smagazine issue 7
DESCRIPTION
Ready for SummerTRANSCRIPT
T O S M A G A Z I N E I S S U E 7
EDITOR’S WELCOME CONTENTS
Summer is here—at last! We’re celebrat-
ing the new heat and happiness (unless
you live in England) with a summer
themed issue this time around. So grab
your shades and some sun cream—there’s
some hot houses in here! Sorry, terrible
joke.
We’re talking to DutchSims3Master about
his builds and his new world in this issue.
We’re also welcoming Will (or
@WillSims64) onto the team as a builder
for some of our summery creations. If
you’re looking for a resort, a beach house
or anything else, you’ll find it in this issue.
Also, apologies for this issue being shorter
than usual. I’ve had some personal battles
to fight.
I hope you’ll enjoy the issue!
GEORGE B Editor
04 ASK DAN: THE RETURN
12 BLUE PALMS 1 BY ALEX
Key to
Icons
Staff Build
Editor’s
Favourite
Download
22 SIDETRACKED FOR A SECOND
24 TROPICANA 30 BY DUTCHSIMS3MASTER
32 DUTCHSIMS3MASTER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
40 UPLIFTED HIGHTS BY GWTREAVER (COVER CREATION)
50 AROUND THE WORLD: ALPINE COUNTY
52 EMERALD BY RAY_SIMS
62 ROOM STYLES 101
66 THE WAVE BY WILL
74 TUTORIAL: CREATING A CUSTOM NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE SIMS 2
78 JESS BY AYYUFF
90 FROM THE DESK OF GEORGE
T O S M A G A Z I N E I S S U E 7
ABOUT CONTENTS
CONTACT US
Twitter: @smagazineofcl
Facebook: SMagazine
YouTube: SMagazine
Visit smagazineofficial.co.uk
STAFF
Zeeanna - writer
Miamii - writer
Alex - writer
Will - builder
George B - editor-in-chief
ASK DAN: THE RETURN
BLUE PALMS 1 BY ALEX
SIDETRACKED FOR A SECOND
TROPICANA 30 BY DUTCHSIMS3MASTER
DUTCHSIMS3MASTER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
UPLIFTED HIGHTS BY GWTREAVER (COVER CREATION)
AROUND THE WORLD: ALPINE COUNTY
EMERALD BY RAY_SIMS
ROOM STYLES 101
THE WAVE BY WILL
TUTORIAL: CREATING A CUSTOM NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE SIMS 2
JESS BY AYYUFF
FROM THE DESK OF GEORGE
Dear Dan,
My son moved away to university last
month and we need to redecorate his
room—I turn into a nervous wreck
every time I walk past his door (I’m a
softie, ok?). My wife needs a study to
work in, but we need to keep the
room available for when we have
guests, or when we have my son back
home during the holidays. I also don’t
want to completely tear apart his
room. I want to keep little things of
his there so he knows we’ve not for-
gotten him, like his old teddy bear.
Goodness knows why he left it here
(he slept with it until he left!), I guess
teddy bears aren’t cool any more.
- Distraught Dad
- 04 -
Ask Dan
Distraught Dad,
Firstly, congratulations to
your son for starting this
new chapter in his life!
These next few years will
be some of the best in his
life. Try not to worry, ok?
We’ve taken his old room
and made it into a contem-
porary study for you and
your wife, without com-
pletely obliterating his
room. By using simple ma-
terials and things you can
find in your local home-
wares store, we’ve man-
aged to refurbish this room
well under budget—so
you’ll only have to worry
about student loans for
now!
We started by putting up a
small divider, splitting the
end wall into two—a side
for a desk and a side for the
end of a bed. We’ve - 05 -
smagazineofficial.co.uk BEFORE
taken a simple shelf, and
turned that into your wife’s
desk. It’s sturdy and cheap,
so you’ve got a win-win sit-
uation here. Your wife can
keep her laptop up here, as
well as her magazine collec-
tion (hopefully I’ll be up
there!) and her new
calendar we got her so she
can co-ordinate all of her
business dates. You told us
she’s a very busy woman!
As my parents kept remind-
ing me when I went off to
college, you’ll want to keep
reminders of your son.
We’ve put his favourite ted-
dy bear underneath the
desk, as well as leaving all of
his old concert posters up
on the wall. His easel is still
there, as well as his signed
football!
So your son has a place to
sleep that isn’t the sofa
when he comes to visit you, - 06 -
Ask Dan
POWER WORK This
simple shelf works
great as a sturdy desk,
as long as you don’t
mind sitting on a stool.
AFTER
we’ve put a bed in as well.
