Qualifications to Host:
I have been a contestant in numerous contests including
It Takes A Village http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=510458
A judge in two including
Campus Constructors http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=518453
Calendar contest winner 2013, 2016 and 2017 http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=585087

Concept:
Every town is made up of a variety of individuals and families. In this contest you will build a home for four very different families and a community lot for all to enjoy. Each round comes with a pre-set foundation that you can neither add to nor take away from so it’s what is known as a ‘foundation challenge’. There will be five rounds including the application round.

Requirements:
Game:
Open to anyone with base Game on. Having all EP’s and SP’s would be an advantage. Lot size and price may need to be adjusted for base Game Players. http://www.teoalida.com/thesims/lot-prices/

Skill Level
Any skill level. Some building skill would be helpful but a high building skill is not needed. This is a beginners contest. If you have never been in a build contest before, this is a good one to get your feet wet in.

Rules:

• This contest is for TS2 only.
• No eliminations.
• CC will be allowed in every round except the application round. CC includes defaults, recolours, OMSP, anything that Maxis did not provide.
• You may use career or aspiration rewards. Buyable career rewards http://modthesims.info/d/374017 Or if you have Nightlife or any newer EP you can use a cheat, unlockcareerrewards. You will need a sim on the lot to use the cheat.
• Feel free to use any and all building cheats you want.
• Each round that you use no CC on will give you 5 bonus points. Except the last round, there is no bonus on the last round. You must remove defaults or this will count as CC!
• You may not add or take away from the given foundation and that includes any form of decking. You may make your foundation lower or higher. Your foundation may be turned into veranda/porch/deck or planters, so long as the original foundation remains the same. You may not delete foundation and replace it with decking or tile.
• I will allow separate foundation to be used to make a gazebo or planter box. This must be clearly separate from the given foundation and house, not attached.
• Each round will last for two weeks. Unless otherwise specified.
• You may make up a short story about your families. Not required.
  You may make the families and show them in your 12 extra photos. Not required but I am interested to see them. You gain no points for doing or not doing this. CC on the sims doesn't count.
• You may use the sims on your lot to add things only sims can do such as plant a vegetable garden, sew curtains etc.
• Each round comes with a random Maxis object; this must be visible in one of your entry photos and must make some sense. For example a fridge can’t simply be left out in the garden –well not unless you are very creative in doing so. If this item is left out/not visible to the judges you will lose 5 points. You may recolour it in any recolours the game comes with. CC recolours count as CC. I have given a link to the item on the default object data base so you can see what it looks like.
• Please use either the downloadable lot or make an exact copy.
• You may attach a garage to the foundation or build a separate carport/garage without a foundation. This is only for parking a car.
• And finally, have fun!

Picture Rules

• All images must meet MTS Screenshot guidelines.
• All but the first image must be placed under [ SPOILER ] tags.
• You may edit your pictures up until the deadline.
• Each round requires:
  1 shot showing the front.
  1 shot showing the back
  1 shot showing the price. (If you have the needed EP simply show the price on the lot.)
  1 shot of each floor plan as close as you can.
  1 shot over the entire lot down at foundation level.
• You are allowed another 12 extra photos to show off your lot to its best advantage. So 17 shots total. If your house has a second story that is a second floor plan shot making 18 pictures. You don't have to do this many but you can if you want to.

*Base Game Players


Helpful image taking information
Screenshot basics

Judges

Judge 1	Judge 2	Judge 3	Emergency Judge
Charmful	CatherineTCJD	Karen Lorraine	Emperor Crat

Scoring
Each round will have a potential of scoring 25 points from each judge.

• Build skill up to 5 points
  Is the build interesting? Is the roof suitable?
• Furnishing/decorating skill up to 5 points
  Does your interior and exterior furnishing and decorating style look harmonious? Does it reflect the chosen family?
• Playability up to 5 points
  Can all usable objects be used? Is there enough space for sims to move around without causing traffic jams and foot stomping? This does not include garden plants or items set up only for deco purposes. For example a strip of pool water used as part of a decorative fountain is not expected to be usable. Mods to make things usable do not count (inaccessible beds) the beds/items have to be accessed without mods.
• Requirementsup to 5 points
  Are all requirements of the family present?
• Wants
  Did you manage to fill the family’s wishes?

