Either there is a mod that fixes it, or it only happens with some stairs, or is a random glitch. Tested my lots and I can move objects fine even if there's a stage landing, but still glad to know so I can pay extra attention to that in future

Contest put me in a build mood so I decided to build a play-along for this round. I usually build from nothing, but this time I happened upon a house shell I liked and I decided to use it as base The room layout is loosely based on the house my cousins grew up in. The building is what us Swedes call parhus, which translates to coupled-houses. The only common wall is through the garage, so even though they are attached you get some privacy. Both units are family-centered, one is for a family with young children, and one is for a family with older children and a dog.

Since I made the rules you guys are restricted by i figured I should stick to them as well, so I will post it as if it was an entry. Not going to attach pictures though since no one is judging mine :P

Required screenshots


Unit 1


Unit 2
For this unit I pictured a family with two children, a teenage girl and a child. I pictured the teenage girl as the social type, obsessed with appearances and gossiping with ones friends and constantly getting annoyed by their obnoxious little sibling and their childish behavior. The child I imagine as bright and cheerful and sort of over the top.


There are some potential playability problems. I meant to test and adjust if necessary but got really busy and decided to just post as is. I am hoping the trash can in unit 1 can be used once the chairs move in. No idea if phone in unit 2 teenage girl bedroom is accessible, though I think the radio on top of wardrobe should be unless room is too narrow. I also don't know if the guitar in the garage of unit 2 is usable, but I hoped it would be since there's a tile of free space around the car if you place one. But since all of that can be fixed after Sims move in I figured I'd put items as I wanted them and see what happened, only then ran out of time :P

Backyard has some unused tile space. This is due to the lot size restrictions, man what I wouldn't give to be able to build lots with uneven number of tiles >_> I could have added trees or something to the back but I didn't want to restrict view to backyards more than it already is by the semi-high fence. Could expand backyards a little without going over 6000 rent but I like the backyards as they are so I decided to leave it.

I think I would call that a duplex in English.

Well, I play-tested my lot with stage (not a stair landing) and had no problems at all, so I'll leave it as is (phew).

I agree with Lunie, it was good to learn this information for future builds

Well, I've happily been building my next lot but discover each apartment is over the budget. What affects the apartment price apart from kitchen/bathroom/walls/flooring? Does furniture and accessories, garden, etc? I tried changing stuff to the cheapest available but it made no difference to the price.
Looks like I'm going to have to make the apartments really tiny which might affect playability. Communal bathrooms perhaps...? The cheapest one-bedroomed apartment was 1023. I managed to get it down to 1020. Sigh.

yavannatw, I feel the struggle. I finally got mine below 1000 and if you remove a chunk of the square footage it really helps lower the rent after you have exhausted all the object price reductions.

Yeah, square footage is the biggest thing to reduce when building cheap. It has a pretty steep rent increase, whereas objects are less steep. A tip is to make a copy of lot and re-zone once you get the shell complete, and see what rent is at for just the space itself with nothing in it. Helps give a pointer on if you need to reduce it, and how much leg room you have for the furniture.

Well, I managed to get one apartment under 1,000 after shaving off some walls but the one beneath it is still over. Hmm. I figured I could make one of the other one-bedroomed into a two-bedroomed but I'll still need to make the apartments smaller.

FYI - I'm about halfway through judging round 1, and I gotta say - you peeps are making this very difficult to judge! Every build is so unique! I love it though - so far you've all done amazing jobs.

Please watch out for a common problem I'm finding - if I can't see it, I can't judge it. Every apartment needs a telephone, fire alarm, and a garbage can/compactor/chute!!! Burglar alarms are also nice - but I won't take off if they're missing... burglars don't kill sims, it's not a safety issue. If you've hidden the fire alarms under furniture (like range hoods or refrigerators) please mention that - thank you Karen
...and I believe using the invisible ones (that I love!) would count as CC, right? So don't.

Just sayin...

I have got a question from a judge regarding the rug fix, as some of you had it in place when taking pictures. Tough one to call as default replacements for other objects aren't allowed but I have decided to let it slide, since it's only a visual fix for maxis content and sky boxes/water defaults are allowed. So if anyone avoided using it please note you are allowed to and won't lose points for it.

Be careful though so you don't accidentally use default replacements unknowingly, might not pass next time

Round 2: Cheap Living
 

I know I'm super early with this, but wanted to get it knocked out. I may edit based on Judges feedback from the townhouses when that is turned in.

Studio Lofts



Number of Units: 4

Small, affordable, and trendy, the Studio Lofts offer a an exciting place to dwell in the city. Each unit space contains a lofted bedroom area, 1 enclosed bathroom on the main floor, and the remainder of the rentable area combines entertainment, dining, and study. The building was originally a turn of the century newspaper offices of meager size - one of the 'independents' that eventually ran out of funds and closed shop. With the purchase of the property and resulting remodel, the Landlord left the cement flooring and a lot of the original brick walls as it saved on cost allowing for cheaper rent fares. They did cover up exposed piping with metal-cover shafting. What did get upgraded were hardwood floors in the lofts, plus new drywalls, which were primed and painted solid colors to attract the Hipsters, Bohemians, Punks, and all that rabble of youth.

*Note about pics: I pushed the chairs in to show how they would look in a live-in space but pulled them out for play testing so they were usable.




The lofted bedrooms share walls but are sound-proofed by objects. Fun fact: wall mirrors by themselves let noise through as in the Red unit, my test sim got awoken by noise coming through the mirror. I placed a light on the same space to fix that.

The Lobby
This where residents can mingle, greet guests, pay rent, make public calls, drink self-serve cappuccino or hot chocolate. There is also an extra, public bathroom for whoever needs it at the back of the lobby. The lobby contains a security system that will contact law enforcement if broken into.


-THE UNITS-

Unit R (Red)
This unit is decorated in a main theme of red with white and black accents. This unit does not have a TV but a chess set for entertainment. The bookshelf is located in the loft with a red reading chair. The resident plant buddy is a cactus underneath the front window. The lights in the is unit are mainly industrial bulbs that come from the wall. The desk is located in the main area across from the kitchen. The kitchen has hanging pots and decorative pans on the wall.


I imagine a bookish, logical-minded sim living here. One who finds more entertainment in learning and solving puzzles than mindless means of just consuming and not getting a skill out of it. This is why there is a chess set instead of a TV and the only loft with a bookshelf/reading area in it.

