I can totally relate to ya, Rock Justice.  I'm and elder simmer so I have those resources, but when I was in college, and later raising my kids as a single parent, just buying food and clothing were major investments. The intent of my post is to encourage financially secure members to sacrifice a latte or two, and help the site owners pay their server costs.

All Simmers deserve access to great CC, not just those with credit cards and PayPal accounts.  After all, we OWN the game. We, or our parents/friends, etc. have paid E-Axis their royalties. I believe the people who run and create for Insim feel the same way. I was, frankly, shocked that with thousands of members, Insim only received $35 in January.  Some really great people are paying out of pocket to get this content onto our computers, and consoles.  No one should feel bad if they can't give.  I'm simply urging those of is who can, to show our appreciation with a modest donation.  If 1000 people give even $10 a month, Insim can continue to give every player incredible content on high-end servers, without struggling to simply stay online.

My sincere thanks for your reply to my post.  I'm glad to know members are reading it.  Hopefully, some few of us will take my words to heart.

Happy Simming, Rock!

Michele

If I woke up inside Sims 2, I hope I would be in Strangetown.  I'd wait for Tank Grunt to get out of college, and seduce him. If not Tank, I'd make sure my own Sim Hunk, Joey Jones, was there and available.  I'd also be sure to build a house that had all the necessary stuff for survival,  i.e. fire alarm, burglar alarm, pool stair, no plants in contact with the house, a maid, a gardener, AND most importantly, bathrooms and spaces large enough for me to navigate without getting trapped and starving to death.  I'd choose an art, or journalism career.

When I'm not playing Sims2 (I am not planning to move up to Sims3), I have found an app that has the feel of The Sims--Sorority Life by "Carol" and Playdom Games.)  It isn't as rich in content, but it has given me another avenue for social networking, and has given me an excuse to go into my MySpace account.  (I'm such a luddite, I still haven't figured out that Facebook is not just for college students anymore)  LOL!!!  At any rate, right now I'm surfing Sims sites to restore all the CC I lost when I accidently deleted my Downloads folder.  It's a long story with which I will not belabour you.  My only regret is I can't find SAU and all those fabulous Myos, et al hairs and clothes.  Whaaaaah!  Have a great day, all!

Michele

     During the many years I have played The Sims, thousands of free fan sites have been created. Most, if not all, need some form of financial support from their membership, and some that provided my favorite content have been forced to close. The "survivors"--Insimenator, Gay Sims Club, Mod the Sims, and Sims2CarSource to name but a few, have all needed to alter their host/bandwidth costs in order to remain online. Naturally, in this time of recession, all of us are adjusting our budgets to pay for basic needs, but when natural disasters, or other tragedies occur we still give "out of our need" to those causes. When I think of the years of dedication given by managers and creators on these sites, I feel their generosity has enriched all of us Simmers; therefore, let us show our gratitude through concrete action, in this case consistent financial support.
     Take the example of pc-sims (Sims Mod Board). I remember when they begged for volunteers, and financial help. I quickly gave a donation, and offered to assist with moderating, but it was too late; the site closed. The owner kindly replied, and thanked me for my dedication, but a beloved site was sent to the "graveyard" which is still seeking content from fans.  
     Now consider the social aspects of these sites. I have made hundreds of online acquaintances, a few of which have become personal friends. Who among us doesn't recognize the names, Numenor, Beosboxboy, Warlokk, KSK, Delphy, Quaxi, Enayla, and countless others? These people have given freely to us players--we should give freely to ensure their amazing creations remain easily accesible. Neither The Sims Graveyard, nor Paysites Must Be Destroyed, are complete or easy to navigate.
     The Sims EULA: Yeah. The key to why I will NEVER support paysites. I challenge anyone to prove subscriber/donation content is equal, or superior to what we can find right here. I make a modest donation every month, out of my want. Please, fellow Simmers! Let us put our appreciation into action. Let us ensure Insimenator stays online, it's presence and vibrance a continuing part of our lives.  Thank you all who read this and take it to heart.  

Michele Hansen (Momma Michele, mhahse57, and mhanse)

Your hard work is a testament to the energy of youth.  Wish I were savvy enough to mesh clothes.  Awesome job!!

Michele

"Last Dance" by Donna Summer.  I hated disco in the '70s, and was a self-proclaimed Rock Rebel.  If it wasn't Zeppelin, BTO, ELP, Rush, Wings, Billy Joel, Doobies, The Who, Supertramp, etc. I absolutely ignored it.  The one great piece of "Disco-mania" that redeemed was a movie called "Thank God It's Friday" which had a latin Jazz dance number by "The Leatherman" that was totally da bomb.  The rest of the movie was forgettable, 'cept I always liked Donna Summer, the Commodors, and really dug good funk.  Which wasn't disco. 

