The Driver
04-19-2005, 12:51 PM
This Is A Thread Where You Get Your Help From If Your Stuck
(From Now On I Wont Be Typing Like This)
1: Cheat codes
To enter cheats, first open the command console by simultaneously pressing Ctrl-Shift-C. Note that cheats are case-sensitive.
help: lists all the cheats in the game.
help [cheatname]: displays specific information about the cheat.
exit: closes the cheat window.
expand: expands or contracts the cheat window.
moveObjects on/off: removes footprint limitation for all object placement in Buy Mode and Build Mode. Removes limitations placed on hand tool for when objects are in use, or are normally non-movable objects. Is known to cause issues with game elements, routing, hidden object generation and manipulation, etc. Note that using this cheat allows you to delete objects that normally cannot be deleted, such as Sims, the mailbox, and the garbage can. If you delete these objects, there is no way to get them back, so be careful!
aging -on/off: prevents Sims from aging. This can disrupt the carefully tuned gameplay balance, and will prevent little Johnny from ever growing up, so treat this cheat with care as well.
autoPatch -on/off: This cheat lets you re-enable notifications when there is a game update available for The Sims 2. Just turn Autopatch on and go to the Custom Content Browser (the little snowflake button on the UCP in the neighborhood). If there's an update available you'll be asked whether you want to download it.
slowMotion [value]: The slowMotion cheat takes one parameter: the "slowness" setting (such as slowMotion 4). This value ranges from 0 to 8 where 0 is normal speed and 8 is the slowest speed.
boolProp enablePostProcessing true/false: enables the use of postprocessing cheats (see below); very useful for movie making (also see below). Please note that you must have a video card that can handle pixel shaders in order to successfully use this cheat. If you use the cheats and you don't have pixel shaders, the screen will most likely go partially dark, and will not come back until you turn off enablePostProcessing. If you turn on postprocessing, and you turn on cinematics, and a cinematic plays, you may also experience unwanted graphical glitches.
bloom [r g b x] (rgb is color) (x is the bloom amount) [0.0 - 1.0]: This cheat adds a blur effect, like a sitcom flashback moment. Must have entered boolProp enablePostProcessing true for this cheat to work.
vignette [centerX centerY X] (X is the vignetteing factor) [0.0 - 1.0]: Adds a blur effect from the specified center. Using "vignette 0.5 0.5 0.5" should put some blurry bits at the edge of the screen. Vignette 0.5 0.5 1.0 is maximum edge blurryness. Must have entered boolProp enablePostProcessing true for this cheat to work.
filmGrain [val] [0.0-1.0]: This cheat makes the screen grainy. Must have entered boolProp enablePostProcessing true for this cheat to work.
letterBox [val] [0.0-0.4]: Adds a letterbox effect to the view. Must have entered boolProp enablePostProcessing true for this cheat to work.
2: Movie making tutorial (Note, I got this off the sims 2 website)
Pre-production
Pre-Production
Setting the Stage
The first thing you might consider is creating a set vs. building an entire house. This has a few advantages. You can make sure that walls and other objects don't get in the way of your shot. It cuts down on your polygon count and you can get the best out of the default lighting in game. Plus it costs less.
If you choose a pre-created house there are some ways to make this work for you, even if there is already a family of Sims living there. First create the Sims for your movie and move them into an empty lot. Then cheat their money up and move them back into the Family Bin. Then re-enter the pre-created house and kill off the Sims in that house so that their possessions will remain. Save the lot and move the new Sims you created into that house. You might now consider modifying the house for your shot in any way necessary, including removing walls, retexturing walls, floors, etc.
The Neighborhood can also be your stage. Create houses, parks, terrain and effects that set the right tone for the landscape of your movie.
The cast
When you are creating your Sims - think about colors and contrast. You want to be sure that your main characters stand out in the scenes. Picking out bright outfits and making striking features is a great place to start.
Try using Body Shop to create some really unique skins and clothes, or use the in game Create-A-Sim to make your actors.
