Things I've Seen/Heard/Read About in The Sims 3: Generations

[matrix54]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5589433752_385713fa56_o.jpg
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Start off in the imagination-fuelled world of childhood and embrace the drama of the teen years. Experience the complicated realities of adult life, then reap the benefits of growing up in each life stage. A wealth of new options and activities makes your Sims’ lives more meaningful than ever before, whatever their ages. With new celebrations, dramatic life events, and all-new ways for your Sims to express their creativity, The Sims 3 Generations lets your Sims live life to the fullest!
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This EP is similar to:
-Family Fun Stuff
-Seasons (Family Related Stuff)
-Teen Style Stuff

Furniture Style(s):
Traditional, Funky, Castle, Contemporary, Teen, Pirate, Sci Fi

Clothing Styles(s):
Contemporary, Family

Build Styles(s):
Contemporary

Buy
-Shower (Plumbing, Showers and Tubs)

-Refrigerator (Appliances, Large) -Style: Funky
-Trash Compactor (Appliances, Large) -Style: Funky
-Processor -Style: Contemporary
-Microwave -Style: Contemporary
-Coffee Maker -Style: Contemporary
-Large Grill (Appliances, Misc.) -Style: Funky

-Coffee Table with large Drawers (Surfaces, Coffee Tables) -Style: Traditional
-Coffee Table with Surfboard (Surfaces, Coffee Tables) -Style: Teen
-Round Coffee Table (Surfaces, Coffee Tables) -Style: Teen
-Elongated Coffee Table (Surfaces, Coffee Tables)Style, Funky
-Very Short Coffee Table (Surfaces, Coffee Tables) -Style: Traditional
-Round Table with Cloth (Surfaces, End Table) -Style: Traditional
-End Table (Surfaces, End Table) -Style: Traditional
-End Table with Shelves (Surfaces, End Table) -Style: Traditional
-Round End Table of Skate Boards (Surfaces, End Table) -Style: Funky
-Curved End Table (Surfaces, End Table) -Style: Funky
-Wood Wall Shelving (Surfaces, Misc.) Style: Traditional

-Cheap Bed [Loft] (Comfort, Beds) -Style: Contemporary
-Simple Bed [Single, Loft, Bunk] (Comfort, Beds) -Style: Traditional
-Wooden Rungs Bunk Beds (Comfort, Beds) -Style: Traditional
-Teen Bed [Double] (Comfort, Beds) -Style: Traditional
-Bean Bag Chair (Comfort, Living Chair) -Style: Funky
-Chair (Comfort, Living Chair) -Style: Funky
-Chair with Frills on Base(Comfort, Living Chair) -Style: Traditional
-Sofa (Comfort, Sofas) -Style: Funky
-Sleeping Bags (Comfort, Misc.)
-Deck Chair (Comfort, Misc.) -Style: Traditional
-Deck Couch (Comfort, Misc.) -Style: Traditional
-Skateboard Bench (Comfort, Misc.) -Style: Teen

-Themed Televisions (Electronics, TVs)
-Antique Television (Electronics, TVs)
-Cartoon Stylized MP3 Music Deck (Electronics, Stereos) -Style: Contemporary
-Antique Record Player (Electronics, Stereos) -Style: Traditional
-Electronic/Digital Alarm Clock (Electronics, Misc.) -Style: Contemporary
-Tea Clock (Electronics, Misc.)

-Video Camera (Entertainment, Hobbies and Skills)
-Chemistry Set (Entertainment, Hobbies and Skills)
-Wedding Cake (Entertainment, Parties)
-Wedding Arch (Entertainment, Parties) -Style: Contemporary
-Wedding Arch (Entertainment, Parties) -Style: Traditional
-Potted balloon (Entertainment, Parties)
-Rock Fire Pit (Entertainment, Parties)

-Lava Lamp (Lighting, Table Lamps) Style: Funky
-Rocket Desk Lamp (Lighting, Table Lamps) Style: Sci Fi
-Lamp (Lighting, Table Lamps) -Style: Funky
-Lamp (Lighting, Table Lamps) -Style: Traditional
-Lava Lamp (Lighting, Floor Lamps) -Style: Funky
-Ceiling Paper Lamp (Lighting, Ceiling Lamps) -Style: Teen

-Flowers in Vase (Decorative, Plants) -Style: Contemporary
-Tall, Potted Table Plant (Decorative, Plants) -Style: Contemporary
-Messy Mirror (Decorative, Mirrors)
-Butterfly's on Wall (Decorative, Wall Hangings) -Style: Teen
-Vertically Connected Photographs (Decorative, Wall Hangings)
-Various Family Photo Holders (Decorative, Wall Hangings)
-Various Pictures of Airplanes(Decorative, Wall Hangings)
-Framed Newspaper Clipping (Decorative, Wall Hangings)
-Tree (Decorative, Wall Hangings)
-Arthritic Family Portrait (Decorative, Wall Hangings)
-Curtains To Match the Generic Window (Decorative, Curtains & Blinds) -Style: Traditional
-Wide 2 Square Curtains (Decorative, Curtains & Blinds) -Style: Traditional
-Canopy Bed Wall Curtains (Decorative, Curtains & Blinds) -Style: Teen
-Curtains (Decorative, Curtains & Blinds) -Style: Teen
-Flower Rug (Decorative, Rugs) -Style: Funky
-Heart Rug (Decorative, Rugs) -Style: Funky
-Books, Messy (Decorative, Misc.)
-Books, Stacked (Decorative, Misc.)
-Shoe Rack (Decorative, Misc.)
-Storage Shelf (Decorative, Misc.)
-Kitchen Stuff (Decorative, Misc.)
-Pillow Bushel (Decorative, Misc.)
-Cork Wall of Teen Stuff (Decorative, Misc.)
-Sandwich Board (Decorative, Misc.)
-Model Ship (Decorative, Misc.)
-Quirky Alien / X-ray Pencil Holder (Decorative, Misc.)
-Toiletry Table (Decorative, Misc.)

-Tall, Wooden Bookcase (Storage, Bookcases) -Style: Traditional
-Tall, Wooden Drawers (Storage, Drawers) -Style: Traditional

-Children's End Table (Kids, Furniture)
-Children's Bed [Bunk] (Comfort, Beds) -Style: Castle
-Children's Bed [Single] (Comfort, Beds) -Style: Pirate
-Children's Drawers (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Children's Wardrobe (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Children's Book Case (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Large Book Case (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Castle Lamp (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Dinosaur Painting (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle[I]
-Themed Curtains (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Bunk Beds (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Single Bed (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Desk Chair (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Wall Lamp (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Wood Desk (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Rocket Sculpture (Kids, Furniture) [I]-Style: Sci Fi
-Princess Bed Curtains (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Castle
-Cheap Pram/Stroller (Kids, Misc.)
-Expensive Pram/Stroller with Hood (Kids, Misc.)
-Heart Plushy on Wall (Kids, Furniture)
-Children's Vanity End Table with Collapsed Sides (Kids, Furniture) -Style: Traditional
-Alien Carpet (Kids, Furniture) Style: Sci Fi
-Toy Tank (Kids, Misc.)
-Toy Robot (Kids, Misc.)
-Toy Lizard (Kids, Misc.)
-Toy Car Painting (Kids, Misc.)
-Toy Plane Hanging from Ceiling (Kids, Misc.)
-Costume Trunk (Kids, Misc.) -Style: Castle
-Doll Castle (Kids, Misc.)
-See-Saw (Kids, Misc.)
-Slip and Slide (Kids, Misc.)
-Tree House (Kids, Misc.) -Style: Shack, Rocket, Princess
-Spring Riding Toys (Kids, Misc.)
-Sand Boxes (Kids, Misc.)
-Jungle Gym (Kids, Misc.)
-Pirate Ship Toy (Kids, Misc.)
-Rocket Ship Toy (Kids, Misc.)
-Hop Scotch (Kids, Misc.)
-Dolls (Kids, Misc.)
-Unicorn Toy (Kids, Misc.)
-Park Slide (Kids, Misc.)
-Elevated Playhouse (Kids, Misc.) -Style: Traditional
-Swing Set (Kids, Misc.)
-Toy Stove -Costume Trunk (Kids, Misc.) -Style: Castle

-Day Care Minivan (Vehicles, Cars)
-Sports Car (Vehicles, Cars)
-Sports Car 2 (Vehicles, Cars)
-Trailer (Vehicles, Cars)

-School Award {Drama} (BuyDebug, Misc.)
-School Award {Music} (BuyDebug, Misc.)

[B]Build
-New Wall Stencil (Walls, Paint) -Style: Traditional
-Wall Murals (Walls, Paint) -Style: Castle, Sci Fi
-Arches -Style: Castle
-Dado -Style: Castle


-Decoratvie Flooring -Style: Castle

-Window (Openings, Windows) -Style: Traditional

-Stairs that look new (Stairs, Stairs)
-Spiral Staircase (Stairs, Stairs) -Style: Traditional
-Spiral Staircase (Stairs, Stairs) -Style: Contemporary

-Diving Board (Pool, Pool Accessories) {Animation was Shown}

Create-a-Sim Thanks el_flel :)
Male
-Shirt over V-Neck (Adult)
-Jacket with scarf (Adult)
-Tshirt with a motif (Adult).
-Cardigan over tshirt (Child)
-Short sleeved hoodie (Adult)
-Belted cardigan (Adult).
-Shirt over tshirt and trousers (Teen)
-Short sleeved shirt over tshirt (Teen)
-Jersey (Child)

-Pants with Patches (Teen)
-Pants with Star (Teen)
-Pants with Snap on the bottom of the Leg (Child)

-Costumes (Child)
-Cape (All, I Assume)
-College Sports Body Paint (Teen-Elder, I assume)
-Foam Finger (All, I Assume)
-Sport Shirt (Child)

-Body Hair (Adult - Elder)

-Gelled/Combed Back Hair (Teen - Elder)
-Superman like hair, only not as slick/curly (Teen-Elder)
-Short Hair (Teen - Elder)
-Afro (Teen - Elder)
-Helmet with Glasses (Child)

-Large Glasses (Adult)
-Swim Goggles (Child)

Female
-A short sweater over a shirt (Adult)
-A wraparound top (Teen-Adult)
-Dress with trim around the bottom (Teen)
-Jacket with Dragon Fly Broach over a shirt (Elder)
-T-Shirt with Design on side (Teen - Elder) (Maternity)

-Hooded Dress (Child)
-Frilly Dress with Large Bow in Front (Young Adult-Adult)
-Long Dress (Young Adult - Elder)

-Costumes (Child)

-Ponytail (Teen)
-Up-Do of tight Curls - Princess (Child)
-Comb Hair on Shoulders (Teen - Elder)
-Wedding Veil -Style: Classic (Young Adult - Elder)
-Braids with Hair ties (Toddler-Child)
-Messy Bun (Teen - Elder)
-FauHawk (Teen - Elder)

Traits
-Nurturing
-Rebellious

New Features
Traps/Pranks
-Flaming Bag off Poo at Door Step
-Stink Bomb (could mean Chemistry Table)
-Throwing Eggs at House
-Exploding Toilet
-Ink in Shower
-Ding Dong Ditch
-TPing
-Water Balloons
-Hair Dye in Shampoo
-Fart (Whoopee) Cushions

Parties/Events
-Prom
-Graduation
-Bachelor(ette) Party
-Improved Weddings
-Slumber Party
-Dating

Extra Curricular Activities
-Scout
-Music
-Art
-Newspaper
-Study
-Debate
-Drama
-Hobbies
-Sports
-Ballet

Lots
-Daycare Center (I assume it will be added)
-Playground (a park for Children / Childish Sims)

Boarding Schools
-Fort Starch Military School: §800 per child
-School of Peace and Love: §800 per child
-Dribbledine Sports Academy: §1,200 per child
-LeFromage Art School: §1,200 per child
-Smuggleworth Prep School §1,600 per child

Jobs/Professions
-Daycare

Imaginary Friend
-Can only been see by the Sim who's friend it it
-Have their own color
-While in play as an Imaginary Sim, most interactions can be done

Potions
-Mood Enhancer: §5
-Stink Juice: §10
-Liquid Horror: §20
-Radical Reparium: §50
-Bladder Flow: §75
-Sleeping Elixir: §90
-Ghost Potion: §125
-Ninja Vanish: §250
-Imaginary Friend Metamorphium: §4,500

Lifetime Rewards
Hover bed - 20,000 points
Well, what do you think? It's a bed, that hovers! Graham told us your Sims will get a special moodlet from sleeping in the hover bed, and also woohooing looks pretty funny as the bed... bounces about. Steve took a screenshot of the hover bed, so check his article for that.

Super nanny - 25,000 points
If you work in the daycare profession, your Sim will become really good at keeping the kids in line. They become less likely to pull pranks on your watch, and generally more obedient.

Clean slate - 25,000 points
Another aspect to this EP that I haven't actually touched upon yet is that your Sim will build up a dating reputation. If you woohoo with too many people and never call them back, well, word gets around. This lifetime reward lets you lose your dating reputation so you can start over.

Inheritance - 30,000 points
A long-lost relative dies and leaves you lots of money. I don't know how much because I didn't manage to get enough points to buy it :-(

Above reproach - 35,000 points
Public displays of affection will go unnoticed by passers by if you buy this reward.

