News: September & October 2009

A Create a World tool for The Sims 3 has been announced at a fan event called SIMPOSIUM Live. No details are known right now, but this presumably makes it possible to create you own towns ala Sunset Valley and Riverview. I'll update this post when more information is made available.
 > The Sims 3 SIMPOSIUM Live at TheSims3.com (Source)

Update: Much more information has now arrived on the internet courtesy of GameSpot, which has posted exclusive details:

Create-A-World is intended for serious Sims enthusiasts willing to devote enough time to build entire neighborhoods from scratch. The tool is actually the same one that the development team uses to create these playfields for The Sims 3 and its expansions, and because it's the same tool that the developers use, it can create areas similar to those that appear in the base game and expansions, in four different size levels.

The article confirms that it will be released in beta as a free, 130 MB download on TheSims3.com in December.
 > "The Sims 3 World Adventures Preview - Exclusive Details on Create-A-World" at GameSpot

Another four new The Sims 3 World Adventures screenshots have surfaced, showing both France and China:

(Image source: GameSpot)

 > View them full size on The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots tab

IGN has gone to China in a new preview of The Sims 3 World Adventures:

Upon first arriving in China, you'll start up right beside the quest bulletin board and base camp. Since taking a vacation in The Sims 3 doesn't mean you can stop sleeping and showering without ill effects, you will need to head up the stairs of the nicely detailed camp building to use its shower facilities, sleep in between adventures, and prepare a meal if you'd like.

 > "The Sims 3: World Adventures: Off to China" at IGN

IGN has also posted the first two gameplay videos, one showing a Sim exploring the "Dragon Maw" dungeon, the other showing a Sim practicing Martial Arts.

You can watch the former above (you can ignore the link below the player, it came as part of the embedding code), and watch both videos over on the Videos tab:
 > The Sims 3 World Adventures Videos

EA has revealed the first details of Champs Les Sims, France in The Sims 3 World Adventures:

• Tour Time - Take a tour of the local museum, which showcases relics and artifacts from all around the world. The Museum is a great place to look for treasures that inspire you to adventure and explore.
• Creatures! - Collect new local wildlife like Frogs and Snails and take them home as pets.
• Not by Foot - Zip around town on a cool new scooter and take in the sights and the fresh country air!

See the rest at TheSims3.com. You may need to use the "Select Language" link at the bottom of the page and switch to English > United States, as the news post only seems to be on the US version of the website. You may also need to scroll down in order to find the article, called "France has been revealed for The Sims 3 World Adventures" article.
 > News at TheSims3.com

US retailer GameStop has posted the back cover of The Sims 3 World Adventures box. It confirms that Sims who visit France will be able to see the Eiffel Tower and - that old stereotype - eat frog legs. Sims can also make their own fortune cookies in China.

To see the back cover full size for yourself, which includes a first glimpse of France, click the View Back of Box link below the front cover on this page:
 > "The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack" at GameStop

AT LAST! The poll has finally ended! Now I can finally announce the results - about 45% of you are interested in The Sims 2 University Life Collection, whereas about 55% of you are not. Click below to see the results in bar form, and comment on them:
 > Poll Results

This means it's time for a new poll. This time, I'm asking this: Do you play The Sims on PC or Mac? Another easy question, so I don't want a repeat of last time. Vote now to the right of any page, right now. Now. Go on. Do it...

EA has revealed the benefits to registering The Sims 3 World Adventures in a news post on TheSims3.com. Registrants will receive 1000 SimPoints to spend at The Sims 3 Store, plus:

Secret hints and clues to adventures, exclusively available in Explorer’s Loot Set.
Get exclusive, all-new content when you register your game! Prepare your Sims for adventure with the Explorer’s Loot download.  Unlock the secrets of tombs, catacombs and caves with mysterious maps.  Deck out your Sims homes with exotic Egyptian furniture, Chinese décor, and more!

For the full post, here's a link to the UK site (you may have to scroll down to the "The Sims 3 World Adventures Exclusive Extra Game Content* and Bonus SimPoints*!" post):
 > News at TheSims3.com (UK)

EA has added another new screenshot to their The Sims 3 Facebook group, again wanting you to suggest captions:

Above: That Sim doesn’t seem very bothered about all those mummies…

 > "The Sims 3's Photos - World Adventures Screenshot Caption Fun" at Facebook

EA has announced The Sims 2 Best of Business Collection, a new... well, collection that includes The Sims 2 Open for Business, The Sims 2 H&M Fashion Stuff and The Sims 2 Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff. No release date has been specified. A trailer has been released, which is basically the trailers for each of the individual packs put together:

