CK213: VA-11 Hall-A: Let's Play It In TS4!!

EP 1: The Setting

San Myshuno, the Fashion District, popular with young and trendy sims, the fashion district is also home to the Romance Festival and GeekCon. Probably not the idea location for a dystopian cyberpunk future, but we do have evil, shady, and kleptomaniac sims, as well as prowling burglars now.

VA-11 Hall-A sits atop the Torendi Tower building. The original game takes place in a sprawling metropolis, so this seemed like an ideal location. It should be impressive at night. The bar was my initial concern, as it would probably take more thought as far as objects and layout, so I began with it.

Down below we find the GeekCon festival is underway. Perhaps Dana will open early for GeekCon to catch GeekCon revelers, but her normal hours will be from 3pm to 2am. When playing other sims I can have them enjoy GeekCon or the Romance Festival and then move on to Valhalla to party into the night. I may move karaoke to Valhalla and turn the current karaoke bar into a cybercafe.

VA-11 Hall-A, the entrance. The story goes that Dana wanted to name the bar VA-1 Hall-A, more accurate to Valhalla, when she applied for her BTC bar owner certification, however another BTC bar owner stole the name, so Dana held off until the VA-11 code became available.

I began by just going through build/bu, searching for any interesting cyberpunky looking objects.

Eventually the place began to become something I can see myself enjoying. I turned it into a lounge so I can begin testing it.

My next thought was Jill Stingray, she is the original game's main character after all. I need to determine her traits and give her a few skill points in mixology. She's tired after spending many hours being mentored by the resident mixologist. This is a Let's Play, so I have no problem showing Plumbobs, but don't be surprise if I suddenly dive into Story-telling. I roll like that.

Problem, I am not happy with my version of Jill Stingray. The main problem is the hair. Jill has some really iconic hair, and there isn't anything like it in TS4. The second problem is Jill is cute--ANIME CUTE! My Sims can do that big-eyed cute, The Sims 4, not so much. I will tweak her some more, and try to find better hair, but I think I will just have to accept a not-so-Jill, Jill.

The bar is looking nice. Actually..., it's looking too nice.

Thinking back to the original game, some of the characters visiting bar referred to it as "a hole". Actually they said something worse, but I can't say that here. But I love this setting, I want to play it and have all the characters visit here. I also need to make Jill's Boss. She's will be the one actually running the place when Businesses and Hobbies hits. I had to make her.

I hit upon an idea to solve this issue, with a little visit to a bar I found on the gallery.

Well, this place is a real hole, isn't it? And the perfect place for Dana to buy as a starter bar.

The Fashion District's Valhalla will require me to motherlode Dana the money to buy it. She can buy this bar instead and work her way to earning by playing through Businesses and Hobbies. 

That's the plan. Now I have to move on to making all the other characters. See ya next episode. 😄

Next: Ep.2: The Characters

Previous post: Ep.1 The Setting

Ep.2: The Characters

The original game of VA-11 Hall-A has a 2D 80's Anime retro pixel art style. They used scan lines for the cyberpunk theme. This screen is basically the game and that window is all you saw of the world. You mostly saw the interior of the bar and Jill's apartment at the beginning and end of the day. Anywhere else was left to your imagination.

Nevertheless, I found myself surprisingly immersed into this world and its characters. The sound track also helped. And there are a lot of characters, about two dozen.

It is not going to be easy to portray anime characters in The Sims 4, but I will try my best.

Dana Zane:  We start with Dana Zane, the proprietor of Valhalla. Before owning the bar, she worked in the city's police force. For someone who seems tough with her past and mechanical arm, she's a bit of a goofball and deeply cares for her employees. I am not sure what to do about her mechanical arm in The Sims 4. There is that cybernetic arm that came with Discover University though.

Jill Stingray:  Jill's actual name is Julienne Stingray, but she hates that name and insists on being called Jill. She is known for her sharp wit, dry humor, and ability to connect with her customers, even the most challenging ones. She has a strong sense of responsibility and takes pride in her work, though she sometimes struggles with personal insecurities.

Her personal life is marked by her love for her pet cat, Fore. Jill spends much of her free time at home, often browsing the internet or relaxing under her kotatsu. She named her cat, Fore because if it ever got out, she could go outside and yell, Fooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrre! Apparently she has a thing for golf, or just a weird sense of humor.