Motive mobile - 45,000 points
Didn't get to actually try this, but someone from EA told us that it fills up your motives as you drive, so you arrive at your destination with full motive bars. Cool!

Clone voucher - 45,000 points
Redeemable at the science facility to have a child-age clone of your Sim join the family.

Misc.
-Elders can walk with a cane
-Mid-Life Crisis
-Ability to push a stroller while in motion (similar to walking a dog with a leash in the unleashed trailer)
-Memory System Returns
-Home Movie Creation (Watchable on Television)
-Scrapbooks
-Pillow Fights
-Watch Shooting Stars On the Ground
-Give Gifts
-Cake Dancers
-Exploding Nectar
-Respect for pranks
-Tell the "Family Story"
-Store Video Data on a data Disk
-Romantic Reputation
-Tell ghost Stories (may cause nightmares)
-Punishments
-Loft Beds allow Sims to store items beneath them up to 2 squares wide.
-Sims who pull pranks can have the police called on them.
-Field Trips
-Sims WooHoo in the shower and the Tree House. :blink:
-Collections (Filters)
-Custom Lifespans
-Bury Homework in Sand
-Tell Bedtime Story
-Children Can take care of toddlers
-Mood Swings
-Driving Lessons
-Throw Rice
-Slide Down Spiral Staircases.

Screenshots


If you see anything I missed, feel free to comment :D

[NekoCat]

Gonna have fun with all those pranks. Modders - we need an autonomous prank mod for teens :-) That'll liven up the neighborhood!

[Mishy]

we waited so long for some news...THANKS matrix <3

[matrix54]

your all welcome :). I'm actually really digging for stuff, and I found out you can actually push a baby in the stroller/pram. It's in one of the family photos in the first scene. Unless it's staged (which it doesn't appear to be), it should really bring in more baby/parent binding time. <3

[kiwi_tea]

I just noticed the spiral staircase!! Yay!

[tizerist]

I just remembered I already have tree house in my game. You can get them from creasims. So you can mix and match the two types in parks.
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg160/tizerist/TS3EP032011-03-1117-44-33-45.jpg

[el_flel]

matrix54 I officially love you for doing these threads :D

I just looked up the trailer - how cool does that look?! I love that this is something new to the series. Video cameras, prom, mid-life crises, bachelor parties, stink bombs. I laughed so much at the mid life crisis and the suggestion of a stripper!

Gonna go watch that video again.

[matrix54]

^Love you too. <3 My face literally went straight to mega excited and I kept squealing through out the trailer. :anime:

And While I was doing the list (updated BTW), it appears as if someone removed the trailer. Good thing I downloaded them. ^_^

[lewisb40]

I want it, I really, really, WANT IT!!

Okay, must control my middle aged self. But HELL YEAH, I want it!

Time to make my singles get married, Oh Wait, there is real weddings in the new game. Shoot, time to make my married couples procreate and put them on stand by. So much prepping to do and so little time...

Watching the video again!

EDIT: Prom Night?! A fucking Prom Night, with pictures (poses) and all? Oh I am getting this EP just for that!

STROLLERS!

[el_flel]

Simprograms have still got a trailer up.

Some CAS stuff:
F - A short sweater over a shirt (0:11).
F - A wraparound top which appears to be a remake of the one from TS2 OFB that was an outfit with capri pants (0:38 and 1:12).
F - Turquoise dress with white trim around the bottom (0:45).
Multiple - All of the oufits at 1:12 are new.
M - Shirt over tshirt (0:47).
M - Jacket with scarf (0:52 and 1:08).
M - Tshirt with a motif (0:53).
Kids - Costumes (0:16)!
M - Cardigan over tshirt (0:19).
M - Short sleeved hoodie and trousers (0:23).
M - Belted cardigan (0:27).
M - Shirt over tshirt and trousers, and hoodie outfit mentioned above (0:34).
M - Short sleeved shirt over tshirt (0:37).

[kiwi_tea]

Oh, the elder lady in the final scene is wearing a dress with a dragonfly broach that just like the one my grandmother wore to my wedding! Hehe.

[RoadRageBarbie]

Uh oh. I noticed something odd. Did anyone else notice a distinct lack of any new hair? Because I don't recall...

[matrix54]

i'm sure they'll add in some. ^_^

[kiwi_tea]

Matrix, the car was a bonus with the Sims 3 collector's edition. It's not a new one that I can see. :)

[matrix54]

Matrix, the car was a bonus with the Sims 3 collector's edition. It's not a new one that I can see. :)

BLASPHEMY! :rofl:
http://img858.imageshack.us/img858/4795/car.jpg

[Robodl95]

Uh oh. I noticed something odd. Did anyone else notice a distinct lack of any new hair? Because I don't recall...

Well 90% of EAs hair really sucks so I don't care so much...

I'm trying to resist going "OMG" but anyway...OMG! So much news! I'm seriously depressed about the earthquake but then EA springs this on us... wow! Pets totally came out of the blue. (but this thread is for generations so....)

Favorite things
Bachelor party!! So cool!
Kids clothing
WEDDING OBJECTS!!!!
Treehouse looks nice imo...

Things I'm thinking
The prom is going to be rather lame
We don't know if the stroller or video-camera are usable

I need to watch the video again, that's just what I got from a first look. :)

[matrix54]

The stroller appears to be usable (it was in a photo with a mother and child, so I can only assume yes.
Prom WILL be in the rabbit hole, but I'm positive you can take pictures outside. :)
The video camera... I'm going to say yes. There are cameras in the game (both phone, disposable, digital and traditional), so a video camera would work, since the Sims 3 can already record videos.

[gobot101]

I would be very disappointed if the stroller wasn't usable, people have been asking or that for years. I wasn't too big on getting one in Sims 2, but with the open neighborhood of Sims 3, I'd love to have one because I have my sims take their toddlers to the park every so often, mom takes something to do and the toddler takes a toy with him/her, and it'd look so nice having them walk down to the park pushing the toddler in a stroller.

But I'm with you Robodl with the caps on WEDDING OBJECTS. I never have real wedding ceremonies anymore, they're really lame. This will change that. And we get spiral staircases back <3

[lewisb40]

I don't see anything new for infants, so I will continue growing them up one day after birth. Glad my toddlers have ten days, now there is more for them to do. Wish the family could walk as a group (without being grouped up) to the park, that would make great photos.

[moryrie]

Uh oh. I noticed something odd. Did anyone else notice a distinct lack of any new hair? Because I don't recall...

There's a girl turned sideways in the 'parents are gone' party sequence who appears to have a new hair. Its a mid-back length wavy-ish ponytail.

But that appears to be it.

[RoseCity]

[CENTER]BLASPHEMY!

I have that sports car too, but I can't remember where I got it. From the Store I think - maybe it was free?

[kiwi_tea]

Oops. Corrected. ^_^ Thanks.

[Miko09]

First: The Trailer looks amazing! I'm liking a lot of the features, but I'm still not getting what the main hook is. Is this really just a bunch of combined features? Still pretty cool to see the new trailer(s)

Then I noticed something odd: There's no release date on it. The Unleashed trailer has a date of October 2011. The Generations just say 2011. Hmm....

[matrix54]

First: The Trailer looks amazing! I'm liking a lot of the features, but I'm still not getting what the main hook is. Is this really just a bunch of combined features? Still pretty cool to see the new trailer(s)

Then I noticed something odd: There's no release date on it. The Unleashed trailer has a date of October 2011. The Generations just say 2011. Hmm....

The hook is generations. People have been complaining about different age groups being neglected and now EA want to show them some love. The EP expands on the original by giving different age groups more to do. Basically, Family Life.

[blubluedd]

will generations have different seasons and weather? all these expansions are great but i have yet to see an expansion pack that REALISTICALLY simulates our REAL WORLD.

[fway]

It also looks like we get new and matching windows:

http://www.modyourpanties.com/hosting/26302_110312002722plugin-container 2011-03-11 18-25-32-19.jpg

Unless of course this is a rabbithole...

Also, one thing I've noticed was the cane. If there is a cane I wonder if Sims could become "injured."

[tizerist]

I think it will look more like this...

Buy
-Coffee Table with large Drawers (Buydebug)
-Very Short Coffee Table (Buydebug)
-Wood Desk (Buydebug)
-Wood Wall Shelving (Buydebug)

-Electronic/Digital Alarm Clock (Buydebug)
Buydebug
Buydebug
Buydebug

[el_flel]

I think that's a rabbit hole :/

[matrix54]

that's the grocery store :p

[gobot101]

To me that looks like the base game grocery store. I may be wrong, but that's what it looks like.

[Miko09]

The hook is generations. People have been complaining about different age groups being neglected and now EA want to show them some love. The EP expands on the original by giving different age groups more to do. Basically, Family Life.

As much as I would love to have more interactions for sims of all ages, this whole Generations theme seems like it should be a side feature. I feel like this EP is missing a main feature. Oh well. Still seems like a fun edition to the Sims 3

[CinderEmma]

Got another vid for anybody who hasn't seen it :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZFOV4soM34

In :53, there's a guy getting electrocuted by blue lighting stuff. Maybe it's in the process of making the stink bomb?

Also, there's a boy child wearing a medal at the end, that's new, right?

I really hope that's more then just a picture of a WATER SLIDE!

And was there a see-saw before? I can't remember XD

One of the pictures in the background in the beginning shows the mom walking the son, so it IS an action. Heck, I'll pay the $40 just for that XD

[fway]

http://www.modyourpanties.com/hosting/26308_110312012315plugin-container 2011-03-11 19-21-40-56.jpg

[CeJaye]

As much as I would love to have more interactions for sims of all ages, this whole Generations theme seems like it should be a side feature. I feel like this EP is missing a main feature. Oh well. Still seems like a fun edition to the Sims 3

This, so very much. Yeah, it'll be great to (hopefully) have more things for babies, toddlers and kids to do. And I would hope they're actually going to include more clothes, hair & items for those age groups...but it feels like something is missing. I'm still hoping for a surprise feature like weather or pets, (doesn't even have to be either, but weather would be great,) but I think I'm going to be outta luck with that. Hopefully that "something is missing" feeling will go away when we hear more about it besides the trailer, but I'm not going to hold my breath; I do so dislike the only source of information right now is the trailer, given how they stage so much.

Still crossing my fingers that we get an awesome supernatural creature, aliens or zombies would be great.




Soooo...where's the poo coming from in the Flaming Bag of Poo prank, if there's no pets in this EP? :wtf:

[lewisb40]

^ To tell the truth, I really don't want to know. :blink:

[CinderEmma]

Maybe it comes from all the magically disappearing diapers?

[Robodl95]

Hey what about a dress up box? I never use their weird dress-up clothes they constantly give us but if it was an object sort of acting like a toy box and sims changed into their costumes that would be cute.

Maybe the supernatural is witches because the little girl was holding a sparkling wand?

[kiwi_tea]

Maybe the supernatural is witches because the little girl was holding a sparkling wand?

Actually... ...that's not a bad theory!

[CeJaye]

Actually... ...that's not a bad theory!

Actually...the boy next to her was acting like a dinosaur, and the kid behind them was acting like...something. I think it's just the dress up box, and not anything more. Witches would be nice, I guess, if they were given the same type of upgrade vampires were.

[lewisb40]

Hey what about a dress up box? I never use their weird dress-up clothes they constantly give us but if it was an object sort of acting like a toy box and sims changed into their costumes that would be cute.

Maybe the supernatural is witches because the little girl was holding a sparkling wand?

I thought the box on the bottom right of the screen where the kids were playing make- believe, was a costume box.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c278/mailchaser40/Pictures%201/YouTube-TheSims3Generations-OfficialTrailer_1299875623732.png

[Deathfish]

It sounds pretty cool. I'm wondering what type of community lot(s) will be added to this EP? Hopefully no more rabbit holes.

[Robodl95]

I thought the box on the bottom right of the screen where the kids were playing make- believe, was a costume box.

It's hard to tell from the video, it could be a toybox and EA using their "movie magic"

[LollySims]

Omg! I'm soooo excited! I can't believe we're getting home movies now...that actually crossed my mind as something I would love to have but thought it would be waaaay too unlikely. :blink: :D

I haven't caught up on the new info yet, but is there any word on the new supernatural creature? Or even a hint?

Oh, and do you guys think Prom will be a rabbit hole? I would love to see the teens all dressed up and dancing together :lovestruc

[socherish]

Omg! I'm soooo excited! I can't believe we're getting home movies now...that actually crossed my mind as something I would love to have but thought it would be waaaay too unlikely. :blink: :D


If they do this well enough, we won't need memories. :bunny:

[FriendlyQuark]

At this point the thing I most want is just Collections. I wish I could have collection folders for all my custom content instead of having to go through every darn item to find a whole set. :P

[LoonehWannabe]

Looks awesome, but considering that it's EA who's making it, it will probably be not-so-awesome *Cup half empty*

I hope it adds either Zombies or Witches, just 'cause I said so :)

[LollySims]

You know, I keep re-watching the trailer, and although I am very excited for this EP, I can't help but think there is still some sort of major focal point missing. Obviously in Unleashed, the focus is on pets and that's a major new element. Generations so far it seems like it's just filling in some gaps from the base game (better parties/weddings, more interactions for toddlers/kids/teens, some tweaks to adults/elders, etc). Not that I'm not thrilled for extra realism and more for families to do, but it still seems like there should be some core element that pulls the whole thing together. Of course I guess Free Time was sort of similar in that sense, where it was just a lot of little things and not so much centered around a key element, per se.

