Curious about spiral staircases

[catangi]

I didn't buy the Generations EP, but I did install the patch. I noticed while playing around that there is now an empty spiral staircases tab in my stairs menu.

Obviously, since I didn't buy the EP, I didn't get any of the content that came with it. But does this spiral staircases section mean that spiral staircases are supported for my game anyway (i.e. has animations and such)? If someone created a custom spiral staircase could I use it?

[tomomi1922]

Don't count on it. First, you have to wait for someone to create a custom stair case. Second, I am not too sure about this but EA would have put in some codes to prevent people to just clone their EP stuff and release without EP requirement.

But again, you might be right. I just wouldn't expect to see any custom staircase for any time soon. The staircase works great in the EP. 2x2 and stack on each other so you can make 1 column of stairs.

[catangi]

I just think it's weird that the patch would contain the spiral staircases tab if they planned to block me from ever using spiral staircases. Unless there was no way around that from a coding perspective, but I don't really know how that works.

People have created regular custom staircases, are you saying that it's unlikely they'd try to create custom spiral staircases?

[kiwi_tea]

But the premade staircases have no railings at their top and look quite unrealistic is most settings. It's hard to get them to look good. Hopefully we will some some more satisfying customs.

[Inge Jones]

Someone just needs to make a set of deco railings that fit the round hole. After all, it's only for appearances - sims never fall off edges anyway.

[kiwi_tea]

Yes, it's really just a cosmetic thing. But it does feel odd. People don't tend to have sinkholes in their floors. Especially people with toddlers (*always fences off his pools*)

[tomomi1922]

But the premade staircases have no railings at their top and look quite unrealistic is most settings. It's hard to get them to look good. Hopefully we will some some more satisfying customs.
Wait, I thought spiral staircase came with permanent railing that I can't even take off if I want to. Spiral Stair is more of a solid object than an actual stair (more flexible, and can go different height).
I just think it's weird that the patch would contain the spiral staircases tab if they planned to block me from ever using spiral staircases. Unless there was no way around that from a coding perspective, but I don't really know how that works.

People have created regular custom staircases, are you saying that it's unlikely they'd try to create custom spiral staircases?
I am not too sure if there is. However, I have never seen store content or stuff pack content being cloned and used freely. If so, someone can clone all stuff packs (without even modifying a thing beside its ID) and release for free to topple EA's money making scheme. Someone told me long ago it was not too easy to clone store items or stuff packs items like normal base game items.

[kiwi_tea]

There's a railing on the sides of the stair, but just a great big hole that doesn't match any fences up the top.

[jennaberry]

I didn't even notice the lack of railings... lol. I certainly missed having them after Sims 2, they save so much space :D I do hope modders make new ones though, I'm not too fond of either of the ones included in Generations

[kennyinbmore]

Speaking of the spiral staircase, isn't it about time for you builders out there to start building some houses with them so lazy simmers who hate building like me can download them? ;)

[el_flel]

I just think it's weird that the patch would contain the spiral staircases tab if they planned to block me from ever using spiral staircases. Unless there was no way around that from a coding perspective, but I don't really know how that works.This seems to be pretty common in Sims games. In TS2 you would get tabs for things, like jewellery, even if your game didn't have the EP that it came with.

[LaserPrecision]

Speaking of the spiral staircase, isn't it about time for you builders out there to start building some houses with them so lazy simmers who hate building like me can download them? ;)

jumpin' to buisness first thing tommorow xD

[catangi]

This seems to be pretty common in Sims games. In TS2 you would get tabs for things, like jewellery, even if your game didn't have the EP that it came with.

I never played TS2. Did they ever release buyable content for that stuff later? I would totally buy a spiral staircase if they added one to the store.

[kiwi_tea]

I love that someone clicked "Disagree" on my comment about sinkholes in homes with toddlers. I like to think whoever that was has a house filled with secret toddler traps.

[tomomi1922]

I love that someone clicked "Disagree" on my comment about sinkholes in homes with toddlers. I like to think whoever that was has a house filled with secret toddler traps.
LOL, I agree with you. There are people out there who love to "disagree". I think at one time there were 5 disagree my "I am Asian". I presume they know more than me and my family tree to prove that I am not. :lol:

No, it wasn't me to click disagree with you. :bunny: But I gotta say the idea of putting dungeon holes in homes now appear to me (those from WA), not that it has anything to do with toddlers.

