Sims 3 Rumours

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Ok so it’s official, Sims 2: Free Time ( <-- watch this space, game review / tips to come in a few days) is the last expansion pack of The Sims 2, other than the Bathroom and Kitchen Stuff pack, which will be released soon. But there is definitely gona be a Sims 3 out next. I’ve been giving this lots of thought lately, about how exactly they can create something even better than the Sims 2 (and mostly how much it’s gona cost me to have to upgrade my PC yet again to withstand that type of firepower ). It was easy going from the original Sims to the Sims 2, I mean not only better in-game features, but the graphics was spectacular, compared to it’s predecessor.

So let’s have a look at the tell tell signs of The Sims 3. There’s an official webpage, which will give us a sneak peak… or more of a teaser I think, of The Sims 3, but that’s only gona be in about two weeks. With the release of the Sims 2: Free Time there was a tell in the game. When your Sims move into a new house, Mr Humble comes by and drops off a present, it’s a new computer. When you hover over the computer a dialogue box pops up saying that there is a new game with the computer and it could be a hint of what the future holds… lol very nice touch, I personally think. So anyway, once you’ve placed the free gift in your Sims home and click on it to see what game it is, it’s The Sims 3.

Now, the graphics of the actual game, while your Sim is playing, is pretty much the same as the Sims 2 itself. And what’s going on on the screen is just a Sim walking about the neighbourhood talking to other Sims. While playing it in Free Time, there’s a create a Sim screen where the colours of their shoes can be changed, which to be honest I don’t much care about, but if it really is a preview of what the actual game will bring, that definitely sounds like attention to detail to me.

There is also a painting, called In a Sims World by M. Ying and it depicts a little picture of a Sims neighbourhood, and not from the top view. Here’s the caption:

Ying’s artistic masterpiece paints a Sim’s world as seen through the eyes of a visionary. Ying imagines a world where houses are no longer separated and houses of grand design rise from the neighbourhood. Some say it is madness; Ying says it is the future.

So definitely a different type of neighbourhood, which will be nice, but I’m still hoping for something a lot bigger than that, something which will really be the selling point, like the Sims 2 did for me when it first came out. I just couldn’t go back to the original Sims 1, even though I really enjoyed the two different expansions, Making Magic and Superstar, I just couldn’t go back to those plain graphics, lesser interactions and well, families is awesome. Being able to have a baby with your Sims genes and the aging and all that. Anyway, there is some promise in Sims 3, I hope it doesn’t disappoint

But that said, I must say the thought of a neighbourhood where you can walk or drive around, without the load screen, that’s gona be pretty kewl. To be able to drive all over town, go have a look see what your neighbours are up to, peak through their windows perhaps? (now you won’t need the telescope or little spy gadget to look or hear what they’re up to. FYI, the spy gadget is a career reward in the Sims 2 Free Time) It does sound good. But you know what I hear when I think of a Sims game with no load screen between lots? Upgrade!! Lol Oh yes, all that keeps going through my mind is the fact that my PC is gona need another upgrade. A much bigger one this time, new motherboard, new processor, new RAM. Kaching… well, if only that worked in real life? But still, I’m excited about it and have already scoped out some new hardware, will be starting my Sims 3 PC Upgrade fund this month, I figure if I put a little away each month, it will hurt less come D day

Sims personalities are also gona be cranked up a little. This part I especially love. I mean, I love the fact that I have full control over what my Sims do, I always turn free will off, but I always try to follow their aspirations and prefer having a really difficult Sim to please, more challenging that way. And if they’re customising Sims personalities even more now than they already have, then it’s bound to be a treat. So what I hear is there is going to be a few different personality traits, that you can modify for each Sim… Yay! Let’s hope that their Pets have an equal amount of changes in that department too.

Speaking of Pets. I have to say, vacation and pets followed from the Sims 1, I hope that the Sims 3 will do the same. I mean Bon Voyage is an awesome expansion, with just so many new interactions, objects, memories and life changing features. And as a personal favourite, Sims 2 University will be hard to live without. I’ve been thinking of all sorts of ideas to do with University, come on Maxis, do not disappoint. Ideally, how about universities in different countries? I mean, how great wouldn’t it be if your aspiring chef went to study in the best cuisine institute in like Paris? Well obviously not Paris, they could make a fake Sim name, but they could like have to learn a new language or flunk out… or something in that line. This paragraph, and this one only, is really just me throwing out some of my own wants, dreams and aspirations for the Sims 3 But still, will see what more they have in a few days, when they release more info on their site… like when the heck we’re gona see this new marvel!

Just one thing and this, I can’t stress enough for Maxis / EA. Why on earth, with all the extra games that our Sims can play in Sims 2, are there no unique sim animations for every game? I mean, there aren’t a lot, but every time they play a game, including the Sims 3, they do the same animations as if they’re playing that stupid ski game? Well, it’s just a small thing, but it irks me.

So I guess we’ll have to wait and see what EA are gona bring us next. I’m obviously hoping it’s as awesome as the Sims 2 was, when it was first released and that there will be plenty, PLENTY of expansions Oh and as soon as any info, official info that is, on The Sims 3 is released, I’ll be making an entry.

<-- watch this space for more info on The Sims 3 coming up soon.

Happy Simming!