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to Old News ArchiveNews: May - June 2009
If
you've been hankering for screenshots of the initial loading screen, the New
Game screen and the Options window in The Sims 3, then I've got you covered.
Go to the Screenshots tab for some I've taken tonight of just those things
and more. Also, stay tuned for more screenshots from me soon. (By the way,
for some reason the in-game screenshots came out a bit dark. This must be
some sort of glitch with Windows's screenshot taking abilities.)
>
The Sims 3 Screenshots
Once again just one review tonight.
Gamernode rated it 9.0 out of 10:
If you're a fan of The Sims, obviously The Sims 3 is a must-buy, and you've probably already had it since the day it came out. But, if you never really "got" why people played the games, The Sims 3 might give you the answer you've been seeking.
A new The Sims 3 patch has been released,
fixing a few bugs including the story progression toggle not working, the
babysitter walking off with babies, DVD authentication errors, freezes when
cleaning out bad food from fridges and more. To read the full list of
updates, go to TheSims3.com, hover your mouse over The Game, click Game
Updates, then click the "Latest Update for: 1.2.7" (I would provide a direct
link but the address seems to vary by country). You should be prompted to
install the patch when you next open the game launcher.
> TheSims3.com
EA Unveils Marketing Deal With Dr Pepper, Includes The Sims 3
EA has unveiled a multi-million dollar marketing deal with Dr
Pepper, according to IndustryGamers.
The first title to take advantage of the deal with be The Sims 3 (starting early 2010), and other titles will follow. The overall campaign will include co-branded retail initiatives as well as “unique gameplay enhancing items.” On the retail side, EA will work with Dr Pepper to put codes on more than 500 million specially marked Dr Pepper packages, which can then be used to unlock “exclusive premium downloadable content that may include one-of-a-kind beach party items or all the elements of a perfect fall tailgating party.”
> "EA Unveils Multimillion-Dollar Marketing Deal with Dr Pepper" at IndustryGamers
Just one review tonight, but that's more than we've had the last couple of days.
Macworld rated it 4½ out of 5:
The addictive, immersive, quirky and open-ended gameplay make this the best edition of The Sims to date. Pushing escapism to new heights, it’s an instant classic for anyone who as a kid played “house” or wanted to jump into someone else’s shoes for a little while.
PC Games Hardware has looked at what the
benefit is in reducing or switching off some of the graphics settings in The
Sims 3, and produced a table, as well as some comparison screenshots.
>
"The Sims 3: In-game tuning and comparison shots" at
PC Games Hardware
Superguide To The Rescue!
1UP sub-site MyCheats has started a "Superguide" for The Sims 3.
Your favorite little characters that give you a god complex have returned in Sims 3. But how do you take care of them? Enter MyCheats' Sims 3 Super Guide. We're going to do our best to cover everything from creating a house to relationships to finding a job. And if you have any of your own tips to provide, feel free to sign in with your MyCheats account and contribute to the Sims 3 Super Guide.
Currently available are pages on "Creating a Sim", "Building a House",
"Death, Dying, and Murder", and more.
>
"The Sims 3 Superguide" at MyCheats
On the subject of guides, IGN's one is now complete. It covers creating
Sims, construction, other activities, skills and more.
> "The
Sims 3 Guide" at IGN
As part of an interview with IndustryGamers, EA CEO John Riccitiello jokes that The Sims 3's leak to pirates was part of a "secret marketing campaign".
IG: Tying into this digital distribution discussion, piracy has been a big problem for this industry and EA has wrestled with the DRM issue, most notably on Spore. More recently, it was announced that Sims 3 was very heavily pirated, more so than Spore. How are you handling this piracy issue?
JR: You identified our secret marketing campaign! [laughs] That was a very large scale – concentrated on Poland and China – demo program. In the game that was pirated there's [only] one city [out of two]... and Sims 3 has a massive amount of content, and a lot of it is downloaded once you register with EA... and join the online community.
> "Interview: John Riccitiello on E3, Fighting Piracy, Metacritic and More" at IndustryGamers
Two New The Sims 3 Screenshots
I've got hold of another two The Sims 3
screenshots, showing swimming and an opportunity:
>
The Sims 3 Screenshots
Fidgit has posted an interview with The Sims 3 producer MJ Chun. They discuss religion, laundry, homosexuality and more:
TC: You mentioned the seeds and such. How are seeds generated in the world? Is that dynamic? Or are the same seeds in the same places?
MC: There are spawners. You'll always find certain types of seeds in certain areas.
> "Homosexuality, religion, and laundry in The Sims 3" at Fidgit
Just one new The Sims 3 review tonight.
Gamezine.co.uk rated it 7.5 out of 10:
If you've tried previous instalments and have decided the game isn't for you, there's little here that'll change your mind – it is essentially more of the same (albeit a good deal more). However, this chapter in The Sims series, combined with the inevitable plethora of expansion packs, is likely to get fans' mouths watering.
Gaming Today has posted their gameplay impressions of The Sims 3:
The game is definitely a technical evolution as I described in my impressions on Sims 3 Creation, Buy, and Build mode design mechanics, but how does it actually play after you’ve spent hours designing your Sims and their new homes.
> "Gaming Today Sims 3 Gameplay Impressions: Out with the Old in with the New" at Gaming Today
10 more reviews for you tonight, one of which you may have noticed was actually added to the The Sims 3 Reviews tab last Thursday. Unfortunately I was very busy that evening preparing for a trip to London so didn't manage to post about it that night, and was unable to post to the website Friday and Saturday.
News10.net graded it B:
The Sims 3, however, isn't all good as it suffers from the same problem that the previous editions do. For as addictive as the gameplay is, it can get tedious and rather dull after a while.
> The Sims 3 Review at News10.net
ActionTrip rated it 8/0 out of 10 - "Very Good":
Ultimately, if you liked the previous Sims games, you will like The Sims 3. If the series has never floated your boat, there is nothing here that will make convert you the fan camp.
