 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The Sims 3 World Adventures releases in just a couple days on November 17th. Get your Sims ready with these two FREE items!
The Sleeker-Sleeper is an Asian inspired bed that puts the “sleek” back in sleeping.
The Cellar Arch, durable and everlasting, is a great addition to any catacomb.
Get The Sleeker-Sleeper
Get The Cellar Arch
Pre-order The Sims 3 World Adventures!
The Sims 3 World Adventures releases in just a couple days on November 17th. Get your Sims ready with these two FREE items!
The Sleeker-Sleeper is an Asian inspired bed that puts the “sleek” back in sleeping.
The Cellar Arch, durable and everlasting, is a great addition to any catacomb.
Get The Sleeker-Sleeper
Get The Cellar Arch
Pre-order The Sims 3 World Adventures!
Gamespot has posted their full extended hands-on preview of The Sims 3 World Adventures. Highlights include adventure game play and new skills for your sims!
By Andrew Park
We get our hands on this soon-to-be-released expansion and spread our wings into Europe and the Far East.
The Sims series has let players control the tiny little lives of little computer people for years, and this year's The Sims 3 took the series to a whole new level. It introduced revamped goal systems, new personality and socializing systems, and a revised career system, among other things. And with the first expansion pack, World Adventures, your sims can branch out into a very different profession--that of globetrotting adventurer. Sure, the expansion adds various new additions to the base game that are quite helpful and useful, such as an expanded in-game tutorial system and the ability to build basements in your house. But, the real attraction is flying out to one of three international locations (Egypt, France, and China) and becoming a tiny, gibberish-speaking Indiana Jones.
We've already extensively catalogued our time in Egypt in our previous coverage, so this time around, we'll focus on China and France. Unlike Egypt, where the geography is built around a few major dig sites, the China adventure area is laid out in a mostly even split between unspoiled wilderness and community lots (including peaceful parks for meditation, ancient tombs to explore, martial arts academies, and merchants). The France area, however, is laid out like a country villa--there are small clusters of community lots separated by long country roads. Fortunately, in all lots, your sims can quickly travel from place to place by way of bicycle or scooter (which they'll use automatically), and at these different locations, they'll be able to not only seek out new adventures in ancient tombs but also partake in local color.
The expansion offers new cultural options that start all the way back with character creation--your sims can choose Egyptian, French, or Chinese music as their personal favorites, as well as new cuisines, such as crepes and dim sum. There are even new traits, such as "adventurous" (a sim recovers well from jet lag to travel more often and improves visa level more quickly) and new life goals, such as fully exploring all major tombs or reaching physical perfection as a martial arts master.
However, the culture really starts to come into play once you begin your travels abroad and meet new sims that look very different from the ones that live in Sunset Valley. These include the kung-fu monks in China's monasteries and the beret-wearing "nectar" tasters in the French vineyards. You can also soak up local culture by exploring new social options that are unique to those regions, such as challenging another martial artist to a sparring session or learning a French country song from the local vintner.
Our own outing began with a trip to China to start training in the ways of the warrior and maybe get some really good egg rolls. Landing at any foreign location will start your sims out in front of the adventure board--a bulletin board where tomb-raiding missions are posted. We quickly found our first mission: a notice to recover an artifact from a local tomb. Once we accepted the quest, the new adventure journal appeared onscreen and let us simply click on the name of the quest giver to automatically route our sim there by bicycle. In no time, we were being briefed on the mission by the crabby old man who posted the notice (and also automatically added him to our sim's contact list to develop as a potential friend--or enemy--later).
Then, we headed out to the ancient tomb itself to loot it. Fortunately, because this was a beginner tomb that wasn't terribly involved, we didn't have much trouble defusing the few traps, pushing sliding statues onto pressure plates, and eventually looting the place of its ancient coins. These coins are World Adventure's new currency, which lets you purchase special adventure-specific items. The first tomb areas in each foreign country will necessarily be shorter and easier because your sims will start out with a "visa level" of zero. This means that they'll be able to stay for only three in-game days, though after completing various exploration quests, they'll be able to extend their visas further to take longer vacations and even purchase vacation homes on foreign soil.
