Get your Free Sims 3 Music Tracks NOW!

I just checked, and if you pre-ordered The Sims 3 your free music downloads are now up. I downloaded "Revolution" as it came with my best buy pre-order.

Bang Camaro - Revolution

EP Bracket Week 4

Sorry i'm late with this (i have exams through next week, so i'll be late with a lot of stuff).

Last week we asked you guys for to vote in the last Semi-Final matchup which pitted Seasons vs Pets. It wasn't hard to predict who would win this one. Seasons crushed Pets 89 - 22. Pets grabbed only 19% of the votes. Thanks to all that voted.

this week we ask you, to vote for either Nightlife or Apartment Life. This is the first of the real Semi-Finals to get down to our final 2!

Sunset Valley from the Air

view more at TheSims3.com

PC Gamer Reviews The Sims 3

The 2nd Sims 3 review has come in, and it's from PC Gamer. They gave the game a 9.2, the same score as PC Zone.

The best Sims game yet. It's still about playing with virtual dolls, but it's never been this big, beautiful and eager to please. [July 2009, p.69]

That's the only quote i can find as of now. More reviews should be coming in this week!

Pick up Sims 3 for $25?

According to a Kotaku commenter, if you Pre-order The Sims 3 at any Micro Center store (they are mainly in Chicago) they will give you $25 back on your purchase. So you put down $5 knocking it down to $45 and they take $25 off of retail (i'm not sure if it means it becomes $20 or $25). It is a good deal regardless. The comment:

I know Micro Center isn't nationwide, but if you have one near you and are planning on picking up Sims 3, they have a great deal. This weekend, go in and put down a $5 deposit on it, and get $25 off the retail price when it releases. That ends up being half price! Nice!

Keep in mind this offer is In-store only. If anyone would like to confirm this report please send us a tip!

Kotaku - Weekend Coupons

The Sims 3 Everyday Life Trailer

The Sims 3 at IGN.com

Simmers News Upgrades to 1.4

You may have noticed that i am gearing up the site for TS3. I have added several counters to the site (2 in the side Nav, 1 on top). I have also pinned the TS3 Intro to the top of the page so you can always watch it's awesomeness (i reccomend HQ and full-screen if you aren't reading our awesome posts). We are also going to be changing the look a bit over the next week or so. Just keeping everyone informed as to what's up!

EP Bracket Week 3

So we had a ton of guests this week which raisded the number of people who voted in the EP poll quite a bit. We recieved 145 Votes (normally we recieve 4-6 votes). For a while the poll was quite close between Nightlife and Freetime, but during the last day or so, Nightlife blew the competition away snagging 79 Votes (or 54%). Freetime grabbed 66 Votes (or 45%). Thanks to everyone that voted in the EP bracket poll. We now to come the last of the Semi-Semi final matches which pites Seasons vs Pets. The poll will close next week!

Leaked Sims 3 Gameplay

The Sims 3 has already been pirated, and a few people are now even playing it. Please DO NOT pirate TS3. The LAST thing we need is SecuRom again. So check out the video below, but don't pirate it, okay?

The First Sims 3 Review is In!

You Heard Right, a full 2 weeks before release the first review has trickled in. The review comes from the magazine PC Zone UK. They gave the game a 9.2/10

These improvements over the previous game nailed it - I became absolutely besotted. I've lost so many hours to The Sims 3 the PC Zone team were convinced they'd have to surgically remove my mouse from my hand to get me to work.

So There you have it, unfortunately there is no better excerpt from the magazine other then the one listed above. There should be More reviews arriving soon however.

The Sims 3 Already Pirated

The Sims 3 has now been pirated (i know, it didn't take long). Browsing torrent sites confirmed this (don't worry i won't link to them or even name them). The game must have been taken from a factory that put's out the discs, as i doubt that anyone outside of EA has yet to recieve a copy of the game. TS3 will be in stores June 2nd, so don't pirate. Have petience.

The Sims 3 Store Set Prices

Get ready to charge that credit card of yours (or, you can buy SimPoints in a major retailer near you!) as EA Unveils The Sims 3 Store Prices (well, we found them anyway). The Riverview town is free ofcourse, and will take up 98mbs of space to download. There are also a plethora of items to buy. There are 4 sets, each with discounts if you buy the entire set. Now keep in mind you get 1000 ($10) Simpoints when you pick up TS3 on launch Day.

Rounding out the low end of the chart at 575 Points ($5.75) is the Tiki Set. Thsi set includes a whopping 15 items. 5 Chairs, 4 Tables/counters, a Bar, and 5 Decorative items.

The Storybook Set will run you a whopping 1900 Points ($19). It includes 45 Items. Among those are 5 Chairs/Sofas, 1 Bed, 3 Plumbing Items (A Sink, Tub, and Toilet), 10 Tables/Counters, 6 Build Mode Items (Doors, Windows, and Pillars). And a whole lot of Decorative items and Lights.

The Hewnsman Set will run you 2000 Points ($20) and will include 47 new items. 2 New Beds, 5 Chairs, 5 Tables, 14 New Build Items, and a ton of Decorative Items and Lights.