Unit T (Teal)
This unit is decorated in a main theme of light blue/teal and light grey/white or off-white accents. This unit has a television and love seat in the main area. The bookshelf is located next to the bathroom entrance near the nook with a beige armchair. The resident plant buddy is a pot of roses in the loft. The desk is located in the loft right as the sim climbs up. The lights in the is unit are mainly teal and black future lights or IKEA white-tinted lights. The kitchen has a spice rack and hanging pots


Originally this was going to be a musician's apartment but alas, instruments are a bit expensive so the music corner I had envisioned was transformed into a reading nook. Now I imagine a trendy, fresh-faced graduate moving in and making a little temporary home of the space. A movie/lit buff, possibly a popularity or family sim who likes to get out on the town when they can but really just stay in with friends or family and have movie watching parties.


Unit G (Green)

This unit is decorated in a main theme of Green with beige and brown accents. This unit has a television and loveseat.
The bookshelf is located next between the entrance and the entertainment area, against the wall of the ladder shaft. There is a dark green reading chair in the corner. The resident plant buddies are a pot of roses, a triple grass planter, and hanging fern. The desk is located in the loft on the far side of the bed next to the window. The lights in the is unit are mainly string lights. The kitchen has dried herbs and some cricket paddles which I think look like old bread peels.


My idea for the sim that lives here is a plant-lover/nature enthusiast of any aspiration. They make sure their plants get all the light coming in from the tall windows. This is why there is a green motif and a lot of earth tones plus the multiple forms of plant life instead of the standard 1. There is even framed art for Three Lakes to emphasize natural beauty.


Unit OB (Orange/Blue)

This unit is decorated in a main theme of complimentary colors orange and blue (only half bad, right Cat?) with black accents. This unit has a television and two modular seats pushed together. The Bookshelf is located in the study nook next to the desk. The resident plant buddy is a hanging orange orchid right outside the bathroom entrance. The desk is located against the back wall of the study nook and has an extra shelf above it for placing trinkets and aquired knick-knacks.
The lights in the is unit are mainly black track spotlights. The kitchen has hanging pots and decorative salt and pepper shakers in the corner.


I imagine a pleasure sim living here, one that likes travelling and rather spends their hard earned money on that and going out then finding a permanent home for the time being. They have a penchant for oceanic places as evident by their bedroom posters and items, plus the fish tank.



-CUSTOM CONTENT-
Windows:
-Fallingwater full length window (in lofts) by celebkiriedhel
-Thorpe Window Set (exterior) by mutske; converted by veranka

Stairs:
-Just a Ladder by Marvine

Fencing:
-Modern Fence Very High (in bathrooms) mesh by lirunchik; recolor by meriel
-Cornice 3 in Ginkgo Green (roof edging) by Red Sonja

I'm sorry everyone, I am suddenly having major issues with work and I am massively anxious about it all and I won't be able to participate in this contest any longer. I'm sorry that I didn't even manage a Round 1 entry! :-( It looks like a fabulous contest to be involved with and hopefully at some point I will be able to come and look at all the entries and tell you all how awesome you are! :-) Good luck to all of the contestants!

@Charmful I love it - it looks way better than the mess I'm currently working on. Like you I've been pulling out all sorts of objects, losing any personality, just to get them cheaper. Still very much a work in progress, and a frustrating one at that.
Just a question. Did you playtest the trash chutes? I once had an apartment where I placed the chutes inside and they disappeared when a Sim moved in. I had to place them outside the unit.

@yavannatw

Thanks! Yeah you gotta finagle a lot to try to keep rent low, hopefully you find a solution!

I tested them by having the play that sim recycle their newspapers and they worked. None disappeared after the move in. That's very of it did.

Charmful, how does the common area kitchen work with apthack? Since his hack will detect that there is no kitchen in the unit and thus won't keep the neighbors' hunger motives satisfied while they are in their apartments. Do the neighbors use their own common area kitchens, or do they stand outside other people's apartments yelling that they cannot get to their (common area) kitchens?

Well, that's weird, that my trash chutes disappeared when I had a Sim move in, so I played it safe and moved them outside the apartments. I haven't playtested yet.
So I made some more changes to reduce the rent then exited to make a copy to change lot zoning. But.. (don't do what I did), instead of clicking on the move tool I clicked on the bulldozer and didn't register any warning at all. I only realised what I'd done when the lot didn't appear in the bin and the bulldozer was highlighted "No, no, no, no!" was my anguished cry.
By some miracle there was still a copy from previous changes. But then I had to do the more recent changes all over again. Out of five units, two still need the rent reduced by 52 and 101, so I'm nearly there.

Also, pardon my ignorance, but what is rug fix?

I don't know, I don't have the apthack. I would hope they use their own kitchens as they have access to them. You can see the sim neighbors when they enter their kitchen. Since I don't have the hack, I don't see them eat but they admire some of the deco. They also don't stand outside my playtesting sim-occupied apartment whining for food.

Also the rug fix is a mod that makes it so rugs don't look wonky if placed diagonally or off-grid.

Charmful, I am not sure how you managed such wonderful (multi-level) apartments that came in under 1,000 simoleons, but hats off to you! :lovestruc Can my sims move in?

I had some time today to slap together my round 2 play-along, and figured I'd post a WIP. Still need to do the interior furnishings, but everything on the outside is Maxis or Maxis add-ons (window by Leefish and larger shrubs by Honeywell). The unit pricing thus far ranges from §553 - §769.

I uh.. have this one here. I feel like such a dummy, I completely forgot I had it in. Whoops! Sorry! But thanks gummilutt for allowing it!

Charmful, I love your lot! Those lofted ceilings really make the apartments feel huge! Really fantastic job!

In order to save space, since a sink is not (by Sims standards) an essential part of a bathroom, can we have a 2x2 bathroom with just a shower and a toilet or will we be deducted points, even if there's a sink in the kitchen?

Honestly - I would deduct points. Not having a sink in the bathroom is gross.
But, you don't need a TV, or a nuker, or a side table...
A phone, fire alarm with a stove/fireplace/grill, and a garbage can are also necessary IM-judgy-HO.
...just so ya know...

