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

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

Many of the prototype objects were not included in the final product, or were to a notably large extent enhanced. Aside from stylistic decisions, these objects possess several shared traits that distinguish them from the final objects — in fact, it's a safe bet to assume that such traits are one of the key reasons why these objects were ultimately scrapped, to begin with.

• Sprites are not antialiased, therefore missing smooth edges.
• The dynamic object shadowcasting effect wasn't yet introduced. Yet, many objects (phone, Computer...) have an intense pre-rendered lighting that causes visual conflicts between rotated objects of the same kind, thus looking unsatisfactory.
• Counters and stoves are taller in design, resembling more on how they appear in later mainline Sims games.
• Objects are stuck onto the counters, rather than being separate.
• Oddly, most objects sport unique pre-rendered graphics per rotation and zoom slots (even the symmetrical ones). Again, this highly contributed to lighting/shading discrepancies between rotated objects (the computer and dining chair being two of the most blatant cases); this also proved to be inconvenient for disk space saving purposes. The rendering method in the final product avoids this by placing, for most items, flipped dupes of existing sprites to fill the missing half of rotation/zoom slots in draw group ids whenever necessary and possible. Even so, a number of objects in this prototype feature such rendering convention already, such as FridgeEx and TvSmall.
• This prototype has a small sample of an old experiment associated with the implementation of diagonal objects (duck), containing draw group ids that support eight 45º sprite rotation indexes, being the only known object in the entire game that has such trait.

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 (coffee table, beds...) 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. tub1, 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 (e.g. House Plant) — whereas an "indirect" equivalent has different GUIDs but is functionally and visually akin to an object of same kind available in the final product (e.g. Refrigerator).

• Comments about specific draw group ids of an object can be written on their respective Notes row.

aquarium1#

bed3#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of the "Napoleon Sleigh Bed" as both objects share a common GUID: 82E04C5B.

bedex#

bedstandex#

BookShelf#

chair2#

coffeetable1#

Computer#

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

Counter#

counterex1#

counterex2#

cursors#

DishW#

door#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of "Federal Lattice Window Door" as both objects share a common GUID: 000001CA.

DresserEx#

Duck#

Found in the prototypes' object directory, however does not appear in the Buy Mode catalog. It's actually a clone of a homonymous object that was originally featured in unspecified prototypes that were compiled before the Steering Committee demo in mid 1998, hence the unfitting catalog name and description. It would reappear in a later prototype in its original duck form, yet still unused.

An oddity 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 objects that could be placed diagonally.

Easel#

endtable1#

flamingo#

floorlamp1#

floorlampex#

foodproc#

fountain2#

Like the Duck that isn't a duck, this object's sprite and code data are hidden in the Objects directory across all known prototypes. However, the object itself 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.

FridgeEx#

HighShrub1#

houseplant#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of "Rubber Tree Plant" as both objects share a common GUID: 9AE018BB.

LowShrub1#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of "Boxwood Hedge" as both objects share a common GUID: BB83A08A.

MealSnack#

microwave#

mirrorex#

NewChair#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of the "Parisienne Dining Chair" as both objects share a common GUID: D97681DB.

NewFridge#

paint1#

paintingex#

phone1#

puddle1#

Found in the prototype's object directory, however it does not show up in the game. 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!

shower1#

Sink#

sinkex#

sofa1#

SofaMod#

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

stereo1#

stove#

stoveex#

table#

toilet1#

trash1#

tree1#

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.

Tree2#

tub1#

tv1#

tvlarge#

TvSmall#

window#

This object is a direct prototype equivalent of the "Single-Hung Window" as both objects share a common GUID: 2256BA70.

Other#

Placeholder Graphic#

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

• CoffeeM
• Exercise
• Flower1
• Fountain
• Paint2
• Pinball

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

References

References#