The final set at launch will be the bayside set runs at 1450 Points ($14.50) and includes a fair 35 Items in it. 1 Chair, 6 Plum

bing Objects, 6 Appliances, 5 Tables, a TV, and a bunch of decorative objects and lights.

Personally i'll probably be a sucker and pick up either the Bayside or Hewnsman sets, both are very attractive. The Tiki and storybook do not interest me at all, as almost all of the objects i can just use in TS2 for free.

First Sims 3 Expansion News?

The Game isn't out, yet we have our first possible hint at the first Sims 3 Expansion. SimBr. attended the Sims 3 Brazilian event, and spoke with an EA rep who told them that the first expansion will likely focus on Jobs and Occupations.

We have just received from our representatives in The Sims 3 Tour event in Sao Paulo information about the first expansion of The Sims 3. Representatives Weslley, Eduardo and Victor spoke to the manager of marketing for EA Games, Ian Freitas, and revealed that the first expansion of The Sims 3 exists, and that probably has something do with occupations and work. Great news! Keep an eye on O Sim BR.net for more news in real time about events in Brazil!

Check out their report here

Thanks to S2K from The Simmers Club for the tip!

The Sims 3 Site Leaked

You can now join the Sims 3 site, if you do a bit of a workaround. You can visit the hompage and register here. This then gives you access to the forum, but most everything else is locked behind closed doors. The site should open i would assume next week, if not then when the game launches on June 2nd. Enjoy!

SimSocial Impressions

The SimSocial feature on Thesims3.com is a very interesting online based version of The Sims. The Sims is all about creating everything in the world, and then watching it grow, prosper, and mature. SimSocial takes that philosophy and streamlines it to a turn-based system.

SimSocial has many features you would expect from a Sims product such as the ability to create your own sim. The options, while limited, allow the user to personalize his sim to make it 1 of a kind. There are enough options so you can make a completely different sims, although a few more clothing and hair options would have been welcome.

A big aspect of SimSocial is the ability to socialize with your Sim’s friends. The socialization sector of the game seems to be a game more so of chance then actual decision making and chemistry. Granted there is a panel where it displays your friend’s interests and dislikes, but some of this is hard to match up with things you might actually do. While the actual socialization mechanic is a bit of a letdown the robust options more than make up for it. There are a lot of things to do, people to meet, and places to go in SimSocial. Things ranging from “Go to the movies” to “Stare at the walls”. Even the TV has channels to watch, giving you different mood or skill benefits. The interactions are divided into 2 sections, one you can do with friends, and the other you can only do alone. Each section has a bevy of places to go, and some you can obviously only do when you have the money, whereas others might be free.

One of my major gripes with SimSocial is the career system. When you exit the “Create A Sim” feature you are prompted to choose your lifetime goal and career path, which you can change at any time. This works fine for a while, but then you begin wondering “Why do I have the same job?” or “Am I ever going to see a different line of dialog?”. The career progression is never really explained, and feels like it was tacked-on. With the exception of the career panel there isn’t much to telling you what you are supposed to, and the information on the panel is lacking at best. There is an option to take evening classes in addition to your day job. I really wish this feature will be implemented in The Sims 3 when it ships this June, as it is a fantastic idea, even if in SimSocial it lacks grace. The idea of being able to take classes in various skills is a really nice alternative to using the bookcase to study skills every day. IT breaks up the reputation of collecting skill points. The problem with this feature it gives you very little in terms of details as to what you are doing. “How many classes do I have to take until I unlock the next class?” As you ask yourself that question the game never answers it. The career features were really good in feature, but felt more like an afterthought.

Another issue I have with SimSocial is the needs and skills system that is implemented. None of the needs are never explained, and seem to just be there. There is no real way of seeing what is affected because of needs. The job performance is about the only thing I can see that is affected, and that is because they tell you that in the career panel. Other then that the needs section of SimSocial just seems not needed, and pointless. The same can be said for the skill section, “Why am I going to classes again?” I often wonder to myself while I play, the game gives you no reason to actually gain skills. My other issue with the needs and skill sections is that there are too many of them. Since when do we have a “Loneliness” need? Or an “Excitement” need? The skills are the same way, dividing skills up into different levels such as “Basic Cooking” or “Food Safety”. It just seems to be too much micro-managing for a small web game that could have been simplified and streamlined.

The last issue I have with SimSocial is the timer. After a certain number of days your sim will “Fall Asleep” or at least that is what the game tells you. Once your sim falls asleep you cannot play for another 4 hours. This is obviously a means of getting you to come back often to continue your game, it is just an interesting way of implementing it. It reminds me a lot of the strategy used for Nintendogs where you could only do 3 competitions a day, and then you would have to come back the next day. While this feature isn’t disappointing it breaks up the gameplay quite a bit.

Overall I enjoyed SimSocial. It is a neat little web application which for the most part works really well. If it is any indication of what The Sims 3 will be like then we probably will not have much spare time for a few months. The social aspect of the game is the best part of SimSocial, even if it is flawed in some of the gameplay. The user interface is the most problematic part of SimSocial. It pollutes the screen with unnecessary information which is not needed to play the game, and hides the more important features under a layer of junk. I recommend SimSocial, just expect to be taking frequent breaks, and don’t plan on getting anywhere quickly, it will take time.

