Installing mods and CC for The Sims 1 is actually pretty easy. The hard part is knowing which files go where. Depending on the type of content you’re downloading, you have to put the files in a different place.
The Sims 3 sold 1.4 million copies in the first week, making it the largest release in PC gaming history at the time. The Sims 3 is set 25 years before the Sims 1. For example, the Goth family is much younger, and Bella Goth, an adult in the first game, is a child and is named Bella Bachelor. Get Cool Stuff: Objects. These are most of the objects that appeared at “Get Cool Stuff” when the Sims 1 site was first live. Before downloading, please pay very attention to the notes about compatibility, as some objects were designed to work only with specific objects. We're going back, back to The Sims 1 to experience a real challenge. Just surviving isn't easy! Visit my website for my Twitter, Twitch, other channels, spe. Though this pack does not include magic, fame, nor the ability to take vacations as other Expansion Packs in this list do, this pack earned the top spot on this list without the need of fancy additional features. This was the first Expansion Pack in the Sims series.
The Sims 1 Complete Collection
All mods and CC for The Sims 1 go into the Program Files, not your Documents like in later Sims games. When you poke around in the Program Files, you’re poking around in the game’s installation files, so if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can mess things up pretty bad.
The Sims 1 Release Date
But don’t worry! As long as you’re following this tutorial to the letter, you shouldn’t need to feel scared of modding your game.
For most people, the location of The Sims 1 Downloads folder should be:
C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsDownloads
If you have installed The Sims to a custom location on your computer and don’t remember where that was, simply right-click the desktop shortcut to The Sims and go to Properties > Find Target. You can find the file path to the game files there.
The good news? Installing mods and CC is as simple as dropping the files into the right folder. The bad news? The right folder is different depending on what kind of CC and mods you’re downloading.
Objects
Custom objects will have the file type .IFF or .FAR. If you have an .IFF or .FAR file, it goes here:
C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsDownloads
NOTE: You can organize your custom objects using subfolders. Even though there’s no limit to the number of subfolders you can have if you own every expansion, I still recommend not going more than one or two subfolders deep. No one wants to go hunting through a labyrinth to find what they need.
Bodies and Heads
Bodies and Heads are basically custom skins and faces for the game. They will have the file types .BMP, .CMX, and .SKN. If you have custom bodies and/or heads with those file extensions, they go here:
C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsGameDataSkins
NOTE: Bodies and heads cannot be placed in subfolders. The game will not read any custom body/head files in subfolders, so make sure they go directly in the Skins folder
Walls
Custom walls will have the file type .WLL. If you have a .WLL file, it goes here:
C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsGameDataWalls
NOTE:You can organize your custom walls using subfolders. Even though there’s no limit to the number of subfolders you can have if you own every expansion, I still recommend not going more than one or two subfolders deep. No one wants to go hunting through a labyrinth to find what they need.
Floors
Custom floors will have the file type .FLR. If you have an .FLR file, it goes here:
C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsGameDataFloors
NOTE: You can organize your custom floors using subfolders. Even though there’s no limit to the number of subfolders you can have if you own every expansion, I still recommend not going more than one or two subfolders deep. No one wants to go hunting through a labyrinth to find what they need.
Roofs
Custom roofs will have the file type .BMP. If you have a .BMP file, it goes here:
C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsGameDataRoofs
NOTE: Roof files cannot be placed in subfolders. The game will not read any custom roof files in subfolders, so make sure they go directly in the Roofs folder
Lots
Installing lots can be a tad tricky, but once you understand the folder system, it’s really not that hard. Downloaded lots will be .IFF files. You’ll need to place the .IFF files in the Houses folder located in the UserData folder for the neighbourhood you want to put the lot in.
The UserData folders are numbered and correspond to the different neighbourhoods in the game:
- UserData – Neighborhood 1
- UserData2 – Neighborhood 2
- UserData3 – Neighborhood 3
- UserData4 – Neighborhood 4
- UserData5 – Neighborhood 5
- UserData6 – Neighborhood 6
- UserData7 – Neighborhood 7
- UserData8 – Neighborhood 8
So depending on which neighbourhood you want to put your custom lots in, the .IFF files can go in any one of these folders:
- C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsUserDataHouses
- C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsUserData1Houses
- C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsUserData2Houses
- C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsUserData3Houses
- C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsUserData4Houses
- C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsUserData5Houses
- C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsUserData6Houses
- C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsUserData7Houses
- C:Program Files (x86)MaxisThe SimsUserData8Houses
NOTE: When you install a custom lot in one of these folders, you will be asked if you want to overwrite an existing file in the folder. Make sure you backup the folders listed above by copying them and pasting them in another safe location on your computer before you do this. That way, you can always restore the original lots if you ever need to.
And there you have it! Now you know where to put all your mods and CC for The Sims 1!
The Sims 1 Ds
If you’re struggling to find some good mods and CC for The Sims 1, check out my Resources page.