Special Scoring

• 5 point bonus awarded by me for using no cc in each round. Remember to remove any defaults such as roof trim, bedding, curtains etc and say that you used no CC.
• -5 points deducted by me for not including/showing the random object.

Contestants

Contestant	Totals	R1	Score	R2	Score	R3	Score	R4	Score	R5	Score
Rosebine	217	Walter	71	Lambert	74	Newman	72	-----	-----	-----	-----
yavannatw	367	Walter	69	Elliott	77	Evans	77	Rodney	75	Entry	69
enebya	322	Walter	64.5	Rodney	57.5	Elliott	68.5	Evans	69	Entry	61.5
gummilutt	58	Walter	-----	------	-----	-----	-----	-----	-----	-----
Justpetro	372.5	Walter	73.5	Elliot	74	Rodney	75	Evans	77	Entry	73
Kukamuukaanmuka	376	Walter	73.5	Evans	75.5	Rodney	76.5	Elliot	78	Entry	72.5
ChisanaAoi	185.5	Walter	66	Lambert	51.5	Newman	68	-----	-----	-----
Phantomknight	364	Walter	75	Evans	73.5	Lambert	71	Rodney	72.5	Entry	72
Peni Griffin	356.5	Walter	66	Rhodes	71	Lambert	73.5	Newman	76	Entry	70
gazania	367	Walter	73	Newman	76.5	Elliott	73.5	Rhodes	73	Entry	71
Greenplumbbob	285.5	Walter	70.5	Rhodes	70	Rodney	68.5	Newman	76.5	-----	-----
cowplant-simmer	139	Walter	67.5	Elliott	71.5	-----	-----	-----	-----	-----
Voeille	385.5	Walter	76.5	Rodney	80	Evans	76	Rhodes	78	Entry	75
scottiedoag	348	Walter	67	Lambert	65	Rhodes	75	Evans	72.5	Entry	68.5
Goldenbtrfly	357	Walter	70.5	Evans	72	Newman	72	Elliott	77.5	Entry	65
gdayars	349.5	Walter	67	Elliot	70.5	Evans	71	Rodney	76	Entry	65
Mordant17	288	Walter	74.5	Rhodes	73	Lambert	74.5	-----	-----	Entry	66
justJones	377.5	Walter	75	Rhodes	73.5	Evans	79	Lambert	75	Entry	75
Sweet Mystre	374.5	Walter	72	Newman	74	Elliott	79.5	Rhodes	78	Entry	71
Aysarth	351	Walter	67.5	Rodney	71	Elliott	70	Evans	71.5	Entry	71
*_Drew~	62	Walter	62	-----	-----	-----	-----	-----	-----	-----

Play Along	R1	Comment	R2	Comment	R3	Comment	R4	Comment	R5	Comment
Phaenoh	entry		Entry	:lovestruc	Entry		Entry
SimsRocka778	entry
TheFlyingRaccoon	entry		Entry		Entry		Entry
Essa	entry		Entry
whoward69	entry		Entry		Entry		Entry		Entry
kanzen	entry
AndrewGloria	entry		Entry		Entry		Entry		Entry	:lovestruc
HugeLunatic	entry	:lovestruc
NatteryakToad	entry		Entry	:cylon:	Entry		Entry		Entry
MystAngel	entry		Entry		Entry		Entry	:cylon:

CC Free Note
The easy way to build CC free is to make another Sims 2 folder. Simply rename your current folder, run the game and it will make you a second Sims 2 folder free of any CC including defaults.

Helpful mods you can use

• No Red Pause Lines in pictures
  Here http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=586548 or here http://www.leefish.nl/mybb/showthread.php?tid=1552
• Moo's Turn on and off lights http://modthesims.info/d/492998

Rule Edit: I will allow separate foundation/decking to be used to make a gazebo, planter box, tree house or any other creative thing you have in mind. This must be clearly separate from the foundation that I gave. Not attached in anyway.

Ergo Window Fix Since the recolours are Maxis and they broke them, this fix will be allowed.

Craftables such as easel painting, photographs, things made on work benches and growable Seasons plants may be done after your lot is finished from your sims own money. Finish your lot, take a picture showing the price then move in sims to make the craftables. If you want to use buyable craftables, those must be placed during the build and are part of the budget.

