Sim links

Update october 2010: idly clicking links to see what was still up, I found that not only were most of them dead, but some dead ones now pointed to porn sites. Not everyone likes to suddenly stare at rows of human backsides, so a pruning is in order. To preserve some of the former glory of these deceased sites, I won't remove their entry, but simply take out the link and add "DEAD".

For those who absolutely need it, I have burned to CD both the downloads from dead sites needed for my houses and the following utilities from dead sites: Transmogrifier (and version 2), Skin Doctor, Codex, IffPencil 2, ObjectId and Scriptstation, and Namer for the Mac. However, I don't have the creators' permission to distribute these files, or reliable contact info for that matter.

Programs/utility:

• SimsTools:
  A list of tried & true Sims tools, and a help section. Useful especially for its info on Blueprint, now that the online Blueprint manual has either moved or disappeared. DEAD. All I get now is "Directory Listing Denied".
• The Sims Workshop:
  This used to have a useful and handy link list of programs and tutorials, but the information is more scattered now. Good luck trying to find what you're looking for. (Now mostly Sims2 and down for maintenance when I checked.)
• LushCreations.com:
  Home of Transmogrifier. Object makers can get their magic cookie here. DEAD. No more cookies.
• The Sims 1 Depot: Must Have Programs For Simmers:
  A new link that will have to replace the previous three.
• Elisims:
  A utility written to allow multiple neighbourhoods in the original Sims game. It hasn't outlived its use, as it is also a game editor and can check for corrupted or missing components.
• FarView II (scroll down to the heading "The Sims"):
  A FAR viewer that v iews almost everything inside a FAR. Also downloadable here: actions.zip,containing some test animations not used in the game.
• SimPose-ium:
  Something like Poser for Sims. Now also with a version for the Sims 2.
• FleshDolls.com:
  The maker of the downloads on this site has kindly put up some z-buffer templates for other artists. Click on "Creation" in the tab on the left. (This site may go down any day, and when it does, I'll put up the templates on my page. But, encouragingly enough, it's still up in 2010.)
• The P3dO Explorer Image viewer:
  A freeware file browser created for Poser files, recognizes many Sim file formats, but shows a number of them as "icons" (white squares). It is however invaluable for browsing non-archived skins.
• The Rooke's Nest:
  This cleverly designed site carries a utility which makes "non-droppable" doors and windows go down, very convenient when one doesn't want to constantly lose sight of one's Sims. It also has walls and objects worth checking.
• Apple.com - game updates:
  Go here for all Mac Sims patches. DEAD. I'm not sure the patches are still up for download. Apple has moved on to the Sims 3.
• The Blarney Stone:
  This all-round site is the place to find a useful browsing and fault-detecting program called "Skin Doctor". DEAD. The site had already chucked its old-Sim downloads except for "Skin Doctor" anyway, according to a forum announcement.
• The URL to Codex, an Edith-type IFF editor less reliable for editing than IFF Pencil, but more useful for debugging because it shows the BHAV blocks in tree form. DEAD.

