Customizing Public Venues (share ideas)

Potties everywhere :D I wish we could put them in out sims inventories

"telmarina;c-17469301" wrote:

"Kathykins;c-17469255" wrote:
What I would love to know is: How do people make libraries and museums more fun places to visit? I never do, because I find them utterly boring. Don't even go there for the painting aspiration, I just cheat that goal. And certainly not for whims.

Any pointers would be very appreciated!

Now that you mention my sims haven't been in a library or museum for ages!! I really need those tips too ?

Right? Now, I can put all kinds of creative stuff in a museum, or brainy stuff in a library...but I kind of don't think all that would be used by anyone else, only my sims. The lot types makes it really really limited what type of objects will be used by unplayed visitors, at any given community space.

I don't usually make over the Maxis lots but I do build my own a lot. I've got quite a few:

The Rising Sun Art Gallery
https://i.imgur.com/QpKoNk0.png

The gallery is situated in Del Sol Valley and is, at the moment, mostly an Art gallery. I've got a couple of sale boards in here for my local artist, Javon, who sells his paintings here regularly. I've also got an art room up on the top floor where Javon will later be tutoring groups of hopeful artists in a club I've set up for him. I've also got craft tables for the children and I'll be setting up an art club for the children to gather here for craft purposes.

Scientia Potentia Est
https://i.imgur.com/eKDSI7X.png

This is mostly a robotics/science lab but set as a museum. I've got a robotics club, run by my computer engineer, set up to meet here to make it interesting.

San Myshuno Arts Centre
https://i.imgur.com/eTqprdz.png

The art centre has all the usual art objects and a recording studio in the basement for my singer and her producer.

Lux Park Leisure Centre

https://i.imgur.com/Iu8BCB1.png

This is the gym and spa with yoga room on the top floor.

I've done a lot of others but these are good to be going on with. <3

I recently built a flea market/gallery in Sulani. Can't buy any of the items (I don't have a pack that enables this) but there's all sorts of quirky junk to give Sims inspiration. I made different areas including a magic/occult stall, a sci-fi/ random old tech stall and, just for fun, an art and photography area too.
It's available in the gallery. https://www.ea.com/en-gb/games/the-sims/the-sims-4/pc/gallery/7CBEBA9D871611EA86E81F067F591854

I recently built a flea market/gallery in Sulani. Can't buy any of the items (I don't have a pack that enables this) but there's all sorts of quirky junk to give Sims inspiration. I made different areas including a magic/occult stall, a sci-fi/ random old tech stall and, just for fun, an art and photography area too.
It's available in the gallery. https://www.ea.com/en-gb/games/the-sims/the-sims-4/pc/gallery/7CBEBA9D871611EA86E81F067F591854

Sorry, I'm not sure how my post got published twice here! ?

I've really enjoyed seeing some other lots here from @MissyHissy and @LaBlue0314 - all very different and creative lots. ??

I realise that the Maxis lots are there to be... basic, but sometimes you wonder if any if us worked for them how much more effort would go into them. ?

Usually if I feel the need to improve a communal lot it tends to get replaced outright. Either I find the overall layout doesn't work for me etc. I am challenging myself a bit in my current game and refurbishing some of the larger lots in my Willow Creek project. I have however just outright replaced a few but with something I feel like fits the area a bit better...

Customising them as you say it sometimes enjoyable - I do find it really hard not to make huge structural changes though. ? 'Do we really need that wall?'

My changes to Movers & Shakers and the Library are probably the best examples where I haven't made major changes to the size/shape of the buildings:

Movers & Shakers Gym



Willow Creek Archive

I think public venues - even residences - are made basic in order to encourage us to be creative and improve the lots ourselves. This is why I don't have a problem when buildings or places seem incomplete or "sloppily made". I believe there is a specific point to it. To accommodate those many who don't want everything on a silver platter.

"Nindigo;c-17473749" wrote:
I think public venues - even residences - are made basic in order to encourage us to be creative and improve the lots ourselves. This is why I don't have a problem when buildings or places seem incomplete or "sloppily made". I believe there is a specific point to it. To accommodate those many who don't want everything on a silver platter.

I have been thinking exactly this for years, I just think you said it better than I thought in my mind :D The houses are basic, nothing to show even a hint of personality and style. I've been thinking it is to encourage the player to "make it better", add their own touches to the builds. Or just build something new, if that's your cup of tea.

They can't spend that much time on each house. Just get the necessities, and call it a day.

@Nindigo & @Kathykins I've often thought the same. I'd rather have plainer lots that I can add personality and flair to than a lot that has a pre-stamped personality, as it were <3
@Ayeffen Thank you! B)

I've got a few more lots I've built in my current game.

COASTAL
https://i.imgur.com/kZPBKSX.png

This is an internet café with the café on the ground floor and the computer room upstairs. It's located in Britechester and so is mainly for the University students to hangout, study and generally take a break.

Up The Amp Music Festival Grounds
https://i.imgur.com/LEvf61K.png

This is in Del Sol Valley, in that small, cheaper neighbourhood at the top of the map. I actually host the Up The Amp Music Festival here, which is a two-day holiday in mid-summer on my calendar. My singers and musicians perform here regularly. I switch the lot type from 'Karaoke Bar' to 'Nightclub', depending on what I want the focus to be.

Deep Purple
https://i.imgur.com/kttdSl6.png

This is still something of a work-in-progress but it's a vampire lounge and the meeting place for both my vampire clubs. Right now, only the downstairs is decorated and even that isn't finished! :D Naturally, this is in Forgotten Hollow.

The High Street
https://i.imgur.com/dR2zKxs.png

Part of my ongoing retail project, the High Street is in Magnolia Promenade and has a variety of shops on one lot. It's currently owned by the Landgraab family while it's still a work-in-progress. Once it's completely finished, they'll sell it so it'll become an NPC shop. But right now, it's the one-stop-shop for baby and pet supplies, basic electronics and more.

Eden
https://i.imgur.com/seVf6qX.png

This was the first restaurant I built in this game. It's in San Myshuno, where the gym used to be and so has a commanding view over the city. It's designed to be a eco-friendly restaurant.

Royal Willow Opera House
https://i.imgur.com/u54n365.png

A fancy lounge with restaurant (and so I switch lot types periodically), this is the meeting place for my Philharmonic Society and my Actors Company. Very fancy and based in the commercial neighbourhood of Willow Creek,

Creek Street
https://i.imgur.com/C4slY8d.png

A combination of bowling alley, restaurant and cinema. Usually set as a Bar but sometimes changed to restaurant but this has proven to be a fun hangout for my sims.

The Tudor Tavern
https://i.imgur.com/ir1anJS.png

Another restaurant, this time in Windenburg. I think this one is probably my favourite <3