Timeline
There will be 5 rounds total, each lasting two weeks.
Countdown Timer


Foundation plan Picture and Details


Round Five
Build a community lot that everyone (toddler age and up) in this new neighbourhood can enjoy. So it must be family friendly. It can be any type of community lot; a park, a community centre, shops, anything you like. I would suggest though that it not be a pub and brothel since that is not family friendly.

Requirements:
Must have some way of eating and bathrooms with at least 4 toilets on the lot.
Parenting Room (see link below) Toddlers require at least: one fridge, one crib, one potty, one change table and one toy.
Your lot must have something educational, something flirty and something fun.

New Rules! For this round only you may add decking to the foundations or not as you like. Your decking areas may be separated or joined. Go wild. Do not add or take away from the given foundation, do not add more foundation anywhere on the lot.

No Budget!

No Random Object!

No CC bonus!

Pictures: The required shots + 16 extra will be allowed.

PS. Flirty can also mean romantic, sell your view to the judges.

PPS. A link so that those from the US or any other country that does not have parenting rooms can see what they are! http://www.weekendnotes.com/top-par...th-river-perth/ I didn't realize us Aussies were so spoiled.

Rule Edit: I thought I had uploaded this as a 4 by 4 but I packaged it before the contest went live, so in due of this I will allow this lot to be either a 3 by 3 or a 4 by 4. You may use lot adjuster to add the extra tile or build it by sight from my picture, this is why I leave the grid on. To change in lot adjuster add 5 tiles to the left, 5 to the right and 10 to the back. This way you can leave the road well alone.

Rounds 2-4



Application/Round One


The Families

Contest Approved

• Do not post replies and/or contest applications before the contest host has checked in on this thread, or your post will be deleted.
• DO NOT WRITE USELESS POSTS like "Hey cool contest, I think I might join." Reserve type posts and useless posts about coming back with an application will be deleted.

Thanks Jones, I didn't expect to see this up by morning. I'll go get my foundation up.

Would love to join the contest! ^-^

Me too!

I am very tempted to give this contest a try and it's the first one that I think I might be able to do ... lol.

I'll take the 'application' and see if I get anywhere with it.

I am in, please!

To anyone interested in the contest. Make sure you read over the whole contest so that you understand the rules and what it's about. Then download and build on the foundation given for the pre set family. If you don't have M&G you will need to build a replica from the picture I provided. I left the grid lines on to make that easier. Then to apply you need to get your photos posted. Once you get your photos in then I will add your name to the table.

If anyone only has base game there are special notes. One in the rules about lot sizes and one under the foundation picture.

A countdown ticker will be coming later.

This sounds like fun, but the pictures and roof concern me as they are not something I am familiar with. I may just play along from the sidelines and work on my building skills that way. I do love watching these contests and am so happy you made it "beginners level", that was very nice. :lovestruc Good luck to everyone! I will be watching from the bench.

You are welcome to do that if you don't feel comfortable entering, you may find you learn building skills and picture taking along the way.

Beginner here. My first ever entry to a contest.

@yavannatw thank you for your entry, your pictures are not meeting the size requirements. If you read up in the rules all pictures must meet MTS guidelines, so 800 by 600. Use either a screenshot program or the print screen button, the C key or in game camera is too small.
I would also suggest taking more walk around sim eye pictures, for example there is none of the garden and you can have to 12. (Thanks for adding more)

The overhead shot of the lot is different from the floor plan, you have the overhead but not a floor plan, the floor plan needs to fill the picture with just your building. For the overhead you might like to keep the roof on so the judges can see it properly. Remember anything that they can't see properly they can't judge you fully on.

If these are screenshots you may not want to use photobucket since they can shrink your picture size. It's easy to simply upload picture under advanced and bypass places like Photo bucket. Looking again I do think that is what happened PB shrunk your photos.

Once we have the correct picture size I will add you to the table.

Here is the Walter's little new house.
No cc, except for those 3 mods that deals with shadows and shaders. This is a brand new EA games folder.
I accidentally hit a foundation wall with the hammer, trying to get rid of a bush I think. I never noticed it before, and it is seen on my top view foundation picture.
Sorry about that.

If you are in need of a judge, here's my app:

Thank you Rosebine, you are first on the table.

Charmful thank you! I am happy to have you as a judge.

Hi joandsarah77.
I used Fraps for taking the pics. photobucket must have shrunk them. Do you use attachments for uploading photos? You can tell I'm a beginner at doing this. How do you then create spoilers? I attached the pics but when I go to preview there's nothing? Sorry for being a bit thick.