[kiwi_tea]

I disagree. And I clicked as much. ^_^

I have to just say, though, that the way the stairs fit so neatly on top of each other is really awesome.

[LaserPrecision]

I disagree. And I clicked as much. ^_^

I have to just say, though, that the way the stairs fit so neatly on top of each other is really awesome.

totaly agree, il build a house with the spiral staircases later (and offcorse upload it)

[tomomi1922]

I disagree. And I clicked as much. ^_^

I have to just say, though, that the way the stairs fit so neatly on top of each other is really awesome.
Not to mention the stairs have 1x1 spot at both top and bottom that accepts entry from 2 sides of the 1x1. All my 10x10 lots are now equiped with spiral stairs.

One complaint is spiral stairs don't seem to work with apartments (that has high rise shell). The lobby has a very high wall that the stair case won't reach. This is not a big concern because stair case to "heaven" is not an ideal or appropriate implementation for those high rise apartments anyway. :rolleyes:

Between spiral stair case and elevator, which one will cause more routing problems? I still go with the elevator (causing more routing problem that is).

[kiwi_tea]

The elevator seems to have some rather major bugs, so I'd say the spiral stairs are more preferable where possible.

[el_flel]

I never played TS2. Did they ever release buyable content for that stuff later? I would totally buy a spiral staircase if they added one to the store.Well most of the stuff on the TS2 Store was content from previous EPs - hair, clothing, furniture - so if you didn't have an EP but liked a certain item then you could buy it on the Store. Features you definitely couldn't buy (like beach lots with swimmable ocean, which came with Bon Voyage), but I'm not sure whether you could have bought jewellery (which came with Bon Voyage) or spiral staircases (came with Apartment Life) etc. on the Store. You could, however, download a free driveway and car from the official site even if you didn't have Nightlife (which is the EP that introduced cars).

Patching and EP/SPs sort of worked differently in TS2. In TS3, every time an EP/SP is released every single user gets to download a patch which contains some of the basic features. That didn't happen in TS2, instead sometimes later EP/SPs included features that had been available in previous packs, like turn on/offs, and/or would change the UI so you'd get tabs for things you don't have.

[nestfilms]

I didn't buy the Generations EP, but I did install the patch. I noticed while playing around that there is now an empty spiral staircases tab in my stairs menu.

Obviously, since I didn't buy the EP, I didn't get any of the content that came with it. But does this spiral staircases section mean that spiral staircases are supported for my game anyway (i.e. has animations and such)? If someone created a custom spiral staircase could I use it?

I would suggest that the reason this tab is here and is empty is that due to the patch you have the ability to use spiral stairs, you just don't have any at present. it was the same with basements..it was the patch that gave you the ability.
I would also suggest that you may in the future be able to purchase spirals from the store and that they will work

[tomomi1922]

I would suggest that the reason this tab is here and is empty is that due to the patch you have the ability to use spiral stairs, you just don't have any at present. it was the same with basements..it was the patch that gave you the ability.
I would also suggest that you may in the future be able to purchase spirals from the store and that they will work
Elevator came with Late Night. As far as I know they are not selling any elevator on Sims Store yet, or if they do sell they may require you to have Late Night installed before letting you buy/install that content.

It is a way for EA to protect its profit. So I doubt you can get spiral stair from EA without having to buy Generations. Your only hope is custom content.

Speaking of which, I am still waiting for someone to create a custom elevator with glass (like one of default TS2 elevators). I love those elevators both in real life and in game.

[nestfilms]

Elevators are slightly different though as they are most of the time (not exclusively) used for clubs or in the high rise shells which are only available in late night. but it is a good point though. although i see them as far less useful than stairs...as i said the basements were not limited to WA.

[tomomi1922]

Elevators are slightly different though as they are most of the time (not exclusively) used for clubs or in the high rise shells which are only available in late night. but it is a good point though. although i see them as far less useful than stairs...as i said the basements were not limited to WA.
Not entirely exclusive. You can use elevators anywhere you want. Some of my micro lots (10x10) use elevators since they dwell deep underground.

About basement tool, they are of entirely different case. Correct me if I am wrong, but basement tool came with the patch along with WA, so whether you bought WA or not, you would get basement tool, free of charge. If you want to compare, basement tool is the same as body hair feature right now for Generations. Upon installing the latest patch, you get to have body hair feature (limited to male right now, and quite ugly, but that's another topic).