How to get rid of solid blue water and hay grass terrain from the neighborhood view

[DJ.]

Does your neighborhood look like this?

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/TheSims2AndMe/CrappyNeighborhood.jpg

Are you tired of those choppy shores? Bucket fill ocean? Or, does your concrete downtown look like this? Well read below, and you may find a solution for this situation!



:alarm: WARNING: You should only follow this tutorial if you have a supported graphics card (http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:System_Requirements/MTS2_Recommendations). Following this tutorial while you have an unsupported or underpowered graphics card will result in an extra strain to your graphics card, or your computer. Read this (http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Your_Computer_is_Like_a_Car) if you want to be more informed. :alarm:


Please note that this tutorial is only for those people who had a 'beautiful' neighborhood before, and somehow they don't have it now (reinstalling the game, updating drivers). If you tweak your settings without a good graphics card which will handle them, you will most likely just wear out your computer.




Make sure your game is not running, nor is The Sims 2 Body Shop, HomeCrafter Plus and SimPE.
Go to installation folder of your newest expansion pack. By default, it's in C:\Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 2 [newest EP]\. Carry on to TSData\Res\Config\ folder.
Make sure, make sure, MAKE SURE you backup the Graphics Rules.sgr file. It's the file we're going to modify, and if something goes wrong, you can easily restore everything back.
Right click on Graphics Rules.sgr and click Open with... and choose Notepad (not Wordpad). Do not tick the "Always choose the selected program to open this kind of file."
Go to Edit, and select Find (or simply click CTRL+F). Type in "simpleTerrain" (without quotes). You should see something like this:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/TheSims2AndMe/SearchingforsimpleTerrain.jpg

(My system configuration is on Croatian. "Traži" means "Find". Me bring only happy and hellos.)
So, if the line says "boolProp simpleTerrain true," that's what's causing your hay neighborhood terrain! Rename it to "false" (without quotes) so that it says "boolProp simpleTerrain false."
Summon the Find window again and continue looking for "simpleTerrain." It should be around three of them. Make sure you change every single one of them to "false."
Open the game up.



And congrats, you finally have a neighborhood decent to be looked at! :) Hope you find this tutorial useful.


http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/TheSims2AndMe/GoodNeighborhood.jpg



CREDITS:
Because I'm too lazy to re-crapify my neighborhood and take snapshots, and then again repairing it and again, taking a snapshot, I took the 'crappy' neighborhood picture from here (http://www.digitalperversion.net/gardenofshadows/index.php?topic=20875.0), and 'beautiful' neighborhood picture from here (http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=225473).

Also, all the people who've been requesting me to explain how I did it. Yes, I'm talking to you, taytodemayto.

[pekeniax]

OMG! Thank you sooooooooo much!!!! I just spent a lot of money on a graphic card and when I looked at my neighborhood I just wanted to die!! You're my savior!!

[Saturnfly]

I'm so desperate to try this, but I'm scared my computer will do horrible things. 3:

[k888]

You seriously made my day!
I was desperately searching for a way to run sims 2 without problems on my new laptop and now it finally works out perfectly!

1000 thanx :gjob:

[TortureTheNannies]

I'm trying this right now. What are the effects you noticed? I will be happy to provide my computer specifics and discuss the changes I see.

[DJ.]

Hm... let's see.

I've tried doing the tutorial while I had an old Intel integrated chipset. It wasn't a good idea.

What was happening, is that the flythroughs didn't play at all. It was very difficult for the chip to handle, so therefore it was just 'a lag' while the flythrough should've played.

Second, it was a bitch when it comes to scrolling through the neighborhood. Small dots would flash all over the hood as it would move (so therefore, 'Neighborhood Camera Drift' should never be on in my case) - and it looked like this (http://www.google.hr/imgres?um=1&hl=hr&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&biw=1366&bih=663&tbm=isch&tbnid=TBmHFie8-gkXuM:&imgrefurl=http://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/black-torn-holes-vector-696825&docid=EmAmBV9LtpPcvM&imgurl=http://www.vectorstock.com/i/composite/68,25/black-torn-holes-vector-696825.jpg&w=380&h=400&ei=vXFMUJyyCNHItAbopoHAAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1106&vpy=134&dur=6119&hovh=230&hovw=219&tx=113&ty=137&sig=103256975154349939336&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=132&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:84) - on random spots, and around 20 of them in a shot.