No worries yavannatw feel free to ask questions. Just go advanced then scroll down to image upload. The site only accepts jpgs or pngs. You made a spoiler for your pictures already, or do you mean something else? Just edit your entry post with pictures the correct size.

Click on the picture you just uploaded and it will show up in a new page. Grab the address from it then click the little box, up where bold, quote etc are, there is a small square box. Hover over it and it says insert image. Put the address you just copied in there.

Thanks for that. I missed that extra step. Not sure why screenshots are showing under the spoiler though.

Goodness, you have one DAY or two to do this?

I might enter, but might have to drop out at some point, since something could be coming up in the next month or two. (Either that, or build a lickety-split house. That could be a challenge in and of itself!)I haven't built in a while, either, so I might be rusty. I've already downloaded the application.

If I enter a house, I'll try to enter it from the computer that I know wasn't hug-bugged, just as an extra precaution. Also, I have fewer Build items on it.

The countdown timer says 13 days

@yavannatw Two of the pictures are still under sized. Make sure not to crop too much.

You must have picture code inside your spoiler.

@gazania you have 2 weeks. Plus you are only uploading photos, not a lot.

Oh ... that should be Ok. Even if the event happens, if I have a couple of weeks to do each one, I should be able to at least do a really quick house. It might not be great, but at least it would be an entry! I don't expect to win. I just hope I don't wind up with people going, "What Sim in its right mind would want to live THERE?"

I'm sure it will be fine.

@joandsarah77 I hope I've resized the correct ones.
What do you mean picture code inside the spoiler?
When I preview everything the screenshots don't show below the spoiler button.

You must have put img code or something inside the spoiler if you have pictures inside the spoiler. I don't have privies to edit your post and look inside.

I am looking at your screenshots inside your spoiler. They are all showing up. Your overhead and floor plan are still reading too small at 523px × 738px but your front pic is reading a nice 1,091px × 699px. So it's just those two, the one of your floor plan and the one showing your roof. If you just take pictures in Fraps, change to a jpg or a png and don't crop they should all be the correct size.

Hopefully all pictures should now be the correct size.
When I hover over the image box it automatically inserts the IMG code when I insert the link. If I take that away it just shows a URL. I need a guide for the really dumb.

I will upload a picture so I can see exactly what I do as I tend to do and not always pay attention to the finer details if you know what I mean.

Okay so I uploaded an image of mine from a previous contest. When I left click it, it opens the picture in a new page. I copy the address at the top. Then I click on that little box just above. It's next to create list on one side and hyperlink on the right of it. In the same area that you do bold, underline, quote etc. (you need to have advanced view showing) When I click that little box it opens a small window saying enter the text for formatting. I paste the link that I copied before into that. Click Okay. It then shows up here. Does that help?

You need to remove your two small pictures, where you first did upload image also has remove. Then just upload the larger pictures and insert them like I did here with mine.

Yes, that's what I did.

If you look at your entry, post 11 and click the spoiler and look through, you will see two pictures that are smaller than the rest. Are you seeing that or something else?

According to my computer their dimensions are 600x800.

Ooh, a beginner challenge ! I might enter this . Have downloaded the application, hopefully I'll be able to present something.......that isn't trash . Even if I make horrible houses, at least I'll learn stuff, right ?

@yavannatw They are showing up okay now. It may have been the site, sometimes it lags. I will get you up on the contest table.

pannisim, yes I learned a lot about picture taking, building and decorating from contests. Don't worry if it's terrible, the judges don't bite -much. I use to build horrible little box houses.

Sorry, you can't take it away and replace with decking either. The only thing you may do to the foundation is raise it if you want a higher set house. I have also heard there is some way to lower it but I don't know how.

Ok, here we go! I have to say it, it was really hard checking the money everytime not that I usually use cheats, but I realized that some CC is so cheap than the game objects. Mostly I've suffered from the lack of replacement for walls and floors, but I think the final resul is acceptable :3

I would be willing to be a judge, if you'd have me!

A temple/home I built for the goddesses of the 4 elements in my own mythological neighborhood:


I could send another, more conventional, building instead if you'd rather want that. I don't think this is the best one I've ever built, but it's the only one I have good pictures for right now, haha.

