New Header + New Posts + New Customer Content

MY LOCKDOWN START-UP

GOING HUNDY WITH THE SIMS 4 

It may not last and it's probably just me trying to avoid absolute boredom, but hey, look at that shiny new header. I couldn't drift from the Wonderland Tea Party theme but I thought I'd give it a refresh. 

On top of my new cc endeavours (see last post) I have also been posting on the forums as SimRomanovy - I could not for the life of me get back into my old account and SimRomanoff was taken (or did I use that in the past too?). Anyway it'll do the trick. See you out in the Simmerverse peeps. 

Titanic Jump Dress for The Sims 4 by SR

ROSE'S TITANIC JUMP DRESS 
CUSTOM CONTENT EVENING DRESS - ROSE'S DRESS FROM THE FILM TITANIC - SIMS 4 CC

DOWNLOAD .PACKAGE FILE HERE

Super stoked with how this turned out. Went hundy on it and got it done. I think it looks great and is at least at the same level as my last (now lost) version of this dress years ago. 

Let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas for other edits. 

Below are not available yet, just some previews. 

A little preview some other Titanic outfits I am working on. It's fairly amateurish work so I am still working out some kinks. 

Getting Back Into Custom Content

CUSTOM CONTENTING IT UP 

GETTING BACK IN THE GROVE

So I used to make CC for the Sims. One of the dresses I made was based on Rose's dress from Titanic. Anyway I went to go download it and the link is dead! And I don't have the originals anymore! 

So I have decided to try my hand at it again - check out some initial progress below. not as good as my former work but for a rusty automaton like me I'm pretty happy. 

This didn't involve actually editing the model (I used to do that but heck idek where to begin now) so it it's all texture work. Wish me luck friends. The hope is to do a full Titanic dress collection and then maybe even do a Titanic film recreation. 

Truth be told I'll probably give up - especially once lock-down ends. Ón the subject of new initiatives, I may have a new job prospect irl, well its more a self-employed thing. Don't worry it's no pyramid scheme or essential oils MLM. I don't want to count my chickens but its something I have tried my hand at before and I have some savings coming off its term that I can use as startup. My mother ran a business before she retired and my brother runs his own business so I have some expertise to call on with start-up. I'll give more details once its actually happening. 

I'm such a dreamer though, so many plans never work out but here's hoping. It's kinda become possible only because my OE travel plans are gonna be on hold for at least a year due to the Covid-19 situation. But when one door closes another opens. 

Inspired to Play: University Issues!

PLAYING THE SIMS
HOW DO I EVEN PLAY THIS GAME AGAIN?

So last night I started playing the Sims for the first time since February when tiny living came out. This is only two months - I've gone longer without playing. But this time it almost seemed like a new game. To help keep the novelty I didn't use "need/motive" cheats and actually play the game proper, wow does it take a lot to keep sims happy. 

Going to University with 4 classes was a huge mistake! Even worse I decided to go to University after building my Sim a beautiful detailed apartment. Why is this a mistake? Because when I came home the place was empty (doing some research has shown me that perhaps I accidentally "took" all the furniture with me or sold it as it wasn't in my storage). Apartments are a bother to save the plans of too so I never saved it to my library. I also don't have a save from before I went to Uni so it meant building from scratch again.

Anyway take a look at the finished product. 

Open plan kitchen/living/dining is perfect for apartments but In almost every build I do this. I just prefer the flow/feel of it. The living room space was the most awkward, despite having the window it still felt like a "dark corridor" space. In the end floor to ceiling mirrors as a feature wall made it seem a lot more spacious. 

I was so happy with how the little butlers pantry worked out. 

 I do love how much clutter the game has now. The stuff/game/expansion packs are what keeps me motivated to play for the novelty factor but I must admit the things I use most more than any features are all the "clutter" items to make a place feel lived in. 

Something new is putting the backpack on the bad as well as clutter on the chair. In my room in real life any free surface is always being used (my bed, my desk, my chair). I wanted to emulate this in game and using "bb.moveobjects" if you put an item on a table, when you go to move it, the object will float at the table height. This means if you use the right height surface you can move objects and rest them on "non-surface" objects like beds and chairs. 

