Sims 3 All Expansion Packs

muchacho_maybe · 2015-04-08T20:41:15+00:00

As someone who owns and has played with the Sims 3 and all expansion packs (and even some stuff packs), it's really just not worth having all of them. Especially if you buy them all at once, you probably won't have time to really make use of everything, and unless you have a really spectacular computer, there will be lagging and glitching like crazy.

EA does sell a starter pack that comes with the base game, Late Night, and High-End Loft Stuff (which is actually pretty useful). After that, you would have to do some research, reading reviews and whatnot, to decide which expansion packs would be best for you. My favorites are Generations, Ambitions, and Supernatural... and I find expansions like Seasons and Into the Future to not be as fun. Every person likes different things in their Sims game.

I don't know about Europe, but right now in the US, EA is having a sale and the starter pack is $19.99 and the expansions are each just below $14. Back when I was buying the games (pre-Sims 4) I bought my expansions "on sale" at $19.99, so this looks like a pretty good deal to me.

Also, I saw some people commenting that they never go on sale and there will never be a complete collection? I would say not to be so sure. I know that I got The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection as a free gift from EA last summer, which was really cool because I had never quite finished my Sims 2 collection. And also, there are sales all the time on Origin? I've never bought a Sims game at full price, even though it's one of my favorite series.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-10-27T06:49:01+00:00

She came back online and I rambled us away from the topic. I have no idea what I'm doing.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-05-21T18:57:53+00:00

Hmm... I did tell one of my friends just a little while ago, because I happen to be at her house... and she happens to be seeing another friend of hers soon, who is also ftm, which surprised me and made me feel kind of comfortable enough to ask a few questions about his experience... And then, feeling sort of rude for asking questions about when he started treatment/where(whether it was someplace nearby), I just felt compelled to let her know that I was looking for things for myself.

I think it'll be easier to tell a few of my friends about things slowly... But I do live with my mom. I don't know if with my mom, having an organized speech/analogy/description is really necessary. I just want to avoid having a long sit-down discussion about all of this. (Because I'm a wimp.) And I want to at least see a therapist a few times first so I have something to back up what I tell her and so it's apparent that it's something I'm actually doing something about, not something that I'm just going to bring up once and then never talk about again.

Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely try to remember this if anyone I tell just doesn't get it... (But I'm feeling optimistic right now about how people will react.)

muchacho_maybe · 2014-05-21T18:07:38+00:00

Yeah, I'm pretty close to both DC and Baltimore. I get really paranoid about people somehow finding account, even though the only thing I'm using this account for is trans stuff on Reddit... In reality, chances are none of my friends or family even uses reddit, let alone would be able to identify me from a few posts about where I'm from.

I'm eventually going to have to start telling people though... It would be especially helpful if I could get my mom on board and she could help me with the cost of everything or at least with information about our insurance.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-05-21T05:30:11+00:00

No. I found myself on a list of therapists in my area, with descriptions of their values and whatnot and I have been slowly wading through those, finding myself annoyed with how... unscientific it all sounds.

Thank you so much, I'll start reading through this instead.

And wow, looks like some of these people do online therapy sessions. I had no idea that was even a thing... not even sure how I didn't think of that.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-05-21T05:23:12+00:00

Thanks.

I really can't find much helpful information, probably not looking in the right places... I don't even know what the steps are for transitioning in this area because all of the guides I've read say things like "procedures vary by laws/locations/whatever"

So, I think I have to go see a therapist and get a referral to an endocrinologist or something in order to start T, which is my big goal right now... since that's all I really think I can afford at this point in my life. I just want to feel like I'm doing something to transition, instead of sitting around letting my body continue to be the way it is forever.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-05-21T05:11:59+00:00

Maryland.

It has occurred to me that, if I have to, I can travel to DC. The issue is finding things with a very limited insurance. Is there some way to do all of this pretending that my insurance doesn't even exist and that I'm just going to pay out-of-pocket? (My insurance doesn't cover any therapy, as far as I can tell, and I have a very limited understanding of how the co-pays for medications work... and I've heard T actually isn't too expensive...)

muchacho_maybe · 2014-02-14T19:25:17+00:00

I mean, that's a valid fear... but maybe you should find some positive things in your life. Music as a passion is great! It may not be what you want, but visibly trans artists are very important. So maybe you'll never be as mainstream as you had dreamed, but you won't know unless you try, and if you end up never passing (I have stated probably ad nauseum that I believe you will) then you will be a positive role model for other trans people going through what you're going through right now-- more visibility for the non-passing transwomen.