To be honest, we were less interested in exploring tombs this time out and more interested in soaking up some local color. To this end, we sent our sim directly to the local martial arts academy in China to pound away at a wooden training dummy until he increased his skill in martial arts. This is one of the new career-related skills that will not only let your character perform cool moves and animations, as well as spar with other martial artists, but it will also let you rack up any number of statistics (such as the strongest board you've ever broken or level of martial arts belt achieved). It will also let you hold martial arts tournaments--with various achievements to unlock along the way.
As it happens, the athletics skill from the original Sims 3 plays into your martial arts skill, and thankfully, the monasteries in China are stocked with the latest in exercise equipment to help your Chuck Norris wannabes strengthen their bodies and skills all at once. Then again, China is also home to other attractions, such as the peaceful Scholar's Garden (which grants all sims an enhanced mood thanks to its meditative silence), a fortune-cookie maker, and even a fireworks display your characters can use.
Once we'd increased our martial arts skills and conquered our first Chinese tomb, we headed back to Sunset Valley on our expired visa but were soon hopping aboard a plane again. This time, we headed off to the French adventure area. France seems like a more laid-back, residential area where instead of kicking, people use their feet to stomp grapes. We decided to try our hand--and feet--at the art of making bottled "nectar" by visiting the local vintner shop, which has dozens of bottles of the stuff on racks for you to peruse, taste, and purchase. You can also achieve a minor mood boost from the "nectar" because it is so "sugary" (wink, wink). There's a merchant who will happily sell you a portable nectar-making still to bring home with you, as well as different bottles of vintages, and various types of grapes. We also decided to use the picturesque French countryside to launch our sim's new photography hobby by purchasing a store-bought camera and snapping a few shots from the new first-person interface. Each location will actually have a number of set pieces that you can capture to rack up special achievements and unlock awards. The easiest include snapping photos of people and landmarks, but there will be some very challenging hidden photo opportunities scattered throughout the world.
Once you stock up on grapes, you can then dump 10 bunches of various combinations into the tub of a still and get stomping, though if your nectar-making skill is low, your sims will probably end up falling flat on their rears in the process. However, once you increase your skill enough, the nectar you can create will fetch a nice asking price. In fact, the new expansion's skills offer a viable new way to make a living without having to report into the office each day.
From what we've seen, World Adventures will have a lot to offer--new areas to explore, new people to meet, new socializing systems to learn, and lots of brand-new ways to play The Sims 3 offers plenty of opportunities to grow and expand your sims, as well as their skills, along familiar-but-different paths. The expansion will ship later this month.
Gamespot has posted their full extended hands-on preview of The Sims 3 World Adventures. Highlights include adventure game play and new skills for your sims!
By Andrew Park
We get our hands on this soon-to-be-released expansion and spread our wings into Europe and the Far East.
The Sims series has let players control the tiny little lives of little computer people for years, and this year's The Sims 3 took the series to a whole new level. It introduced revamped goal systems, new personality and socializing systems, and a revised career system, among other things. And with the first expansion pack, World Adventures, your sims can branch out into a very different profession--that of globetrotting adventurer. Sure, the expansion adds various new additions to the base game that are quite helpful and useful, such as an expanded in-game tutorial system and the ability to build basements in your house. But, the real attraction is flying out to one of three international locations (Egypt, France, and China) and becoming a tiny, gibberish-speaking Indiana Jones.
We've already extensively catalogued our time in Egypt in our previous coverage, so this time around, we'll focus on China and France. Unlike Egypt, where the geography is built around a few major dig sites, the China adventure area is laid out in a mostly even split between unspoiled wilderness and community lots (including peaceful parks for meditation, ancient tombs to explore, martial arts academies, and merchants). The France area, however, is laid out like a country villa--there are small clusters of community lots separated by long country roads. Fortunately, in all lots, your sims can quickly travel from place to place by way of bicycle or scooter (which they'll use automatically), and at these different locations, they'll be able to not only seek out new adventures in ancient tombs but also partake in local color.