I must say as much as I loved holiday events when they first came out, they have gotten rather tedious. It feels like there's a Holiday every day and when your at Uni, you cannot place the holiday objects which is really annoying bc it mean one holiday objective is always incomplete. 

Anyway my current Sim by the name of Owen, a psychology student, has a goal to get a partner as his New Years Resolution. Given that he failed one of his classes last term despite doing nothing but eat sleep and study I doubt he can afford time for a relationship. He can barely afford to go to the common rooms for food and relies on his roommates to order pizza or magically cook food in the non-existent dorm kitchen. 

Looking well pleased with himself I think. 


EDIT:

Getting mentioned by the Mares Nest brings back the memories. I recall being absolutely thrilled to be featured and trying to explain to real life friends how there was this blog that covered news of the online sims world. Back when I was heavily involved and making machinima and even dabbling in CC creation. 

Those were the days. I'm glad TMN is still going strong at least. I wish I still had my old videos and screenshots. It seems sad to say but my life really peaked back then. I've become such a basic adult nowadays. And this lock down has changed my plans - I've had to cancel travel plans and postpone moving (planning a 2 year OE basing myself in the UK) so now that's on the back-burner for the foreseeable future I'm having to face the sad reality that my ordinary life is distinctly ordinary (I can hear my first world privilege rising).

Going back to ParaLives, I agree with TMN that it does seem a worry that the ParaPeople (or w/e they are) haven't been revealed yet. But I shall hope blindly - when I look at all the Sims games I have bought over the years its really been more of a subscription service than a "pay once and play" game - so in many ways I am vulnerable to any suggestion of a better way. 

PARALIVES: EA Loses the Monopoly

PARALIVES

The Sims gets competition 

Just look at this screenshot - yes it’s from a game only in the alpha stages of development and it could be years before we see a full game release but isn’t it just stunning. 

A beautiful tease from the upcoming game ParaLives

Yes, this is a real game, no it is not the sims. Paralives is the kind of game all simmers want but cannot have because no one has ever gone into competition with EA when it comes to life simulation. Instead we let EA drain our pockets for continually lower quality games. They had us buying the same things on repeat, and they didn’t even have to give us the features we wanted but we kept coming back. Why? Because we had no choice. If we wanted a life and build simulation game Sims was all that was on offer. And to be honest Sims was not all bad, it gave us a space for our creativity to thrive. But the Sims got lazy, a natural byproduct of unchallenged monopoly. 

The promise of base game content rich gaming vs piece meal cash cow expansions

ParaLives looks to change the status quo - and I’m not saying this signals the death of Sims. If EA has any sense it’ll turn its vision towards the Sims 5 - not simply looking at it as a cash cow to be used to drain the dollars fork the fan base, but as the game that is going head to head with s game that is promising to be a game-changer. 

Build and customisation previews promise to outdo The Sims with an effortless style

ParaLives makes for gorgeous (much needed) competition and the game has a lot of promise. Will this game be he wind that topples the tired Sims empire? Or will it be the game that forges an even better Sims Game in the intense heat of competition? 

Bob Dylan and Cass Elliot

More than likely no one will read this, whose fault is that? Mine.

I have lost touch with everyone, to the point where I was in the same town as another one of my closest Simming friends from back in the day and yet through my own guilt over losing touch I didn't reach out to meet up (despite our promises years ago to one day meet in person)

I played the Sims again last night for the first time since like March. 

Times have firmly changed, the game doesn't draw me in anymore, perhaps its not so much the times that have changed, rather the change has been in me. (Although Bob Dylan did say the times they are a-changing and who dares disagree with Mr. Dylan)

So I did sell my house and quit my job at the Bank. I went on the world tour that I had been planning. I left in April and have just finished up now. 6 months in total. My EU visa extension was declined in the end for a variety of reasons but for 3 months I was able to work with the refugees as intended. 

I am now studying law, however I don't think I have the dedication to become a full lawyer. The initial intention is to become a Legal Executive and get work in Community Law. Apparently what happens is, at first, everyone wants to work in Community Law in order to help people but that you end up selling your soul to corporate law firms. Time shall tell. 

