Troubleshooting Problems!!!!

It usually means that either your computer either is not good enough to use for the game, or that you have a faulty DirectX install.

I don't have the URL handy for messages that discuss them, but I do know that one of the stickies (messages which are always at the top of a section) discusses this question. You could probably also find the information through a search on this BBS. (Unfortunately, I can't explain them off the top of my head and would have to look them up myself. But that would take more time than you finding them for yourself.)

In terms of the computer specs, if you list them, that's often the next step in helping someone with your problem. (Without knowing your computer's specs, especially the processor type/speed, RAM type/amount, video/graphics/display card, etc, it's really difficult to help you.)

 

I'm glad you figured out how to make it work.

As to the "successful game" it really depends on what you want out of the game. That seems to be so individual becauase TS2 doesn't have set goals like console games and some other PC games. The goal is what you want it to be in many cases.

For example, some people like building a family using no cheats and according to specific rules. (See Legacy Challenge as the "keyword" for searches.)

Other people like playing the families in the Maxis neighborhoods.

Other people like to just dig in and play, without even reading the manual because they find it fun to figure out how the game works without any help. (I am *so* not one of those people.)

Other people like to make their own neighborhoods from scratch: building the "neighborhood" in SimCity4, then importing this neighborhood, which only has roads, terrain and maybe some trees, into TS2 and using the neighborhood customizing objects to make it look real.
Then placing empty lots in the neighborhood which will eventually have houses built on them.
Using BodyShop to make the clothes and the Sims.
Making a family from the BodyShop Sims and putting them on one of the lots.
Building the house for the family.
Playing the family.
(Or even, as I've done, remove all the Townies and make individual families to populate the entire neighborhood.) (Note: doing this may involve using cheats like motherlode so that your family can spend time building their lives instead of making money to build a reasonable house. The Multipainting by Merola64 is also helpful in this: Merola's Multipainting. If you hadn't guessed, this is the way I play the game. For me, the fun is in the building.)

I have found that the Prima Guide is very handy to have since it lists things like all the careers with their requirements and work times, etc, all the Sims objects, explanations of various aspects of the game in more detail than the manual which comes with the game, etc.. And if you are going to play the Maxis families, it gives hints to help with those.

You may want to read through the various posts on the website. Some of the longer ones talk about how to play various ways.

Have fun! And remember that there is no "right way" to play The Sims. It depends on what you like to do in your "sandbox."