Then, if I've been in the hood for too long (or I've played the game for couple of hours and then exited to the hood) the grass would get all blurry. Which I believe is a sign to shut down your computer immediately if you have an integrated graphics.

---

To conclude, follow the link I gave you in my first post. If you find your graphics card there (under Yes-Yes-Yes, of course), there shouldn't be any problems. If your graphics card is not listed, feel free to ask if it's okay to run the game in the Computer & Software Help (http://modthesims.info/fd.php?f=563) forum. If you have an integrated graphics, almost everything could/should go wrong, unfortunately. ;)

ETA: Oh yes, feel free to include your specs! :) Although I might not know much about that, I'll show my best.

[bonzille]

Brilliant worked like a dream thanks so much

[TortureTheNannies]

Has anyone else tested this GraphicsRules.sgr with ATI Radeon HD 2400 series? I want to see if this is working or not working for me.

[BeckyBoo8]

You have no idea how much this helps! I always wanted the terrain to be like this, and I knew somehow it could be because of the pictures custom hoods come with. But now I can have a beautiful, gorgeous neigborhood to be proud of. ;)

Edit: So the computer I play Sims on is a desktop. Do graphics cards only refer to laptops or desktops as well? Sorry I just have no idea D:

[TortureTheNannies]

My laptop also has a graphics card. If you see names like Nvidea or ATI Radeon , you have a graphics card. There are dozens. If you see integrated graphics , it's a processor built into your motherboard.

[DJ.]

Do graphics cards only refer to laptops or desktops as well?

Well, yes! Of course! Usually (if not always) desktops come with a dedicated graphics card. While, on the other side, laptops usually come with an integrated chipset, which would pretty much get destroyed after using this for awhile.

TTN, I'm not really into techy-stuff. Try asking if your card is good at the Computer & Software (http://www.modthesims.info/fd.php?f=563) forum. ;)

[ttowntallyho]

I wanted to try this just to see how it looked (I have a laptop with an integrated chip) so that I could one day use it when I get a better computer. When I try to save the file, I leave the file extension as .sgr and choose "All files", but it still saves it as a TXT file and my game can't read it. :help:

Edit: Nevermind, my computer is stupid (or possibly me). It looks...AWESOME. I have never played my neighborhood any other way except with the hay grass and blue water!

[DJ.]

I have a laptop with an integrated chip

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mam8tsoLph1rssuar.gif

After you've seen how it looks like, please revert it back to the original.

Why don't people take the note seriously? It will damage your computer! I'm tellin' ya! Wanna see my old desktop? ;)

[ttowntallyho]

^^ LOL I did! I just wanted to see how it looked. I don't think 3 minutes of it did *that* much damage. But I didn't have any issues like you did with lagging, side scrolling, or flyovers or anything. It was pretty awesome!

But like I said, I have been playing with the simple terrain ever since I started playing TS2 when it first came out, so it doesn't bother me. I saved the info in this thread for a time when I eventually get a new computer.

[BeckyBoo8]

Sooo.. I tried this. For step 2 first I tried this in my Apartment Life EP folder. Didn't change a thing. When I play Sims, the loading screen is for Mansion & Garden stuff. So I tried it with that. And nothing changes, my towns are still ugly! What do I do?

[DJ.]

Are you saying that you modified both AL's and M&G's Graphics Rules.sgr file? And it still doesn't work?

Did you follow the step 6 - did you replace all "simpleTerrain true" to "simpleTerrain false"?

Are you sure you have a decent graphics card that can handle the fix? In other words, did you happen to have the 'good' neighborhood before, then say, did something to your computer (installed a new component, updated the drivers, installed a new EP) and now the 'good' neighborhood is gone?

Also, there was this discussion on these forums - about what games are considered EPs, what SPs and so forth... and since M&G modifies the game engine on some sloppy way, it's considered as an EP but is unstable if run without Apartment Life.

[joandsarah77]

But like I said, I have been playing with the simple terrain ever since I started playing TS2 when it first came out, so it doesn't bother me. I saved the info in this thread for a time when I eventually get a new computer.