> The Sims 3 Review at ActionTrip
The Straits Times Digital Life rated it 8 out of 10:
Still, The Sims 3 retains much of the charm of the previous Sims, while presenting itself as a riveting new game that boasts amazing 3-D graphics. While my Sims' productivity at work went up, mine went down, and before I knew it, a whole six hours had happily gone down the drain.
> The Straits Times Digital Life's The Sims 3 Review at AsiaOne Digital
G4TV rated it 4 out of 5:
The intriguing possibilities means Sims 3 is one of the most playable games you'll likely own on your computer -- if creating neighborhoods and watching virtual soap operas are the sort of things that interest you.
Game Focus rated it 9.2 out of 10:
Fans of the series will not only appreciate the larger changes that came with Sims 3, but the smaller ones too. Quite possibly the best Sims game yet, this is a fantastic addition to the franchise and one that no fan should be without.
> The Sims 3 Review at Game Focus
al.com Techcetera graded it A:
It's more complex, more varied, and just plain more fun. This is definitely a must-purchase for Sims fans. With the inevitable flood of expansion packs that's sure to come, it's only going to get better from here.
> The Sims 3 Review at al.com Techcetera
USA TODAY rated it 4.5 out of 5:
Between its unprecedented amount of character and home customization, myriad career and lifetime goal options and huge digital sandbox in which to play, there is enough engaging game play in The Sims 3 to keep you entertained for months.
> The Sims 3 Review at USA TODAY
GameShark graded it A-:
This game is a natural step in the evolution of the series. Now, bring on the expansion packs!
> The Sims 3 Review at GameShark
YouGamers rated it 91 out of 100:
A fine digital toy and a great purchase for the fan of the series - as long as you accept that a lot of expansion features from The Sims 2 are missing and will probably be sold to you all over again as an endless stream of expansion packs and downloadable add-ons.
> The Sims 3 Review at YouGamers
VideoGamer.com rated it 7 out of 10 - "Good":
It remains at the top of the genre almost by default, given that the few Sims-clones released to date are all so toe-curlingly awful, but in avoiding the trip to Crapsville, instead it’s taken the stopping service from Decentburg to Averagetown.
> The Sims 3 Review at VideoGamer.com
The Metascore is at 87 ("Generally favorable reviews"), based on 54
reviews. The game's ranking at GameRankings is 86.63% based on 30
reviews.
>
The Sims 3
at Metacritic
>
The Sims 3 at GameRankings
More The Sims 3 Screenshots
Go to The Sims 3 Screenshots tab to see another 12 new screenshots:
>
The Sims 3 Screenshots
Pixie Lott has recorded her new single in Simlish. See it being done in this video:
New The Sims 3 Screenshots
Check out the Screenshots tab over on the The Sims 3 page for a
massive 47
new screenshots:
>
The Sims 3 Screenshots
I've found one single The Sims 3 screenshot. Enjoy:
Fragland.net have interviewed a The Sims 3 producer you probably haven't actually heard of (so not Ben Bell, MJ Chun or Grant Rodiek then): Melanie Lam.
- The best selling pc game ever is about to hit the stores, relieved the hard work is finally over?
Yes a lot of work is finally over, in fact this morning (day before official release) I was still getting e-mails about the Mac version software update that finally worked. It was really up to the last minute we were working on it.
> "The Sims 3: interview with producer Melanie Lam" at Fragland.net
IGN guide you to The Sims 3 bug solutions
IGN has posted the first part of their game guide
for The Sims 3, focusing on known bugs in the game and how
to work around them.
> The
Sims 3 Guide at IGN
Rod Humble chats to Stuff.co.nz
"The King of Sims" (their words) Rod Humble has
talked to Stuff.co.nz about The Sims:
"The darkest moment for me is before the first reviews hit. Every game that I put out, I believe it's 100, a 10 out of 10, and then I'm always disappointed when people don't agree with me and it's not maximum scores from every person.
"But with Sims 3, I was really happy. All the reviews were good. Also, seeing people play was really good as you never want to disappoint them. Their reaction was a big sigh of relief so now I can be happy."
Two more reviews tonight, both giving The Sims 3 the same rating.
Gamervision has rated it 9 out of 10:
It isn't hard to recommend The Sims 3 to fans of the series. It is, after all, a highly improved version of the past titles.
> The Sims 3 Review at Gamervision
Endsights rated it 9 out of 10 too:
The great soundtrack, the quirkiness, the online community, the adorable moments, the moments that make you smile and tear up, they’re all there in spades. If you dismiss The Sims 3 because it’s a bit more casual than other games, you’ll be missing out on something incredibly special.
UK Games Design student Robin Burkinshaw has
started a very interesting blog chronicling the lives of two "homeless" Sims
in The Sims 3. Start from the beginning with the introduction at the link
below, then click through to the next blog. Keep going until you've reached
the latest entry, then subscribe to the RSS feed!
>
Alice and Kev
Sorry I didn't post one of these yesterday, I was busy planning for a trip to London. Though if I had, I would have had only one review for you tonight. As it is, there's three:
PC Magazine rated it 4 out of 5 - "Very Good":
The Sims 3 is great for both newcomers and long-time Sims players alike. All the customization makes this the most in-depth Sims yet.
> The Sims 3 Review at PC Magazine
The Detroit News graded it B+:
The game that comes in the package is only the beginning. The strength of the franchise has always been the fan community, which has created thousands, if not millions, of personalized objects, characters, houses and even entire neighborhoods for the first two "Sims" games.
> The Sims 3 Review at The Detroit News
The Tuscaloosa News graded it B:
TS3 could definitely stand to be a bit more distinct from the other Sims games, but it offers enough change to ensure that diehard fans of the series will want to pick it up.
> The Sims 3 Review at The Tuscaloosa News
Based on 47 reviews, the Metascore is still 87. Based on
26 reviews, GameRankings' average is 87.27%.
