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On EA’s site:
http://thesims2.ea.com/update/
The fix list is long, there’s over 30 items… so if some of these bugs were bugging you - go and grab it
:)
You can get the official scoop from EA, including some screenshots.
If you want to discuss the news, there’s a handy dandy forum area devoted it the very topic here (be sure to read the rules!)
The listing doesn’t note what exactly was added to the patch, but there is a new announcement dated March 5th on the EA site for a Bon Voyage Patch. There’s 39 fixes total listed… so go and get it -
http://thesims2.ea.com/news/detail.php?id=1132
Also, they have posted yet another car for download, the Ford Edge
http://thesims2.ea.com/getcoolstuff/ford/index.php
Enjoy!
You can view to log from today’s chat at EA about Freetime here:
http://thesims2.ea.com/community/chat_02_21_08.php
And in case you missed the previous news, the 2nd patch for BV is also out.
Well, you can now get your patch at the US site also, yeah!
Has about 30 bug fixes, go take a look. Happy downloading.
http://thesims2.ea.com/update/
Oh, and there’s going to be a FREETIME CHAT on the EA site:
FreeTime Chat! Join us on February 21st at 2:30 P.M. PST for a chat with the FreeTime game team. Bring your best questions!
The newest Bon Voyage patch has been released on the Sims 2 German site, and isn’t yet posted on the US site.
The patch is here:
http://www.diesims2.de/pages.view_page.asp?id=668
And a translation of the 30 bug fixes is found at the site The Patches Scrolls
Part of the list:
- Children will no longer go on a vacation alone if their parent dies before van arrives.
- Sims no longer get stuck during logrolling when trying to exit while another is entering.
- Vacation guests no longer leave when a party at a vacation home ends.
- Locals now change back into native outfits after exiting water.
- Housekeeper now fills holes and fixes broken objects and servo.
- Sims no longer fall in love while chatting in a tent.
- Sim can now repair stereos.
- Bigfoot can no longer change appearance on the vanity table or be asked to go on Group Outing.
- Make Furry Friend vacation memento is now achieved by making friends with Big Foot.
- Souvenirs only restock when Sim has them in inventory.
- Sim no longer wants to learn a massage if they have already been learned.
- You can now queue up multiple Dig For Treasure interactions.
- Sims can now be added to a group when “Walk To…” interaction is canceled and re-queued.
- Customers reject a massage if the purchase price is set too high.
- Seating can now be removed from the Food Stands.
- Young Adults who staying a vacation home no longer have the option to Get Married or Move In another Sim.
- Sims can no longer assign others to be a masseuse.
And there’s a new comic strip and cuisine magazine for Free Time posted to the EA site - enjoy
The next Stuff Pack is going to be Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff. It’s about time EA did something for our boring bathrooms. You can find screenshots and more info at the EA Site
You’ll also find more information about Free Time, the next EP (due to release the end of Feb), including a new Comic Strip here
Two things to announce here:
Free Time:
The next expansion pack has officially been announced on the EA site, and includes a fun video, definitely go check it out:
http://thesims2.ea.com/about/ep7_index.php
Holiday Goodies:
And for those who are looking to dress up their game for Christmas, you can find things at both ModtheSims2, and at sites around the web
MaxiodDrea has posted asking what favorite items from Sims 1 you’d like to see in Sims 2, and what you’ve wished for. So let them know!
Note, these are a moderated threads. So be sure to answer the questions that are asked, so your voice can be heard!
Go to the GENERAL DISCUSSION area on the BBS and look for the stickied questions
Everyone who has Nightlife or a later expansion pack, EA has released another free car - the Ford Fusion. So add a brandy new car to your game here
And EA has released the Teen Style Stuff pack, along with new screenshots - you can get all the info here
As a reminder, if you like shopping at Amazon.com, you can contribute to MTS2 at the same time - just follow the link from our donate page to either the Amazon US or Amazon UK store and then search and shop to your heart’s content.
As of Oct 24, there is a NEW Bon Voyage Patch
http://thesims2.ea.com/update/
A few more fixes were added to the list, specifically revolving around transportation, go take a look.
(Thanks to Sim_Me for the heads up!)
And Teen Style Stuff is due to ship soon, if you haven’t taken a look, there are screenshots on the EA Site
There’s a Halloween Showcase posted at the EA Site
and there’s tons of Halloween goodies at ModtheSims2
The patch is out - go visit EA to get it
http://thesims2.ea.com/update/
There’s only a handful of fixes in it:
The biggest points - NPCs will no longer spawn endless extras, the events controller schedule is cut back, as are autonomous water balloon and snowball fights - so if your game is lagging alot, this might help.
