(yes, not a 100% honest question BUT)I find that many of the famous builders (not going to name names here! Please!) that I used to like are now basically only building, which means they make lots that look great and functions horribly. Stair bug aside (when a loft can't be accessed because the stairs have stopped working after a patch) almost all non-Maxis community lots are too crowded, too narrow even when MOO isn't breaking things.This is especially noticeable on Restaurants (I have already been ranting about those, before) but there is a reason why no Maxis builds have a more narrow space than two squares around a table, a bar, or a ping pong table or. Or at least two different ways to pass around a table. I have found myself (who is not a builder and stink at it) have to always go into build mode on community lots to clean up: Delete at least two tables in bars an restaurants to allow flow of NPC / Townies, remove double appliances like a jukebox AND a wall mounted loudspeaker in the same room? Why?)Sorry, I had to rant a bit. But is there anyone but James who seem to genuinely use everything he or she uploads? All his things are not to my liking, but at least they always, always, work.

I don't think there's enough time for most builders to build many amazing things and use them all in-game. It's too much work. The most prolific/famous builders seem to be putting something out multiple times a week (almost everyday) because the YouTube algorithm is unforgiving, so at most they'll probably only do minimal play testing.I think you have to search for smaller creators with fewer builds if you want them to work flawlessly. They will be harder to find because neither YT nor the gallery rewards that. But it really shouldn't take much to fix mistakes or get a build optimized for your machine.ETA: My computer also has a high tolerance for nonsense in builds so clutter and narrow paths don't bother me. A lot of the builders could be on machines like mine where we can push the limits of the game and generally be fine. The AI processes fast enough to where the Sims can navigate intricate pathing okay.

I feel like majority of popular builders now just make things for looks rather than function. I see so many builds that are totally unplayable as they put so much stuff that you can barely even see the rooms

I think you can tell who actually is a builder that builds and plays the sims, and those that really just build. It's become such a competition to make the most fabulous homes, whether they are functional or not.I do build and playtest all of my homes, because I do actually play the game I know where things can be and where they can't. Doesn't mean that something won't mess up from time to time but I make sure my homes are playable and functional.It's great to have a beautiful build, but if you are making a starter with 4 bedrooms but the bedrooms are 3x4's with two kids beds inside that is just not a home that would be fun to play in, or the one counter for a kitchen.I'm sure I could make a 6 bedroom starter using the above tactics, but if I wouldn't play in it, then I would never upload it to the gallery. And all this new furniture that people are creating with a bunch of other objects is not my thing!

I can't speak for other builders (I don't know what their reasons are), but I will never build something that I don't plan on using

"Nate_Whiplash1;c-17777526" wrote:I can't speak for other builders (I don't know what their reasons are), but I will never build something that I don't plan on usingSame, but in my case that makes my builds unusable for others. :( I can't justify spending time on something I won't play and all the stuff I play is CC-heavy, MOO, huge lots... it's what people complain about.

Are there no builders that also thoroughly play in their creations?

298 Replies

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Haneul33
Seasoned Adventurer
4 years ago
I don't think there's enough time for most builders to build many amazing things and use them all in-game. It's too much work. The most prolific/famous builders seem to be putting something out multiple times a week (almost everyday) because the YouTube algorithm is unforgiving, so at most they'll probably only do minimal play testing.

I think you have to search for smaller creators with fewer builds if you want them to work flawlessly. They will be harder to find because neither YT nor the gallery rewards that. But it really shouldn't take much to fix mistakes or get a build optimized for your machine.

