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I just thought I’d share the upcoming release dates as far as North American releases. These are subject to change but they should be pretty solid.
Sims 2 Celebration Stuff is scheduled for release on April 4th, Pet Stories will be released June 26th and there is also a Sims 2 “Deluxe” package slated for a May 10th release - I’m unsure what that will contain as of yet. It will likely be some form of the base game and atleast one other expansion. If anyone finds any information regarding it, please feel free to PM me.
Although this is an older article and one we have mentioned before, the renewed interest in the recent confirmation of The Sims 3 has prompted discussion of this article again. For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, or who may have forgotten about it - here you go.
During the same call, Jenson also confirmed that several sequels to EA’s most important franchises are in the works. “Yes, there’s a Sims 3 in development and it’s likely to be a fiscal ‘09 title,” said Jenson, meaning the game would hit stores before April 2009.
Callum91 has also informed me that LifeStories is now available for purchase. As per the official LifeStories site you can register your game to receive a special download. They include a drum kit, karaoke machine and club cube. Simmers will recognize these objects from previous Sims 2 expansions.
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.
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 huge thanks to forum member raye1 for providing the translation of the german site we linked in yesterdays entry!
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
The Sims Life stories is the first new title in a fully new product line titled The Sims Stories. Play through all the great moments, that make up your Sims lives, with this easily playable, laptop friendly version of the world wide popular game The Sims(2). With the new and exciting story line you can lead your Sims through one of a kind dramatic events, and entertaining action full of romantic and dramatic consequences. You can also unlock rewards,when you resolve hidden goals. In the classic game play mode you decide when and how to fulfill your Sims most important wants and wishes. It all up to you, how you want them to unfold!
FEATURES:
-Control your Sims lives in two complete stories through a brand new storyline mode- play through the life events from Laura(I have no clue who Laura is!), who returns home to begin a new life with new friends and new experiences and unexpected surprises. In a bonus storyline you can complete the love life from Lukas( whoever that is!) , a Hi Tech loving nerd who has always been unlucky in love!
- Build in the classic storyline mode your own stories and dream houses , fulfilling(or destroying their hopes) hopes and dreams in during the most important life events .
-Moving life events- From the first date to their first job, right up to the moment when your Sim finds Mr or Mrs right with whom they build a family life together. You can lead your Sims through the most unforgettable moments in their lives!
-Never before has it been so easy to play on a laptop. This specifically for Laptops designed game makes it easier to play while at home or on the go. This laptop friendly version offers easy shortcuts and a brand new Auto Pause Feature, with which you can start and stop each time you open or close your laptop.
-Be creative and at the same time stay in contact - Its easy to stay in contact with friends via IM, Chat or Email while you are playing the game in a separate window!
-This is the beginning of a whole new product line , future EP’s in the new Sims Life Stories line will require your Sims for example to lovingly take care of their pets. And a further EP promises an action packed adventure shipwrecked Sim on a tropical island!
NOTE: Its extremely difficult to translate everything one to one from German to English , but I hope this gives you all at least some idea of what Life Stories is going to be about. Its basically a laptop friendly version of the game we love and the majority of us play on PC (I personally play all the EP’s and fun packs on my Laptop). According to the product description above it will be in DVD format. Happy Simming All!
As reported by Callum91 on our boards, apparently Life Stories will be a standalone game and not any sort of expansion pack for the sims2
You can go here for some pics - the text is in german. However, raye1forTS2 has provided some information in regards to this.
Apparently Life Stories is a laptop friendly version with various things like a special pause button you use when you close your laptop while on the road.
In later EP’s you will be able to visit a tropical island!
You can read the entire thread here.