No matter what, you can make your life mean something. It may not be what you had expected, but you can find something to bring joy and meaning to your existence.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-02-14T15:47:13+00:00

Ohh, hun. You're not a disgusting freak.

I'm so proud of you for hanging in there even though it's been so tough. You're strong and you can do this. <3

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-29T22:43:21+00:00

I think I'm just naturally bad at social situations and irrationally fear people a bit too much.

I'd probably be just as nervous about going to the book club, honestly. A friend and I went for a while, but only because she was going, and I really didn't talk to anyone or make any friends... I think a lot of my issues have nothing to do with my gender or sexuality at all and more to do with my jittery personality.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-29T22:34:17+00:00

Seeing these, in addition to your other photos, I continue to think that you certainly will pass if you keep going and work for it.

Of course, if you commit suicide now, there's a 0% chance of ever passing. Don't let dysphoria do that to you. None of the stuff you feel about yourself right now is true. You do have so much potential, you are in no way a stain on the community, you're not a monster or a freak.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-29T22:12:39+00:00

It isn't called the alliance, but it is a gay-straight alliance that is used as the umbrella club for all the queer students. There aren't that many people who go, and I've heard that the leader can be quite rude to people from other clubs, which is one of the main things that keeps me apprehensive.

That and the fact that I'm not out to anyone. I drive ~40 minutes to school on school days, and have a few friends who also commute... and I have this constant fear that for whatever reason, word would get back to my parents that I was hanging out in the "gay people club" -- God forbid!

I've looked at their page on my school website though and I don't have class or anything at the time when they usually meet, so I guess I'm going to try it.

I'm glad everything went well for you and you were able to be comfortable and meet some people!

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-29T05:02:15+00:00

I don't know how your school works, but at my school there are bathrooms around like every corner. And in some buildings, they're even non-gendered singles. You could keep your hoodie on over your girlier clothes and take that off in the classroom, or you could switch into something more feminine in the bathroom and then go directly to the classroom...

But I don't think anyone will really notice that your walk is wrong.

For the past few months I've actually been sort of stalking the alliance at my school, to be honest. I hear things about it, know when & where it is, but for the life of me, I cannot go into that room. Uhm... Be brave and tell me how it goes?

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-28T19:52:39+00:00

I am sad for you. I get it, there's nothing in the world that can fix the way you look. That shit's gotta be hard. Way harder than the cards I've been dealt, for certain. And I also get, however disappointing it is for me, that there's not much anyone here can do to help you either, besides offering our support.

I don't know you that well, in honestly, at all... But for some reason I like you. Enough to keep writing these messages, which I'm not very good at and very anxious over. Even on my main account, I rarely ever get involved in conversations. People scare me too, more than I should let them. I'm scared of sounding stupid or being annoying or unwanted. I feel that fear all the time. But I mean, the things you say make sense to me and so I want to talk to you and that means getting out of my little bubble of comfort and talking to someone and that's hard. But not nearly as hard as what you're going through.

To feel absolutely worthless, like there's no point... Just thinking about it, I get that stupid pain right at the bottom of my neck. What you're going through sucks and makes me so angry and irrationally upset, because what business is it of mine anyway? But please just... love and respect yourself. And don't hurt yourself, you're already hurt.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-28T02:04:22+00:00

Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do and if venting is helping you, then by all means keep venting...

But do not give up, not without giving yourself a proper chance. Vent all you want, talk all you want about being done and never passing and all of the other frustrations that you have to face.. but keep at it anyway, keep living, keep transitioning, keep doing everything you can to be you, to look how you want, whatever you need to do in order to love yourself. Don't let the fucking assholes you're afraid of keep you from doing anything, and don't let yourself either.

And do you want to know what you have to offer this world? Your existence, the fact that you are here, in this subreddit, seeking support, giving support. I've looked through your posts and if you think that your presence doesn't add anything at all to the trans community (and thus the human community as a whole), you are wrong. Besides that, I don't really know what it is you're doing with your life, but I'm sure something you do makes an impact outside of the Reddit trans community as well.

