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Original Poster
#1 Old 13th Jun 2014 at 1:02 PM Last edited by parrot999 : 13th Jun 2014 at 2:46 PM.
Default The Sims 2: HD Remaster Project
Quite a while back, I saw a mod for The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind, that replaced almost all the tetures (and even some of the meshes) in the game, as a means to update it visually, while keeping the same aesthetic and overall appearance...

Lets face it, The Sims 2 is almost 10 years old, and a lot of the earlier texture work really show that in the game...
So, I've wondered for a while, if the same thing could be done to The Sims 2, through a combination of texture editing, and remapping UVs. Frankly, all this Sims 4 E3 bullshit inspires me to want to try... Problem is, I am rather novice at textures to begin with, and this would be a massive project for one human to take on...

One thing I really think would benefit from it, is a UV/texture upscale for the skybox... Because Clouds and stars became obscured after some expansion pack, upscaling the texture, and adding those details right on the skybox would be a nice solution to the boring blue skies in the game... Also, a lot of basegame clothes suffer from looking like they are made of textured paper, which, once again, could be fixed with a texture replacement that keeps the appearence, but improves texture quality...
Also, while likely very hard or impossible to do, I have to wonder if there is a way to make a mod that makes lots within a small radius of the current lot generate their full textured appearance, rather than those ugly lot imposters...

This project would mean replacing and remapping a good portion of Base Game and UNI textures, and even things in some of the later packs, like parts of the closet door texture from Apartment Life. It would be a lot of work, but I think it could be worth it in the end. So, what do you guys think? Would anyone consider working (in a group) on such a massive mod?
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Field Researcher
#2 Old 13th Jun 2014 at 1:16 PM
If I had the skills for it, I'd help you in a heartbeat. The false houses have always driven me buggy. I have all of my settings set to small views and such because I find the foggy void in the distance to be more visually appealing.

The Possibilities are Endless

-----------------------
Test Subject
#3 Old 14th Jun 2014 at 11:24 AM
Sims 2 was what got me addicted to The Sims. I would definitely be interested in helping with that kind of mod. I love painting, drawing and cg art, so textures would be really fun. I'm absolutely awful at making them do anything, such as appear on an item/replace something though, so I'm unreliable when it comes to anything other than making things beautiful.
Mad Poster
#4 Old 14th Jun 2014 at 11:38 AM
I think there are a few things you should consider

1. Will people want to use outfits if you improve the texture detail? I know 80% of maxis clothing won't interest me, even if they have better textures, simply because I don't like them. They are old-fashioned, and often not very attractive.
2. A lot of people replace outfits they don't like with default replacements, and probably won't be interested.
3. This would be HUGE. Keep in mind that quite a few people who play Sims, does so on older computers. Old computer means you can't have endless CC without it affecting the playability and stability of your game. While many may find this cool, I wonder how many would be able to use it. And how many would deem it worth using.

It's a great idea, but from my point of view, I wonder if it's worth the trouble in the end. It is a lot of work, in the end, and I wouldn't want to take it on unless I thought it'd be used by tons and tons of people.
The Great AntiJen
retired moderator
#5 Old 14th Jun 2014 at 12:11 PM
Well, I'd leave the skins out of it as there are many retextures and remeshes of EAxis skins available as defaults (I have quite a few myself). Skins are quite well understood and people would probably like to mix and match to their own tastes. A central listing (maintained) of available defaults would be really useful though.

The sky mod would be good and I know that there has been some work on this. I think the problem is how the texture of the sky stretches over the mesh. I have a sky replacement (with stars) and a mod (I think) which makes it visible quite far down towards the horizon. It was one of the EPs changed the appearance of the sky. I can't remember which. Anyway, the issue with the sky mod I have is that the stars, particularly towards the horizon become rather large and blurry because of the way the texture is projected.

The other thing that would be good, though I have no idea if this is even remotely possible, would be to do something about how the lot imposters are created. ATM even on a good rig, they produce these rather blurry images.

Replacing object meshes is a whole other thing and I have no idea if that's possible. It's not been done (I think) which rather seems to suggest it isn't. The thing about objects would be that, for some of them at least, you would be restricted to the original dimensions of the object (that's not necessarily a problem). This would be the case where sims interacted with the object. If you significantly changed the shape, you'd get clipping.

I no longer come over to MTS very often but if you would like to ask me a question then you can find me on tumblr or my own site tflc. TFLC has an archive of all my CC downloads.
I'm here on tumblr and my site, tflc
Mad Poster
#6 Old 14th Jun 2014 at 3:18 PM
If you would get personal satisfaction out of doing this, go ahead and start, and document it on tumblr or a blog or something, making it clear that if anyone wants to jump in they are welcome to.

