don't imagine it is, at least!)

The weirdest thing, for me, was the Tinker's home gym. I never put a whole gym room in my Sims' houses but the challenge is kind of about preserving each home the way its built by Maxis so the Tinkers "haz jim" I guess :P Stephen and Wanda are heavy anyway so I'm sure it'll come in handy!

I think I will have to actually set up a toy store for them after the challenge. It's typical Maxis they don't already own one when you load Bluewater.

[aledstrange.livejournal.com]

I did add walls to allow for built in wardrobes
I always forget adding little details like that, but those wardwrobes need the walls to be placed, so it doesn't matter.

As for the rooms, the building rules are about construction only, the use each room has doesn't matter either. You don't have to use the room as a gym, it can be anything else. And remember you can build in the yard too (as long as it's not a direct extension to the house) and the Tinkers have a huge yard. They could easily have a home business (I tend to assume that's the reason they don't own a comm lot, actually)

I'm really excited to see what you're doing with them! :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I wasn't sure if those rules were typical or not (as I don't generally do building or makeover challenges), so I was curious.

That home gym is rather unusual. They don't seem like they currently use it, based on their body types, but I guess it's meant to be a hint to get them in shape? I usually keep them in the fat state, sell the weight equipment off, and use that as their toy workshop studio. I just chaulk it up to a good intention after a New Years resolution that never ever got used. :P

I think they're meant to use that small building in the backyard as their shop, but it doesn't have anything in it yet. It's actually quite small for a business, also, but not bad for the first few levels (especially if you include playground equipment outside, and that makes more sense). I usually end up building extensions on the store after it gains in levels.