A new song I love but shouldn't is the one about the guys riding around town, observing the cops hatin' on em with their music blasting loud, and those piggies just hoping to catch 'em doin' something illegal so they could bust em.  Can't remember the group or title but I love the song.

Just so you know, I have played Sims2 on a laptop with every EP and nearly every stuff pack (and 30,000 download files) for the last four years and, yes at first on the 2003 models with XP the game lagged badly (It was only a 50 Gig computer with Sims2 up to OFB on board.)  However, if you get even a mid-range laptop by today's standards, the Sims2 and especially Sims3 should play fine. I got my new HP laptop in 2007--it plays incredibly well.  Newer models with 2GB of RAM and a 1.6 GB core work great, and those are now way lower than the $1,200 US I paid two years ago.  I would like to have a 200 GB hard drive, but I am quite content with the 160 Gig that I got.  The trick is to ask your dealer, specifically, for a gaming level video and sound card (mine's an NVidia 7600 and works great even with high poly meshes) Your computer dealer should be willing to get one that is comparable without overcharging you at all.  If not, walk out of the store.   

In addition it has been advertised by EAxis that Sims3 will play fine even on older laptops.  They are using the same engine that they built for their "Sims Stories" series, I think.  I bought Castaway because it looked like a fun, unique Sims2 game, and I was right. However, there is less depth to the textures and the game is equal to the Sims2 basegame.  Sims3 is advertising that they are "simplifying" the imagery which makes me think "lower graphic quality."  For that reason, I am holding out on Sims3. (I did the same with Sims2) for the first year.  I'll get my presents from Santa for Christmas 2009, if I see the game is inviting to free-site  CC creators.  If not, EA is losing a 10-year customer, and they'll get a personal letter so they know it.  No Sims games have been worth a dime without all you dedicated meshers, hackers, and modders who were more interested in building a fan community, than profiting from your talents. 

Fine, Henry m'man.  I accept that EA/Maxis is selling to the lowest common denominator.  Will our amazing modders/hackers and creators stick with their CC creation?  Even Beos and Marvine are now in retirement.  Is this just a hiatus in preparation for their return with BB, HBB, Athlete, SBB, and Athletic gals for Sims3?  Or are new, intrepid geniuses going to need to hone their skills to pick up the slack?  If the quality of free content goes out the window, and paysites become my only way to find good hair, clothes, body meshes, and natural skintones with CrammyBoy-level enhancement, EA/Maxis might as well let the idiots who support those sites take over.  I'd rather play Sims1 (which was awesome for its time) than put my hard earned money into commercial CC creators' pockets.

Wow!  We all find such interesting ways to work our in-game simmies through life.  Some of you seem to love betrayals and mixed/blended families.  Lately (I'm still playing Strangetown) I have gone a generation back and created a family of my own, the Farngoulds who's son Elija becomes a college roomie with down-aged Nervous Subject and Lazlo Curious.

I love that the Insimenator can do that.  Nervous just graduated with a history degree (He can be seen in his younger, way gothed out incarnation in photo 1 below)and Lazlo got his degree in physics (gee.  what a surprise.)

I will start playing the Grunts, Smiths, Curious, and Spectre families as this first generation of kids moves on to having their own families. And yes, Nervous will have his affair with Circe. 

One thing I have absolutely decided is that Buck Grunt is gay.  I always felt a wrongness about his personality as a straight guy.  Jill Smith will age up with him, but they will only be bffs.  I am also getting Joey (my hero who is only a child right now) into a situation where his father either dies, becomes a vampire, or leaves for another woman, and Joey is left with his achoholic/druggie mother who loses him to the social worker.  He will be adopted by a gorgeous, loving gay couple and then go on to fall in love with Tank's wife, Solveig after college. (Image 2 below shows Tank and Solveig when they meet after college.  She was down-aged as well and graduated from another University.)  I already told the Joey affair part of the story in my earlier thread.  Perhaps this time I will get the photos right and my entire saga can be posted chapter by chapter.  May the Sims3 give us as many ways to play.  

Cheers!

