#freetime ep

[l-1-z-a]

🧩 The Sims 2: FreeTime Hobbies Mind Map – A Look at a Deeper Hobby System

Because of the announcement of the Business and Hobbies expansion pack for The Sims 4 and because people are writing that few hobbies were provided there, I wanted to share the mind map for The Sims 2: FreeTime expansion pack that was created by The Sims 2 developers during development of this expansion pack and shared by Lindsay Pearson (SimsGuruPearson) on September 23, 2015, on X/Twitter.

This mind map illustrates the hobby system introduced in The Sims 2: FreeTime. It shows how different gameplay mechanics related to hobbies are interconnected.

Main Elements of the Mind Map:

1. Hobbies – The Central Node

All mechanics related to hobbies branch out from this core concept.

2. Heavy Hobbies

These involve more active pursuits, including:

Sports (basketball hoop, soccer net, football toss)

Games (board games, PC games, RC cars/helicopters)

Science (telescope additions, ant farm, stargazing enhancements)

Music (violin, modular synth)

Fitness (exercise bike, jogging, protein shakes)

Arts & Crafts (pottery wheel, sewing machine)

Engineering/Tinkering (train kit, repairable car, tinker interaction)

3. Light Hobbies

These involve less physically intense activities:

Nature (bug collecting, bird watching, hiking)

Literature (writing novels, reading unique books)

Food (judging contests, food platters, nectar bar)

Entertainment (TV additions, merchandise)

4. Hobby System (Tracking)

The mechanics that govern hobbies, including:

Hobby Factors (various influences on hobby progress)

Instruct Interaction (mentoring between Sims)

Hobby Chance Cards (random events related to hobbies)

Share Hobby Tips (Sims discussing their hobbies)

Hobby Secret Lots (exclusive locations for Sims with high enthusiasm)

Iconic Hobbyists (notable Sims tied to certain hobbies)

"The Zone" (a gameplay effect for mastery in hobbies)

5. Lifetime Fulfillment

How hobbies connect to Sims’ long-term aspirations, friendships, and parenting mechanics.

6. Preoccupation (Hobby Obsession)

Additional interactions related to hobbies:

Sims talking about hobbies

Newspaper sections dedicated to hobbies

Sims dreaming about hobbies

Hobby-related idle animations

A computer patch for blogging and surfing about hobbies

7. New Careers

Careers linked to hobbies with objects like the drafting table, ballet bar, koi pond, surveillance mic, and fame star rug.

This mind map visually explains how FreeTime expands the game by integrating hobbies into careers, social interactions, and long-term aspirations, making Sims' lives feel more dynamic and immersive.

Source:

[sour-screaminginagony]

haven't posted for a minute! Here's Suitcase, everyone!

white sock ver :3 (I like it better teehee)

guys I'm team Suitcase btw yippers

[cerubean]

no wayy they’re reselling us get to work but with hobbies this better be the most detailed in-depth business system with equally as detailed hobbies

[orphyd]

Gotta spend the next few days trying to decipher what “a neighborly expansion pack” means 🧐

[whyeverr]

gee, I wonder what changed between the release of Sims 2 FreeTime in 2008 and the creation of the Businesses & Hobbies EP in 2025...

🤔

it's almost like... we've lost the concept of recreation for recreation's sake, and not turning every possible hobby into a side hustle...?

maybe some... broader economic and cultural shifts that we should... take a look at... maybe...?

[cityof2morrow]

50+ Sub-Hobby Traits (Sims 2)

Published: 2-3-2025 | Updated: 2-5-2025 (French Translation) SUMMARY Hobbies and interests were introduced via the Freetime EP (EA/Maxis, 2008). There are 10 hobbies (cuisine, film & literature, tinkering, sports, music and dance, fitness, arts & crafts, science, games, and nature) and 18 interest categories (sci-fi, culture, environment, paranormal, health, fashion, politics, sports, school, animals, toys, money, entertainment, work, crime, food, travel, and weather).  Here are 50+ trait tokens featuring various sub-hobbies – these are meant to compliment the original hobby categories and let players assign specific hobby-related interests to their sims. The Sub-Hobby Project comes from the collective brainstorming of @grilledcheese-aspiration, @slyndseysims @gayars and @anachronisims. DETAILS Requires all EPs/SPs. §0 | Buy > Misc > Misc (purple icons) At the time of this post, these are for storytelling/completion purposes only. These are TOKENS ONLY – they do not alter sims/gameplay on their own. If/when they are incorporated in mods, their custom function(s) will depend on the mods in question. The collection file is REQUIRED to access the traits in-game.

