Sims 3:Creating a game compatible Visual Studio project

Step 1: Create a New Project

• Set the framework version to .NET Framework 2.0.
• Use the Visual C# Class Library template.
• Preferably prefix the name of the library with your name / handle. Eg, Gibbed.Sims3Game.Test is what I would use. —Rick

Step 2: Remove all existing references

• Select all references, this is usually System, System.Data, and System.Xml..
• Right-click the selected references, and select Remove.

Step 3: Set the project to not reference mscorlib.dll

• Open the project properties.
• Set the active configuraiton to All Configurations.
• Change to the Build tab.
• Click Advanced to open the Advanced Build Settings window.
• Check Do not reference mscorlib.dll and click OK.
  • VS 2010 Users: In addition to ticking "Do not reference mscorlib.dll," you will have to add the mscorlib reference manually. This will be discussed in Step 5.
  • VS 2012 Users: You can skip this step. VS2012 does not have an option not to reference mscorlib. You will have to do it manually. This will be discussed in Step 5.

Step 4: Add references to the Sims 3 assemblies

You will need to have already extracted and decrypted the Sims 3 assemblies to do this step. See Getting Started with Scripting Modding if you haven't done this already.

• Right-click the References item in the Solution Explorer.
• Select Add Reference....
• Select the Browse tab.
• Select all of the Sims 3 assemblies. The assemblies you want to add are mscorlib, ScriptCore, SimIFace, Sims3GameplayObjects, Sims3GameplaySystems, Sims3StoreObjects, Sims3Metadata, System, System.Xml, and UI.
• Click OK.

Step 5: Set the references to not Copy Local

• Select all references.
• Set the Copy Local property to False.

Step 6: Fin

You're now ready for coding. :)