The expansion offers new cultural options that start all the way back with character creation--your sims can choose Egyptian, French, or Chinese music as their personal favorites, as well as new cuisines, such as crepes and dim sum. There are even new traits, such as "adventurous" (a sim recovers well from jet lag to travel more often and improves visa level more quickly) and new life goals, such as fully exploring all major tombs or reaching physical perfection as a martial arts master.
However, the culture really starts to come into play once you begin your travels abroad and meet new sims that look very different from the ones that live in Sunset Valley. These include the kung-fu monks in China's monasteries and the beret-wearing "nectar" tasters in the French vineyards. You can also soak up local culture by exploring new social options that are unique to those regions, such as challenging another martial artist to a sparring session or learning a French country song from the local vintner.
Our own outing began with a trip to China to start training in the ways of the warrior and maybe get some really good egg rolls. Landing at any foreign location will start your sims out in front of the adventure board--a bulletin board where tomb-raiding missions are posted. We quickly found our first mission: a notice to recover an artifact from a local tomb. Once we accepted the quest, the new adventure journal appeared onscreen and let us simply click on the name of the quest giver to automatically route our sim there by bicycle. In no time, we were being briefed on the mission by the crabby old man who posted the notice (and also automatically added him to our sim's contact list to develop as a potential friend--or enemy--later).
Then, we headed out to the ancient tomb itself to loot it. Fortunately, because this was a beginner tomb that wasn't terribly involved, we didn't have much trouble defusing the few traps, pushing sliding statues onto pressure plates, and eventually looting the place of its ancient coins. These coins are World Adventure's new currency, which lets you purchase special adventure-specific items. The first tomb areas in each foreign country will necessarily be shorter and easier because your sims will start out with a "visa level" of zero. This means that they'll be able to stay for only three in-game days, though after completing various exploration quests, they'll be able to extend their visas further to take longer vacations and even purchase vacation homes on foreign soil.
To be honest, we were less interested in exploring tombs this time out and more interested in soaking up some local color. To this end, we sent our sim directly to the local martial arts academy in China to pound away at a wooden training dummy until he increased his skill in martial arts. This is one of the new career-related skills that will not only let your character perform cool moves and animations, as well as spar with other martial artists, but it will also let you rack up any number of statistics (such as the strongest board you've ever broken or level of martial arts belt achieved). It will also let you hold martial arts tournaments--with various achievements to unlock along the way.
As it happens, the athletics skill from the original Sims 3 plays into your martial arts skill, and thankfully, the monasteries in China are stocked with the latest in exercise equipment to help your Chuck Norris wannabes strengthen their bodies and skills all at once. Then again, China is also home to other attractions, such as the peaceful Scholar's Garden (which grants all sims an enhanced mood thanks to its meditative silence), a fortune-cookie maker, and even a fireworks display your characters can use.
Once we'd increased our martial arts skills and conquered our first Chinese tomb, we headed back to Sunset Valley on our expired visa but were soon hopping aboard a plane again. This time, we headed off to the French adventure area. France seems like a more laid-back, residential area where instead of kicking, people use their feet to stomp grapes. We decided to try our hand--and feet--at the art of making bottled "nectar" by visiting the local vintner shop, which has dozens of bottles of the stuff on racks for you to peruse, taste, and purchase. You can also achieve a minor mood boost from the "nectar" because it is so "sugary" (wink, wink). There's a merchant who will happily sell you a portable nectar-making still to bring home with you, as well as different bottles of vintages, and various types of grapes. We also decided to use the picturesque French countryside to launch our sim's new photography hobby by purchasing a store-bought camera and snapping a few shots from the new first-person interface. Each location will actually have a number of set pieces that you can capture to rack up special achievements and unlock awards. The easiest include snapping photos of people and landmarks, but there will be some very challenging hidden photo opportunities scattered throughout the world.