ITEMS Download a PDF/Excel document with the traits and their GUIDs using the link below.

DOWNLOAD (choose one) HOBBY TRAITS from SFS | from MEGA LIST OF TRAITS & GUIDs from SFS | from MEGA REQUIRED: COLLECTION FILE from SFS | from MEGA This file includes 3t2, 4t2, historical/medieval, fantasy, color, music, hobby, and other CC traits for Sims 2 (and some randomizers). Only visible trait tokens are included, and this file should REPLACE the original "Traits-Collection" file. CREDITS Thanks: @grilledcheese-aspiration, @slyndseysims @gayars and @anachronisims. Sources: 3t2 Traits Project (Hexagonal-Bipyramid, 2018),  Any Color You Like (CuriousB, 2010), Beyno (Korn via BBFonts), EA/Maxis, Offuturistic Infographic (Freepik), Flat Icon. Translations: French (@ilovethesims2).

[kirlicues]

Gyms for Sims | CC-Free Sims 2 Community Lots | Create-a-Town

These two different community gym lots are built and decorated in a similar style but their exteriors are painted to look different. 

Puns and cute plays on words are a notorious part of the Sims games, and because I have a few playfulness points, I’ve tried to have these lots follow in that legacy with their names.

First up is the small “Gym-in-a-Box”, named for not only its more boxy shape, but also the shape of the lot (2x2).

This little gym is 3 stories tall and provides your sims with lots of options for exercising, or soothing their over-worked muscles.

You will need to download the Maxis Lost and Found Fixed CAS Window to get it to look exactly like the pictures. The window is not included in this download. Since this is an object that came with the game, but was hidden, I don’t really consider it CC, however, if you do please feel free to replace the 3rd story windows with the regular High-Tech Loft Window that is visible on the front of the building (also on the 3rd story) above the front doors.

This lot comes lightly furnished and would most likely benefit from some added décor should you desire to do that. It should be functional without any extra fussing though.

Alright, let’s see what you’re getting with this small but serious gym:

1st Floor From top-left: Hot-Tub, Vending machines, bathrooms, entry area (with “healthy” meal options [regular grocery freezers]), main workout space, side-entry.

2nd Floor From top-left: weight room, vending machines, bathrooms, the rest of the floor is open to first story.

3rd Floor From top-left: ballet studio, bathroom, sports massage studio (could also be a physical therapy office).

CC-Free, but all EPs and SPs are required.

Don’t forget to grab the Maxis/EA “Lost and Found” CAS Window Fixed if you do not already have them in your game.

I’ve run this lot through the Lot Compressor so any random references to sims that aren’t there should be removed. I have also run it through the Lot Cleaner to remove any bits of buggy code. This lot comes with a shiny custom thumbnail so it has even more curb appeal in your Lots and Houses bin! 😄

I ALWAYS recommend using the Sims 2 Pack Clean installer to install lot files.

The link for this lot will be at the bottom of the post. Keep scrolling. 😊

Next up, it’s The Slim Gym, so named because of the lot shape (5x2) it is built on.

This lot is fairly sizable so if your computer is good enough you should be able to have your sims enjoy exercising with a plethora of not-so-fresh-smelling patrons. What could be more fun? 😂

You will need to have the Maxis Lost and Found Fixed CAS Window  installed to get it to look exactly like the pictures. That window is not included in this download. Since this is an object that came with the game, but was hidden, I don’t really consider it CC, however, if you do, please feel free to replace the 3rd story windows in the black corrugated siding section with the regular High-Tech Loft Window.

I realized after packaging this lot that I also have the Freetime pre-order bonus poster hung in the ballet studio. It is included, but you do not have to install it if you use the Sims2Pack Clean installer. This is an original Maxis/EA object however, so you probably already have it in your game.

Let’s have a look at those spacious floorplans, shall we?

1st Floor From left: pool, shower and locker rooms, hot-tub, weight room, locker rooms and showers, vending machines, main floor bathrooms, treadmills, staff offices, or offices for personal trainers/nutritionists, and the entry area (with “healthy” meal options [regular grocery freezers]).

2nd Floor From left: open to floor below, upstairs sitting area above pool, small back patio area, ballet studio, sports massage/physical therapy office, bathrooms, vending machines and eating area, the rest is open to the floor below.

Since there is a bit more space in this building, I’ve taken a couple of pictures of how some of the rooms look. You’ll notice that the interior of this building is very similar to the first gym. Feel free to redecorate it if you like. 