 > About The Sims 2 Open for Business

EA has announced in a press release another few songs that will feature in The Sims 3 World Adventures, re-recorded in Simlish of course. Here's the full list, excluding those that have been announced previously:

* LeAnn Rimes - "You've Ruined Me"
* Fefe Dobson - "I Want You"
* Katie Melua - "If the lights go out"
* Madina Lake - "Lets Get Outta Here"
* Manchester Orchestra - "I've Got Friends"
* Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - "Me + Yr Daughter"
* Esme Denters - "Outta Here"
* Hot Chelle Rae - "Say"
* Audrye Sessions - "Turn Me Off"
* Metalkpretty - "Wake Up, Wake Up"
* Evan Taubenfeld - "Pumpkin Pie"
* Friday Night Boys - "Can't Take That Away"
* Cassie Steele - "Summer Nights"
* Broken Hearts Club - "Na Na Na"

Read a quote by LeAnn Rimes in the full press release, where you'll also find a list of the five songs previously announced as appearing in the game, in case you've forgotten:
 > "LeAnn Rimes, Fefe Dobson, Natalie Portman`s Shaved Head and More Each Sing a Tune in Simlish for EA`S The Sims 3 World Adventures" at Reuters

(If you're wondering why I specifically called out Katie Melua in the title, that's because she's the only artist in the list I've actually heard of.)

Gamers Daily News has got hold of some information about the martial arts in The Sims 3 World Adventures:

MASTER - Master Martial Artists are so powerful they can summon the magical elements from nature itself to aid them in their battles against evil!

TEACH - Top Level Martial Artists may train others, further strengthening the ranks of disciplined martial artists throughout the world.

 > "Sims to Fight in World Adventures" at Gamers Daily News

I am now losing the will to live. I STILL haven't received enough votes, so I'm having to extend the poll yet again. As I've said time and time again, it's not a difficult question - you're either interested in The Sims 2 University Life Collection or you're not - so if you haven't already done so, PLEASE VOTE. The few people that have bothered to vote should know that the poll is now set to end with the results revealed on Saturday 24th October - though that will of course only happen if enough votes are received by then.

EA has released another two The Sims 3 World Adventures screenshots. These two both show Sims practicing or otherwise performing martial arts in China:

(Image source: GameSpot)

 > View them full size on The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots tab

EA has recently posted a second tip on tomb building in The Sims 3 World Adventures onto TheSims3.com. Here it is:

TIP 2: In order for the tomb to act like a tomb, you must set up a series of Triggers and Activated Behaviours on the placed tomb objects. It is possible to access these commands by entering Buy Mode, and Ctrl + Shift Left Clicking on objects. Examples will be provided on how to use these commands, but it’s important to explain how to access them in the first place!

 > September 2009 News at TheSims3.com Australia (source only - nothing extra)

More Screenshots Of China In World Adventures
I've found another three screenshots of China in The Sims 3 World Adventures to go with the one I posted earlier. View them larger on the Screenshots tab:

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots

Kotaku has posted its own preview of The Sims 3 World Adventures, revealing some new (at least to me) info:

What Needs Improvement?
Point-And-Click Adventure Much? I supposed when you break it down, the Sims games all play out like point and click adventures – except, it never feels that way normally because there's no "right" thing to click. World Adventures changes gameplay fundamentally by requiring gamers to jump through the typical point-and-click adventure hoops to disarm traps or find hidden doors. Some hardcore Sims fans may not like it.

 > "Sims 3 World Adventures: Chopsticks, Mummies & the French – Oh My!" at Kotaku

The article also gives us this new screenshot, the first showing China:

IGN has also posted a hands-on preview of The Sims 3 World Adventures (so much for GameSpot's being exclusive), focusing on Egypt again, but with a bit of info on France and China as well:

When you first arrive in one of these added areas, you'll find detailed new lots to wander around. In Egypt, for instance, there are NPC Sims standing around markets in a base camp, some who offer goods and services and some who can point you to the starting level dungeons, much like in a role-playing game.

 > "The Sims 3: World Adventures Hands-On" at IGN

IGN has also created a video preview which includes some of the first proper in-game footage (please note the link below the video came with the player - I am not suggesting you follow it):

GameSpot has posted an exclusive hands-on preview of The Sims 3 World Adventures, focusing on the exploration of Egyptian tombs:

Our journey started off like any other expedition into an ancient Egyptian period--with a comfortable pair of short pants and the willingness to try anything. In order to successfully navigate any of World Adventures' ruins in search of the treasure troves of collectible artifacts hidden within, you'll want to monkey with every switch, examine every suspicious-looking statue, inspect every funny-looking wall for secret doors, and step on every loose panel you can find.