Also, in regards to prom, I saw in an earlier post on this thread that it is a rabbit hole...has this been confirmed? I didn't think they'd open up the school rabbit hole or anything, but a separate venue to hold the prom in would've been cool, and also give bands from Late Night another place to get gigs :( I really don't see the point in continuing to add rabbit holes for fun places/events...I want to actually SEE my Sims doing stuff :cry:

[Captain THPS4]

I agree that Generations doesn't seem to have much of a focus, it just seems centered on making the most out of each age group. It doesn't seem to actually be that family-oriented. World Adventures had traveling, Ambitions had professions, Late Night had club hopping in the city, and Unleashed will add animals. I think I'll just need a straight up list of all the activities for each age group in the EP to truly understand what we'll get for our money when we pick up Generations. So much stuff in that trailer looks staged....

[simsamu]

I hope the supernatural is witches I really miss witches, the rest of the stuff I am pretty ambivalent about to be honest.

[LollySims]

I agree that Generations doesn't seem to have much of a focus, it just seems centered on making the most out of each age group. It doesn't seem to actually be that family-oriented. World Adventures had traveling, Ambitions had professions, Late Night had club hopping in the city, and Unleashed will add animals. I think I'll just need a straight up list of all the activities for each age group in the EP to truly understand what we'll get for our money when we pick up Generations. So much stuff in that trailer looks staged....

Yeah, I agree about parts looking staged. Like the "passed out" guys at the bachelor party. A couple of them are curled up in the fetal position, like what happens when Sims die :wtf:

I'm curious about the teen parties. In the video there's a little sign before that part that says "Parents Gone! Party!", and I can't help but think this seems odd, in that, parents are seldom away unless they work nights, or you happen to send them somewhere in town. Usually in real life teens throw wild parties while parents are out of town.

Also, I'm intrigued by the aviation pictures on the wall (around 1:14 in the video). Seems like this doesn't really go with the theme, and I'm wondering if we're getting a new career in aviation. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it :lol:

[Sprue]

I didn't see any element in those parties to make them different then those already ingame.

[cupcake12winx]

The supernatural I want to see is witches... and for vampires to be able to become one, too. That'd be awesome, vampires with actual powers, not their stupid mind reading...

[LadyAngua]

At the end the Dad spins into more wintery clothes ( a la seasons ) could it be getting colder?

[tangie0906]

They already have "wintry" clothes in the game - sweaters, scarfs, etc. So I wouldn't read too much into that.

As for there not being a theme, frankly, I don't really care. All the goal-directed play that has come in EPs so far please some people, but those of us who like to focus on sandbox style play just need more interactions between sims and between sims and stuff in their environment. So it's about time they throw a bone our way. ;)

As for weather, weather in S2 about killed my PC so I am not all that thrilled with the idea; still, I know it's very popular and lots of people want it back. I do have a better PC now, but since the game still lags under certain conditions I am very wary of something like weather that could be a big drain on our processors.

I love this game, I really do, and I have no desire to go back to TS2 as of yet, but there's a whole lot of untapped potential. I hope Generations fills up a bit of that gap, especially if it helps the sims seem more alive and less souless and wooden.

[el_flel]

I think that any EP which contains weather will explicitly state that it contains it. EA know that weather is a big selling point and so they are bound to make that the entire theme of the EP. Therefore, if this EP contained weather I think we would know it by now.

[Fyrefly555]

Well, those videos still not "officially" official. They look more like "Work in Progress videos" to me.

That kind of videos aren't rares in the Game Design industry. They do a lot of videos for their meetings and all (more funky than Power Point presentations I guess. :p).

So, I'll just wait and see for official infos myself before claiming "no weather" or "no whatever", which doesn't mean that I didn't appreciate those vids. It's great to finally have a little more infos about the becoming of the game for the near future. ^^

[aGOLDENbox]

So nothing new shown with babies? I'm hoping the creative minds at EA can think of something. I've got a strong feeling that proms will just be teens driving a car (or taking their bike or the subway) to the school in their formal clothing and walking into the school building.

[Purity4]

Also, I'm intrigued by the aviation pictures on the wall (around 1:14 in the video). Seems like this doesn't really go with the theme, and I'm wondering if we're getting a new career in aviation. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it :lol:

Or perhaps the plane picture represents the holiday which the parents go on in order for the teens to have their party.

[Purity4]

So nothing new shown with babies? I'm hoping the creative minds at EA can think of something. I've got a strong feeling that proms will just be teens driving a car (or taking their bike or the subway) to the school in their formal clothing and walking into the school building.

Seriously, if breastfeeding and baby wearing (slings) are not added to this game to aid social/hunger while allowing the parents to go about their lives, I will be greatly disappointed. I would love cosleeping for infants, toddlers and young children, but I think that's pushing it, so I would settle for baby wearing and breastfeeding. I don't see how this game can go on without those two.

[el_flel]

I don't understand why breastfeeding has never been in the game.

[RoadRageBarbie]

I think it's a little silly at this point that there are still people who don't believe this EP is real. It was a trailer, posted on an EA youtube account. I know EA hasn't "announced" it officially, but it's kind of like an eight month pregnant woman saying she's not pregnant and everyone believing her. There's clearly evidence to the contrary!

[anifromid2]

Doesn't look that great to me, but I'll buy it for the same reason I buy all the EPs. Because the CC makers will take the EA crap that's included in the EP and make something worth having out of it.

[Fyrefly555]

I think it's a little silly at this point that there are still people who don't believe this EP is real. It was a trailer, posted on an EA youtube account. I know EA hasn't "announced" it officially, but it's kind of like an eight month pregnant woman saying she's not pregnant and everyone believing her. There's clearly evidence to the contrary!

Yes, there are both real, but it just seems like those videos look like work in progress videos. I don't say they don't exist, nor than these 2 EPs won't too, just that the things represented in them just look really unfinished business to me, mostly in the "Unleashed" videos.

If this is the Official trailer for Generations, well, I just guess that I'm disappointed with this one though... About Unleashed, animals look nice I think.

Oh, and an other argument which make me think that the "Generations" trailer is not the official for us desperate Sims players, there's no definit release date in it, just a vague "Coming Out 2011"... If it was the real official public trailer, I think they may have given the entire released date no? That's why I think it's a presentation of the game which wasn't supposed to be publicaly published... Some kind of video for the investors or something, or just a quick preview they made for a convention that they finally didn't use. (okay, my english's getting wild here... I need more sleep. :p)

Anyway, if it's really all we're getting for our game in the next EP, I'm still disappointed about it...

[aGOLDENbox]

While looking at a screen cap for the video on youtube I noticed one of the teens (I think it's a teen because she's dancing during the teen party) has on a new denim jacket with rolled up sleeves and a shirt underneath it.

[Robodl95]

I don't understand why breastfeeding has never been in the game.

I don't follow TSM but I look at Simprogram's news sometimes and I saw this today.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5518388371_e1c2411dd4_o.png

[CeJaye]

I don't follow TSM but I look at Simprogram's news sometimes and I saw this today.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5518388371_e1c2411dd4_o.png

TSM has more than a few features & objects it'd be great if some talented modder was able to port to the Sims 3. The only reason I'm looking forward to it, to be honest.

We'll see how many people bitch and moan about breast feeding being included in TSM.

[amo365]

As for weather, weather in S2 about killed my PC so I am not all that thrilled with the idea; still, I know it's very popular and lots of people want it back. I do have a better PC now, but since the game still lags under certain conditions I am very wary of something like weather that could be a big drain on our processors.
In the sims 2, wheather was also irritating because sims were constantly looking out the window :!:

[TouchMySoul]

Yeah that was pretty annoying..or the kids would run outside play for hours, and end up getting cold. It just looks like weather is not going to be released anytime this year anyway. I was surprised that there did not seem to be a general theme which is fine with me, however I am wondering if they will release more information regarding what will be included. I'm actually not that excited, but I'm sure they'll come out with some exciting information soon --- I hope.

I'll probably wait until October, and pick up book packs since I probably won't have much time anyway..unless this one has something exciting I've missed. ;)

As for the weather I am wondering if it was just pushed back a bit since like the others mentioned it could be a huge memory hog.

[LollySims]

Or perhaps the plane picture represents the holiday which the parents go on in order for the teens to have their party.

Yeah, that occurred to me actually. They could implement this in a very simple way too. Personally I'd love an airport, even if it is a rabbit hole. It would be sort of cute if Sims could go on business trips, which would be a good opportunity for teens to throw parties.

A couple things I just thought of that would be cool is being able to assign chores to kids/teens and giving them an allowance (kept separate from family funds with maybe a piggy bank object?). Then kids/teens could click on the floor (like neat Sims) and get an option to "Do Chores".

I really hope there's more interactions between parents and their kids. I'm worried this EP is just gonna add things to each age group but not really bring them together as a family. :(

[Tzigone]

So nothing new shown with babies? I'm hoping the creative minds at EA can think of something.
I know, I noticed. Very annoying. Of course, they don't even have legs, so what can they do? Maybe one of those toys where babies lay on the floor and bat at things? I'm not sure how they'll use the strollers, actually. Definitely for the plain-looking stroller anyway - couldn't really see the other one.

[matrix54]

there could be a slim chance that they gave babies legs now, but I'm sure they wouldn't do that.

[lewisb40]

Doesn't look that great to me, but I'll buy it for the same reason I buy all the EPs. Because the CC makers will take the EA crap that's included in the EP and make something worth having out of it.

You have spoken what I am feeling. I buy the EPs anticipating what the modders will come up with, make the developers at EA look like loafers.

I really love this game more for the modding than what is officially released.

[Tempscire]

As for there not being a theme, frankly, I don't really care. All the goal-directed play that has come in EPs so far please some people, but those of us who like to focus on sandbox style play just need more interactions between sims and between sims and stuff in their environment.
A unifying theme does not automatically exclude sandbox play, just as a mish-mash of random(ish) objects and interactions is not a sure sign the associated gameplay won't be goal-oriented. For all we know there could be wants and goals like to attend 200 parties or collect 5 different costumes as a kid.

Further, all the Sims 2 EPs had themes and many of their features had simple goals built in as well (get gold badge in X, do all the vacation activities to fill in mementos, etc), yet most everyone agrees Sims 2 was very sandboxy and definitely more than TS3 has been.

Just saying.

[lewisb40]

I get what you are saying Tempscire and I agree, Sims 2 was more sandbox game play. Really I don't care much of what goals the sims in the Sims 3 wish for, just as I didn't care if they accomplished their goals in Sims 2. I played the families in ways I find entertaining, but was disappointed how that affect sims in Sims 3. I hated being pigeonholed in LTW that would only work with certain traits. I think the Late Night patch changed that, now you can pick whatever LTW you want for any combination of traits. I do appreciate EA changed that.

[tangie0906]

Excellent point, there is no reason that one has to exclude the other. But so far EA has been way too directive and I'm really hoping they will back off on that. If that means no theme, I am OK with that.

I let my sims go for some goals and opportunities, but about half the time I just cancel them. It gets to be way too much. At any rate maybe all this goal oriented programming puts the focus more on the player than it does the sims, which might explain why they seem so wooden and lifeless to me.

[parrot999]

...which might explain why they seem so wooden and lifeless to me.

That, or it could be the fact that they don't ever look at anything when standing still, or walking. Unlike their sims 2 counterparts.

They add more lifelike animation, and I'll be happy. As it is, I can't play the game anymore because I can't get past the android-like animation.

[uchuujin]

A unifying theme does not automatically exclude sandbox play, just as a mish-mash of random(ish) objects and interactions is not a sure sign the associated gameplay won't be goal-oriented. For all we know there could be wants and goals like to attend 200 parties or collect 5 different costumes as a kid.


I don't think at this point they'll stop doing the whole aspirations thing. And I don't know if I agree entirely that S2 wasn't goal oriented. I distinctly remember my grilled cheese sims wanted to eat 250 grilled cheese sandwiches or something inane like that. :rolleyes:

But I think the goal thing IS realistic. Who doesn't have goals in life, big or small?

As for traits... I like that my sim actually has a personality that is further augmented by the game itself.
The thing is, they're realistic, too. We're all limited by our personality traits. I'm artistic, and horrible at math. I'm more than a little neurotic and not athletic at all. Actually, I'd say we're far more limited in real life than in the sims, because even if you hate exercise or sports you can make your sim do it anyways. :p

And seasons? I'd love them. That'd be realistic, too; I live in a no-weather zone so I'm seriously craving snow in one form or another. It also means I can have a white Christmas. :lovestruc The perpetual spring/summer atmosphere just feels unnatural to me.

[TheGuySim]

Oh, and do you guys think Prom will be a rabbit hole? I would love to see the teens all dressed up and dancing together :lovestruc

Well if you look closely at the prom part of the video, you can see the school rabbit hole behind them... But you never know, hopefully it's not a rabbit hole!

The child video recording home videos looks fun too!

But does anybody else notice that if you look close at the house the teen is in at around 0.46, it looks just like the house at 0.12 in the Unleashed trailer? Just thought I would say that.. :P

[lewisb40]

That is what I find entertaining, making a couch potato do exercise, it is suppose to affect their mood. Making a couch potato have a goal of being in the military is a blast, especially when they are in a bad mood for not succeeding. Well, I find it entertaining.