Weight room:

Treadmills:

Pool:

Now I need to design a “Just-Right Gym”. Not too big, not too small… 🤣

Gym-in-a-Box: MF | SFS

The Slim Gym: MF | SFS

Like the first gym, this lot is CC-Free, but all EPs and SPs are required.

Don’t forget to grab the Maxis/EA “Lost and Found” CAS Window Fixed if you do not already have them in your game.

I’ve run this lot through the Lot Compressor so any random references to sims that aren’t there should be removed. I have also run it through the Lot Cleaner to remove any bits of buggy code. This lot comes with a shiny custom thumbnail so it has even more curb appeal in your Lots and Houses bin! 😄

I ALWAYS recommend using the Sims 2 Pack Clean installer to install lot files. Looking for lots to add some more interest to your town? Try these: Main Street Shops Across the Street  The Next Street Over Around the Corner Further Down the Street Small Shopping Center

[keoni-chan]

I saw someone wcif @moocha-muses for this clock by Tinkle, and I got all excited, because this would be perfect for a grilled cheese restaurant!

And then I got all disappointed because the thing did not tell time. So I fixed it :D

This is Tinkle's Toast Clock, originally posted at BPS, edited to actually work as a clock. I reused Tinkle's GUID, so please throw theirs out, if you want to use mine :)

Found Electronics>Small Electronics for 230, works with the quartertile cheat, polycount is 561, texture size 512x512. Freetime EP is required.

📥 Download [sfs]

[andrevasims]

Brasstex Trashed PC Updated for FT

I love this computer, it's very classic EAxis style in its thrown-together look (reminds me of the Eclectic and Enigmatic Energizer aspiration reward).

It was originally posted in 2005, and hasn't been updated since then, so naturally it's missing the functions from FreeTime.

I found a tutorial for updating objects for EPs, and it turns out you only need to change one (1) number in the package to do it. Even I can do that! lol - So I did :P

This is actually 2 objects; The computer and the table. The computer is only the screen display & keyboard/mouse (so it mostly looks invisible by itself), the table makes up the rest of the object.

Originally, the table part was categorized as a dining table. I recategorized it as a desk.

The filenames are the same as the originals, so let it overwrite the old one if you do have it. I don't think you can have both at the same time anyway, since I didn't change the GUID.

DOWNLOAD: SFS | MF

[crispsandkerosene]

I was curious and decided to summarily investigate the base game's heaviest textures.

Most are 1024x1024. However, the urn sculpture is 512x2048:

Also, the Grim Reaper's hourglass' texture is uselessly big:

His ass is not respecting "texture size roughly matching the size of the object on the screen" !! lol

Edit: I initially did not look at EPs. PineappleForest pointed out the Bon Voyage pirate ship uses two 2k textures. Looking through EP files, I also found three for the Freetime basketball courts. Considering the sizes of these objects, a fair use.

(In general I find that the textures from later EPs are better in general 🤔 like you don't see the flat floodfilling you have in some base game textures.)

[loosiap]

afbodymascotknight (ep3), afbodymascotknight_ep7 replaced with CloudCat Rainy Day converted by PlatinumAspiration

everyday category; heels shoe sound; y.adults-adults, townie-enabled; all morphs; polycount 4.2k; swatch under the cut

both: DOWNLOAD MF | SFS

mascotknight ep3 only: DOWNLOAD MF | SFS

mascotknight ep7 only: DOWNLOAD MF | SFS

Requested by anon

Credits: EAMaxis, CloudCat, @platinumaspiration

left - AFbody mascotknight (ep3 - Open for Buisness EP); right - mascotknight_ep7 (FreeTime EP):

names of used recolours (left to right) → 5, 4, 10, 3, 8

[blueybre]

Questioning how TTAB's really work...

I've started doubting something that everyone assumed was correct so far, and I will update my "More Intelligent Bathrooms" mod on MTS shortly to test if I am correct in my doubts, because I've had multiple people complain to me that my mod is not working as intended, despite me exactly following the instructions from this tutorial back in early '23 when I created the mod. Back then, I wasn't as experienced in modding yet, and did not really question tutorials on the Internet either.

To the matter at hand. There is a non-zero chance that the explanation provided by @dramallamadingdang regarding TTAB's... is wrong, because of an oopsie in SimPE.

iCad's exemplic study, the FreeTime exercise bike, according to SimPE, displays following advertisement values: Base 0003, Delta 000A, Type 0023. iCad checked the TTAB entry on the MTS Wiki against it, and did not find type 0023 in there, but for the tutorial did not follow this oddity further, instead asking people to just set the value to 0000 to apply to all Sims equally.

