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Difference between revisions of "The Sims 2"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(→‎Black Square Shadows: Added a new fix for Sim shadows on high that isn't a workaround that disables them)
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'''Notes'''
 
'''Notes'''
 
{{ii}} This method may allow setting shadows to high whilst fixing the problem.  
 
{{ii}} This method may allow setting shadows to high whilst fixing the problem.  
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}}
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{{Fixbox|1=
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{{Fixbox/fix|Download Sim Shadow Fix|}}
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# Go [http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=569585 here] and download the file that suits your preferences (0.2 shadows are more opaque, 0.4 more transparent and 0.3 are in between).
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# Extract the .package file inside the zip file you downloaded to <code>{{p|userprofile}}\Documents\EA Games\The Sims™ 2 Ultimate Collection\Downloads\</code>
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{{ii}} If you're using a Intel HD Graphics card, the author recommends downloading the <code>xReallyNotMisty</code> versions of the fix.
 
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Revision as of 20:16, 5 February 2016

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Template:Infobox game/row/osxporter
The Sims 2
The Sims 2 cover
Developers
Maxis
Publishers
Electronic Arts
Release dates
Windows September 14, 2004
macOS (OS X) June 13, 2005
The Sims 2 on Wikipedia
The Sims
Subseries of Sim
The Sims 2000
The Sims Online 2002
The Sims 2 2004
The Sims Stories (series)
MySims 2008
The Sims 3 2009
The Sims Medieval 2011
The Sims 4 2014

Key points

Runs well on low-end hardware
Large community
All Origin versions get a free upgrade to The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection (contact EA Support for non-Origin versions).[1]
Disc version may not run properly on Windows 10 due to issues with SecuROM.[citation needed]
Alt-tabbing may not work properly during the game's loading screens.

General information

Official Website
The Sims Wiki

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
CD key
Windows
Amazon.com
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
CD key
Multiple versions.
Windows
Mac App Store
Icon overlay.png
Super Collection.
macOS (OS X)
The Windows version is no longer sold digitally.
All Origin versions are automatically upgraded to The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection. Contact the EA Support for retail versions.
The Ultimate Collection from Origin uses SecuROM.

DLC and expansion packs

Name Notes
Apartment Life
Windows
Bon Voyage
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Celebration! Stuff
Windows
Family Fun Stuff
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Freetime
Windows
Glamour Life Stuff
Windows
macOS (OS X)
H&M Fashion Stuff
Windows
Happy Holiday Stuff
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Holiday Party Pack
Windows
macOS (OS X)
IKEA Home Stuff
Windows
Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff
Windows
Mansion & Garden Stuff
Windows
Nightlife
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Open for Business
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Pets
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Seasons
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Teen Style Stuff
Windows
University
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Version differences

  • The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection is a complete edition containing all expansions and Stuff Packs. Origin customers are upgraded to this version automatically; for non-Origin versions contact EA Support for manual activation.[1] DRM: SecuROM 7.[2]
  • The Sims 2: Super Collection includes six expansions and three Stuff Packs. This version is only available for OS X.
  • The Sims 2 Holiday Edition (2005) includes the base game and the Holiday Party Pack (aka Happy Holiday Stuff Pack).
  • The Sims 2: Holiday Edition (2006) are a re-release of the 2005 version with some additional content
  • The Sims 2 Deluxe Edition includes the base game, the Nightlife expansion, official downloadable content from the (now defunct) Sims 2 Exchange and a DVD with exclusive extra material.
  • The Sims 2: Double Deluxe includes the base game, Nightlife expansion and Celebration Stuff.

The Sims 2 Store Edition

There was briefly an online store that sold additional items for use in The Sims 2. To use the store, the game required a patch to The Sims 2 Store Edition. Store Edition removed the need for a physical CD, but introduced instability to the game. Support was pulled from the Sims 2 Store, and the Store Edition is no longer available.

Essential improvements

In-game camera and game recording settings.
In-game camera and game recording settings.

Patches

The game, its expansions plus the Family Fun Stuff pack requires patching after installation.
Although the game's patch site has now gone down, many expansion pack patches are available from the PCGamingWiki filespace.

Disable intro movie

Instructions

Graphics Rule Maker

Fixes common issues, like disabled graphics options on newer GPUs and black square sim shadows, no manual file editing needed.
Instructions

Game data

In-game general settings.
In-game general settings.

Configuration file(s) location

<path-to-game> changes according to what expansions you have installed. For example, if you have Ultimate Collection or all expansions path would be ...\Fun with Pets\SP9\...

Save game data location

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
Origin
Ultimate Collection does not need Origin running to play.

Video settings

In-game graphics settings.
In-game graphics settings.

Template:Video settings

Widescreen resolution

Instructions

Field of view (FOV)

Each of the game's cameras can have their FOV set independently using the fov parameter in their Camera Settings files, which are contained in %USERPROFILE%\Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Cameras

Anti-aliasing (AA)

If your "Edge Smoothing" slider is greyed out in-game, then it's likely that the game cannot determine how much VRAM your GPU has and is defaulting to its failsafe of 32 MB.
Instructions

Input settings

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

In-game audio settings.
In-game audio settings.

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Speech is fictional language called Simlish.
Speech is subtitled with generic icons.
Czech
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
French
German
Hungarian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Norwegian
Polish
Portuguese
Brazilian Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
Traditional Chinese

Issues fixed

Vista/7 Compatibility

The Sims 2 is compatible with newer versions of Windows, however the original release of the game has issues, and will show an error message when loaded.
Patching the game or installing the expansion packs will correct this.

Stuck Sims/Poorly Placed Objects/Frozen Objects

Periodically, a sim may become trapped or an special object may be placed in a bad location, preventing a sim from doing anything. In other cases, a normal object may be improperly tagged as "in use" and cannot be moved, sold, or manipulated.
Instructions

Black Square Shadows

Instructions
Instructions
Instructions

Neighbourhoods inaccessible in Ultimate Collection

Instructions

Issues on newer CPUS

The Sims 2 was made before the release of multi-core CPUs. It may have issues at the startup loading screen on newer CPUs with multiple cores and Hyperthreading. Try following if The Sims 2 does not progress in loading at startup.
Instructions

"More..." button does not work in conversations

This issue is caused by using a mouse when playing on a laptop with a touchpad. It is solved by either:

  • Disabling the touchpad whilst playing The Sims 2, if possible.
  • Using the touchpad to play instead of a mouse.

If playing on a PC Desktop it is solved by:

  • Pressing tab when selecting options in the pie menu

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1
Processor (CPU) 800 MHz
System memory (RAM) 256 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 3.5 GB
Video card (GPU) ATI Radeon 7200
nVidia GeForce 2 Series
32 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9.0 compatible
Other When the Seasons (or Later) Expansion Pack is installed, T&L incompatible graphics chips can be used;[3] however it requires a Minimum CPU speed of 2.4 Ghz.
macOS (OS X)
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 10.3.8
Processor (CPU) 1.2 GHz PowerPC G4/G5
System memory (RAM)
Hard disk drive (HDD) 3 GB
Video card (GPU) ATI Radeon 9000
nVidia GeForce FX5200
32 MB of VRAM

References