I am feeling really positive about where I am now, something that could not be said for me when I was at the bank. I have drawn inspiration from the song: Make Your Own Kinda Music, made famous by Cass Elliot. I shall be singing at the top of my lungs, metaphorically speaking (mercifully), even if no one else is singing along.

The big thing I am grappling with is how to be a good friend without losing sight of my own aspirations. Or perhaps sometimes to grow, means also to grow apart? Some people never leave the flowerpot on the doorstep, and that's okay, but the flowerpot just isn't enough for me anymore. 

The Ides of March

This morning when I sat down to my breakfast I started a crossword, my first clue being:

“The —— of March, a fateful day (4)”

The answer was Ides, meaning the 15th of March, which is today’s date. It refers though to the famous day in history on which Julius Caesar was assasinated.

The clue though was to haunt me later that day, for today in New Zealand history, March 15th joined rank among the darkest days in living memory. A fateful day indeed.

New Zealand has experienced its first mass terror attack. While shootings are not unheard of here they are uncommon, and the modern version of terrorism in this post 9/11 world has never touched our shores until now.

At this point in time reports say that 49 people have died in a coordinated terror attack on two mosques in the city of Christchurch. The shootings occurred near Hagley Park, although not living in Christchurch now I do have family there and in fact my mother is from Sumner in Christchurch. On times we’ve visited I remember visiting Hagley Park, and to now hear its name connected with terrorism seems so otherworldly.

At dinner this evening the news of the attacks dominated conversation. We were at a restaurant and I overheard someone at another table say:

“New Zealand has lost its innocence”

Truly this expresses how I feel. The shores of New Zealand seem so disntcly seperate from the major cares of the world. We live in something of a bubble where although the news distresses us it doesn’t directly affect us. But now the fairytale is over and these islands have been dragged into the brutal reality of the modern world. 

To my mind New Zealand has always felt like the last little corner of the world. A little place where it was ordained that terror shall never make landfall, this illusion has been wiped away and with it has gone that ignorant hopefulness for which sanctuary is always to blame.

All those affected by the tragedy directly are in my prayers. And may the morning bring with it some version of courage, for we here will wake up to a New Zealand that does not resemble the one we knew yesterday.

Craziest Update So Far

First order of business: If there is anyone who still reads this I must apologise because I owe my old simming pals more than an annual check in. (Its actually been two years but lets not make a thing of it)

Second even if you do read this I doubt I have any right to any of your attention because its been approximately 2 years since I last played the sims. I tried to get back on the wagon but it just never happened. I'm officially a boring old person. 

I have come on here, drawn in by my sense of nostalgia but also a desire let everyone know I am still alive.

So in news, I bought a house exactly one year ago. Renovations are in full swing at present and as of today I have no bathroom but rather an empty shell where soon a new bathroom shall stand. Everything has been kicked into high gear because [trumpet sound] I am selling my house and moving overseas. 

I have officially given notice at the bank to say that I am finishing up at the end of April. From there I am heading off to the USA for a month long holiday. In June I will be popping back to NZ (if the house hasn't gone to market by then) in order to get the house sold (which will free up some much needed capital), after which I am off to Europe, specifically the south coast of Sicily. 

I am very fortunate to have family connections in Italy which really has helped make into reality plans which otherwise would have remained dreams. The goal is to spend one year in Sicily using it as a base for seeing the rest of Europe (as my visa* will allow). While in Sicily I will be doing volunteer work with refugees (Sicily is one of the places where many refugees are sent after being taken in by Italy) and my sister and her husband have already spent two months in Sicily working with the refugees and apparently they are in need of as many hands as can be spared so off I go. 

After the year is up I will likely have run out of my on-call savings completely and will return to NZ. Depending on how it goes I will either pursue my next plans from there or try and find work in Sicily and return (visa* dependant of course). 

Who knows what the future may hold beyond the plans already laid, nevertheless I am currently of the mind that life is an adventure and opportunities are to be grasped as often and as eagerly as circumstances allow. 

I can't promise to make frequent updates but I do hope I can take your best wishes with me as I go.