Once you stock up on grapes, you can then dump 10 bunches of various combinations into the tub of a still and get stomping, though if your nectar-making skill is low, your sims will probably end up falling flat on their rears in the process. However, once you increase your skill enough, the nectar you can create will fetch a nice asking price. In fact, the new expansion's skills offer a viable new way to make a living without having to report into the office each day.
From what we've seen, World Adventures will have a lot to offer--new areas to explore, new people to meet, new socializing systems to learn, and lots of brand-new ways to play The Sims 3 offers plenty of opportunities to grow and expand your sims, as well as their skills, along familiar-but-different paths. The expansion will ship later this month.
Hello,
Get ready to take your Sims on the adventure of a lifetime! In The Sims 3 World Adventures your Sims are visiting real-world inspired destinations and now can capture those moments by using the new photography skill; photographers eye.
You can now buy cameras in the market from the General Goods Merchant in all three locations; Al Simhara, Egypt, Shang Simla, China and Champs Le Sims, France. You can take your skill to the next level by reading a photography skill book or get the most advanced equipment by traveling to Al Simhara, Egypt where they house the most expensive cameras in the world. Once you have the skill down, you can take stylized photographs like Sepiatone or Vignette or larger panorama sized photographs. You can make a living as a photographer and with a higher skill level, you will of course make more mula when you sell your shots! You don’t have to be a pro though, you can complete various photo collections or hang your photographs on the wall of your home after returning from a trip and just reminisce about the amazing adventure.
This new skill gives you new tasks, opportunities and lifetime wishes to complete. For example, you can now complete a photography wish like ‘take a photograph of a pyramid’ or fulfill an opportunity like ‘teach a photography class at the school to earn a reward.’ Some adventures will require your Sim to snap a shot of a specific object. There are new lifetime wishes associated with photography like “Visionary: reach level 10 in both painting and photography skill.” As you are sightseeing, some of the landmarks in the game are recognized such as, The Great Sphinx, A Pyramid, The Dragon Cave, Chinese Garden, The Market and more!
The Sims 3 World Adventures will be available the week of November 16, 2009.
Hello,
Get ready to take your Sims on the adventure of a lifetime! In The Sims 3 World Adventures your Sims are visiting real-world inspired destinations and now can capture those moments by using the new photography skill; photographers eye.
You can now buy cameras in the market from the General Goods Merchant in all three locations; Al Simhara, Egypt, Shang Simla, China and Champs Le Sims, France. You can take your skill to the next level by reading a photography skill book or get the most advanced equipment by traveling to Al Simhara, Egypt where they house the most expensive cameras in the world. Once you have the skill down, you can take stylized photographs like Sepiatone or Vignette or larger panorama sized photographs. You can make a living as a photographer and with a higher skill level, you will of course make more mula when you sell your shots! You don’t have to be a pro though, you can complete various photo collections or hang your photographs on the wall of your home after returning from a trip and just reminisce about the amazing adventure.
This new skill gives you new tasks, opportunities and lifetime wishes to complete. For example, you can now complete a photography wish like ‘take a photograph of a pyramid’ or fulfill an opportunity like ‘teach a photography class at the school to earn a reward.’ Some adventures will require your Sim to snap a shot of a specific object. There are new lifetime wishes associated with photography like “Visionary: reach level 10 in both painting and photography skill.” As you are sightseeing, some of the landmarks in the game are recognized such as, The Great Sphinx, A Pyramid, The Dragon Cave, Chinese Garden, The Market and more!
The Sims 3 World Adventures will be available the week of November 16, 2009.
Grab Your Chopsticks, Jump on Your Scooter and Adventure Your Way Through Ancient Tombs in The Sims 3 World Adventures on November 17, 2009
EA’s The Sims Studio is pleased to announce that The Sims™ 3 World Adventures*, the first expansion pack to the #1 best-selling PC game of calendar 2009**, The Sims 3, has gone gold for the PC and Mac and will be available on November 17, 2009 in North America and will be in stores worldwide in 60 countries and in 22 languages the same week.