>
The Sims 3 at Metacritic
>
The Sims 3 at GameRankings
If you're hankering for even more The Sims 3
screenshots, I've got you covered with another 11. They appear to be a bit
dark for some reason, but you can see what's happening. As usual, you'll
find them on the Screenshots tab:
>
The Sims 3 Screenshots
The Sims 3 has been released, so it's probably time to start thinking about what the first expansion pack will be. And that's just what I'm asking in the latest poll! Well, what you want it to be, anyway. I've given pretty much all the themes from The Sims 1 and 2 expansion packs to choose from, or you can vote Other if there is something else you want to see. If you do choose that though, make sure you click Vote with explanation and say what it is - we want to know (you do not need to give your name or email address to vote with explanation)!
Last time, I wanted to know why no one's bothered to make use of the
ability to make comments or post reviews on this website. The majority - 40%
- said they can't be bothered to register or log in. I sort of wish I'd
separated that option out so I know how many can't be bothered to log in,
and how many can't be bothered to register. Those in the latter camp should
know that you only need to register if you don't already have a Google
Account, Yahoo! Account, AIM account, OpenID or NetLog, and even if you
don't if you choose to create a Google Account you only need to give them
your email address and choose a password.
> Poll Results
Four new reviews tonight, two of which are from local newspaper websites.
BigPond GameArena rated it 9 out of 10:
The Sims 3 is an excellent sequel to a series that has either innovated or destroyed PC Gaming since its first iteration, depending on who you ask.
> The Sims 3 Review at BigPond GameArena
AceGamez also rated it 9 out of 10:
As such, The Sims 3 really is a game that keeps on giving; it's polished to near perfection and while it's missing a couple of old features, it shines in so many other areas where the series once lacked that I can only sing its praises.
> The Sims 3 Review at AceGamez
Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald rated it a full 5 out of 5:
For our money though, this is one of the best games of the year, and will keep us diverted for a good few weeks yet.
> The Sims 3 Review at Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald
Saffron Walden Reporter rated it 4 out of 5:
Suffice to say The Sims 3 is an astonishing game that'll keep you entertained for months or years to come.
I got hold of another 13 new The Sims 3
screenshots, a lot of which are nice views of what I assume is Sunset
Valley. Go to the Screenshots tab to view them.
>
The Sims 3 Screenshots
Another four reviews tonight.
Game Positive rated it 4.5 out of 5 - "Positive Pick":
The Sims 3 does exactly what a great sequel is supposed to, and serves to expand the already outstanding pedigree of the Sims series.
> The Sims 3 Review at Game Positive
Hooked Gamers rated it 8 out of 10:
If the fantastic gameplay doesn’t convince you that it is worth your fifty dollars, than the sheer amount of things to do should.
> The Sims 3 Review at Hooked Gamers
Examiner.com rated it 9 out of 10:
Honestly, I can't complain. I've been playing the game non-stop and I really love what I've been able to do. I feel, though, like I've taken a step back without my pets and some extra content from expansions or add-ons that are currently missing.
> The Sims 3 Review at Examiner.com
The Guardian rated it 4 out of 5:
Sims 3 won't win many new fans, but it's easily the best in the series – which will doubtless send it storming up the charts.
> The Sims 3 Review at The Guardian
GameSpot has released a video review to go with their text one released
last week:
>
The Sims 3 Video Review at GameSpot
A massive six reviews for you tonight, one of which doesn't give a score...
Teletext GameCentral rated it 8 out of 10:
The refurbished virtual doll house doesn't look that new, but its voyeuristic charm is greatly increased.
> The Sims 3 Review at Teletext
Game Informer rated it 9 out of 10, with a second opinion rating it 9.5 out of 10:
Even with that ostensibly simple premise, the development team has crafted a remarkably layered simulation that feels like what The Sims has been trying to be from the beginning.
> The Sims 3 Review at Game Informer
play.tm rated it 85%:
The Sims 3 does, however, provide enough innovation and novelty to be worth the asking price. The relentless accumulation of minor additions ensures a major upgrade, and it's really chuffing addictive.
> The Sims 3 Review at play.tm
Cheat Code Central rated it "Must Buy" - 4.5 out of 5:
If you're a fan of the series, then The Sims 3 will deliver all that you've come to expect and throw in a ton of new ideas, even if the amount of extra toppings doesn't seem as vast.
> The Sims 3 Review at Cheat Code Central
About.com rated it 4 out of 5:
All the elements we love about Sims is there. The goofiness and quirky sense of humor is still alive and kicking. Keep an open mind and you should enjoy "The Sims 3."
> The Sims 3 Review at About.com
Kotaku don't do ratings, so you'll just have to actually read their review and make up your own mind whether they like it or not. Or just read this quote:
Whether you're a seasoned Sims fanatic or a newcomer, though, there's got to be something in this massively massive game for you. So – get cracking, get creating and remember to update the drivers on your graphics card because that persistent city requires a lot of rendering.
If you already have the game, maybe you've got an opinion
of your own to share - and I've got the perfect place. Just
go to The Sims 3 page, log in with your Google Account,
Yahoo! Account, OpenID, AIM Account or NetLog at the
top-right if you haven't already, click the Reviews tab,
scroll down to the bottom, then review away! Or, just click
below, which will do most of those steps for you - just sign
in using the links, then type your review once you've done
that.
>
Review The Sims 3!
The Metascore is now based on 42 reviews, but remains at
87.
>
The Sims 3 at Metacritic
Just two The Sims 3 reviews tonight, both giving just one whole point from their top score.
GameZone rated it 9.0 out of 10:
Take the best elements of past The Sims games and add more improvements and you get an idea of how amazing The Sims 3 is and why fans will be playing it for a very long time.
> The Sims 3 Review at GameZone
Blend Games rated it 4 out of 5:
Sims 3 appears to take Sims 2 and push it up a notch, adding new twists and turns to make the game almost new again, while also embracing all of the things that made the first two version so addicting in the first place.