@gummilutt, question about "bedrooms." I have some units that I want to be loft style (see pictures attached) and I'm staging them to have two bedroom areas, but there are no actual walls around the bedrooms, so I'm unsure of how to price the unit. The unit is just above $1,000 to $1,200 and I don't know if this is okay. Since there are two beds would the unit be considered a two bedroom, making the limit $2,000 or should I be using the $1,000 limit because there are no walls, making it a studio?

It would pass for host bonus rent point, but whether or not it meets the requirements for the round is up to the judges to decide. Does it meet the spirit of the challenge set?

Guess I'll have to rework my bathroom. Bummer, I was happy with how the apartment turned out.
What about if the sink was placed in the corner between the shower and toilet, at a 45-degree angle (thus unusable)? Really trying hard to not have to redo the whole apartment

@Yvelotic2001 Hang on, you can get a 2x2 bathroom to work with shower, toilet and sink, lemme find you a picture, cos I've done it!

EDIT: I have done it in the past but it must've been a contest entry because I can't find a picture. Try it and test to see if it works, that's what I would do

Yes. I think it does. I would call it a studio/loft apartment. But, I have trouble wrapping my brain around it being 2 bedroom - it seems as though the single bed downstairs is a glorified couch... and not in a "bedroom". I could be persuaded... what does anyone else think? I love the layout of the thing! Why aren't you using the trash chutes? They would save you a tile's worth of floor space.

ETA: Karen - I don't think you can have 3 occupied squares in a 4-square bathroom, and have it function without CC (either walk through blocks or a modified shower unit thingy) A 5 square, like Phantomknight pictured above, will work fine though.

Well, @CatherineTCJD, that's part of why I asked the question--in my original plan I had a dividing wall to separate the spaces as well as a wall to enclose the stairs. I think the wall was right after the counters, since that's where the floors are upstairs, and the trash cans downstairs, but that's not making sense as I look back at the pictures. I think the pictures are after I shrunk the apartment to save money. If I keep this exact floor plan, I'll probably move the desk and couch one tile back and put the wall between them and the kitchens.

But yeah, I had walls to define the spaces but then I deleted them to try and save money; that brought it down to about 1,017 but I hadn't done walls and floors yet. I was able to get it just under 1000 by deleting a row on both levels, but that was making things more cramped than I would like, putting doors too close to stairs, having to use the quarter tile cheat to make a double bed usable, etc. It was certainly functional, but idk, I wanted a bit more breathing room, especially if my sims might need to stay for a while to save up money.

As for the trash can thing, hmm, maybe because of the price? Otherwise I cannot explain it other than "it made perfect sense at the time." Overall, though, I'm going for that crowded, everything-always-has-to-be-tidy-and-phones-and-stereos-have-to-be-off-before-sleeping, city-living feel.

But - money - if you have the wall, then it truly is 2 bedrooms, and you're alotted more money. Right?

Love it!!!


ETA: Just to let @gummilutt and everybody know - I'm done judging, except that I want to 'sleep on it' and review what I wrote one last time before submitting things. So, I should get my scorecard in tomorrow - which should be right on time.

Yes, I believe you have, @Karen Lorraine because it was a mind-blower for me and I usually build small, so space is always at a premium. I am attaching a couple pictures of how it CAN work.

@Yvelotic2001 I attached some images from a bathroom I rearranged to test it again and it can work. I do not know about adding any dividing walls to make a "shower stall" though. Good luck.

I've been such a quiet person, but I am here, reading and watching. :lovestruc

The wall didn't completely enclose the bedroom area though, CatherineTCJD; I had wanted to leave it open in that unit and let my other units have proper bedrooms. Hence the question. (I hope to have 3-4 different layouts for this round.)

But @Goldenbtrfly, thanks for those pictures! I had no idea it could be done; will remember that layout for sure.

It's quite natural to walk through a bedroom top get to a bathroom. I don't have a problem with that - especially when space is at a premium.

Good to know Goldenbtrfly - I always forget about that simple showerhead!

Ok, now that I know a 2x2 bathroom actually is possible, it's time to install the UC. I don't have University as a disc (actually I have, but I somehow lost Disc 1. You know, the one that actually contains the installer.) and I need that shower. The Ultimate Collection has been sitting on my Origin library for months now waiting for me to actually go ahead and backup everything, uninstall, install, reload everything, yadda yadda yadda. Guess this is as good a time as ever will be.

I'm also done judging, but will have to read it, look all the pics again and do triple check (x10) , before sending it to gummilutt, as a newbie judge I am afraid I somehow managed to do it all wrong :D

On the subject of making apartments cheap - if I understand correctly, the rent is figured partly based on the total lot value divided by the number of units, adjusted by things like apartment size and so on. So if you can't get your rent down without making your apartments unacceptably small, try adding another floor of identical units!

Haha, and I am NOT done, am hilariously behind, but will have it done. I am also new and horrified of screwing up. Judging is a beast I underestimated.

Since scores will be coming out soon, I wanted to say something to you all. I haven't gotten any scores yet so this is just generic comments, after last contest where I was judge I think there's something that's good to think about as a contestant as you get your score so I wanted to say it.

A score penalty is not always a bad thing and less than a perfect score does not mean your lot is bad.

This is especially true when it comes to playability. Not having a full score in playability does not mean your lot is unplayable and horrid, it just means there are some things that could possibly cause delays or problems. That's okay though. Not every lot has to be a masterpiece on playability. Sometimes we choose to accept a problem to get the look we want, or to solve some other more annoying problem. Nothing wrong with that, I'm certainly not above having a stomping-prone area to save on space. But accepting it doesn't mean it's not there and "deserve" a point penalty. Learning to compromise and finding a good balance is part of being a good builder if you ask me

I feel like a lot of people think/feel that less than max score means your lot was bad, but that's really not what it means. The judges job is to judge, to compare your lot to an ideal lot and get individual scores so we can deem who got the closest and eventually crown a winner. Not every lot has to be ideal, in fact game would be kinda boring if everything was perfect all the time, but since it is a competition and the goal is to crown a winner, each judge has to make comparisons and compare your lot to what they would consider ideal.

Okey-dokey - I just sent in my scores for R1

And, to add to what Gummi said above - or, an insight as to how i judge contests...
Remember, judging is subjective - what one person likes is different from what another person likes - that's why there are three judges.
Over the course of the competition, one contestant will wade through it all and come out with a higher score to become the "winner"!