[Srikandi]

I really don't get the argument that TS2 was more sandboxy than TS3. It was certainly just as goal-ORIENTED: the whole wants thing was one of the main improvements cited over TS1 in the game design, the whole skill system and career systems have always been goal-oriented, and every single EP added a whole new goal system to the game as its major feature. Lifetime wants and grades/graduation in Uni, scored dating/outings in NL, business rankings in OFB, pet career progression in Pets, the badge system in Seasons, the lifetime aspiration meter and hobby enthusiasm in Free Time... etc etc. The whole history of development of TS2 was about adding more and more different kinds of goals.

And in some ways, the goal system was much more "in your face" than it is in TS3: for instance, the party and private school (and later dating/outing) minigames, which don't have an equivalent in TS3, and the OFB retail sales "minigame" too, which was pretty much the whole EP.

The one way in which TS3 goals are more obvious is the opportunity system. But you can now turn opportunities off in options, which wasn't really the case for any of the TS2 goal systems.

I personally like to have a lot of different goal systems, since it diversifies gameplay for me... different sims focus on different things. But whether you're a more "goal-y" or "sandboxy" player, I don't think the argument that TS2 was less goal-oriented stands up. I think some folks who don't like goals have just repressed that part of the game ;)

[Drakron]

But I think the goal thing IS realistic. Who doesn't have goals in life, big or small?

That is not the point in my view, goal oriented gameplay means the purpose is fulfill those goals.

Sandbox means you just play the game, there is no actual goal players attempt to achieve to "complete" the game.

And no, the "opportunities" in TS3 are not in the slightest realistic as they simply amount to very basic "quests" that give some kind of reward.

Also the player himself can create his own "goals" instead of being told what to do ... I am sorry but this is like "Achievements" in games these days were instead you are told EXACTLY what you "achieved" and how much its "worth" instead of you setting them in your own.

The Sims is not a "game" ... its a sandbox simulator and any attempt to make it a "game" are just missing the point and shown the inability of understanding why the game stand up on their own in the first place.

[parrot999]

Srikandi, I can see where you're coming from, but there is a difference. In the sims 2 all goals are completely user directed, you choose to fulfill a want or fear, you choose to open a business or throw a party. Essentially, you choose your own goals. In the sims 3, things like opportunities are obnoxious because they are sort of forced on you. Sure you can turn them off, but to get certain features you have to use opportunities.

What it comes down to in my mind, is that EA, trying to make the game more interesting, took a lot of control away from the player. You can't even play multiple families in one neighborhood without mods. Speaking of mods, in the beginning they removed support for those as well.

Also, why don't EP's play off each other anymore like how pets could eat snow, and you could open a resturaunt, Jewelry store,etc...

I am not trying to glorify previous sims games, they all had flaws, but the sims 3's gameplay feels so broken that I can't really understand how anyone enjoys it.

Also before you go off saying "Well why don't you play the sims 2 then!" I am actually playing it as I post this thank you.
I intend to stay there and let my The sims 3 discs collect dust until EA gets their act together. Hopefully Generations is that turning point.

[crocobaura]

I personally like to have a lot of different goal systems, since it diversifies gameplay for me... different sims focus on different things. But whether you're a more "goal-y" or "sandboxy" player, I don't think the argument that TS2 was less goal-oriented stands up. I think some folks who don't like goals have just repressed that part of the game ;)


Well, I admit I repressed the goal system in both TS2 and TS3 and still found the remaining gameplay more interesting in TS2 than in TS3. Excluding the opportunities in TS3, once you remove the goal oriented aspects like LTWs, careers and promotions, and whatever else is there, TS2 was more fun. Sims had more things to do both at home and on community places and they interracted more with each other. Take for example restaurants. In TS2 you could play them as either the cook, waiter, maitre d', cleaning guy, owner, or client. In TS3 you can only play them as a client or an owner, and even then you only get to look at the building from the outside.

[socherish]

I really don't get the argument that TS2 was more sandboxy than TS3. It was certainly just as goal-ORIENTED: the whole wants thing was one of the main improvements cited over TS1 in the game design, the whole skill system and career systems have always been goal-oriented, and every single EP added a whole new goal system to the game as its major feature. Lifetime wants and grades/graduation in Uni, scored dating/outings in NL, business rankings in OFB, pet career progression in Pets, the badge system in Seasons, the lifetime aspiration meter and hobby enthusiasm in Free Time... etc etc. The whole history of development of TS2 was about adding more and more different kinds of goals.



My issue with TS3 is not that there are goals, but that if you don't want to accomplish them, the game gets boring for me. I mean, in Sims 2 you could use motherlode and get no job, slack off, don't have any hobbies/gardens/businesses...and still have fun with the game because there were just so many silly things to do. Pillow fights, DJ-ing, Bowling, Water balloon fights - in this way, I think TS2 was less goal-oriented because the game had more to do in between achieving goals. In TS3, if I just got the promotion I wanted, finished a collection and finished up the tombs (all goal-oriented stuff), I can't make my sim just tickle or goof off with their spouse, slow dance or ice skate (non-goal oriented stuff). I mean, some activities are there, but not as much as there were in TS2.

[koololdster]

Hey what about a dress up box? I never use their weird dress-up clothes they constantly give us but if it was an object sort of acting like a toy box and sims changed into their costumes that would be cute.

Maybe the supernatural is witches because the little girl was holding a sparkling wand?

OMG! This brought back memories. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure they did have a 'dress-up' box in the Sims 1. Some of the stuff from the Sims 1 that never made it to the Sims 2 would be fun to have again.
Remember the work 'station' that made potions to turn Sims into clones etc.? The effects only lasted briefly. :lol:

[gobot101]

Sims 1 did have a costume box, it came with House Party. It had several different choices as to what you could make everyone on the lot wear. I remember formal wear, swim wear, and western wear. Maybe I need to turn that game back on to see what the other choices were.

ETA: Boy, I miss short loading times even with a load of CC. =]

Anyway, the Costume Trunk had Costumes, Disco, Formalwear, Beachwear, Clubwear, Swimsuits, Togas, and Westernwear.

[uchuujin]

My issue with TS3 is not that there are goals, but that if you don't want to accomplish them, the game gets boring for me. I mean, in Sims 2 you could use motherlode and get no job, slack off, don't have any hobbies/gardens/businesses...and still have fun with the game because there were just so many silly things to do...
[snip]
...I mean, some activities are there, but not as much as there were in TS2.

I agree with that. There aren't enough leisure time activities; take WA for example. Tomb raiding is awesome, but I do miss the random (also pointless, but cute) stuff, like the pirate ship.

I also have a problem with not being able to manage multiple houses, and the story progression is whacked, but I tend to micromanage, so being forced NOT to is kind of freeing.
For example, I had to prod my sims in S2 to do anything that the personalities I gave them. In S3, the game itself helps to define their personality, so the details I've added are supplements. It makes the game less stressful for me.


@Drakron: I disagree with the idea that opportunities aren't realistic. If you're given the opportunity to, say, write an extra-credit paper for a class, you're doing it to get a better grade, and maybe because you like the subject.

It's the way they present it. They DO make it sound like a quest, and that doesn't fit with the whole point of the sims.
I think we're just missing fun hobbies and pointless activities. Another thing that points to the game being quest-like; they don't give much opportunity to just goof off.

Having traits doesn't quite make up for it... but it's enough for now. They CAN add ice skating or bowling in the future. Generations ought to help with that. I am disappointed we won't be getting weather anytime soon, but family oriented activities will be MUCH appreciated, as opposed to not having my sims go harrowing off on a new adventure. It was getting too confusing.

[gobot101]

They CAN add ice skating or bowling in the future.

YES! Bowling was actually something I was thinking about the other day. I loved sending my sims bowling, and ice skating was cute. I'll really be happy if they add those back. I greatly dislike the store, but there are some features that wouldn't piss me off too much if they went in the store. I'd still rather they be in an EP, but if it means we'll be able to get them, but I'll be happy.

[uchuujin]

YES! Bowling was actually something I was thinking about the other day. I loved sending my sims bowling, and ice skating was cute. I'll really be happy if they add those back. I greatly dislike the store, but there are some features that wouldn't piss me off too much if they went in the store. I'd still rather they be in an EP, but if it means we'll be able to get them, but I'll be happy.

Yes, absolutely--one thing I liked about LN was the darts, shuffleboard, and the bubble bar. I spend an absurd amount of time taking pictures of my sims blowing star-shaped bubbles.

It wouldn't take much for them to add cute little things like that. Swimming at the beach, sure, but I imagine adding objects with new interactions is a hell of a lot easier than making lakes/ponds/oceans that you couldn't interact with before swimmable.

[9b8ll]

Since I saw the Trailer for Generations(and unleashed) it would be great opportunity to add Seasons in the mix since there's a slip an slide object. Finally an actual wedding that should of been in the base game already. :)

It also would be really nice to have pool tables,diving boards ,Pinball machines, optional Sub-hoods to Travel other worlds, Collections and water slides from TS2 seasons.It would be a great fun Family-oriented EP. I hope it will have less bugs and good game play that offers a re-playable EP more than other previous EP's once it releases.

Edit: I know this is off topic, but I would like to see if EA would throw in a official Butt slider just like a Breast slider from LN at the last minute or in future EP's . (I know We have the one from Jonha)

[olomaya]

Hmm, maybe I'm missing something but how is the trailer not showing the focus of the EP? Stroller, playground equipment, more things for kids and teens to do, prom, bachelor parties, mid-life crisis, proper weddings, more photo-taking and possible video-taking opportunities, not to mention that almost all of the scenes take place in a household and the trailer focuses on one Sim from toddler to elder. The first thing I thought when I saw the first few scenes of the trailer was "Oh, it's a family-themed expansion pack". This reminds me a lot of the old TS2 trailer with the infamous ceiling fans.

I just want more unique interactions, not new labels for the same "chat" or "talk about art/music/cooking/photography/sports" interactions. I hope they bring back the slow dance and also the children dancing with teens/adults interaction as well.

[uchuujin]

Edit: I know this is off topic, but I would like to see if EA would throw in a official Butt slider just like a Breast slider from LN at the last minute or in future EP's . (I know We have the one from Jonha)

I was totally baffled by this for a second because you were talking about slip n' slides earlier. :rofl:

I want objects like the baseball/football that are more involved and can be used by more than two people. They did have soccer(sort of) in Free Time...

[LollySims]

I want objects like the baseball/football that are more involved and can be used by more than two people. They did have soccer(sort of) in Free Time...

Oh, I'd love it if the Sims could play sports for real! In Late Night there's a football field and basketball court (this might be attached to a school, I can't remember), and it'd be nice if they weren't just decorative. Team sports would be great, since there doesn't seem to be many group activities right now.

I believe someone has mentioned it before, but board games would be great activity for families. I'd love if they could play Charades too or even a Pictionary type game...that would be so fun and amusing to watch! :lol:

[gobot101]

There was a charades game in The Sims 1 which was always amusing to watch. And if your sim practiced it rather than actually played the game, they gained charisma skill, so it was a nice thing to have even if you never actually had them play.

I also remember Vacation gave us a volleyball net, and you could get a lot of people to play that, it was a great group activity.

I think the people working on Sims 3 should sit down and play Sims 1 and Sims 2 to gather some ideas from those. I don't want straight remakes of those, but some ideas here and there would be nice.

[crocobaura]

They should bring back the kicky bag. It was great as a group activity and if there wasn't anything else to do on the lot everyone joined.

[LollySims]

Am I crazy, or does it sort of look like there's a sandbox in this pic back by the slide?

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/6465/genvid04.jpg (http://img843.imageshack.us/i/genvid04.jpg/)


At first I thought it was terrain paint but it looks a little raised and "lumpy" unless I'm completely looking at it wrong :P

Also, isn't that a new wallpaper/pattern on the wall? Or is that what's meant in the original post as the "wall stencil"?

[gobot101]

It's really hard to tell. It could be, but at the same time I think it may be one of the platforms/stages we got in Late Night (those were in the patch too, right?).

But, looking at that pic, I totally missed when watching the video the cute stuffed dragon in the back, the fact that castle thing is a bookcase, and how bit the princess' scepter thing is.

[uchuujin]

Oh, I'd love it if the Sims could play sports for real! In Late Night there's a football field and basketball court (this might be attached to a school, I can't remember), and it'd be nice if they weren't just decorative. Team sports would be great, since there doesn't seem to be many group activities right now.

I believe someone has mentioned it before, but board games would be great activity for families. I'd love if they could play Charades too or even a Pictionary type game...that would be so fun and amusing to watch! :lol:

They had board games and a card table in S2, yeah? And Mahjong, too.

I really want the children to be able to play duck duck goose, or cops and robbers. :lovestruc

[Beccapixie10]

Is it just me, or does the kid in the background of the pic in LollySim's post look like he's doing the strut some Sims do after woohoo? O.o

I think this EP, if EA does it correctly, could make the game a hell of a lot more interesting, or at least, less empty than it is at the moment when it comes to stuff for the kids and younger to do.

