April 2000
MCAC-(Reposted)
Posted Sunday, April 30, 6:45 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Ok gang, we've finally completed preparation for the 1st Annual MCAC, MOTS Creation Awards Contest!!
Up for grabs is a VooDoo 5 Video Card as well as Strategy Guides for "The SIMS" and Free CLUB MOTS VIP Memberships!!
For all the greasy details, just head on over to the MCAC Info Page!!
Congratulations
Posted Sunday, April 30, 10:47 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Congrats go out to this week's caption contest winner, Jeremy Randall. It was a strange turn of events that led to him winning the contest. The caption he had originally submitted was 11 words long. We all know that the caption need to be 10 words or less. BUT, Jeremy had 11 words with the word "Dishwasher" as two words, dish and washer. After spotting this simple misspelling we decided to award Jeremy the "Caption of the Week" as his was truly funny...(or at least I thought it was..).
Interview With Maxis
Posted Friday, April 28, 8:31 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Recently we had the pleasure of interviewing Maxis' Public Relations Director, Patrick Buechner, about the new ad campaign on MTV, the outlook for "The SIMS", Multi-Player capability, and other various things.
We're pleased to bring you this "MALL OF THE SIMS" exclusive and hope that you find it as informative as we have!
You can view the interview by clicking HERE.
After you're done reading it, hop on over to our "Club" message board and let us know any comments you have about the interview!
Gilly and Billy's
Posted Friday, April 28, 8:00 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Yet another store has opened it's doors this morning at the Mall of the SIMS! Gilly and Billy's "Trashy Trends" is a place to grab all the latest fashions for your Sims. This artist specializes in Women's clothes with a hint of the more sexy and risque clothing....
She's also got a few Men's clothes and is working on new kids skins as well. Go check out Gilly and Billy's and see what they're all about! They're located in suite L-13 on the lower level and also under the "Themes" category on the menu to the left of the lower level directory.
Flowers
Posted Wednesday, April 26, 9:27 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Ok gang...for those of you wanting to get the most out of your Sims' dirt, Maxis has just released this "Simday's" download. What garden would be complete without a bunch of flowers!?!?! Umm..err.. I thought there were flowers in the game.... oh well, for those of you who want a WHOLE BUNCH OF FLOWERS to choose from....go "Pick" them up at www.thesims.com.
V5 6000 screenies
Posted Wednesday, April 26, 7:51 PM GMT by Buliwyf
Hardocp has gotten new screenshots of the V5 6000 AGP card. Boy this baby is packin!
The Poster Factory
Posted Wednesday, April 26, 6:52 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
What's this? Another store opened at MOTS!?!?! Yep! That's right, we're pleased as punch to announce the grand opening of The Poster Factory. The Poster Factory is our newest addition to the Mall and is filled with all sorts of posters and matching walls as well.
Go check them out as soon as you can so you can enjoy all the different stars and such in your Sims' living rooms!
TSR Tutorials
Posted Wednesday, April 26, 10:03 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Our good friends at The Sims Resource have sent word that their infamous skinning artist, Alyssa, has created a tutorial on how to make skins. Steve Bonham, the site's webmaster and creator, has also written a tutorial that's based on creating Walls. Both include full colour images to help you to understand the process and to find your way around the software needed to create and view the finished artwork.
Special thanks to Steve and Alyssa for all their hard work on these tutorials! Go check them out at http://www.thesimsresource.com.
Click N' Save
Posted Tuesday, April 25, 7:22 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Our newest store has opened their doors and is waiting for you to browse their terrific shop filled with Walls, Floors, Murals and more! "Click N' Save" has over a hundred different innovative designs for Walls as well as some terrific Murals to spruce up those boring greys in your Sim's house!
Go visit "Click N' Save" on the lower level here at the Mall of the SIMS in suite L-4.
HELP section Updated
Posted Monday, April 24, 10:17 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
We've finally done it! After a battle with a horrific case of writer's block, I've finally re-written and revamped the entire help section.
There is now a section dedicated solely to the navigation of the mall as well as a section that explains in great detail how to download items from the mall and install them into the game. I apologize for not having done this sooner but all of our pens were broken..??
Anyway, I also added a "troubleshooting" list at the end of the installation program that may help some of you figure out how to get items to work that you previously had difficulty with. Hope these new tutorials prove themselves worthy. Have fun and keep an eye out here in the next day or two as we will be making a HUGE press release!
