Help Pages and FAQ

Getting Downloads Into Your Games

Sims1

Find your Maxis/TheSims/ folder on your computer. Downloads will be unzipped to different subfolders within this main folder depending on the type of file. The table below outlines the different downloads, the expected extension for that type of file and where you should place it after unzipping.

TYPE OF FILE	EXTENSION	WHERE IT GOES
Lot File or House	house##.iff	/Userdata(# of the neighborhood you want the house in)/Houses. Important: the house.iff will replace the original house or lot that is currently in your neighborhood. If you care about losing the house already there, copy and save it first somewhere outside your sims folders before installing.
Object	.iff	Downloads folder or any subfolder within the Downloads folder.
Walls	.wll	GameData/Walls
Floors	.flr	GameData/Floors
Roofs	.bmp	GameData/Roofs

Sims2

Your custom content needs to go in specific places in order for it to show up in the game, some may need to be placed there manually, some may need to be unpacked with the sims installer. Follow these steps to best integrate your custom content.

1) Before you install anything, look for a folder called "Downloads" in your My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\ folder. If you don't have one, you can go ahead a create it.

2) Then, there are a few things you should collect:

CEP	The CEP is a necessary file to make some items designable that otherwise would not be. It affects object files. Follow the instructions on the CEP page, but eventually you should have a CEP file in your downloads folder.
Clean Installer	Allows you to view what is packed in with lots before you install. If you don't already have it, you may need to download Microsoft .NET framework to run this program. Clean Installer is a standalone program and should not go into your EA Games folder.
Delphi's Download Organizer	Not an essential per se, but very handy for finding duplicates and orphaned files. Cleans up your downloads folder. A stand-alone program, do not put in your EA Games folder.

3) OK, now that's settled, time to get on with the downloading. Get out there and find cool stuff!

4) Unzip, unpack, copy and paste it into the right folder:

TYPE OF FILE	WHERE IT GOES
Lot File	Use the clean pack installer (preferable) and allow it to teleport the lot to the default location or use the Sims Installer (double click on the lot file) to install automatically the lot and everything else in the package. (Do not place lots directly into your Downloads folder, it won't work.)
Objects	Easy - unzip to your Downloads folder or any subfolder within the Downloads folder.
Walls/Floors/Terrains	There are generally two formats for walls, floors and terrains;. ".package" files and Sims2Pack files. Unzip .package files to your downloads folder or subfolders within your downloads folder. Use either the clean pack installer or the automatic installer for Sims2 Pack files (do not place .Sims2Pack files directly into your downloads folder).
Skins, eyes, eyebrows, facial hair, hair, hair and body meshes, makeup, clothes	Before Nightlife: unzip and place directly into your downloads folder. After nightlife, these can be placed in subfolders.
Collection files	Unzip to My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Collections
mp3s	Place in appropriate folders within the My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Music folder
Sims City 4 Terrains	(Must be small region size to show up) Place the .sc4 file and any related .pngs in the My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\SC4Terrains folder.
Paintings	Place .jpgs in the My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Paintings folder

5) Run Delphi's Download organizer, scan for orphans and duplicates.

Hope this helps!

Zoo Tycoon

Unzip .zoo files to your SavedGame folder.