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The Sims 3 goes where no facial hair has gone before
As the great Dark Helmet taught us in the 1987 classic Spaceballs: "Even in the future nothing works." If there's any doubt of this, observe all the problems the Sims have even when they've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty.
The Sims 3 saves won't carry over to The Sims 4
The Sims 3 players must sever ties with their current relationships and start anew in The Sims 4, as EA says save files will not transfer between games. "We have brand new technology driving the game so unfortunately none of that carries over," producer Ryan Vaughan tells Videogamer. "Especially with the new tools: It's a whole new way of building your Sims and building your families so it doesn't carry over." No families or content from The Sims 3 are compatible with The Sims 4, but Vaughn hopes that players will be able to quickly recreate their favorite loved ones within the new editing tools detailed in the video above. "With the new tools, they're really tactile and creative, and I think people are going to be able to recreate their families really quickly," he says. This could potentially be a big issue for players who have stuck with the game since 2009 and formed a close bond with their Sims, or for those who have purchased the numerous add-ons issued by EA over the years. The Sims 4 was announced in early May for PC and Mac, with a vague launch window of 2014. The latest game, which includes a full single-player offline component, once again tasks players with managing the lives of virtual people within a simulated community.
Humble Origin Bundle launches with Dead Space 3, BF3, Burnout Paradise Ultimate, Mirror's Edge and more
Huh, well would you look at that! It's a Humble Bundle, only it's made entirely out of EA games. Weird! Specifically, a dollar or more will net you Dead Space, Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box, Crysis 2 Maximum Edition, Mirror's Edge, Dead Space 3 and Medal of Honor. Paying above the average (currently hovering around $5) also unlocks Battlefield 3 and The Sims 3 "+ Starter Pack." Steam keys are available for Dead Space, Burnout Paradise, Crysis 2, Medal of Honor and Mirrors Edge, while the rest of the games on offer can only be delivered as Origin codes. Unlike most Bundles, however, which are split three-ways between a charity, the publisher/developer and the Humble folks, the Humble Origin Bundle is only being split between charities and the Humble Bundle organizers – EA takes no cut. The Humble Bundle folks have already tweeted that this bundle has surpassed $100,000 faster than any other in its history, so things seem like they're off to a good start for a good cause.
The Sims 3 goes back ... back to the future
The Sims have already gone back to medieval times, but now they're going forward and into the future – if you believe time is linear. The upcoming Sims 3 "Into the Future" expansion pack will have the puppets going into the next century to use hoverboards, jetpacks and food synthesizers. Current-time Sims can also "meet their descendants," which opens up all types of potential paradox scenarios. Also announced today is a Sims 3 Movie Stuff pack, which adds "Western, Comic Book Blockbuster and Creepy Features" props to the catalog. Both expansions will be out sometime in the future. %Gallery-194477% %Gallery-194478%
Rise and Shiny: Anno Online
At first, Anno Online reminded me of The Settlers Online, a similar title that was brought to us by Ubisoft, the same publisher. Both games look good and mostly avoid hardcore combat, and both move slowly and concentrate on proper building placement and trade. I have to admit that I grew tired of The Settlers Online because it was hard to keep up with influence from local bandits and the constant destruction of the environment. In Anno Online I don't have to worry about trees or mines or running out of goods, and there are no enemies. The pace of play is slow for sure, but I enjoy it. I can keep the game running all day in my browser with no performance hit and I can even play it on my Samsung Chromebook. It's a game of slow growth and trade, and it's more of a pseudo-MMO that allows players to connect with friends loosely. Still, it's wonderful to look at and it's a quality game. But let's get to the details.
Sims 3 producers guide you through Island Paradise DLC
EA recently provided us with a producer walkthrough video for The Sims 3 Island Paradise DLC, an upcoming expansion pack for the game. The DLC takes players to the Isle Paradiso where, as seen in the video, they can cruise on houseboats from port to port. Players will also get to build their own resort on the island when the expansion launches June 28. Before that, however, The Sims 3 Dragon Valley world will open on May 30. %Gallery-188635%
Khaleesi, Sims 3 Dragon Valley is available May 30
It is known that The Sims 3 Dragon Valley will hatch on May 30. The digitally distributed expansion will add a new location, architecture and dragons to the franchise. Not big dragons, but baby dragons. "Pet dragons," according to EA. A DRAGON IS NOT A SLAVE! Say what you will about all these expansions, but it's pretty clear now that by the time The Sims 4 launches in the first quarter of next year, The Sims 3 will conclude with an amazing collection of colorful expansions – and hopefully be sold in an incredibly discounted bundle. Sim hipster werewolves playing in the snow with their pet dragon while on college break? Sure!