Sims can now go on the journey of a lifetime in The Sims 3 World Adventures. They can run from mummies in Al Simhara, Egypt, fill the sky with fireworks purchased from locals in Shang Simla, China and master the art of nectar-making in France. Along the way, they can capture the funny, scary and exciting moments while using the brand new photography skill. Once they have completed their quests players can bring their treasures home with them to reminisce and share. When players register their copy of the PC/Mac version of the game online, they will receive exclusive extra game content with the Explorer’s Loot Set and 1,000 SimPoints*** to be used in The Sims 3 Store to customize their game with additional in-game items.
The Sims fans around the world will be rockin’ out to new Simlish music in The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack. Over a dozen artists will lend their Simlish voice stylings to the game including GRAMMY Award-winners Nelly Furtado and LeAnn Rimes plus hot rising stars Matt + Kim, Fefe Dobson, Pixie Lott, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, Katie Melua, Esmee Denters, Young Punx!, Evan Taubenfeld, Madina Lake, and more.
*Requires The Sims 3 or The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition for PC/Mac to play.
**According to NPD data.
***INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED, see product pack or digital distribution rules for details
Grab Your Chopsticks, Jump on Your Scooter and Adventure Your Way Through Ancient Tombs in The Sims 3 World Adventures on November 17, 2009
EA’s The Sims Studio is pleased to announce that The Sims™ 3 World Adventures*, the first expansion pack to the #1 best-selling PC game of calendar 2009**, The Sims 3, has gone gold for the PC and Mac and will be available on November 17, 2009 in North America and will be in stores worldwide in 60 countries and in 22 languages the same week.
Sims can now go on the journey of a lifetime in The Sims 3 World Adventures. They can run from mummies in Al Simhara, Egypt, fill the sky with fireworks purchased from locals in Shang Simla, China and master the art of nectar-making in France. Along the way, they can capture the funny, scary and exciting moments while using the brand new photography skill. Once they have completed their quests players can bring their treasures home with them to reminisce and share. When players register their copy of the PC/Mac version of the game online, they will receive exclusive extra game content with the Explorer’s Loot Set and 1,000 SimPoints*** to be used in The Sims 3 Store to customize their game with additional in-game items.
The Sims fans around the world will be rockin’ out to new Simlish music in The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack. Over a dozen artists will lend their Simlish voice stylings to the game including GRAMMY Award-winners Nelly Furtado and LeAnn Rimes plus hot rising stars Matt + Kim, Fefe Dobson, Pixie Lott, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, Katie Melua, Esmee Denters, Young Punx!, Evan Taubenfeld, Madina Lake, and more.
*Requires The Sims 3 or The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition for PC/Mac to play.
**According to NPD data.
***INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED, see product pack or digital distribution rules for details
Hey iphone/ipod touch Simmers… now you can make your Sim a Vampire! We have new themed packs available in the brand new Sims 3 store! Just launch your iphone app and tap the store icon on the main menu.
Themed packs include:
- Live it or Wear it Sets
- “Live it” sets contain: car, furniture, decoration, wallpaper, flooring
- “Wear it” sets contain: clothing, new CAS options, hair styles
- Themes: Vampires and Werewolves, Castle and Campus Life
Keep checking back, we’ll be adding more stuff soon!
Get your Sims ready for the adventure of their lives NOW with these FREE items!
The Tomb Sled Sleeper engraved with hieroglyphic instructions, provides a tomb-like experience for the sleep-enthused archeologist … without removing your organs!
The Desert’s End end table is just like an oasis found at the end of nearly every desert. You can rest your weary goodies in the bosom of this sweet respite.
Be sure to get The Sims 3 World Adventures when it releases on November 17th!
Get The Tomb Sled Sleeper
Get The Desert’s End
Pre-order The Sims 3 World Adventures!