[gobot101]

Sims 2 had Mahjong, Don't Wake the Lama, and poker. If we got games like that again, I think it'd be nice if they weren't attached to a set table, but rather something we could put on any one tile table we wanted, that would help with trying to get them to fit into a room's decor better. And also, if you could move them around with the hand of god, then you could take them out of your sim's inventory, or wherever you were keeping it (say, in one of the chests from World Adventures, or a downloaded version of them. Best things ever =]), place it on like the kitchen table, do a game night, and then the game could go back in storage. That would make it easier for the poorer families to afford. The games wouldn't be expensive then, and they wouldn't have to fit two tables and two sets of dining chairs in their house.

Is it just me, or does the kid in the background of the pic in LollySim's post look like he's doing the strut some Sims do after woohoo? O.o

Haha, yeah, he kinda does.

[matrix54]

Am I crazy, or does it sort of look like there's a sandbox in this pic back by the slide?

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/6465/genvid04.jpg (http://img843.imageshack.us/i/genvid04.jpg/)


At first I thought it was terrain paint but it looks a little raised and "lumpy" unless I'm completely looking at it wrong :P

Also, isn't that a new wallpaper/pattern on the wall? Or is that what's meant in the original post as the "wall stencil"?

The sandbox is just raised terrain. I can see the fence,
The wall is just a pattern. The stencil is from the near the end of the trailer, the birthday scene.

[Sprue]

A new bulding tool I think would be some sort of margin for second floors .

This

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5775/52595797.th.gif (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/52595797.gif/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[matrix54]

that's part of the wall stencil/pattern.

[Sprue]

yeah you're right . Sorry :(

[rian90]

Sims 2 and Sims 3 both have goals but Sims 2 stayed a little closer to the simulation concept and strayed less toward the rpg concept. In Sims 2, I could create my own goals, such as running a restaurant successfully and owning multiple business venues around town in order to 'own' the town. These took time, effort and could fail. Now you just buy up all the properties, sit back and the money rolls in. Yes, you can add some furniture to get more money, but its effortless. I guess EA was making it easier for us but they took away the challenge! A goal is only good if its worth attaining and it is that struggle to attain that makes reaching a goal worthwhile. I love my Sims game and I really like the looks and feel of Sims 3. But it feels wasted, like they made it prettier, gave us very cool personality features, some great careers, but just made it all too easy..or too repetitive. Its fun to be a fireman..for a short time. Its enjoyable to be a stylist...for a short time. Sims 2 salons were much more fun because you had to be successful or the salon went out of business! I remember having my salon owner hire folks and try to make a living and pay the wages of her staff. It was a fun challenge! Dating was even fun in Sims 2 and its a pain in Sims 3. You can't really go on dates, just outings. You can't snuggle in a booth or or ask your date what they would like to do. You just talk and tell jokes over and over until you get the ability to flirt, hug, kiss, etc. And unless the target of your affection as a couple of special traits, you can pretty much get any Sim into the woohoo sack if you try long enough. I really miss the thrill of finding that one true love (max lightning bolts) among a crowd...and having to decide between the wife and the one true love.

Anyway, I do like Sims 3, I just am not very motivated to play it these days. I am not into the celebrity thing or the adventuring in tombs thing so it pretty much leaves me dry. I do enjoy building but it takes a lot of time that I don't have right now so I tend to not turn on the game at all. Generations actually sounds fun to me as at least it will give my sims something to do. But I still think it seems to be missing the challenge. I am not holding my breath for a real Nightlife with dating or an Open for Business EP because I don't think we are going to get those unfortunately. And I don't want to go back to Sims 2 because I find the sims stiff and lifeless (sorry, my opinion) and I don't like the closed hood where you have to play every family in rotation to get them to age. Oh well, it was good while it lasted! Who knows, both of the new EPs look a little better and maybe the 6th one will add some challenge back into the game.

[anifromid2]

Maybe I'm not playing the game "right", but I love Sims3. There's plenty to do and it still feels sandboxy, and not RPGish to me. I do an opportunity or a want if it appeals to me, ignore it if it doesn't. My sim gets up in the morning, putters in the garden, has breakfast, maybe paints, maybe practices with the board breaker, showers, wanders off to the park, chats up a few folks, plays gnubb with someone she met, moseys over to the consignment shop and puts a couple paintings up for sale, plays foosball with the clerk for a bit, jams for a while with another customer, jogs to the theater, catches a movie, has dinner at the bistro, flirts with another of the customers for a bit, heads home, sleeps.

Next day, up, putter in the garden, shower, go busk in the subway for a while, join some other sims in the little park by the diner for a picnic, plays football with the guy she flirted with the night before, jog up to the waterfall and fish for piranhas, breaks out her mobile easel (I downloaded that somewhere and totally love it) and paint a couple pictures there by the waterfall, eats a couple apples for dinner, pitches her tent and camps for the evening.

Next day, up and pack up the tent and the easel, take off for the neighborhood nectary and make a few bottles of nectar from the fruit she grows, chat up the nectary clerk, have breakfast at the snack food truck I have parked at the nectary, pick some of the grapes that are growing there, head home, weed my own garden, break some boards on the board breaker, shower, pay the bills, read the book I just got from the book club, play some chess on the computer, fix supper, clean the house a bit, head for bed.

The best thing about the Sims, 1, 2, or 3, is that you play it the way you play it. If you let the opportunities and wants turn you into Pavlov's dog, then it becomes goal driven. I love that Nightlife let us pick our own LTW, my sims are mostly 20 friends or max 3 skills folks.... means they don't HAVE to do much of anything. And they don't.

[Kestie Freehawk]

A game shelve would be fun, like the book shelve but with puzzels and board games like checkers and chess. It would be fun to get exotic puzzels and games like the one world adventure sends you to learn in Egypt. Kids puzzles would be fun too.

[bassoon_crazy]

I already posted my opinion about this EP in the topic for it, but I was hoping for so much more from it.

We could have finally got a brass/woodwind instrument, and kids would be able to play it as well (it would have shut me up, and it would have shut up all of the people saying "kids should be able to play instruments" all at the same time!).

I know I overhyped it hoping for that, but this EP would have also been the perfect chance to add University back. It fit perfectly with the theme, but it isn't there.

Where is the substance to this EP? Don't tell me "We've only seen the trailer", the trailers advertise the main features for EPs. Always have, always will. What's added looks nice, but it does not constitute an EP.

[rian90]

The best thing about the Sims, 1, 2, or 3, is that you play it the way you play it. If you let the opportunities and wants turn you into Pavlov's dog, then it becomes goal driven. I love that Nightlife let us pick our own LTW, my sims are mostly 20 friends or max 3 skills folks.... means they don't HAVE to do much of anything. And they don't.

Yeah..but I can't play it the way I want to play it. I want the strategy back in the simulation game and they took it out. When I buy a game that is in the simulation genre, I expect certain things. This actually reminds me of what they did to Sim City.

Its great that you get to play like you want but for those of us who did enjoy some features (and I mean that in a broad term, not specific) of Sims 1 and Sims 2, we lost out.

[LollySims]

The sandbox is just raised terrain. I can see the fence,
The wall is just a pattern. The stencil is from the near the end of the trailer, the birthday scene.

Hmm, I don't see the fence (except the fence around the yard), but I'll take your word for it. Sandboxes would be great for kids and toddlers though.

The pattern on the wall is new though isn't it? I know we have a star pattern currently but I thought it had a different look to it. Maybe I've just been on the forums too much and not playing the game enough ;)

[matrix54]

I've seen a bagillion star patterns (being honest, a lot of the patterns look similar, like the million and one Victorian patterns we have), and I THINK it's not new.

[jje1000]

The first expansion pack in a post-Rodiek period. Let's see if they can get away from the goal-driven gameplay and back into a more simulation-based one ;)

[socherish]

If they don't bring slow-dancing with generations, I'm going to go over to EA and smack them. :lol: This "prom night" and focus on parties is just too big an opportunity to miss in that regard. They could add a whole slew of new dances.

[Srikandi]

Sims 2 had Mahjong, Don't Wake the Lama, and poker. If we got games like that again, I think it'd be nice if they weren't attached to a set table, but rather something we could put on any one tile table we wanted, that would help with trying to get them to fit into a room's decor better.

Totally agree about that :) There was a chessboard mod for Sims 2 you could put on any table... using moveobjects on... but sims didn't know it was there, and tended to server dinner on top of it ><

[LollySims]

If they don't bring slow-dancing with generations, I'm going to go over to EA and smack them. :lol: This "prom night" and focus on parties is just too big an opportunity to miss in that regard. They could add a whole slew of new dances.

Yes, I miss slow dancing too! Especially with the improved weddings, slow dancing is a no-brainer. It would also be nice if there was an option on the stereos to make all guests dance and then the player can pick the style. The dance floor in Late Night helps get a bunch of Sims to dance at once, but I'd also like to have the option to force guests to couple off and slow dance for formal affairs.

I also miss the Smustle! Would love different choreographed dances Sims can all do together. Line dancing would be cute :lol:

[ani_]

I would love to know how the stroller works. Like, if you put the kid into the stroller at home, can you walk all the way to another lot with it, or will your Sim switch to the car, and you can stroll around only inside lots.

[matrix54]

There are 2 separate models for them, and there's a shot of a mother and toddler. I'm not sure how it will work exactly, but I can only assume it does.

[spotlight-shure]

Well, maybe this or the slight chance that pets really are returning to the series will allow me to fall in love with the sims again, but i'm very doubtful. I feel like EA has just been beating around the bush for the last year. Late Night really fell flat and just slowed my whole game down because the new town was too damn big. And i'm well over the minimum specs, so don't even get me started on that. Everyone wants pets and weather, so where the F*CK is it EA?!

[Miss Harlequin]

Well, maybe this or the slight chance that pets really are returning to the series will allow me to fall in love with the sims again, but i'm very doubtful. I feel like EA has just been beating around the bush for the last year. Late Night really fell flat and just slowed my whole game down because the new town was too damn big. And i'm well over the minimum specs, so don't even get me started on that. Everyone wants pets and weather, so where the F*CK is it EA?!

Pets is coming out in October. I think that they just needed to get this general pack out of the way first :)

[matrix54]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4FxE3t-7Aw&feature=player_embedded

Updating as I watch it, which I haven't :P

EDIT: Not much new stuff. Ah well, at least we got something. :|

[mickeymouse254]

Its a bit far fetched, but I would love for the bride and groom to have their first dance together with all their guests circled around them :)

[frankie]

If they don't bring slow-dancing with generations, I'm going to go over to EA and smack them. :lol: This "prom night" and focus on parties is just too big an opportunity to miss in that regard. They could add a whole slew of new dances.

Just like swimming in the ocean should have been in WA, DJ booths should have been in LN, and diving boards should have been in OLS. Logic is not EA's best friend. ;)

[BenC0722]

Just like swimming in the ocean should have been in WA, DJ booths should have been in LN, and diving boards should have been in OLS. Logic is not EA's best friend. ;)

Diving boards should have been in the base game. Otherwise, I agree with what you just said. What's a night club without a DJ? That could have even been another skill for Sims to build.

As for swimming in oceans, I'd have to agree with you there as well. It kind of defeats the purpose of having beachfront property, unless your Sims love to fish.

[matrix54]

I want garage sales :p

seems simple enough, and VERY pointless, but its something people do, and it effects the neighborhood as a whole, so why not. :p

[lewisb40]

Diving boards should have been in the base game. Otherwise, I agree with what you just said. What's a night club without a DJ? That could have even been another skill for Sims to build.

As for swimming in oceans, I'd have to agree with you there as well. It kind of defeats the purpose of having beachfront property, unless your Sims love to fish.

Those are saved for another EP. Hey, further the sales.

[rkalanu]

Totally agree about that :) There was a chessboard mod for Sims 2 you could put on any table... using moveobjects on... but sims didn't know it was there, and tended to server dinner on top of it ><

Sandy at AroundTheSims3 just did the Sims3 version of this- with lots of other games (checkers, dominoes, scrabble, tarot cards, ...) Of course she didn't change the chess animations, so you'll see sims holding chess pieces occasionally while they're playing.

[matrix54]

Diving Board... incoming :p

[Purity4]

Diving boards should have been in the base game. Otherwise, I agree with what you just said. What's a night club without a DJ? That could have even been another skill for Sims to build.

As for swimming in oceans, I'd have to agree with you there as well. It kind of defeats the purpose of having beachfront property, unless your Sims love to fish.

And being able to sit on a blanket on the beach, suntan perhaps. And have kids playing with beach balls or building sandcastles on the beach.

[el_flel]

I loved all the beach interactions in TS2 - sunbathing, digging for treasure, making sandcastles, watching the waves - I hope they make a comeback.

[frankie]

I agree. Beaches are just for show right now.

By the way... slightly off topic, but does anyone know what super water does differently from the regular water? It's in the reflections options, but I didn't notice anything different. I wonder how it'd affect future swimming (not that Generations would give us that feature).

[DigitalSympathies]

It does reflect differently.

http://i53.tinypic.com/2uttheg.jpg

[gillystar45]

Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. Now I need to start saving up for this AND Unleashed.... what is that, 80 dollars? I better start now xD

[Lavaster]

Lemme guess: Since proms are almost always held INSIDE schools, it's probably just gonna be a rabbit hole activity until they leave or about to go in (pictures show the teens are outside).

[sisvl]

This doesn't really seem like an expansion to me, it adds some new features but not any new gameplay. I kinda think I'd like to call it a 'stuffpansion'.

