The Sims 3 Forum and Guide Terms
Glossary of Generally Accepted Acronyms and Terminology
by SimPoseyYum & our Community
Amb: Ambitions expansion pack (EP), released June 2010
Base game: The original game as it was released in June 2009. Also called Vanilla.
BB: Barnacle Bay, a downloadable town with a Pirate theme, released March 2011
BP: Bridgeport, the town that came with the Late Night expansion pack (LN) (EP)
BlackOps: A term used in some of our Challenges. Once Sim A completes an Opportunity (op), that Opportunity is a BlackOp and is off limits for all other Sims in that Challenge.
buydebug: A cheat code which adds additional Expansion pack (EP) or Stuff pack (SP) objects to Buy mode. Buydebug objects are not considered custom content (CC).
cake up: The act of using a birthday cake to force a transition to the next life-stage before the natural transition/birthday date. "...I caked him up from teen to YA..."
CAP: Create-a-Pattern, a downloadable objects tool with which the player can create entirely new patterns
CAS: Create-a-Sim, the paper doll area where the player can create or modify playable Sims. CAS can also stand for Create-a-Style. Context is key.
CAS: Create-a-Style, the palette tool in Build or Buy mode which allows the player to change or modify the looks of objects by recoloring or switching patterns, etc. CAS can also stand for Create-A-Sim. Context is key.
CAW: Create-a-World, a downloadable creation tool with which the player can create whole towns from the ground up
CC: Custom content available for download by EA at the Sims 3 store. Third-party Custom Content, aka mods, are created by other players and not supported by Electronic Arts. A detailed discussion of CC, particularly as the term is used on these forums, can be found here.
Challenge: A Challenge is a goal-oriented method of playing where players adhere to a specific ruleset, start and stop time and scoring system.
cheat codes (or sometimes just cheats): Cheat codes enable the player to alter some of the game rules. No programming knowledge is needed and no permanent changes are made to the game itself.
clearing caches: Clearing temporary files from your Sims folder in order to make your game run more smoothly. Instructions on how to clear caches can be found here.
Dynasty: A specific, multi-generational Challenge created for our forum members by Metropolis Man. For more information on Dynasties and Challenges, please look here.
EA: Electronic Arts, the developers/publishers of the Sims franchise
EP: Expansion Pack, an addition to the game that typically adds new gameplay elements as well as objects
Exchange, the: A freebie store, accessible from the Official Sims 3 website, from which one can download player-made custom content (CC) without the need to use Simpoints.
FLS (or sometimes FL): Fast Lane Stuff, a Stuff pack (SP), released September 2010
Gen: Generations expansion pack (EP), released May 2011
HELS: High End Loft Stuff, a Stuff pack (SP), released February 2010
HoF: Hall of Fame. A showcase of players who've done exceptionally well in Challenges (Challenge Hall of Fame) and/or Dynasties (Dynasty Hall of Fame).
IF: Imaginary Friend, introduced in the Generations expansion pack (Gen) (EP)
Legacy: A specific, multigenerational Challenge created by Pinstar on the Official Sims 3 site.
LN: Late Night expansion pack (EP), released October 2010
LTH (or sometimes LTHP): Lifetime Happiness points
LTR (or sometimes LTHR): Lifetime Reward (or sometimes Lifetime Happiness Reward)
LTW: Lifetime Wish
max (as in "max a skill"): Earn all 10 skill points in a skill. If the player also completes all the associated Skill Challenges, that skill is then said to be Super-Max'd.
MM: Moodlet Manager or Motive Mobile, depending on context. Two of the many rewards that can be purchased with Lifetime Happiness points (LTHP).
mods: Third-party modifications (as in, not created or sanctioned by EA) which, when downloaded, alter gameplay. A detailed discussion of mods, particularly as the term is used on these forums, can be found here. Mods can also refer to Forum Moderators. Context is key.
mods: Forum moderators. Mods can also refer to third-party modifications. Context is key.
MOO: MoveObjects on. A cheat code which allows the player to move objects around in ways not originally intended.
nooboo: Simlish for "baby" or "infant". For more Simlish translations, please see this Simlish Dictionary.
NPC: Non-playable character when they are in their occupation. Examples include maid, firefighter, police, magician, bouncer, pizza delivery and so forth.
objects: Things Sims can purchase via Build or Buy mode and then interact with, such as furniture, doors, appliances, musical instruments, etc.
OLS (or sometimes OL): Outdoor Living Stuff, a Stuff pack (SP), released February 2011
ops: Opportunities, generally offered to a Sim via cellphone calls. See also BlackOps.
Pets: Pets expansion pack (EP), scheduled for release October 2011
rbbb: RestrictBuildBuyInBuilding. A cheat code which allows the player to use Build and Buy modes in places where those modes are normally not usable.
Rabbit Hole: A building where Sims enter and do things (go to work, see a movie) but the player can't see or control them. Much like a rabbit disappearing into its hole.
RV: Riverview, a downloadable town available to anyone with a registered Base game
Simpoints: The currency used at the Store. Currently, the rate is 1 USDollar = 100 Simpoints. For further information regarding exchange rates, see the Official Sims 3 site.
SP: Stuff Pack, an addition to the game that typically adds just new objects. SP can also refer to Story Progression. Context is key.
SP: Story progression, the game mechanic that allows townies to live autonomously, age, marry, get jobs, have children etc. SP adds a dynamic element to gameplay. SP can also refer to Stuff pack. Context is key.
Store, the: The EA Store, accessible from the Official Sims 3 website, from which one can purchase EA-created custom content (CC) using Simpoints
Super-Max: A skill is Super-Max'd when the player has earned all 10 points in a skill AND has completed ALL the skill challenges associated with that particular skill
SV: Sunset Valley, the town that comes with the Base game
TB: Twinbrook, the town that came with the Ambitions expansion pack (Amb) (EP)
TLS (or sometimes TL): Town Life Stuff, a Stuff pack (SP), released July 2011
townie: Characters who populate the game but were not created by the player. Examples include Mortimer Goth, Agnes Crumplebottom and so forth.
TS3, TS2, TSM: The Sims 3, The Sims 2, The Sims Medieval
Vanilla: The original game as it was released in June 2009. Also called Base game.
WA: World Adventures expansion pack (EP), released November 2009
YA: Young adult, one of the Sims' 7 life-stages (baby, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, elder)
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