• Carnation and Citronella Grove:
  Objects for the Sims made by and for Mac-owners. DEAD.
• Candlelight Sims:
  Beautiful objects created by a 3D artist, and gorgeous wallpapers. Not a paysite yet, but Gamespy id required for downloading. Home of the Virtuoso objects. DEAD. A search for fansites on Gamespy.com turned up this list.
• Simbolix:
  Very original objects; for instance, this site provides rain and snow. DEAD? The owner now prefers the Sims 2 and 3, and apparently the whole site will move, according to the new, blog-like site's news. The old downloads are nowhere to be seen.
• Simply Enchanted:
  Interesting objects, and three delightful tutorials, one of them about adding new animations. The author's experience with the world of object-hacking mirrors mine.
• Sims on a Stick:
  More ways to kill your Sims! And other objects too. Frozen for now, as Real Life is getting in the way of updates. DEAD.
• Cheap frills:
  A hilarious intro and objects aimed at - among other things - keeping your Sim in shape; check out all the special tiles. Donations are accepted. DEAD.
• SimsPlus:
  I didn't really look around here, but noticed that the compressed object files were offered in both .zip and (Mac) .sit format. A Mac-friendly site? DEAD.
• OpenLea's MySims:
  Part paysite. There seem to be some very adult things up for download here, specially constructed Sims with, um, extra possibilities, beds with new extra animations... To the erotically disinterested visitor, the site also offers objects, houses (residences, rather) and richly coloured walls/floors. It also has anti-censor patches. Functionally DEAD as it is now a mess of sites with popups and an unpleasant pro-American slogan that puts me off as much as abovementioned porn pages. The kicker was when the "link" I had to update my bookmarks to opened a popup saying I had now been registered somewhere. For those who don't mind being messed with: Google it, there is some pretty stuff.
• TheSims.co.uk:
  A semi-official site with news and fan-made stuff for download. I dl'd my first hacked objects here. DEAD. This URL now belongs to a blog about video games.
• Simsbox.com:
  A multilingual Sims site with info (like how to get the Sims for Linux) and downloads, including a Rei Ayanami skin. DEAD.
• www.thesims.be.tf:
  An unpleasantly popup-riddled site (but that's not the site owner's fault) with the program ObjectId and many objects for download, mostly recoloured; some by Xuan, who recolours them in Chinese style and now has her own site (equally popup-riddled). An ObjectId-related link I found is Making a list of objects in the Sims. All DEAD, unfortunately.
• SIMstitution:
  Many objects including some incredible pets (and, it seemed, the odd "patriotic" object, so I didn't stay long) and, more importantly, a tutorial on how to make animations in SimPose. (I found many objects from this site on a Sims CD-ROM I bought, and of which I now doubt the legality.) DEAD after one nobody too many accused the sitemaster of stealing objects. There is a SIMstitution Yahoo group, requiring membership, which I didn't check out.
• Persimmon Grove:
  Unleashed avant-la-lettre, this Mac-friendly site offers a wealth of garden plants and objects in natural materials. It also explains to Mac users how to use IFFSnooper as an alternative to T-Mog.
• Hehe... I laughed myself silly over the FAQ at the bottom of the "Ponderings" on Another #%*& Sims Site, a collection of hacked and half-hacked objects from an obvious Sim-nerd (and coming from me, "nerd" is a compliment).
• Although BNJxLVR is chiefly a skin/mesh site (and more especially, home of Kyoen's amazing hair meshes) I've put it under "objects" because it hosts Caro's Sim Essentials, the core of the closed site Caro's Sim Kagen, and the place to pick up that unique transparent floor tile. Both DEAD but possibly completely preserved in this membership-requiring Yahoo group.
• This site solely offers the transparent floor tile from Caro's Sim Essentials.
• Moppet Sims:
  Found when looking for the above site, uses Kyoen's meshes, nice skins and downloads.
• Ophelia's little page about the Sims:
  Gothic/rustic objects for Sims. A round Art Studio template, and diagonal windows - it's nice to see diagonals put to some use.
• C&C Enterprises:
  Cleverly hacked objects, and a number of tutorials; I wasn't sure whether to put this site here or under "Info".
• M&M Needful Things:
  A donation site with a velvety purple background for clever hacks and custom animations, mostly of the "adult" kind, but also things like letting the Sims dance the Macarena. The downloads are now in a forum for which you have to register; it's free, and probably to keep out the underaged.
• SIMale:
  a gay Sims site with rainbow-coloured objects and improved default nudes which for legal reasons are a bit complicated to get hold of. Also has a Gay Marriage Hack and visitor patch, which I used before making my own. DEAD. Nevermind, I have what I need (chuckle).

• BuffySims:
  skins for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. DEAD. Became a paysite, now closed.
• Solace of Sims:
  Go to the Sailor Moon section for some amazingly good skins/meshes. DEAD. For the Sailor Moon skins, see below.
• Jeannie's Bottle of Sims:
  Sailor Moon skins/meshes, in a different style from the ones above, but just as good. Also: meshes for skinners, and objects. DEAD. For the Sailor Moon skins, see below.
• Corry's Factory:
  Real Asian head textures, ultra-sweet Sailor Senshi skins and meshes, lifelike hands and other downloadables.
• Anime Sims Links:
  A list of good anime skin sites that includes the three Sailor Moon skin links mentioned above. DEAD.
• Spirit World Sims:
  More links to anime Sim skin sites. The Big List of Anime Sims Stuff (see lower down) is now hosted here. The site itself has anime skins for download, too.
• BastDawn's Fantasy Sims:
  This site is frozen, as the artist is no longer making Sim pets. But the ones already up are worth looking at. Goats, winged cats and fish shoals, to name a few.
• MacBraveheart:
  This site, featuring MacApple Hall and surroundings, contains links (some hidden in the albums) to sites that similarly breathe an atmosphere of European folklore and mythology, like:
• Sims Danske Eventyr Side:
  a Danish site (but fear not, clicking the Union Jack brings up the English version) with elves, castle halls and a Little Mermaid skin. DEAD. The first dead site that I couldn't bring myself to prune from the links.
• Jerome's SimFreaks:
  This was the first site I visited when I was trying to figure out the whole skin/mesh/CMX thing. Many custom meshes for public use, and the explanation of how it all works has been translated into a number of languages.
• Spunky's chubby Sims:
  More custom body types! XXL male meshes and skins. DEAD.
• Mermaid's Cove:
  Home of the RubenDude, who also made a guest appearance on Chubby Sims (see above). Skins and home furnishings in tropical-paradise style. The site is now closed (ie. DEAD) but the creator has left a notice giving permission for her files to be shared.
• SWan:
  A simple site with skins/meshes of breathtaking beauty. For that spiky-haired Final Fantasy look.
• 77 Sim Lane:
  A small but sweet Brazilian site, featuring male/female head meshes with remarkable hair, and under the Themes, a Sephiroth skin. This site is officially down, supposedly having moved to "http://77simlane.ya.st", which is now a porn page.
• The Big List of Anime Sims Stuff:
  "we find anime skins so you don't have to". Locate anime character skin per series. Shoot, a number I'd planned are already done - but aren't there eight or so different SimSailorMoons already?
• Queen Camelia:
  A yaoi site, and if you don't know what that is, don't go there, unless you're willing to risk the shock for some magnificent male anime chara skins. Zoisite and Kunzite can be found under the slightly misleading tab "Dark Lords SM". DEAD. Sob sob! There were so many rare skins here. See below for Zoisite and Kunzite.
• Sky Hi:
  Mostly in Japanese and Babelfish can't handle it, so I opened the source and extracted the link that goes to the main downloads page. This site has good Yu Yu Hakusho skins.
• Sailor Moon the Sims:
  This site has performed the great service of archiving Sailor Moon skins of which the sites/creators have become unreachable.

