The first details on The Sims 3 have been scooped up by PC Gamer UK and can be found in its latest issue, in subscribers' hands now.
What's the first important point about the sequel is that, according to the article, it appears that EA's development team has established the goal of reeling in the hardcore PC gaming fraternity. You know, the one that's previously turned its nose up at what's been perceived as a casual gaming experience that appeals only to girls.
The second important point is that Rod Humble, creative director of the Sims label, wants to break down barriers in the series with The Sims 3.
As reported in the magazine he explains how the team "let Sims wander freely through a town, take in the sights, not be constrained by the prison-like 'lots' of old games. He wants to turn the game into an open world, where Sims can stroll, meet their friends, go to work, interact with each other. And piss themselves in the gym. It's GTA: Pleasantville."
The game is still in the relatively early stages of development, but a view of a neighbourhood in The Sims 3 is described as feeling like a living, open town, a place where stuff happens, where the day-to-day lives of interesting people intersect in infinite ways.
New to the series is an inventory system for your Sim, in addition to the game now providing you with clear objectives to complete. And if that's starting to sound a little RPG, get this - The Sims 3 has what are essentially buffs.
In one example, we're told how a kiss received by a Sim from his "hot wife" puts him in a great mood which means he works quicker, makes more friends and be happy as a pixie for the next five days.
"We've got a design pickle. We need infinitely large metaphysical aspects to your Sim", Rod Humble says. "Instead of having to choose six things that define a person's mood," he continues in reference to The Sims 2, "we wanted an infinite number of ways to say how a Sim was feeling".
He adds, "We looked around for design mechanisms that we could use, and sure enough, we were like 'hey, buffs! that really works.' Now there are buffs for everything. You can be in a bad mood because you just pissed yourself. You could be in a good mood because you like sitting in sofas. You could be sad because your lover died. Or you could be happy because you're pregnant."
In addition to evolving the emotional side of a Sim, physical make-up is much improved in the sequel with sliders for weight and musculature for example leading to a near-infinite range of body types. And character creation is far richer too - rather than assigning numerical values to a Sim, a traits system is now used instead.
"The Sims themselves look better... Their skin is more natural, more real. Their faces move in ever so slightly more real ways. Their hair is different", says PC Gamer.
All that effort put into creating your Sim can be enjoyed by other players as well. You'll be able to upload your character to The Sims 3 website where it can be downloaded by fellow Sim-ians and introduced to their own neighbourhoods. But there's no multiplayer component.
EA is apparently declining to comment further on community features at this stage, and it's taking an identical stance with expansions.
The Sims is famous for its expansion packs and the open-world nature of The Sims 3 is described as having enormous possibility for add-ons.
But although Rod Humble wasn't spilling his guts on any expansion plans, he did have this to say: "The fact that it's a seamless world means that eventually - not to give away too much of our expansion pack strategy, but in theory - The Sims 3 could expand into an entire seamless world. You can imagine a Sims country which you could just live your life in."
You can read PC Gamer UK's full preview on The Sims 3 - which includes exclusive first screenshots - on Thursday. Or now if you're a subscriber, but you probably know that already.
Oh lord! There goes my girlfriends social life or us spending any time together for about the next 3 years She has already printed out this article and is STUDYING it as im writting this . . .
Oh lord! There goes my girlfriends social life or us spending any time together for about the next 3 years She has already printed out this article and is STUDYING it as im writting this . . .
Oh lord! There goes my girlfriends social life or us spending any time together for about the next 3 years She has already printed out this article and is STUDYING it as im writting this . . .
It sounds like The Sims to your girlfriend is what The Elder Scrolls IVblivion or World of Warcraft is to a hardcore gamer then...
The Sims 2 went into too much detail to be honest, The Sims 1 on it's jack to be honest was fine enough for me. Building the houses is the only fun part. If i want to roam around a city, i'll just have a go with PS3's Home...
Though i can at least see the attraction to such a game so i reckon the sales and reviews will be decent.
It won't exaxtly rival Home. Home is free and with real people. Buch f**k no am i paying for virtual furniture. Instead of buying about 30 items which are all about Ł0.99 i think i'll just buy a game...
But back to the Sims i see no reason for roaming around a town when the Sim's don't speak English. Only way i could see would be neighbourhoods online but that would be a bit of a waste me thinks.
I never really got into the Sims. I didn't mind 1, quite liked 2, but doing the same thing (shower, work, eat, sleep) countless times got old, even when interspersed with random events. Some of it was funny, but not enough to keep my interest.
I have a real life where I grind like that day after day, I don't need more of the same when I'm at home
I like the way if your sim gets a kiss they happy for 5 days, meanwhile the poor dude whose single and playing by himself will be miff...but hey as long the sim is happy.
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She has already printed out this article and is STUDYING it as im writting this . . .
i no
blivion or World of Warcraft is to a hardcore gamer then...