If it takes off, good. If it doesn't take off - oh, well, another chunk of internet floating in space with an unfinished project on it.

Ugly is in the heart of the beholder.
(My simblr isSim Media Res . Widespot,Widespot RFD: The Subhood, and Land Grant University are all available here. In case you care.)
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Original Poster
#7 Old 14th Jun 2014 at 3:20 PM
Quote: Originally posted by maxon
The sky mod would be good and I know that there has been some work on this. I think the problem is how the texture of the sky stretches over the mesh. I have a sky replacement (with stars) and a mod (I think) which makes it visible quite far down towards the horizon. It was one of the EPs changed the appearance of the sky. I can't remember which. Anyway, the issue with the sky mod I have is that the stars, particularly towards the horizon become rather large and blurry because of the way the texture is projected.


This is why the texture (and consequently the UV mapping) would probably need to be up scaled... It may be possible to change UV Map altogether so that the game renders the texture more evenly on all latitudes of the sky-box, but I wouldn't even know where to start there....
Mad Poster
#8 Old 14th Jun 2014 at 5:17 PM
I think there's a lot of defaults and other options out there. I have most of Almighty Hat's defaults, even though my main game isn't medieval, because the bright colors on everything doesn't appeal. I use Ja's sky replacements. I use CuriousB's terrain replacements. So there are lots of options for some of these things. I have a number of small mesh fixes of various sorts. A database of what's already made may well be more valuable than making a new set of stuff. The default databases (http://sims2defaults.dreamwidth.org/ and http://sims2-objectdefaults.dreamwidth.org/) cover a lot of things, but not things like the sky because they're replacements not defaults.

If you wanted to do just one thing, I'd vote for the lot imposters, if it's doable. That would be a huge improvement for everyone who takes pictures in their game, which is probably over eighty percent of simmers, and be wildly popular.

Pics from my game: Sunbee's Simblr Sunbee's Livejournal
"English is a marvelous edged weapon if you know how to wield it." C.J. Cherryh
Field Researcher
#9 Old 14th Jun 2014 at 5:21 PM
I can definitely say that there are plenty of easy things that could be done to make a start towards a project like this, one of them, as maxon said, is a central and updated list of defaults. I just recently realized that my computer is a beast, and I might as well take advantage of all the high-poly, high-detail textured replacements out there, but though I've found tons of stuff, there's tons of stuff I'm still looking for. I've been through the entire downloads section here, the entire "Defaults" thread, and all the content at the Sims2Defaults, and I still haven't found better textured replacements for NPC outfits. Yet, I know they're out there because I've seen them on (now defunct) livejournals and such. A comprehensive listing would be invaluable.

http://kahonseecity.livejournal.com/ < - New Prosperity Challenge. Last update: 6/9/14
The Great AntiJen
retired moderator
#10 Old 14th Jun 2014 at 5:39 PM
Yeah - I agree. Starting with cataloging defaults already available (and any potential clashes) would be an excellent contribution and I'm sure a lot of people would find that really helpful. It would also show up where work needs to be done.

EmeraldFalcon - I use this to get the maid out of the porn outfit, though it's quite old now and uses EAxis textures:
https://www.modthesims.info/d/261719
I like it though.

I no longer come over to MTS very often but if you would like to ask me a question then you can find me on tumblr or my own site tflc. TFLC has an archive of all my CC downloads.
I'm here on tumblr and my site, tflc
Mad Poster
#11 Old 15th Jun 2014 at 2:35 AM
Personally, I'm quite happy with the visual stuff. I'd rather see new animations and activities.

And what is a lot imposter?
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Original Poster
#12 Old 15th Jun 2014 at 2:57 AM
Quote: Originally posted by Charity
And what is a lot imposter?


It's the technical name for the shaders that are rendered to represent neighboring houses. They were originally designed simply for when viewing houses from the neighborhood, and honestly it shows... They look pretty bad from lot view.
Undead Molten Llama
#13 Old 15th Jun 2014 at 3:00 AM
A lot imposter is what you see on neighboring lots when you're in lot view (if you have the ability to see neighboring lots turned on). I'm not sure if it's the same thing as the version of the lot that you see in neighborhood view. They are generally very pixellated and yucky-looking. It was necessary when the game was new and computers were slower with less-powerful graphics, but now some machines/cards could certainly render higher-res lot imposters..

So yeah, I...third?...the idea higher-res lot imposters. Not sure my computer could handle everything in the 'hood being high res, but it'd be nice if just a lot's immediate neighbors could look not-quite-so-crappy in lot view.