Return of the Trek Guys, The Sims 3 Parody

Meet Magnus, hot-headed rocker

Meet Saffron, clumsy chef

Meet Kim, artistic flirt

Meet Nigel, cute schmoozer

Meet Zack, star athlete

Meet Marcela, Master thief

New Sims 3 Videos

Over the course of the next few hours i will be posting 1 new Sims 3 video an hour (it should take maybe 6 hours to post them all). So keep your eyes peeled!

SimSocial and Sim Sidekick released

EA has released 2 new features for the Sims 3 website. Sim Friend will be launching shortly. After playing with SimSocial for a while (It forces you to go to sleep after 4 hours) it becomes kind of old, but i enjoyed my time with it. I might put up an impressions piece later on, but for now you can check them out at The Sims 3 site.

EP Bracket: Week 2

Last weeks poll pitted OFB vs Bon Voyage, with OFB coming out on top. This week we settle another matchup, which i think should be highly competitive. Freetime vs Nightlife. Will the veteran fly ahead, or will the 7th expansion manage to free up some votes? You decide!

The Sims 3 Trial?

A NY Times article has debuted 3 ways that the Sims 3 will do marketing over the web. A Sims 3 Email Chain, where you can send emails to a Sim Pen-pal, and depending on your responces they might send back different things. The 2nd is a Sims Sidekick which will put a sim on your desktop and can browse the web at your side.

The third and most interesting is a free "trial". Now i'm not sure if this could be the full game (similar to Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box) or if it could be like Bodyshop which was released as a free demo for TS2. Exspect more info to come soon, as we are now 18 Days from Launch!

Read the NY Times Article Here

3 Sims Sudios make The Develop 100

The Develop 100 is an annual list of the most bankable game developers. Blizzard (Makers of World of Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, etc.) Ranked #1, however EARS [EA Redwood Shores (Formerly made the TS2 stuff)] was rated at 28. Maxis was rated at #31, and EA The Sims Studio made the list at #33. One of my favorite developers, Criterion Games, was ranked at #37. You can check out the list here

MySims Agents Preview

Mark Bozon from IGN got his hands on MySims Agents as part of the EA Pre-E3 event (For those interested, E3 starts on June 2nd). HE talked a lot about the investigation system, and soem of the mini-games

MySims Agents follows the story of your young Sim as they unveil the corrupt underbelly of the city, and it all revolved around the sinister Morcubus, corrupt CEO and shot-caller for all things evil. He's even got mayor Skip Rogers in his pocket, and when the mayor goes sour you know there will be blood.

What's weird if that there is no Building in MySims Agents, it's all platforming and standard adventure gameplay.

View the preview here

The Sims 3 has gone Gold

According to an article by Gamespy, The Sims 3 has now gone Gold, and will ship as planned on June 2nd, for both Mac and PC on the same disc (just like spore did).  when a game goes Gold it means that it is finished through bug testing, and is ready to be printed on discs, which is where it is headed right now!  Pick up your copies on June 2nd in a retailer near you, or online.

The Sims 3: SIMply Golden [Gamespy]

New Sims 3 Wallpaper

The Sims 3 Singapore published some Sims 3 Wallpapers, the coolest of which has been taken down.  You can check out the less cool wallpapers here

The Cool wallpaper can be found below, although it is only in 1 size as it was snatched up before being taken down.

New Sims 3 iPhone screens

EA Mobile has released 4 new screenshots for The Sims 3 for iPhone, which actually looks surprisingly good considering it is on the iPhone. It looks comparable to TS2 on the PSP based off of these screens. Enjoy the screens posted below.

EP Bracket Results: Week 1

So last week we asked you to vote in the first EP bracket poll, which was looking in favor of university for a while, but then Apartment Life managed to snap back and grab the win. This week we ask you for which is better: Open for Business, or Bon Voyage?

Rumor: Apple interested in picking up EA?

I'm going to call this one a phony rumor, and a wishful dream at best for now, but many Mac Sites, along with the WSJ are reporting that Apple is eyeing EA for a takeover. Now there are several reasons why this would be incredibly stupid on EA's side of the deal.

1. EA Makes hardly any money off of Mac Software
2. EA Makes tons of money off of the PC, and Consoles
3. EA doesn't do many Mac Games

Now on Apple's side things are better, but i don't see this as a really possible rumor, but then again a rumor is a rumor.

Apple Eyeing Electronic Arts Takeover? [Kotaku]

New Sims 3 Screenshots

3 New Screenshots for The Sims 3 have been found, the first showing off some of the customization options, along with the personalities. The 2nd screen shows off more customization options, and the improved lighting system. The third shows off the UI and other options.

Will The Sims 3 Sell 4 Million Units in 2009?

That's what Gamasutra predicts, The Sims 2 sold 3.4 million copies in 2004 after a September launch (Roughly .85 million a month). So it is no surprise that they think TS3 will sell 4 million units from a June Launch (.66 Million a month). They also say that piracy will probably cut into sales much like it has done with Spore. You can check out the full article here