What's a megahood?

[FreezerBunny]

So, while reading the forums, I've seen a lot of people reference "megahoods". What is that? :help:

[StarboardParoxysm]

It's a combination of two or more Maxis neighborhoods into one - for example, Pleasantview as a main neighborhood, with Veronaville and Strangetown attached as sub-hoods (usually as downtowns or shopping districts).

[FreezerBunny]

It's a combination of two or more Maxis neighborhoods into one - for example, Pleasantview as a main neighborhood, with Veronaville and Strangetown attached as sub-hoods (usually as downtowns or shopping districts).

Ohhh. So how do you attach them as sub-hoods?

[StarboardParoxysm]

With the use of SimPE, copious amounts of alcohol, and some crying. It is a giant pain in the ass to do, so if you like the idea, I suggest posting in the Where Can I Find section, under Help, to see if there's a combination already made of the ones you want (or my profile, as I've done a couple combinations myself).

[Yazoo]

Here go, here.

This tutorial will show you want to need, and what to do :)

Sub-Hood Tutorial (http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Tutorials:Combining_Maxis_Neighborhoods)

Too much for me, so I'll pass on making a megahood, and if you so want a clean template of the hood you want. Such as Pleasantview, you can get clean templates from

Link to Clean Templates (http://meetme2theriver.livejournal.com/63030.html)

I have Pleasantview, and let me forewarn you, Bella does NOT look the same, in fact she looks completely and utterly different from Bella in Strangetown, its pretty awesome actually :) But yeah, good luck on making your megahood hun :)

Or do what HP said :P

[Alijah]

If you're not SimPE literate (like me) then you can download the clean templates from meetme2theriver that are linked above. She also has the neighborhoods cleaned up and turned into subhood templates, so you can make your own megahood. Using her templates, I have a Pleasantview with Belladonna Cove and Riverblossom Hills subhoods, and I love it! :)

Make sure to back up your templates and hood before download them, though. She has pretty clear instructions on her page.

[joandsarah77]

I've thought about trying a megahood but from what I can tell from people trying to set it up copious amounts of alcohol, and some crying seems about right. Maybe add in some head desking and a brick. Myabe Meetme2theriver templates would only requre the alcohol?

[Mootilda]

If you use Tarlia's subhood templates, it's as easy as pie. Well... OK, as easy as adding Bluewater Village. That's probably easier than pie.

Just download each "shopping district" that you want and install them into your program files folder. Then, run your game and add shopping districts.

If you want Belladonna Cove, use that one as your primary neighborhood, since apartments don't do well in subhoods. Otherwise, just pick one of the neighborhoods to be the primary neighborhood and attach the others as subhoods.

[joandsarah77]

Easy for those of us who need 'Tutorials for dummies' or easy for you? You're the tech guru after all. :king:

Okay that does sound easy. Guess we don't even get the alcohol. :p

[Alijah]

I managed to make a megahood easy peasy. For comparison purposes, I also sometimes walk into walls. So, it's pretty simple. I did use Belladonna Cove as a subhood though and didn't run into any problems, other than having to move all the apartment premades back in. Is there something I should be on the lookout for?

[joandsarah77]

That's a good comparison, seeing I'm known for falling over my own feet. I guess I should give it a go.
That's interesting about the apartments. I've built apartments in Downtown Pleasant view and had no problems or is this only a problem with megahoods?

[Mootilda]

Easy for those of us who need 'Tutorials for dummies' or easy for you? You're the tech guru after all.OK, I admit that I created the technique, so I may not be the best judge of how hard it is.

However, I honestly believe that Tarlia has done the hard part. That leaves the easy part for you.

I've built apartments in Downtown Pleasant view and had no problems or is this only a problem with megahoods?It's only a problem in subhood templates, when a subhood is being added to a primary neighborhood. Once the subhood has been attached, there are no further problems.

[Alijah]

It's only a problem in subhood templates, when a subhood is being added to a primary neighborhood. Once the subhood has been attached, there are no further problems.

What sort of problems? Should I be expecting implosion?

[Mootilda]

Occupied apartments are special because they consist of a set of related lots. The Apartment Base is the main (unoccupied) apartment building and each Apartment Sublot is one playable occupied apartment. When you click on an apartment, you're actually clicking on the Apartment Base. At that point, the game displays the associated Apartment Sublots which contain the playable families. When you select a family, you are taken to their Apartment Sublot. At least, that's how it's supposed to work.

Unfortunately, there's a bug in the subhood attachment code which dissociates the Apartment Sublots from the Apartment Base. That means that your families are lost in limbo; it's impossible to play them because you can only click on the Apartment Base, and the Apartment Base no longer knows where to find the Apartment Sublots.

You can get your families back by moving them in with someone else, but you'll lose all of their possessions. As well, you may have to delete the apartment building; I seem to remember that it won't let you move anyone else in, since it believes that there are sublots; it just can't find them.

[Alijah]

Oh, good. I didn't have any of those troubles with Tarlia's neighborhoods. I was beginning to worry!

All of the premade apartment tenants were already in the family bin when I loaded the game. I had to manually move them back into their apartments and redecorate it. I'm not sure if they had any personal possessions before (I've never played Belladonna Cove independently), but I didn't see any when I moved them back in, so those may have been lost if they do in fact exist.

[FreezerBunny]

Thanks for the help everybody! I don't have OFB, but I will be treating myself to the remaining EPs and SPs at the end of the year. I will be downloading HP's megahood then.

[Mootilda]

All of the premade apartment tenants were already in the family bin when I loaded the game. I had to manually move them back into their apartments and redecorate it. I'm not sure if they had any personal possessions before (I've never played Belladonna Cove independently), but I didn't see any when I moved them back in, so those may have been lost if they do in fact exist.Right. I'd forgotten that Tarlia moved the apartment residents into the sim bin so that no one would experience that bug.