I think 3 of you got perfect scores from me this round. And I think there were a few more that I could've easily given a perfect score to, except that there was something about their lots that I just didn't like as much. I can't really point to any one thing, just my mood for the day I guess. All of you built really great apartments in R1. If you are not satisfied with your scores - don't give up! Keep improving. Ask questions. Grow! Part of doing a building contest here on MTS (for me anyway) is to learn to build better.

You all deserve kudos for finishing a round. Congrats

Did I use orange? Pretty sure I am woefully behind for round 2, since I've tried 4 different builds and hate them all. Of course, I also just transferred to another building this week, which is actually a bit stressful! Same job, just different people.

I finally got all my units under budget, but it required shaving bits off here and there which made the lot look different to my original idea. I've yet to go back and see what I can improve. How much time have we got left?

Edit: 7 days. I should be able to get it up before the end.

@Magnolia could you please post a closer zoomed in floor plan picture of unit 2's (from the left) basement and level 2

Wow - you guys did amazing jobs on your lots! Please no blanket parties over scores - a friendly ask is welcome, haha.
(If you guys can help it - phones, phones and phones are nice on every level and bathrooms off kitchens are kind of icky.)
If you're brave - change my mind on the color pink, haha.

Thank you all for the hard work so far, decorating apartments is like decorating 2 to 4 different homes in entirety, and that can be exhausting! Have a beverage.

All of the judges scores are in, but will need a day to go over them. Hopefully post them tonight

Bathrooms off of kitchens are practical, not icky. It's less work for the builders (and therefore cheaper) to have all the plumbing concentrated in one area of the building.

My Round 2 has been ready for days. I just haven't had the spoons to take pictures. I meant to do it today, but my head hurts where the bathroom cabinet fell on it last night. That contest curse sucks.

Since Sims aren't real life, I figured it couldn't hurt to mention it. *shrug* I don't mark it down, but it is something I cringe at. I have never lived in a home like that, so it's odd for me. Personal preference I guess. Feel free to ignore it by all means!

I grew up in a house where the far end of the kitchen adjoined a bathroom. It wasn't unsanitary or anything, everyone washed their hands.

ACK, I was away from my computer for the day! Just saw this. Wasn't sure which level 2 you meant so I've posted three photos of unit 2's floorplan, one of the basement, one of the next level up(funtionally level 2) and then the level above that(typically called the 2nd level). Sorry for the delay! Let me know if this is what you need!

@Goldenbtrfly, that's interesting because, as Peni pointed out, builders tend to put all the plumbing together. And watch any home renovation show and one of the first things you learn is that putting plumbing away from all the other pipes gets really expensive.

In my own home, I have a half bath just off of the kitchen, in a hallway that separates our side door and basement from the dining room and kitchen (think of a u--kitchen is in the bottom, dining room on the right, half bath and stairs to the side door and basement on the left.) On smaller floor plans, near the kitchen, and sometimes an entrance too, tend to be the best place to stick the bathroom so that guests aren't walking all over your house.

I'd certainly rather have someone who's been doing yardwork wash up in the bathroom between the kitchen and the back door than in the kitchen sink. But that's what makes horse races. And it is true that you can't always have a proper wet wall when building for sims, and the practical considerations aren't the same so the building constraints don't have to be the same.

The way I figure it, judges get to judge however they want, and builders get to decide for themselves how willing they are to take individual judge preferences into account. I'm willing to take out large swathes of orange to accommodate one judge's color bias; but what if we have one judge who hates orange, one who hates pink, and one who hates yellow? To heck with that. I'll lose the points. If someone else can make an attractive building without using any of those colors? They deserve to get more points than me. If you're not willing to accommodate someone else's standards at all you've got no business being in a contest, but if you don't have an individual vision or style I don't see the point of contesting, either.

It's a balancing act. In my case, though I like getting a high score as much as the next person, I don't expect to win, so it's easy for me to decide to eat points on some feature that I think does or does not particularly belong in a certain build. My tenement will get 0 landscaping points because it has 0 landscaping because it's a tenement. You can play basketball and grow weed on the roof; otherwise you go to the park. That's the nature of the beast and it brings the rent down. But other things maybe I did unthinkingly, or out of habit, or because I didn't know how to do it better, and those are the interesting points, the ones that will make me a better builder when I internalize why I lost them and learn how to get them another time.

If you actually have a shot at winning, the balancing act gets trickier. Because we all have some line we shouldn't cross, and if we are too concerned about how something looks to the judges we'll lose the elements that make our work distinctive and worthy of the prize; but if we don't consider them at all we'll throw away a distinction that was in our grasp. One reason experienced contestants are more likely to win is not only that they've honed their building skills, but that they have the kind of experience necessary to make that call and find that balance in every single round.

Oh radishes you guys... it was just something I wanted to mention, please don't take it too seriously. I wouldn't ever discriminate over bathroom placement... or pink. I build with pink quite frequently myself, and it usually turns out nice! As I tend to say when I'm feeling saucy "You do you." It will all work out. Judging is a learning curve for me, and one I am happy to experience with such a clever and fun group of builders.

Orange... *shudders* - Wait 'til you see this next Makeover I'm about to upload LOL!

Is it all orange or a particular orange? Like does red-orange offend your eyes as equally as yellow-orange? Asking for science.

Don't worry @Goldenbtrfly, I wasn't taking it too seriously, more that I really like seeing how everyone looks at floor plans and build pics. As I mentioned before, lots of times I can't stop myself from looking at a floor plan and redesigning it, so I can only imagine how difficult it is to look at a floor plan and put your own personal preferences aside BUT also try and reward contestants who you genuinely feel did the job better/more thoughtfully AND also see merits of an entry that is not your personal taste. So kudos to the judges; it's never easy.

LOL! I guess it's not ALL bad. I'm OK with peach and salmon - they're kinda more pinkish - but, not really melon...
My mom used to dress me in orange (especially rusty shades) when I was a kid. I was a fat little brainiac with curly high pigtails and buck teeth. Yuck!

I once built/submitted this:


For my R3 Rowhouse Apartments entry in the Monopoly Town Contest. So... I guess I was making a 'statement'?

Anywho...

Ya'll are too funny! I don't think anyone used any orange at all - well, one vase, maybe, and that came with apologies.

