Custom Content: Plans for possible future projects

[strangetomato]

I'm thinking about trying my hand at some cc creation in the future, and I have a number of things that I'd love to do for my own benefit (and also to share with anyone who is interested), so I'm posting this list for my own reference. Feel free to take a look and share your opinions.

Some custom content projects that I'd like to work on in the future (I'll add to this list as I think of other possibilities):

• Multi-PT set based on the original Maxis PT - would keep the original lack of nose, but would include the four different hair colours and slightly adjusted features, but still very alien. (Not sure on the pointy ears vs. mangled alien ears - opinions?) This would allow for traditional looking aliens that can interbreed, and I'm surprised that nobody has created one like this yet.
  
• Multi-PT set of my own design - another set of less alien-looking PTs (but not necessarily "pretty" as much as "interesting", with distinct features), like fwiffo's, but in my own design. This will just be an alternative to the more commonly used set, for my own use in the future (and others, if they are interested)
• Default replacement eyes for all the "creature" sims, based on Lyran's eyes (I'd have to inquire about this with Lyran to see if it's okay to do this)
• Retexturing some cc hair meshes with Maxis textures - in the spirit of "if you can't find it, make it yourself"
  
• Retexturing this SAU scarf mesh to have a Maxis-like texture
• My own set of handpainted default eyes
  

I would love to learn how to mesh, and my SO figures he could just set me up with XSI and teach me how to model, since that's the program he teaches at the college for use in digital animation, and a quick glance at this tutorial on MTS2 shows that this would work just fine (it's one of the tools that allows for "more extensive edits to Body Shop meshes"), but I would have to learn how to use the program. I'd have a good teacher, so I'm sure I could get a basic understanding (and also help when things go wrong), but it would involve significant time and effort.

If I can figure out how to mesh, I'd love to do some editing of Maxis meshes to make some new separates. I'm dying to have a nice basic short skirt mesh, with nice flats (and an option with sneakers too). With a corduroy texture, and recoloured in red, I'd have a signature piece for my simself during this time of the year.

So... lots of plans, to be filed under "one of these days".

Comments

[madame-ugly.livejournal.com]

I would LOVE more options for PT's. Especially ones that look like the Maxis PT (and/or PT Smith). That damn black hair makes me nuts the way it just takes over, so hair variety is very much needed.

As for the ear thing, I don't know that you'd need more pointy ears. The replacement PT's that already exist (that everyone uses and loves) give a lot of pointy ear options (unless you meant making a more subtly pointed ear). Normal ears and gnarled/tiny ears would be nice. A variety of eye sizes would be nice, too.

How hard is it to make PT replacements? You have me thinking I'd like to try it out (using my own custom aliens). I already have a nice collection of aliens (with looks I like). It would be fun to spread their genetics around.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

For myself, I have no interest in having PT No. 9 as a PT, since he's a character and has retired from the profession. Having new kids that look like him show up doesn't really work for me. I could see using a similar alien, but not the same one.

I suppose I could make two sets, one with gnarled ears and one with pointed ears. I think most people prefer the pointed ears (myself included), and that's come to be accepted one of the typical alien traits, so it would be nice to offer it, even if that popular set also uses it. It would be nice to have the more alien look with the pointed ears, I think. I wouldn't give them normal ears, since they can get that from their human parent.

The idea with this set would be keeping things very traditionally alien (so, maybe different lip and eye shapes, but keeping them big and thin, respectively). I like the idea of people using their half-aliens as PTs, like simgaroop did, but I'd prefer the PTs to be more alien, so their children will be a good mix, rather than being even more like normal sims.

It's not supposed to be all that hard to make PTs if you have half a clue with using SimPE. The tutorials have all left my head spinning, but I'm sure I can do it, if I give it another read and take it slowly.

[madame-ugly.livejournal.com]

You only use the replacement PT's for your alien spawn? I thought you were using them along with the maxis one.

