How to Install Sims 3 Custom Content. Custom content, often simply referred to as CC, is a way of styling up your Sims 3 game to look more modern and realistic. The Sims does not distinguish between custom content and Maxis content, but The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 do. In these games, custom content is marked with a 'star', which is basically an asterisk. In The Sims 2, players who wish to use custom content must specifically enable it, and must re-enable it after adding a new expansion pack or stuff.
- How To Download Sims 3 Custom Content Free
- How To Download Sims 3 Custom Content Without Launcher
- Sims 3 Custom Content
- How To Download Sims 3 Custom Content
If you are trying to mod your Sims 3 but do not know how you have come to the right place as I will show you how to install Sims 3 mods today. It is not a complicated process, but there are some key steps to make it work, so continue reading if wish to learn how to set up Sims 3 mods.
How To Download Sims 3 Custom Content Free
Installing Sims 3 Package Files/Setup and Files
If you are looking for great Sims 3 mods and do not know which ones to download, you can check our best Sims 3 mods article and decide from there.
Before Starting
If you installed custom content like mods or hacks before by using the Helper Monkey/Monkey Bars, first you need to uninstall Monkey Bars/Helper Monkey and delete all the old framework files from your The Sims 3 path files. Also, you need to install the latest versions of the mods you are planning to download, so check the pages of the mods just in case they may have moved the newest version to somewhere else. If you do not do these 2 steps correctly, your custom content may not work.
Step 1: Make Your Game Accept Custom Content
The DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3 folder – note the contents are folders like DCBackup, DCCache, InstalledWorlds, Saves, etc. (click the image for full size)
Go to The Sims 3 Folder in My Documents: NOT in Program Files!
Before you try to mod your game, you need to make your game accept custom content. First of all, download FrameworkSetup.zip.
Now, carry that file into the directory of The Sims 3 in My Documents. The default location of that directory is as follows for different operation systems:
Windows Vista/7: C:UsersDocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3
Mac OS: /Users//Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/
Mac OS: /Users//Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/
Step 2: Extract the Files
Extract the FrameworkSetup.zip file you just downloaded by right-clicking on the FrameworkSetup.zip file and choosing Extract Here. A new folder called “Mods” will now appear.
Step 3: Check the New Folders
Open the Sims 3 Mods folder. It should look like the picture above. There should be two folders, one called “Overrides” and other one called “Packages”, and one file called Resource.cfg. Open the folder called “Packages”.
There should be two files in the “Packages” folder inside the Mods folder: NoBuildSparkles.package and nointro.package. If they are there, this means you completed the most important step, which is the setting up your game to accept custom content.
Step 4: Test the Mods
Test if the packages are working properly. NoBuildSparkles.package and nointro.package are already two mods installed for you to test things out, so launch your game and see if they are working properly.
nointro.package: As you can understand from its name, No Intro completely skis the EA Intro video before the game menu, so you can see very quickly if you set up properly to install mods.
How To Download Sims 3 Custom Content Without Launcher
NoBuildSparkles.package: In the native game, there is a small sparkles effect whenever you build something. Nobuildsparkles completely eliminates that. Go play the game and build something; if no sparkles effects appear, it means your mods are working in-game. Congratulations!
If they are not working as intended, you need to start over. Delete the Mods folder and start again from Step 1.
Sims 3 Custom Content
Step 5: Download a Mod
Find a mod that you want to play with. The Sims 3 modding community is huge with different mods for all the DLCs. If you are looking for a great list, check out our best Sims 3 mods to download.
Download the mod you want to play with. See if there are any special instructions about the mod’s compatibility and installation. If not, continue on.
Step 6: Place the Mod In Your Packages Folder
The file you have downloaded will be a compressed file like a .zip or .rar. Extract the files and place the .package file into your DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3ModsPackages folder – the same place where your NoBuildSparkles.package and nointro.package mods are.
If you want to delete any mod, you can simply delete the related .package file.
And that is it! This is how to install mods on Sims 3, with 10 easy steps. Just tweak your game to accept custom content, download the mod and paste it into your Packages file. Fast and not that complicated, and it makes thousands of different The Sims 3 mods available to you for free if you want to spice things up with the classic life simulation game. If this article helped you install Sims 3 mods, let us know below!