That is a tangerine dream.

Round 1 scores are out! Hoping there are no mistakes, but really tired so it's possible I mucked up somewhere. If so will fix as soon as it's brought to my attention. Main post scoreboard also updated.



Play-along comment


Now I'm off to bed zzzzzz

Just to clarify @Judge 1

I meant the pool squares were decorative only (sort of like a fountain-ish thing - since I really liked the end result and wanted to play with the lot in my game, I needed to find a way to place a square of pool somewhere and not have it look completely stupid). The pool table is most definitely usable, I tested it quite a bit, in fact. Julien Cooke loves playing pool
I don't know if that had any influence on the score, but I just wanted to clarify, in case I wasn't clear in the original post.

EDIT: Yes, every unit has phones. I'll try to check if they can be spotted in the floor plan. If not, I'll tell you where they are.
EDIT 2: Just checked, and yes, they can be seen. For units 2-4, the ground floor plan shows the phone quite well: Unit 4 has the phone on the stone end table near the entrance, Unit 3 has the phone on a wall and Unit 2 has the phone on the end table by the stairs. Unit 1's phone can be seen more easily on the complete overview of the lot. It is on an end table in front of the door.

That floor makes ME allmost HATE color orange LOL, ps. I LOVE pink :P

Okay missunderstood the pool and pool , about the squares-part :D

Pool tables need 2 empty free tiles from every deriction to work well, if only one sim , like Julien, who plays it in my game too , plays it only, it is working well, but if there is more sims to join, if not 2 free tiles it will drop from queye or cause stomping

About the phones, I stronly suggest to mention in the post where they are, as it is hard to judge IF I cannot be sure where they are Naturally You know where they are, as you build the house

Oh and edit: I only asked about the phones

I will be careful next round to specify locations of important items like the phone next round. Thanks for the input

I also have phones in all units and specified this. With so few photos it was impossible to include them and they're not easy to see if on walls from top down view. I'll read over other comments later - currently at work.

Thanks for the time, judges! I've judged in the past so I know it takes buckling down and a free night to get through a bunch of entries. Also, thank you for comments!

Judge 1 - I can see how you get the impression the brick is dirty, old maybe, however it doesn't bother me. We have many old packing plants and office buildings using this type of brick in American cities - quite popular to convert into apartments too and they go like hotcakes for a lot of money too. I guess next tome I need a red I will look for the cleaner vanilla version unless I specifically want the old, grungy look.

Judge 2 - I'm always torn on whether or not to make a place for residents to mingle because I've done it before and it annoys me. I usually steal the landlord's pizza into my sims' pockets and use it at a party later. For townhouses, there never seems to be a place for that anyway. I continued to play the sims in this lot and it surprised me just how much they came out and chatted up their neighbors just in passing or on the stoops and it gave it a real big city feel. I also watched those flowers for a week of in-game play and no one ever tried watering them, and they didn't wilt. All anyone tried to do with the flowers was smell them and they did it by crouching on the first stair landing. Do apartment flowers get watered or is it only shrubs that get trimmed? I did catch the landlord snipping at the hedges and bushes.

Judge 3 - Correct, the stairs are one object - but it seems the stage tool is a hit or miss glitch as some people found they could move objects in all rooms after moving the playable sim in. I wanted to be on the safe side. Note that these cc stairs the sim kind of teleports from one section to the other like an elevator, no walking up and down animations, which I don't mind but some might.

@gummilutt - Thanks you for curating the scores and taking on the extra bits to look out for. I think there may be some confusion on 'ground floor' and I apologize. The ground floor picture is not missing - I have three floors, and all full floor plans are there in the post and attached. The lower floor is surrounded by foundation and is technically the one on the ground, the main floor is the one the entry way is at (second story) and the second floor is the third story. Next time I will label clearer but it was not missing.

Additionally, the back picture base is not cut off, the foundation is painted the same covering as the bricks encompasses entire first story and I lined up the pic so that the bottom of the building was at the edge of the picture; you can spy a sliver of the grass on the right side; next time I will take those pics with grass as obvious reference to eliminate doubt.

Also a note: Magnolia has 78.5 points total in the score post and she is tied with me at 78 in the top score chart, so that needs updated.

Thanks!

I have to agree to disagree about the pool table--two tiles around are ideal, but not exactly necessary, especially if there is space in the corners of the pool table, because that's where sims stand when playing. I use the one tile around layout frequently enough and I can't say I've had routing issues for the pool table, even with multiple sims playing. I could see why it might be necessary on my build, as the pool table is in a public building and sims should be able to pass by while others are playing, but looking at Yvelotic2001's entry again, the pool table in Unit 4 has great placement. Sims playing won't have any issues as there's ample space to stand during someone else's turn. Idk. Everyone experiences something different when they play, I guess.

But judge 3, I apologize for the apartment doors not being visible! I totally didn't realize that, and no, you're not blind, I don't see the mats either! But they are definitely apartment doors--I checked them at least three times when I was trying to figure out why the apartments wouldn't zone. The only cc I used (besides buyable craftables, which I thought would be okay because it's game items and it shouldn't require an additional download) was the fence. So I've absolutely no idea why they wouldn't show, but at this point, I'm honestly not surprised. Some wonky last minute shenanigans were going on in that lot, I tell you. Why is it that shenanigans only happen when you're building for a contest or an upload?

Anyway, if anyone's curious, the door was hidden/recessed behind the patios and I didn't have enough pictures to feature it properly, had I even remembered (I was a little rushed; definitely have to remember to leave time for posting and uploading pictures next round!).


And I have to laugh about all the bathroom comments, as I don't like large bathrooms either, but the space was there, so I used it. I dislike narrow bathrooms more than overly large ones, though, especially because with sims, bathroom parties are the norm. 3x4 and 3x3 are my usual size for bathrooms, too--I guess I've adapted my building to fit my sims' behavior? That second floor bathroom of mine only has 13 tiles instead of my usual 12; here I was thinking that I was doing a good job laying out each bathroom differently, to show what layouts could be done with the space! Ah, well.

Playability points seem very harsh, only 3? I have never had a problem with the pool table in that configuration

Yes, I made sure that all the fireplaces had smoke alarms and all the kitchens had them too. There are phones on multiple levels. With only 4 images allowed per unit it was difficult to show everything

Thank you

Thank you Please see comment above re phones and fire alarms Thank you

Thank you judges. I know how hard it is to judge as I have done it many times and in fact have judged the last two rounds of Jo's contest. You're all doing an amazing job!

