SIMS2 MOVIE TIPS

Here are some tips and shortcuts, which I gleaned from reading the manual and internet searches and personal experience, that can assist the SIMS2 Machinima maker.

It is assumed you will have read the instruction manual and therefore be familiar with the basic operations of SIMS2. In this section we will focus on how to use SIMS2 controls and cheats to make Machinima production simpler.

To use any of the cheats described below you will first need to press CTRL + SHIFT + C to access the cheat entry area. Typing exit closes cheat window. Typing expand expands or contracts cheat window.

Assuming you are going to set up a shoot, you may not want to first spend hours playing SIMS2, to earn the money you will need to purchase a suitable property and furnish it.

In the cheat area type motherlode - this will instantly give you 50,000 simoleans (SIMS currency). You can type motherlode several times to ensure you have enough money to purchase the movie making requisites.

Now in the game you need to go about selecting or designing your characters, purchasing a property or building one on a purchased plot, and filling it with props such as kitchen appliances, sofas, chairs, tables, televisions, beds, artwork etc.

Once you have your set as you want it, save the game with a name that identifies it as your basic set. You don't know when there may be a fire or a burglar might visit destroying all your hard work - So it is best to save it so that you can easily start again if a calamity occurs.

Here are some additional cheats which may be useful as you set up the shoot.

StretchSkeleton makes your SIMs larger or smaller.

aging off - turns off aging.

aging on - turns on aging.

boolProp enablePostProcessing true - turns Postprocessing on.

boolProp enablePostProcessing false - turns Postprocessing off.

vignette # # # - Creates blurry bits at the edge of the screen. (# = 0.0 to 1.0) (requires postprocessing on)

filmGrain # - Makes the screen grainy (# = 0.0 to 1.0) (require postprocessing on).

-nosound Disables sound

If you want to do some nude shots type intprop censorgridsize 0 into the cheats area. The nude SIMS are rather tame, lacking nipples and genitals. By searching the internet it is possible to find downloadable nude skins, which add the more realistic details.

Because the SIMs have minds of their own, once you have assembled them at the shoot location, it is again best to save the game (with a meaningful name), so that you can restart at the saved point, should things go awry.

While filming you need to be careful to plan your camera shots so that you don't get views of things like missing ceilings. Using the controls below, you can set your camera positions in advance and easlily toggle between them. In addition in the game the selected SIM has a green diamond over their head. You will either need to shoot low so that the diamond does not appear in the shot, or just before shooting select a SIM who is off set (preferably busy or sleeping in another room) so that the diamond is transferred away from the set. Remember also that for video capture, especially if using Fraps that you will need to turn off the control / display panels (instructions below).

The following shortcuts are not cheats as such, but are essential for the SIMS2 movie maker to be aware of:-

CAMERA CONTROLS

Rotate Left/Right..... [<] / [>]
Tile Camera..... [Control] + Right Click or Middle Click (hold)
Zoom In/Out..... [+] / [-] or [Z] / [X] or Mouse Wheel (up and down)
Move Camera..... Right Click (Hold and Drag)
Move Left/ Right..... Left Arrow / Right Arrow or [A] / [D] (Adding [Shift] goes faster)
Move Forward/Back..... Up Arrow / Down Arrow or [W] / [S] (Adding [Shift] goes faster).
Save Camera Positions 0-5..... [Control] + [4] through [Control] + [9]
Move to Camera Positions 0 through 5..... [4] through [9]
Switch To Camera Positions 0 through 5..... [Shift] + [4] through [Shift] + [9]
Toggle Cameraman Mode..... [Tab]
Lower/Raise Camera Height..... [Q] / [E]

UNIVERSAL CONTROL PANEL [UCP]

Hide UCP..... [F10]
Center on Active Sim..... [Return]
Toggle Day/Night (Buy/Build Mode)..... [L]

VIDEO CAPTURE AND SNAPSHOTS

Start/End Video Capture..... [V]
Pause Resume Video Capture..... [ B ]
Take Snapshot..... [C]

If using Fraps instead of the SIMS2 built in Video Capture, then Fraps has it's own customisable short cuts.

MAIN TOOLBAR

Open Close Live Mode Panel..... [F1]
Show Buy Mode Panel..... [F2]
Show Build Mode Panel..... [F3]
Show Story Mode Panel..... [F4]
Show Options Mode Panel..... [F5]
Go Up/Down One Floor..... [Page Up] / [Page Down]

NEIGHBORHOOD TOOLBAR

Show/Hide Families Panel..... [F1]
Show Lots and Houses Panel..... [F2]
Show Decorations Panel..... [F3]
Show Neighborhood Story..... [F4]
Show Options Panel..... [F5]

ROTATE

Rotate Object/Sims Clockwise..... [>]
Rotate Object/Sims Anti-Clockwise..... [<]

I have not tried it, but have read that by typing boolprop testingCheatsEnabled true in the cheats area, you can then hold down the SHIFT key and click on a SIM and choose spawn. You will then see various items to spawn, one of which is Paul's Reaction Tester. Selecting this spawns a box, whereby when you click on that box, you can choose different actions for your SIM.