A new Era for OldSunset (Patreon)

OldSunset is my life project. Over the years I've been working on ways to improve it and make it unique. I was back recently and shared an update with you all. I expressed a genuine desire to reset and give the map a new direction .

The months I was away made me realize (upon returning) that there were so many different decisions that could be made that would make OldSunset historic! We blazed so many trails with what started as a map. OldSunset has become a concept, it is no longer about a world.

All my mods were born from OldSunset to the world and I would like to provide a new birth for this project in 2024. But this time, with my identity. After all, a large part of OldSunset's initial idea was to reproduce the beta version of the Sunset Valley map, which over time evolved into a new map that housed content from all expansions and then acquired its own identity. However, the initial concept was still there and as beautiful as it was, it brought potential problems.

• When I started OldSunset, all rabbit hole lots were supposed to be open and functional

I loved the idea! It looked bright, promising and interesting! However, I combined the structures into a single lot, because I believed this would lead to better performance, but I was wrong. After all, for this to happen, the lots needed to be huge! And even though I had found a way to space out these lots, they were still all concentrated in the same region.

Which contributed to an overwhelming drop in fps. Obviously the behavior of the Sims in their respective workplaces did not coincide.

The waiters at the cafeteria were going to use the hospital computer. The department's police officers stayed in the bistro eating... It was a real mess, after all, the shared environments had nothing to do with each other in professional terms.

I did a survey and the majority preferred that I make them rabit holes to contribute to performance and avoid problems with non-coherent behavior.

But, I'm confident that I can solve both of these problems in one fell swoop!

A NEW ERA

If you pay attention, you will see that at the beginning of each year, "New Year's Resolutions" lead us to new beginnings and progress.

And we are in this new opportunity once again. I know there are a lot of creators out there who often say things like, "Would you rather have something perfect or something done?" I've already said that myself. However, OldSunset is the world I created to play in for the rest of my life. And if I dont like, it doesn't make sense. It is not a world that I started to abandon soon after finishing.

So what are my strategies, ideas and what am I currently putting effort into?

In my most recent experience with tiny worlds I had a brilliant and I believe that By combining several small lots of 20x15 (and smaller sizes) I can build each commercial building separately.

In other words: Better performance, and fuller, more coherent work environments

Let me show:

Previously, a clothing store, cinema and commercial building were part of a single lot, measuring 30x45. Same for the bistro, grocery store, bookstore, and police department across the street. Between these two lots was the city hall occupying a 40x64 space and just ahead the 54x56 square and on the other side of the street, the hospital in a 54x30 lot.

EVEN empty, these lots took time to render because I love adding external details to make them as similar to rabbit holes as possible.

Now, I did a different job.

These are 3 lots. 20x15 and 20x14. And if you have a good eye, you will notice that there is another quality lurking: ENLIGHTENMENT!

Because in this fresh start I am reviewing the individual lighting of each batch in real time, to ensure THE BEST result within what is possible within The Sims 3

After all, nightlife is also part of this game. And going out around the neighborhood at night, with the ts3's buggy lighting, is not something that engages or excites me. Until now!

That said, I'm starting over. And this is not a letter asking for permission or asking if you agree with the idea (although I initially thought of doing that as a request). I am confident enough to believe that I can put on a new outfit and offer a cutting-edge experience with focus, willingness and putting my heart into it, as I have always done before. Now, why am I changing the architectural style you may wonder?

There is a charm to Simsville (which is where the inspiration for the new cinema came from) and other old maxis games. Its buildings somehow seem timeless and evoke a 1950s charm, how people imagined the future would be. For some reason, this aesthetic brings me comfort, makes me feel hugged and cozy. And OldSunset became such a huge map that I just felt like everything seemed so spread out. The arrangement of the trees, the way the lots were built... I just felt alone in the city.

Since it was my desire to rebuild the charming atmosphere of ts1/ts2 with the concept of neighborhood, I knew I needed to make different decisions to build the environment and atmosphere that would bring me back to that environment.

Remember, it is an ongoing process, so a lot must still change, however, the new layout of plants and lots makes the city much more reminiscent of a welcoming, small neighborhood, in which all the sims know each other, at the same time. instead of a huge city that separates neighbors from each other.

By replacing huge lots with small lots, I am also striving to make better use of space.

The new layout and size of the lots not only guarantees better performance, but also brings the map closer to a familiar and lively concept. I love technology, but I prefer to see my sims living in an environment/time where technology didn't keep them away.

Starting over allows me to explore learnings I've acquired over the years and incorporate them in a simpler and more elegant way into the map.

As I said before, going out at night wasn't particularly appealing to me. But, I think that's about to change!

Note: I haven't yet decided whether the town hall will be like this, I'm testing new ideas. So if you have any suggestions feel free to share them xD

Check out how other environments are with the new lighting system I'm implementing on the map

What will happen to everything we have done so far? Will it be lost?

No. I will make the latest version (December 2023) public for everyone who wants to explore, discover and play in OldSunset. And while everyone has the opportunity to place their own families/sims on this map, we will continue to work from this new version finding all the ways and means to make it superior in every aspect to the work I've done so far.

And remember, when I say superior, what I'm saying is: a neighborhood that reflects every little concept that inspired me to start. I believe it can happen, I've seen what we can do and I know that in time, if you're not confident in my current decision, you'll see that it was worth it. What do you think of the idea after all this? Tell me here in the comments, I’ll be happy to find out!