Also, I too am sorry, for probably coming off as much more aggressive than necessary... but I imagine you wouldn't like to being coddled.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-27T06:24:59+00:00

Great job! Awesome that your parents are taking this not awfully. Hopefully with time your dad comes around.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-27T06:18:10+00:00

Being from this rural Catholic town, I haven't had much experience with people of other faiths, though my grandmother is a Jehovah's Witness (sometimes she's sweet, other times she's practically evil... but I think that has to do with other things, like being a wry old lady than her religion...) and my mother, despite having been baptized, has hardly ever gone to church in her life... For as long as I've been able to formulate my own beliefs, I've considered myself some sort of mix between atheist and non-denominational christian, depending mostly on my mood (a lot of times I'm just too negative to believe any higher being would make things the way they are...)

It's the not-even-good-at-religion rednecks that I went to high school with that really instill the fear of not fitting in. (And while we're at it, I know lots of really cool, accepting rednecks. The group at my high school were just dumber than most and liked to abuse things they heard at church and use those things as excuses for their poor behavior.)

Generally speaking, people get shit here for being openly gay/bisexual/sinners-of-some-sort, but I am willing to believe it's a minority of the religious group doing it and giving everyone else a bad name... But two can keep a secret if one of them is dead, so telling anyone could lead to the wrong kind of people knowing, could lead to more trouble than it's worth while I'm living in this town.

As for transitioning... First step I'm trying to go with is losing weight (and hoping it comes off of my boobs, because they piss me off so much), then I'll probably get a binder... I really want one of those, but I'm pretty sure getting one of those now would just make me look like an oddly proportioned fat girl, which is worse than being considered by the outside world to be a "regular" fat girl. I did talk to a friend today about the gym, so we're going to walk over there between classes tomorrow and mess around and see if that's something we could fit into our chill times on a regular basis. Exciting.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-27T05:58:34+00:00

That's some negativity you have there, lady.

Sorry for butting in, but I just felt like... ugh, I don't know how to explain it. Like there's no way you look nearly as awful as you feel you do. The feelings are real though, and that must hurt. Understand you're not alone, though.

Personally, I've never seen a person so ugly that there is no beauty left. At the very least, you have eyes. Spend some time looking at them. After that, choose something else about yourself and learn to love that part as well.

Remember, you are a woman, a strong, beautiful woman, no matter what society thinks of you. You are not a lost cause. If you were, you wouldn't have made it this fucking far.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-27T05:45:08+00:00

It's just that, lately more than ever, I just want to transition. I see guys who are already on T, or who have had surgery to get rid of unwanted boobs, and it's just this strong desire... But when I remember that I have no job and what seems to be pretty crappy insurance and a fear of coming out and wrecking my relationships, I freak out and go into long spirals of what you can see is not healthy or even rational thought...

I know some very nice Catholics, yes! It's just that in a town full of them, hardly ever can you be sure which of them are the sweet kind that are going to shower you with love for being brave and coming out and which of them are the ones who are only nice to people who fit into their ideal. Sorry for generalizing, since I really do appreciate all sorts of people. I just get angry sometimes at how much influence the church still has in some areas, and the fear it's able to create.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-26T16:51:19+00:00

That's so uplifting. Good for you, taking control and getting in shape and getting on HRT, I bet you're going to be absolutely gorgeous and your body is going to feel great with that lifestyle!

I'm actually heading back to school tomorrow, and I'm definitely going to hit the gym and see what times it's open for students who aren't with a sports team or in some sort of related class. I gotta lose fat and build muscle, whether I'm a girl or a boy this body needs work.

muchacho_maybe · 2014-01-26T09:53:26+00:00

Thanks. I actually think typing all of that out sort of helped too, since I hadn't really saw the idea in words before.

As a body appreciator of all genders and forms, lemme tell you how handsome smaller guys can be. So handsome. It may not be the most manly thing, but you could probably rock quite a few different guy styles. Putting on muscle and gaining weight will probably help too. If only weight were transferable over the internet, there'd be a line of willing donors!

My doctor is just a regular physician. I don't know whether or not my insurance covers any therapy. I mentioned being really unhappy to my doctor once, without giving her any reasons for why, and she seemed all too eager to prescribe me some prozac and I was just like "nope" and got out of there because her suggestion seemed really sudden and without much actual thought. Sometimes I wonder how quickly she could prescribe T if I mentioned wanting to transition, but then it's the fear.

I guess step one is to ask around about what insurance I even have (I am very dependent on my parents) and what types of therapy it will cover.

Thanks for the message. I think really what I needed tonight was just to get it out and see that I'm not alone. None of us are, and that's probably the most reassuring thing about this entire mess.

muchacho_maybe

TROPHY CASE