Thank you so much for your superb review of Sims Medieval. I've just received (not even installed) the game and am deep in the Prima guide. Oh for the days of proper treeware. Now one must purchase a manual separately from a third party supplier.

The game appears to be a mix of mainly Sims 3 and Majesty, with a dollop of Guild 2 and just a smidgen of the Heroes of Might and Magic series (my time consumer of choice before Sims 2 came along).

I am impressed, nonetheless, with your Medieval adaptation of Sims 2 - the idea of growing or fishing for all your food is really intriguing. I am really happy that this site continues to do Sims 2 (period!). It is really a timeless engine and platform.

Mac - I've not played those other games, but Heroes of M&M has been on my 'take a look at someday' list for quite some time. I am looking forward to your impressions of Sims Medieval, as well.

Thank you for your comments on my thread happenings. I do love having the medieval setting for my game. Though the fishing/gardening is not as practical as I had hoped. You can't just eat the things you grow, you can only juice them. And fish is so darned nutritious for sims, that they get full on it really fast, most sims in the moderate hungry range can't finish a plate unless they overeat. I find myself being the food police everytime I feed them fish so they don't all get fat. On fish! Bummer, that.

Sugah - thanks for all your comments! I would've gotten the prima guide, but the birthday fairy has some tight pockets. The game was pricey enough as it is. If eventually I can find one cheap I'll be sure to pick it up.

Just a sneak preview - more will follow in my 'hood. Did you know that Valera Aster has a sister, Zoe? Valera is the bookish one, Zoe, prancing about in her harem costume, is a dancing girl for sure! They really look as if they could be sisters. Zoe's just now receiving her welcoming visitors, so it might be a few days before I get something up there.

Regarding Heroes of M&M - The series was based on an early DOS game - King's Bounty - which has been re-released as an entirely different but still good game. HMM1 and HMM2 were good basic DOS games - I spent a lot of time with them. HMM2 had some wonderful ear candy. As far as I am concerned, HMM3 is the equivalent to Sims2 - the classic!

There was an HMM4, which had some interesting ideas but was not well received. All of these were done by a company 3DO which is now extinct (also published the superb Might and Magic VI and VII). HMM5 is by a different company, with up-to-date graphics and lots of eye and ear candy. It's good, too, but HMM3 is the classic.

All of the HMM are builders, role-playing (at least character development), and fighting. A constant tension between "guns and butter". All of them 100% turn-based! Not a bit of real-time - which to me is an asset.

Aw - awesome, Mac! It is always such a thrill to hear someone has downloaded one of my sims. I can't wait to see her in your game.

I didn't realize 3DO was extinct. One of my favorite all time games is M&M VI - The Mandate of Heaven. I sunk a lot of game play hours into that one, and finished it twice. I used to play Might and Magic (2, I think it was) for the Sega Genesis back in the early nineties - I loved that one - played it often. Several years ago I had gotten M&M 3, 4, and 5, but they were so old my computer wouldn't run them. I tried M&M 7 (I may be getting the numbers confused), but I remember not liking it at all. It just didn't seem as fun or interesting as 6. The only fun part was the mini game of Arcomage. I loved that, lol.

I was just looking at the Wiki for the M&M series, the original was released in 1986 - so sad that they declared bankruptcy. Looking at that page sure brings back memories. Back during the days of M&M2, my husband at the time (not the one I have now, lol) worked nights and I early mornings so we didn't see each other all that much. But we were both playing II and would leave notes to each other about what we got accomplished during play, LOL. Yes, I've always been a gamer, ha ha. I even still have some of the instruction book (which was huge) laying around somewhere.

I enjoy turn based games - they remind me of my D&D days. Phantasy Star II and IV, Shining in the Darkness, and The Shining Force I and II are some of my favorites of the 90's. I can't remember how many times I played those.

I enjoyed both M&M6 and M&M7. I also enjoyed Arcomage - it even came out as a separate game. M&M8 was a disaster - and generally perceived as such. It was the swan song of 3DO.

PS Check out Zoe in my neighborhood.

Does anyone use the boolprop cheat called "Sim Modder" here?
If I knew about it a long time ago, when I was playing more, I must've forgotten.

My daughter uses it a LOT (she plays with all EPs up to Bon Voyage) and NO downloads on a MacBook Pro.
Evidently the Sim Modder (it looks like a baby in a diaper standing up) does a whole bunch of cool stuff.
You can change so many things (wants, aspirations, relationships, personalities) and make so much happen using it (skills, cures, instant new relationships, etc., etc).
She told me she's never had any issues with it ... so far.
It's really quite the cheat.

If you haven't checked it out and don't like using hacks, this might be the cheat for you!
If you HAVE used the Sim Modder, what is your experience with it?
Do you like it? Ever have any issues with it?

I did try Sim Modder but for some reason - so long ago I've forgotten why - decided not to use it. I do rely (heavily) on The Sim Blender

http://www.simbology.com/smf/index.php?topic=20.0

I always use it at the beginning of a new sim to set LTW, also use it for name changes. Sounds like the same idea more or less.

I did just now notice that you can use it to set relationships - some of the sims in my 'hood are (allegedly) sisters (Zoe and Valera Aster) or cousins (Tiona and Shanti). I may try using the hack to make it "official".

Simblender can create family relationships, too. I used it during our LaFemme days to make us siblings, since some of the sims were made at different times.

Just had to share!!!

After waiting for what seems like forever for a used copy of Mansion & Garden SP to appear at Half Price Books...
I finally decided I'd use some of my "mad money" (which is usually spent on Baylee Marie or Daughter #2 ) on a brand new copy.

Well, at Target, I found Fun with Pets Collection (I don't need Pets, but will keep it just in case something happens to my other copy).
However, for $19.99, not only did I get the Pets EP, but I also got Family Fun Stuff (which I didn't have) AND Mansion & Garden Stuff!

WOOHOO!!!

I'm going to make a back up copy of my EA Games folder, then install both SPs tonight or early this week, hopefully.

Upon seeing Toni's STUNNING NEW DIGS, I couldn't wait any longer for all of the gorgeous garden stuff that comes with M & G. Just had to have it, even if it meant paying full price (though I DID get two other items with it).

If you haven't seen her amazing ALL MAXIS abode, you truly must!
It's SIMply gorgeous, folks!

Wow - that's a really good deal. I still have a few more stuff packs to get before I officially have it all. I managed to find Ikea and Kitchen and Bath for $8 each at our half price books in Ft. Wayne, but I haven't installed them yet.

I haven't tested it yet but it looks promising. This is a global mod that is mainly useful if you play (as I do) with walls down. It replaces the dark brown wall cross section with a white one. It's on ModTheSims.

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=443534&goto=newpost&postedt=1#post3531821