You'll find that the older entries are much shorter and of a different style than the more recent ones. My entries used to be pure game play but as Sullivan went on, I moved more towards the storytelling side of things, which I think was a move for the better. It's a pretty healthy mix of game play and storytelling now. If there was a specific point where this shift happened, I'd link you to that and advise you to start reading there. But it was a very gradual change. I can only say I don't cringe as much at my updates past about Round 16 or 17!
The quickest way to start reading is to just jump in from the latest entry. I try to write each entry in such a way that it would be relatively easy for someone to pick up who everyone is and what's happening without having read every single entry preceding it. Each entry has a tag for each sim featured, by first name. Within the entries themselves, I often link back to certain events that have happened in previous updates.
The quickest way to start reading is to just jump in from the latest entry. I try to write each entry in such a way that it would be relatively easy for someone to pick up who everyone is and what's happening without having read every single entry preceding it. Each entry has a tag for each sim featured, by first name. Within the entries themselves, I often link back to certain events that have happened in previous updates.
If you want to go through and read every single entry, I'm impressed because that's quite an undertaking! This is where you'd want to start - everything before that is either a Sim profile, or an informational post which is linked to in the sidebar anyway.
If you do choose to start reading from the beginning, or from any point in the past, you should be aware that reading the profiles can mean spoilers! Not huge spoilers, mind you. But you may find out that two Sims who are dating at the point you're at end up breaking up, or that a young, healthy Sim meets an unexpected end in a fire or a car crash. I haven't really found a way around this and I know that the profiles are useful for readers who are up to date (and even for me!), as well as readers who are just starting out, so all I can do is give you fair warning!
I don't mind where or how you start off reading - I'm just happy to have you here. :) Please feel free to leave comments on older posts as well as the more recent ones, if you have something to add or ask, or even just to say hello. I love hearing from readers!
From time to time, I make things for my game and share them here at the blog. You can see the things I've shared in the past here. I do not take requests (not nearly talented enough for that anyway!) and I don't share my Sims. I used to do the latter, once upon a time, but I'm a lot more attached to them these days and don't really like the thought of them wandering around in other people's games.
Outside of this blog, there are a few places you can follow me:
Twitter (where I babble about both real life and Sim stuff)
Pinterest (where I've just started to catalog my Sims downloads)
Tumblr (where I'll be posting outtakes, favourite pics and other Sullivan randomness)
Any questions? Just ask!
Hi Carla! I have a quick question about the N99 forums actually. I've seen a lot of people participate in it, and I wanted to join it. But when I apply for membership, it says I have to be the owner's friend in order to apply. But I cannot figure out how to friend the owner. Any idea how I go about joining the forum? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMandie, hmmm, I just made a dummy account and tried to apply and I got a box to type in a message to board admin (all Barb wants there is to know how you found about N99).
ReplyDeleteWhen I click "Apply For Membership", I get this message:
You have now applied to "Neighborhood 99" however, the community Administrator has not yet approved your application.
Communities can have 'membership by approval' to control who can join. Kind of like a private club. When the Administrator of this community has decided to approve or not approve your application, you will receive a message in your Yuku inbox.
Is that what you're getting? That's normal. It just sometimes takes Barb a couple of days to approve it. If you want to give me your username though, I can probably ask her to speed it along. :)
Yeah, I get that message, but then in my inbox I get a message that says "Delivery Failed" with a little blurb about not being able to send a message because she only accepts messages from friends...
ReplyDeleteSo I think I can't apply until I'm her friend, but I can't figure out to friend her either because that requires me to send her a message! Lol.
Okay, I just talked to Barb. When you get that message, it doesn't mean that she hasn't got notification of your application. She also told me she's going to fix it up so that new members won't receive that message any more.
ReplyDeleteIf you still can't get into the forum in a couple of days or so, let me know what username you're trying to apply under and I'll have Barb look at it for you. :)
Oh thank you Carla!! You're the best!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I hope you're all sorted out now. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing city you've built up! I've looked at mostly your informational posts now & can't wait to start reading your story.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope you enjoy reading the story bits now - feel free to skip ahead, because it was a good while before I found my feet with it.
DeleteThank you, that's such an honour! I'll be over to read your post when I can and put up my own soon after. :)
ReplyDelete