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Lot Imposter Window Lights

by Honeywell Posted 3rd Mar 2019 at 4:24 AM - Updated 8th Mar 2019 at 8:33 PM by Honeywell : added conflict & community playtest notes
 
24 Comments / Replies (Who?) - 12 Feedback Posts, 11 Thanks Posts
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Forum Resident
THANKS POST
#2 Old 3rd Mar 2019 at 10:08 AM
Yasss Honeywell! When I saw you were talking about trying to create these, I didn't think it would come around so quickly!
Needs Coffee
retired moderator THANKS POST
#3 Old 3rd Mar 2019 at 1:51 PM
Wow, this is ingenious! This looks amazing in neighbourhood view.
The Great AntiJen
retired moderator
#4 Old 3rd Mar 2019 at 3:00 PM
These are great Honeywell so thanks. Thoughts on the issue with the apartment lot you talked about in your video. Ignore if you know this (I'm sure you do) but this thought occurred to me:

You usually force a Lot Imposter update by making a build mode change (delete and replace a wall/floor/window whatever), but with apartment lots, you a. can't (easily) make a build mode change and b. aren't actually changing the lot when you do make a change IF THE APARTMENT IS OCCUPIED.

That's because of the way apartment lots work. When you build one, you build a lot as you normally do. But when you move someone in, the game makes a copy of that base lot and moves the sims into that. The base lot is unchanged by the move in. So if you try to change the building of an occupied apartment lot, the base lot is not changed. This is to allow you to move sims out and move in new sims and for the lot to revert to its original state.

I'm guessing that's the issue - the overlay occupied lot is changed, the base lot isn't. Hence it's not lighting up in neighbourhood because no change has happened on the base lot to force the updating of the lot imposter which is what the game uses (the base lot) to display in neighbourhood view. I know it's an issue because I too had a similar problem with the little defaults I made to force the game to display the original flowers in neighbourhood view (here, if you're interested).

Was I clear there? It's an awkward explanation. Anyway, I think there are two possible things to try -

1. move everyone out and then add the light imposters to the base lot (you can't enter the base lot if there is anyone resident in the apartments)
2. I *think* (and I can't remember properly because it's been a while since I did anything with apartments) that one of the build cheats might allow you to change things with the base lot. Maybe:

boolProp aptBaseLotSpecificToolsDisabled
or
boolprop aptsublotspecifictoolsdisabled

(both are true or false as they're boolprop cheats).

I'm guessing the first cheat though you'd have to experiment. Though, tbf, it might not work at all. I'm pretty sure the first method would work though. What we could do with, as a game tool, is something that forces the game to update the lot imposter. Oh that Mootilda were still with us.

I no longer come over to MTS very often but if you would like to ask me a question then you can find me on tumblr or my own site tflc. TFLC has an archive of all my CC downloads.
I'm here on tumblr and my site, tflc
Field Researcher
THANKS POST
#5 Old 3rd Mar 2019 at 3:22 PM
Very Impressive! And amazing to see in hood view at night.
Curious thing about apartments. I wonder if they have a different lot imposter or callls to the lot imposter?!
I am very curious about why apartments work differently. I may go on a testing spree later on in the week!
Thanks for working on these!
Lab Assistant
THANKS POST
#6 Old 3rd Mar 2019 at 6:34 PM
It never ceases to amaze me what ideas you creators come up with! I was just thinking how nice it would be if some windows on the street could be lighted and you did it! Personally I liked the white lights quite a lot too, but I agree with you on the other colors. Definitely trying the original lights in my neighborhood. Thanks!
Test Subject
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#7 Old 3rd Mar 2019 at 9:46 PM
Cool effect!
Lab Assistant
THANKS POST
#8 Old 3rd Mar 2019 at 11:37 PM
AMAZING! This is seriously genius. Thank you so much!
Lab Assistant
#9 Old 4th Mar 2019 at 2:26 AM
Thank You Honeywell, this is Amazing!

These really DO add that 'little something' that was 'missing' for so long. Little 'details' really DO make a difference.

I really don't think these look 'bad' during the Daytime. It just looks to me like Someone Left the Lights ON!

Also, I think the Recolors would be great applied to a Nightclub or similar; considering all the colors of a Dance Floor, it would make sense to be able to view various colors emanating from the windows of such a place. The Blue Lights looked to me like someone was watching television in a darkened room at night.

In any case, I ♥ this idea/creation; Thanks Again for creating/sharing!