I hear you on the PT Smith thing. For some stories it might not work. But in general (which was more what I was thinking) it would be nice. I guess it depends on your version of what the aliens are doing. If you think each PT is using their OWN dna, then having blatant PT Smith kids after he's retired is a big no-no. Also, if you think of them as only pollinating (with "pure" alien dna) then you wouldn't want to have hybrids as PT's. But if the aliens are pollinating AND harvesting (and not necessarily using their own individual dna for pollinating), then you'd have more of a mix (meaning PT's made from products of abductions would make more sense).

I read the PT tutorials and was L-O-S-T. That combined with my incessant and powerful worry has kept my desire to make my own PT's at bay. I just know I'd do one little thing wrong and end up destroying my whole game. (so for now if I wanted some more dna variety, I'll just fake it with a sim in the bin being the donor)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I have been using the default PT, up to a point, but not after (Galaxy Curious was one of the last of his spawn). The reason for this will be explained eventually. PT No. 7 (I think that's his number) isn't working anymore in my story.

You're completely right about it all depending on your individual "take" on the alien's system for pollinating. Mine use their own genetics and are only breeding with pure alien genetics, so that obviously reflects in what I want to see.

For you and simgaroop, the half aliens would work. I have also considered the possibility that, in the future, there might be half-alien pollinators that would only abduct other half aliens (like what might have happened with Johnny, but not this time). It's all about maintaining that new 50-50 species with my aliens, and interbreeding them until they're a pure species.

I'm going to use the "from the bin via InSIM" method for Stella's pollinations, but I'm going to work with the fwiffo set a little, since I already have Jayne, but then switch out to my own. I've never been entirely satisfied with fwiffo's set, so I'd love to personalize.

The tutorials confuse me too, but I'm going to give it a try. I've already started working on some aliens.

[ikichi.livejournal.com]

Simgaroop was super sweet and just adjusted the fwiffo multi pts so the orginal maxis one was there, too.(the link was in Pixel's post, but I don't know if it's still up or what. She'll probably put it in her lj once I test it and get back to her). I think a 50/50 mix of mangled/pointy ears would be great. I love the classical alien features but I did the pointy ears, too.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

So she replaced one of fwiffo's with the original PT, or can you have more than 4 PTs?

I like the idea of a mix on one level, but then you have certain hair colours tied to certain ears, and I'm not sure I like that idea. I think I'd prefer two complete sets, and then they can be switched as needed.

Which post was that? I think I missed that one.

[ikichi.livejournal.com]

It's here. (I'm seriously going to pop into Riverblossom, do some breeding and quit w/o saving so I can post the results for her). I'm assuming she's ok with other people testing it out, too.

I *think* I have 5 pts, because she didn't want to replace 88 with Original Maxis (in case I had bred with her already). But the one time I used the fwiffo pts, the parent didn't show up in the tree (that may not be the case anymore since I'm up to bv).

Yea, having a set of 8 would be great for that reason- both ears with all colors.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I think you can only have four. It's my understanding that she replaced the code for No. 88 with the original PT's code. She was just telling you to keep the character file in the game.

I accidentally removed those character files after Jayne was born, so she has no parent data other than Mr. Doe. It hasn't affected her genetics, though, just her family tree. I'm not sure if it really does anything bad to your game. It seems harmless enough with Jayne.

I think I will do two sets so people can choose, and if they leave the character files in, they can switch the hacks back and forth between them, if they so desire. Or maybe I will go 50/50. For myself, I'm not sure which version I'd prefer.

[simgarooop.livejournal.com]

The PT set only has four PT's: the blond one (59), red-haired girl (14), brown-haired one (35) and the Maxis one with black hair. I included the black haired girl in case she had already created aliens in your game, because it is suggested to keep your old PT files when you exchange the hack. I currently have in my game the four fwiffo PTs (because they spawned Cosmo, Helena, Calvin and Hobbes), but I also have the new PTs I created.