> The Sims 3 Review at Blend Games
Based on 37 reviews, the Metascore remains at 87.
>
The Sims 3 at Metacritic
It seems the Story Progression toggle in The Sims 3 doesn't work, and that feature isn't always doing things that are entirely logical.
An EA staffer has posted on the official forum with some instructions for PC users to manually disable story progression until a patch is made, if you want to turn it off.
If you leave it on however, it sounds like
some people are getting odd things happening such as single Sims suddenly
having children and families of three moving in with a single Sim they don't
know with just one bed.
>
"Concerns about Story Progression" thread at TheSims3.com forum
Another EA staffer has also
posted on the forum with some help if you get a Disk
Authentication Failure message. The problem appears to be
being caused by some specific DVD drives or Drive Letter
Access applications.
>
"Info on Disc Authentication Failure Errors" thread at
TheSims3.com forum
I've added another 16 The Sims 3 screenshots
to the Screenshots tab, so click below to see death, ghosts, repair work and
more.
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
Unfortunately the quality of these shots are not as good as I'd like because for some reason they were saved in GIF format.
Three new reviews tonight, with pretty good scores.
HEXUS.gaming rated it 9 out of 10:
The Sims is back, bigger and better than ever. The Sims 3 is a real high point in the series and an ideal time for anyone who hasn't played this life-sim, wherever they may be hiding, to enjoy its unique and addictive qualities.
> The Sims 3 Review at HEXUS.gaming
Kikizo also rated it 9 out of 10:
But it's The Sims to near-perfection, crafted with love, calculated to give the most enjoyment to a player and as involving, as simple to get into and as downright fun as it has always been.
A.V. Club gave it a grade of A-:
One of the most dramatic changes is the lack of load screens. You can watch your Sims as they jog to the park or drive to work, and they can socialize with people they pass on the street.
> The Sims 3 Review at A.V. Club
CVG has published a more complete (less edited down) version of PC Gamer
(UK)'s review. There isn't that much extra so if you've already read it on
Games Radar there's probably not much point reading it on CVG. It does
pretty much confirm the rating though - 9.0 out of 10. This is the CVG
equivalent of their score, which could be either 9.0 out of 10, simply 9 out
of 10 or 90% in the magazine.
>
PC Gamer (UK)'s The Sims 3 Review at CVG
For those who care, the Metascore has now increased by one point to 87.
>
The Sims 3 on Metacritic
I've just found one screenshot of The Sims 3. Enjoy:
Above: A nice picnic with a nice view
ZergWatch has posted a feature giving a rating on how well The Sims caters to the various types of The Sims player, including "Create-A-Sim Players", "House Building Players", "Neighborhood Building Players", "Movie/Story Players", "Single Family Players", "Multi-Family/God Players" and "The Sims 2 Console Players":
The Sims 2 Console Players: 5/5
For people who loved The Sims 2 for PlayStation 2, X-Box, and GameCube, The Sims 3 plays very similar to those. In fact, The Sims 3 seems like a souped up version of the console Sims 2. For people who hated The Sims 2 console games, well . . . you may not like how The Sims 3 plays.
> "The Sims 3 offers a mixed bag of new and old" at ZergWatch
Just two reviews this time, giving excellent and pretty good scores each.
Mirror.co.uk gave it 5 stars out of 5:
It's a testament to the great game design of the Maxis team and the fact that, however bad it can sometimes feel, the day-to-day grind of everyday life is ultimately pretty damn fun.
> The Sims 3 Review at Mirror.co.uk
TotalPCGaming rated it 8 out of 10:
Fans of the first two games will find plenty of new content to enjoy here, with the experience becoming increasingly engrossing with every passing hour, while later stages are particularly impressive if your Sims are successful.
> The Sims 3 Review at TotalPCGaming
The Metascore at this point is 86, "Generally favorable reviews", which
is the exact same score it had last time I brought it up - a good, but not
fantastic one. Comparing the current score to the ones for The Sims 1 and
The Sims 2 make it look a little disappointing, as they got Metascores of 92
and 90 respectfully (I'm not sure whether it would make any difference, but
The Sims 2 did get 61 reviews whereas The Sims 3 has so far only got 26),
putting them both in "Universal acclaim".
>
The Sims 3 on Metacritic
>
The Sims on Metacritic
>
The Sims 2 on Metacritic
What do you think of this? Discuss now below (remember, you may not need to register to comment on this website - if you have a Google Account, Yahoo! Account, AIM account, OpenID or now Netlog, you can use those).
I've got five more reviews for you tonight.
Boomtown has handed it a rating of 8 out of 10:
Give it time to circulate and new content will come pouring in, but what's there is by far the best in the series, and I can say that because the advent of seamless city exploration, fully integrated character traits and less dumbfounded AI in The Sims3 would make it difficult to return to its predecessors.
> The Sims 3 Review at Boomtown
1UP.com has graded it B+:
All in all, however, the problems with The Sims 3 are easily outweighed by the wide variety of funky new gadgets, sharp additions to gameplay, and a pervasive sense that the developers had the fanbase squarely in mind throughout the design process.
> The Sims 3 Review at 1UP.com
GameDaily has rated it 9 out of 10:
With hundreds of new in-game interactions, personality traits that add a quirky change of pace and new tools to create and expanding the ways that players will communicate with fellow Simmers, The Sims may be more of an evolutionary step in the franchise's development but it's a massive step in the right direction, a new way that we recommend for anyone (Teen or older, of course).
> The Sims 3 Review at GameDaily
The Telegraph has rated it 8 out of 10:
The sheer scope of possibility is a little daunting, so it’s really to the game’s benefit that it is just so instantly addictive. If you actually had to think about the epic scale of the undertaking you are about to embark on, you’d be too scared to turn on the computer.
