Data:The Sims 2 (Windows)

This page contains info on data for the game The Sims 2 (Windows).

Also applicable to The Sims Life Stories, The Sims Pet Stories, and The Sims Castaway Stories

Viewing Game Files

SimPE

The quintessential tool for viewing files for The Sims 2. It can view most any file type inside a .package or .dbpf file.

The latest "official" release is 0.75f_QA, which adds support for the (now discontinued) The Sims 2: Ultimate Collection. Prior releases only included support up to The Sims 2: Mansion & Garden Stuff.

There is an additional community-made release with 0.77.69, which also includes support for The Sims 2: Ultimate Collection, bundles several other separate community-made programs and utilities, adds support for some unofficial community-made expansion packs and add-ons, among other things.

This release also includes scantily-clad pin-up girls in several menu elements, supplementary program icons, and in the installer. So be advised.

Download Here

File Type Quick Reference

To do: There's *way* more

Listed alphabetically by full name, as per SimPE's display method.

Abberviation	Full Name	Used For?
3DIR	3D ID Referencing File	References resources in other files
ANIM	Animation Resource	Animation Data for sims and objects
BCON	Behavior Constant	Used to set values individually instead of hard-coding them in
BHAV	Behavior Function	Scripting tree for an object
BMP	Bitmap Image	Seemingly unused? Most instances have leftover assets from The Sims
CTSS	Catalogue String	Text container for names and descriptions in the Build/Buy catalog
CLST	Directory of Compressed Files	Contains a list of each file in a particular package, unlabeled, and with Group, Instance, and Instance (High) numbers
GMDC	Geometric Data Container	3D Models/Meshes, typically divided in parts called subsets
GMND	Geometric Node	Determines what particular subsets on a mesh are/can do (IE being shadows, be recolorable, or change states)
IMG	jpg/tga/png Image	UI Elements such as buttons and thumbnails
LIFO	Large Image File	Full resolution textures/images
NMAP	Name Map	Contains a list of each file in a particular package, labeled, and with Group and Instance numbers
TXMT	Material Definiton	Defines the diffuse, specularity, texture(s), etc. used for a subset on 3D Model/Mesh
OBJD	Object Data	Contains an object's GUID and determines where it appears in the Build/Buy catalog (if at all)
OBJf	Object Functions	Determines what scripting tree an object uses
CRES	Resource Node	Rigging Data for sims and objects
SHPE	Shape	Matches each subset with the "default"
TXTR	Texture Image	Textures/images, contains mipmap data
STR#	Text List	Contains strings and other text

For further reading on what exactly these resources do, please consult the following pages on ModTheSims:

• File Formats

• Information on CRES, SHPE, GMND, GMDC, TXTR, TXMT, and MMAT and how they all releate to one another

GMDC Files

The 3D Models/Meshes. SimPE's built in GMDC viewer offers the option to export as a .obj file. However the conversion process tends to "flatten" all subsets into a single object when imported into 3D modeling programs. So it is best to use plugins made specifically for importing GMDC files, there are community created plugins for both Blender and MilkShape 3D.

Blender

• Version 2.8 and up

• Version 2.79

The GMDC Plugin for Blender 2.8 is also capable of importing CRES files as well.

MilkShape 3D

• Version 1.7.8 and up

Texture Files

Divided into LIFO and TXTR files. Both use DDS compression.

LIFO files are the highest resolution textures used and are stored twice. Once with a 0_lifo, and again with 1_lifo both at the end of their respective file names. 0_lifo contains the highest resolution version, while 1_lifo has the same texture, at half the resolution of its 0_lifo counterpart.

TXTR Files contain all sizes of a singular texture excluding those that already have separate LIFO files. The lead is half the resolution of 1_lifo, and contains all sizes to a power of 2 down to 1x1 for the purposes of mipmapping.

Types of UI/ui Files via Instance

Instance Number	Graphic Type
0x00000	Early Test graphics?

File Directories

To do: You guessed it. There's more!

Note that for the basegame, the following are in TSData\Res\Sims3D, while subsequent expansion packs, stuff packs, and the Stories games are in TSData\Res\3D.

Location	Name	What's Inside?
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims00	ANIM Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims01	CINE and LGHT Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims02	TXMT Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims03	GMDC Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims04	GMND Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims05	SHPE Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims06	CRES Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims07	TXTR Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims08	LIFO Files for Adult Males and Adult Females
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims09	LIFO Files for Teen Males and Teen Females
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims10	LIFO Files for Female sims, more than one age group
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims11	LIFO Files for Male sims, more than one age group
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims12	LIFO Files for Accessories, Make-up, etc.
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Sims13	LIFO Files for Male and Female Elder, Child, Toddler, and Baby Sims.

Location	Name	What's Inside?
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Objects00	ANIM Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Objects01	LGHT Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Objects02	TXMT Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Objects03	GMDC Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Objects04	GMND Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Objects05	CRES Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Objects06	SHPE and TXTR Files
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Objects07	LIFO Files A-E
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Objects08	LIFO Files F-N
TSData\Res\Sims3D	Objects09	LIFO Files O-Z and 0-9

Neighborhood Sim IDs

Strangetown (N002)

User ID	Sim Name	Gender	Life Stage	Occupation
User00000.package	Matthew Gibson	Male	Adult	Headmaster
User00001.package	Vidcund Curious	Male	Adult	Playable Sim
User00002.package	Andrew Gongaza	Male	Adult	Headmaster
User00003.package	Olive Specter	Female	Elder	Playable Sim
User00004.package	Nervous Subject	Male	Adult	Playable Sim
User00005.package	???	Female	Elder	Deceased Sim
User00212.package	Lazlo Curious	Male	Adult	Playable Sim