Cast away to Sims 3 Island Paradise on June 28
Here's a message we pulled out of a bottle: The Sims 3 Island Paradise expansion will be available June 28. The message also contained a USB stick with the above trailer and below screenshots. Convenient.Island Paradise will let Sims show some skin as they enjoy leisurely activities and live on houseboats. Man, houseboats sound like the best idea in the world, except for the whole, you know, sinking thing. There are also speedboats and jet skis, along with scuba and snorkelling exploration. Pre-orders receive the "Island Survival Pack." No word yet if it includes the ability to cry over a lost relationship with an artistic volleyball.%Gallery-185243%
EA and Zynga settle The Ville lawsuits
Electronic Arts and Zynga have settled their legal kerfuffle, which began when the former sued the social games giant for what it called a "clear violation" of copyright laws over similarities between games. Details on the settlement are lacking, but InsideSocialGames has a statement from Zynga that it has resolved its respective claims with EA and "reached a settlement" in the Northern District of California.The legal drama kicked off last August when EA sued Zynga over the similarities between Zynga's recently released The Ville and EA's The Sims Social. The evidence against Zynga was stacked pretty high. This was the first time a giant like EA had stepped into the ring to take on the culture of cloning, which Zynga had been accused of in the past.A month later, Zynga filed a counterclaim against EA over the similarities between CityVille and SimCity Social. We'll update with settlement terms when he receive them.
The Sims 3 DLC packs some bellbottoms
The Sims 3 "70s, 80s and 90s" DLC pack says it has "all-new outfits, crazy hairstyles, and facial hair," but considering each of these "new" looks comes from a decade long since past, that description is a bit of a stretch. The 70s, 80s and 90s pack is available now on Steam for $20.The 70s portion includes bellbottoms, halter top catsuits and platform shoes, along with minimalist furniture and a disco ball. The 80s bring legwarmers, leotards, headbands and shoulder pads, and the decor portion includes arcade machines and an entertainment system. The 90s remind us why "grunge" generally isn't a complimentary term, with tattered jeans, layered tops, asymmetrical handkerchief hemline skirts, and furniture in distressed and industrial metal styles. Each decade comes with the related hairstyles and facial hair.Remember, in 20 years we'll all look back on the 2010s with just as much revulsion, but with more photographic evidence of our absurd tastes.
The Sims experience 'University Life' March 5
The Sims go back to college (if you had The Sims 2: University) in The Sims 3: University Life, available March 5. The latest addition to the power-mad franchise has players taking the tots they've raised since birth and watching their every move at college. Whether this is a parent's dream or a child's nightmare – or some combination thereof – is for you to decide.Sims will get their degrees, party, grow their social network (somehow avoiding STIs) and gain faster promotions and a higher entry-level job for university grads. The irony of recent college grads playing this game all day because they can't find a job in this economy is not lost on us.%Gallery-175341%
The Walking Dead, Sims 3, Natural Selection 2 in today's Steam holiday deals
The Steam holiday offerings keep rolling along, with "game of the year" contender The Walking Dead's price chopped in half. Telltale's modern adventure game is $12.49 until tomorrow... if we survive.The Sims 3 is also 66 percent off the entire series, with the exception of Seasons and Supernatural (the latest expansions), which are 50 percent off for $20. That means the standalone game is $10.19, with several major expansion packs around the same price. It really is the ultimate doll/action figure house.More deals today include discounts on Natural Selection 2, Legend of Grimrock, Spec Ops: The Line and ARMA 2. There's also still time to grab yesterday's deals if you act now.