[aeval99]

This doesn't really seem like an expansion to me, it adds some new features but not any new gameplay. I kinda think I'd like to call it a 'stuffpansion'.
Personally, I think this is exactly the expansion pack that the game needs. IMO, it's the day to day family life that needs to be fleshed out to make Sims 3 feel more complete. Things like weather, pets, vacations and bar-hopping are nice distractions, but for me, the core of the game is daily living. For instance, I loved the weather in Seasons, but I believe it was all the new activities for home/family life that made the pack a favourite amongst many players regardless of their playing style.

[lewisb40]

Aeval99, you have said exactly what I have been feeling since I talked about families needed more in Sims 3. Right now I don't have any loyalties to the families I play because there is nothing that touches me and make me want to continue playing them. I think that is why I jump from one household to another because I am looking for something special. Less wooden and more cushy, I want to love them, dammit!

I am really hoping Generations will bring that back into Sims 3.

[Bij0ux]

I am in total agreement with aeval.
I already love that expansion. I just hope ea would do it all the way. That is what as disappointed me with sims 3 expansions, they gave so little on the theme. They could have expanded it way more with not that much effort. Example, late night.. there's so much stuff they could include in it but they didn't and I'm afraid that because the theme is "done" in their head, they'll never add what is missing.
So please EA, don't be lazy.
Oh and about the prom-rabbithole thing.. Am I the only who don't really care ? You could easily fake the prom anyways, you just need the main animations which I think looks like it is included with Generations.
I think I've just got used to rabbitholes. The only frustrating one is the restaurants.. gosh that was a stupid idea.

[Claire the Bear]

Personally, I think this is exactly the expansion pack that the game needs. IMO, it's the day to day family life that needs to be fleshed out to make Sims 3 feel more complete. Things like weather, pets, vacations and bar-hopping are nice distractions, but for me, the core of the game is daily living. For instance, I loved the weather in Seasons, but I believe it was all the new activities for home/family life that made the pack a favourite amongst many players regardless of their playing style.

Well said, I completely agree with all of this! :gjob:
As someone who plays with risky and autonomous woohoo mods, my sims end up getting pregnant ALOT... :rofl:. But I rarely get excited about their pregnancies anymore because there's so little for babies and toddlers to actually do. Most of the time I just leave them playing with a toy or sitting in their crib until they need feeding. And they can barely interact with other toddlers which takes away some of the fun of having toddlers and triplets.
Then they grow up into children and although they are now able to interact with each other, they're still pretty pointless since they cant use musical instruments, play foosball or Shuffleboard, use a hottub, garden etc....What is the danger in letting a child sim use a musical instrument, compared to letting a child take the subway alone, watch a game at the stadium alone, cycle around town alone...? (all of which are things the game lets my child sims do!). I mean yes, your child sims cant actually be snatched or eaten by Claire the bear but nor are they going to spontaneously combust from playing a musical instrument so what's the harm?! :rolleyes:
Any expansion which extends the everyday dynamics of family life is very welcome to me, maybe even more so than the return of pets.

[lewisb40]

I could care less too about the Prom/rabbithole thing. I just want the ability to take pictures and have them pose, just like when you have to take dozens of pictures at home before going to the prom. If it's a problem for some, just make a venue that you can have a formal dance at. Would only work if the venue can be labeled as formal like one of the LN bars have. Isn't that exclusive bar?

[BenC0722]

Well said, I completely agree with all of this! :gjob:
As someone who plays with risky and autonomous woohoo mods, my sims end up getting pregnant ALOT... :rofl:. But I rarely get excited about their pregnancies anymore because there's so little for babies and toddlers to actually do. Most of the time I just leave them playing with a toy or sitting in their crib until they need feeding. And they can barely interact with other toddlers which takes away some of the fun of having toddlers and triplets.
Then they grow up into children and although they are now able to interact with each other, they're still pretty pointless since they cant use musical instruments, play foosball or Shuffleboard, use a hottub, garden etc....What is the danger in letting a child sim use a musical instrument, compared to letting a child take the subway alone, watch a game at the stadium alone, cycle around town alone...? (all of which are things the game lets my child sims do!). I mean yes, your child sims cant actually be snatched or eaten by Claire the bear but nor are they going to spontaneously combust from playing a musical instrument so what's the harm?! :rolleyes:
Any expansion which extends the everyday dynamics of family life is very welcome to me, maybe even more so than the return of pets.

That is one thing that has often bothered me about TS3, and I hope the next expansion pack will fix at least partially.

That children aren't allowed to do things in TS3 that in real life, children often do. They include musical instruments, gardening, using hot tubs, playing games such as shuffleboard, or even changing diapers. I also think it's strange they can't garden, but they can catch sharks and piranha fish.

Another thing that bothers me, though not as much, is that there isn't a "Give Ride" and "Give Ride back Home" interaction. Instead you have to use "Visit <Lot name>" or "Go Here," and then use "Go Here With..." Even then, they won't always actually travel together with the "Go Here With..." interaction, though eventually both Sims will end up at the same lot. This is because doggone it, bicycles are SLOW. It'd be great if a teen sibling or a parent could more easily use their car to pick up a child Sim. In real life, that happens all the time.

[lewisb40]

Looks like EA will be announcing something bigger on April 5, so the March 31 will have a small announcement. Facebook page as reference: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149952015066988

I am so sick of this. Sheesh! :faceslap:

[Bij0ux]

March 31 sounds like April fools to me.... or maybe they want to separate the annoucements of the 2 next expansions.
Like Generations on the 31th and Unleashed on the 5th

[Fernweather]

Personally, I think this is exactly the expansion pack that the game needs. IMO, it's the day to day family life that needs to be fleshed out to make Sims 3 feel more complete. Things like weather, pets, vacations and bar-hopping are nice distractions, but for me, the core of the game is daily living. For instance, I loved the weather in Seasons, but I believe it was all the new activities for home/family life that made the pack a favourite amongst many players regardless of their playing style.
QFMFT!

Dating, vacations, firefighting, dance clubs, open neighborhoods - this is all good stuffs. But ultimately the core of the game is still the dollhouse, and more interactions and activities for family members of all ages will go a long way to boost both the fun and the long-term playability of TS3.

[FridaKahlo]

I seriously think that the new supernatural Sim will be witches/warlocks. At least I really, REALLY hope so! If it's true that things are usually tested out in side games and then implemented into the main series, the sorceresses/wizards and the witch in The Sims Medieval are a good sign!

EDIT: Plus, I've been analyzing the picture of the children playing dress up, and looking at the little girl's "magic wand". It looks strange to me. I'd think that if it was just a dress-up costume wand it would be pink and kinda frilly to match the outfit, but it's not. Really, to me it looks like something out of Medieval! Anybody else agree with me?

[Miko09]

I seriously think that the new supernatural Sim will be witches/warlocks. At least I really, REALLY hope so! If it's true that things are usually tested out in side games and then implemented into the main series, the sorceresses/wizards and the witch in The Sims Medieval are a good sign!

I loved the witches and kooky wizardry in Sims 1, but that took up a whole Expansion Pack. I doubt EA will ever have dominating themes like that again. I only hope that if the next occult is witchcraft, that its as full featured as the witchcraft in Sims 1. Especially with all the craftable objects we got from that EP/series. Anyone remember the baking oven or the canning station from Hot Date? Would be so nice to get those back. I also liked how u had to search for ingredients to make a spell. I never got AL(got all the other EPs but that one) so I dont know how witches worked in the sims 2. From what I've heard, its not that great. :(

[FridaKahlo]

I totally agree. I understand if people like their Sims game to be more "realistic" (which to me, means "boring"), but I don't understand the hesitation about magic being such a dominant theme. In the Sims 1 if you didn't want magic, you just had to ignore the Mystery Man's box, but if you didn't there was a whole world of magic that your sims could explore, and it was wonderful! Plus with the collecting and opportunities in Sims 3, searching for ingredients could be really fun!

Anyway, I just took a screenshot of the Generations trailer so that I could get a better picture of the magic wand.

Here ya go:

[Honeywell]

QFMFT!

Dating, vacations, firefighting, dance clubs, open neighborhoods - this is all good stuffs. But ultimately the core of the game is still the dollhouse, and more interactions and activities for family members of all ages will go a long way to boost both the fun and the long-term playability of TS3.But is that what this expansion pack is going to bring? I saw pranks, parties and proms as the main focus. And then a few activities like the toddler tickle, kids playing dress up, a fort and a stroller to round it out. Is that enough or are people expecting other features that didn't show up in the trailer to make this pack worth while for them?

[BenC0722]

I loved the witches and kooky wizardry in Sims 1, but that took up a whole Expansion Pack. I doubt EA will ever have dominating themes like that again. I only hope that if the next occult is witchcraft, that its as full featured as the witchcraft in Sims 1. Especially with all the craftable objects we got from that EP/series. Anyone remember the baking oven or the canning station from Hot Date? Would be so nice to get those back. I also liked how u had to search for ingredients to make a spell. I never got AL(got all the other EPs but that one) so I dont know how witches worked in the sims 2. From what I've heard, its not that great. :(

I would also hope it's a secondary life state that would overlay, or be in addition to a Sim's main, or primary life state. What do I mean by a primary and secondary life state?

Well, I consider a primary life state to be regular (nothing special), vampire, mummy, or Sim-bot. For the most part, it makes sense that a Sim can't be all three at once. Vampire Mummies don't make sense because according to Vampire folklore, they are supposed to vanish into thin air upon being killed, so there's no body to mummify. Primary life states determine a Sim's needs (i.e. thirst/hunger/scrap reserves/never hungry), as well as advantages (i.e. faster skill gain, never fatigued, immune to electrocution) and disadvantages (i.e. slow walk, sun sensitivity, and water sensitivity).

Right now, there's only one secondary life state; Ghosts. Ghost versions of all occults may exist, but don't ultimately change their needs (Vampire ghosts still have a thirst need), advantages, or disadvantages (Vampire ghosts still hate the sun). Although being a ghost adds additional interactions and abilities (walk through walls). I would hope that witches/warlocks are a secondary life state. This is because I'd want my Vampire Sims to be able to perform magic. In fact, that would make sense as Vampires are already supernatural.

[cherry85]

I totally agree. I understand if people like their Sims game to be more "realistic" (which to me, means "boring"), but I don't understand the hesitation about magic being such a dominant theme. In the Sims 1 if you didn't want magic, you just had to ignore the Mystery Man's box, but if you didn't there was a whole world of magic that your sims could explore, and it was wonderful! Plus with the collecting and opportunities in Sims 3, searching for ingredients could be really fun!

Anyway, I just took a screenshot of the Generations trailer so that I could get a better picture of the magic wand.

Here ya go:


It looks more like a royal scepter than a wand though.

[Miko09]

I totally agree. I understand if people like their Sims game to be more "realistic" (which to me, means "boring"), but I don't understand the hesitation about magic being such a dominant theme. In the Sims 1 if you didn't want magic, you just had to ignore the Mystery Man's box, but if you didn't there was a whole world of magic that your sims could explore, and it was wonderful! Plus with the collecting and opportunities in Sims 3, searching for ingredients could be really fun!

Anyway, I just took a screenshot of the Generations trailer so that I could get a better picture of the magic wand.

Here ya go:

oddly enough, that wand looks like something out of Sim Medieval. I wonder if wizardry powers from that game will be used in this one. I guess we'll find out tomorrow with the big(small) reveal set for 31st. Does anybody know exactly what time it will be posted? Is the reveal just on facebook or is it also going to be on their main website?

[Yakumo-dono]

The event says 11am to 11:30pm, so around 11am they will post the small news.

I really hope for witches and wizards, in the Sims and the Sims 2 we had to wait till the last released ep to get magic. Hopefully that won't happen with the Sims 3.

[Rafe Weisz]

The event says 11am to 11:30pm, so around 11am they will post the small news.

I really hope for witches and wizards, in the Sims and the Sims 2 we had to wait till the last released ep to get magic. Hopefully that won't happen with the Sims 3.

The sims 1 got magic in the last EP too, so I see a trend here :report:

[jonha]

But is that what this expansion pack is going to bring? I saw pranks, parties and proms as the main focus. And then a few activities like the toddler tickle, kids playing dress up, a fort and a stroller to round it out. Is that enough or are people expecting other features that didn't show up in the trailer to make this pack worth while for them?

As long as the game gets playable again, the spiral stairs, kid interactions and the strollers are probably actually enough to get this EP. Because I really need them. The other EPs I didn't needed.

I didn't needed WA to travel to Egypt and solve stupid puzzles.
I didn't needed needed AMB to take some repetitive part-time jobs. (But the recycling box was nice.)
And I surely don't need LN to have my whole city full of vampires.

What we really need is more family life and I hope/expect Generations to fulfill that. If EA doesn't, then I think they don't care anymore about the game and I will move to different games.

[tryguy]

That's a pretty good summary of the situation, jonha. :)

I think there's been a lack of proper direction with Sims 3. It started off OK, and only needed more stuff and interactions, and vacation towns and seasons and this and that, and it would be just like Sims 1 and Sims 2, but better. But... in subsequent expansions they tried to take it away from being a neat little "toy" and into "computer game". I feel they wanted to use this Sims to get more casual players interested in the wider games market (by introducing much more goal-oriented + collectors-like gameplay), specifically so that EA could hopefully sell more of its games. And, that was logical and good business, no doubt. But it's not exactly what the people that grew up with Sims 1 & 2 wanted.