Cinematography
Camera positions
Don't rely on the default camera positioning, while this angle is great for game play, it's not so interesting for filmaking within The Sims 2. Experiment with Cameraman mode by hitting the tab key. You'll get more dramatic angles that help you tell your story and really pull in your audience.
Explore the FOV (Field of Vision), zoom, and pitch controls with these handy key commands:
(+) / (-) and z / x - these control the Field of Vision
Mouse movement - controls the pitch (the tilt of the camera)
The scroll button on the mouse - controls the level of zoom
And here's som o ther handy tricks:
Tracking - right click on the Sim's thumbnail in the UI to have the camera follow them. This gives a great follow-cam action.
Centering - right click on an object or Sim to center the camera around it. You can then rotate around the object or move towards it to get a very cool effect.
Explore the boundaries of Cameraman mode, go to the edges of the game, get inside objects, use your creativity to find new angles.
When you find a favorite camera angle for your shot save it. You can save up to six different camera positions by using the control key and pressing numbers [4-9]. This can help you manipulate as scene as needed without losing that spectacular angle you found. You many also want to explore the motion between the different camera positions. This can help you achieve the right sense of motion for your shot.
List of useful camera controls
Tab key - enable Cameraman mode
In Cameraman mode:
(+) / (-) and z / x - these control the Field of Vision
Mouse movement - controls the pitch (the tilt of the camera)
Scroll button on the mouse - controls the level of zoom
Other useful commands
V - start/stop the video recording
Control [4-9] - save camera angles
ASDW and the arrow keys will move you forwards, backwards, and sideways
< > will allow you to rotate the camera around a center point
Setting the Scene
Think of the feeling you want your movie to have. Is it funny, quirky, happy, sad. Try and match the scenery and the objects to fit the story you want to tell.
Use colors that will not distract your viewers eyes from your main characters and create compositions that are balanced in the camera angles you choose.
Lighting
Lighting your scenes
In movies, lighting can make a huge statement, so don't neglect this when you are setting up your scenes. Consider using dramatic lighting, and lighting from different angles (below, behind, from the sides) to draw attention, to set the mood, or to cast interesting shadows.
Don't be afraid to hide lots of different lights off camera. Play around with the different types of lights and the kind of light they can cast on your scenes. Experiment with ceiling vs. floor vs. table lamps, or combine all three.
If you are making your movie on a budget - this is not the place to conserve funds!
Quality, Size, and Speed
Movie Settings
Before you begin recording be sure you explore the camera options available in the Camera UI Options panel. Find the right combination of quality, file size, and effect on game speed when you are capturing.
You may want to run a few tests with different settings to find out what works best for you in your scene.
Remember - small movies, on a lower quality setting, with real-time compression and without audio will certainly be less taxing on your PC while you record.
Compression
If you have plenty of hard drive space - go for high quality uncompressed movies. They will look awesome!
If you need to conserve space - choose low or medium quality, and/or small or medium size movies.
Lights, Camera, Action!!!
Recording
Record more footage then you think you need. You never know what might be captured on film that you hadn't planned on filming. Sometimes this makes the best footage and the most interesting shots.
If you are conserving disk space, try writing up or drawing out a story board beforehand. This will give you a good sense of the flow of your movie ahead of time, and will limit the amount of extra footage you have to capture.
Consider the length of your shots and plan accordingly. Set the "cutoff timer" in the UI to the minimum amount of time you think you will need. This will avoid mistakenly filming until you're dangerously low on disc space.
Practice, practice, practice! Try out your shots a few times before you film them. This will help prepare you for anything unexpected, and will help you plan out your camera angles more effectively.
Always be ready to press P. Sometimes great moments happen in the game. The pause key can be your best-friend. It will allow you to get everything set up and you will be ready to record that spectacular moment!
A Little Cheating and a Little Imagination
Remember, interactions may mean one thing in the game, but they can be interpreted very differently in your film depending on your imagination.
Other cheats that might be helpful:
moveobjects [on/off] - allows you move everything and overlap objects, you can even move around Sims!
slowmotion [0-10] - 0 is normal speed, and time will become slower and slower as you approach 10.