> The Sims 3 Review at the Telegraph
bit-tech.net has rated it 9 out of 10:
The Sims 3 is a huge game stuffed with things to do and explore, with a number of features like the trait system that breathe new life into the series. Yes, it’ll doubtlessly be exploited just like the original games and it’s more iterative than innovative, but the formula works well and just because we probably can’t recommend it to regular bit-tech readers doesn’t mean we can’t recommend it for everyone else.
> The Sims 3 Review at bit-tech.net
More The Sims 3 Screenshots
I've added another 14 new The Sims 3 screenshots.
If you've already seen the ones added earlier, the easiest
thing to do work from the last screenshot until you reach
number 15 - then you're up-to-date.
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
EA has released a new The Sims 3 movie - the "Addictive TV Video Remix":
14 new The Sims 3 screenshots
I've also got another 14 new screenshots over on the Screenshots tab,
including the selection of eye makeup, fighting, Sunset Valley at night, the
Build Mode main menu and more:
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
Another three reviews for you tonight, all with good scores.
IGN UK has rated it 9.0/10 - "Outstanding":
Overall, the Sims 3 is superb evolution for the franchise and an impressive, enjoyable game in its own right. EA has obviously listened to criticism and worked hard to create a title that prioritises goal-based gameplay over micro-management to deliver an experience that's constantly engaging and thoroughly immersive.
D+PAD has rated it 4½ stars out of 5:
EA has done a commendable job at listening to its community and giving them what they want by way of the included movie maker, style creator and integrated online store, crafting not only a well-rounded package that bests its predecessor in every area, but a game that is, much like its virtual stars, filled with charm and character.
PC Gamer (UK) has had it's score converted to a 9 out of 10 by Games Radar:
What EA has done is create a platform for a new generation of expansion packs and downloadable content. Depending on where they take it, this might be like ‘needing’ to buy all your old films again on Blu-ray, or it might allow for new, exciting additions as towns expand in scope and scale.
GamesIndustry.biz has published a two-part interview with EA Play label head Rod Humble, focusing on The Sims. Subjects include his first memory of the series, Simlish, expansion packs and more:
Q: What's your first memory of The Sims?
Rod Humble: I can remember, I was working at Sony when number one was announced. I saw the preview for the game and I think like a lot of core gamers I just thought "What the hell is this? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever!"
>
"The Sims 3: Rod Humble - Part One" at GamesIndustry.biz
>
"The Sims 3: Rod Humble - Part Two" at GamesIndustry.biz
New patch for Mac version of The Sims 3
A new patch has appeared on TheSims3.com - or at least the list of
changes for one has. The patch updates the Mac version's launcher to be the
same as the PC version, so you probably don't need it if you have it on PC.
I haven't got the game quite yet, so I'm not entirely sure how you go about
downloading it, as there's no link, at least for me, on the Updates page. I
would guess you either need to be logged in and product registered, or the
update can only be downloaded through the game launcher. Here's a link to
the Updates page anyway:
>
Game Updates at TheSims3.com
The Sims 3 Launch Trailer released, plus new screenshots
EA have released a new trailer for The Sims 3 to celebrate/promote
it's launch. It goes through some of the Sims you can create. Check it out
on the Videos tab. You'll also find two new screenshots on the Screenshots
tab.
> The Sims 3 Videos
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
Just the one new review tonight - Crispy Gamer has rated the game "Buy it" in their system where the other possible ratings are "Try it" and "Fry it":
And along the way, The Sims looks to attract a whole new generation of people interested in spying on the neighbors, decorating a home, and spending real time and money taking care of a pretend person.
> The Sims 3 Review at Crispy Gamer
Animation World Magazine looks at The Sims 3 with MJ Chun
Animation World Magazine has published an
article about The Sims 3, featuring associate producer MJ Chun:
"You can create a rail-skinny Sim or athletic and heavy Sims," Chun says. "You can control the color of the Sims' roots and pick a different color for their highlights or the tips of their hair. You can sculpt their features with sliders, as well as use Create-A-Style to customize the color and patterns of their clothing."
> "Life Drama Without End: The Sims 3" at Animation World Magazine
GameLife explains how to make the most of The
Sims 3 upgrades
Wired.com blog GameLife has added a post that
details four things to do to make the most of The Sims 3's
massive upgrades:
1. Roll Your Own Life, Then Brace for Impact
When it comes to designing your virtual citizens, Sims 3 offers an unprecedented amount of freedom. A dizzying array of sliders and color wheels lets you customize just about every aspect of your Sim, from the roots of their hair to the socks on their feet.
> "4 Ways to Make the Most of Sims 3’s Massive Upgrades" at Wired.com
MTV's Multiplayer blog has a final look at The
Sims 3
Multiplayer, a gaming blog from MTV, has posted a
new article on The Sims 3 - a "Final Look". From reading it,
it seems to be a review in all but name.
As for the game side, play is no longer explicitly focused on managing Needs meters such as hunger, bladder and so on. The needs are still there, submerged behind several menus, but they all inform a new, constantly visible meter that indicates your chosen Sim’s Mood.
Sorry this is a bit (well, a lot) late - things didn't go to plan, but here we are with another three reviews, which all gave the equivalent of the same score.
NZGamer.com has rated it an "Excellent" 9.0 out of 10:
While it is easy to look back at the Sims 2 and all of the features that were packed into the game and all of its expansion packs, and miss that breadth, the Sims 3 really has opened up the world for its denizens and given them something more unique, subtle, and surprising.
> The Sims 3 Review at NZGamer.com
PC World has rated it 90%:
Whether you're part of that base or not, it's the most inviting, gratifying version of the game that makes the utmost in everyday banality utterly seductive.
> PC World's The Sims 3 Review at MSN
Gameplanet has rated it 9.0 out of 10 too:
All in all, Maxis have done an amazing job at making the game deeper and more exciting in almost every way, and yet somehow have managed to make the game overall much more manageable and understandable.