Now, I think Sims 3 is pretty fun, but I'm not really one to collect all the rocks and insects and such. For me, it's always been about family dynamics. I really want the Sims to come back to focus on that. Generations might give us that, and I'm hopeful it will.

BTW, your post has inspired me to uninstall the EPs I've had enough of. Before I'd read what you had to say, I just assumed I needed to keep all that rubbish in my game, whether I was actively using it or not, just to make it complete. But they're virtually self-contained now, so I don't think it's that hard to remove some of them like it was in Sims 2. The only thing I'll miss are some of the objects that come with them. :( It's not that I'm that hard up for space, so I probably won't be removing things soon, but I'll definitely keep that in mind when I truly have had enough.

Oh, and I think the pets expansion will likely be a stand alone game, like the recent Medieval game. There's a number of reasons I think that (which might turn out to be false!), but it makes sense if it is. And that's something I wouldn't mind at all!! I like pets, but having them constantly roaming the neighborhood gets tiresome after a while. Having a game and separate neighborhood with tons of animal-focused stuff would be awesome! Hopefully there'll be a horse jumping park and stuff. Hopefully there'll be a way to import characters into the new game too. Or, maybe it won't be separate. :)

Anyway, thanks for the interesting idea, jonha. Cyas.

[el_flel]

I think there's been a lack of proper direction with Sims 3. It started off OK, and only needed more stuff and interactions, and vacation towns and seasons and this and that, and it would be just like Sims 1 and Sims 2, but better. But... in subsequent expansions they tried to take it away from being a neat little "toy" and into "computer game". I feel they wanted to use this Sims to get more casual players interested in the wider games market (by introducing much more goal-oriented + collectors-like gameplay), specifically so that EA could hopefully sell more of its games. And, that was logical and good business, no doubt. But it's not exactly what the people that grew up with Sims 1 & 2 wanted.

Now, I think Sims 3 is pretty fun, but I'm not really one to collect all the rocks and insects and such. For me, it's always been about family dynamics. I really want the Sims to come back to focus on that. Generations might give us that, and I'm hopeful it will.I so agree with this, especially the bolded part.

The Sims, as a franchise, is the second biggest selling computer game series ever. Super Mario is first. That gives an idea of just how huge The Sims is - clearly people love this game. So why, when they have something so popular, did EA feel the need to try and appeal to a wider market in the first place, especially by making fundamental changes to the game, like making it more RPG-based than its predecessors? Surely the best way for TS3 to reach the tens of millions of copies that TS1 and TS2 sold would be to keep the basic gameplay the same - as happened with TS1 and TS2 - and just move the series forward by upgrading certain features, because it's the basic gameplay that people enjoyed most. Anything else just alienates the massive number of already established players who are the people that bought all those tens of millions of copies of the game in the first place! Surely they're the people you want to appeal to!?

Basically, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

The EPs which people seem to like best are the ones which focus on everyday life so hopefully Generations will do that. I like the sound of it so far, but so far we don't have much info.

[kct1216]

@tryguy: I very seriously doubt Pets will be a stand alone game. I think EA would have a lot of very angry people if they are never able to integrate pets into their existing sims 3 neighborhoods. I do wish they would come up with an original title though an not recycle the name for the sims 1 pets expansion.

I'm not sure yet about the generations expansion. Right now it doesn't sound too exciting, but they usually don't until more info is released. As many have already said, I will be very happy if there are more and improved interactions between sims. We have needed interactions between toddlers and children and toddlers ever since the base game!

Something that has been annoying me for a while now is the frequent lack of awareness/reaction by sims to what is going on around them. For example, the other day I had three sims in the same room, two sisters who are best friends and one sister's husband who is enemies with the sister in law. The husband and sister in law began fighting and eventually the husband slapped the sister in law. What did the wife/sister do? Nothing! She might as well have been on the other side of town. I had to direct her to go over and yell at her husband for hitting her sister/best friend. And then of course she wasn't really even yelling at him for that. I just had to pretend.

I also wish the trait system had a bit more of an impact on how the sims react or feel in certain situations. There is a lot of inconsistency. It makes no sense to me that a sim with the trait 'doesn't like children' still gets the happy moodlet during pregnancy and for a new baby. Shouldn't they get a negative moodlet?

These are just two examples of what is overall my biggest complaint with the sims 3. In some ways it actually feels like a step back from sims 2. I love the open worlds and the building capabilites. Those were vast improvements over the older games. But as far as the sims themselves go, I see very little evolution from 2 to 3. In some respects I think they were actually more lifelike in 2 than 3. I think one part of that is the lack of memories, but it's also the frequent indifference to things they shouldn't be indifferent to. When a kid is brought home after curfew (I hate the teen curfew to start with. I would prefer something more similar to the sims 2 version where the teen just got caught sneaking back home if a parent saw them) by the police a parent quickly gives a lecture, both get a negative moodlet and that's it. It just feels a bit flat to me. The parent should be able to ground the teen, they could then try to apologize and beg their way out of the grounding, the teen and the parents would stay angry at each other for a couple day or until the teen/kid was able to successfully apologize. Just seems things like that would bring a lot more depth to the game without being terribly difficult to do.

If generations adds even a little bit of the depth to family life and sim interactions that I have in mind I would be very pleased.

[kct1216]

And one other thing. I really miss the in game story editor. I loved being able to work on a story for a while, then go back to playing and getting some more shots for the story and working on that again when I wanted to without ever having to leave the game. Personally I hate having to go though those tiny thumbnails in the launcher and waiting for them to upload, etc. Usually I can't find the pix I want for the story and it would take forever to upload them all (I love taking pix while I play). Creating stories in the game kept me much more interested in the sims 2 over the four or five years it was the current game than I was in 3 by the time the 2nd expansion came out. Right now I am still coming back to the game eventually, but I find myself playing less and less.

If I still had a computer able to run the sims 2 I might give it another try. But I now only have a Mac and my sims 2 disks are for PC only. But I suspect I would really miss the open worlds and wonderful scenery of the sims 3 anyway.

[aeval99]

From the facebook page: The date has been changed! We have upgraded this Super Secret Surprise event to "Super Secret Surprise! x2" because we have even bigger news to announce! We will still share something on March 31st, but look forward to the new date. :)

Seriously? So they changed the date so they can announce Generations and the pets expansion on the same day. LOL! Isn't this where they were a month ago? They already have the trailers ready (obviously), what the heck is taking so long.

What a bunch of clowns. :jest:

[Mishy]

what a load of crap!
so instead of big news we get little news just so we can have them give us even bigger news = mindblowing :rolleyes:

they know what it is so why make us wait even more?? makes no sense.

[ticklish]

:sheep: Lol a new new store set is not a surprise but like :sheep: most buy it anyway

[frankie]

Well, it did mention that there would be more surprises throughout the day. I only hope that it's not all Store-related. I want some EP details. This is the first time in the history of The Sims (out of that I know, anyway) that news for an EP has not been available when so close to the release date. If it comes out in May, then there is only a month to promote the hell out of the new EP. Then again, if a farmer can milk a cow in no time, then so can EA.

[NekoCat]

The big surprise is next week, so I'm not sure why people are getting worked up over some store sets. The only worse-case scenario for me would be another stand-alone game like Medieval being announced. As long as that isn't the surprise, they can announce their intention to stand on their head for all I care.

Other than that, the new set is a cute little country kitchen.

[AnnaIME]

I also wish the trait system had a bit more of an impact on how the sims react or feel in certain situations. There is a lot of inconsistency. It makes no sense to me that a sim with the trait 'doesn't like children' still gets the happy moodlet during pregnancy and for a new baby. Shouldn't they get a negative moodlet?

I have been thinking about this. People who don't like children in general can still love their own children. People who love their own children can still find them tiring and annoying if they have to spend too much time with them. Then again, this is a game. The "doesn't like children" trait should be clear cut, not complex and realistic.

[Mishy]

i hate delay...
the medieval storm is over..now give us news about the new and exciting EP(s) we have all been waiting, and waiting.....and waiting for, dammit!!!

[ani_]

So what was the super secret they promised to announce yesterday? I still see the text in the event invitation but I don't seem to find any announcement.

[el_flel]

So what was the super secret they promised to announce yesterday? I still see the text in the event invitation but I don't seem to find any announcement.There was supposed to be a big announcement today but earlier in the week they decided to push it back to April 5th because they're going to make two big announcements on that day instead. So today they just made a small announcement which was that a kitchen set will be added to the store.

If you feel like trawling through endless posts of nonsense to get the one that EA made informing us of the store set then it's on the Sims 3 facebook wall.

[Captain THPS4]

Today's super secret reveal was just a few store sets. Expansions to the Frontier Finds, Street Couture, and Fairy sets. For some reason they didn't update the event page but they put it on their Sims 3 page: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150144934820079&id=35298715078&aid=281622

I wasn't expecting Generations to be announced today, but if it isn't announced on the 5th I'm going to laugh if the name suddenly gets changed to "The Sims 3 Forever" when it eventually does get announced. Just saying. :lol:

[ani_]

Man, I wish those sets would have at least looked good. For the exception of a few nice deco items in the kitchen set, they looked quite blaah. Anyhow, thanks for the info guys.

[Miko09]

Man, I wish those sets would have at least looked good. For the exception of a few nice deco items in the kitchen set, they looked quite blaah. Anyhow, thanks for the info guys.

That's what I was thinking. The sets are very unflattering. Heck, one of the sets that was a set up to be a surprise is just a different set but scaled down for teens and kids. How disappointing :cry:

[bassoon_crazy]

That's what I was thinking. The sets are very unflattering. Heck, one of the sets that was a set up to be a surprise is just a different set but scaled down for teens and kids. How disappointing :cry:

Was anybody honestly interested in that set when it was for adults?

I would say the sets look lame but to be honest I feel pretty much the same way about all sets on there - Not worth the money.

EA probably delayed whatever they were originally going to announce just so they could advertise the store even more. :rolleyes:

[jenba]

Bah, how can store sets even count as a surprise? Don't we get new ones every month? That's about as surprising as Tuesday arriving after Monday. Way to go, EA.

[suzetter]

If the announcement was new store sets then EA basically had everyone on hold for...a commercial. WTF! An example of how EA sucks at times.


I also agree with tryguy and EL fiel that it was illogical for EA to tamper with The Sims the way they have in TS3 since the original game play is what made the game so popular to begin with.

[DigitalSympathies]

Guys. Look at the calendar >.>

*coughs*It's obviously April Fools.

The content = recycled and uninteresting.

Either that or EA is just stupid.

[crocobaura]

Guys. Look at the calendar >.>

*coughs*It's obviously Great Ideas.

The content = recycled and uninteresting.

Either that or EA is just stupid.

Maybe they decided to push back the announcement because of Great Ideas day. They probably didn't want to confuse people. :jest:

[stariscool]

Wow, was the big announcement really about some sets? *sighs* I lost internet connection yesterday and even resorted to loading the damn Sims 3 website on my mobile (which took ages) just to check the news!

Disappointing. But, it seems the EP news might come next week, April 5th. If it's more sets, I might just cry.

[RoseCity]

EA's decision making never ceases to interest me. They whip the masses up into a frenzy about the announcement, then push it back to April 5. The facebook wall explodes in fury. I can't figure out the logic behind it.

[kiwi_tea]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150146029200079&set=a.86801125078.94610.35298715078&theater

EA just revealed bunk beds in a Facebook pic.

(Also clear shots of the spiral staircase and stroller)

[ani_]

Yay for spiral staircases \o/

[Captain THPS4]

Well, this pretty much confirms that at least Generations will be announced on the 5th. Kind of a cool way to hint at it! Yay for bunk beds! Hopefully there's a few different models aside from that castle one too.

[matrix54]

and more than 1 style of spiral staircase. :p

[olomaya]

Wow, finally, after how many years they give us bunk beds.

[kiwi_tea]

and more than 1 style of spiral staircase. :p

Are you sure? It's the same as the one featured in the bachelor party on the trailer, I just checked. Where was the second one?

[jonha]

Are you sure? It's the same as the one featured in the bachelor party on the trailer, I just checked. Where was the second one?

Read it again. Captain THPS4 said "Hopefully..."

But different styles shouldn't be the problem. As long as we got the basic interactions and animations, we can expect the community to be able to make hundreds of styles for spiral stairs and bunkbeds. But I don't think we will only get one style.

[lewisb40]

Yep Jonha, waiting to see what the creators come up with once this EP comes out. That is what I am most excited about. I tried to bring this up at the official forums, but the idea of third party CC doesn't move them. :(

Thinking about it makes my gaming head explode! :new: stuff = :lovestruc

[BenC0722]

Spiral staircases and strollers? Yes! Well, strollers aren't that important, since usually my Sim toddlers are basically on house arrest until they become children.

Bunk beds I don't care about that much. In real life I never saw very many. Usually children have their own rooms. Although it's still nice to have the option.

I'm most excited about the spiral staircases, since it allows for more flexibility in lot building.

What I'm most interested in, is what additional lot types this EP will introduce. I'm in the process of building a world, and one goal of mine is to include at least one of every type of lot.

The new occult, whatever it may be, would be interesting as well. Though I'm not sure what occult would fit the theme of what Generations is supposed to be about.