Your Internet Friend,

SR

*Getting a visa for Italy has been a Herculean task and is still not yet over. The bureaucracy is unfathomable and making headway is difficult when my time is already stretched between work and getting the house done and trying to still have a life. I have family in Cumbria (in England) which is actually where my family is from originally. I do hope to go and visit them but I have yet to figure out what effect, if any, that Brexit will have on the whole visa situation. The whole visa thing is honestly a headache for me even to consider and I am ignoring it to the best of my ability while also cognisant of the fact that I am utterly reliant on getting a visa for these plans to come through. There is light at the end however in that at least for the first year I appear to have almost everything in place. 

Word to the Wise - have a European passport from birth and save yourself the hassles that I have had. 

A Wild Few Months

So I know I've done it again, reappeared for a few seconds and then vanished. Again it's been work. I won't bore you with the details but I've just left a job and now I've got a new one in the banking sector, where I always wanted to be. So now I'm a banking consultant which basically means I do things like home leanding and personal loans etc. so that's exciting. Sorry for the absences and also I must say I don't think things are likely to improve as I'll be living in two different cities now. But I'll pop in as much as I can.

Maccas and Murder

Currently enjoying a Sausage and Egg McMuffin from Maccas while I prepare for the events of the weekend. Unfortunately no Simming for me. I've got a murder to plan.

Hosting my second annual murder mystery party. I don't buy those pre-made ox ones I just write my own. That way I can personalise the characters to my friends. Ah such fun! Killing ones friends! It's just like sims, you give them names, tell them what to wear, you develop their personalities and then you decide how to kill them! Brilliant. 

SR

Little House Boat - Speed Build

Click below to see my relaunch into SimTube! Yup it's a Speed Build

Simming Again... At Last!

Just Keep Simming...

Okay Simmerverse, Come at Me! Being that I played the Sims 3 for so long and that even after getting Sims 4 some time ago I still kept playing 3 it is quite difficult to adjust. I always revert back to my Sims 3 ways. Especially is this true when in build mode. I am a builder at heart when it comes to the Sims, let me tell you why:

In her youth my sister played with her dolls in her beautiful dollhouse, it looked like a miniature colonial mansion except that the entire facade of the house opened up. It had working lights and everything. Now whilst my sister loved her dolls, I loved the house. It fascinated me. Of course I couldn't play with it, it was my sisters and therefore off limits, but on her generous days I was allowed to look at it. I remember questioning the practicality of a house that lacked any purposeful hallways. You had to walk through the dining room to get to the bedroom. Not very sensible, but of course the nature of such doll's houses is impracticality. 

Another hobby was that I would take cardboard and sellotape and make small houses with working doors. Perfecting a sliding door from card was my ultimate triumph.Sellotape for glass. Red crayola for brickwork. Once in high school for a project I made an entire Roman Bath from my sisters GHD hair straightener's box (Unfortunately I relied too heavily on the build and not enough on the essay and was sadly marked down). Given this childhood penchant it seems sad that I didn't pursue the idea of becoming an architect. 

Even further to this theme my mother made much of her money flipping houses. Sarah Beeny's property ladder was a staple of our TV viewing diet. We thought ourselves very clever when we predicted which design flaws Sarah would single out. Thus my house design passions were reinforced again. 

Thus Sims has proven to be the ultimate outlet for such passions. I can build and dream and create or recreate. Project One: Downton Abbey a.k.a. Highclere Castle. 

The great tragedy of Sims 4 is the limitations put upon the build system. While some features are wonderful I shall always miss CAST. Now one must simply make do with the presented colour options. Also it feels like its much easier to build something stock standard, but far harder to build something individual, something quirky. While not impossible it will be my challenge to learn the work arounds that allow creativity to flow. So while I continue with this learning experience, wish me luck, for I shall need it. 

New blog? Maybe not.

To Blog or Not To Blog

That is the question. 

You see I'm going through something of a Simming rebirth and I'm just wondering if this blog is worth keeping or if I should start again? Same question for my YouTube account.

As far as YouTube is concerned my content on there is currently not that great, I remember thinking it was at the time but now I've really had a change of heart. So I'm tempted to rebrand it and delete all my content and just start again. 

