Di's Victorian Vexes

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the look of my game. I’m very fussy about the look in general, that’s why I made my own skintones and eyes, and I hate overly photoskinned clothes and objects, or too realistic looking things. Also since I got my new computer, I’ve become more and more aware of the quality of textures and things. All in all, I think my game looks unique with lovely rich colours. However, I’m still not satisfied. My perfectionism and OCD tendencies have reached a peak lately, and I’ve started to do something about the things that irk me when I look at my neighbourhood.
( Stuff I've been doing and plan to get done )

I realise that it's a little while since I posted something letting you all know how things are doing, so I thought I'd put that right this evening.
( In which I talk )

An entry that's not a birthday greeting or notice of an update?  I can hardly believe it either!
( Some stuff! )

I thought I'd check in here with a  progress report.  I've still not made a start on the comments I owe at Boolprop.  For some reason I just can't get motivated to do it, but I have loved every update I've read recently, so if I normally comment on your story, please know I did enjoy and will try to get round to commenting soon.

As for the next chapter of the legacy, it's definitely going to be a 2 parter.  I've written just under half of the first part, and sorted for most fo the rest.  I do need to do a tiny bit of shooting for it, but I'm well on the way to getting it done.  Hopefully it won't be too long until it is published.  I'll then be sorting the second part and seeing what else I need for that.  It really is great fun to be writing the next chapter and moving the story forwards again, but I think I might be getting a bit too verbose.  The first part is way longer than an exchange chapter used to be, and I'm probably putting too much in, but there are several important scenes I had to put in as well as character scenes and linking scenes, so, well, hopefully you won't find it boring.

Oh and as an extra, this si something that Ori posted on her LJ, and I thought I'd write down my goals here too.

( What are YOUR Sims2/Sims3 related goals/plans/ideas for 2010? )

Hey, how is everyone?

I'm still being a bit quiet, but things do seem to be going a bit better which is good.  I've been lurking a lot, including around the Sims 3 threads at MATY.  I've been saying for a long time that I'm not planning on getting the game, and reading those threads just makes me more determined not to get it.  There are just too many things that I don't like about it, from the fact that the sims seem to be having babies left right and centre when left alone, to the graphics.  It's not just the fact that the sims look really doughy, but the lighting doesn't seem to reflect from their skin right, making them look flat and dull.  It's hard to explain, but everything about the screenshots I've seen remind me more of the original game than the second one.  It might be the colours I think. 

I also don't like the fact that genetics appear to have equal weighting.  I love the gentics in TS2, I mean when A&A have a child there are 3 possible eye colours the kid could have: Allyn, William and Alexandra's light blue eyes, Beth's green eyes or Anthony's green eyes.  I love sitting and waiting to see the baby's eyes.  Having a 50/50 chance no matter what the colours are is s huge DNW for me.  Actually most things in it are a huge DNW, so I'll be sticking with TS2.
( Tidly bit of picspam )

I've also blocked out my next chapter, and it's two long parts as it stands now.  I'm in no hurry to get it written for a couple of reasons: 1) I have no idea when (or if) the exchange will be up.  I know I can upload it elsewhere, but I prefer the format of the exchange over the alternatives.  2) I've still not got my writing mojo back, or my inspiration and I don't want to force this chapter.  It's one of those that have lots of weddings and normal gameplay as well as some plot, and I find gameplay captions more difficult to write than plot.

Well, that's it from me at the moment, I hope that everyone has a good rest of the weekend,.

I really feel like rambling on about some of the going ons in my game at the moment.

I'm currently blokcing out the next day of the BC, and shooting any pick ups that I need.  I did start yesterday, but I ran into a small prblem.  You see I normally play with Paladin's no social worker for hot or cold in, since I don't understand the SoWo turning up when a child is cold.  I mean they've been making a snowman, it's not as if I've locked them in a 6x6 pen in the garden and am forcing them to live there!  Anyway, since I couldn't access Simwardrobe the other night, I'd left it out until I was certain that it was compatible with AL.  It turns out that the hack also mitigates some of the heat effects for adults because I was shooting a pick up in the hot tubs when this happened to Theo:

( Lobsterman )
I've also started shooting for the rest of chapter 15 of the main legacy.  My big plan is to have chapter 15 all ready to write once I've finished the BC.  So far I've shot half a dozen scenes, but this chapter is going to be very plot heavy so I have lots more to do.  I'm actually considering splitting it into two parts so that I can do it justice.  I'm very excited about it since I've had most of the scenes I'm currently doing planned in my head for a couple of months now, and I want to share them with you all.  Of course it also means that I'll be getting closer to generation 5 making it's appearance. 

On that note, I've decided I really need to stop worrying about how long it is taking me to play since I'm enjoying it so much.  Plus I'm not planning on getting Sims 3 so I think I'll be playing this game for quite a while longer.

Tieing in with the BC whilst I was at the LS shooting a scene with Stan, I teleported over the winner of the BC so that Theo could get to know her.  It cermented in my mind that the best sim won.  Two conversations was all it took for them to become friends and Theo to start giving her autonomous backubs.  They were also my test couple for the cuddle under stars and classic dance socials, both of which I love.

I think, I hope anyway because last night I got inspired enough to finish the first draft of chapter 14.1. I've been going through it this evening, changing the bits I think need changing, and, although it's not my best chapter I'm fairly pleased with it.  I also managed to get my cover almost finished before my anti-virus scan kicked in, so that's good.

Also whilst I was sorting invoices at work today my brain was sparking  ideas for  character based scenes for chapter 14.2 , and if that wasn't enough, I've also got an idea for where I am going with Alexandra when she leaves the Acadamie.

I'm going to try a trick Orikes does, and resize my large pictures to try to get rid of the bluryness which occurs when the exchange shrinks them.  Even with that, all being well I should be able to get the chapter on the exchange tomorrow night, Wednesday at the latest.

In BC news, LauriEmpress has volunteered her simself, so I now have 7 lovely ladies all ready to try to win Theodore's affections.

I feel as if things are moving along now, which is good. 

Well I've been busy this week working on my next update.  I got the first half done over the long weekend.  Probably could have got more done, but I got distracted by an idea for a new project.  Not writing related, but it is sims related.  I downloaded Hexameter's default taxi replacements and whilst the mesh is beautiful the paint job is not so.  First time I saw it in game I wondered why on earth he had uploaded it with such appalling textures, so I spent part of Sunday working out if I could re-texture it and how I could preview the texture on the mesh.  I'm going to give it a go even though I've not re-textured anything but eyes in my life, so it should be fun.

Anyway, back to the chapter.  I'm about three quarters of the way through writing it and I'm going to try to get finished this weekend.  I'm excited and worried about how it will go down.  It is very, very plotty, I mean, everything that I have written so far is pure plot and I've changed my narrative style to suit the story better.  I hope that people like the change and stick with reading it.

I've also severely neglected playing.  I wanted to get an interlude out just after this chapter but I've not played the house I need to get it finished.  In fact of the 11 houses in my rotation I have played ... 1.  Hmm, really need to pull my finger out me thinks.

Well I've been trying to work out what exactly I need to shoot in order to wrap up my latest plot line.  I know what has been going on, but my problem was how to get that across to my readers whilst making it entertaining and stopping up any holes.  Well monday night I sat down and wrote out the idea I had as to how to do it.   I ended up with three pages of notes, and hating it lol. 

Thankfully, I've had another idea, and having written it out I like it. :D  I'm now busy setting things up to film it.


I really must start making more progress with the spares.  I think a lot of the reason I've been so slow is I hadn't sorted out the main story line, but now that's done hopefully I can pick up the pace. :D