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Custom Content |Installation |Gameplay Guides |Technical & Graphics Issues |Miscellaneous Issues | |
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Read before proceeding! If you have ever had your custom content in Program Files (either manually or using the Helper Monkey/Monkey Bars), you must uninstall Monkey Bars/Helper Monkey, and remove the old framework files from Program Files path first! If you don't, some of your custom content may not work! You must also get updates from the creator(s) for any hacks/mods before putting them in the Documents path shown below. For full instructions on switching over from the old way to the new way, see: Installing Sims 3 Package Files: Old Way to the New Way. Do this first, then come back here for instructions on installing to Documents. Also make sure you have read TS3 CC Basics so you know how to extract from rar/zip/7z files and how to identify file types before continuing with this page. |
Setup Folders & Files
Before you can put the .package files in your game, you'll need to set up your game to accept custom content. From patch 1.12 and up, this is very easy!
1. The DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3 folder - note the contents are folders like DCBackup, DCCache, InstalledWorlds, Saves, etc. (click the image for full size)
Go to The Sims 3 Folder in My Documents: NOT in Program Files!- Windows XP: C:Documents and Settings<user name>My DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3
- Windows Vista/7: C:Users<username>DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3
- Mac OS: /Users/<username>/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/
2. Download the ready-made FrameworkSetup.zip This file contains everything you need to set up your game for custom content. Right-click on the download link below and choose 'Save link as.' Save it into your DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3 folder (the same folder you just opened).
The DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3 folder with the new folder, called 'Mods' highlighted.
Extract the framework: Right-click on the FrameworkSetup.zip file and choose Extract Here (You will get this option if you have properly installed 7-Zip as advised in the TS3 CC Basics FAQ). A new folder will appear, called 'Mods'. Double-click on it to open the 'Mods' folder.4.
Inside the DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3Mods folder
Check Mods Folder: Your DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3Mods folder should look like the picture, with three items inside... two folders, one called 'Overrides' and one called 'Packages' and one file called Resource.cfg. Double-click on the folder called 'Packages' to open it.
5.
Inside the DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3Packages folder
Check Packages Folder: Your DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3ModsPackages folder should have two files inside it: NoBuildSparkles.package, and nointro.packageNote: The picture shows them with a little green plumbbob icon, and 'Sims3 Package' under Type. It's okay if your icon looks like a Sims 2 package icon, a monkey, a white sheet of paper, or anything else, and the type may say 'PACKAGE' or something else. Icon and exactly what it says for 'type' are irrelevant as far as working in the game is concerned - what matters is that it ends with .package.
6. Everything okay? Do your folders look as they should in step 4 and step 5, with all the right files/folders in place?
- Yes! Good! Proceed.
- No! You must have done something wrong. Delete the DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3Mods folder and start try again from step 1.
Test!
Now if you run the game, your .package files should be fully working in-game! You already have two package files installed, so you can tell right away whether things are working properly.
- nointro.package: The No Intro will eliminate the EA Intro video before the game starts loading, which makes it very quick and easy to see if things are setup properly. If the plumbob animation and intro videos no longer play (you go straight to the loading screen), then you know your .package file content is working!
- NoBuildSparkles.package:Nobuildsparkles will show that your custom content is actually working in-game. Go into build mode and build a wall, or a room. If no sparkles appear, then other package format content should work as well!
Both of these files work for any patch level and any/all expansions/stuff packs.
If you still get the intro movie and build sparkles showing when you test in-game, you must have done something wrong. Delete the My DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3Mods folder and try again from Step 1 of 'Setup Folders and Files' above. It will work this way if done properly!
How To Download Sims 3 Custom Content
Placing Package Files
Now that you know that package files are working right in your game, you can start downloading custom content yourself!
Of course, you'll need to have read about any special instructions or compatability (make sure everything you get works with your patch level and expansion/stuff packs!), download the files, and extract them from their archives. All of that is explained in detail on: TS3 CC Basics - go there and read about it if you don't know how to do that!
Then, you just put any .package files you've extracted into your DocumentsElectronic ArtsThe Sims 3ModsPackages folder - that's the same place as the NoBuildSparkles.package and nointro.package files are. You can cut and paste them into the folder - just move them from whereever you extracted them, or extract them straight into that folder.
You can, of course, delete the NoBuildSparkles.package and nointro.package mods if you want your intro/build sparkles back - they were just there to show you where to put the files, and to verify that packages are working in your game.
More Info?
Need more information about .package files and custom content?
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