(From Now On I Wont Be Typing Like This)
1: Cheat codes
To enter cheats, first open the command console by simultaneously pressing Ctrl-Shift-C. Note that cheats are case-sensitive.
help: lists all the cheats in the game.
help [cheatname]: displays specific information about the cheat.
exit: closes the cheat window.
expand: expands or contracts the cheat window.
moveObjects on/off: removes footprint limitation for all object placement in Buy Mode and Build Mode. Removes limitations placed on hand tool for when objects are in use, or are normally non-movable objects. Is known to cause issues with game elements, routing, hidden object generation and manipulation, etc. Note that using this cheat allows you to delete objects that normally cannot be deleted, such as Sims, the mailbox, and the garbage can. If you delete these objects, there is no way to get them back, so be careful!
aging -on/off: prevents Sims from aging. This can disrupt the carefully tuned gameplay balance, and will prevent little Johnny from ever growing up, so treat this cheat with care as well.
autoPatch -on/off: This cheat lets you re-enable notifications when there is a game update available for The Sims 2. Just turn Autopatch on and go to the Custom Content Browser (the little snowflake button on the UCP in the neighborhood). If there's an update available you'll be asked whether you want to download it.
slowMotion [value]: The slowMotion cheat takes one parameter: the "slowness" setting (such as slowMotion 4). This value ranges from 0 to 8 where 0 is normal speed and 8 is the slowest speed.
boolProp enablePostProcessing true/false: enables the use of postprocessing cheats (see below); very useful for movie making (also see below). Please note that you must have a video card that can handle pixel shaders in order to successfully use this cheat. If you use the cheats and you don't have pixel shaders, the screen will most likely go partially dark, and will not come back until you turn off enablePostProcessing. If you turn on postprocessing, and you turn on cinematics, and a cinematic plays, you may also experience unwanted graphical glitches.
bloom [r g b x] (rgb is color) (x is the bloom amount) [0.0 - 1.0]: This cheat adds a blur effect, like a sitcom flashback moment. Must have entered boolProp enablePostProcessing true for this cheat to work.
vignette [centerX centerY X] (X is the vignetteing factor) [0.0 - 1.0]: Adds a blur effect from the specified center. Using "vignette 0.5 0.5 0.5" should put some blurry bits at the edge of the screen. Vignette 0.5 0.5 1.0 is maximum edge blurryness. Must have entered boolProp enablePostProcessing true for this cheat to work.
filmGrain [val] [0.0-1.0]: This cheat makes the screen grainy. Must have entered boolProp enablePostProcessing true for this cheat to work.
letterBox [val] [0.0-0.4]: Adds a letterbox effect to the view. Must have entered boolProp enablePostProcessing true for this cheat to work.
2: Movie making tutorial (Note, I got this off the sims 2 website)
Pre-production
Pre-Production
Setting the Stage
The first thing you might consider is creating a set vs. building an entire house. This has a few advantages. You can make sure that walls and other objects don't get in the way of your shot. It cuts down on your polygon count and you can get the best out of the default lighting in game. Plus it costs less.
If you choose a pre-created house there are some ways to make this work for you, even if there is already a family of Sims living there. First create the Sims for your movie and move them into an empty lot. Then cheat their money up and move them back into the Family Bin. Then re-enter the pre-created house and kill off the Sims in that house so that their possessions will remain. Save the lot and move the new Sims you created into that house. You might now consider modifying the house for your shot in any way necessary, including removing walls, retexturing walls, floors, etc.
The Neighborhood can also be your stage. Create houses, parks, terrain and effects that set the right tone for the landscape of your movie.
The cast
When you are creating your Sims - think about colors and contrast. You want to be sure that your main characters stand out in the scenes. Picking out bright outfits and making striking features is a great place to start.
Try using Body Shop to create some really unique skins and clothes, or use the in game Create-A-Sim to make your actors.