Once you get a new decent computer you won't have to do this, or you shouldn't. I've never done anything but install the game and seen things look pretty, but I've got a good graphics card. I think the only thing I had to do was go and put setting like sim detail all to high and make sure smooth edges was all the way on as a new install sets things to medium with pictures to small. However I'll be getting it upgraded soon so I'll be looking at this thread incase soemthing borks up.

[BeckyBoo8]

Are you saying that you modified both AL's and M&G's Graphics Rules.sgr file? And it still doesn't work?

Did you follow the step 6 - did you replace all "simpleTerrain true" to "simpleTerrain false"?

Are you sure you have a decent graphics card that can handle the fix? In other words, did you happen to have the 'good' neighborhood before, then say, did something to your computer (installed a new component, updated the drivers, installed a new EP) and now the 'good' neighborhood is gone?

Also, there was this discussion on these forums - about what games are considered EPs, what SPs and so forth... and since M&G modifies the game engine on some sloppy way, it's considered as an EP but is unstable if run without Apartment Life.

Yes I changed both.
I backed up my game and I am going to change all of the files, for each EP.
And then I'll check to see if it worked.
No, I never had the good neighborhood before.

Edit: I'm such an idiot! I was for some reason thinking that my Mansion & Garden stuff pack came with the Best of Business Collection, but no, it came with my Fun With Pets Collection! So I changed all the files in my pets collection and I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HOOD! Thank you!!
Edit #2: Am I still supposed to have ugly grass when I play in an actual lot?

[Saturnfly]

Yep, ugly hay-grass seems to be standard in lots.
I don't put up with it, though, there are some lovely defaults here on MTS. :)

[lmb33]

Unfortunately I guess graphics card can't handle this because when I tried it, the ground texture turned up black and the water was still light blue and untextured (though it was not blocky anymore). Oh well, I can live with that ugly texture, I have for over a year already anyway! Though I do miss when the neighborhoods did look nice like this, darn the new computers!

[ttowntallyho]

Once you get a new decent computer you won't have to do this, or you shouldn't. I've never done anything but install the game and seen things look pretty, but I've got a good graphics card. I think the only thing I had to do was go and put setting like sim detail all to high and make sure smooth edges was all the way on as a new install sets things to medium with pictures to small. However I'll be getting it upgraded soon so I'll be looking at this thread incase soemthing borks up.

You're right. I installed on my husband's desktop and didn't have to change a thing. :lol:

[starryeyedSim]

First, if you are still playing on an old machine and don't have a better HD video card and a high speed processor, then you don't know what you are missing. You won't have to do any of this.
Secondly, if you want 'pretty' grass in your hoods and in all your lots...then get the 'greener grass ' grass terrian here on this site. I couldn't play my hoods without it!

http://linna.modthesims.info/download.php?t=171302

[ZenGarden]

Well, it did not work, i changed all the '' simpleterrain '' from true to false and not a thing changed

[ZenGarden]

OMG OMG OMG IT WORKS NOW! I went into every graphicsfile and turned it to false, and then i tryed again like '' well it won't work but what the heck '' AND THE WATER IS BLUE OMG THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU <3

[ZenGarden]

But i had to turn it back to '' true '' since the simpleTerrain false slows down my gameplay

[Mootilda]

ZenGarden, please stop posting the same problem in a bunch of different threads. Please stop double and triple posting. Both of these are against the site rules.

While you're (patiently) waiting for someone to help you in one thread, you might want to re-read the site rules, especially these:
http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=289713

[mangaroo]

But i had to turn it back to '' true '' since the simpleTerrain false slows down my gameplay

ZenGarden, the original post makes it very clear that you should only modify the files as described if your computer has the specs to support it. The file you're altering was created by EA to prevent users from stressing their hardware to the breaking point. However, because TS2 was developed 6+ years ago, the file can't always properly identify new, high-end GPUs. If you don't know whether your machine is strong enough to handle the change, please post your specs in Game Help and reference this thread for the problem you're having.

[ttowntallyho]

The Game Help thread is not loading for me. Anybody got a direct link to it?

In the meantime, here's my question: I installed just the base game on my laptop in order to make BG compatible lots (AGS doesn't work for me...long story. I still have the game with all my EPs and SPs on a desktop). All the graphics defaulted to the highest settings, so I'm wondering is safe to turn off simple terrain? I have an integrated graphics chip. Just curious, because I intend to turn it off to take pictures whether it's safe to do so or not.