And anyone is free to use that PT set of course ^^. I'm gonna put a link to it in my journal as soon as I get back home. I'm out of my city right now :).

[ikichi.livejournal.com]

Oh I was just about to email you- I made 2 sets of 7 kids in game and neither set had the original pt as a parent. (But neither had 88, thanks for clarifying that for me guys!) Dunno if it's a problem or luck, though.

[simgarooop.livejournal.com]

All right, Im gonna see what's wrong with it. I'll load my game and try the hack :).

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

That could just be luck. It is random, afterall. I'd try it once more, just to be sure.

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

That was in my journal. I am planning to take her up on her offer, too. I was thinking about this last night, and came to the same conclusion about having one of each hair color. I was also going to keep them all minty green, and all would have big eyes (though not necessarily as big as the original.) But there needs to be some variety in face shape. So many alien kids look just like the Maxis pollinator.

Those scarves could be very cool with the right textures. I like your idea with pet eyes, too. I like the pet eye replacements I have, but Lyran-like ones might be very cool! As long as kitties still have slitty pupils.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

So it was. I should have gotten in on that conversation. I like your idea about ugly default faces, and how it goes against what most people are doing with those templates, making it truly different and very useful for uglacies.

After my little dabbling with default replacement skins (that eye makeup looked so very wrong on Tank, let me tell you), I thought about how funny it would be if I could convince my SO to hand paint a set of skins to include details like under-eye circles, skin discolourations, and blackheads. He always heaps stuff like that on when he does caricatures, and it would be really funny. Nobody would download it. :P

Oh, I was talking about the non-human sim "creatures", like werewolves and plantsims, actually, but pet eyes might be cool too.

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

OH duh. That makes sense. Plantsims and werewolves (and vamps) need matching eyes! Much more than pets do.

That's a hilarious idea for skintones. The people who want "realistic" skins would scream... ironically, pimples and undereye circles are more real than slick, airbrushed perfection they want to attain. :D

I should wait till you get your set of PTs made; no reason to invent the wheel twice (except that inventing is fun!)

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

I would be totally down with the maxis-like-PT-but-with-all-four-hair-colors thing. Also the ones with interesting features. I came across a mod on MTS2 while looking for alien skins that intrigued me. I didn't d/l, because the skins would look totally out of place in my game (they would "go" more with Enalya or such like skins) but it interested me because the aliens had things like four belly buttons, etc. Things that made them not only alien, but distinctly non-human. I liked that idea.

I don't know how well that would work for mating... but it was certainly intriguing!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I like fwiffo's set, but I'd like to have some of the peculiarities that I like to see in features, like eyes that are a little wide set (I love that), and no tiny noses on males (like the blond PT has). I'd try to go with distinct facial "types", like a pointy, gaunt face with a longish chin, and a chubbier face (like the brunette PT has). Fwiffo did this with that PT set, which I like, but I'd like to tweak it to be something I'd like a little better.

Those skin details are interesting, and they'd only show up on the alien skin, I assume. I'm not sure if I'd want that or not, but it would be pretty cool. Those could be added to the Maxis alien skin, if one was skilled at texturing.

[saunasims.livejournal.com]

*All* of these things sound like stuff I'd be into. Which is to say I'd download them in a heartbeat. :P
... Any chance one of those retextures would be that nice piled on hair from the EA store? I still say it's perfect for ye generic trashy housewife, but it is a bit too nice as is. I want more of a beehive effect. *pokes at it in Bodyshop*

[meetme2theriver.livejournal.com]

Very interested in Lyran's eyes as Creature eyes, and Maxis hair retextures. Curious to see what you'll make of your PT hack as well. :)

NO HUMAN looking ALIENS!!!!!!

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

You know, I like the aliens with the severe lack of noses, but I think we need at least one alien with a HUUUUUUGE honker. I mean to the point that it takes up a large portion of the face.

Also, if you upload yours, I might download it, since I'm looking for a new poli-hack.