Down at the end of the bed,
there’s a bookshelf with all
of his old childhood books
on, as well as some of your
wife’s books too. We’ve put
some of yours in too, so
you’ve not been completely
left out of this!
We’ve left the exposed
brickwork of your son’s old
room on one end of the
room, but painted the rest
of the room white. This
brickwork acts as a ‘feature
wall’, except it was much
cheaper for us to install
than painting it some bright
colour.
Hopefully you’ll like what
my team and I have done to
your son’s old room. and
he’ll enjoy his college years.
All the best!
- Dan
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smagazineofficial.co.uk
PLACE TO STAY
There’s a comfy bed
for your son and any
guests to sleep in dur-
ing their stay.
- 08 -
Ask Dan
- 09 -
smagazineofficial.co.uk
The Sunset Valley Town
Council asked us last month
to help them turn an old
farmhouse into a vibrant
place for the town’s families
and farmers to meet in.
What better way to do that
than with a Farmer’s Mar-
ket? Situated on the
top of a hill, the Market of-
fers amazing views, which
was something we took ad-
vantage of. We took the old
farmhouse and gutted it,
giving us a clean slate to
work with. Visitors can take
advantage of open gardens,
and anyone can harvest
things so long as they plant
some seeds of their own.
Hopefully we’ll have a huge
garden soon!
Inside the farm house,
guests can enjoy a small lit-
tle tea room, which we’ve
named the Ivy Tea Room,
owing to the ivy climbing - 10 -
Ask Dan
NEED SOME HELP FROM DAN? E-MAIL HIM AT [email protected]
the back wall of the farm-
house. Inside, not only can
guests enjoy a warm cup of
tea and a sandwich, but
they can also produce their
own jams using one of the
two machines in the small
kitchen for absolutely free.
Inside the Competition
Marquee, guests can take
part in a variety of activi-
ties, although we’ve got an
eating contest up and run-
ning at the moment..
Outside again, and there’s a
small market area just out-
side the farmhouse. Farm-
ers can bring their stands
and produce every Thurs-
day and Sunday to sell it,
with no need for a permit or
a stall fee.
The Famer’s Market opens
September 2, so get down
there and meet Dan at the
grand opening ceremony!
- 11 -
smagazineofficial.co.uk smagazineofficial.co.uk
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Feature
Built upon Isla Paradiso's oldest resort, Hobart's Hideaway, this fun and new tropical resort with Spa and Luxury rooms is tr
perfect! With a wedding area on the beach fit for a king and queen, to the fully equipped Gym and buffet cooked by only Simna-
tion's finest chefs, you will easily enjoy your stay in style and comfort! The large pool and swim up bar are also the icing
cake, with views out into the ocean and surrounding islands! In the evening, enjoy live music in the exclusive upstairs bar o
sports in our Sports bar!
lot and words by Alex // layout by George
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smagazineofficial.co.uk
Built upon Isla Paradiso's oldest resort, Hobart's Hideaway, this fun and new tropical resort with Spa and Luxury rooms is truly
perfect! With a wedding area on the beach fit for a king and queen, to the fully equipped Gym and buffet cooked by only Simna-
tion's finest chefs, you will easily enjoy your stay in style and comfort! The large pool and swim up bar are also the icing on the
cake, with views out into the ocean and surrounding islands! In the evening, enjoy live music in the exclusive upstairs bar or live
sports in our Sports bar!
- 14 -
Feature
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WATCHING OVER The traditional
lookout tower at the top gives the
resort a traditional seaside vibe by
keeping key elements of traditional
maritime architecture.
- 16 -
Feature
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HOW NICE The use of
baby blue and white to-
gether creates a laid-
back, light feel to the
resort.
- 18 -
Feature
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KINDA CASUAL By keeping
tables and chairs in small
groups, it creates a casual
vibe, and that’s what holidays
are all about, after all!
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Download
- 22 -
Sidetracked for a Second
SIDETRACKED
SECONDfor
a At some time or another,
everyone has wondered
what it’s like to be up in the
cockpit with the pilots. It
seems like an impossible
dream nowadays; security
rules ban people from going
into the cockpit (for good
reason) and it takes years of
training to become a pilot.
But what if that went out of
the window and you had the
chance to be in the pilot
shoes?
Microsoft Flight Simulator X
or (FSX as it
words and layout by george
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smagazineofficial.co.uk
SIDETRACKED
SECOND for
a MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR
At some time or another,
everyone has wondered
what it’s like to be up in the
cockpit with the pilots. It
seems like an impossible
dream nowadays; security
rules ban people from going
into the cockpit (for good
reason) and it takes years of
training to become a pilot.
