Spring4Sims – The Best Finds, Downloads & Hints for Your Sims

Mirraaj is a 23 years old creator from Australia. He’s been playing the game for five years and though he says he found out about creating custom content for the game “too late”, I say it’s never too late to find what you’re good at! He creates mainly modern furniture at TSR, but also owns his own website. You can learnt about his beginnings, creating and talents in this interview!

Spring4Sims: Hey, Mirraaj! Let me ask you a few questions about yourself: what’s your real name, how old are you and what do you do in real life?
Mirraaj: Well, I can tell you that I am 23 and that I work with graphic design and marketing. As my name suggests – Mirraaj is a funny spelling of the word Mirage – so that’s how I like to keep it.

Spring4Sims: So, where did all that passion for playing and creating for the game comes from?
Mirraaj: I bought The Sims 1 the year before The Sims 2 came out and I absolutely loved it. I was pulling sickies left right and center to play that game. In 2007, I discovered custom content (I know – I was late). I found MTS2 first and was instantly in love. From there I began life as “Vertex”. After a few disappointments, I was then renamed to MFC (Micro Fashion Co.) and started skinning for only about 3 weeks. Nothing was ever uploaded, many sets were made though. I left MTS2 and started at TSR as a different username. After an unfortunate event I had to rename to “Mirraaj” in May 2008. The previous statement posts why I can’t disclose my old username. So far, almost all my old accounts are removed, and I’m working on getting the rest removed.

Spring4Sims: How did you actually learn to make all that stuff? Have you worked with some paint programs and 3D tools before, or did you have to learn all of that at once?
Mirraaj: My meshes were awful to start off with but I was willing to learn and not willing to fail. Under a few of my older usernames I was one of the worst, but around April 2008 it all clicked and I was making some fantastic meshes. The first great ones I made were the Firenze Entrance Hall. My textures are the easy part. I use Wood Workshop and photoshop to create my textures, but sometimes even Google Images if it gets hard. I have had a lot of practice with paint programs like Photoshop and Gimp 2. So that’s why my preview images are sometimes too extravagant. (I’ve recently started cutting back on the amount of photoshopping I put into the images).

Spring4Sims: Why did you choose to make modern art design? Personally, I love to download stuff like this but why did it become your hobby?
Mirraaj: Modern is always the thing I found that was lacking in the game. Electronic Arts and Maxis made great quality stuff, but it was very “old fashioned”. I found Murano Mobilia and that website was the inspiration I had to push on and keep trying. His content was so wonderful and surprisingly realistic to me back then. When I found it I thought it was actually real! So I suppose that modern has always been the inspiration, and the stuff I’ve downloaded. So I thought I’d give it back.

Spring4Sims: What’s the hardest part about creating custom content? And what do you really love about it?
Mirraaj: The hardest part is perfecting the .obj (3D Mesh). It’s quite difficult in some programs so that’s why mine are always simple. But I always take advantage of that and make up for it with the texturing. The thing I really love is preparing the sets for upload, taking pictures and setting up scenes for the objects. And then hearing the great feedback from the downloaders.

Spring4Sims: Have you found something that keeps you enthusiastic about creating? There are lots of people who start their own websites, but later they’re closed because of lack of time…
Mirraaj: I think that the comments that people post are the push I get to keep going. Like – after my bedroom sets, there’s always something to follow shortly after, because there’s always so many comments and downloads. My highest downloading set is the LaFlat Bedroom from TSR which has had over 4,000 downloads (for the set alone) and over 4,000 downloads for each individual item.

Spring4Sims: Do you think it would be good if Maxis/EA Games created an official tool for creating new meshes?
Mirraaj: Definitely not. Too many people would do it. And I think the thing that makes the community great is that people know of great creators and the upcoming great creators. But if everybody does it, it would ruin that I think. And really, custom content is something that should be something to learn, not just make, or else why should EA bother to make anything at all?

Spring4Sims: Where do you take ideas from? Do they just pop out in your head or do you browse magazines and websites to find some inspiration?
Mirraaj: The Vivienne Lounge was from a website, but everything else is either parts of something else I’ve seen off a catalogue, or just out of my own modern quirky head.