> The Sims 3 Review at Gameplanet
New The Sims 3 Screenshots
I've got another eight screenshots of The Sims 3 - check them out
on the screenshots tab:
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
New Feature at Apple
Apple has posted a feature about The Sims 3 on it's website:
As the family strolls down the sidewalk, they encounter Claire Ursine, a single pregnant woman living next door. She loves to fish, but she also happens to be a career criminal whose lifetime wish is to be The Emperor of Evil.
> "The Sims 3: Imagine the Possibilities" at Apple
Full TheSims3.com Launched
In case you haven't noticed, the full TheSims3.com has now launched,
including the Exchange, Store and more.
> TheSims3.com
GameSpot has released a "Primer Guide" covering the Create-a-Sim, Build and Buy Modes, caring for Sims and a Sim's life:
You'll be there every step of the way, from the day they move into their new home, acquire a job, find their true love, have kids, it's all in your hands. Now playing God isn't easy, so our Sims 3 primer will help get you up to speed with the ins and outs of life in Simville.
On the day The Sims 3 starts shipping in North America, I've got another four reviews.
Edge has rated it 8 out of 10:
And also the massively enriched character generator, and how it creates a world of different shapes and sizes, if not so much personalities. But with so much movement in a game that means so much to so many, the talking points seem endless. No wonder the Sims have so much to say.
> The Sims 3 Review at Edge Online
TotalVideoGames.com has also rated it 8 out of 10:
The implementation of the city coupled with the numerous improvements to the game flow and customization, makes The Sims experience much more rewarding and enjoyable than its predecessors. Undeniably the best Sims yet, the extension beyond the home is wonderfully natural and helps to focus on the bigger things than getting caught up in the basics.
> The Sims 3 Review at TotalVideoGames.com
GameTrailers.com has rated it 9.0 out of 10:
After suffering from an oversaturation of Sims for the last 10 or so years, it’s hard to believe The Sims 3 is as good as it is. It’s unapologetically a Sims game, but it also manages to feel truly fresh. If you’ve never, ever liked The Sims, you still probably won’t get what all the fuss is about, but if you burned out on all the Sims 2’s expansion content, we urge you to give The Sims 3 a look.
They have also produced a video review.
>
The Sims 3 Review at GameTrailers.com
>
Video Review
Finally, GamePro.com has rated it 4 out of 5:
But The Sims 3 allows players to play the way they truly want, way more than they ever were able to do before. The Sims 3 is a must for any fan, and the new features will win over many new hearts to the Sims franchise.
> The Sims 3 Review at GamePro.com
This leaves the Metascore at 86, "Generally favorable reviews", which is
good.
>
The Sims 3 at Metacritic
Four more reviews for you today from four major gaming websites.
GameSpot has rated it 9.0 out of 10 - Editors' Choice:
It offers the element of surprise, showing off its abundant charms through funny social interactions that make you want to be part of the improved virtual community. Although it could have offered even more right out of the box, there's still an awful lot of content here, and it's bound to put a smile on almost anyone's face.
> The Sims 3 Review at GameSpot
GameSpy has rated it 4½ out of 5 - "Great!":
You can also customize your neighborhood's layout, moving properties and families to different areas on a whim. The range of options is actually pretty intimidating to me, but players who live for this sort of thing get a pretty awesome toolset to work with.
> The Sims 3 Review at GameSpy
IGN has rated it 8.9 out of 10 - "Great":
The Sims 3 may not sway non-Sims fans from changing their minds about the series, but there’s more than enough here to please the many legions of fans already out there. This is simply a better playing Sims experience, and once you experience the freedom to hit the town without hitting a load screen you’ll be hard-pressed to go back to any of the earlier games.
There's also a video review.
>
The Sims 3 Review at IGN
>
Video Review at IGN
Eurogamer has rated it 8 out of 10:
It's the raft of minor additions like that which mean, despite a few pulled punches, that The Sims 3 is a broad and ridiculously charming game that manages to significantly expand upon its critical formula without ever becoming overwhelming.
> The Sims 3 Review at Eurogamer
New screenshots
There are also 18 new screenshots to enjoy:
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
Welcome to the first news post covering the latest reviews to be posted online for The Sims 3. Today (well, yesterday - I'm a bit late posting this) we have just one, and it's from a newspaper, but I thought I would start as I plan to go on anyway. I will post once at the end of each day with the latest reviews I've discovered to avoid clogging up the home page with multiple posts - if you want to know about them almost as soon as I do, you may want to watch the new The Sims 3 Reviews tab or the Updates page, as I will update the former as soon as possible.
The Sunday Times have rated it four stars out of five in a short review:
The emphasis has shifted towards you helping them to fulfil their goals more directly, whether this be rock stardom or domestic bliss. In short, it finally feels like a proper game. The visuals are nothing special and, inevitably, there are some tedious bits. Even so, this is easily the best Sims yet.
Macworld has posted what is surely one of the last hands on previews of The Sims 3 before the reviews start rolling in:
I was then introduced to Eddy, a pudgy, blond, mullet-wearing free loader. Eddy has certain personality traits that affect his skills sets, abilities, and behavior. He's a schmoozer and has an ability to get things from people. He also likes the outdoors, which is why Ben [Bell] designed his house to be open to the air.
> "Hands on with The Sims 3" at Macworld
Demo the game at your nearest Apple Store
Visit your local Apple Store (might be US only)
today and according to Macworld you can have a go with The
Sims 3's Create a Sim and Create a Style features.
>
"Apple Stores demo The Sims 3" at Macworld
Poll extended
The current poll has been extended due to a lack of
votes and is now set to end on Saturday 13th June. I know
it's boring, but help me out and vote. Please?
EEA have released a new The Sims 3 movie that explores some of the inhabitants of the downloadable town Riverview:
GameSpot have also released another four gameplay movies, titled "Day by
the Pool", "Night at the Cemetery", "Party with Marsh Mellows" and "Pumping
Iron". Watch them on the Videos tab:
> The Sims 3 Videos
GameSpot has recorded another two The Sims 3
gameplay movies, titled "Day at the House" and "Party at the House". Watch
them over on the Videos tab:
> The Sims 3 Videos
See Grant Rodiek at London's Apple Store next week...