Now, while the exercise bike was not present in early EP's, we can look at other objects and look at its own TTAB advertisement values as they are displayed now, and as they were displayed in, say, Open for Business. Because, in fact, Pets introduced new TTAB formats that allow you to set separate advertisements for different motives for Sims and pets. And quite notably, many interactable objects in the game were subsequently updated. Sometimes, values were just switched around, while sometimes, they were completely overhauled.

It's the switcheroo cases that made me open my eyes and come up with this hypothesis.

What if all the columns are actually shifted by one in later TTAB formats, causing the labels and columns to mismatch?

If we look at the exercise bike again, suddenly the advertisement values make perfect sense. Instead of type "23" weirdness, we have a very clear bias towards Active Sims (type 3) using the exercise bike, which is also observable in-game.

But also, for the medicine cabinets where I saw a type "32" I couldn't make sense of, suddenly this is just a huge Delta for Neat Sims (type B), and I finally have an explanation for why Sims almost never wash their faces (because only Neat Sims are enabled to do so at all, and even then brushing their teeth advertises to them so much more).

Again, as mentioned in the beginning, I will update my Bathroom Intelligence mod shortly to reflect these new findings - let's see if I'm right.

[mikailys]

MCL NewGen Ep 8 Commentary

Ik it's late and that several days have passed since the episode's release, but I wanted to wait a bit to let my thoughts simmer and write my review with a cool head. I need to rant about it so sit tight 'cause this one in particular is though lol.

As it was advertised, the whole episode revolves around Roy and a peculiar hobby of his: skinny dipping. Thomas is the one who spills the beans -as always- and everyone is curious about it. Roy explains that he only does it after the swimming pool closing hour and you know what: that is fine by me. Is it weird? Yes, but I'm not supposed to care what my co-workers do in their freetime so I personally don't mind.

And, unfortunately, that's all. To sum up, the plot is "co-workers try to go undercover to spy on their other coworker while he's skinny dipping :|

Since I don't like Roy, the premise of this ep didn't really appeal to me at all. But, weirdly enough, it had the opposite effect 'cause I've spent its whole duration feeling sorry for him. He gets the possibility once a month to train alone in a professional pool, and the six of us -which I recall you are his co-workers and his boss- have nothing better to do than to go spying on him? Just because they thought he subtly implied he wanted them to come see him?!

One. It is false since during the whole workday they kept "catcalling" him and joking about it and he wasn't really pleased to say the least. He put on a brave face, endured the working hours, and then left the office asap.

Two. You're adults, fully grown adults that are acting like literally teens. It's not normal for grown-ups to feel excited, see Elenda and Thomas, to play spies to see your co-worker naked. It is weird and creepy.

I'm glad at least I wasn't the only sane person to comprehend this was wrong and absurd on so many levels. Paradoxically enough, the only one I found myself agreeing with was Amanda, a character I couldn't stand until now, she gained a tons of points in my eyes + she's also a girl's girlie so gg.

Also, special mention to the hint of peer pressure put on Candy and Amanda by the quartet. I didn't like it at all and it shouldn't be even a thing considering the context.

No is no, even if Roy supposedly enjoys voyeurism, I personally do not.

This is really a shame cause they butchered so many characters with this unnecessary sketch, Thomas being the worst of them in my eyes. I'm not sure if my perception of him was wrong from the start, but I don't recognize this character at all. Silly jokes, creepy hobbies, and an immature, teenage-like attitude were never traits I would have attributed to him. I know I keep repeating myself but it's truly a shame that such poor writing has impacted the perception and development of the characters, which now seems clearly different from how they were portrayed in the beginning...

Going forward, I made then the choice to leave with Amanda and warn Roy about their ambush. It was nice to have that option tbh. The whole scene afterwards, sneaking into the public pool and hiding in the lockers, was utterly embarrassing because it’s not the kind of behavior you’d expect from people in their late twenties, but whatever the problem it's the whole context so I can't complain about it too much.

Then Roy catches the sextet and pulls off his counter-prank. After snitching on us, we all decided it was a good time to play with water guns. Again, the idea was fun and silly in a good way, but context-wise mmh...

Now the long-awaited moment I've been patiently waiting for: the encounter with Jason.

Look at him I love him sm nsgsg

I had no idea how they would include him in the episode since he practically had nothing to do with the Devenemential gang. And honestly -unpopular opinion- they probably should have left him out of this messy episode because the reason they gave for his involvement didn’t fully convince me, and the special scene was disappointing.