But what if that went out of
the window and you had the
chance to be in the pilot’s
shoes?
Microsoft Flight Simulator X
or (FSX as it’s commonly
called) is a fully-featured
flight simulator, which is
made for everyone from
qualified pilots to people
looking for something fun to
try on a Sunday afternoon.
Pick any aircraft, any route
and any time of day, and off
you go. It’s an accurate
simulation of what it’s like in
the cockpit, so it’s a good
idea to try the tutorials first!
I first started playing this
game years ago, but it ended
up on my shelf collecting
dust. When I loaded it back
up, I was instantly hooked.
The amount of detail is
insane; you can even talk to
air traffic control if you want
to. There’s a burning passion
to perfect everything—your
take-offs, your landings (I
have yet to grasp either). Or,
if you want a more casual
experience, hop into the
cockpit and switch on auto-
pilot, and admire the views.
The amount of detail is
amazing. I would be more
than happy to recommend
the game to anyone.
words and layout by george
- 24 -
Feature
Editor
Favourite
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smagazineofficial.co.uk
Editor’s
Favourite
- 26 -
Feature
FANCY A DIP?
pool and hot tub area make for
a perfect, tranquil alternative
to swimming in the nearby
ocean.
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FANCY A DIP? This secluded
pool and hot tub area make for
a perfect, tranquil alternative
to swimming in the nearby
ocean.
- 28 -
Feature
USE YOUR VIEW Placing
some seating facing your
amazing view is the best way
to take advantage of it and
bring out your lot’s beauty.
- 29 -
smagazineofficial.co.uk
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Feature
dutchsims3master I’m the Dutch Sims 3 Master and I make Sims 3 videos on YouTube.
My channel is mainly focused on building in the Sims 3, because that’s
what I enjoy most about the game. The kinds of videos I upload are
speed build house buildings, renovation, let’s builds, let’s create a
world and the Sims 4 news videos.
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Feature
What do you love most about what you do?
DS3M: What I like about what I do is that I get
feedback to what I do. When I build a house, peo-
ple tell me what they like about it and also what
they don’t like about it. In this way, I’m able to
make houses look better. Also I like the Sims com-
munity. There are so many simmers out there who
support each other. I don’t know if I would contin-
ue making videos if the community aspect would
be gone, because the community really keeps me
going. They give me new ideas and inspiration.
What inspired you to create your world, Tropi-
color Island?
DS3M: I got inspired to create my world when I
heard that the Sims 3 team wasn’t going to make
any new store worlds anymore. The release date
of the Sims 4 felt very to be very far away and I
wondered how I would be able to keep myself and
my viewers interested in the Sims 3. I had already
tried out the Create a world tool so now and then,
but never this seriously.
Tell us more about the creative process you had
when creating your world.
DS3M: I haven’t planned anything about the mak-
ing of the world. One day I just started building,
and that’s also how I continued. No blue prints,
nothing. Just my inspiration. Sometimes I also got
inspired of pictures of tropical places, and then I
tried to add some aspects of it to the world. That’s
the way I like to work in The Sims. I prefer not to
plan my creations, because I know out of experi-
ence, that making blue prints for the Sims in the
end doesn’t work out.
I don’t know if I would
continue making videos if
the community aspect
was gone, the community
really keeps me going.
The only point about build mode
[in The Sims 4] that concerns me
is the fact that building houses
may become TOO easy. I hope it
will still be a challenge to build a
good looking house.
- 37 -
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What are your plans for The Sims 4?
DS3M: For the Sims 4, I’m planning to
make awesome videos. I’ll continue doing
speed builds and also Let’s Builds and de-
pending on the abilities of the game, I
might start another new Sims 4 series. I
can promise you, that the Sims 4 video I’m
going to make will be very enjoyable.
What do you think of The Sims 4?
DS3M: I can’t wait for the game to come
out. Every time I think about the fact that
we’ll be able to play the new generation of
the Sims in just a few weeks is amazing.
Unlike some other people, I really like the
cartoony look of the Sims 4. I think trying
to make it look very realistic, would in the
end, not make the game enjoyable to play.
Also, with this cartoonish look, many more
people will be able to play the game. Even
on not very strong computers. The Sims 4
might not look realistic, but the gameplay
will be very realistic, which is more im-
portant about a simulation game in my
opinion. Also build mode looks great to
me. The houses that we’ve seen so far look
so detailed. Also I heard that the Sims 4
will have most items from any Sims game
so far. Also the interface looks very clean
and exactly like I’d make it. The only point
about build mode that concerns me is the
fact that building houses becomes TOO
easy. I hope it will still be a challenge to
build a good looking house.