• Dan Simpson's Sims FAQ:
  The most comprehensive general Sims FAQ I've seen.
• Hacker's Resource:
  One of the most useful pages for Sims object hackers, both for its code books and its forum. It offers IFF Pencil and Scriptstation for download. DEAD.
• Slink's Sims Collection:
  Not currently maintained, but easily the most original and most useful page for would-be object hackers and other DIY-minded Sims fans. Includes: IFF analyses; very original neighbourhoods and houses for downloading; a skin database (the Whole Earth Catalog of Sims skins); hacked objects (probably for the Sims only, expansion pack objects are best re-hacked using these as examples) and links to sites of like minds (not all of them still up). DEAD.
• SimTech:
  Contains an analysis of the IFF file format (Click on "Tech Info"). Mac-friendly.
• IFFsnooper Documentation:
  Not the place to download IFFSnooper, the only Mac IFF editor I know of (though it does tell you where to find the program) but the homepage of its author, who again presents a dissection of the IFF format.
• Eep2 - The Sims - Software, Textures, Other:
  A list of programs (and a want list), plus gathered bits of info: sections in a skin bitmap, how to save neighbourhoods, registry changes, cheats. Quite useful!
• The Sims Surfer:
  A long, long list of Sims links to all kinds of sites. DEAD.
• Sims in Colour - Links:
  A list of links, mostly to Sims skin sites, that I found useful. DEAD.
• Rowan's Simming Companion:
  As the author says: "A comprehensive list of links organized neatly by content and name." Includes a list of links pages.
• The Ultimate Sims List:
  An all-text very long alphabetically sorted table of links. DEAD.
• The master mesh list:
  A list of all known meshes, where "known" means that the meshes' makers have submitted the mesh name; ie. special anime-character meshes like those of the abovementioned Sailor Moon skins are not included. Pity! DEAD.
• Jack Wolfsim:
  A list of all the meshes used in the official Sims games and skin packs; "missing" meshes available (where Maxis adapted a particular mesh number to only one or two body types, fans have supplied the other ones); career info, including the new careers in Unleashed; and general info, tips and downloads. Like a huge collection of walls and floors, and exquisite Indian-costume skins. DEAD!!! See entry below.
• Magnolia Sims:
  A modern site about the old Sims in historical and fantasy garb. Added here because it has archived Jack Wolfsim's mesh project.
• FA Sims:
  About modelling truly fat Sim females, rather than that scam "BxxxFAFat" mesh but, more importantly, about creating new body types.
• Programming_Objects_in_The_Sims:
  A PDF file on the Sims programming language SimAntics, by Will Wright.
• Sim Squalor:
  The article containing the caveat against cloning Deluxe objects for use in earlier versions.
• SimAlbums:
  How to publish those Sim albums, and alternatives for the teleportically challenged. DEAD.
• SimChaotics:
  In addition to downloadables, a very personal log, in imperfect English, of this non-American webmaster's experiences with skinners, meshers, object makers, obnoxious fans and Maxis' money-oriented practices. Yes, I also got the idea that this company thinks "We're USA-only, and to you foreigners out there: thanks for your bucks". Includes a dizzyingly long links list: 1001 Sim Links Alphabetical. This list may contain dead URLs, because, as the webmaster bitterly noted, Sim fanatics of the first hour have lost interest.
• Die Sims: Tutorials: The tutorial section of the German Sims site, which also has downloads and game reviews. Useful object hacking tutorials. DEAD. The main site is still up but now centered on the Sims 2 and 3.
• Wilf's Sims stuff:
  Somewhat naughty hacked objects and, again, object hacking tutorials.
• On the small and quirky Legolas Harrow Sim stuff homepage, check out the "white papers, slightly soiled" for a more in-depth analysis of blended vertices in Sims meshes, and an interesting experiment.
• The Oracle:
  Has links to tutorials of every kind under "Showcases|Tutorials Showcase". DEAD.
• Stone Age Sims:
  Once a small all-round brown-toned site with tutorials about hacking the primordial hex, without any fancy utilities, it is now a rock-grey-toned object-downloading site. I've left it in this section because it still has a tutorial on how to interpret the XML file of an exported object.
• Jutta's "Die Sims" link collection:
  As the title implies, in German and English. The most interesting heading right now, "Rest" (third choice at the top) is a list of Sims sites that have closed down.

I've removed the links to game sites with Sims FAQs and patches, because they were all dead; these sites tend to shift their files around. To find either, try a Google search.