Judge 1: Empty space. Got it :3c
Maxis curtains arent bad but they dont match my modern approach. I guess my sims better keep the place clean to avoid embarrassment aye? hahaha

Judge 2: Next time a backyard happens, I'll put stuff on there :3c thank you for noticing my bedroom sizes and the comfy cozy spaceyness of it all <3

Judge 3: I can't remember where I got the rice paper panels. I'll post them here when I do. It's a whole set of Japanese sliding doors, windows, arches/wall cut outs. The ones I used in this lot are windows and arches for access to the room.

Truth be told this lot was inspired by the row house I lived in while I was in Melbourne. The agent showed us the other units and the floorigs and walls were the same - cookie cutter save for a few kitchen layouts being a tad different. Glad I made it cohesive yet different enough ))

Host bonus: Yes I fixed the rent and the backyards but alas I was too tired to update hahaha oh well~ there is always next tine uvu

Okay, making notes for next round. I may have to move people out and make a few changes in order to accommodate Judge 3 as much as possible. Speaking of whom:

Judge 3: Do only 2 apts have doors from the garage to the house?
No, Units 1, 3, and 4 all have garage access. You should be able to see the doors to Units 1 and 4 in the overall floorplan view (picture 9), and the one to Unit 3 in the individual floorplan (picture 12). They're all lined up with each other across the complex.
I’d like to see a more cohesive interior design within each apartment... For the sake of this contest (or at least to get higher marks from me) please choose one decorating style for each apt. I can accept one apt being furnished by an eclectic mix of hand-me-downs and thrift store jumble, but not all of them decorated in that way.
I'll see what I can do, but trust you'll make allowances for the fact that my next build is a tenement.
I can’t see phones or smoke alarms in the first 2 apts - and did you include extra smoke alarms for the fireplaces?
They all have phones and kitchen smoke alarms, but they are difficult to see and I can't remember if I put smoke alarms in the rooms with the fireplaces and can't find them either, so you clearly should dock me those points, even if I did. I hate how you can't orient the plan camera so as to see both sides of the wall at once. In future builds I'll attempt to have a consistent location for these items, analogous between units, so if I can't get shots that include them I can at least say: "All the phones are on the walls immediately to the left of the entrance and all the smoke alarms are on the wall above the stove even when you can't see it because there's also a shelf there" or some such.
Please also try to keep your pictures oriented the same way - I find it confusing to mentally try flipping a picture 90 degrees to compare apt units. Remember, if I can’t see it, I can’t judge it.
I'll see what I can do, but that's going to be tough, since my usual method of picture taking is to move around the room taking a bunch of different angles and then selecting the one that shows off the room best by going through several winnowings. This angle is likely to be different from room to room and apartment to apartment, particularly since I'm trying not to be to uniform in things like bed placement. I'll have to experiment with how best to show the best features without disorienting you. Would descriptive labels on the pictures help if I can't get acceptable pictures without rotating? Something like: "Dining room looking toward living room, Unit 1?"

Host bonus: Your front view and back view pictures could be better. I know camera mods can be tricky at first, but if you had taken your pictures at angle you could most likely have fit it all in one frame, or at the very least two.
No, I couldn't. I tried, believe me! Future builds will have the short side of the lot facing the street so we don't have to go through all that. I need to experiment with camera mods anyway, since this one seems to crash the game periodically.

Thank y'all for your service and the detailed comments.

I did the math and I'm pretty sure we are in fact tied at 78. I shouldn't have 78.5, just 78.

So I wasn't sure if I'm expected/allowed to clarify some stuff or not. I am actually quite happy with my score, so honestly no worries there. But, I guess I just have some quick notes on a few things.



Judge 1: the apartments actually have a lot less stomping problems then even I expected to be honest. The furniture is just a hair tighter than I usually do, but I found it played really well. I actually playtested each unit with the intended families(so a 3 sim, a 4 sim and two 5 sim families) for several days and honestly the only stompy area I found was that little 1x3 bathroom. For some reason they got themselves stuck in there a couple times. But then that's possible with most bathrooms. I really should have mentioned the details of all this in my post, but I both directed the whole familiy to specific places all at the same time and then I also let them freewill for a few days. The 3 computers worked fine simultaneously since there is always a reserved space behind pretty much all pulled in dining chairs(a couple styles are bugged but the ones I used are fine), so all the computers can be accessed even if the others next to them are occupied. The only potential problem there is if a sim just happens to be getting up from a chair when another is walking by. So while it's definitely possible that it'll cause problems it's actually in my experience very rare. It's the same sort of thing as placing a dining table and chairs next to a wall. Honestly I have always set things up in that sort of way and I personally haven't had a problem with it. Also, the violin and the bookcase in the basement actually do work simultaneously, I tested those very specifically and rearranged it so the bookcase was accessible while a sim was playing the violin and also while others were sitting on the couch, all at the same time. Also on the roof right next to the grill there is one of those park style tables for setting any prepared food on. Though it is true sims would have to bring the raw food up from downstairs. I guess I hadn't considered adding a mini-fridge up there, but yeah that could have made it better. And the last thing is the stairs I used are CC non modular stairs(found here), and how they work is there are actually no animations at all, sims just kind of teleport from bottom to top and visa versa. Because of that they actually move freely from the basement to the roof very quickly. It is kind of a weird, almost cheaty thing though, so I would understand if that wasn't a fair consideration. But just wanted to note that most CC non modular stairs have that quality to them. It is what it is. But in my experience they don't cause any stomping issues.

So just, yeah, lots and lots of playtesting occurred. I always build this way and it has worked well for me. Your mileage may vary though.

Judge 2: Just wanted to say thank you!! And I'll definitely add more phones if I do more large apartments. Also, I'll have community space on my next lot. I usually add that, but I just didn't have anywhere to put it this round. Not a square to spare on this one, lol

Judge 3: I do have a trash compactor in every kitchen in the same place as in the photo(counter next to the fridge). Sorry I totally forgot to mention that specifically. And also thank you so much for the glowing review! It totally made my day! :D

Anyway, I'm super happy you guys. Thank you so much for the lovely words and feedback!