"If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague."
Field Researcher
THANKS POST
#10 Old 4th Mar 2019 at 3:59 AM
Really enjoyed the youtube video and left a comment there too. I have some neighborhoods where they will work perfectly. Thank you!
Scholar
#11 Old 5th Mar 2019 at 7:40 AM
If only there was a way to sync up these with the hood night time, that way it wouldn't look like sims are spending exorbitant amounts on power. regardless these are nice and a cool creation.
Test Subject
THANKS POST
#12 Old 5th Mar 2019 at 8:45 PM
These look really good! I cant wait to try them out ^^
Mad Poster
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#13 Old 6th Mar 2019 at 1:32 PM
You never cease to amaze me Thank you.
Instructor
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#14 Old 6th Mar 2019 at 10:34 PM
These are amazing! Thank you!
Needs Coffee
retired moderator
#15 Old 6th Mar 2019 at 11:04 PM
I ran a test with the HoodLODBuild set to improve Maxis windows in hood view with your window light film and it does clash. I tried directly behind and 1/4 tile placement behind. If a custom window is used it gets around the issue.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
Test Subject
THANKS POST
#16 Old 7th Mar 2019 at 1:25 AM
I've always wanted something like this for the game, now I finally have it!
Needs Coffee
retired moderator
#17 Old 7th Mar 2019 at 9:15 AM
Even the custom wasn't showing well when I reloaded the game today. I guess it's one or the other.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
Theorist
Original Poster
#18 Old 7th Mar 2019 at 1:57 PM Last edited by Honeywell : 8th Mar 2019 at 8:36 PM.
Thanks for the comments guys. They're what makes sharing worthwhile and I appreciate each and every one.

I updated the main thread with playtest notes -- if you have something to add from trying these post somewhere I'll see it and I'll be sure to update the list. If you share pics on tumblr and I don't see them let me know and I'll reblog them.

Quote: Originally posted by joandsarah77
Even the custom wasn't showing well when I reloaded the game today. I guess it's one or the other.


Jo, these are both object mods so while you can't use this overlay with Klaarti and Lee's modded window LODs, having those in doesn't change the way the light works in your other windows. What you're experiencing is the "you have no control over how the light effect will display" part of my issues statement. Entering and saving an unoccupied lot that has the window lights is the most reliable way I've found to turn these on - or back on if they go out - but it's a matter of trial and error I'm afraid. On the plus side, it does not appear random so what worked once seems to always work. A PITA - trust me I know - but it is what it is and the best I was able to come up with.
Needs Coffee
retired moderator
#19 Old 7th Mar 2019 at 11:02 PM
Actually, after playing with it for longer I realize it comes and goes. I only have a couple of houses with them and sometimes neither house is lit, or both or one and the lighting is more subdued usually when they do show. It seems really random as to how they will show. It could indeed be the whole "I have my own mind and you can't do a thing about it" But it does show a little on the LOD's when placed back 1/4 tile, sometimes. But that's okay, real people do have their lights on in various ways and at different times.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
Theorist
Original Poster
#20 Old 7th Mar 2019 at 11:23 PM
Quote: Originally posted by joandsarah77
Actually, after playing with it for longer I realize it comes and goes. I only have a couple of houses with them and sometimes neither house is lit, or both or one and the lighting is more subdued usually when they do show. It seems really random as to how they will show. It could indeed be the whole "I have my own mind and you can't do a thing about it" But it does show a little on the LOD's when placed back 1/4 tile, sometimes. But that's okay, real people do have their lights on in various ways and at different times.

It's funny you said that. As I was playing I gave up trying to go back to that one house I know will make them "turn on" if I enter and save and just said eff it - the lights are out, no ones home in that house.

I really wish they were reliable and even reached out to a few people to pick their brains to see if there was anything I could do but nothing came of it, more's the pity.
Undead Molten Llama
#21 Old 8th Mar 2019 at 6:16 PM
In using these more, I haven't run across any problems with getting them to light, aside from the apartment issue. Unoccupied dorms worked fine, though I don't know if there might be issues with already-occupied dorms, since they're sort of similar to apartments. It does seem as if there has to be one unoccupied residential lot lit to get any of the occupied lights to light, and I have no idea what that would be, but it seems consistent. It must have something to do with whatever triggers the lot imposters to update. Even with the small-detail issues, I continue to be desperately in love with these. Thank you, again, so much, Honeywell!

I had a thought today, though: Do you think it would be possible to get these to "stick" to a shiftable OMSP? The reason I ask is that I'd like to be able to light up greenhouse roofs, which I use from time to time though not usually on actual greenhouses. Usually more in modern-type community-lot buildings, like museums and galleries, to create glass roofs. It'd be nice to be able to light them, and if they would stick to some of those angled OMSPs, I think it might work? But I don't know if that stickableness is possible, given the way these place. You'd have to position the OMSP first, I think, but if "stickiness" is possible...

I'm mostly found on (and mostly upload to) Tumblr these days because, alas, there are only 24 hours in a day.
Muh Simblr! | An index of my downloads on Tumblr.
Undead Molten Llama
#22 Old 8th Mar 2019 at 7:50 PM
Commenting again because I'm thinking it might be better to keep the topics separate!

