Sims News

Want to learn more about the new More Magic! premium content from The Sims 3 Store? Well, we wrote a compact review to show you the new items. All 12 of them! Enjoy and when you're done reading, please let us know what you think! :woot:

Clothing & Hairstyles

This new store set has some magical hair styles and outfits for both men and women. Especially the sooth sayer style has been taken care of. I personally think it would have been nice to have actual witchy clothes as well, for the cauldron. But I do like the hats that have been added. Somehow they seem very steampunk to me. Very cool!

Soothsayer's Crystal Ball / Soothsayer's Seat Soother Chair

The crystal ball allows Sims to tell fortune. Either for themselves or for other Sims on the lot. They also have the option to tell bogus fortune. Tellings fortune results in advice or wisdom, but also in moodlets. My Sim got a moodlet for good luck the first time she used the crystal ball!

Some of the dialogs shown when telling fortune:

I couldn't resist making an animation from the telling fortune action. My Sim got bad news which is clearly visible:

The crystal ball (table) has a matching chair; Soothsayer's Seat Soother Chair! Just like the crystal ball (table) it's fully customizable.

Lord Vladimir's Magic Cauldron

The cauldron is an object that I have yet to figure out. I have tried to play with it, but I guess it takes some practice. And I didn't want to wait too long to show you the new store content.

Sims can add up to 3 items in the cauldron by choosing Open. You can choose Conjure but I don't know what this does exactly. Once the ingredients have been added, you can choose Brew potion.

Depending on the ingredients, a potion will either fail (nothing happens) or succeed. When succeeded, a Sim can drink the potion. Don't want the potion? Just choose Dispose of potion, and start over.

My Sim has so far created a hunger potion and a sleep potion. I was unable to find the required items, but if you add a rainbow beetle, rainbow trout and a rainbow gem, then you'll get a special potion.

Other potions I already discovered in my game are:

• 3x gems = emotion potion (Sim wants to be loved and hug other Sims)
• Diamond, gold and black goldfish = Fast reading potion. Keep a lot of books in your inventory before you drink this potion!

My Sims using the cauldron:

A moodlet for using the cauldron:

Malleable Mimic Voodoo Doll

This is the Malleable Mimic Voodoo Doll. You can buy it in the catalog, like the other objects. And once you have chosen to bind it to another Sim, it will eventually go into your Sim's inventory. Obviously, you cannot use the voodoo doll on babies and kids. There has never been an easier way to torture another Sim.

Binding the voodoo doll does not always go too well. I tried it on different families and in one of the families, the Sim who was trying to bind the voodoo doll to another Sim, got an angry reaction. The Sim grabbed the voodoo doll and threw it away. So it doesn't always work out, and I'm not sure why. Perhaps the relationship has to be good?

Binding the voodoo doll is easy. Just click the doll and you'll be given a dialog where you can choose a Sim.

This is what binding a Sim to a voodoo doll looks like:

And these are the various actions you can choose with the voodoo doll! The nice ones are Bless and Cupid's arrow. Which leaves us with the not so nice ones; Curse (Sim stamping on the voodoo doll), Pins and needles (Sim stabbing the voodoo doll), Hot foot (Sim lighting the voodoo doll on fire), Wet pants (Sim pouring water over the voodoo doll, resulting in the victim to pee in public).

Oh and did I mention the voodoo doll also gives moodlets?

Lady Ravendancer Goth's Book o' Spells (not part of the More Magic set)

This item is NOT included in the More Magic set, but it does work well together. With the Lady Ravendancer Goth's Book o' Spells, one can learn the Enchant spell. Once this skill has been learned, a Sim can use it on the other magical objects (the cauldron and the crystal ball). I have tried this, but I haven't discovered what the use is exactly. If someone knows, be sure to let me know!

A few extra Magic screens I made in the game:

Special thanks

A special thanks goes out to EA Netherlands for giving me the opportunity to review the new premium store content. I'm happy to show our readers the cool new features.

Another thank you is due, for Cheetah from The Sims Zone, also known in real life as my boyfriend. He helped me resolve some serious issues I was experiencing with my game, which I was unable to take care of myself. So thank you!

If you love magic, these items are definitely a must have!

The set normally costs 2200 Simpoints, but is now on a discount, so you only have to spend 1850 Simpoints. Sale ends February 9, 2012. So be quick!

Buy More Magic! in The Sims 3 Store!

Last week we were lucky enough to have a Skype session with lead producer Jennifer Lane and SimsGuruKing, about The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff. We learned that Jennifer's tasks include a variety of things such as having lots of meetings, testing the items in-game, playing the game, providing feedback and lots more. We asked Jennifer a couple of questions. Since we didn't record anything, we'll try to explain what we asked and what we were told. Enjoy!

