Improve your Sim's Television Programming.

    Recently I found Early Pleasantview's Exracted Sims 3 TV Shows. I had been wanting to find a way to improve specifically the children's TV programming because all they get is the sad social bunny show, a superhero show, and kicking over lawn ornaments. Reading through Tutorials, I found one on Mod the Sims from 11 years ago (2011). I will now tell you what I did to get MySims videos and other programming into the channels. 

ttt

First, get your video file. Programs you may need:

(option A) Make your own.

Video Capture Software:

• The mainline Sims games let you record short videos by pressing V. Configure size in the settings.
• Windows key + G brings up Microsoft game bar and that overlay has a built in video recorder so you can get short footage from other games like MySims.
• OBS is a free screen recorder and broadcasting software that can capture any window and record it to a video file.

A Video Editor.

• ClipChamp is now built right into Windows and is a very simple to use video editor. 

    After you have recorded your footage trim it and put the clips together to create your own little video story. Set the resolution to be 1:1 (the main resolution Instagram uses) and then export your video when you're done. A file format like .mp4 is fine, we'll convert it in the next step.

(option B) A video downloader. 

If you don't want to capture footage on your own, you will need a video downloader or a way to get the videos you want. I use RealPlayer. Once installed and logged into, a little square will show up on top of your screen if there is a video to download. The basic version is free, and while you can only download 720p resolution (barely HD) the resolution we need is pretty small, so it will work just fine. 

ttt

Now that you have your video, take it to this website.

AVI video converter - convert your videos to AVI 

This website accepts uploaded videos as well as links from video sites. Unfortunately, YouTube is not one of them. 

1. Upload your video
2. Scroll down to settings
3. Change Screen Size. 
• Keep it square. 
• suggested resolutions are 128x128, 256x256, or even 512x512. 
• It all depends on how much you want the simulation to work. a better resolution will look... better, but it might have more strain on your system.
4. Resize Handling. 
• If the video isn't completely square, the converter crops it. You have many options on how it handles the cropped video
5. Change Video Frame Rate to 15
6. Audio
• The audio should stay in stereo
• Audio quality and frequency don't need to be edited*
7. Press Start
8. The next screen will show converting your file, and then a save file box will appear. 
9. Rename the file if needed. Save the converted video into a safe location. 

ttt

    Your video is ready to be added to Sim Programming. You can place your videos in the corresponding Channel Folder that's in C:\Users\Documents\EA Games\The Sims™ 2 Ultimate Collection\Movies\Broadcast. This will override the existing videos of each channel. If you have the extra 7 Hobby channels from the_sim_of_manu on MTS, you can also add video files there and they will gain skills and enthusiasm.

    If you put multiple movies in a movie file, the sim will chose one at random when when they turn on the movie, and then the TV will turn off when it is done.

TEST TEST TEST! After the Video File is in its correct location, start your Sims 2 game and go into a test hood or family. Have a sim watch whatever channel you added your video to see if it shows up. If something is wrong with the video file (wrong dimensions or too large) the game will crash and you'll have to convert the file with the correct settings again. 

ttt

If putting the Video files in the Documents folder isn't working, you could try adding them to the corresponding folders in the program files. This will add your videos to the game's existing programming. Custom channels don't show up here, so if you have those, follow the instructions on the custom channel page: 

Base Game: C:\Program Files(x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection\Double Deluxe\Base\TSData\Res\Movies\Broadcast

University: C:\Program Files(x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection\University Life\TSData\Res\Movies\Broadcast

Seasons: C:\Program Files(x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection\Seasons\TSData\Res\Movies\Broadcast

Free Time: C:\Program Files(x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection\Free Time\TSData\Res\Movies\Broadcast

Base Game: TvChildren

Base Game: TvFood

Base Game: TvSBN

Base Game: TvMusic

Base Game: Commercials

Base Game: TvWorkout

Univeristy: TvSports

EP Seasons: The Weather Forecast

- Winter: TV_Weather_Winter

- Summer: TV_Weather_Summer

- Spring: TV_Weather_Spring

- Autumn: TV_Weather_Fall

Free Time for all movies: Watch movie... 

Horor...

- TVMovie_Werewolf

- TVMovie_BWCat

Action

- TVMovie_Weather

- TVMovie_Fetch

Childrenmovie...

- TVMovie_Fairies

- TV_FamilyFun

Comedy...

- Mime-kat: TVMovie_MimeCat

- Kip: TVMovie_Checkers

Drama...

- TVMovie_PoolTable

- TVMovie_BubbleBath

Enjoy your new television programming.

*I changed the bitrate on my hot drinks Sims video and A Mr. Rogers Movie Video so I would not get a copywrite claim if the video were to show up on my sims TV.

Updated to reflect modern Sims 2 Ultimate Collection installation location.

Updated to clarify that putting video files in the Documents location overrides the Original TV Programming, and that putting video files in the Game's Program Files location adds the videos to the existing TV programs.