Apocalyptic Effects, Trashamatic Recolours & Decorative Junk

Title: Apocalyptic Effects, Trashamatic Recolours & Decorative Junk


View Many Bugfix: Sept 30, 2013

The Decorative Junk items were causing a crash to the desktop, but only in those cases where Nightlife was the only EP installed. This release corrects the Nightlife problems, fixes the occasional jump bugs during "View Many", and now enables "View Many" if Mansions & Gardens is installed (even if FreeTime or Apartment Life are not available).


Stinky Skunk Bugfix: June 4, 2013

Thanks to the bug reports from nooobody and gazania concerning the Down from the 'Hood effects, I have posted a similar update for all the effects files in this archive so that Stinky Skunk no longer has a jump bug when the animal appears on a lot where an effect is in use. Please download sdEffectsBG.zip for the fix.

In addition this update removes the OMSP feature from these effects, which users had found annoying because of the tendency for the effects tiles to collect unwanted objects. And lastly, the effects tiles now reappear in buy and build mode to make them easier to find (but if you never want to see the tiles just use the built-in invisible recolours).


October 5, 2011 Update

Since not all players use collection files - myself included - I have now differentiated the effects according to price: Fire §9, Smoke §10, Stink §11, and Miscellaneous §12. Please re-download sdEffectsBG.zip for this update.


October 1, 2011 Updates

1) In the original upload the Small Adult Fire was erroneously given the filename AdultFireMedium.package. This update corrects the Small Adult Fire's filename to AdultFireSmall.package while maintaining its original GUID. The replacement AdultFireMedium.package now invokes the Medium Size Adult Fire effect. Please download sdEffectsBG.zip for these updates.

2) Collection files are now available to organize the effects into Fire, Smoke, Stink, and Miscellaneous. I have also included a collection for the Decorative Junk. Please be sure to select the appropriate version: either PrePets (including Basegame only) or PetsAndLater.


The Story

The overnight appearance of Trashamatics all over the neighbourhood was the first tangible and irrefutable sign that aliens really do walk among us. Some believed that Utopia had come, but time would show that we struggled futilely Against the Fall of Night. Not that the Trashamatics were themselves to blame, but it was our own unscrupulous modifications to them that brought about our downfall. With more and more Sims using the "Custom" models to avoid paying bills, doing homework or completing college assignments, society itself began to fall apart. The economy collapsed, the younger generations grew up in ignorance, and the alien council rejected our application to join the Galactic Federation in disgust. We were abandoned to live through the consequences of our own greed and stupidity.

This post-apocalyptic world is filled with the tokens of anarchy. Fires burn uncontrollably, smoke, stench and trash fill the landscape - and even the Trashamatics are showing signs of wear and neglect.

Purpose

1) To make 45 46 Sims 2 built-in special effects readily available to all, for use in apolcalytpic and disaster scenarios, as well as in more routine ways.

2) To produce four appropriately weathered Trashamatic recolours.

3) To supply 13 decorative junk objects, which can be viewed, critiqued or disposed of.


General Description

All effects and decorative junk have the following features: they may be placed on locked tiles and beach tiles, may be struck by lighting but are non-flammable, cannot be stolen or repossessed, and they remain in place if the lot is sold. For maximum flexibility, these items are flagged to allow placement on all types of surfaces.

Although some of them may look dangerous or unpleasant, the Effects and Decorative Junk have almost no affect on Sims or other objects. The fire is completely harmless and does not cause panic, and all effects have a slightly positive affect on environmental scores. Note that Sims may come to see a newly placed effect or object, as they routinely do when new items are placed.

The Effects and Decorative Junk are found in the catalogue under Decorative/Misc. Fire Effects cost §9 each, Smoke Effects §10 each, Stink Effects §11 each, Miscellaneous Effects §12 each, and Decorative Junk costs §2 each.

The catalogue description indicates whether a particular Effect or Junk object is "Sinkable" or "Floatable". The sinkable items may be placed underwater or under the ocean, whereas the floatable ones are designed to rest on the water surface. The sinkable items are also height adjustable if Apartment Life or Mansions & Gardens is installed (because of game engine limitations, floatable objects cannot also be height adjustable). I have tried to select the items so that there is a mix of sinkable versus floatable for each type.

The Trashamatic recolours are for use with the any of the six Trashamatic Garbage Disposal/Dishwasher models posted here.


Note: please use caution when placing Effects, as they may cause slowdowns on older machines, or in large and complex lots. Fires are particularly resource hungry. When using effects, less is more.







Terms of Use

You may include the Effects, Decorative Junk and Trashamatic recolours in any uploaded lots, whether for free or pay. Please include a credit and link to this page. It would be nice if you sent me a PM with a link to your uploaded creation, but this is not required.


Credits:

GIMP 2, IrfranView, Microsoft Paint and Photo Editor for graphics editing, conversion, processing, sizing, and labeling
Milkshape 3D and Ultimate Unwrap3D Pro, for 3D modeling and mapping
Numenor's AnyGameStarter, for development and testing
SimPE, PJSE, and CEP for Sims 2 object creation
Against the Fall of Night is a story by Arthur C. Clarke, later expanded as The City and the Stars. I found it a beautiful and poignant tale - hightly recommended!


Polygon Counts:

All Effects Tiles: 2 faces, 4 vertices

All DecoJunk has identical or slightly less polys than the EA originals
Burglar Bag, Large: 1214 faces, 708 vertices
Burglar Bag, Small: 1214 faces, 708 vertices
Large Electronic Trash: 1666 faces, 2449 vertices
Large Trash Pile: 1340 faces, 1523 vertices
Medium Electronic Trash: 1049 faces, 1621 vertices
Medium Furniture Trash: 1168 faces, 1420 vertices
Medium Trash Pile: 1260 faces, 1373 vertices
Newspaper, Flat: 1254 faces, 882 vertices
Newspaper, Folded: 86 faces, 58 vertices
Small Electronic Trash: 452 faces, 698 vertices
Small Furniture Trash: 728 faces, 732 vertices
Small Trash Pile: 772 faces, 927 vertices
Trash Bag: 264 faces, 173 vertices