Signed me up! This is my first contest btw

I have a question – you said that default replacements count as CC, but is it about all of them? For example, can I use a hood terrain replacements (grass, desert etc.), or do I need to stick to Maxis originals? Can I use my water mod and RLS? Can I place the lot on a desert terrain, or does it have to be in a grassy hood? Sorry for many questions, but I haven’t participated in a contest before and I prefer to ask for clarity

@Drew Your pictures are below size requirements, they have to be no smaller than 800 by 600. Are you using some kind of screenshot program or print screen key?

@Pideli would you have a more normal lot?

@SneakyWingPhoenix great. I can't add you to the table until you get your application in.

@Voeille No defaults of any kind since that would make yours look nicer as would a water mod. It's very easy to make yourself a cc free second sims 2 folder, it's what I do. You may build on a desert terrain if you wish, that was something I hadn't thought of. Just make sure its a 2 by 2 lot and build the foundation in the same exact spot as mine. It's only this round that is cc free, you can use cc and forgo the bonus points in the next three rounds.

I know about separate folders, I already have several ones, but what about RLS? I’d have to uninstall it with the Scriptorium separately.

Must the foundation face that way? Or can I rotate the foundation on the lot?

I don't know RSL, what is that?

Also, why is everybody showing lot price from the hood view? You guys realize that is under Base Game notes, right? None of you doing that have base game, you can take a screeny of lot price on the lot. I wouldn't have to squint either. I will include that under the spoiler so not to confuse.

No moving the foundation HL, has to stay exactly where it is. Sorry. But hey, I'd love to have you along for the ride.

This is RLS, I’m sure you know it exists, you probably just didn’t think of it while seeing the shortcut

I've never entered a contest before and I'm not good at building and decorating - So this is a chance to improve, right :P


Jessica and Martin Walter are really excited for the arrival of their first child, Jamie. While Jessi is an arty type, Martin is your typical engineering student - He didn't care at all what the house would look like, as long as his gaming equipment was there! Jessi is especially proud of their bedroom. Finally, after years of college, all the furniture fits together! She couldn't persuade Martin to get rid of his old and worn couch, though. But maybe, once her paintings start to sell she can just buy a better one. One, that will fit with her own couch.
Martin thinks that the garden still needs a lot of work. But he wants to do it himself, and with his working hours that might take a while. Jessi just loves flowers, whereas Martin would like the garden to be useful. He plans on making his own compost and growing veggies for his little family!

@joandsarah77 I resized with Gimp, but I don't know it didn't scale them properly. Gonna fix it and edit my post

Just to be sure I am following you on the rules. A total of 16 pictures are allowed, four mandatory (front view, overhead view, floorplan, price) and 12 that are up to you. Is that correct?

Here's my entry. Price 25,000 on the dot (am very impressed with myself )


The Walter's decided to move to Simville, a town known for it's nature and agriculture. Coming from a big city they aren't used to suburbia, but they dream of being self-sustainable and getting away from the smog and chaos of the big city. So they moved to Simville, in to a small house with the foundations to a self-sustaining life. There's an apple tree and a small garden to grow food, and a stove will keep them warm during the winter. They don't have much money yet, but with time they hope to add solar panels to the roof so they can bring in their own electricity. To fit in with their new neighbours they painted their house in the traditional Simville-color, pastel green. They might have gone a little overboard with the bright colorful counters, fridge and sofa, and the country-styled furniture may be a bit cliche, but to them it's paradise! Looking ahead they already built the nursery, because they hope to start a family. Some may wonder where the changing table is, but no self-sustaining Sim of worth would waste the compost-potential of biodegradable organic diapers!

Here is the house for the Walter family. The fridge is in the kitchen. Alarm and phone included. They have everything they need plus a porch at the back with 3 doors leading there. No CC used.

Okidoki! Here is a more "normal" lot.



Not sure this is exactly normal either, but normal is boring! (This was used in my finished legacy family )

Your contest your rules Jo, but I do think it'd be more fun if we were allowed to move the foundation within the lot borders.

I would like to be a judge, if you'll have me? My game isn't fully recovered yet from Vista/Win10/Linux issues... *sigh* (It is playable, but not back to what it was yet.)
Can I just send you to my profile for building examples? Or, should I post one here? I'll just post one...
Here's one that's not uploaded here yet:

Okay, one question. The random object, the fridge . DO we use the base-game fridge, or the one you linked to ? Sorry for such a stupid question .