ETA: My computer also has a high tolerance for nonsense in builds so clutter and narrow paths don't bother me. A lot of the builders could be on machines like mine where we can push the limits of the game and generally be fine. The AI processes fast enough to where the Sims can navigate intricate pathing okay.
NateWhiplash
Seasoned Hotshot
4 years ago
I can't speak for other builders (I don't know what their reasons are), but I will never build something that I don't plan on using
Haneul33
Seasoned Adventurer
4 years ago
"Nate_Whiplash1;c-17777526" wrote:
I can't speak for other builders (I don't know what their reasons are), but I will never build something that I don't plan on using

Same, but in my case that makes my builds unusable for others. :( I can't justify spending time on something I won't play and all the stuff I play is CC-heavy, MOO, huge lots... it's what people complain about.
Onverser
4 years ago
I feel like majority of popular builders now just make things for looks rather than function. I see so many builds that are totally unplayable as they put so much stuff that you can barely even see the rooms
JanuaryGarnet08
New Spectator
4 years ago
"Nate_Whiplash1;c-17777526" wrote:
I can't speak for other builders (I don't know what their reasons are), but I will never build something that I don't plan on using

Same, I play test most of my stuff and rarely use MOO and even then I generally restrict it to non consequential decor. Lately I have really been enjoying doing redecorating in Maxis lots. I just uploaded my take on Chez Llama, & The Solar Flare Lounge. I stayed true to the Maxis principals you mentioned OP but just tried to put a fresh spin on them.

Restaurants are particularly tricky. You cannot stuff them with tables and clutter. I often wonder when I see the complaints about Dine Out being broken if it’s because people are building or downloading restaurants that are full of pathing issues.
Beardedgeek72
New Spectator
4 years ago
"Onverser;c-17777533" wrote:
I feel like majority of popular builders now just make things for looks rather than function. I see so many builds that are totally unplayable as they put so much stuff that you can barely even see the rooms

I am not even talking about Clutter, that's a thing in itself but I am talking about basic pathfinding and, quite frankly, a lack of understanding how the game works. Basic things that still are made by seasoned builders, who should have played the game at some point, not people uploading their first stuff.

Two bars? No, that. does. not. work.
You will only get one bartender, period.

Same with Two DJ booths?
No, only one of them will be active. And you have no control over which one unless one (like the unmodded nightclub in Windenburg) one of them is in a club area behind a locked door.

A busy room connected to another busy room via a ONE SQUARE wide space? ...what? WHY??

Tables that yes, you can reach and walk around fine but are so close to the café counter that the line forming up will be twice as bad because the tables stand too close to it?

No way for the waiter to get from the kitchen to your table without looping around the building outside?

No seating inside in the restaurant built for a specific lot in Newcrest and released after Seasons came out? What are you trying to do? Freeze everyone in the entire game to death?

And so on.
Again, basic mistakes that someone who has played the game more than a month should not do.
texxx78
4 years ago
I used to download a lot of builds from the gallery. Nowadays i only use the builds that come with the game. So many beautiful builds in the gallery but so heavy and unplayable...
Beardedgeek72
New Spectator
4 years ago
"telmarina;c-17777567" wrote:
I used to download a lot of builds from the gallery. Nowadays i only use the builds that come with the game. So many beautiful builds in the gallery but so heavy and unplayable...

I find myself more and more do simple re-arranges of pre-made builds rather than to download builds these days. Squeeze a second toilet in, optimize workout machines so you can fit a wall climber in, and so on.

To be 100% honest most custom built downloads I still use, and place in every save game I have, are from 2018 or older. Newer builds than 2018 are often full of these kinds of problems for some reason.
NightlyCoffee
4 years ago
I don't enjoy building just to build. I enjoy it when I know I'm going to use it. I like to build homes for my families and venues for them to visit, and everything I build I prioritize gameplay. I do like using MOO, but only for decorations that won't intrude gameplay. Everything I build is for my personal use and I always play with them in game before I decide if I want to share it or not.
InuMiroLover
New Spectator
4 years ago
"Nate_Whiplash1;c-17777526" wrote:
I can't speak for other builders (I don't know what their reasons are), but I will never build something that I don't plan on using

Same. I dont upload to the gallery much, but when I do they're always lots that I use in-game. If my sims can use them without issue, then other people's sims can use them as well. I like MOO. Really adds some personality to your lot and I love that its there. But you know what else starts with the letter "M"? Moderation. If your lot has more MOO than actual use, then what's the point? Your sim is just going to stand there with a blank look on its face since it doesnt know where the front door is and it doesnt know what to do! It can be as beautiful a house as humanely possible, but Im not using it if my sim cant use it.