Back to the blogging though, I considered starting a new one but then it's so hard to get established and I was lucky that this one even was popular for as long as it was. And although it's lost its spark I think this one is worth keeping, or at least it's not worth starting a new one. 

Is anyone even reading this anymore, I think not, but I'm grateful for a place to articulate my thought process. 

Guess What I'm Playing?

Look who is actually playing this game again?

Sorry for the poor photography I just snapped it on my iPad. By the way how does blogger not have an app? It's so clunky to type up posts on this thing. Meanwhile this isn't my new computer just playing it on the laptop ugh it's a nightmare. So much lag. 

My New Computer

Still a few weeks before I get it as I need to travel to pick it up but here's the rundown:

ATX case with 2 x 120mm fans
500watt FSP Hydro PSU
Gigabyte B150M Motherboard
Intel Core I7 7700 CPU, 3.6ghz x 4, 4.2ghz turbo, Hyperthreading
16gb Kingston Hyper X 2400mhz DDR4 Ram
Geforce GTX1070 8gb DDR5 Graphics Card
1tb SATA3 Hard Drive
240gb SSD
24" Viewsonic 1ms response, Full HD LED monitor

Not the most ferocious beast out there but a pretty decent system. Can't wait to take it for a drive.

A Simsplanation

Dear Reader,

If it seems to have been a while since my last post you'd be right, and if it also seems to be an eternity since I posted any content actually worth reading you'd be two for two.

The primary reason is I don't really game anymore. My laptop isn't really for gaming and my gaming computer has been outdated for a while now, haven't even turned it on for the last few months. Everything I do on my phone or tablet these days. Real life has been pretty packed. Work is crazy, I do administration for British Petroleum better known by its initials BP. Socially things have been pretty good, in recent years I've really come into my own. Last November I hosted a great Gatsby themed ball which I consider among my greater social achievements.

The Gatsby Ball November 2016

But all of this adds to a life that has little room for blogging and gaming. But that is all set to change!

I'm currently having a new gaming system built, nothing too insane but still a fairly powerful beast. Once it's arrived I plan on diving right back in. I have in mind to get back into building, always my favourite part of Simming. I have already done some CC for Sims 4 but I don't think that's the path for me really, same with machinima, I did one in Sims 4 but it's not really what I want to do. I'm planning on doing speed building videos and seeing if anyone is much interested, I may start a new YouTube channel and maybe even eventually a new blog, While the SimRomanov days were fun and I had moderate success I think I've let it die somewhat and it's time to break with the past and start a new, though don't hold me to this I may change my mind. Whether or not my future Simming endeavours prove successful though at least I'll have some fun. 

Happy Simming,

SR

P.S. So I've spent the last little while trying to catch up with the Sims world via old TMN (which by the way is so reassuring to see is still going and still looks the same, Lady Grantham will be pleased) 

I can't help but smile to know that MadameLee is still around to provide a good laugh. What a Simblr  or a Dumblr is I couldn't tell you. I feel like an old man who doesn't know where the start button is. Wish me luck, I'm sure I'll get there.

If anyone actually reads this, bless your little cottonsocks.

It's Been Too Long

I forgot my email.
It is sim_romanov.
But it's been so long I forgot the underscore.
The underscore!
I'm also very tired so this post is gonna be really badly formatted, but it's kinda on purpose; in the same way that hispters have those Hercule Poirot moustaches.

Life has been somewhat demanding of late, I'm doing fine, just growing tired of people trying to be my mentor or role model. I currently have two people trying to each take me under their idiomatic wing. Their main goal seems to be criticising my decisions and belittling my achievements. Newsflash: "You could do better" is among the many things one should never say when trying to encourage someone.

A few of you may know I enjoy writing fictional stories and would love to be a writer (although you probably can't tell from my apparently poor understanding of the English language). I tell you this so you understand how upset I was when told "writing stories is a waste of time". Also I have apparently been giving too much priority to my social life. Being that only a few years ago I can recall crying alone in my bedroom because I felt I had no friends, being criticised for being too social cam as a complete surprise. I don't even think I'm doing that poorly in life at the moment so the crtisicm I've been getting has really hit me. I think I need these people out of my life but it can be quite difficult to remove people, especially when they seem to have made you their pet project.

