You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January, 2007.
The much-awaited Pets patch is yours for the taking. Download it from the official site.
Feel free to discuss the changes here.
The complete list of changes are here:
Read the rest of this entry »
Okay, the official site updated today with some info regarding the upcoming expansion.
There are going to be pre-order gifts once again, they are as follows:
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Pre-order from the EA Store and receive the special Bathing Suit download for your game. Pre-order now and get free shipping**! Use code S2SEASONFS when you order.
Pre-order from GameStop and receive the exclusive Raincoat download for your game!
Pre-order from Amazon and receive the special Bathing Suit download for your game!
Pre-order from EB Games and receive the exclusive Raincoat download for your game!
But this time they’re not only giving away pre-order bonuses - there’s ones to be had when the game ships! Shipping date is currently listed as February 27th.
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The exclusive Swingset download will be available through Best Buy when this game ships
The exclusive Garden Trellis download will be available through Target when this game ships
See the information/pictures for yourself
There are also a few new screenshots and last, but not least - a video trailer!
Sims2 Pets for the PSP was just recently released, the last system to get this version of the game. Gamespot has done a review of the PSP version, which doesn’t come without problems. According to them, the loading times frequently disrupt consistency in gameplay and Pet management is very hard to do in a regular sim day. They also mention there’s a very limited neighborhood size and only a single downtown lot. They do however say the sims AI in this version is the best console one to date, giving a more authentic sims experience.
The Sims series started on the PC as a popular and difficult-to-describe strategy game that let you control the lives of little computer people in the houses you built for them, as they loved, grew old, had families, and occasionally used the potty. Seven years, several different game platforms, and numerous editions later, the series has become known for offering zany humor, colorful graphics, a gibberish language that its “sim” characters speak (known as “simlish”), and cheerful music. However, the console versions of the Sims games never quite stacked up to the PC version, mainly because the console games tended to focus on collection-based minigames and unlocking hidden items. Also, they never seemed to capture the autonomous, unpredictable artificial intelligence that powered those happy little sims in the PC versions. However, The Sims 2: Pets for the PlayStation Portable is a full-featured port of the console versions of the same game with most of the content intact, including better AI for its sim characters. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to enjoy because the game constantly stops dead in its tracks with load times.
When I visited Maxis in December, Seasons was not the only thing they showed us, they also gave us a presentation on the new Life Stories line, and we were able to play it also.
Some of this news has been covered on the Maxis site already, and those parts I’ll summarize, because by now you’ve seen this news.
Life Stories is a line of stand-alone games (with different themes) in which you can play a sim through a storyline of life changing events. There is also a free play mode similar to the Sims 2 games you already know. The game is designed to run without a custom video card and on laptops and other systems, and might also work for those whose desktop computers aren’t quite up to running Sims 2. It runs in a window, so you can easily instant message or do other things while playing. What will be important to players here who are used to downloading - Sims Life Stories does not accept content from Sims 2 stuff packs or user-made content, it is a distinctly different game.
In the first release of this series you can guide Riley through her new adventures, she’s moved into her Aunt Sharon’s house while she gets back on her feet. But who will Riley end up with – Mickey or her old flame Dylan? There is a second story also, that of Vince – who is a technical whiz but well… he’s not a whiz when it comes to romance. Each story has 12 chapters, and with the successful completion of each chapter there is a reward. The sim has a goal which forwards the storyline and three wants at any given moment, and there is no rush to push through the goals – there’s plenty of general gameplay to be had while working through the storyline. Sims can skill, invite friends over, will go to work, and so on, in addition to the story goals.
The game is designed for easier play – some aspects of the interface have been simplified; for example, the sims have no fears to contribute to aspiration failure. Their short term wants and the added goal will all raise aspiration, so it is not very difficult to keep that score up. Needs are set to decay a bit more slowly, and even if needs go critical, the sims will not die. There are handy keyboard shortcuts for day to day needs, for example: hit a key and the sim will simply go use the nearest bathroom – without the player having to locate the bathroom and specifically click on the toilet.
While these games will not have expansion or stuff packs or user content, it’s not necessarily just your base Sims 2 game. Some aspects of the EPs are included – for instance, the sims can dine out and go bowling, incorporating at least some aspects of Nightlife. Sims can receive gifts, which I believe is included in the yet-to-be-released Seasons EP. There’s a Pets Stories planned, which obviously is going to have some aspects of what we associate with the Pets EP.
