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Contributing

FreeSO is an open source reimplemenation of The Sims Online™, but that doesn’t mean knowing how to code is the only way to help.

Bug Reporting

Tools Used: FreeSO, Discord, Screenshot Utility (ex. Snipping Tool)

This is something that everyone actively playing the game can help with! Currently there are two types of exceptions that can happen. SimAntics exceptions (the blue alerts in game) and fatal exceptions (the windows style alerts that occur out of the game window). The blue ones eventually should be fixed, but they’re a lower priority. If you get a fatal exception, you should do the following:

  1. Screenshot the fatal exception using Snipping Tool or another program you’re familiar with
  2. Check #📌known-bugs in Discord
  3. Post it to #🔧freeso-support and mention what you were doing just before the fatal exception occured (ex. “I had just landed on my lot and then I clicked the Live Mode button”)

Remeshing

Tools Used: Blender (free), Image editor (ex. GIMP, Paint.NET, Photoshop)

In August 2017, an update to FreeSO was released that enabled the game to break out of its typical 2D isometric view and into true 3D. Currently, the client will generate a 3D mesh for any object your install of FreeSO hasn’t encountered before. Some of these generated meshes look pretty good and some of them need manual intervention. That’s where remeshing comes in. People are going through the object catalog and creating new meshes by hand.

If this interests you, join our Discord and start a conversation in #🗿3d-remeshing.

Translating

Tools Used: Volcanic (installed with FreeSO), Text editor of your choice

Many UI elements have already been translated into a variety of languages and the method for translating object strings is currently subject to change.

If you can translate from English to another language, you should join our Discord and start a conversation in #🌍freeso-translationsask about the translation status of the language you’d like to help with.

Programming

Tools: Visual Studio 2019, C#, MonoGame, git

Currently, most contributors get ideas for how to add to the codebase by actively playing the game. You can fork the repository and see some of the high level open issues on GitHub.

Custom Content Creation

Tools Used: Volcanic (installed with FreeSO), Blender, Image editor (ex. GIMP, Paint.NET, Photoshop)

Custom Content (CC) is currently on hold until we’ve worked out a policy for accepting it. Individual exceptions may be made for really outstanding, original pieces.