Synchroplay
Posted Saturday, April 22, 3:24 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Synchroplay (the custom add-on synchronization resource) is back online! They've revamped their graphics and added support for a few new games. One of these is "The SIMS"! They just released their first "Sims Skins" pack with a few nifty skins and plan to now release weekly packs of all the skins submitted to them. So...when you have a chance and would like to show of the skins YOU made, be sure to send them to Synchroplay. It's a surefire way to get your name in the limelight as they give credit to each author that designed each skin.
Related URL: http://www.synchroplay.com
New System
Posted Friday, April 21, 5:54 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Well, the integration of our latest filing system is going weel. We've succesfully converted "Bob Newbie's Tradin' Post" to the new system and hope to have it opened up and receiving user submissions before the end of the weekend.
Pay close attention to the new stores that have been upgraded so far as there is now a built in search engine in each one of them! This is a keyword search that looks through the filenames as well as any descriptions that have been entered for the items in that particular store.
"Descriptions!?!?" Yes, we also now have the ability to ptu descriptions under each item so you can get a better idea of what you're downloading!
One more thing, we are currently putting the finishing touches on a better tutorial to explain how to install the files found at the Mall into your "The SIMS" game. This should be completed by the end of the weekend.
Don't forget to sign our petition in the "General Discussion" forum in our "CLUB". So far we've had 150 people show their support for REAL WORLD type stores here at the Mall! What this could mean is that you would be seeing a pair of "GAP" or "TOMMY" jeans on your Sims very soon!!
MCAC-CONTEST!!!
Posted Thursday, April 20, 12:27 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Ok gang, we've finally completed preparation for the 1st Annual MCAC, MOTS Creation Awards Contest!!
Up for grabs is a VooDoo 5 Video Card as well as Strategy Guides for "The SIMS" and Free CLUB MOTS VIP Memberships!!
For all the greasy details, just head on over to the MCAC Info Page!!
Simply Cool
Posted Thursday, April 20, 8:39 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
We're sorry to say that the owner of "Simply Cool", Glen Christie, has announced that he will no longer be creating Skins for that store.
While we hate to see Glen leave it, we're sure that Simply Cool can remain and continue to flourish as a great resource for skins for your Sims.
In order to continue the "Simply Cool" store, we would like to extend an invitation to anyone who's skinning talent is developed, to take over the "Simply Cool" store and begin creating more skins in the spirit of this great store. If you are interested please contact the WebMaster at webmaster@www.mallofthesims.com. Thanks.
7 Deadly Sims
Posted Wednesday, April 19, 10:15 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Our old buddy Claw has completed work on his new site, www.7deadlysims.com and it's looking real good. Stop by and check it out when you have a chance.
Updated File System
Posted Wednesday, April 19, 10:13 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Just wanted to throw something on here. Sorry for the extreme lack of news lately. We've been looking at some new features for the Mall and are about to start implementing them. We'll also be announcing a new contest shortly that will have all of you excited!
More news on the contest will be posted tommorrow morning.
A couple things
Posted Sunday, April 16, 8:23 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Just a couple brief notes today....
First,
If you are going to sign our "virtual petition", please only post a reply to that topic ONCE. This will insure that we have an accurate number of votes on the petition. If you want to talk about sleepwalking or other miscellaneous subjects let's start a new topic about those things and keep the petition topic for ONLY ONE signature of a vote per registered forum member. Thanks.
Second,
You may have noticed that we have implemented a counter on our main page. Up until this point we have kept our traffic confidential as we did not wish to seem to anyone that we were bragging about our insane amount of traffic. The reason we have now decided to implement this is simple, we want to use this counter as an effective way to help our task of bringing REAL WORLD stores to the "Sims" scene here at MOTS! Woohoo!!
Third,
Bil Simser released the "FAR" editor that he's been working on. It's not the "Furniture" editor we've all been waiting for but it does allow you to browse, edit and extract files in FAR files (Sims archive files, similar to Zip files). You can preview bitmaps from the game, extract files to your hard drive or create new FAR files of your own. You can check it out at http://www.simbabes.com/blueprint/.
Want More?
Posted Saturday, April 15, 3:52 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Ok ladies and gentlemen, we are now ready to open the floodgates.
Later this evening we will begin an effort to have as many people as possible sign (their e-mail address) on a petition to try get the attention of the REAL Stores out there!
That's right, we want to start hosting "stores" for REAL STORES such as JC Penny's, Sears, Bugle Boy, The Gap, Levi's and many others.
These stores would house whatever they carried in real life, "Furniture", "Skins", "Wallpaper", "Paint" and so on, for the game, "The SIMS"!! There would then be some sort of link within these companies' stores that takes people to that company's REAL on-line shopping resource!
If you would like to become involved with this monumental effort that will surely be put forth from every visitor and fan of this site, we would really appreciate it. This can be a way for the gaming community to actually show how big their voice can be!!
