I do not recall if I have ever timed myself creating a Sim, but if I had to guess then it depends. Sometimes I just want to create a new Sim quickly and get back to the game and sometimes I can take much longer such as 30 minutes or more. Then there are times when I can take hours which kind of just add up from working on a single Sim and saving them and then coming back to make changes until I settle with something I like.
A good majority of the Sims I play are ones I created and the others are either ones that I downloaded or ones that I change because they are randomly generated Sims with preset features at zero.
For example the female Sim, Richelle, is a randomly generated one who I changed to make her unique. I don't usually go and change every single zero slider Sim because I do not have the patience. So I reserve that for Sims who get involved with my Sims whether friends or more. Because really that zero slider preset look bothers me. https://i.postimg.cc/BbHQcxbw/Screenshot-2103.jpg
He used to be a mixologist and then I changed him and pretty much added him to my main game so now he's a resident but I currently moved him to Bridgeport. https://i.postimg.cc/fbQMFZ9d/Screenshot-3958.jpg
These next 3 I just quickly used presets. The first one was a proprietor and the other two cashier role Sims. https://i.postimg.cc/NMzs5rQB/Screenshot-2663.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/j55qxh0M/Screenshot-2660.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/bvqNMh6c/Screenshot-2658.jpg
Examples of Sims I created: https://i.postimg.cc/8sQKcJtK/Screenshot-1469.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/DfPGN9dq/Screenshot-1924.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/pT0Cb4pp/Screenshot-1936.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/prhDkJvB/Screenshot-458.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/5yyDZn0k/Screenshot-5632.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Y02mgz4V/Screenshot-1302.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/sDtv6d0f/Screenshot-355.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/d3MTCjGb/Screenshot-551.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/k4GKTVRs/Screenshot-67.jpg
She is based off of one of many City Shine Barbie dolls. I plan on doing male version, perhaps with the fashionistas or something. https://i.postimg.cc/PryNRFfr/Screenshot-363.jpg
These two I created as young adults as you can see in their portrait because now they are elders. I cannot wait until more Sims age to elders. https://i.postimg.cc/QMcgBNBG/Screenshot-503.jpg
Daniel is up for download in my Sim Studio but for my game I changed his hair. Someone wanted to download my male Sim (the one in the portrait as a young adult) but I didn't want to share that particular Sim so that's how Daniel got thought up, lol. https://i.postimg.cc/JhgMMwFm/Screenshot-303.jpg
The one to the left, Luna, I created as albino and the guy on the right used to be the repair technician but I changed him since he got involved with my Sims. And currently I moved him to Sunlit Tides now. https://i.postimg.cc/2SntdZVy/Screenshot-275.jpg
My classic Hollywood movie star inspired Sim. Though she may have a slight resemblance to Betty Boop, Marilyn Monroe and/or Lucy from I Love Lucy. https://i.postimg.cc/SRfxBsKG/Lucille4.png
These Sims I created specifically with a scenario in mind to play out which is Castaway inspired by The Sims 2 Castaway, but I still didn't do that yet. https://i.postimg.cc/W4djXSzy/Screenshot-141.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/RFnSVGzt/Screenshot-145.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/xTR56vtR/Screenshot-147.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/159hQNp2/Screenshot-110.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/02cg22nQ/Screenshot-111.jpg
Yes, Sim creation is one of my favorite pastimes and CASt is one of the best features to ever happen to The Sims 3. :love:
For me, if I'm making a Sim that's as detailed and unique as possible, with potential to be a major story character? Around 30 minutes. Longer, if I make multiple Everyday outfits, sleep, Hot, Cold, etc. Especially if I get stuck and unsure how to fix the Sim's appearance, but become too stubborn to delete the Sim.
I don't time myself. I can do some sims fairly fast and others may take several days working a little at a time when I have the time to work on them. I have a few sliders but mostly play with the EA ones. I find that after I've seen them in action in the game I need to take them back into CAS and do a few tweaks too. Some of the game animations make some expressions weird depending on what you did with sliders. I absolutely hate those pointy down turned noses on sims with some animations and I do my best to keep those from happening with my settings.
I find that if I cut the time to create the sim in CAS, I just wind up taking even more time in game fixing what I didn't do in CAs using Plan Outfit. And I'm still not happy over their wishes and I have to get all kind of lifetime points to fix that. So I have learned to take my time in CAS.
When I design a sim from scratch, most of the work has already been planned in my head. I have a basic idea as to what I want them to look like, how I want them to dress and behave (starter traits). I also have an idea about their lifestyle, that is until they change it as their personalities develop.
The only time I spend and hour or better in CAS is when I am remaking EA created Sims. I mean the Townie sims who have a backstories and current story lines, not the randomly generated ones. They take much longer because I have to balance their 'official' story with one that is more logical in terms of traits, then I create a visually 'reasonable look' which accentuates it all.