In other news winter is fast approaching and it is my goal to try skiing this year. Last year we moved to a new town and now I'm very close to the mountain so I'm determined to take full advantage this winter season.

I've also decided to go Paleo again because my eating choices of late have been less than sensible. I actually enjoy the Paleo diet, it is really a matter of preparation for me. As long as I set aside the time to plan and make my meals it really goes quite well. Too often I fall victim to the convenience of the local fish and chip shop 😝

Now I'm at the end of my post and I realise that I started formatting it properly even though I said I wouldn't. Such inconsistency won't be tolerated!

Do Svidanya!
SR

QUEEN ELIZABETH:

She's been ruling for like ages now, longer than old Victoria even, and today she celebrates being the longest ruling monarch. Many people are thanking her for her years of service, but what was her service? What is her end game? 

Queen Elizabeth

Doing Whatever it takes to keep Charles off the throne!

And in case you think Charles wouldn't look so bad on your bank notes (here in NZ we still have the monarch on our coins and notes) let me remind you this lady will be queen consort...

But hey with Camilla as Queen consort there's a chance India will bring itself back into the empire and make her Empress...considering India holds her as a sacred creature.

400k? Not Bad Eh?

Milestones, Musicians, and Musings

And my parents said I'd amount to nothing. I sure proved them wrong! Aha. I kid, I kid. But really I'm proud, I know it's mostly down to my custom content as opposed to the words I write, but still who would have thought I'd have a blog in the simmersphere that could weather my storms of inactivity. 

In other news Josh Groban is coming in April which is exciting. I hope to go, however none of my friends are into him, or rather none of them are ino him enough to fork out the hundreds of dollars it will cost to get tickets, accommodation, and flights to where he is playing. My friends' mothers however are keen so that might be a thing. 

I've taken up letter writing. Just between the odd friend from out of town. It's only in its infancy at the moment but I remain postive as to its future. One of these friends quoted to me in a letter the words of Lord Byron (that's right, I have classy friends who quote Lord Byron [removes pocket watch from waistcoat pocket to check the time]). Anyway here is the quote:

“Letter writing is the only device combining solitude with good company.”

A beautiful, though perhaps outdated notion. There's something so heartwarming about a hand written letter. Or perhaps that's just what years of period drama has conditioned me to think. (Downton Abbey Season 6. My body is ready). I'm in a sappy mood at the moment though. (Danny Boy on Spotify, no further explanation required).

My fiction stories come along at the snail's pace to which their author has limited them. Nothing much more to say on that front except that I still remain positive that I shall one day be favourite to win the Katherine Mansfield award only to be snubbed in favour of a more veteran author and continue to consider myself robbed until my dying breath.

I spent Friday volunteering down at a stall for the local cancer society. It was Daffodil Day, a day in New Zealand (spring flowers are out in NZ this time of year) for the raising of funds for the society. My sister was in charge of organising the stall, which raised some three thousand dollars. It was a nice way for me to get involved in my new community as I've only been in this town for three months. It's a lovely little town of about 4000 people, most of whom are farmers and live a million miles from the actual township. It's the sort of place where everyone knows everyone. Truly charming. Think Agatha Christie's Saint Mary Mead sans murder. 

I'm in love with the slower pace my life has taken of late; letter writing, board games at the weekend, baking a cake for a sick neighbour. Don't be fooled though. I've still got one foot out the 21st century. But that part of my life has been stressing me out no end. Age 20 and I'm already prepared to pack it all in in favour of a more Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall life in a dinky cottage fifty miles from the nearest traffic light. 

Anyway that's enough of my rambling. Good morning, Good day, Good evening and Good Night! Off to bed I go!

I've made a Sims 4 Machinima! Back in business!

It's a Sims 4 Ma, Ma, Machinima!

That's right guys I'm pretty chuffed that I've done it. I suppose its generic and not at all my best work but its my first Sims 4 Machinima which is a feat considering I didn't think that would happen ever. This is also my first machinima in about 3 years.

It's to the song Everything Has Changed by T-Swift and Ed Sheeran. The simple story follows the blossoming romance of a Florist and a Baker who runs the business next door. Check it out below.