I played in my game a little bit, lighting up a custom uni template I'm working on which, because it's a template has absolutely no Sims and therefore no occupied lots. It does have community lots, two dorms and two apartment buildings, no single-family residential lots. I lit up a couple of community lots and one of the dorms and nothing lit in hood view. Then I lit one of the unoccupied apartment "base" lots...and everything lit up in hood view. So, apparently an unoccupied apartment "base" lot will push the whole neighborhood to light, like a normal unoccupied residential lot will, whereas an unoccupied dorm will not. I guess I'm just trying to piece together what it is that makes these neighborhood-visible or not, so...yeah.

I'm mostly found on (and mostly upload to) Tumblr these days because, alas, there are only 24 hours in a day.
Muh Simblr! | An index of my downloads on Tumblr.
Theorist
Original Poster
#23 Old 8th Mar 2019 at 8:18 PM
Quote: Originally posted by iCad
In using these more, I haven't run across any problems with getting them to light, aside from the apartment issue. Unoccupied dorms worked fine, though I don't know if there might be issues with already-occupied dorms, since they're sort of similar to apartments. It does seem as if there has to be one unoccupied residential lot lit to get any of the occupied lights to light, and I have no idea what that would be, but it seems consistent. It must have something to do with whatever triggers the lot imposters to update. Even with the small-detail issues, I continue to be desperately in love with these. Thank you, again, so much, Honeywell!

I had a thought today, though: Do you think it would be possible to get these to "stick" to a shiftable OMSP? The reason I ask is that I'd like to be able to light up greenhouse roofs, which I use from time to time though not usually on actual greenhouses. Usually more in modern-type community-lot buildings, like museums and galleries, to create glass roofs. It'd be nice to be able to light them, and if they would stick to some of those angled OMSPs, I think it might work? But I don't know if that stickableness is possible, given the way these place. You'd have to position the OMSP first, I think, but if "stickiness" is possible...


Very happy to hear you're still using these since you're the reason I made them. The chances of anything showing from neighborhood view on an OMSP is slim to none I'd think based on my understanding (I could be wrong I haven't tried it) so I'm doubtful. That and hanging from the top of the grid is part of why they work -- you couldn't replicate the lot imposter glow with say a painting I don't think. But there's no reason why a custom mesh that fits the greenhouse roof cloned from these shouldn't work. Take the greenhouse roof glass mesh and position it to hang at the right height and that would probably be all there is to it.

I really need to play my own game for the next little while to catch up on my let's play but if what I described isn't something you can do (or someone else could help with) if you link me to the greenhouse you use I'll give it a try when I can and see if it works.

Re: Your last post. Please do keep the playtest comments coming! I can't even pretend that I have these figured out yet but the more experiences that get shared the better.
Theorist
Original Poster
#24 Old 8th Mar 2019 at 8:42 PM
And my own playtest note! If you pull these away from the windows a bit and let curtains and/or blinds hang in front of the overlay you'll get something that looks like the middle house:

Undead Molten Llama
#25 Old 9th Mar 2019 at 7:26 AM
Quote: Originally posted by Honeywell
Very happy to hear you're still using these since you're the reason I made them. The chances of anything showing from neighborhood view on an OMSP is slim to none I'd think based on my understanding (I could be wrong I haven't tried it) so I'm doubtful. That and hanging from the top of the grid is part of why they work -- you couldn't replicate the lot imposter glow with say a painting I don't think. But there's no reason why a custom mesh that fits the greenhouse roof cloned from these shouldn't work. Take the greenhouse roof glass mesh and position it to hang at the right height and that would probably be all there is to it.

I really need to play my own game for the next little while to catch up on my let's play but if what I described isn't something you can do (or someone else could help with) if you link me to the greenhouse you use I'll give it a try when I can and see if it works.


Yeah, I kinda figured something like that. With as weird as the game is about updating lot imposters, best not to upset the apple cart, as they say. I'm pretty sure I don't have the skills to make something for greenhouse roofs, myself, as I have a bad track record when it comes to meshes because I really have no idea what I'm doing. But on the other hand, I do not wish to put work onto you; you were generous enough to spend a weekend making these, and I appreciate it very much! But if you ever wanted to take a look at it, I only ever use the plain Maxis greenhouse roof when I use one at all, and I think each tile of that is the same "height" as a wall tile, just inclined to 45 degrees. I think, anyway. It's hard to tell just by eyeballing it. But please, don't feel pressured to look at it; I can certainly live with unlit glass roofs, since I use them seldomly, anyway.

I'm mostly found on (and mostly upload to) Tumblr these days because, alas, there are only 24 hours in a day.
Muh Simblr! | An index of my downloads on Tumblr.