(Thanks to Sim_Me for the heads up!)
There’s ongoing discussion regarding Bon Voyage and problems some folks have encountered. You can be sure that once Electronic Arts posts an update, we’ll let you know. These valuable links below are from Snooty Sims
Maxiod Sam’s Message About BV Bugs and Issues
Discussion on BBS about BV Bugs
And if you wish to try the hack to stop the extra spawning of characters, there is one at MATY, link is in the next message.
You can also check our own list of known BV Quirks
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You should also visit Snooty Sims for a link to Sims Magazine’s website and some free downloads
Well, usually we wait for Maxis bug fixes, but there appears to be an issue with the tour guide being created every time you visit a lot - which will eventually bring the game to a crawl. There’s a fix available at MATY which will prevent extra NPCs from spawning.
And now for some assorted updates:
* EA has added some new BonVoyage videos
* Aspyr has released the Holiday Pack and Pet Stories for the Mac
* Walmart has posted the bonus code for a Bon Voyage hat, see the end of their Features and Specifications here (thank you to Snooty Sims for that news)
As you might be aware, some folks have the game in their hands today. You can find links for over 200 screenshots and info at our Bon Voyage Forum and if you scroll down you can read Patul’s Bon Voyage Review from his visit to EA in July. Enjoy!
This report is by Patul, a member of http://daily-sims.com and MTS2. He was invited to the Bon Voyage Fan Day at EA. He is graciously sharing his review and screenshots of the event with us here.
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As they do for each new EP, EA Games organized the Bon Voyage Fan Day on July 20 in its Redwood City offices near San Francisco. I was the envoy of the French net newspaper and forum the www.daily-sims.com, and the director kindly accepted to share with the S2C community the info I brought back.
The next products from the Sims Laboratory were shown: Castaway on WII and DS and a short preview of this in SimStory, But the main event was for us the test of Bon Voyage. In this demonstration only the base game and the future EP6 was installed.
I will tell you first about the gameplay itself then of the CAS and construction modes. Like the preview said, Bon Voyage is a destination for holidays, and the main gameplay it is like a community lot in relation to date and time.
The new EP consists of new neighborhoods to visit by tourists. By default there are three: a paradise island, a western mountain, and an oriental countryside. Adults may choose a destination, phone for transportation, and invite up to 7 other sims they know (no pets allowed). Of course you will be able to create your own destination choosing the climate as summer, winter or temperate. I was pleased to see that the EP6 default neighborhoods and buildings are more beautiful than the previous extensions.
You can also own an holiday house. As has been the case with other EPs, there is little interaction with the other EPs, so it is impossible to manage an hotel as a business, for instance.
Once you arrive at your holiday location, your sims get about by walking to the different locations. When you arrive, there are new wants to be satisfied, such as
bronze with the sun… caution, may be hot !
make sandcastles or swim in the sea, yes it is from now on possible thanks to a new type of ground….the beach
learn new dances…
and enjoy new meals.
…new attractions also , but I shall speak about them later.
Satisfying wants, going shopping, sun bathing, having fun and keeping up relationships might be a bit boring without the extra spice added by the many ‘quests’ that you can take upon yourself. With the help of the new mementos you can start a search for a hidden character or recover a piece of a treasure map that leads to the hidden shack.
Here is the secret character which you will be able to make a friend, and even a member of your family — the big foot. Note the word friendly… no closer relations with this character of unspecified sex…
After you’re done having your fun on holiday, you will return back to your home … at the hour you left it, just like a community lot visit. This does mean that your sims won’t miss work or other activities by taking their vacation.
New CAS Items
As usual there’s a few new items for your sims, some exotic outfits, some sunglasses and even a new bathing suit for our lady sims. Of interest for those who don’t have Seasons, is the ability to choose your hair individually for each outfit type (everyday, formal, swim, etc), which comes in handy with all the new hats.
But the great new feature is the handling of jewelry, in this screen you will be able to embellish your sims according to their outfit with earrings (separate right-hand side and left), collars, rings, bracelets and watches, and also with piercings (starting from teenager) and rings (for the adults)
I will finish my article by my preferred part :
Construction and Decoration
It should be mentioned that the softly sloping beach part can not be modified. In build tools, you’ll also find new terrains, and some new trees, a new predefined roof in the shape of a pagoda (it was possible to make this before with build cheats, but it was very hard to do) and also three new roof colours.