According to Macworld, the Apple Store in Regent
Street, London is holding a special event where The Sims 3
associate producer Grant Rodiek will "talk about the
enhanced character AI and in-game customisation". The event
is free, and takes place next Friday, 5th June (the UK
launch date), between 3 pm and 4 pm and will also feature
"Rising musical star Pixie Lott [...] performing live
alongside her Sims 3 self".
>
"The Sims comes to life at the Apple Store, Regent Street"
at Macworld
...And read an interview with him now!
Casualgaming.biz has conducted an interview with
Grant, touching on topics such as why real life is boring
but The Sims isn't, what the most significant changes are,
why someone would spend "real" money on furniture, and more:
CG.biz: Has The Sims’ large female fan base altered the way in which you have approached development of The Sims 3?
GR: Oh absolutely. We have a large female presence throughout our team – more than the typical game development team. Obviously we don’t have a design document titled ‘Sims for Females’, but it’s something we always have on our minds.
> "INTERVIEW: The Sims 3 associate producer Grant Rodiek" at Casualgaming.biz
I've got hold of a massive 109 - yes, one
hundred and nine - new The Sims 3 screenshots. Check them out right now
on the Screenshots tab. I've toiled for hours and missed The Apprentice to
get them there so you'd better look at them. So CLICK:
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
PC World's Game On blog has done an interview with The Sims 3 executive producer Ben Bell:
GO: You've made customization a central tenet this time, letting users toggle just about anything, from aging to death.
BB: It's such a big game, and people have so many different ideas about what they want to do, so we felt like it was really important to enable everybody to do what they wanted.
> "Countdown to The Sims 3: A Chat with Executive Producer Ben Bell" at PC World's Game On blog
A new blog has been posted on TheSims3.com by assistant producer Grant Rodiek, who discusses creating a video in The Sims 3:
Every great director must first design a story with a plot and characters. I noticed I kept creating odd, mythical Sims. I thought they would make great characters in a low-quality cable access channel sitcom!
> "From Movie Watcher to Oscar Worthy Director" at TheSims3.com
IGN have done another preview of The Sims 3, this time looking focusing on The Sims 3 Store and the downloadable neighbourhood Riverview:
The Store will feature exclusive items made by the development team that can be used to further customize your game. There are five sections currently, and we're told that you can shop in different ways. You can buy whole sets of furniture, or just room sets (say a bedroom set), or just individual items.
> "The Sims 3: A Peek at The Store and Riverview" at IGN
Another new trailer has also been released, showing Natalia's Sims fulfilling their lifetime wishes (the link below the player came with the embed, so don't think I'm linking you to anything good with it):
You can also catch three new gameplay movies over on the
videos tab (their names all start with "IGN Gameplay
Movie"):
> The Sims 3 Videos
You may have heard of Susan Boyle, a contestant from Britain's Got Talent - EA certainly has. They've created a video in The Sims 3 with a Sim version of her walking around town being loved by everyone, signing autographs and being phoned by what looks like Barack Obama:
EA have also released another 15 new screenshots of The Sims 3, showing the
downloadable town Riverview, the Exchange, and The Sims 3 Store. Check them out at the bottom of the Screenshots
tab:
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
EA have released a new trailer for The Sims 3 - that's right, yet another new video:
Eurogamer has posted a new preview of The Sims 3:
Or it may have been discovering the patriarch of the town has a daughter, who I end up going out with, only to dump brutally, before hearing the patriarch has died, chatting up the widow in the gym (I ask her if she's single - surprise, she is!), and flirting with her enough to go steady.
EA have released another four The Sims 3 screenshots, showing what looks like a party, cooking and more:
See them larger on the Screenshots tab:
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
The Sims 3 has been leaked to Torrent web
sites weeks before it's release, according to Ars Technica. Though they have
been unable to test it from themselves (doing so would be breaking the law
of course), people who have downloaded it have reported that it works fine.
>
"Sims 3 leaked to torrent sites weeks before retail release" at Ars Technica
In other news, bit-tech.net have had some hands-on time (presumably through legal means) with the game and have produced a preview:
All of this carries on until you hit the middle of the adult stage, at which point you can choose to undergo a midlife crisis and utterly re-invent yourself with all new traits. You may also want to take this point to buy a lava lamp, replace the couches with beanbags and demand that nobody in your household is allowed to eat meat.
The article mentions some frame rate issues that will very likely be in the final game, which is a shame.
I've also added the eight new screenshots from the article to the
Screenshots tab.
>
"The Sims 3 Hands-on Preview" at bit-tech.net
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
If you can't wait until it airs on TV (or you don't watch
TV, or you don't watch commercial channels or...), The Sims
3 TV advertisement is available to watch on Play.com. Just
scroll down to the Review section:
>
The Sims 3 at Play.com
EA have also released another Spotlight on The Sims 3
video, this time focusing on Shtinky from Australia who
created a Sim that looks like a 40's movie star:
> The Sims 3 Videos
I've found 15 screenshots of The Sims 3 I've
not seen before on EA Singapore, and added them to The Sims 3 Screenshots
tab.
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
GameSpot has released a new The Sims 3 gameplay movie called "Day in the Life of a SIM", though I'd hardly call it a day. The video quickly goes through a bit of the Create-a-Sim and building a house before sending a Sim off to get a job at the town hall, then going to the beach:
EA have revealed on their The Sims 3 Bebo
profile that UK magazine PC Zone has done an exclusive review of the game,
giving it a good score of 92%. According to the post, this score is higher
than the ones given to The Sims and The Sims 2.
>
"PC Zone Scores The Sims 3 at 92%!!" on The Sims's blog at Bebo
In other news, EA have released three new programs to "promote interest in and get people excited about The Sims 3".