There is more: the game includes a new Family Journal to record events in. And for those who shudder remembering the base game wallpaper – some of it has been reworked into something much more versatile and visually pleasing. Life Stories has some custom special events footage for the new stories, as you might expect. Maxis may offer special additional content for these games from the new site that will exist specifically for Life Stories.
During our hands-on time, I played a chapter where Riley invites Mickey to go on a date. There were a handful of different tasks to accomplish, for instance, once they arrived at their destination, Riley’s goal became to play some chess with him. Eventually a meal was had… and then…. a kiss to end a most lovely evening. I must say, the keyboard shortcuts were great to use, I missed them the moment I went back to play with Seasons, and the graphics quality was excellent. I am impressed with how this lower system requirement game ran and looked, it seemed no different from my Sims 2 game with a graphics card.
Build mode is off during the storyline play – but in freeplay there is build mode and the CAS that we all know, for you to create new sims and dress them and get them ready for their adventures of your making. Users can start with freeplay or play Riley or Vincent’s stories. Completing Riley’s and Vincent’s stories will unlock all of the new reward objects, making them available in Free Play to purchase in the rewards bin. Also, once either story is completed, each becomes ‘Free Play’ allowing the player to continue playing Riley or Vincent as they want.
So who is this game for? Well, if you have the full game and EPs and they run well on your system, it’s unlikely this game will be of interest to you. On the other hand, if your built-in graphics card isn’t up to running the game and all the eps, you might find this version a way to get your sims fix. Some of your friends, moms, aunts, uncles, or cousins who find the original game a bit too complex might enjoy this somewhat easier to play game. And if you really have wanted Sims 2 on your laptop, but your laptop hasn’t cooperated, this might be the answer you’re looking for. Do check the system requirements posted on the EA Life Stories site.
When you think of Sims Life Stories, just remember that it is a separate game. While it’s also called “Sims” - it is part of the Sims product line, just as Sims games for various consoles are specialized games. Expected to ship Feb 2007.
Maxis has launched a new site for the games at http://thesimsstories.ea.com/
Want to discuss Sims Life Stories? Click here for the forum.
Over on the Sims2 BBS, Gugas1990 posted about finding the new seasons icon! A lovely little brown leaf
PT Gamers has put up their Life Stories article and have included over 400 screenshots from the game. Check it out here!
Last, but not least - if you are interested you can check out the Maxis/EA Official LifeStories Press Release
Along with Seasons information cropping up, comes stuff about Life Stories. Screenshots have been posted by thesims2.cz and what’s more - the first trailer for the game has been found!
Cynamite.de was the site to discover this and although the site is not in english, the trailer is - so what are you waiting for? Go watch it now!
The official site has updated with a number of screenshots from the upcoming expansion pack. They look great and include kids warming themselves by a fire, a snowman, ice skating and being cold!
Thanks to KKai for bringing this to my attention. Earlier today I posted box art from just one of the life stories boxes - there are to be three of them and you can see all three boxes at the end of this post. Though according to the official site, the release of Life Stories (first in the Stories series of stand alone sims games) will be in February 2007 and not on January 22nd as noted earlier.
It’s their life, but it’s your story!
Are you new to The Sims or know anyone who is? This is the game for them. The Sims Life Stories is the first release in an all-new, standalone product line called The Sims™ Stories. Play through all the great moments of your Sim’s life in this easy-to-play, laptop-friendly version of The Sims. In the new and engaging directed Story mode, you take your Sims through a unique and entertaining storyline full of romance, conflict and dramatic twists. In open-ended Classic mode, you create Sims and then choose how they’ll fulfill their dreams through life’s biggest moments. Stay connected by using your own IM and email while playing.
Read the entire article here on the official site
If you’re still wondering what the box for the upcoming Life Stories looks like, wonder no longer. Set to release Jan 22/07 this standalone sims game is laptop friendly and should run much smoother on older systems that struggle with the current sims 2 games.
A while ago we mentioned that the sims was going to be available on the new nintendo wii console - and boy does it look different than any sims game we’ve ever seen! computerandvideogames.com now has a preview of the upcoming title on their website.
Blimey. This came from nowhere this month, and watching the stubby-limbed Chibi-faced characters of the Japanese trailer (Chibi being the form of highly stylised drawing in which the body is about the same size as the head. Chibi is used to describe a small person or child; but often in a derogatory way), you’d be hard pushed to recognise this as an actual Sims game, so alien does it seem from what came before. A radical Japan-ification has taken place - The Sims now sporting a distinct Animal Crossing/Harvest Moon vibe.
