IGN Charts the Sims Expansions

Sorry again for the lack of news pieces as of late. My PC died and my new one is arriving on the 15th, so things should get better after that.

Anyway, IGN put up a feature which charts all of the TS1 and TS2 expansions. The feature is kind of useless, but is a nice peace regardless. Check it out here

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!

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!

Poll Results: Expansions?

Sorry i know i'm late on this one, ive been really busy lately, and in the time ive had free ive been playing Left 4 Dead (An amazing game for 360 and PC). Anyway here are last weeks Poll Results.

We asked you: Which expansion should first be remade for The Sims 3?
Your Responce? 3 Votes (50%) went to Seasons with Makin Magic Ending up with 2 Votes (or 33%) and Apartment Life finishing with 1 vote (16%) Thanks to all who voted!

This weeks Poll Question: Do you own another gaming console?

Poll Results: Sims 3 Delay?

A rather surprising poll this week, the question was "Will the Sims 3 be delayed?" A surprising 55% (5 Votes) of you said "Yes" with "No" and "Not Sure" receiving 22% (2 Votes) of the vote each. This week's poll asks "Which expansion should be done first?" Voting will close on Monday.

The Sims 2 Pets Review

Well ive been doing reviews, and the most recent was for Open for Business.  So shall we bring on the Pets review?

Loved:

The Pets:

The Core aspect of the Pets expansion is obviously the Pets.  The Pets themselves look really good.  The Dog and Cat animations are very well done, and the whole pets aspect of the game is well blended into the Sims experience

The Music:

While i'm not a big fan of country music, the music that has been added is really good.  The new Neighborhood theme in particular really does stand out.

Hated:

Strays:

Strays are just flat out annoying really.  They will wander onto your lot, hang out for 4-5 hours, and then leave.  They cause a big lag when they enter and leave the lot, as any normal sim would do.  They however come more frequently.  They really don't add a whole lot to the gameplay either.

Its Shallow:

The main problem i have with the pets expansion is the fact that it's just too shallow.  Your pets have about 10 tricks to learn, and three career paths to follow, eah having only like 4 different levels.  The unlock system for collars and furs is need, but really doesn't extend the depth fo the game at all.  Its just very, shallow.

Lack of New Objects:

Now pets might have a hard time following in Unleashed footsteps, and it shows.  Unleashed added well over 125 new objects to The Sims 1, along with a multitude of Pets such as Dogs, Cats, Turtles, Fish, and even Birds.  It also added a really neat gardening system.  Pets really only adds 2 main Animals (Cats & Dogs), it adds a Hamster, and a Bird cage, but they are really limited in how much you will actually use them.  Pets also only adds about 60 Objects which is dissapointing, most of the objects it adds are also just decorative.  And the one main collection it does add, has nothing to do with the theme of the pack (The Atomic Collection)

Overall Pets is the worst expansion to date for The Sims 2, will the others be better?  Stay tuned for more of our reviews over the coming weeks.  Played careers to completion, along with playing the game for countless hours.  Published in Fall 2006

Whats Your Opinion?

Another one of our Community events, for this week we ask you: If you had to get rid of 1 Expansion Pack, which would it be? Not Stuff Pack, Expansion Pack. Leave Your Responce in the comments like usual!

The Sims 2: Nightlife Review

So in the week for reviews, i have written up another, this time for The Sims 2: Nightlife Expansion.

Loved:

New Objects and Interactions:
A Majority of the objects and interactions in the Nightlife expansion are simply top notch. The ones you find when going out to a club are particularly well done, and really present a good sense of feeling like your actually in a club.

Downtown:
The new Sub-Neighborhood in Nightlife is really well done. Its pretty much full, with a few spaces here and there to build your own clubs and houses. A Majority of the clubs are good, the same goes for the community lots and restaurants

Cars:
One of the biggest aspects of the pack are that your Sims can FINALLY own cars. After 5 years they have finally have decided to add cars, and they work really well. While there are only a few types of cars, they all run well, and look nice. The Animations are fantastic!


Hated:

Chemistry System:
I'm not a fan of the Turn-On, Turn-Off system, i think it makes the game a bit harder then it needs to be. I liked the old way of simple attraction, or i would have liked this idea for if it had more Options for turn-ons and turn-offs. 2 Turn-Ons and 1 Turn-Off isn't a hugely effective system

The Lack of Good Nightclubs:
While the nightclubs that are downtown are fantastic. There's only a few that are just nightclubs. There are a few others that are "Partial Nightclubs" where they give you the Dance floor and Bar, but no Dance- Sphere. I wish there could have been more maybe

The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion, Retail copy, played through many times, use a majority of its aspects regularly including Careers, Objects etc. Released: Fall 2005

The Sims 2: University Review

Now i plan on borrowing a review system, from the guys over at Kotaku No Score will be given, just a short review with several "Love/Hate" descriptions.

The Sims 2: University Expansion Pack Review

Loved:

New Content and Objects:
University (Uni for Short) adds TONS of new objects, my personal favorite is probably the band instruments. All of the object work well, and are well animated. There are plenty of them to keep you occupied in college for a long time

Dorms:
The Dorm system works surprisingly well. Your Sim simply claims a door and it is theirs for the next 4 years (or about 25 Sim Days?). The majority of dorms also feature objects that will for the most part, get your Sim through college with no trouble at all

Its Easy:
Graduating from university with a 4.0 is really easy. It is also worth a BOATLOAD of aspiration points (i tend to near 100,000) , so it is well worth the time, but at the same time it is very easy, and simple to go through

The Cowplant:
Whenever you put the head of a Cow, on a man eating plant, it just has to be great. The cowplant (A Natural Scientist Reward) is one of the best objects in the game. Fluid Animations, nice textures, and a nice creative object.


Hated:

Its Too Long:
While Yes it is very easy to master getting a 4.0 GPA, it takes forever. Normally in the 3-5 Hour range. It takes a really big time commitment, this simply multiplies when you add more Sims into the mix

Its not all that rewarding:
Sure it unlocks a few careers (The Showbiz one is the most notable), but other then that, its not like you gain a whole lot of Skills, or Money. Overtime it will, but you still only have §20,000 to buy a house with, and that's just not fun

Repetitive:
The game tends to grate on you about halfway through sophomore year, it feels like your just doing the same 4 or 5 things each semester (There are 8 Semesters). Write a term paper, go to class, do an assignment, gain a certain skill, Repeat. I just think they could have added more gameplay




The Sims 2 University Expansion; Retail Copy Played through University many times, have explored a majority of the careers, and objects. Date of Release: Spring 2005