In addition to the already described objects, there are variations of existing objects, such as a collection intended mainly for the hotels: beds, cupboards, bedsides, grounds and wallpaper, along with some new objects like the hammock or the tent where your Sims will be able to rest… and to …have fun in it!
There are of course new activities like the duel on rolling floating trunk (unverified report), the Zen garden, and the throwing of axes (at a target only). I will have preferred the game of pétanque which is my favorite sport for relaxing. And then there is the gem of this expansion as regards objects : the pirates gallion which must be placed at the edge of the beach!
At least 6 interactions are possible - fighting with the sabre, raising and lowering the flag with a Lama head, climbing with the watchtower, the rudder, the dive, and for the most persevering player there is a hidden bonus to discover!
Ah… I did not speak about the hotels… They will not be manageable by the player, as I pointed out it… which is a shame as the prices charged seem to have been inspired by the hotels in California. They would have been very lucrative!
As with many things in this ep, the relationship with the university sub-neighborhood is obvious:
* The hotel has a door similar to the dormitory, not the same one, this one is of course equipped with a card reader.
* The university required a cook… this hotel needs the reception desk and the receptionist who comes with.
They are the two items necessary to have a functioning hotel. Then it will require the usual use of a code to transform the residence lot into a hotel lot.
On arrival you will have to choose your room before confirming it at the reception desk. Fortunately a message is posted to instruct you.
In short, and with the first look, and only a one day test, Bon Voyage seems to be a have a lot to offer with new activities, mementos, outfits, hats, new jewelry options, and new objects and additions to construction.
They’re real holidays, without direct influence on the daily life of our Sims, in which they can let go of the daily routine. It is also a wonderful place to deepen relationships (with more time to spend with each other). In the game, it will be a bit expensive for the purists, like us, that don’t like using cheatcodes, and that have to save up several weeks to go to one of these paradises, to send their sims on a Bon Voyage ((pun)).
In these few pages I have tried to summarize as best as I can what I saw of the sixth ep of our favourite game.
Don’t hesitate to post your question about this future EP in the S2C forum, I shall try to answer.
(The Bon Voyage EP is expected to ship Sept, 2007.)
Discuss this on our forums
See Our Gallery for More Screenshots from Bon Voyage
View some exclusive videos here
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We at Sims2Community and ModtheSims2 thank Patul and Par Krysec from Daily Sims for sharing this information with us.
If you are using XP or 2000 and experiencing crash problems, read here!
This news straight from the EA Sims2 site - from MaxiodSam:
There is a new set of drivers from nVidia which seem to address the blue screen of death crashing problems that some folks have had. If you’ve been experiencing such problems go read more here
Live from the EA Site:
The Seasons patch that we pulled last week has been fixed and the new version is available for download. Update your game with the newly patched PATCH!
Get the patch here (again)
EA has just posted a new Seasons Patch which addresses many more issues some have had with the game.
Issues addressed include excessive reactions to weather changes, fixes for levitating kids and sinking pets, less spontaneous combustion and lightening kills - and many others. Click the link above for all the info.
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.
As was announced with the release of Pets, the next EP for Sims 2 is Seasons. I got a sneak peek at Maxis and actually got to play the game. After the tour, we went to a large room that had computers along the walls, and a central seating area with two large screens in the front. We were treated to an introduction of the expansion on the big screens. And then we got to play!
Seasons gives the Sims more fun and varied interactions at home; unlike many of the other EPs, your Sims don’t have to go to a different location for most of the new activities. Each season brings new outdoor options, and I had a great time exploring, there was a lot to see.
There are additions to the summer activities our Sims already enjoy – including new rounded pool edges and pool walls, a slide, and a game to play in the pool. Have fun playing catch, throwing water balloons, or chasing fireflies. Beware of sunburn!
Now Sims can garden – year round with a greenhouse, if you wish. There are plots where various vegetables can be grown, and then put into the refrigerator for future consumption. Plant fruit trees, and then create energy drinks and other potions with the fruits of your labors.
Sims can also head over to the lake and go fishing, and bring some tasty fish back to add to the food choices in the fridge. The more they fish, the better they’ll get at it, earning fishing badges. Mmmmm, fresh grilled fish.