[Mootilda]

Integrated graphics chips are rarely powerful enough to warrant this. You can damage your laptop by over-stressing it.

[rellen]

Hm... let's see.

I've tried doing the tutorial while I had an old Intel integrated chipset. It wasn't a good idea.

What was happening, is that the flythroughs didn't play at all. It was very difficult for the chip to handle, so therefore it was just 'a lag' while the flythrough should've played.

Second, it was a bitch when it comes to scrolling through the neighborhood. Small dots would flash all over the hood as it would move (so therefore, 'Neighborhood Camera Drift' should never be on in my case) - and it looked like this (http://www.google.hr/imgres?um=1&hl=hr&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&biw=1366&bih=663&tbm=isch&tbnid=TBmHFie8-gkXuM:&imgrefurl=http://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/black-torn-holes-vector-696825&docid=EmAmBV9LtpPcvM&imgurl=http://www.vectorstock.com/i/composite/68,25/black-torn-holes-vector-696825.jpg&w=380&h=400&ei=vXFMUJyyCNHItAbopoHAAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1106&vpy=134&dur=6119&hovh=230&hovw=219&tx=113&ty=137&sig=103256975154349939336&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=132&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:84) - on random spots, and around 20 of them in a shot.

Then, if I've been in the hood for too long (or I've played the game for couple of hours and then exited to the hood) the grass would get all blurry. Which I believe is a sign to shut down your computer immediately if you have an integrated graphics.

---

To conclude, follow the link I gave you in my first post. If you find your graphics card there (under Yes-Yes-Yes, of course), there shouldn't be any problems. If your graphics card is not listed, feel free to ask if it's okay to run the game in the Computer & Software Help (http://modthesims.info/fd.php?f=563) forum. If you have an integrated graphics, almost everything could/should go wrong, unfortunately. ;)

ETA: Oh yes, feel free to include your specs! :) Although I might not know much about that, I'll show my best.

I don't know anything at all about graphics or how I can tell if I have integrated graphics or not But I've been playing the game with the gross grass and water on my laptop for a year now. I did the fix, and it worked, but my game crashed. This doesn't usually happen, but it has in the past and I don't know if it was a coincidence or it was because of the fix. I couldn't find my graphics card on the list at all, and I don't know how to get my computer specs. I was wondering if you could help? I would LOVE to play with smooth neighborhoods again if at all possible. But I also can't afford a new computer :p

[Mootilda]

First, find your system specs:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:System_Specs

Then, figure out which graphics card or chip you have. Then, google. I find that adding the word "integrated" to the search parameters will usually find articles which tell you whether your graphics are integrated or not. There is one family of chips which comes up over and over again on this site: if you have Intel graphics, you can be pretty sure that your computer is not up to playing the game.

If all else fails, you can post your system specs in the hardware forum to ask whether your computer is up to playing the game.

[rellen]

First, find your system specs:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:System_Specs

Then, figure out which graphics card or chip you have. Then, google. I find that adding the word "integrated" to the search parameters will usually find articles which tell you whether your graphics are integrated or not. There is one family of chips which comes up over and over again on this site: if you have Intel graphics, you can be pretty sure that your computer is not up to playing the game.

If all else fails, you can post your system specs in the hardware forum to ask whether your computer is up to playing the game.

Thank you! I am actually super dumb about computers and stuff like that, so I just posted in what was hopefully the correct forum :p

[Mootilda]

Yes, that's an Intel integrated graphics chip, which means that it's not powerful enough to play the Sims 2. More information in your thread.

[Chammalia]

Thank you so much! :rofl:

[MajinKitty230]

I'm so desperate to try this, but I'm scared my computer will do horrible things. 3:

I know what you mean! I'm afraid things will happen to mine too.

[moggy2010]

Do you need to save the notepad document?

[residenteviloutbreak]

Isnt this a video card issue?

If you have a low end card this usually happens right?

It happens on my crap graphics card laptop, but not my high end graphics desktop.

[DJ.]

Do you need to save the notepad document?
:faceslap: No Moggy, you're just going to leave it that way... Of course you need to!