Sunday, September 7, 2008

why do i keep forgetting?!

I planned to do a screenshot entry on The Sims 2 Apartment Life (AL), but I just keep forgetting to do it!

Anyway. I'll try to remember.

Ditch that last disparaging post about AL. AL is turning out pretty awesome after all. Of course awesome in my opinion isn't always awesome in yours, but I'm pretty sure we are all entitled to write about what we think is awesome. So.

Some snippets here and there, unsupported due to lack of pictures:

1. Of course the expansion pack lives up to its name, and rightly so! Before this EP I already enjoyed refurbishing tiny spaces and making small dwellings efficiently livable and aesthetically pleasing. This EP takes that to the skies! The first apartment I built is a block of studio apartments, and I really had fun trying to pack a living room, a dining room, a study, a kitchen and a bedroom all in one 6X7 room (of which 2X4 is used for the bathroom). And because I'd love to turn this block into a residential area for starving artists who are just that little bit richer to get an apartment, but nothing much left to properly refurbish it, I downloaded tons of 'trashed' custom content — tiles with mildew and scum, dirty, peeling paint, tons of clutter, tiny antique TV and radio, even an old mattress made into a bed for the truly destitute and a suitcase made into a closet for those who don't have the money to buy a wardrobe or more clothes to populate one.

2. Objects, objects, objects; Simmers like me can never get enough objects for the game. I wasn't so much into the themed sets as most of them look rather exaggerated and stereotypical, but the ones I truly love and appreciate: spiral staircases, elevators (I know it already came with Open For Business EP but in AL they added two more, one of which is the very cool trashed elevator, like the sort you'd see in a super old building circa 1960), the open mic where Sims can do stand-up comedy, sing or recite poetry, the breakdancer mat, the human statue pedestal (where Sims can perform those weird silver statue things in parks) and the children's playground set, which is what I've been longing for since the base game-only era way back in 2004.
UPDATE: Here are a couple of screenshots on a new object, the mirror cabinet that lets you brush your teeth and wash your face. I personally think the groping-for-tap bit was cute.

Soaping up.

Groping for the damned tap!

Over-the-shoulder shot!

3. The new interactions are just wonderful. Not at all useless like some of those added in older EPs (University's School Cheer interaction... *rolls eyes* I can actually memorise it in Simlish by now because cheerleaders and team mascots kept gatecrashing my Sims' dorms every 3 minutes to do their stupid cheer.) Some cool AL interactions I can think of are:

The Gestures, especially the Tough Handshake and Fake Out. The Tough Handshake, in particular, reminds me of bikers, Miami Ink and rock stars so I always make my tester Sims, the Gallagher siblings, do it when they greet others. It just looks so cool.

Cuddle Under Stars is so sweet and romantic. Basically what Seth Gallagher did to his neighbour/lover Kaylynn was to take her out to the empty field downstairs of the block, and they both lie down in each others' arms and just stargaze. Too sweet. Next mission is to make a gay couple do it! That'll be even sweeter.

This one is autonomous, i.e. your Sims will do it at will and it's not for the player to command: Cuddle In Bed. No it's not the existing one in the game where they Cuddle in bed while Relaxing; they actually Cuddle before waking up together in the morning! They just sort of stir a little... look into each others' eyes... lie in each others' arms for a few good minutes before parting and waking up. It's something small and perhaps too mushy for most people's liking, but for a romance enthusiast like me... it's just love.
UPDATE:

Toddler Peek-A-Boo: Two words: Too cute.

More to be explored as I haven't played any ages other than Adult and Toddler.

4. At first I thought the clothes were of poor taste — until I realised how nice they look on Sims of other ages after some creators on MTS2 converted some meshes for other ages, or how much of an improvement it is after they modify the meshes. For instance, I was thoroughly disgusted by the heels they put in the sweater dress with leggings mesh — WORST FASHION FAUX PAS EVER. But an MTS2 creator modified the mesh and put knee-high boots in place of the heels, and now the dress looks fabulous. Others include the Adult Male rock star outfit for Teen Males and the Teen Female long sundress for Adult Females.

MOAR LATER