This is a sub-page of Proto:The Sims (Windows)/The Sims (Alpha).

As with the final build of The Sims, IFF files are used to store all the information relative to objects in the prototype, including tree code, name, description and graphics ¹. Conflicts in how the different resources are organized in both the early and final object files — for example, the former's utilization of the deprecated resources CATS and POSI (early versions of CTSS and TREE, respectively) appears to keep the prototype objects from being natively compatible with later releases of the game.

General Info

Throughout the 6 months that set this prototype build apart from the earliest known prototype of the game, it's been observed that a significant number of objects have been graphically and functionally enhanced since their previous iterations, whilst others remained unmodified bar their catalog names and descriptions.

• In this build, catalog texts follow a convention where objects are almost strictly described off a "gameplay tip" bias when in the final product humorous sales jargons are much more prominently used (See: Translation Notes/Buy Mode). CounterKitC is a sample that epitomizes this well. This would be carried over from February 1999 builds known to date until, approximately, late 1999 builds.
• This build marks the first known instance where newly added sprites received antialiasing treatment, thus presenting smooth edges. A common trait of these is that they are stored as SPR2 resources rather than the previously used SPR#.
  • BedDubX figures a rare exception as an object that has been built sometime after the compilation of the 1998 prototype, yet its sprites follow the legacy sprite rendering conventions off that period, edge smoothing free.
  • The smoothing process was not applied to objects whose graphics have not been modified since the 1998 demo (bar the unused LampFloorX, curiously).
• The dynamic object shadowcasting effect wasn't yet introduced. This prototype is quite possibly the very last build of the game without said effect, given the fact that known pre-release builds compiled in a close date as the current prototype had it already.
• In spite of the increased visual similarity between the appearance of the counters and stoves in this prototype versus their final iterations, they are still taller in design, thus resembling more on how they appear in later mainline Sims games.
• Like the 1998 demo, the majority of the objects are still stuck onto the counters, rather than being separate (microwave and SinkKitC, for example) . However, a few available appliances in this prototype indicate that, from then on, there has been an interest in developing said objects apart from their respective intended surfaces, increasing their usage potential (StoveToastOven, CoffeeEsp...)

Object List

For illustrative purposes, this subarticle aims to document the complete set of objects that can be found in the prototype exclusively biased towards their CATS (early catalog strings) and DGRP (resource that specifies the arrangement of sprites for a single tile of an object in different zooms and rotations) ids.

• While object files contain three different zoom levels for both color and Z sprite channels, this documentation only includes the closest zoom of color sprites, as they are the clearest object renditions available in the game.
• Multitile objects (e.g. BedDubX, DresserEx...) will be listed with their draw group tiles grouped to emulate their in-game appearance, as long as that they depict the same graphical state.
• Some objects feature graphical states that evoke the illusion of moving images when not in direct contact with a Sim (e.g. Duck, aquarium...). They will be here documented as animated GIFs whose frame speed does not necessarily emulate their in-game tick intervals.
• A comparison between the graphics and their direct/indirect equivalents in the final product will be available. A "direct" equivalent is here defined as an object in the prototype that shares the same Globally Unique ID (GUID) number as its final rendition (e.g. Computer) — even in spite of their obvious visual discrepancies — whereas an "indirect" equivalent has different GUIDs but is functionally and visually akin to an object of same kind available in the final product.
• Comments about specific draw group ids of an object can be written on their respective Notes row.

aquarium1#

BBQ#

BedDubM#

BedDubX#

This unnamed bed can be found in the prototype's object directory, however does not show up in the catalog. It does not appear to have been finished, as all the draw group ids visually depict the object in default ("made") state.

In spite of the fact that this object was not included in the final product, it's a direct equivalent of another prototype item that predated it — the "Definitely not a snoozer" double bed, exclusively located in the Steering Committee demo — given that both objects share a common GUID: B12B1D5F.

BookShelfM#

chairdinm#

ChairDinV#

This object's iteration directly succeeds that of an earlier "Kitchen Chair", originally and only featured in the Steering Committee demo.

ChairDinX#

This object's graphics reached their final iterations at this point.

ChairLivC#

This object's iteration directly succeeds that of an earlier "Never has wicker looked so good", originally and only featured in the Steering Committee demo; they both share a common GUID: 82E0F146.

Notably, data associated with the graphics of this object still can be found in the final product as old leftovers, albeit with its apropriate palette data missing.

ChairLivM#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of the "Country Class Armchair" as both objects share a common GUID: F79A89C2.

ChairOff#

This object's graphics reached their final iterations at this point.

CoffeeEsp#

CoffeeM#

Column1#

This object's graphics reached their final iterations at this point.

Computer#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of "Microscotch Covetta Q628-1500JA" computer as both objects share a common GUID: 835BA084.

CounterKitC#

CounterKitX#

Originally known as "Barcelona Handcrafted Counter" in the Steering Committee demo, it's of note that the object, in the final product, retained its earliest known iteration's catalog name other than somewhat keeping up with the version that came directly before it.

cursors#

DishwC#

door1#

Door2#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of the "Maple Door Frame" as both objects share a common GUID: 2ACA7211.

DresserEx#

Found in the prototype's object directory, however does not appear in the Buy Mode catalog. It was, however, previously used in the Steering Committee demo as a decorative dresser.

Duck#

Its first proved existence in a prototype's file list is in the Steering Committee demo as an unused object clone (in that case, repurposed as an early experimentation with objects that could be rotated to eight different directions instead of four, strangely enough), indicating here that Duck is earlier than the Steering Committee demo itself, being intermittently featured in subsequent prototypes.