 > "The Sims 3 World Adventures - Exclusive Hands-On" at GameSpot

You might be thinking "Egypt AGAIN?". If so, don't despair, as GameSpot has got hold of a "gameplay video" showing China:

Following on from last week, EA has released another two screenshots of Sims exploring tombs in The Sims 3 World Adventures. As usual, view them at their full size on the screenshots tab:

(Image source: GameSpot)

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots

Update: EA has posted another new screenshot on their Facebook group. They want you to caption it:

 > "The Sims 3's Photos - World Adventures Screenshot Caption Fun" at Facebook

Another two weeks have past, and yet I still haven't received the minimum number of votes for my current poll (Are you interested in The Sims 2 University Life Collection?). It's not a difficult question, so if you haven't voted, do so now - please. If my appealing works this time and I receive enough votes, the poll will now end with the results revealed (and another poll started) on 10th October.

EA has released another two The Sims 3 World Adventures screenshots, both showing Sims exploring Egyptian tombs (yes, still Egypt). View them full size on the Screenshots tab:

(Image source: GameSpot)

 > The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots

EA has handed Kotaku a list of objects that can be used to create tombs in The Sims 3 World Adventures:

Floor Switch: The floor switch is a classic adventure game object. It is a small, 1 tile floor object on which Sims can stand or push statues. Stepping On and Off the switch are both Triggers that can connect to Activated behaviors. Floor Switches can also be set to Appear or Disappear.

The article also mentions that basements can be created "up to four levels deep".
 > "The Sims 3 World Adventures Goes Underground" at Kotaku

TheSims3.com also has a special tip for building basements, making clear that you'll have to use a cheat to get the tomb objects:

TIP 1: Basements cannot be built directly underneath pools or ponds. When building above ground, it helps to plan for stairways that descend into basements ahead of time to reduce rework! You can access the Special Items Buy Menu sort by going to Buy Mode, opening the cheat console (hit Shift + Ctrl + C) and entering “buydebug.” This new sort allows you to pick out new tomb objects such as floor traps, floor switches, dive wells, and more!

 > News at TheSims3.com (source only, no extra details)

EA has posted a news article on TheSims3.com that details the mummies in The Sims 3 World Adventures:

While venturing to Egypt, one of three real-world inspired locations you can journey to, watch out for any sarcophagus in the tombs that may have an angry mummy just waiting to put a curse on you. Unless you are a master of the martial arts skill, the mummy will win in a fight and you’ll either be knocked out or cursed.

The article concludes with a note suggesting that we might finally get to see some of China in a couple of weeks.

The first link below is specifically to the UK site, to guarantee that you get the article (you may have to scroll down until you come to "THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY"). If you want to try your luck though, I've provided a second general link that should (unless you've been touching the Select Language link) take you to your country's website, which may or may not have this article.
 > September 2009 News at TheSims3.com (UK)
 > September 2009 News at TheSims3.com

EA has released another two The Sims 3 World Adventures screenshots, once again showing Egypt. These ones both show mummies, with a Sim running away from one in the first screenshot, and one doing... something to another Sim in the second:

(Image source: GameSpot)

 > View them on The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots tab

Poll Extended - Yet Again
Well this is extraordinary - I still haven't received an adequate number of votes to close the current poll. I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize to those who have voted in the poll and are sick to death of seeing it and want a new poll and some results. Everyone else should vote right now, to the right of any page. The poll will now end on Saturday 26th September, if enough people bother to vote of course.

EA has announced on TheSims2.com that The Sims 2 University Life Collection, a combination of The Sims 2 University expansion pack and the IKEA Home and Teen Style Stuff Packs, is available in stores now. I cannot confirm whether this only applies to the US, but it appears the game is available to download from the EA Store in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Thinking of buying it? If so, you're obviously interested in it, so vote Yes in the poll on the right of any page right now, if you haven't already. If you're not interested, vote No.

EA have released another two new screenshots of Egypt in The Sims 3 World Adventures - one showing a mummy, the other a Sim trying to get to a crystal:

 > View them on The Sims 3 World Adventures Screenshots tab

The Sims 3 "An Existential Survival-Horror"
The Sims 3 is "An Existential Survival-Horror" according to Paul Smith at The Corsair. Find out why he thinks this by reading the article:

Since I missed the first two outings of the Sims games, I decided it was time to see what all the fuss was about. So, I loaded up a fresh copy of “the Sims 3” on my computer and prepared to embark on what was sure to be a momentous journey.

 > "The Sims 3: An Existential Survival-Horror" at The Corsair