Spring4Sims: Most of the players say the game is time-consuming. Is it the same with creating custom content? How much does it take to create one set?
Mirraaj: A set for me doesn’t take long because they’re often smaller than most other artists. I’m sick of our Miscellaneous section being filled with nonsense, so I only make what the point of the set is like a bed, end table, lamp and dresser. That’s all a bedroom is for my Sims. I don’t need “clutter”.

Spring4Sims: Have you ever thought of doing something different like skins or genetics?
Mirraaj: I have previously tried those, but nothing has turned out as well as my objects have. I have ever only done home decor and that’s how I want Mirraaj to stay.

Spring4Sims: You’ve recently started your own website. Does it mean you’re migrating from TSR, or do you plan to keep your downloads there as well?
Mirraaj: TSR is my home. I will never leave but obviously my uploads will be getting affected by my new website – I only have so much time. Hopefully it doesn’t impact my progression too much. I would love to achieve higher levels at TSR. My website is going great though, almost 1000 hits in less than a month so that’s just fine with me. I won’t be moving my sets from TSR to Mirraaj.com though.

Spring4Sims: Everyone plays the game for some reason. What’s yours?
Mirraaj: My reasons used to be to have fun. But as I’ve gotten older I just want to make new scenarios and make things happen that wouldn’t normally. It keeps me interested in playing. As most creators just drop off playing all together, I wanted to keep on going.

Spring4Sims: Actually, how long have you been playing the game?
Mirraaj: 5 Years this Christmas.

Spring4Sims: When the Sims 3 hits the shelves next year, do you plan to buy it? And what about creating? Do you think you’ll continue?
Mirraaj: I’ve already placed a deposit on the Collectors Edition. Very excited. And I will play for a little while, enjoy the game and I’ll continue with creating for The Sims 2. When tools come out to create, I’ll drop off my The Sims 2 creating and start learning The Sims 3. Hopefully it doesn’t change too much.

Spring4Sims: What’s been your most and least favorite expansion pack and why?
Mirraaj: Most favourite: Open for Business – I love the amount of money you get. Least favourite: Seasons – What is the point of it? To grow veggies in a greenhouse? Worst $50 I ever spent. The older expansions are better, now they’re just pulling them out of the who-hey.

Spring4Sims: If you could choose a primary and secondary aspiration for yourself, which would it be?
Mirraaj: Primary: Popularity – need I say more? Secondary: Pleasure – because writing restaurant guides gets lots of Simoleons!

Spring4Sims: What else apart from creating are you doing in your free time?
Mirraaj: Free time, what’s that? Actually at the moment not much else, setting up a website the way I did it was hard work. Now I spend most of my time relaxing and watching TV. I am taking a few days break from custom content because I was getting tired of it. I want to stay enthusiastic so I’m just keeping away for a while. I also like hanging out at shops and in the city.

Spring4Sims: The community of The Sims games is incredibly big. What places are your favorite to chat about the game and what do you like the most about the community?
Mirraaj: Definately the TSR forums. There’s so many people to chat to about the game and custom content creation. So I find that a heaven after a long day.

Spring4Sims: If you think there’s something more you’d like to tell us, then speak up your mind!
Mirraaj: I am planning on changing style from elegant modern to quirky modern. This means more colours, and more lines of detail. Hopefully this will interest you as much as my previous sets. I would also like to thank everybody who downloads my sets. My affiliates Sims in Paris and Rose Sims 2 and my mates at TSR! Also, thanks Hannah for interviewing me and giving met he opportunity to show the community what I am.

Thank you, Mirraaj, for all your perfect answers! I hope your skill will get better with every set you create!

You can find Mirraaj’s creations at The Sims Resource or Mirraaj.com.

Are you a creator? Would you like to like to tell your fans more about yourself? Than what are you waiting for? Read our FAQs before you apply and then send me an email at HannahSpring(at)gmail.com and become more popular than you were yesterday!