Apartment Life - The Brokes

[strangetomato]

I managed to get AL to work for me, but it involved uninstalling the game and starting over (I was getting some crazy graphics error, so I reformatted everything again - a bit extreme maybe, but it worked). Right now I'm just running AL and the basegame and that works, so I might add everything back in now and see how that goes. I think the problem is basically that this game is beyond the capabilities of my PC. I don't have the 2.4 GHz CPU that they reccommend for Vista, so I'm not sure what effect that has on the game and the computer. *crosses fingers*

Anyway, the point of this post was not to talk about technical things (and how I'm probably toasting my PC), but to show you something that I've been enjoying about this EP: the trailer park apartment complex. It's so perfect for the Brokes. I moved them out of their original trailer and into this apartment (which I added across the street from their original place). I figured that they'd move into an even cheaper place after Skip died. It would make sense.





Here they are, moving in. The landlord looks an awful lot like Dustin. Could he be his real father? Brandi will probably end up finding comfort in him as a replacement Skip, either way (even though they did fight-argue within their first five minutes of talking).




I love this so much. I was worried for a moment that teens wouldn't be able to use the playground (the adults can't), but they can. I'm so relieved. If I know anything about teens, it's that they love hanging out at the playground (I sure did). I wish they had an animation for just hanging out on the equipment, though. I would love to see a bunch of teens just hanging out there, smoking.

See the llama rider things? I was so PUMPED when I saw those. :D I get a little more excited with every llama detail they add.




Dustin helps Beau on to have a ride. (Toddlers can only interact with this item in the playground, and they need help - makes sense.)








The cuteness, it burns.

(Way to leave him unattended, Dustin. He fell off, by the way. o_O)




I also added this Pleasantview condo complex. It fits right in with that side of town.

I love all the new interactions too. If all goes well, I'll probably post about them later.



 

Comments

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

This ep might pull me into playing again! It looks awesome in so many ways. Good call on moving the Brokes, that does make sense.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

It's great. It really completes the whole experience for me (I just hope I can run all the EPs at once *crosses fingers* - otherwise I'll have to pick and choose... and restart Strangetown).

If anything, this EP overwhelms me with options.

The old Broke "trailer" was never really quite right, but the new trailers has wheels and everything. :)

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was more like a double-wide, or prefab house. I've always wondered why they didn't do actual trailers.

I hope you don't have to pick and choose. :( *crosses fingers too*

[simplode.livejournal.com]

That does look cute! I agree, the trailer apartments make more sense for the Brokes, especially since their house was always more "house" than "trailer" to me. I think I shall explore some new apartments today! (Hope you're feeling better.)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I do feel slightly better, but it's a lingering annoyance. Thankfully, there's no work today. I'd love to actually DO something for Labour Day weekend (I was supposed to go to a wedding, but I was too sick), but the time to rest is much needed.

I totally agree. They needed an actual trailer park. It's perfect. I might do a little flashback one-shot with Beau and Lucy to play around with it some more.

[simplode.livejournal.com]

Hee! I totally copied you followed your example and moved the Brokes to the trailer park and they're doing fabulously! The 2-bedroom is actually better for them than the house they did have and since they had all their stuff with them it resulted in an upgrade all around! Brandi used the Humble computer to find herself a job in the police dept. and is on her way to being Captain Hero! W00t!

And for the first time ever, Brandi's third son Stephen (in my game) has turned out to be Stephanie! They've never had a girl in the family. This should be interesting!

Thanks for the inspiration!

[meetme2theriver.livejournal.com]

That's so cute, with Dustin and Beau! :) I'm eager to try out AL too... but we're waiting for two things: 1. hack updates and 2. Our new computer! It's got a 2.4 GHz Quad core, 4GB RAM and Vista 64-bits. Should be good. *excited*

I love that condo thing, is it a premade building or did you make it yourself?

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they're cuties. :D

I'm a little lost without the hacks, I admit, but I'm going to just deal for now. I expect the MATY stuff will get updated pretty soon. I already have the critical fixes. I'm pretty out of it with the story lately, so I think I can wait on the SimPE and InSIM. In fact, not having them at all will help to make me more interested in doing the story, because I'm contrary like that.

I'm drooling over a new computer right now that has a 2.5 GHz Quad core, 8GB RAM (!!!), and comes with a NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT graphics card. It's expensive as all hell (of course), but I could probably swing it. It's not like I spend money on much else. Still, it's a bit much, so I'm determined to wait for a sale. It would be nice to have something like that when Sims 3 comes out. Boxing Day sales sounds like a good bet, and it could be the best Christmas gift ever.

The condo is premade. Very Pleasantview. (It even has Pleasant in the title of it.)

[x-illegal-x.livejournal.com]

:D :D I love how teens can use the playground equipment! I know I was just at a playground the other day. That's so cool!

This looks like a lot of fun!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I spent a lot of time in playgrounds as a teen, just hanging out. Or sometimes we'd play spotlight. It was fun. A hell of a lot better than the other things we'd get up to. ;)

So far it seems like a great EP. *nods*

[ikichi.livejournal.com]

I love that Beau fell off when Dustin walked away. :D

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I didn't get a pic of it, but I'll try to see if it happens again. Luckily, I don't think he landed on his head.

