Game guide:Installing custom content

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Custom content has always been a part of The Sims series, at least for the PC and Mac games in it. However, how to install it has varied from game to game, and has not always been obvious.

The Sims

In The Sims, different type of custom content are placed in different folders, depending on their file type. There is no need to do anything to the content files other than place them in the correct folders. Sub-folders are not recognized, except in the Downloads folder used for objects.

It is very useful to set Windows so that file extensions are always shown, as the extensions used by custom content files may also be associated with other programs.

The file paths given below assume a default installation to C:\Program Files .[1]

Objects normally have the extension .iff, but occasionally use .far . They are normally placed in:
C:\Program Files\Maxis\The Sims\Downloads, and may be placed in sub-folders. They may also be placed in:
C:\Program Files\Maxis\The Sims\GameData\UserObjects

Skins, for both Sims and pets, have the extensions .skn and .cmx for meshes. The textures are BMP files, and have the extension .bmp. These files are placed in:
C:\Program Files\Maxis\The Sims\GameData\Skins

  • Custom animations, which use the extensions .cfp' and .bcx.cmf, are also placed in this folder.

Roof textures are 32x32 BMP files, and have the extension .bmp. They can be distinguished from skin textures by their small size. They are placed in:
C:\Program Files\Maxis\The Sims\GameData\Roofs

Walls, including murals, have the extension .wll. They are placed in:
C:\Program Files\Maxis\The Sims\GameData\Walls

Floors have the extension .flr. They are placed in:
C:\Program Files\Maxis\The Sims\GameData\Floors

Lots are a spcial case. Their filenames take the form HouseXX.iff, where XX is their lot number. They are placed in:
C:\Program Files\Maxis\The Sims\UserDataXX\Houses
The XX is a two-digit number representing the neighborhood. For example, Neighborhood 1 is UserData01, Neighborhood 2 is UserData02, etc.

The Sims 2

In The Sims 2, custom content has been simplified. There is one main extension, .package, and one main folder, Downloads, whose location does not depend on the install location. The location of the "Downloads" folder is:
Windows XP:Documents and Settings\(Your User Account)\My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Downloads\
Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac:Users\(Your User Account)\Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Downloads\

If Nightlife or later is installed, the Downloads folder may contain sub-folders.

There is no need to do anything to the package files other than place them in the Downloads folder, or a sub-folder of it. However, it is often necessary for players to manually create the Downloads folder. When doing this, there are two things to keep in mind. One is that, as far as The Sims 2 is concerned, the name of this folder is case-sensitive. The first letter must be an upper-case "D", and all other letters must be lower-case. Also, if the base game was installed by way of a compilation, the base folder name in Documents may be the name of the compilation instead of "The Sims 2". For example, in The Sims 2: Ultimate Collection, the Downloads folder is placed under:
Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2™ Ultimate Collection\ .

Players should note that some content needs to be placed relative to the game's install folder, or relative to the folder for the latest expansion pack. For Ultimate Collection this is always
C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection\Fun with Pets\SP9\[1]

Sims2pack files

Some content for The Sims 2 if delivered in files with the extension .sims2pack . A sims2pack file is a form of archive file; the format was designed to work with an installer program<ref>This is "PackageInstaller.exe", formally the The Sims 2 Body Shop Package Installer.<ref> that is included with all versions of The Sims 2. The sims2pack format can be used for any type of content, and is the standard format for delivering lots, Sims, and custom pet breeds. This is because the installer is designed to place the lot, Sim, or breed in the proper bin.

By default, double-clicking a sims2pack file will invoke the game's installer. It will open a dialog showing the names and descriptions of all custom content files contained in the sims2pack. (A packaged lot or Sim will commonly contain custom content used by that lot or Sim.) The dialog has two buttons, "Install" and "Cancel". Clicking the Install button will install everything in the sims2pack, regardless of whether it is already present.

Note

Information concerning Ultimate Collection is taken from Game Help:Ultimate Collection FAQs at Mod The Sims.

The Sims 3

Installing custom content in The Sims 3 requires some instructions and framework. That is covered extensively here, and in linked pages.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 64-bit versions of Windows use "Program Files (x86)" for 32-bit programs.
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