Had a read of the comments and just wanted to respond.
Judge 1: I understand your comment about lack of decoration. At the time I was worried about the budget going over so was sparing and figured any Sims moving in would add their touches. I think the porches are fine without a fence. I've seen plenty like that.
Judge 2: I don't think the bedrooms are too empty, except perhaps unit 1. (I don't like poky.) I used the same staircase in each unit as this is standard in any apartment block structure - it's cheaper when being built. I've yet to see apartment blocks with different staircases in each unit.
Judge 3: Same comment as above regarding structure and main build of apartment block. I figure units start off the same and Sims redecorate when they move in. Again I was worried about going over budget so used basic walls. I disagree completely about the bathrooms having too much space.
Thanks to judges overall. It's not an easy job.

Edit: I loathe Maxis curtains so won't be using any. If I lose points because of it, so be it.

I am at work and answer rest later, this one I needed to clarify right away. No it was not the pool table, it was the mailbox. You did put trashcan to next tile, left side of it, and it will prevent sims paying their rent. Trascan will block their way to the small rentbox, located left side of the mailbox. I had to playtest that setting myself to be sure. And if I am misstaken and the trashcan is not in the next tile from left of the mailbox, you will naturally get points back.

HugeLunatic	Deco	Build	Playability	Creativity	Requirement
Judge	3.5	5	4.5	4	5
Judge	4.5	5	5	4	5
Judge	4.5	5	4	5	5

Host bonus: 3
Total: 72


I build minimalist, so what you feel is empty to me is perfect. The same goes for interiors, I don't do clutter just to fill a space. Prepare to be underwhelmed I guess, you won't be getting lush gardens from me. :p



There were no interior pics from my reference image, so I chose to go with the open plan concept that is all the rage in the US. I did try a half wall, didn't like it, it closed it off too much. I prefer open plans versus little rooms all over the place. I could have put a rug under the table, but yuck! Ever have a toddler eat at your table? LoL Also makes less foot stomping. The lack of bathroom fixtures, welp, totally missed that.



All have phones, just can't see them, all have alarms hidden behind the stove vent. There was a trash bin in apt 1, but I moved it when add the piano and forgot to put it back I guess?


I took it and it somehow didn't get included when uploading. With a limit in the uploader, I was trying to make sensible batches of pics. Clearly that one was not sensible to me!

Thanks for the positive feedback on the playground. It was actually a bit of a last minute decision, I originally had four units, and I'm still a bit ambivalent about it. It does have lighting, I place all my lights at night so I can see how the light glow effects play off the room.

@gummilutt @magnolia Hmm maybe I misread the score then. I could have sworn I saw 78.5 as your grand total above, but now that I look it is 78. So never mind my last note. Sorry!

Peni - by that, I'm only referring to the overhead floorplan shots (not the room/atmosphere shots.)
90% of judging takes place looking at those floorplan shots

This is one of those instances where conflict is probably immanent I'm judging, and I don't like overly huge wasted-space bathrooms. Luxury bathrooms are fine. In moderation - like 1 per unit - and probably in the master suite only. As I said in my comments, "I’m not taking off for it per se, but you should know, wasted bathroom space bugs me, and it will keep your build from getting a perfect score from me."

FTR, I have no problem with the "structure and main build of apartment block", my comment (that all 4 upstairs hallways use the same walls/floors) is referring to the fact that you were supposed to personalize each apartment within the unit. AND, suggesting that it is hard as a judge to tell which unit is which when they are all using the same floors/walls. The game has many different plain paints/carpets that all fall under the same price. You could've used a wider variety without compromising your budget.

ETA: Can anybody help me with this? Can anyone figure out why the lights stopped lighting? (It's posted in the Mentors thread, but haven't had any responses yet.) Thanks!

Oh, floorplan shots I can do all the same direction! That's a relief. I rotated Unit 5 because it wasn't getting the full treatment and I figured that rated a closer floorplan shot, which was impossible to get without rotating. I'll bear that in mind in the future.

Thank you very much, judges, for taking the time to review and provide feedback. However, judge 3's comments and score are in relation to Charmful's build - @gummilutt could you please update my score table and feedback?

I'll take floorplan shots by unit in the next round; I didn't realize how much information the judges got from those. I'll also list where small items are in the description to help you locate them.

Judge 1: I'm glad you like the look of the place; I'm planning on using a heavy cc version of this build in my medieval 'hood. The lawn area was left empty for water balloon fights and tag, but I should have added some bushes or flowers against that wall and experimented more with terrain paint. With the doors, I think it will be more obvious which is the apartment door with future rounds, but if not I'll mention that in the description, too. As for the patio, it is usable but only two sims can dance before the bar gets crowded. One of the tables had originally been a BBQ and when I decided I needed more seating I thought I'd moved it to the corner by the gate but instead I seem to have deleted it. Oops!

Judge 2: The hike for the phone is noted; I completely forgot to put them upstairs. As for the style, I don't know if my future entries are going to be Veronville-ish, but the structures are going to done so that they can be easily redecorated to fit into my historic 'hood. I'm pleased this one turned out well, and I hope that I manage to make the mix of old and new work for the next rounds. I'm glad you like the yards; they are a big part of how I tried to personalize the apartments for my imagined tenants. I love having community spaces in apartments; they are the main reason I play apartments as I like watching neighbours use them.

Thank you very much for the comments.

I've already pm'd Gummi about that - I'm sure she'll get to it when she can.

Thank you!

I should have made part of unit 1's nursery into a bathroom and then shifted the layout of the loft area to make more efficient use of that space and the bathroom. I didn't want to make unit 1 and 4 identical, and I got frustrated with the layout near the stairs so I just gave up and decided to make a luxury bathroom.

Like you, I don't like huge bathrooms, but I've seen some monstrosities in the real world so I figured some people must like them. You should see some places - more bathrooms than bedrooms, and master ensuites as bigger than bedrooms. We're living out of country right now, so have been renting a house and it has a stupidly large ensuite - I am actually using half of it (including the bathtub) as storage as the house doesn't have a basement, attic, or other storage room.

I'll keep the flooring in mind for the future. While I was making the apartment shells, I had used different carpets to keep the units clear to myself, but then I replaced that with the wood flooring when decorating. It didn't occur to me how useful different floors would be for others to view the apartments.

