Frequently Asked Questions
The Sims 1

Terms Of Use

You may not recolor, edit, or use any parts of our creations to make your own. You may not redistribute our downloads, instead, please simply link to our site to direct people here. (There's a button that you can use in the links section if you want to use it.) You are, of course, most welcome to use the downloads in screenshots or for albums without credit. If you have any questions please send us an email and ask.

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How do I install your downloads into my game?
(Winzip Tutorial)

This tutorial covers how to install downloads into TS1 using WinZip.  WinRAR is also a good program and it works in a similar manner.

First, you'll need to get WinZip.  (Its a free trial, so don't worry.) SimZip is also popular, but it can't install all downloads, such as roof files, and it doesn't allow you to keep track of your downloads.  Neither of us use it, and this explanation/ tutorial will only cover how to install using WinZip.  Now, go get WinZip and come back here after you've installed it.

Ok, now that you've got WinZip, you need some Sims downloads to install into your game.  Presumably, you already have those if you're reading this.  If not, then click on a category on the navigation bar to your left and grab something of interest.  Nothing of interest?  Check some of the sites on our links page and you might find something more to your liking there...or just type in "Sims downloads" into Google and see what comes up. 

Then, unzip your new file by double-clicking  on it and follow the instructions on-screen.  It will ask you where you want to put your files. Don't put them directly into your game!  This invites problems.  You'll need to save them to a folder where you can easily access them again, default is in your "unzipped" folder.  This works just fine.  You can also put them on your desktop if that's easier.

Here's the tricky part, putting the files in the folders in your game.  The type of item that you downloaded determines which folder the files go into.  Most downloads (and all of the ones at MLS) come with a Read Me text (.txt)  file that gives credit, simple download instructions, and other information about your download.  These are important to read, but are not put into your game.  Sometimes a creator will also include pictures of the item you downloaded in the zip as well... these don't go into the game either.  You can just delete them.

• Skins (.bmp, .skn, .cmx) go into Program Files/Maxis/TheSims/GameData/Skins
  
  Skins are made up of three files, the .bmp, .skn, and .cmx.  All of these files are required to make the skin appear properly in the game, so make sure that you put in all the files that end with these suffixes. If you download a lot, you'll probably download the same mesh (.skn and .cmx files) more than once and you'll get a message asking if you want to overwrite your old files.  It really doesn't matter whether you do or not.
   

• Houses (.iff) go into Program Files/Maxis/TheSims/UserData/Houses
  
  If you have an expansion pack that gives you more neighborhoods, (I believe that came with The Sims Deluxe, Double Deluxe, Unleashed, and Makin' Magic) you'll have more than one UserData folder, named UserData, UserData2, UserData3, and so on.  Each folder is a different neighborhood, 1-5 or 1-8 depending on your EPs and you can put the house into any one of these folders.  If you want the house in neighborhood 2, you'll want to put it in UserData2.  If you downloaded a house that belongs in lot 2, for example, and you already have a house on lot 2 in the neighborhood you're trying to put your new house in, you'll have the option to overwrite the file.  Warning: If you overwrite the file, the house that was previously there and the family that lived there will disappear!
   

• Walls (.wll) go into Program files/Maxis/TheSims/GameData/Walls

• Floors (.flr) go into Program files/Maxis/TheSims/GameData/Floors

• Objects (.iff) go into either Program files/Maxis/TheSims/GameData/UserObjects or Program files/Maxis/TheSims/Objects
  
  Either folder is just fine for keeping your objects in.  In these folders, unlike the others, you can create subfolders to put your objects in so that they're easier to find if you ever want to remove them.  Some people put them in folders based on their creator, area of the house they go in, or in room sets.

Voila!  You're done!  Now, close out your folders, fire up your game, and they should be ready to go!  If you're still having trouble with downloads not showing up, follow this tutorial again, find another tutorial to follow, or contact the original creator.  (Did you read their Read me?)  We sincerely hope that this has helped you.  If you're still having problems, particularly if its with one of our downloads, then go ahead and email us and we'll try to clear things up for you.

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Why aren't the items I downloaded from your site showing up in my game?

There are several things that can cause this. Did you put all the files in their proper folders? (Check the downloading instructions above if you need help with this.) Do you have the right expansion packs? The expansions that are required are listed under the download. (See the next question if you need more explanation of the different expansions.)

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What do the abbreviations TS, LL, HP, HD, V, UL, SS, and MM mean?

These stand for the names of the expansion packs that can be purchased to go along with The Sims. Objects, houses, and some skins will only work if you have certain EPs installed. The expansions are as follows:

TS- The Sims (The original game)
LL- Livin' Large
HP- House Party
HD- Hot Date
V- Vacation
UL- Unleashed
SS- Super Star
MM- Makin' Magic

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