That being said, Duck does make a comeback in the current prototype, even if it does not actually show up in the catalog. Unlike the "duck" object in the 1998 demo, it appears to manifest itself in the same form as its unknown first occurrence: A virtual pet of sorts. Its visual representation in the game is made out of the same game sprites as the Secretarybird off the game SimSafari (possibly as placeholders), which looks rather uncanny amid the much more realistic environment of The Sims, even at this point in development.

When placed onto the world, the object moves around randomly, which is an unusual behavior for a non environmental Buy Mode item. There are available interactions for petting and feeding it — the active Sim will always report missing animation files when doing so. Another rare characteristic about the object is that it has dedicated draw group frame slots for diagonal sprites (N, E, S, W facing graphics), indicating a temporary interest among developers in implementing Buy Mode items that could be placed diagonally.

Duck is mentioned in various The Sims design documents. A February 2000 (long after Duck had been deprecated) document cites it as the only object in the entire game that has additional sprite rows that enables its diagonal graphic frame slots². In another design document with a preliminary list of objects, Duck is mentioned as an "Outside" object³ that can not be picked up by the player⁴.

Easel#

Fire#

This object's graphics reached their final iterations at this point.

flamingo#

flood#

Enhanced in the final game as an object that dynamically connects to floods of same kind on adjacent tiles and a set of new directional graphics that are called to accommodate for such changes.

FlowerDaff#

An interesting note about this object's draw group resources is that its final iteration, in actuality, has twice more unique rotational sprite indexes than its prototype version. In most cases, the finalized objects (of bilateral symmetry) use horizontally flipped duplicates for half of their sprites, likely to save disk space.

FlowerWild#

foodproc#

Fountain#

fountain2#

This object does not appear in the Buy Mode catalog or in any pre-made houses of the builds. Its "Last Modified" date suggests that the object was first (and last) used in early 1998 builds, making it one of the oldest known The Sims objects. It references "skill" strings that call animations which, interestingly, still exist in the final product, albeit unused; in these animations, Sims bend down to play with the fountain’s water.

FridgeC#

FridgeM#

HotTub#

LampFloorM#

LampFloorX#

Found in the prototype's object directory, however does not appear in the Buy Mode catalog. It was, however, previously used in the Steering Committee demo as a functional lamp.

Notably, it was given an antialiasing effect since it was featured in previous prototypes, even though it still uses the same design as the 1998 build's. Given this fact, plus the file's "last modified" date, it is possible that it might have been the first object with antialiased sprites added up to the game; a technical e-mail extracted off a design document reinforces this idea, where the object's sprites are referenced as an evident early edge smoothing use, as well as its effects in general performance⁵.

lampgarden#

This object's graphics reached their final iterations at this point.

MealSnack#

The barbecue graphics are special in that the earlier sprite resources only contain one unique rotational sprite, whereas there are different renditions for each one of the four available directions in the final product.

microwave#

MirrorM#

Found in the prototype's object directory, however does not appear in the Buy Mode catalog. It was, however, previously used in the Steering Committee demo as a decorative mirror.

OldTree#

Found in the prototype's object directory, however does not appear in the Build Mode catalog. It was, however, previously used in the Steering Committee demo. Interestingly, this tree has other seasonal graphics, compared to other trees in the final. Autumnal and leafless trees would be introduced in Makin' Magic, while seasonal-changing trees would not be a thing until The Sims 2: Seasons.

PaintingC1#

Also referenced in design documents as "Velvet Elvis"⁶, which is possibly the catalog name of the object in later prototypes.

PaintingM1#

Found in the prototype's object directory, however does not appear in the Buy Mode catalog. It was, however, previously used in the Steering Committee demo.

PaintingV1#

PaintingX1#

Found in the prototype's object directory, however does not appear in the Buy Mode catalog. It was, however, previously used in the Steering Committee demo.

phone1#

PlantFloorRub#

Visually represented in almost exactly the same way as the final object, except it flips horizontally when rotated.

PoolTable#

puddle1#

Found in the prototype's object directory, however it does not show up in the game. Same applies to the previously compiled Steering Committee prototype. Among all objects in the game, its "Last Modified" metadata is the oldest and very likely indicates a previous design choice in making the bladder accident in the game to be far more realistic than the generic flood representation that eventually took its place!

ShowerC#

ShrubHedgeHigh1#

Found in the prototype's object directory, however does not appear in the Build Mode catalog. It was, however, previously used in the Steering Committee demo.

ShrubHedgeLow1#

SinkKitC#

SinkKitX#

SofaC#

SofaDGard#

SofaM#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of "The Deiter" sofa as both objects share a common GUID: 0FBB8BF8.

stair#

Interestingly, this one has a scrapped elevator feature, which would not appear until The Sims 2: Open For Business.

StereoM#

StoveC#

StoveToastOven#

StoveX#

Table#

This table can be found in the prototype's object directory, however does not show up in the catalog. It was, however, previously used in the Steering Committee demo.

TableCofM#

TableDinV#

TableEndM#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of the "Anywhere" end table as both objects share a common GUID: 99E0A9B1.

TableEndX#

Found in the prototype's object directory, however does not appear in the Buy Mode catalog. It was, however, previously used in the Steering Committee demo as an expensive nightstand.

trash1#

TrashOutside#

trashpile#

TreeApp#

TreePin#

This unnamed tree can be found in the prototype's object directory, however does not show up in the catalog. It was, however, previously used in the Steering Committee demo as one of the two available trees to plant.

TubC#

TvC#

TvM#

TvX#

Window1#

window2#

Other

Placeholder Graphic#

Some objects have unfinished code and stub sprites picturing an early column.

DGRP (draw group)
Frame
style=";width: 10%|8 (NE)

References

References#