Michele

I made sure my laptop could handle every Sims2 EP, and all my downloads without lag.  I've been concerned that the new game might not be as rich visually, or have smooth movements because the engine has been altered to accomodate older PCs.  In addition, will the End User License allow "Pay Sites" rather than just ignoring the issue?  I have seldom supported sites that give special "gifts" to donors.  There were a couple of exceptions, but only because on one site I was already a donor, and on another I truly admire the creator/modder (Numenor actually) and donated out of respect for his incredible body of work for Sims 2, and not to get his "gift."  I'm a "Paysites Must be Destroyed" advocate actually. 

Will The Sims 3 be a sacrifice in quality?  I hope not.  I also don't think sales of high end games were down just because of their system reqs.  The economy could actually be more of a factor there.  More efficient game engine or not, if the game is still retailing for about $40 US, sales will still be down--of that I am certain.  I can't afford to invest another $500 in the Sims 3 over the next eight years, unless it is a huge improvement over the current, amazingly detailed, loaded with CC game I already own. We'll see if it ends up under the Christmas tree in 2009.  Until then I'm sticking with Sims 2. 

Michele

Personally, I do wish EA/Maxis would make an EP that is rated "Mature" and includes adult content (not just violence, but other stuff for us adults.)  Sims can die from many causes, even simply from ennui. It has happened several times to me in my games.  Totally unexpected deaths are a real part of life, so if the game allows that, why pixelate showering sims or make WooHoo just silly and not the loving, passionate act it should be?  Our "teen" kids see more sex, and violence on primetime TV--at least the love scenes in the game could be richer.  OK, I admit it--I'm an incurable romantic, but anyone who downloaded my paintings from Insim Adult (mhanse is my handle for adult sites) knows that already. 

The game is rated "T for Teen" because it alludes to sex, making babies, cheating spouses, and other stuff that might be inappropriate for younger children. Yet there are millions of parents who have no issues buying this game for their 6-year olds.  I know this: I was a Moderator for Sims2CarSource and a couple other sites. They were all-ages sites with really young members.  If Sims 3 is just more kid stuff and our great modders can't get us the content we adults desire, I doubt I will make the switch from Sims 2.  If the Maestros think the game is worth their efforts (and we all know who they are) I will be one of the first members of the new Insimenator.org/net or whatever, MTS3, GSC3, Sims3Carsource (kudos and best wishes to TreZillah.  Hello dear one.), SAU, Arthemista, and any other totally free sites.  AND I will happily donate to them as I have in the past. 

Cheers!

Michele

This one is simple:  Here are my top ten (not in order of preference)

1. Skintones that are anatomically correct.
2. Great custom hair meshes and colors.
3. The Insimenator in all its glory.
4. Adult content sites for us legal age simmers (especially censor removal tools) 
5. Community--Insim and other Sims fan sites that have given me friends around the world.
6. SimPE so we can make our own content to share. 
7. Special clothing meshes and re-textures. 
8. If the code can be cracked, posing and movement/interaction mods for storytellers and film-makers.
9. Critiques from top modders like Beosboxboy, Ju, Kere, Kavar, Numenor, Marilu, Kathy, Echo, Enayla, Warlokk, RGiles and many others who belong on this list, so I can know what, if anything, makes the game better than Sims 2. The lowered ram and drive space requirements make me nervous about overall gaming quality. 
10. If possible, an adaptor for all those awesome free content downloads for Sims 2 (I have over 30,000 Rars) and posting it ASAP so I have a reason to buy the game.  My decision to even leave Sims 2 will be dependent upon you above named maestros.  If you don't convert, I will stick with Sims 2.  Oh!  And I will never support pay sites even if EA/Maxis allows it in the End User License.  I will continue to donate only to Free Sites.  Period.

Arcia, these are wonderful!  I love your hairs.  I'm an old 70s girl (classic rock and Star Wars when they were new.  Cool, eh?) who is addicted to flare leg pants, Beatle boots, and long hair on guys.  You make my simming day!

By the way.  This hair could almost go on Robert Plant singing "Stairway to Heaven" or "Kashmir" we just need the bracelet.  Great work.

Michele

If I decide the Sims 3 is worth it and you geniuses, (Eric, Kathy, Ju, Kavar, Beosboxboy, Warlokk, Kerial, Echo, Enayla, and all the rest) start making CC, I would want some new Hairstyles.  Men's and Women's.  I have been a hair and custom bods and clothes addict since I discovered Insim, and would want those before I get any thing else.  

Is the game worth another $350 investment?  I haven't seen anything that sells it to me.  I have spent so much time searching and collecting treasures by you creators for the Sims 2, I don't feel like I'm in any hurry to switch over.  

Have a great fall and winter everyone!

Michele

Seriously.  Only one word to describe these....

WOW!!

Thanks Enayla:

Michele