- 38 -
Interview
Tell us about your building styles and techniques.
DS3M: This is a question that’s quite difficult to an-
swer for myself. I try to make my houses look detailed,
because I like that look, but at the same time I try to
not make it look too detailed. I also think that the gar-
den is a very important part of the house, that makes a
house look 10 times better.
What makes your houses unique?
DS3M: I think that what makes my houses unique is
the fact that the leveling can sometimes be very com-
plicated. Especially in my modern houses.
Do you have any tips for aspiring builders in the
game?
DS3M: My main tips for builders who are struggling
with building in the game are:
- Use different types of wall paintings. For exam-
ple wood, stone and a color. That makes the house
look much more detailed.
- Don’t use the same type of window for the entire
house. Try to bring in some variation
- Use split leveling. It makes the house look much
more advanced.
- Try to be creative with the roof of the house
- Don’t give up too early. Sometimes I start build-
ing, but after like 20 minutes, I’m not inspired any-
more. Then I stop building and actually I don’t want to
finish the house anymore. Then some days later, I try
to continue again, and then the house can in the end
turn out to be one of my favorites.
Thank you to DS3M for taking part! You should sub-
scribe to him on YouTube and check out his content.
The garden is a very important part of the
house, it makes a house look ten times
better.
- 40 -
Feature
uplifted heightsby gwtreaver
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smagazineofficial.co.uk
heights
- 42 -
Feature
BREAK IT UP Sometimes
splitting your kitchen up into
smaller ‘zones’ can create a
more open and flowing feel to
it.
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Feature
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POP! In houses with lots of
windows, try to keep to a neu-
tral palette for walls and
floors, and then bring colour in
with furniture and plants.
- 46 -
Feature
NICE AND AIRY For areas
such as gyms, high ceilings
that are often two stories high
create a nicer, more open at-
mosphere to work out in,
- 47 -
smagazineofficial.co.uk
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smagazineofficial.co.uk
Download
ALPINE COUNTY WESTERN077
‘Wow’ is the only
word that comes into
my head whenever I
load up Alpine
County, a simply
beautiful, expansive
world for your game.
It’s huge, and has so
many different
gameplay options,
but it might not run as
well on lower-end
computers.
Alpine County is split
up into clear
sections—the city
centre, a farming
area, a spooky area, a
high-class area, a
gated community and
even a beachside
resort nestled away
to the east of the
town, yet the whole
world flows and
nothing seems out of
place.
Everything and more
is here in this world. A
huge shopping centre
is just outside the city
centre, and has all the
gameplay options you
could imagine. Your
Sims can visit the
Californian-styled
shopping district by
the pier and the
waterfront, or even
purchase a vacation
home around the
beautiful lake up in
the hills.
The creator has taken
the extra steps to
make it more realistic,
by not building out-of
-this-world houses or
community lots, but
ones that would be
perfectly functional in
real life.
I don’t think my Sims
will be moving towns
for a long time now,
and Alpine County by
Western077 is by far
my favourite world
for The Sims 3.
DOWNLOAD ALPINE COUNTY
- 50 -
Around The World
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Feature
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Feature
KEEP IT COOL When
building a summer house, use
light colours like white, as they
reflect heat, keeping the home
cooler (if it was real).
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Feature
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EXPOSED Exposed brickwork
can bring a contemporary,
clean or industrial feel to a
room, depending on how you
use it. Bricks make a good
feature wall!
- 58 -
Feature
PUT IT AWAY Humans need
lots of space to put things
away in, so why don’t your
Sims?
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smagazineofficial.co.uk
Humans need
lots of space to put things
t your
- 60 -
Feature
Download
- 61 -
smagazineofficial.co.uk
Download
words and design by alex
Staff Build- 66 -
Feature
Staff Build - 67 -
smagazineofficial.co.uk
- 68 -
Feature
CASt IT Take advantage of
Create-a-Style before it’s
gone—take different furniture
and make it match to suit your
needs!
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SHINE, BABY
don
lighting
lights or some table lamps to
brighten up your room!
- 70 -
Feature
SHINE, BABY Most rooms
don’t just rely on ceiling
lighting—put in some floor
lights or some table lamps to
brighten up your room!