Enough of the fair-weather activities, winter brings it’s own fun with snowmen, snowball fights, snow angels, ice skating, and if you’re lucky, a visit from a new npc. The Sims will automatically bundle up in their new outdoor wear as they go in and out of their homes. When snow falls, it slowly accumulates in layers on things – not just on the ground (where you Sims might find themselves up to their knees in snow), but also on fence posts and other surfaces. This behavior will work for both Maxis content and custom content, with no changes required! Thanks to the team for thinking about our custom content!
This EP also includes 6 new careers, so if your Sims are looking for some new jobs, they’ll be very happy. The careers are: Journalism, Education, Gamer, Adventure, Music, and Law. Each career also has its own career reward item, so go for the gold.
(The Seasons EP is expected to ship Feb 27, 2007.)
Discuss this on our forums
See Our Gallery for More Screenshots and Info from Seasons
Read Part 2 below for more gameplay details
This is part 2 of our article on the Seasons Expansion Pack.
For those of you who want even more details about the gameplay, here you go!
The pattern for the seasons can be set for a particular neighborhood, so if you want to create a constant winter wonderland, or mimic the weather of California with spring, summer, summer, fall, or have a tropical island where it’s only spring and summer, it’s your choice. Not all the weather is nice – while the Sims will love jumping in puddles, there’s also the danger of lightening strikes, and I have heard that there’s also hail.
Your lots can end up with different seasons on them because of gameplay timing, but when you go to your lot, the lots around it will look correct for the season that is current to that lot. So if it’s winter, all around you will see winter, etc. In addition to changing trees, the game uses overall color of the sky and lighting to create the mood the season; spring has more of a bright green to it, fall is more orange in tone.
What the Sims are wearing will matter; the classification is simplified so as to be compatible with all the custom clothing we’ve created. For instance, swimwear and underwear are assumed to not offer much protection from the cold. There is a new category of clothing – outerwear, and the Sims will automatically change as they go in and out of their homes during cool weather. (this option can be turned off). One of the effects of this change is that a Sim can go out in the snow under-dressed and freeze and need to be revived.
With the clothing change comes an option many have been wishing for: Hairstyles can be individually customized based on the outfit the Sim is wearing – so they can have their hair up for formal occasions, wear a warm hat with their outerwear, and have bed-hair in their pajamas, and so on.
To allow your Sims more time in the great outdoors, their needs decay more slowly while they are outside. This means less bathroom runs in the middle of play. They will also get special boosts during certain seasons – friendship in the summer, skill building in the fall, family in winter, and romance in spring.
There are more features that players have been wishing for: Click on the mailbox to pay all the bills. You will also find new furniture, including a new country kitchen set with sweet accessories. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and taken out by all ages, and then further leftovers can be put back into the fridge. How nice to be able to prepare a big meal and then have the leftovers to quickly access at another time.
There are other surprises that await you in the Seasons EP, including a new breed of Sim, which you’ll find snapshots of in our gallery. I will admit when I first heard about Seasons, I was not sure how much “weather” would have to offer. Everyone had fun playing with the game, and even though I tried, I was not able to fully explore every season that day. Seasons is simply fun. The Seasons EP is expected to ship Feb 27, 2007.
Discuss this on our forums
See Our Gallery for More Screenshots and Info from Seasons
I was very excited to get to make a trip last week to Electronic Arts, home of Maxis and The Sims. People from select fan sites and EA locations from the United States and Europe were invited for a special event. Things began with a meet and greet in the hotel lounge on Thursday night. Various members from the Sims 2 team stopped by during that time; many of them then went back to work readying things for the next day’s events, promising us a great time.
During this time I was able to discuss the Pets EP with some of the team, and indeed they are hard at work on a patch for the ep to resolve the bodyshop behavior and other items.
Friday morning we made our way over to the main building. In the lobby were some big screens showing commercials and other videos for various EA games, and then up on a balcony I spotted a sign for The Sims. We all got our badges and signed paperwork, and the day began.
The tour began in the corporate building, which included displays of key points in Electronic Art’s history. It was interesting seeing screenshots of their first games which were created about 20 years ago, and how with every 5 year interval how much computing had changed. Then we got a whirlwind tour of some of the facilities, including the cafeteria, gym, basketball court, and central lawn where they hold soccer games and launch parties. In the lobbies and public spaces bright banners featuring various EA products could be seen.
Then it was time for the special meetings… which I’ll be able to tell you about in a few days. Meantime enjoy the photos here!