I appreciate the feedback and thank you for taking the time to do the review and provide the comments.

finished building my cheap apartment~
it looks really expensive but the rent's only 500-700 woot woot
now all i gotta do is play test :3

In my opinion 2 points deducted for the mailbox/trashcan is too much.

I still don't agree that my bathrooms have too much space. There is enough space for a Sim to move about freely but by no stretch of the imagination are they too big. I had to use wide angle to get the room in.

avoid putting anything on the tile next to the faucet side of a bathtub. doing si will block sims from using it.

I haven't?

I posted a question about the price of the Nocturnal Rumours half wall in the stupid questions thread, but since everyone here is trying to build cheaply right now I thought I should mention it here, too. For some reason, in my game one of these walls (the colour is "whisper") is only costing $1/tile, while the other 3 colours cost $80. I noticed the discrepancy today when trying to find a cheap wall or fence, and I don't know if it's a problem with my game or something common to others. I'm doing my building in a minimal cc setup, with only the essential mods, cc stairs, and cc windows and I'm not aware of having anything that changes the prices of walls even in my full cc set-up. If it's a common pricing error made by EA, everyone should know that there is an inexpensive wall option, and if it's something with my setup, I'd like to know so that I can avoid taking advantage of a problem with my setup.

Hmm, interesting. It's the same in my game. Thanks for the heads up, although I've now finished my build.

Haha, so you found it, huh? I use that wall in quite a few of my Frugal Lane and Tightwad Street homes, because it is so cheap. I found a few walls like that too if anyone wants to know what they are, although I'm sure you guys do already. So there is nothing wrong with your setup. I build in a game with very few mods and no CC - that wall is a Maxis glitch, enjoy it!

*squints*
curse these weak eyes! I thought your toilet was next to it sorry

@Karen Lorraine , I have messaged gummi about raising your playability to 4. Also @Magnolia , I have forgotten how those stairs work (teleport thingy) , and clearly I was wrong, so you will get small raise also.

Sorry it took so long to reply, I was not at my computer and my phone refuses to log me in here. Now only short visit and then won't be back until late tomorrow.

I hope you (generally) understand I am new at judging, and only way to learn it right, is to make it wrong first (or I am just too stubborn to learn fast )

while playtesting I noticed that my sims refuse to use their in-unit microwave and insisted on trecking 2 floors from their apartment to the communal kitchen FOR THE SAME MICROWAVE

thus i removed their kitchenettes and found the playables and townies using the communal spaces like i intended them to uvu

Thank you Ellu, much appreciated Judging is very hard.

So guttered, wish I'd realised this was on, feeling like a good contest!

You can always play along. We didn't get very far yet.

Please join as a playalong! I would love to see what you make.

You guys have inspired me to open my game for the first time in months from seeing everything presented here. :lovestruc
Now if I can just get past those "haven't uploaded in a while jitters".

another quirk I found in playtesting

there are no breakfast / lunch / dinner options for refrigerators and stoves in communal kitchens but only make single or group plates (kinda ok if I dont want time-specific meals)
if they have a dining table and chair in their apartment unit, they will eat there instead of the communal dining hall which sucks since my communal dining room is now a ghost town.

Hey kanzen, if you put a mini fridge in the sims' unit, does that unlock regular actions on the communal fridge? It did for me.

yes it did =) but it would make them use the communal kitchen instead of their own kitchenettes and then go back to their units to eat. thus making the dining hall empty as ever
sims...such weird creatures =))

I have yet to test what happens if they have a mini fridge but no dining tables and chairs in the unit
edit: they still insist on eating in their units even if they have to do it on the sofa.

Thank you! Yes, the backyards use invisible fencing so they are indeed private. I didn't realize about the pool table! I only had one of my sims test it out and I see later that multiple sims need more space, whoops!



The apartments do all have phones, but I'll try to make sure to put them where they can be seen on the screenshots better. All but one are wall phones, I believe, so the overhead view hid them I guess. I didn't realize I used any restricted CC, unless Store items count as CC. I wasn't sure about that so I just left them in. And that's a good idea about plants in the front of the apartments! Thanks so much!



Whoops, I -did- forget trash cans in those two units! I must have moved something around and forgot to put them back Thanks for the advice about the roof and the screenshots! I definitely have a plan about improving the pictures this time, but we'll see how it goes.



I'm so sorry! I thought 5x3 was smaller than 4x4, whoops. I'll watch out for the space on future builds. Thanks!

Also I've definitely been avoiding actually replying to the scores because I was a little embarrassed, whoops.

Cat, I always wondered why you disliked orange so much, and for me it was the same (parents dressing me in it). Being the first baby girl to my parents, I got absolutely smothered in pink. Pink EVERYTHING. For years into my pre-teens I had so many pink things to wear and play with it... it was bad.

I'm an only, of an only... I don't know why I didn't get the pink smother. I guess it was because my Mom liked orange, she was a red-head (dyed) at the time (mid 60's) - she even wore orange lipstick. I remember being horrified LOL!
Anywho... I love pink - especially raspberry! Yes, I even had a raspberry beret - back in 'the' day - though I always wore it with everything on

Sims are strange, indeed they are - and people are funny!

I have already posted this in the Strangetown contest, but I guess it is best to also post it here.
I'm at the hospital and I'll probably be here for at least a week, so building for either contest is on hold. So is having a closer look at my scores and comments, I'll try to take a better look at those (and post my thoughts) when I'm back home and feeling well.

EDIT: I only have 2 out of 6ish units (haven't decided on the total number yet) decorated, but they're quite cheap, around 800 simoleons of rent and actually feature somewhat nice furniture. I thought it would be harder to get things under the budget. When I leave the hospital I will post my findings (they are on my desktop) regarding rent and apartment space (I hope I leave on time to still be of use to others!)

Don't worry about the contests. Your health is way more important. Take care, and see you back here soon.

Edit: Three days left and no-one's put up an entry yet. I was waiting because I didn't want to be the first again... :P

Three days? I've started taking pictures but I'm still playing with camera mods...We'll have an explosion within the next 72 hours, though, you'll see.

I'm sorry everyone. I have house guests this weekend and they turned out to be a lot more nocturnal than I expected, no "free" time at all. They leave in the afternoon tomorrow so will get up to date on score questions then, and fix the scores judges want edited.