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smagazineofficial.co.uk
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Tutorial
Creating a Neighborhood
Creating a neighborhood (or world, for people
that are more familiar with The Sims 3) is very,
very simple in The Sims 2. No tool outside of the
game, no routing paints, no terrain tools—it is
much simpler than creating your own world in The
Sims 3. And, with the free release of The Sims 2
Ultimate Collection, more people than ever are taking
a stroll down memory lane and loading up The
Sims 2 again. Nothing beats creating your own
neighborhood, which you can deck out with all the
lots and houses you’d like. You can build it all your-
self, or even just place down a plethora of pre
- 75 -
smagazineofficial.co.uk
Creating a Neighborhood
more people than ever are taking
a stroll down memory lane and loading up The
Sims 2 again. Nothing beats creating your own
neighborhood, which you can deck out with all the
d like. You can build it all your-
self, or even just place down a plethora of pre-
made lots in the Lots bin. Finally, to finish your
world, hop into CAS and make your own families
to live in your neighborhood! We’re going to show
you the basics of neighborhood creation in this
simple and quick tutorial.
Pictured town: Port Whitewater
- 74 -
Tutorial
The first step is to actually create your
neighborhood.
Start by scrolling through the Main
Menu options until you get to the fi-
nal one, the neighborhood icon with a
plus next to it. Click that, and press
‘yes’ on the dialogue that pops up.
Next, choose the terrain for your
world. This is the shape of the land
you’ll build on. Pick wisely, because it
can’t be changed. The terrain also in-
cludes the roads.
Now, pick a name, description and
terrain type for your world (tip: lush
means it has grass). You cannot
change the terrain type later, but you
can change the name and descrip-
tion.
Now, wait for it to load! This will take
a while, as it has to load content for
all of the expansion packs—weather,
magic, pets, etc.
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The only other real step is placing décor
and lots to build in,
Upon loading, the game will shove
the neighborhood story in your face.
Here you can use your own screen-
shots to tell your town’s story. To get
it back up, press F4.
F2 brings up the Lots panel. Here you
can place premade lots, as well as
empty lots. Lots can be placed any-
where, as long as they are alongside a
road, and do not overlap another lot.
Empty lots can be found by clicking
the icon at the bottom, an empty
square. Beach lots have a palm tree
icon in the square, and prebuilt apart-
ments can be found in the category
with a house and a star.
Neighborhood décor is found by
pressing F3. There’s a whole load
here, including skyscrapers, trees,
landmarks and special effects, like
clouds or a hot air balloon.
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Feature
by ayyuff
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Feature
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LET THE LIGHT IN If you
have the space, why not build
a ‘sun room’ for your Sims? It
provides the perfect place to
chill out on a hot day.
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Feature
BIT O’ CLUTTER
real life don
rooms, so why should your
Sims? Take a trip to the misc.
décor section and clutter your
home up a bit!
- 83 -
smagazineofficial.co.uk
’ CLUTTER People in
real life don’t have spotless
rooms, so why should your
Sims? Take a trip to the misc.
décor section and clutter your
home up a bit!
AH, MEMORIES
Sim remember the best parts
of their lives by keeping
mementos on shelves around
the house.
- 84 -
Feature
AH, MEMORIES Help your
Sim remember the best parts
of their lives by keeping
mementos on shelves around
the house.
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smagazineofficial.co.uk
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Feature
SPLASH OF COLOUR Wall
murals, like the ones from
Island Paradise, can help make
a room seem more lively and
exciting.
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smagazineofficial.co.uk
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Feature
Download
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Download
Ever wondered how SMagazine happens?
If not, read this anyway (we had a page to spare). It starts with the editor taking a
trip to some Sims 3 CC sites. Each time he finds something, it’s into Microsoft Pub-
lisher to write an article about it. This is where everything goes down, be it the de-
signing of the cover or the writing of the articles. He might take to Twitter to ask
people what they want to see (follow us @smagazineofcl) and he then tends to find
more ideas from there. Once the issue is finished, he checks everything, and then
exports it into a .PDF using Microsoft Publisher. Then it’s to Issuu.com to upload
the magazine, and then to literally every single social network to advertise the mag-
azine. And, then, you get to read it...like you’re doing right now!
Copyright SMAGAZINE 2014 ©
Any copyrights mentioned throughout this publication are the property of their
respective owners. ‘The Sims’, ‘The Sims 3’ and the respective brand assets are all
the property of Electronic Arts and/or Maxis. SMAGAZINE is in no way endorsed
or funded by Electronic Arts, Maxis or any other companies. This magazine is run
not-for-profit and we do not collect any earnings. SMAGAZINE is licensed under
a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Interna-
tional License. This means that no derivative works may be made of this publica-
tion and commercial use of this work is not allowed. If you wish to find out more
about our copyright policy or anything else to do with the magazine, please e-
mail the editor at [email protected]
