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6th Sep 2010 at 11:15 PM
Last edited by LifesLover : 3rd Dec 2010 at
7:43 PM.
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The Build to Plan Contest (Closed & Scores Posted)
Welcome to
![](http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss332/LifesLover/BtP.png)
(The Build to Plan Contest!)
For the
Sims 3, this contest will stretch your building skills as you attempt to build, not from your vision, but from the vision of real-life architects!
- Each round will feature a different period in time and a different style within that time period.
- You must go online and find a set of floor plans of a house that was built in that period of style.
- Utilizing the Sims 3, you must build this house as close as possible to the floor plans! Sounds easy, right?
![](http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss332/LifesLover/Rules.jpg)
- You must find a legitimate floor plan to build from! This means that it can’t be a floor plan that you made up! This also means that you have to post a link to the floor plans in your post when you feature your house.
- The floor plan you find must be within the style featured during that round. That means that if the style is Victorian, you have to find a Victorian floor plan!
- You must build the Sims 3 house as close as possible to the floor plan. While there will obviously be some room for leniency, since the Sims 3 doesn’t allow for the same options as real life does, if your house does not even look like the house in the floor plans, you will lose major points!
- To go along with the last rule, if there is no basement in the floor plans or described somewhere in the description, then you are not allowed to build one. If there is nothing mentioned about a basement, assume one doesn’t exist! This also pertains to foundations. If you can see that there’s no foundation, or only a very small, slight one, then don’t build it on a foundation. If there are L-shaped or U-shaped or whatever-shaped stairs, then don’t just put a regular stair in. It has to be like the floor plan! If the stairs are just not possible within the Sims 3 universe, then do as close as you can.
- Your floor plan must have at least one street view picture and at least one floor plan picture per floor. This is mostly standard and should not be difficult to find. From experience with building with real life floor plans, I urge you to find floor plans with large, clear pictures. This will make it easier to see just how big you need to make everything. This is not, however, a requirement. Just make sure that the floor plan is viewable.
- You are not allowed to upload your entry to MTS until after the round it’s in is over. This is so the only judging that can be done is through the pictures, keeping the scoring even and fair for all contestants. Doing so will cause a ten point deduction in your score for that round.
- It is solely up to your discretion to choose a lot size for your entry. There are multiple different lot sizes and it is up to you and the house/floor plan you chose to figure out which one will best work for you and your house.
- Since these are to be floor plans you found online, you must post a link to the pictures you found and the site you found them on when you go to submit your entry! Also, in order to ensure that no one builds the same house, when you decide on a set of floor plans that you want, PM me the link so that I can make sure that no one else uses it! If you do not PM me the link then your entry will be null and void! Don't post the link in the contest thread unless you don't care about anyone else knowing what the house you're going to build will look like before you post your entry. You can post it there if you want, I'll check the thread constantly for questions and I'll see it, but I'd much prefer a PM to stay organized.
To get you started on finding houses during each round, here's a link to several sites that offer plans. You do not have to find your plan from these sites. They're merely there to help. Finding a plan from a different site will not disqualify you.
Each round you will be given a possibility of 100 points, plus a 10 point bonus category that will change each round. This gives you a total of 110 points per round which you can strive to obtain.
- Likeness: Just how close does your house match the house in your floor plans? Since this is the whole point of the contest, this is a major scoring factor. ~~ 30 points.
- Landscaping: Just because this contest is about the house doesn’t mean you can slouch on the outside. We’re going for a whole look, so try and do something on the outside that matches the style of the round. If your floor plan includes details on the outside, try to match those details as closely as you can. ~~ 15 points.
- Technique: Real life houses have many features that are either just not possible or require various cheats and a certain bit of experience or ability to read tutorials. Split level stairs are just one example. When looking for a set of floor plans, try to make sure that you can actually achieve, for the most part, what’s in the floor plans. ~~ 10 points.
- Appeal: Does your house flow? If we were able to walk through it, or have our Sims walk through it, would each room flow with the next one? Make sure that your house goes. ~~ 15 points.