(Man, that reminds me of an unfortunate day with my cousin's kid when she was a toddler. She launched herself off the couch, headfirst into the floor. On my watch. Eeeep. It's all part of the rich tapestry of why people think I'm bad with babies. As if the uncomfortable/bored look on my face wasn't enough. :P)

[madame-ugly.livejournal.com]

I love seeing new EP spam. It's like a big infomercial!

The new interactions look really cute (but I wanted to see Beau falling off the toy--why do you deny me the joy of children nearly hurting themselves?)

OK, I have to admit it right now. When I saw the pic of Dustin helping Beau (where he's standing behind Beau and cupping his head) I thought "oh, that'd be a great blow job animation". SHAME ON ME, I know, but I thought it. (NOT with children, mind you, adults, consenting adults. . .jeez, what is wrong with me?)

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

/drive by commenting.

I thought "oh, that'd be a great blow job animation".

I laughed SO hard. Thank you. :]

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad to deliver some content that's useful to you.

I'll try to get a shot of the fall. It was cute. I wasn't quick enough the first time to grab a shot.

Always with the blow jobs. *snort* I'm not surprised. (And I agree. You could really get that to work if you combined it with the right kneeling animation.)

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

LOL... blowjob.

You know I'm always up for new animations that can be made dirty.

*checks picture again*

Yep... that could totally work. It might be too low for the "on knees" animation from the model hack (for the other "giving" sim) but heck... even sitting crosslegged would work for giving a BJ. Whatever's the most comfortable. ;)

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha, teens using playground equipment is great. It's something I'd see sim teenagers do, I mean they play with FRIDGES. (My first sim to do that was Ripp Grunt...I remember thinking he was an adult when I played them for the first time..not sure why. /random thought)

I hope the game will run fine with all EPs, I have Vista, too and my processor hasn't been "good" since FreeTime, though I haven't had any problems(no lag, I still have pretty good graphics and fish..)

You make me want to get this EP so bad. I'm getting all nervous for those "EP Review" updates, because I'm sure if I see one, I'd run all the way to Circuit City and buy AL. XD

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I saw Ripp doing that when I reinstalled this time. :D It's because he starts the game with his aspiration meter slightly in the red (which makes sense). The fridge swing is considered a teen immaturity behaviour, which they do when aspiration is low.

(On the same note, I think Ripp's low aspiration is also meant to encourage the player to call up Ophelia and launch that love triangle. It's so suggested by the game.)

I've been getting some lag with the last few EPs. The graphics are not a problem... it's just the processing speed, I think.

I feel the same way about preview posts like that. I'm glad to actually have the new EP when it comes out for once. It helped to cheer me up (well, not all the tech. problems, but they seem to be "resolved" for now. *crosses fingers again*

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

That trailer park is PERFECT for the Brokes! Don't you just love the little wheels on the "trailers"?? Those made me laugh so hard when I first saw them. I know they're only decorative but still... it's the details that make it worthwhile, lol!

I haven't seen the toddlers play on the llamas yet. It looks so cute! Bad Dustin for letting little Beau fall! For shame! (Although I would have loved to see it, lol!)

I'm glad you were able to get it running, but hopefully it won't be at the cost of your other EP's. I agree there is some sort of a feeling of freedom in restarting a neighborhood though.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I haven't looked closely enough to notice that they were decorative wheels. That makes more sense than having a build tool just for trailers. There are a lot of great decorative things in this EP.

I need to try out the other new toddler things too. I want to see the "huggle". :)

Starting over would be a bit of a pain, but it would be nice to simplify a few things. I actually have very little interest in playing Strangetown in a different way anymore. I've invested so much time in this version, it's the only one that really works for me anymore. I can't just play and not think that way, ya know?

Oh, but good news. I just finished installing everything, and it works. :D That's a relief.

[cambritariatale.livejournal.com]

I'm still amazed that AL came out so quickly. Us Mac users don't even have FT yet... and by the looks of it, it's not going to be any time soon, either. *sigh* I'm so jealous.

Hope you're feeling better... and you get your computer woes figured out soon. =)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I can't believe how bad they are for releasing this for Mac in a timely manner. That's awful, and just so inconsiderate of them. I hope you get those releases soon.

Thank you. I'm starting to feel a little better. The computer thing worked itself out, thankfully.

[euphoricapathy.livejournal.com]

AL looks like a great EP. I'm waiting to get it for a little longer, though, as I already have six EPs on a laptop with Vista.

I found your story earlier this summer and read it all in a few days. It's fantastic! I've added you, by the way, hope you don't mind.

[franwi.livejournal.com]

Aw, I just noticed this post. SO CUTE!! Oh goodness I didn't know toddlers could fall off the lamas, poor tykes. I love that you moved the Brokes into that trailer park. Awesome. I started out playing a couple at a trailer park in Belladonna Cove, thinking it would be the seedier side of things - but everything was so pleasant and the landlord was great. Then I moved a sim into the high-end hill district. Her landlord had that HATE HATE GRRR! face when he met her, and she spent the first night stomping on roaches. She's the one who got her baby locked in someone else's apartment. :/

[80sfiend.livejournal.com]

Aww so cute! I'm glad I got it! :D I can't wait to install it...but is Insim updated for it yet?