Playing without CC

[Joria]

KJ, I feel your pain!  I too have thousands of patterns and it is a royal pain to have to scroll through each and every place to pattern or recolor something for the contests.  I lost several really terrific patterns when I removed them at one point, (and neglected to put them in a save folder!), and when I went back everything had a greyish white plastic look to it.

It has become a challenge to me to only use the most basic stuff from EP/SP and base patterns.  I miss my store items so much!, and even worse for patterns.  We can't even use ones created by members here.  Although I personally have never had a problem with a created pattern transfering when I upload someone's build, that has been an issue for many other members.  I hope you don't let that stand in your way and will build some awesome places for the contests.

[samoht04]

If you really will find it impossible to sort through and it will cost you a lot of effort then PM me and we'll sort something out, it's a lot of work for just a Rule that is more cosmetic than Specification.

[MoMoll]

Hi KJ: I also have many patterns, clothes, hair styles, etc. that are CC. That's why I don't join any challenges or building feats here. I hate the look of some of the EA stuff, and I have found (reliable) sims with clothes and hair that are to die for.

[Edited to remove image.  -Pam]

[KJSinclair]

That's is my problem now, it is almost like a drug of sorts. I love taking part in the building contests as my builds are getting slowly better. However, I understand what you mean, I used to download all kinds of 3rd party custom content from 'trusted' people and I never have had a problem. Now my love is for patterns and when I have to turn those off for the builds it take far longer to decide how the interior design is going to look. I understand why the rule is in place for the most part, but I like to have an abundance of choice so no build ever looks like it has been decorated the same.

I know that the patterns at least are not banned here, I suppose that is where my frustration came in, then at the same time I can never be 100% sure that the patterns I do have are actually created with CAP, so it is probably best for all concerned if I don't share the builds that I have that use custom patterns.

Kindest Regards
KJ

[MoonsAreBlue]

The best way to get around the custom content without messing with your other houses patterns and such is to create a new sims folder. The only downside to this is that anything you downloaded from the store will have to be redownloaded, but on the plus side only free items can be used in the contests so that cuts down on the quantity of things you would need to redownload. Here's how you make a new sims folder:

I'm working on Windows 7.
1. Go to Start>Documents>Electronic Arts
2. Rename The Sims 3. Something like The Sims 3.1 will work fine.
3. Start your game via to launcher.
4. The game will recreate a fresh Sims 3 folder for you and it will be free of any custom content.

This is what I had to do to make the Fountain of Youth function. This is an easy way to essentially delete your custom patterns while not changing them in your saves, because your saves will be located in The Sims 3.1 folder. The only thing is that you will have to switch between these two folders before you start playing. If you want to build something for the contest, you will have to use this folder. If you want to build for your website, you will have to switch folders by:

1. Renaming your current The Sims 3 folder. The Sims 3BC (for building contest) or something so you can remember what's in it.
2. Change the name of The Sims 3.1 back to The Sims 3.
3. The game will automatically register the change, and you won't have to worry about missing patters and such.

I hope this helps you.

[KJSinclair]

Wow Moons, thank you for that, it does seem to be a really simple workaround.

Thanks again

Kindest Regards
KJ

[MoonsAreBlue]

You're welcome. I only wish someone had told me about how to do this before I had to figure it out on my own, lol.

[Pam]

@MoMoll:

I removed the image that you attached to your post because it doesn't really have anything to do with this thread and was just promoting third party custom content, which we do not do here.

@KJ:

So glad you found a way around your patterns problem.  

[Anushka]

When you enter built mode, there is a filter that came with 1.22 patch - I don't know if it will work with patterns but with everything else - it works. Also, does CC patterns have any marks in game?If so it shouldn't be too much of a problem to avoid using them in contest.