- Presentation: Since you will not be able to upload these houses for judging and you are not allowed to upload your house to MTS for download until after the round is over, your pictures have to show exactly what your house looks like. Make sure that your pictures show the rooms off to their best advantage. Get good angles, make your pictures big enough to see (I have horrendous eyesight!), and make sure that your presentation is contest-worthy. ~~ 10 points.
- Custom Content: Custom content is allowed, up to a certain point. You are allowed only 10 pieces of custom content. Each piece of custom content, however, deducts one point away this score. This means that if you don’t use any CC, you’ll gain full points in this category. One piece of custom content does not mean each individual piece of the same thing. If you use the same custom window over and over, then it only counts as one. Same goes for counters, etc. ~~ 10 points.
- Decoration/Theme: Floor plans don’t often show actual furnishing in the house aside from counters, tubs, sinks, laundry, etc. etc. Beds, couches, TVs, etc. etc. are solely up to the discretion of you if they are not shown in the floor plans or interior shots that some plans may include. Make sure it’s well-decorated and furnished, inside and out, and that it follows the style of the period. ~~ 10 points.
- Bonus Category: Each round will feature a 10 point bonus category. This will change with each round. Scoring in this category follows a did you do it and did you do it well format. If you didn’t do it, then you won’t receive points. If you did it, but not all that well, then you’ll receive five points. If you did it fantastically and made it work well, then you’ll receive the full 10 points. This category is completely optional and you do not have to participate within the confines of the category. If you choose not to, you will not receive the 10 points. If you choose to and you do it correctly, you will receive the 10 points. ~~ 10 points.
![](http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss332/LifesLover/Pictures.jpg)
You must have the required pictures when you submit your entry. These include:
- A photo of one bedroom.
- A photo of one bathroom.
- A photo of the street view from a Sims point of view.
- A photo of the kitchen.
- A photo of the living room.
- A photo for each level of your house. These can be collaged. You can even collage them with the photos of the floor plans you based it on if you so desire.
- You are allowed four bonus pictures of whatever you wish. You may even collage two of them together if you so desire.
- Make sure that these pictures are clear and easy to see and view. Try not to make them exceedingly large because not everyone has fast internet and a lot of pictures in one thread can make it difficult for some to get around.
- When you are ready to submit your entry, take your photos, upload them to the imaging site of your choosing (I use photobucket myself), take the link to the photo, wrap them in [ IMG ] [ / IMG ] tags, and post your entry and you’re done.
![](http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss332/LifesLover/Judges.jpg)
There are four judges, including myself. Each one will bring their own unique perspective. There will be no biased judging, so any comments about any supposed bias are unnecessary. Judging will follow the scoring criteria. Judges comments are optional, though we shall try to make our best effort to comment on each entry in order to give you any feedback that will help. If you want any judges’ comments, please send me a PM after scores for each round are given in order to receive any that might exist.
![](http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss332/LifesLover/Miscellaneous.jpg)
- This is a no-elimination contest. If you get in during the application stage, you will stay through to the end. If you need to drop out at any point in time, please give notice to me through either a post in the thread or send me a private message.
- From the time the round is posted to the time it is closed one week later (there will be a timer for each round that you can check on), you are allowed to post your entry and then make any subsequent changes. It is also encouraged and welcomed that contestants give feedback on each other’s houses. We are all trying to learn here and grow as builders.
- If you decide to use custom content, you must say that you used custom content and you must say what custom content you used. If you didn’t use custom content, then say so in your entry post. If you do not, we’ll assume that you did.
- STORE CONTENT DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS CC. USE AS MUCH AS YOU WANT WITH NO PENALTIES.
- Please read the rules for the Sims Contest forum before deciding to enter the contest. The judges and I shall follow these rules completely in addition to the rules of this contest. They can be found here.
![](http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss332/LifesLover/Rounds.jpg)
There shall be five rounds; the period and style will be disclosed at the time of the round in question.
A list of all contestants who
post an entry. Please no spam-like comments such as reserve for entry or the like. Your entry will be considered part of the contest when you submit it, not a minute before.
Judges Entries
Judges' entries shall not be scored and the judges are free to upload them whenever they wish. They are there to show an example of what the contest is about.
- heaven_sent_8_18 - R1 | R2 | R3
If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to either send me a PM or ask your question within the thread.
[you say you believe me but you don't deceive me]