Gillian:  Known as Gil, he is quite the mysterious character. His past is shrouded in mystery, and he is known for being secretive, even among his coworkers. Gil was hired at VA-11 Hall-A after Jill Gillian (Gil) joined the bar later on and was hired by Dana, the bar's manager. Interestingly, when Gil started, Jill wasn't particularly fond of him, but over time their working relationship developed, and they became friends. Their dynamic adds a nice layer of camaraderie and humor to the game's atmosphere.

Dorthy Haze: Dorthy is a Lilim. In the world of VA-11 Hall-A, Lilims are autonomous humanoid robots with advanced artificial intelligence. Their AI is derived from an earlier AI named Lilith, and they are a common presence in the city. Lilims are designed to resemble humans closely, both in appearance and behavior, and they come in various models, each with unique features and purposes. Dorthy is a companionship Lilim that specializes in role-play.

Alma Armas: a professional hacker hired by corporations to test their cybersecurity. She is a regular at the bar, known for her playful and teasing personality. Her hands are artificial and she wears black gloves over them.

Sei Asagiri: an ex-White Knight that now works as a bodyguard. She served in the Valkyrie unit, the medic and rescue branch, as a first responder. The White Knights were disbanded due to corruption and other controversies.

Stella Hoshii: Stella is a close friend to Sei Asagiri. They are currently sharing an apartment in San Myshuno. She is known to be wealthy, so I think I will go all out on their apartment

Stella is a Cat Boomer. Cat Boomers were genetically manipulated as fetuses to prevent nano-machine rejection. She also lost an eye as a child. She is supposed to have a cybernetic prosthetic eye, but all I could find was an eye patch.

Beatrice Albert and Deal: Despite being pale as a Lilim, Beatrice is actually human. Deal however, is a Lilim, one that Beatrice is particularly fond.

I am not going to introduce the whole cast, but these are the ones that should appear first. I will return with a couple more.

Next: Ep.3: Hanging Out With The Dead

Previous Post: Ep.2: The Characters 

Ep.3 Hanging Out With The Dead

We have one more character to profile for now.

Kira Miki: Kira is incredibly cheerful, energetic, and deeply appreciative of her fans. She dislikes the term "fans" and instead views them as her "extra security." Despite her bubbly exterior, she occasionally reveals a more introspective side, questioning her sense of self-identity due to her deep immersion in her idol persona.

It may be interesting to introduce Kira before her fame. Kira Miki is her stage name. Her real name is Michelle Kingston and she is also a Lilim.

She is currently Dana’s neighbor in her apartment building. I believe I will have her seriously hustling to afford the rent. This should actually work out nicely. Dana knows her talent and would naturally want her to play at her bar.

This is fun, playing these characters as I set them up for Businesses and Hobbies. This is Beatrice Albert that I introduce earlier. She called up Kira while I was playing her and invited her out.

I have not played The Sims 4 since For Rent came out. So imagine my surprise at arriving at this ghostly lounge from Life and Death.

Dana was with Kira at the time she received the invitation, so she tagged along as well. I am getting a Lilith vibe from Beatrice, a hybrid of Lilith Sternin-Crane and Wednesday Addams, considering the ghost club she picked to bring them. I just might play her that way.

Okay then, let’s party with the ghosts with the most.

I don’t remember inviting Ingram McDougal along. He’s grumpy with a nasty attitude. I am sure he will be a source of drama in my Let’s Play.

Oh, here is a good opportunity to up those dance skills.

I like this lot. I wouldn’t mind it as a place for other supernaturals or Goth sims.

Alright, now it’s looking strange.

Before I knew it, the others had baled on Kira.

It was fun. Now back to prepping for Businesses and Hobbies.

Next: Stay Tuned.

You did the characters very well!! :) 

Hi! 😄

It's a challenge when you are dealing anime characters and you don't have the content you want. I wish I was good at modding hair and clothes. I would be having more fun. This is already proving to be interesting because these characters are already running into each other out in the world and in their apartment buildings.

Sounds like a fun game and a good premise for a sims game!

Good job on bringing the characters to life! Haha I like the combination of Lillith Sternin-Crane and Wednesday Adams reference for Beatrice-an accurate depiction.

I have been busy playing the game, working out how I want to play it, and thinking of small story scenarios to play.

For some reason, EA intends for us to play with one household and refuses to involve any other households outside the one we are playing into expansion pack game-play other than Base Game and EP NPCs. I had to give all my sims the Insider trait and set that as a customer trait just for them to show up at the bar.

