#debug messages

If you’re interested in digging into unused or early content in The Sims 2, a great place to start is a tool called SimPE. It allows you to open and explore the .package files the game uses.

To find unused text resources, look for entries of these types:

STR#

CTSS

BCON

You can read more about these formats here:

Each of these resource types contains string tables. When you click on one, you’ll see a list of strings. From there, click the “English” button to view the available language options - each language contains its own version of the text.

Not all of these languages were used in the final game. Some were planned but later cancelled during development. There’s a list of these incomplete or missing localizations:

These unused localizations often preserve:

Early versions of finalized text

Debug messages

Placeholder strings

A particularly useful one is the Ukrainian localization. It was dropped during the base game’s development and never updated afterward. Because of that, it’s a great source for finding unused or early content that didn’t make it into the final game.

You can compare these strings to the English versions to trace how the content evolved over time.

If you’re searching for something specific (such as a name, reference, or behavior), SimPE also includes a helpful tool called Simantics Resource Finder, located under: Tools → PJSE → Simantics Resource Finder.