Sims 3 '70s, 80s & 90s Stuff' pack announced, university expansion teased
Maxis announced today that The Sims 3 expansion "70s, 80s & 90s Stuff" will be available in January 2013. The pack includes clothing and stuff that exemplifies the decades of the Nixon through Clinton administrations (Wilson through Blair in the UK, Indira Gandhi to Vajpayee in India).The division of Electronic Arts also teased a college or university expansion pack coming after the three decades of stuff pack. The Sims 3 is currently prepping for the Seasons expansion this November.%Gallery-162696%
'Being Human' with Sims 3 Supernatural and Seasons
It's unlikely we'll ever see a licensed game based on supernatural drama Being Human – although, stranger things have happened – so it's good to see my fantasy may be fulfilled through The Sims 3.While waiting for my SimCity hands-on, I checked out The Sims 3's new seasons and supernatural expansions. Seasons looks lush, with the landscape shifting every seven in-game days, which can always be altered by the player. Leave it as Hoth if you want it or keep it as an everlasting springtime of rejuvination.Beyond seeing the potential for Being Human with the supernatural expansion, there's also the option to get your Twilight on. Yes, there are sparkly vampires. Drink a potion and vampires receive vampiric sunblock that makes them sparkle.The Sims 3 Supernatural expansion will be available in September, Seasons will release in November. My suburban epic of supernatural drama will be fully realized by the holidays.%Gallery-162696%%Gallery-162697%
The Sims 3: Seasons expansion this November [Update: Trailer]
Winter is coming... to The Sims 3! EA announced today during its showcase that everyone's favorite people simulator will have a seasons expansion this November. Those who pre-order the game will receive the ice lounge set, a furniture set made out of ice.%Gallery-161681%
Katy Perry returns to The Sims 3
The Sims 3 Showtime: Katy Perry was just not enough Katy Perry-themed expansion content for The Sims 3. An absolutely unacceptable dearth of Katy Perry remained.Luckily, EA has rescued us from a life of insufficient simulated Katy Perry paraphernalia with the announcement of The Sims 3 Katy Perry's Sweet Treats, which lets you decorate your Sims' homes in the style of an imaginary "Candyfornia, complete with cupcake-themed guitars, candy playground equipment and delicious cotton candy trees."You'll be able to cover your Sims and their homes in virtual candy this June on PC and Mac. It's a good thing The Sims 3 doesn't connect to SimAnt.%Gallery-152107%
UK's Channel 4 finds new reality TV trend in The Sims 3
When reality television made its first foray into prime time, it was fairly clear why networks jumped on the trend with such enthusiasm. "Do we want to pay paltry sums of money to film untrained, attention-hungry people doing strange things in equally cheap locations? Yes. One thousand times yes." And then they did it, more than 1,000 times.The UK's Channel 4 has taken that one trend deeper, getting rid of the real people completely with "SuperMe," a TV show filmed entirely in The Sims 3. SuperMe follows four Sims living together and is completely unscripted, except for the narrator, who provides insight into what the Sims are thinking, feeling and doing. As producer Somethin' Else describes it, "It's like real life, but improvised by robots."The first episode is available to watch above -- personally, we find it more entertaining with this commentary.
Katy Perry bringing fruit dresses, more to The Sims 3 Showtime
Katy Perry has conquered the celebrity scene in reality and has moved to take over virtual realms, starting with The Sims. The collector's edition of The Sims 3 Showtime, which launches in March, will feature the Ultimate Stage bonus venue, Katy Perry themed items and a poster, as well as advertising campaigns featuring Perry herself, starting with the above music video. Not to brag, but we've listened to "The One that got Away" a few dozen times before, and we never imagined it as a story about the tragic death of anyone's soulmate, probably because it's actually about failed teenage love and the dangers of dating a boy who plays guitar. Maybe death sells more games, though. Maybe. %Gallery-144932%
The Sims 3: Showtime expansion announced, arrives March 2012
The Sims 3 will receive its sixth expansion, Showtime, in March 2012. The clubbin' and stagecraft expansion will allow puppet masters across the globe to send their Sims into a friend's game to "perform at their venue in front of their Sims where you both will earn rewards." Beyond the "SimPort" feature (and its misplaced intercapping), the expansion will allow players to create different types of music venues for their Sims to perform in. There are also in-game rewards for accomplishing goals, such as performing a legendary show in a high-level venue. And by "legendary show," we're guessing EA doesn't mean unleashing the disaster of Woodstock 1999 into your friend's world.
The Sims 3 visits the Hidden Springs DLC
Are you still unable to get even a smidgen of forgiveness from your Sim family for locking Aunt Debby in a doorless closet until she died in a pool of her own self-mess? Maybe a trip to upcoming Sims 3 expansion Hidden Springs is in order! A magical museum, a rustic lodge and a little mystery are all waiting for your Sims in the DLC. You'll just have to figure out how to stave off a revolt until you can buy it on August 25. %Gallery-129968%