Where did the inspiration for The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff come from? And stuff packs in general?
The team is keeping an eye out on the forums, but not just there. They get ideas and inspiration from all over the place. What also helps is what's trending. But classic styles are important too. Basically the team collects ideas and then eventually combines those in a stuff pack. The theme for the stuff pack comes to life while the team is already working on the stuff pack itself.

Is there a favorite item from The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff?
Jennifer Lane has a new favorite every single day. Because she plays the game for several months before it's release, she discovers something new on a regular basis. Right now it's a set of curtains that fit well in any room. A versatile object. I'm quite curious about those curtains now!

How many objects and other items are there in The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff?
Jennifer did not want to give us an exact number. Perhaps she also didn't know the exact number. But it's about the same amount that's in other stuff packs. The ratio is about 50/50 though. So you'll get about the same amount of clothing as objects.

Are there any pre made houses in The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff?
During the Q&A, there were no pre made houses included in the game. It doesn't happen too often to begin with. The team is mainly focused on clothing and objects in the stuff packs. Houses and families are usually added to expansion packs rather than stuff packs. However Jennifer did mention she created about 6 families she's playing with that she might include, or upload to the exchange after the release. That's a possibility, nothing confirmed yet. Also, Jennifer mentioned she might upload her catwalk showcase to the exchange after the release. Be sure to check that one out!

Does The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff have a Murphy bed or a built in closet?
Unfortunately, these items are not included in this stuff pack.

How about vanities? We noticed the word vanity on the info page of The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff. Is this a vanity table or mirror?
No vanity table included in the pack. The vanity referred to is a mirror. There are 3 different mirrors in this pack though.

Will there be store items or sets included in a future stuff pack?
Jennifer explained to us that the store sets and stuff packs are two different worlds. The stuff packs are (also) aimed at people who are unable to buy items online, from The Sims 3 Store. So I guess this would be a no. Such a shame though. I would love to see some store sets included in a future stuff pack. Or perhaps a store collection stuff pack with only store sets. Ah well.

Can you give us a hint about the next stuff pack?
Was worth a try. But Jennifer wouldn't release any information about future stuff packs. I guess we will just have to be patient!

How long does it take to develop a stuff pack?
Apparently stuff packs and expansion packs take the same amount of time to develop. Although expansion packs are larger, the stuff pack teams are smaller. Also, some team members on the expansion pack team are also working on stuff packs. So basically, the same amount of time.

Are there new social interactions in The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff?
No. Usually the new social interactions are kept for the expansion packs.

What kind of clothing is added to The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff?
There is mostly clothing in the Sleepwear category. However there are also a few items under Formal, Swimwear and even some Everyday/Athletic. A lot of the clothing items are two pieces, so you can mix and match those to your own taste!

I hope you enjoyed our Q&A! We sure did. We would like to thank EA, including Jennifer Lane, SimsGuruKing and Anita for giving us the opportunity to ask these questions on Skype. It was a fun experience!

The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff is in stores today in the US, and will be in stores on Friday January 27 in the UK.

Relax in a Lifestyle of Romance and Luxury with The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff

Transform Ordinary Bedrooms into Extraordinary Master Suites

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff pack adds some sizzle to the game with the addition of luxurious bed and bath décor, sultry sleepwear and flirty hairstyles . The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff pack for PC/Mac is now available in stores and as a digital download for PC at www.origin.com and participating retailers.

Spice up your Sims’ lives by upgrading bedroom furnishings with a romantic canopy bed, a 1940s-inspired chair and a lavish fireplace. Then move over to the bathroom and update its look with a beautiful vanity, sleek and stylish tub and lit candles to create a spa-worthy space. Vases, rose petals and new window treatments will add just the right finishing touches to complete an all-new master suite.

Your Sims will enjoy relaxing in their redesigned environments even more with new intimate apparel and sleepwear, perfect for a night with that special Sim. Complete your Sim’s overall look with casual yet modern hairstyles that will complement their new commitment to a lifestyle of relaxation.

The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff is £19.99, rated PEGI 12 and available on PC/Mac at your local retailers and as a digital download for PC at: http://store.origin.com/store/ea/en_GB/pd/productID.231553700?intcmp=TheSims3StoreJan12_Internal_ComSplash_Sp5PreOrder and participating retailers.

For more information on this game or any of The Sims 3 games, please visit, http://www.thesims3.com.

2 new screenshots.