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"The Sims" Strategy & Tips

Need help installing "The Sims?" Or maybe you want to learn more about making your own wallpaper. Or maybe you just need help with Sim babies. You'll find help and strategy tips here.
  1. "Hot Date" Strategy
  2. "Makin' Magic" Strategy
  3. "Superstar" Strategy
  4. House Plans for The Sims (9)

"The Sims" and Load Times - Solutions to Improving Load Times
Improving the load time of The Sims and the expansion packs with Windows XP installed.

"The Sims" - Get Santa to Visit
If you do a couple of things before sending Sims to bed in The Sims, Santa will vist your Sims and leave a present.

Order to Install The Sims Expansion Packs
Installing the seven expansion packs of The Sims is no easy task. Make sure you install them in order is the first thing you need to do when installing The Sims expansion packs.

"The Sims" Cheats
A list of popular cheats, including how to get money and move objects.

Backing Up Files
The folders you'll want to save in case of crashes or if you want to reinstall.

Bills & Repo Man
We just cannot escape bills. "The Sims" have bills, but there is a way around them.

Build Houses
Like most things with The Sims, building homes is an art not a science. Don't be ashamed of building "block" houses. Some of us just need a little extra help building.

Build Mode to Buy Mode
Steps on how to move your objects from appearing in the build mode to the buy mode.

Career Track Guide
Curious about a career track? Get info on skills needed, pay, and more.

Carpool Doesn't Come
If your carpool or bus doesn't come to pick up the kids, you may have deleted a portal.

Categorize Objects
Make your objects show up in Downtown, Studio Town, Vacation, Magic Town, and community lots by categorizing your downloads.

Change Object Action - The Sims Menu Editor
Instruction on how to use The Sims Menu Editor, which changes the actions for objects.

Cooking
Tips on who should cook and when is the best time for meals.

Crashes
Questions to ask yourself when troubleshooting crashes.

Create-a-Date
You can create Townies with the Create-A-Date tool released by Maxis.

Decorating 1st Home
So your Sim has moved into their first home. How exciting! Before you go on a shopping spree, before to remember the essentials.

Earn Money
Sims need to earn money to survive. There are other ways besides a career to get money.

Free Houses
How to get your dream house for free.

Going Downtown
Help making your way Downtown in "The Sims Hot Date" expansion pack for the first time.

Guinea Pig Disease
Be careful handling pets or Sims may get the Guinea Pig Disease.

HotKeys
Hot keys are shortcuts found within a game.

How to Create a Family
Instructions on how to make a family in "The Sims."

How to Use The Sims File Cop
Instructions on using The Sims File Cop, a program that checks for corrupted downloads.

Import Downtown Lots
Instructions on using Downtown lots you downloaded.

Install Skins
Instructions on how to install skins you downloaded.

Install Vacation Lots
Tips on installing Vacation lots you downloaded.

Install Wallpaper
Steps on how to install walls that you have downloaded.

Installing Objects
Instructions on installing objects you have downloaded.

Interests
"Hot Date" introduces the idea of Sims being interested in difficult topics, such as money and shopping.

Kill a Sim
There are multiple ways to kill a Sim, easy ways and hard ways.

Lost Serial Number
Info on how to get a serial number for "The Sims" and expansion packs.

Make Skins Buyable
Info on making skins available to buy Downtown, Vacation, and Superstar.

Make Skins
Resources on skinning, including tutorials and programs you'll need.

Making Friends
Sims can be fickle. But there are a few surefire ways to get on the good side of a Sim.

Marriage
Marriage is a bit different in "The Sims." Get tips on getting married and what happens after the wedding.

Motives
What makes a Sim tick? Learn about the motives and how you can satisfy their needs.

Moving to a New Home
Info on the process of moving your family from one lot to another.

Neighborhood Map
This is a map of the original neighborhood, with lot numbers marked.

Nude Patch
Get rid of the blur with the Nude Patch.

Organize Downloads
Downloads for "The Sims" can easily become chaotic if you love to download! I have 5 steps to help make sense of the mess and get yourself organized.

Organize Wallpaper
Take control over the walls you have installed in your game.

Parties
"House Party" introduces the concept of lively parties. They aren't always easy to get going.

Personality Traits
Each Sim has a different personality. Personality traits have some advantages, including earning some skills faster.

Share Houses
The steps on sharing your homes with friends.

Sharing Families
How you can share your families with friends.

Sim Babies
Info on having babies and taking care of them.

Sim Death
Learn about what happens when a Sim dies.

Themed Neighborhoods
Think you have done everything? Or are just bored with the game? Here are some ideas to spice up gameplay!

Thought Bubbles
Peek your Sims' minds with their thought bubbles.

Tips to a Successful Career
Sims will have to work hard for promotions. I have tips on making their journey up the career ladder a bit easier.

Use Your MP3's
Instead of listening to the music the game comes with, use your MP3s.

Use/Install Houses
Instructions on using homes you downloaded.

Windows XP
Info and tips on running "The Sims" on Windows XP.

Zodiac Chart
Find the best compatible zodiac signs to make happy couples.

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