Apparently, he also has deals with the guards -worst security protocol ever if you ask me- and he goes there once a week to train. And here I was thinking that the CEO of a famous and well-known company would have a private pool or the means to rent one lol. Looks like everyone's feeling the pinch these days. Good job Jason, saving money like the rest of us poor unfortunate souls, such a relatable boss.

Fun fact, it appears one of his dreams is to defeat Roy? In a swimming competition?? Like, okay? I'll gladly be there to root for you the day you actually succeed then dear.

Well maybe not everyone shares the same hobbies as you and Roy, Candy. Besides, why would he know about Roy's interests?? He's not as deranged as Thomas, who keeps tabs on his colleagues' private lives...

ANYWAY. Candy feels cold and needs to get out of the pool if she doesn’t want to catch pneumonia. Jason offers to help her by closing his eyes, but she’s not fully convinced. Again, NOT EVERYONE IS A PERV, CANDY. You're just the unlucky girl who's got to work with them. In fact you should bring him to Devenemential to have him teach your colleagues the art of not being crazy maniacs, I'm sure that could be of help.

I won't spend too many words on the next scene since I've already made a whole ass post ranting about it and sharing my headcanon. However, regarding the mistress scene, I will say that yes, it was poorly executed. But if the entire episode had followed this direction I would have gladly signed off on it because, all things considered, it’s not even remotely comparable to the plot we've endured so far.

Now for the special scene I am conflicted. Ngl I really thought for a split second that we actually managed to kiss him, but I quickly snapped back to reality when I realized it was just Candy being delusional and I am just as much as her. She must have ingested way too much chlorine to be having such a mental trip lol. Anyway, I didn't like it very much because it was clear that BV didn't know what to come up with. The fact that they managed to incorporate Jason into the plot was something, but asking for a well-written special scene was apparently too much.

On a side note, I’m DEAD TIRED of having to endure the worst humiliations in every single episode when we’re on Jason’s route. It's pretty embarrassing, and, at lest for me, it’s not easy to move forward without cringing every few minutes. Moreover, it always seems like he has to have the upper hand in every situation. When is our Candy going to stop acting like a fool and step up her game??

And that's all, the episode ends with Candy leaving the pool, wondering if she and Jason will ever stop meeting in the most weird way spoiler: you won't i assure you.

Now for the next episode I fear we’re in for another ‘fun’ plot since it’s called A Child at Heart, but honestly I have no idea what these interns will actually get up to. Maybe the theme will revolve around generational differences, since they seem to be Gen Z while our colleagues are more on the border of being Millennials? Idk but I do really hope the writing will be better than in this ep.

All things considered, I still have faith in BV. I know they have the ability to write a good story with a solid foundation when they want to—it’s just that I don’t know what’s happening with this series in particular. As other players have pointed out, it feels like this plot was originally conceived when NG was still set in a high school, and now they’re trying to repurpose it in a more 'adult' way. The problem is, it’s just not working.

The Halloween event is approaching, and let’s hope it can alleviate some of the discontent in the community. Hopefully the upcoming episodes will be better since they’ve addressed the topic in the forums but we'll see.

[tainoodles]

Since TS2 Open for Business and Freetime have been compared a lot along with the new TS4 EP announcement, I wanna talk about TS3 Ambitions as well. The trailer glazes over it at the end but this was the pack that added tattoo artists into TS3, and home decorators.

[pixeldistractions]

Pleading my case for why we might be about to get cars in TS4??? 👀

So this season is supposed to be all about “blast from the past” or whatever. The roadmap shows a graphic that suggests “repair workshop” with a wrench. (Among many other exciting things!) Now we’re getting a hobbies EP, too, and what was in TS2 Freetime??? Restoration cars!!!

Muirly Sims on Bsky dissects this picture with some more ideas:

I’m super excited about what might be coming for us this season. I hope they don’t let us down!

Looks like pottery and tattoos, too! My Kyle can be a real tattoo artist again and not just a posed one!

[burnedspaghettidrama]

Default replacement for pmbodyoverallshorts + pmbodyonepieceshortscollar

Everyday | No morphs | Compressed

This is Memento-Sims' 4t2 Onyxsims Zara Dungarees. I decided to combine these outfits together since there is only one color for onepieceshortscollar and the outfits are pretty similar. Then I noticed overallshorts is outfit from FreeTime EP so I made separated file for it. There is already two default replacements for onepieceshortscollar that uses the same outfit so no separated file for that. These are only for male toddlers.

Credits: @memento-sims, @onyxsims

Download (SFS) / Download (MF) (overallshorts)

Download (SFS) / Download (MF) (both)

Swatch underneath