To register YOUR Plea to the REAL STORES of the world for them to come join us here at the Mall, simply press the CLUB button on the right side of this page! Once you are a registered member of the "Club MOTS" message board you can go to the "GENERAL DISCUSSION" forum where we will have the petition.
Thanks Again Everyone!
Silent Insomnia
WebMaster and Founder
Mall of the SIMS
1 MILLION SIMS SHIP
Posted Friday, April 14, 1:34 PM GMT by HeadHunter
One million copies of The Sims have shipped from Electronic Arts.
John Riccitiello, EA's President said: "We're extremely pleased with The Sims' sales and the reaction from our customers and the critics. The Sims has quickly become a cultural phenomenon. Hard core gamers and casual computer users alike have become fans. In fact almost a quarter of the game's registrants are women."
More Skins
Posted Thursday, April 13, 6:23 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Suprise Suprise...guess what today's "SimDay" download is.... SKINS!! More Skins than you can shake a skin at!
Hope springs eternal though....it looks as if Maxis will be releasing some really cool hedges for your yard on next week's "Sim Day".
Also reported is a rumor that the Beta 3 version of the "BluePrint" editing program will FINALLY be released this coming Saturday. Well... we'll see.
As soon as BluePrint does come out we'll let you know right here at the Mall.
We forgot our own..
Posted Wednesday, April 12, 6:26 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
We forgot our own celebration!! So...to kick off the fact that, now, the Mall is officially HALF FULL we have decided to hold a contest to show our appreciation to our visitors.
This weekend we will release further details about the contest.
Sims' Outages
Posted Wednesday, April 12, 9:28 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
We've been receiving reports over the past few days that several of the larger SIMS-related sites are down. Some of these include, "The SIMS Home", Xtreme Simz.Com, and others.
We're not too sure what has happened to these sites but would like to openly offer our server as a host to other Sims-Related sites. If you are a webmaster for an existing site or are planning a new "SIMS" website and would like to discuss the possibility of being hosted here at the Mall of the SIMS we'll be happy to talk with you about it.
For more information please e-mail the webmaster at webmaster@www.mallofthesims.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Big Things
Posted Sunday, April 9, 10:45 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
We've got yet another new feature on it's way for you wonderful folks. The new feature coming to the mall will help the store owners organize their content more while also giving the shopping public visiting MOTS an opportunity to get more from the stores.
Keep checking back with us as we are currently preparing this new system. Also, due to this process we have slightly postponed announcing this week's picture and caption winners but should be making those announcements later today. Thanks for your patience.
Simterior Designs
Posted Friday, April 7, 8:39 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Once again, we've taken your suggestions and come up with yet another new store just launched this morning called "Simterior Designs". This store is a collection of MATCHED walls and floors. Almost all the floors and walls at Simterior Designs are matched sets specifically designed to enhance each other's appearance when used together in the same room.
Go check out the great new downloads at Simterior Designs and let us know what ya think!
Sims Commercial
Posted Friday, April 7, 8:36 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Word has come from Maxis that the first of their MTV commercials is now available for viewing on their website. You can access it by going to the "About" section at www.thesims.com.
Store Manager Wanted
Posted Friday, April 7, 7:37 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
We've recently undergone alot of changes here at MOTS and are continuing to grow. Because of this we have decided to re-launch several of our stores with new content as well as new management of them.
What we're looking for is someone that knows HTML backwards and forwards and can also do a little in terms of graphics. The qualified person will be taking over administration of at least one of the current stores that have no owner updating them. This position DOES NOT require you knowing how to make skins(though it would help) but it DOES require a GOOD understanding of HTML.
Please forward all applications for this position to this e-mail address.
Thanks
Odd Lots
Posted Wednesday, April 5, 12:27 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
As promised, we've "opened the main tank" and are allowing a bunch of new stores to be opened. They're opening at such a fast pace that you will probably get LOST in the Mall soon!!
The first of these new stores has opened its doors this morning and goes by the name of "Odd Lots". Odd Lots specializes in weird and strange shaped houses as well as an assortment of interesting Walls and Floors. So..whatcha waiting for? Go check them out at their new home in Suite L-7 on the Lower Level here at MOTS!
MTV and The SIMS!!
Posted Tuesday, April 4, 9:25 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
As reported by Maxis earlier today, they are sponsoring this month's "Wanna Be a VJ" contest on MTV as well as siring some commercials that are said to be very funny. They will also have the ads available at www.thesims.com to view when they are available. We'll try to keep you posted as to when this happens.