Cinematography
Camera positions
Don't rely on the default camera positioning, while this angle is great for game play, it's not so interesting for filmaking within The Sims 2. Experiment with Cameraman mode by hitting the tab key. You'll get more dramatic angles that help you tell your story and really pull in your audience.
Explore the FOV (Field of Vision), zoom, and pitch controls with these handy key commands:
(+) / (-) and z / x - these control the Field of Vision
Mouse movement - controls the pitch (the tilt of the camera)
The scroll button on the mouse - controls the level of zoom
And here's som o ther handy tricks:
Tracking - right click on the Sim's thumbnail in the UI to have the camera follow them. This gives a great follow-cam action.
Centering - right click on an object or Sim to center the camera around it. You can then rotate around the object or move towards it to get a very cool effect.
Explore the boundaries of Cameraman mode, go to the edges of the game, get inside objects, use your creativity to find new angles.
When you find a favorite camera angle for your shot save it. You can save up to six different camera positions by using the control key and pressing numbers [4-9]. This can help you manipulate as scene as needed without losing that spectacular angle you found. You many also want to explore the motion between the different camera positions. This can help you achieve the right sense of motion for your shot.
List of useful camera controls
Tab key - enable Cameraman mode
In Cameraman mode:
(+) / (-) and z / x - these control the Field of Vision
Mouse movement - controls the pitch (the tilt of the camera)
Scroll button on the mouse - controls the level of zoom
Other useful commands
V - start/stop the video recording
Control [4-9] - save camera angles
ASDW and the arrow keys will move you forwards, backwards, and sideways
< > will allow you to rotate the camera around a center point
Setting the Scene
Think of the feeling you want your movie to have. Is it funny, quirky, happy, sad. Try and match the scenery and the objects to fit the story you want to tell.
Use colors that will not distract your viewers eyes from your main characters and create compositions that are balanced in the camera angles you choose.
Lighting
Lighting your scenes
In movies, lighting can make a huge statement, so don't neglect this when you are setting up your scenes. Consider using dramatic lighting, and lighting from different angles (below, behind, from the sides) to draw attention, to set the mood, or to cast interesting shadows.
Don't be afraid to hide lots of different lights off camera. Play around with the different types of lights and the kind of light they can cast on your scenes. Experiment with ceiling vs. floor vs. table lamps, or combine all three.
If you are making your movie on a budget - this is not the place to conserve funds!
Quality, Size, and Speed
Movie Settings
Before you begin recording be sure you explore the camera options available in the Camera UI Options panel. Find the right combination of quality, file size, and effect on game speed when you are capturing.
You may want to run a few tests with different settings to find out what works best for you in your scene.
Remember - small movies, on a lower quality setting, with real-time compression and without audio will certainly be less taxing on your PC while you record.
Compression
If you have plenty of hard drive space - go for high quality uncompressed movies. They will look awesome!
If you need to conserve space - choose low or medium quality, and/or small or medium size movies.
Lights, Camera, Action!!!
Recording
Record more footage then you think you need. You never know what might be captured on film that you hadn't planned on filming. Sometimes this makes the best footage and the most interesting shots.
If you are conserving disk space, try writing up or drawing out a story board beforehand. This will give you a good sense of the flow of your movie ahead of time, and will limit the amount of extra footage you have to capture.
Consider the length of your shots and plan accordingly. Set the "cutoff timer" in the UI to the minimum amount of time you think you will need. This will avoid mistakenly filming until you're dangerously low on disc space.
Practice, practice, practice! Try out your shots a few times before you film them. This will help prepare you for anything unexpected, and will help you plan out your camera angles more effectively.
Always be ready to press P. Sometimes great moments happen in the game. The pause key can be your best-friend. It will allow you to get everything set up and you will be ready to record that spectacular moment!
A Little Cheating and a Little Imagination
Remember, interactions may mean one thing in the game, but they can be interpreted very differently in your film depending on your imagination.
Other cheats that might be helpful:
moveobjects [on/off] - allows you move everything and overlap objects, you can even move around Sims!
slowmotion [0-10] - 0 is normal speed, and time will become slower and slower as you approach 10.