Awesomemod is not easy to find, install, or use, but it can save your virtual bacon.  I used it to repair my game last night so that I can keep playing, instead of reverting to a backup and losing a month of gameplay!

First, a word of caution.  The process of installing Awesomemod can completely destroy your game.  Using Awesomemod can completely destroy your game.  The potential for disaster is high, so be prepared to start over from scratch if you have to, and back up your files before you start installing!

Before using Awesomemod, you should be comfortable with the process of backing up your files, and using the command/cheats console (CTRL + Shift + C).

What Is Awesomemod?

Awesomemod is a little bit of code which unlocks the Maxis development and debugging tools.  

Awesomemod lives on the More Awesome Than You (MATY) forums.  I don't really know much about MATY, except that it is permanently set on "snark."  But who cares if they act like jerks - you're not there for the company.  You're there to get Awesomemod!

What Does Awesomemod Do?

You can read a full list of Awesomemod's abilities here on the MATY wiki.  Basically, it lets you turn hidden features off and on.  For example, if you turn on "All Ingredients Directly Edible," and your Sim will be able to eat a cheese or a steak.  

I was having trouble with the game locking up every 10 in-game minutes.  I learned online that this can be caused by stuck NPCs and stuck abandoned cars.  I found several cars just parked on the streets downtown.  Luckily, Awesomemod gives you access to the "towderelicts" function.

I Can't Register For MoreAwesomeThanYou.com!

You may be staring at a registration screen, Googling "What is the capital of Assyria?" and "What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?"  Various combinations get you something about BRAN MUFFIN.  

The secret is, you don't have to register.  In fact, they would prefer you didn't.  The registration screen means that someone gave you a bad link.  It's like a really bratty 404 error.

How Do I Get Awesomemod?  

You can download it from the MATY forums here, from the locked/stickied thread titled "AWESOMEMOD! SHINY! WIP - Downloads & Announcements."  Be sure to download the Framework, too.

How Do I Install Awesomemod?

Install instructions are available in the locked/stickied thread titled "HOW TO INSTALL THE FRAMEWORK AND AWESOMEMOD."  In a nutshell:

1.    Back up all your game files - both the ones in Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3 AND the files in C:/Program Files/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3 and The Sims 3 World Adventure.

2.    Follow the instructions to add the Framework files to your Sims 3 folders (the ones under Program Files).

3.    Follow the instructions to add the Awesomemod files to those new Framework directories.

How Do I Use Awesomemod?

There are two ways.  The easiest is to use the Awesomemod Config Tool.  This will give you a little text file that you drop into the same folder as the awesome.package file.  

When you're playing the game, you can bring up the cheats console and enter the new config.  For example, to get rid of all those abandoned cars, I typed "towderelicts on".  (The command "fixall" also worked wonders for me.)

I ended up with one derelict car that Awesomemod couldn't remove.  I was finally able to delete the abandoned car by using the cheats console to set "testingcheatsenabled true", then shift + left click on the car, click "Object" and then click "Delete."