PC Gamer
Posted Tuesday, April 4, 9:00 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
We'd like to give a special thanks to our old buddy "Claw" for sending us the news that PC Gamer recently mentioned us in their magazine!
In the article they mentioned MOTS as "...the most inventive, designed like a shopping mall directory...." and noted "...with the shelves still filling up.."
You can see the whole article in this month's issue of PC Gamer magazine. Thanks Claw and THANK YOU PC GAMER!! And thanks also to you, the visitors here at the Mall for helping us be a great place to hang out and shop for stuff for YOUR SIMS!!
Miles of Tiles
Posted Monday, April 3, 1:07 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Our newest store, Miles of Tiles is open and ready for business!! Go check out this new store which offers tons of floor tiling for your "simming" needs! They've got everything from Hardwood Floors to Stone and Marble Tiling.
Miles of Tiles is conveniently located in the U-16 suite on the upper level here at the Mall. Once you've had a chance to look their selection be sure to write the owner and let them know what ya think!
Word on Jukebox
Posted Monday, April 3, 12:29 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Ok gang... As always, we're trying to keep you updated here at the "Information Desk" as to the lastest going's on in the "Simming" community.
Early this morning we decided to pursue the case of the mysterious Jukebox that's been popping up all over the 'net. We have now confirmed with our contacts at Maxis that this WAS a "beta" released object that was never supposed to end up in the hands of John Q. Public. Because it's a beta release, our sources recommend that folks who value their sim-families steer clear of this "buggy" add-on and ONLY use add-on objects that are released by Maxis every "Sim-Day"(Thursday)
While even I can't wait to jam to some tunes on a jukebox, I personally have not and WILL NOT be installing this or any other "third-party add-on objects" any time in the near future as it may have a negative effect on my poor little Sims!! :)
Posted Monday, April 3, 12:20 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Congratulations
Posted Monday, April 3, 6:20 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Congrats to all of the first 10 winners that were able to identify our "Tattoo Lady" as the "BIG SIM" and inform us of her tattoos as well as how huge her pic was compared to the others!
Look for more interesting contests soon here at the Mall of the SIMS!
Customization
Posted Sunday, April 2, 2:53 PM GMT by Silent Insomnia
The following was sent in to us by Dr. FrankenSim of Dr. FrankenSim's Laboratory...
"Two startling new developments in Sims customizations have been discovered.
I know this because I discovered them. They are:
1. How would you like to be able to create custom start-up screens. These
would replace the blue Sims screen that displays when the Sims starts? Or...
2. How would you like to change the default sounds that the game uses (as in
the sound that plays when someone passes out, or when a burglar shows up)?
For the answers to these questions and more, check out SeNeCa's Wicked Sims @ http://sensims.home.dhs.org/.
Ken And/Or Julie??
Posted Sunday, April 2, 1:07 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
Congratulations to "Ken and/or Julie"(names listed on e-mail) for winning this week's caption contest with the following entry...
"After the Village People's breakup, Rudy developed a drinking problem."
Another great winner here at MOTS with yet another entry of EXACTLY the word limit!! Great job to all of you guys for entries this week...it was a hard choice!
I Spy the BIG SIM
Posted Saturday, April 1, 2:47 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
We're proud to announce the addition of our "I Spy the BIG SIM" Contest.
This contest will work as follows. The first 10 people to correctly identify to us which store has the "BIG SIM" in it and tell us exactly what's so different about it besides it's size will win FREE VIP Club Memberships valued each at $12.00 a year for one year. The contest will run from now until Sunday at 10:00 pm Central Standard Time.
Rules:\
You may not be a member of the MOTS Staff if you win.
You may only enter ONCE! If you enter more than once whether you have the correct answer or not you will be disqualified.
You may NOT post the answer anywhere if you DO find it. If you post it you will be banned from the Mall forever.
All entries must go to THIS email address.... bigsim@mallofthesims.com
Any entered anywhere else will be disqualified.
The Winners will be announced on Sunday evening. Till then...good luck!!
Sorry Bil and Donna.
Posted Saturday, April 1, 1:12 AM GMT by Silent Insomnia
No hard feelings folks....was just messing around trying to play an
APRIL FOOLS Joke on ya.........
The following is a letter that I wrote to Bil Simser a little while ago on ICQ.....
LOLOLOLOLLOLOLLOLLOLLOLOLOLLO
LOLOLOLOLOLOOLLOLOOLOLOLLLO
"Hope you're not too mad at me Bil.....it was just a
APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
joke!!
Been planning it for weeks.....just to say 'no hard feelings....'."
Good Luck on the new sites gang...and Bil...we miss ya....
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