That aside, I am really loving this. This really opens up the world of VA-11 Hall-A. It's not easy to make convincing likenesses of the characters, but once you get used to them, they become those characters. I have a lot of pictures to sort through and narratives to write. I will be posting more next week. 😀

ck213 wrote:

the one we are playing into expansion pack game-play other than Base Game and EP NPC

And celebrities, those show up always,, Judith and Brytani the most.  From base, Nancy, Geoffrey and Katrina are always present .. and Morty with a book. 😅

I really love how the place looks :) 

Previous Post: Ep.3: Hanging Out With The Dead

Ep.4: Businesses and Hobbies

This is the official start of this tread now that I have my game set up and I have the Businesses and Hobbies expansion pack. Let’s Go!

The neon sign buzzed as Dana Zane approached the building. The sign pictured a large mug of bear and a dart studded dart board. A large arrow pointed toward the bar’s door. Dana stood before the door, her coat snug against the late winter chill, gazing up at name of the bar above the door: "The Dive." It was hers now—a new chapter, a new world, a new challenge. Her fingers brushed the keys in her pocket, the cool metal a tangible reminder of the leap she’d taken.

She served twelve years on the San Myshuno Police force. No more patrols, no more endless paperwork, no more late nights haunted by cases that wouldn’t let her sleep. This was freedom—messy, uncertain, intoxicating freedom.

"The Dive" wasn’t much to look at, but Dana saw its potential as a stepping stone to what she really wanted. It would take work, money, and more grit than most would bother mustering. But grit? That she had in spades.

Dana took a deep breath, the enormity of the moment settling on her. She wasn’t just opening a bar—she was carving out a life that was hers alone; a life where she calls the shots. And maybe, just maybe, The Dive would be more than a bar and a stepping stone. It could be a haven for all the misfits, dreamers, and lost souls like her, looking for a place to land. 

The previous owner named it correctly. The place is actually a dive. And it’s going to stay a dive because any profits made here will be allocated to her true goal. It’s not as bad inside, but she should do something about the trash around the building.

Making a drink came to her with ease. Dana had tended bar before and had also spent plentiful time in bars as a police officer.

She felt comfortable enough with it. It was time to open The Dive—under new ownership and management.

It will be interesting to see what characters would walk through these doors.

This gentleman seems to be from out of town, judging by his clothing.

Hitting a dive bar in the big city? It must be on his bucket list.

Her first customer, this is a major moment.

Now this is something she did not expect. That’s Judith Ward! What on Earth is she doing here? Perhaps she is a Method actor and she wants to immerse herself in a gritty urban environment to prepare for a new movie role.

Dana serves her a drink name Prose and Pop, very fitting. She notices Judith’s hair isn’t in her iconic up-do, and she is wearing common clothing. Perhaps she doesn’t want to be recognized. It’s not working.

What an excellent start to her day, actually meeting Judith Ward, in her bar.

What? Where did this come from? She hadn’t noticed that computer earlier.

She decides to greet some of the other customers.

It could not hurt to spread the good will and keep the customers happy with the new ownership.

Hey, what’s going on here? This guy just rolls a refrigerator in here and dumps it without word.

This place is a dump—literally! They are just dropping off their junk here.

She notices something about the new clientele she has inherited. Well, not the cowboy, he seems quite mellow and brimming with southern hospitality and charm.

But the others, they seem a bit irritable and surly.

It must be rough out there. Well, the bar is the perfect place to take the edge off.

“Hey, you must be the new owner. Gus scrambled out of town really quick. I don’t blame him either. I bet he gave you a great deal on this place.”

“But let’s get something straight here, lady. This is like home for us, so don’t go around making big changes. Otherwise, you will find yourself serving some really unhappy people here. You don’t want us angry with you.”

Dana realizes she is going to need some help sooner than she thought.

Her new clientele must be the reason that baseball bat is hidden behind the bar. She should probably give it a name, like "Batitude Adjuster", or the "Thwackmaster 3000".  Now that she's thinking about it, she should probably pick up a spare bat, metal, with studs.

She’s had enough attitudes for the day. It’s time to close for the night.

They can grumble all they want.

Seeing the cowboy lumber out the door had her concerned that he might have had too much to drink, but quickly realized that something else was going on there.

Strange.

Oh well, let’s call it a night. She has a lot to think about on her way home. What is she going to do with all the garbage being dumped on her. She could probably make some kind of use of it. Recycling?

She is going to have to find a good mixologist to tend bar while she focuses on other things. She had this idea of making her own nectar brand. Sigh, deal with it tomorrow.

Next Post: Stay Tuned

Table of Contents Page: Let's Go!