First is "SimFriend", where you receive emails from a Sim you have
selected, and select responses within them to help that Sim. Through helping
the Sim you can gain achievements with the ultimate goal being for them to
get married.
> SimFriend
Second is "SimSocial", where you create a Sim then follow their daily
lives, choosing what to do.
> SimSocial
Finally we've got SimSidekick, which allows to surf the web while a Sim
on a Flash overlay reacts and tells you features of The Sims 3. EA have
created videos of all six Sims on offer, which you can watch on this website
by going to The Sims Videos tab (their names all start with "Meet").
>
SimSidekick
> The Sims 3 Videos
EA have also released another Spotlight on The Sims 3 video, this one focusing on estatica from Portugal ("Spotlight on The Sims 3 Player: Estatica"), and a surprisingly funny Star Trek parody ("Return of the Trek Guys, The Sims 3 Parody"), which can also both be viewed on The Sims 3 Videos tab, linked above.
GameSpot has posted a new three page exclusive preview of The Sims 3. It's pretty extensive, including a list of all or most of the lifetime rewards that can be purchased:
Of the huge variety of traits, many can be extremely advantageous, while others can be extremely disadvantageous, especially when stacked together. There are clearly combinations of traits that were placed in the game for people who prefer to play toward a specific goal.
There's also a video preview, which you can see embedded in the article or below:
> "The Sims 3 Exclusive Hands-On - From Top to Bottom" at GameSpot
A live demonstration of The Sims 3 with associate producer Grant Rodiek took place on last night's episode of GameSpot's video series On the Spot. The demo starts about 12 and a half minutes in and is well worth a watch:
They have also released a feature talking about the
Create-a-Sim from a recent EA event, but I don't think
there's anything extra not covered in the above demo. Go to
the Videos tab to watch it (it's the "GameSpot Create-a-Sim
Feature"):
> The Sims 3 Videos
In an interview with CasualGaming.biz, The
Sims 3 executive producer Ben Bell has revealed that he doesn't know what
the road map is for the franchise after The Sims 3's release. "We’ll have
some time to think about it, but up until now we’ve been completely focused
on making The Sims 3 as good as possible", he replied when asked. Bell also
revealed his favourite The Sims 2 expansion pack in the interview.
>
"INTERVIEW: The Sims executive producer Ben Bell" at CasualGaming.biz
This is a bit odd - I just received a vote for
the "Have you pre-ordered The Sims 3?" poll, submitted way back on the 17th
April. Well, I've updated the poll's results to reflect this anyway:
> Updated poll results
EA has posted another three videos in the Spotlight on The Sims 3 Player series. First up is one that focuses on Ehaught58 from the United States, who has trouble building small houses:
The other two videos are of Decorgal
and TheSidDog, both Machinima Artists from the United States
- catch them on the Videos tab:
> The Sims 3 Videos
EA have released four new screenshots of The Sims 3, showing fun at a playground, guitar playing and more:
Go to the bottom of the Screenshots tab to view them larger:
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
EA have announced that The Sims 3 has gone
gold and has been released to manufacturing for the release starting on 2nd
June.
>
"THE SIMS 3 GOES GOLD" at TheSims3.com
In other The Sims 3 news, GameSpy have released a new preview where they talk about three features they think are cool:
Instead of having players focus on constantly maintaining the various stats of their characters (like hunger, cleanliness, etc.), the team behind Sims 3 has made it so now you worry more about the big picture -- your Sims' lives -- rather than the needs of their minute-to-minute existence.
> "Three Cool Features of The Sims 3" at GameSpy
GameSpy parent website IGN has done it's own small preview too, which looks at ghosts and the downloadable neighbourhood Riverview:
Riverview is a far different place than Sunset Valley, the town that will ship with the game. The latter is a gorgeous little coastal town while the former is designed to be a slower, more tranquil farming community. It's a pretty place, surrounded by farmland and with plenty of little nooks and crannies to explore.
IGN website Green Pixels has released a video preview of The Sims 3. Mixed in with the clips from previously released trailers is some probably-new in-game footage:
EA have released a Q&A to the press covering The Sims 3 Store, the downloadable neighbourhood, copy protection and more:
Q: How is Riverview different from Sunset Valley?
A: Riverview is a town with an idyllic countryside setting. It’s dotted with farms and nestled by a winding river. This sleepy little town comes with an entirely new set of inhabitants with secrets for your Sims to uncover.
Q: Is there copy protection on the disc?
A: Yes, we have the same level of copy protection on disc as what shipped with the original The Sims 2 base game.
> The Q&A
EA have released another video in their Spotlight on The Sims 3 Player series - this time, machinima artist Bacanandeggzie (or is it Baconandeggzie? EA can't seem to decide) from the United States, who created the "Morning Run" video previously made available. Take no notice of the video's title - they seem to have overwritten the video he made with this Spotlight video, keeping the title from the former.
I installed Google Friend Connect on this web site just under five months ago now, so how many people have actually commented on my news or features, or reviewed my houses? Precisely zero (except me, at time of publish). Why is this? That's what I want to know in the latest poll. Vote now to the right of any page, preferably with an explanation for your choice (click "Vote with explanation").
Previously I asked whether you've pre-ordered The Sims 3. About 36% of
voters have, with about half of that amount having chosen the collector's
edition rather than the standard game - see the full results by clicking
below.
> Poll Results
EA
has announced The Sims 3's full online feature set in a press release, which
describes The Sims 3 Store, the Game Launcher, The Exchange, Create a Movie,
Create a Story, My Page and My Studio. A screenshot of the Game Launcher was
included and is shown on the right - go to the Screenshots tab to view
larger, where you'll also find two new in-game shots. It also confirms that
a second town will be available to download at the game's launch, called
Riverview.
>
"EA Reveals The Sims 3 Full Online Feature Set" at Business Wire
> The Sims 3 Screenshots
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