One year later...

[strangetomato]

Hey, I just realized that yesterday was the one year anniversary of the day I posted the prologue to Strangetown, Here we Come. If I was more on the ball, I could have made an effort to post the next update on that day, but I completely forgot about it instead. I have been making baby steps towards the next update, though, so that's good. Looking back, I remember my initial burst of activity, where I was posting a new chapter every week, and sometimes more than that (I think I even did three in one week, at one point). Of course, the chapters were much shorter then, and I was working from photos I had already shot from playing the hood Prosperity Challenge style. I still play it like that, but much more slowly, and scenes are more posed and planned out.

To celebrate the ocassion, I thought I'd share a couple of painting recolours that I created using some of those great JRO drawings by beyondheroism__ and my SO. I'm working on more of these too, so I'll eventually do a bigger download post.





Drawing of Johnny, Ripp, and Ophelia by my SO, recoloured on the mesh for "Two Dogs and an Olive" by Mixt Hupp from Nightlife (the nod to Picasso).

Download






Drawing of Johnny, Ripp, and Ophelia by beyondheroism__, recoloured on the mesh for A Stroke from Nightlife (which doesn't reference anything specific, that I know of... correct me if I'm wrong).

I love how you can still see the touch of red on the side of the canvas in this one. It makes it look like this was painted over a different painting, and I like that. It makes it seem like it was bought at a student show for a bargain (you can find some great stuff that way). The staples are a nice detail too, even if they should be on the back of the canvas.

Download






That's a little glimpse of some renovations I've been making at the Specter estate. This is, of course, Ophelia's room. The dogs love the bay window.




Just like Nervous loves his new fish tank.

You'll see more of the new look in the next update.

Comments

[tanathir.livejournal.com]

That's really an accomplishment. Happy anniversary, Strangetown, Here We Come! Just think about all the work that's gone into making it this far. Great job!

I'm not sure where would be best to ask, so
I'll just ask here. It's a huge favor and you can say no without me getting all butthurt. Um, would it be possible to get the shorter male ponytail you made? The Sim I have in mind needs it in white, but I would just have a duck fit (as my granddad used to say) if I could get all the hair colors. Of course you don't have to upload it just for lil old me.

Yeah, it's pretty lame to request custom content like this, but it never hurts to ask. :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It has been a bit of an accomplishment to stick with it for so long, hasn't it? I know there are sim stories that have been around way longer, and I'm sort of in awe at that. I'm lucky to have been able to retain my attention this long, even though it's been just hanging on by a thread at times. Even if I don't make it to where I planned to go with it, I've come this far. That's got to be worth something.

Oh, don't worry about asking. I have no problem with helping people out like that if I can (though I often forget to even respond and wander off, but that's nother issue). Unfortunately, I no longer have that cc. It was wiped out when my hard drive crashed. It was a pretty simple retexture, though... just a copy and paste job. It wouldn't be hard to do again. I could try to put together a white version for you later... or does that hair become grey instead? Hmmm... I don't know how I'd get around that. I could maybe convert the blond to black and white?

I'll take a look and see when I get some time.

[tanathir.livejournal.com]

I know the ups and downs of writing and sticking with a project, so it's a definite accomplishment to have come this far. Good job! Go throw J/R/O a party next time you play and don't even worry about setting things up for photo-taking. Enjoy it! Celebrate this anniversary!

Oh, cool. My computer can't seem to handle the programs, or I'd try my hand at CC making. I don't even know how the recolor would work - my Sim just needs white/gray available for adults. Genetically he's blond so it would work as a blond recolor too. His son has plenty of white hairstyles to choose from, I just had this story idea...well, I should refrain from spoilers. He doesn't need it for a while, so no rush on making it. Thanks a whole bunch though!

One last thought: since your Ripp is secondary Family, how much does he roll family-related wants? I don't even have Freetime and my Ripp is rolling more family type wants. Maybe it's his personality. Jut curious how he acts in others' games.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I should have done. Instead I was trying to set up a scene and getting really frustrated. Maybe I'll just reboot the game and just watch some sims get massages. For some reason, I find it really relaxing (maybe it's the satosfied sounds they make).

Yeah, even small photo editing programs take up a lot of space, don't they? I'm not sure how to bin colours yet, so I'll likely give you a hair that's found under the custom category, unless I figure the binning thing out. (Oh, and if I don't get back to you on this in a reasonable amount of time, please give me a nudge.

I haven't seen him roll too many family-type things, since he's still in uni, but he does roll wants to fall in love with people. He did that even before I gave him that secondary.

[tanathir.livejournal.com]

Have fun with the game for a while. It'll take the feeling of pressure off and you may even get your inspiration renewed! For a while I tried carefully setting up each shot to fit the plot I had in mind, but recently it's just been easier and more enjoyable to let my Sims have free will and document their hijinks. It actually causes me to think of new storylines.

Custom bin would be fine. I pick most of my Sims' hair from that bin anyway. Woo purple hair that's genetically black! Woo pink hair that's genetically brown!

My Ripp kept wanting to get a pet even when he was in Uni. He's already in love with about 4 people and he's been rolling wants to teach his roommate's kids how to walk, etc. Then he rolls wants to public woohoo, so who knows what goes on in his little pixelated mind.