Lights

Lights in The Sims series constitute a very broad category of objects, ranging from wall lights to street lamps.

The Sims 3
Lights are very customisable as of The Sims 3, and wall lights can generally by shifted up and down walls. Lighting can be adjusted for both color and intensity, and players can enter rgb codes to add custom light colors using the Shift, Ctrl + click interaction. Lights are divided into five tabs in buy mode under the following titles: Table Lamps, Floor Lamps, Wall Lamps, Ceiling Lamps, Outdoor Lights.

Various expansion packs have enhanced light behaviour throughout the series, so that light settings can be controlled by tomb objects if The Sims 3: World Adventures is installed. World Adventures also introduced a wide range of invisible light sources available using the Buydebug cheat. Initially lights could only sit in one position on walls, but as of a base game patch coinciding with the release of The Sims 3: Late Night most lights can be shifted up and down walls.

The light engine itself has provoked some controversy among players as lights do not flow from one floor to another, and often does not flow off of lots, leaving harsh visible edges on buildings and streetwalks. A higher level of bloom was introduced coinciding with The Sims 3: Ambitions.