I'm mostly found on (and mostly upload to) Tumblr these days because, alas, there are only 24 hours in a day.
Muh Simblr! | An index of my downloads on Tumblr.
Mad Poster
#14 Old 15th Jun 2014 at 6:52 AM
Ah. I thought it was the same thing as off world loiterers and was wondering why you would want to upgrade those lol.
Lab Assistant
#15 Old 13th May 2018 at 5:29 PM
It is interesting for an HD to remaster but keep it in mind that most outfits in there are outdated or plain ugly and people will use default replacements like I use them on Maxis men brief cause they look not underwear like. It then addition feature in the game and expansion pack and CC. If it a fan project then you had to find a way to read and write on package file and SimPE can do so someone else can as well as the SC4 file. Will the shader be improved cause let be honest, maxis shader is okay but not good. I not sure if EA will be okay with it or not but you never know with AAA game company they will sue you or be grateful that someone recreated their game.
Lab Assistant
#16 Old 13th May 2018 at 5:36 PM
I think you might want to make a prototype of it on unity or some game engine, even if it just build and buy mode that okay.
Mad Poster
#17 Old 13th May 2018 at 7:07 PM
Quote: Originally posted by SIMple
I think you might want to make a prototype of it on unity or some game engine, even if it just build and buy mode that okay.


This thread should have stayed buried

You might want to check dates before posting. (14th Jun 2014 at 10:52 PM)

All my Beginning Hoods here at MTS. http://www.modthesims.info/member.php?u=7749491
All my Beginning Hoods as Shopping Districts plus Old Town. http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=523417
MooVille, a tribute to Mootilda and her fabulous lots http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=534158
Space Pony
#18 Old 13th May 2018 at 8:31 PM
I think the thing that makes TS2 look old isn't textures (except of imposters), but shaders. Especially Gouraud shading and poor projective shadows. Unfortunately, I know almost nothing about shaders.
Field Researcher
#19 Old 13th May 2018 at 8:58 PM
Post processing. It really can improve the graphics in the game. For the game, there is a mod connected to this. But there are 2 problems with it:

Its is very resource-intensive. -30 fps in game. I think it's because of the hdao. This is a very resource-intensive thing, but which really improve in the shadows in the game. I would like to have a version of this mod without hdao.

He rewrites the original post processing. Because of this, all the game cut-scenes are broken.
Mad Poster
#20 Old 13th May 2018 at 9:00 PM
"Should have stayed buried" is a bit harsh. IMO. It is still interesting, but I guess the whole idea was dropped - even some of the more "doable" things...?

Stand up, speak out. Just not to me..
Mad Poster
#21 Old 13th May 2018 at 9:23 PM
It wasn't dropped. The idea was never formally started as the OP was only theorizing the idea of it.

People have already replaced the hands and feet of Sims with higher-poly meshes. I wonder when and/or how one could go about replacing the rest of the Mesh, such as the face. The character models themselves are dated and poorly done. The wrists and mouths, for example, are two very noticeable problems with the default Maxis Sim mesh.

Because the earth is standing still, and the truth becomes a lie
A choice profound is bittersweet, no one hears Cassandra Goth cry

Scholar
#22 Old 13th May 2018 at 11:04 PM
Quote: Originally posted by HarVee
It wasn't dropped. The idea was never formally started as the OP was only theorizing the idea of it.

People have already replaced the hands and feet of Sims with higher-poly meshes. I wonder when and/or how one could go about replacing the rest of the Mesh, such as the face. The character models themselves are dated and poorly done. The wrists and mouths, for example, are two very noticeable problems with the default Maxis Sim mesh.

Where could I find the higher sim models? I'm curious.
Mad Poster
#23 Old 13th May 2018 at 11:19 PM Last edited by HarVee : 13th May 2018 at 11:30 PM.
Quote: Originally posted by Squidconqueror
Where could I find the higher sim models? I'm curious.



BlooM's Sexyfeet


Tenshii's Smooth Hands (Original site is dead, back up download)

Tutorial on how to add Smooth Hands to an outfit

Some default replacements with both

Because the earth is standing still, and the truth becomes a lie
A choice profound is bittersweet, no one hears Cassandra Goth cry

Needs Coffee
retired moderator
#24 Old 14th May 2018 at 12:13 AM
Most of the things have already been retextured and there are lots of sky globes/sky mods from still clouds to moving clouds. The only thing that hasn't been able to changed are the lot imposters.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
Lab Assistant
#25 Old 6th Jul 2018 at 5:33 AM
Not doable without a reimplementation of the game engine, or you'll just be putting lipstick on a pig.
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