World Adventures - Mummies fit the theme perfectly.

Ambitions - Sim-bots fit well, though it requires maxing out Inventing skill and completing an opportunity chain that can be difficult without cheats.

Late Night - Vampires kind of fit, though they could have fit in other themes as well. This by far is my most favorite occult. The positives far outweigh the negatives, in my opinion anyway.

Generations - What occult could fit this theme? I really don't know.

Zombies? But that doesn't relate to "living each life stage to the fullest." Zombies are reanimated dead. Not exactly "living life to the fullest."

PlantSims? Not sure how that would fit the theme either.

Aliens maybe?

[lewisb40]

I was an only child, so I had my own room. My family is insanely large and many of my aunts and uncles had large families in small homes. Bunkbeds were staple there. Six kids in a small three bedroom house, meant two bunkbed sets in each of the kids rooms. That was so cool to me when I visited, those beds were our jungle gyms. Fighting for top bunk was brutal and sometimes result in a little blood letting, but it was good times. Nobody wants to sleep on the bottom, that's where the losers go and you can't sleep for fear of the top bed crushing you. We laugh about it now, but it was serious business at that time. :)

So when I play a bustling family that want more kids, but the house is too small for more beds and the family is too poor for a larger house, bunkbeds are the way to go. If it wasn't for the CC creators whom beat EA to it, both in Sims2 and 3, my poor families would never have more than two kids. Enhances my gameplay and bring up memories of growing up with my cousins. ;)

[BenC0722]

I was an only child, so I had my own room. My family is insanely large and many of my aunts and uncles had large families in small homes. Bunkbeds were staple there. Six kids in a small three bedroom house, meant two bunkbed sets in each of the kids rooms. That was so cool to me when I visited, those beds were our jungle gyms. Fighting for top bunk was brutal and sometimes result in a little blood letting, but it was good times. Nobody wants to sleep on the bottom, that's where the losers go and you can't sleep for fear of the top bed crushing you. We laugh about it now, but it was serious business at that time. :)

So when I play a bustling family that want more kids, but the house is too small for more beds and the family is too poor for a larger house, bunkbeds are the way to go. If it wasn't for the CC creators whom beat EA to it, both in Sims2 and 3, my poor families would never have more than two kids. Enhances my gameplay and bring up memories of growing up with my cousins. ;)

Was that in response to my post, when I expressed a mostly lackadaisical opinion about bunk beds? I'm assuming so, since it was the only one on this page that didn't express excitement.

I was going off of my personal experiences and observations. I'm an only child, so I had my own room even though the house only had two bedrooms (it had three, but one was later converted into additional space for the living room).

Other children I met, as far as I knew, all had their own rooms. Larger families simply had larger houses. One boy I knew, had a queen size bed in his room, though it was all his own. At least he wasn't likely to roll off of his bed while he slept.

In case you're wondering, I did attend college, but never lived in a dorm environment. Actually, I've never shared a dwelling, except as a kid when I lived at my parents' house. Although I did meet someone who did live in a dorm environment. Even in that case, no bunk beds. They had two twin size beds.

I think I've only seen bunk beds once, and it was at some sort of camp. No, I didn't stay the night.


As for Sims, if a family can't afford a larger house, then I will simply deny their want for additional children.

Now that's another thing. I hope that Universities are brought back in TS3. But I also hope it will be possible for college students to live at their parents' house, or in their own dwelling (instead of dorms).

[kiwi_tea]

Oops, my bad there! Thanks jonha! ^_^

It sounds a bit silly, but I'd like to see a "Boogieman" supernatural Sim who could scare children at night. It would come out of large double-doored wardrobes or wall closets. But the idea was only ever very vague so I'm not sure how they could have worked or what they might look like.

The trailer give us what might be a hint toward witches, but nothing really seems to fit this theme.

[Shoosh Malooka]

A prom, hmmm... I hope it is not just a rabbit hole event. I just saw Carrie.

[Kestie Freehawk]

A prom, hmmm... I hope it is not just a rabbit hole event. I just saw Carrie.

*LOLOL* yeppers thats pretty much why we have proms, so the kids can play Carrie ;)

[Tzigone]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150146029200079&set=a.86801125078.94610.35298715078&theater

EA just revealed bunk beds in a Facebook pic.

(Also clear shots of the spiral staircase and stroller)

Oh, and they have bunk beds too. Hope there are some less-themed looking ones, though. But will that type of stroller hold a baby or will a baby need a carriage type stroller?

And does anyone else find it just a teensy bit odd that all the audience members are wearing hats? Nothing wrong with it, it's just that my sims so rarely wear hats.

[askemagus]

And does anyone else find it just a teensy bit odd that all the audience members are wearing hats? Nothing wrong with it, it's just that my sims so rarely wear hats.

EA does seem to have some weird fascination with hats and ugly sandals.

[kiwi_tea]

Of course, the one supernatural that does *sort of* fit is the Genie. But does anyone want the Genie back? :/

[Arra]

I hope Generations include the changing table for toddlers. I was disappointed that they hadn't included changing tables in Sims 3. But ugh, so excited for this EP. I've been cheering for strollers and bunk beds since I started playing Sims ten years ago. Just wish that there would be a stroller for babies too, not just toddlers. Basically, you can do nothing with the babies except feed them, hold them, hug them and put them to bed. I always force them to grow up the day after they're born. :/

[Dojan5]

Of course, the one supernatural that does *sort of* fit is the Genie. But does anyone want the Genie back? :/

I miss my Genie. He kept flooding the house and stuff like that. Hours of fun in one lamp!

[el_flel]

and more than 1 style of spiral staircase. :pIf we can replace the banister/railings and CASt the stairs then would it matter too much if they only had one style? Being able to change those things would give loads of different appearances.

[Arra]

Also, please bring back their MEMORIES! I miss them.

[acid_fairy]

Memories and collections. Collections are in Medieval, so I am hoping beyond hope!!

[Arra]

Collections too, yes. Also the possibility to give your baby and toddler a bath.

[matrix54]

Are you sure? It's the same as the one featured in the bachelor party on the trailer, I just checked. Where was the second one?

I meant I hope for more than 1. sorry for the confusion.

If we can replace the banister/railings and CASt the stairs then would it matter too much if they only had one style? Being able to change those things would give loads of different appearances.

The same can be said about the stairs we have in the game now - which is around 12, I think, if you include store content. Sometimes, the style of the stairs aren't good enough to fit EVERY theme. In every game when we've received Spiral staircases, we got multiple styles. Wrought iron, Traditional Wood, Solid Stone, etc. The Spiral Stairs we have now do not fit many themes. It's pretty much modern, since the stair do not connect. If the stairs were solid, like in this (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.playgamehit.com/reviews/uploads/picture7/31.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.playgamehit.com/review.php%3Fid%3D31&usg=__VzVDrLNSWQxQpzRSSBNJBQY8pUE=&h=429&w=600&sz=58&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=ocwz11ox60QibM:&tbnh=159&tbnw=230&ei=cTyXTbbWKLO80QHrvsT5Cw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsims%2B2%2Bspiral%2Bstaircases%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1C1TSND_enUS411US411%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D667%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=819&vpy=373&dur=1431&hovh=190&hovw=266&tx=181&ty=150&oei=cTyXTbbWKLO80QHrvsT5Cw&page=1&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0) picture, it could open up more design options by having something not so modern. It would suck having to force modern stair into a classic design, rather than having stairs that already match.

[Mishy]

i love the idea of usuable strollers in my game.
and bunkbeds! both will be well used.
this is looking very promising....cant wait to see what more will be revealed 5th of april!

[NekoCat]

It would be great to have the tea table in the game again. It was so cute to see the kids sitting down to drink tea and talk. I kind of doubt we'll see it again, though.

[Miko09]

It would be great to have the tea table in the game again. It was so cute to see the kids sitting down to drink tea and talk. I kind of doubt we'll see it again, though.
:wtf: I didnt know there was a tea table! Just looked it up and I'm totally surprised. I guess I didnt take too many trips in BV. What would really be cool is to have a tea pot and tray item that you can put on any table so you can enjoy it anywhere.

[Purity4]

Spiral staircases and strollers? Yes! Well, strollers aren't that important, since usually my Sim toddlers are basically on house arrest until they become children.

Bunk beds I don't care about that much. In real life I never saw very many. Usually child
Strollers are stupid. They should have introduced slings for infants and toddlers.
Spiral staircases are a nice addition.
Bunkbeds are highly useful for saving space, especially in downtown apartments.
My children share a bunkbed because our house is small and they do NOT and may never have their own rooms. That's quite a western mindset to have one room per child.
Bunkbeds also make sleepovers more fun, converting the beds to a boat or fort with sheets strategically placed and their imagination goes wild, or at least that is what happened when I was a kid.
I never thought top or bottom was preferred, they both have their advantages.

[Purity4]

It sounds a bit silly, but I'd like to see a "Boogieman" supernatural Sim who could scare children at night. It would come out of large double-doored wardrobes or wall closets. But the idea was only ever very vague so I'm not sure how they could have worked or what they might look like.

Monters, Inc.

[Laisanae]

They should have introduced slings for infants and toddlers.

I never thought of that. :blink: But it would be really great!

[Purity4]

I never thought of that. :blink: But it would be really great!
I've posted it before, but slings provide so many things, and would make having an infant in the game so much more fun. Slings would allow sim parents to carry their baby, keeping it's social bar high, while going about doing regular things like cooking, cleaning, painting, gardening, etc. Slings holding infants/toddlers by mom would also keep their hunger bar filled. Whichever parent is toting babe/toddler with them increases their bond/relationship with the baby/toddler. And, baby or toddler can sleep in the sling when tired regardless of what the parent is doing at the time. They could be held in a cradle position while sleeping, upright while awake and actively involved in observing the world the parent takes them to, or in a breastfeeding position when fulfilling their hunger needs, covered or not, but likely EA would smother the babies heads to keep the game T, although there is nothing inappropriate about feeding your baby the natural way.

[Laisanae]

I've posted it before, but slings provide so many things, and would make having an infant in the game so much more fun. Slings would allow sim parents to carry their baby, keeping it's social bar high, while going about doing regular things like cooking, cleaning, painting, gardening, etc. Slings holding infants/toddlers by mom would also keep their hunger bar filled. Whichever parent is toting babe/toddler with them increases their bond/relationship with the baby/toddler.

Awesome.
But I don't think we will ever have it. :(

[uchuujin]

Awesome.
But I don't think we will ever have it. :(

Maybe a mod? I mean, there's one for BBQ-ing your babies... this is probably/hopefully less difficult.

[lewisb40]

Hopefully there is code in the game that will enable the modders to make a sling that keeps the infant close yet allowing the carrier to do other things. There are more EPs to come too.

[LollySims]

And does anyone else find it just a teensy bit odd that all the audience members are wearing hats? Nothing wrong with it, it's just that my sims so rarely wear hats.

That does seem odd. Maybe it could be a hint that hats will be an accessory now, instead of part of a hairstyle. I would love that. I hate when I like a hat but not the hairstyle that goes with it :P Or maybe it's a hint for a costume party and/or costume trunk, as it looks like their outfits sort of go with their hats. It's probably all just wishful thinking on my part, and it's simply that whoever snapped the screenshot just likes hats :lol:

I'm happy to see official bunk beds, but I always feel a tiny bit cheated with EAxis gives us stuff the community has already made (like the breast sliders, for example). I know not everyone plays with custom content, but it still irks me anyway.

Again the stroller is just sitting there not in use as in a previous screenshot. I know there's a framed pic in one of the screenshots that shows a woman actually pushing a toddler in the stroller, but that could be staged. I'm still really worried that it's not going to be fully functional. It would seem crazy to me to add a stroller that isn't fully functional, but this is EA we're talking about. I thought it was crazy we didn't get a changing table and that babies don't even leave dirty diapers after being changed. I don't like magical little pod babies...they bore me and offer no challenge :rolleyes:

[Mishy]

if that stroller aint funtional then i will be playing with my voodoo dolls instead of the usual sim dolls.. makes for very sore asses :giggler:

[aeval99]

Again the stroller is just sitting there not in use as in a previous screenshot. I know there's a framed pic in one of the screenshots that shows a woman actually pushing a toddler in the stroller, but that could be staged. I'm still really worried that it's not going to be fully functional. It would seem crazy to me to add a stroller that isn't fully functional, but this is EA we're talking about. I've been wondering the exact same thing. I don't know that I will believe that it's a functional stroller until I see it in action. :(

And I have to wonder at what the heck is going on behind the scenes at EA. I have come to expect a certain level on incompetance from them, when it comes to QA, but one area they have always excelled at has been promotion. Not only do they keep delaying this announcement, they also can't seem to communitcate with their own employees.

~First a guru on the UK site posts a riddle that suggests the pack will be announced on the 25 of February. Then they say the announcement has been delayed.

~The Sims 3 US site puts up a page listing Generations as an expansion and gives a blurb "pranks, tree-houses, mid-life blah, blah". That page is taken down.

~The Aussie site posts two trailers for Generations and Unleashed (I'm assuming that is a working title) and then takes them down again.

~The Facebook page announces a "super seekrit suprise" and then cancels it and releases the same old first of the month store crap in its place, promising a "better surpise X2" at a later date.

It seems to me that there are two groups at work in this endeavour, and they are not playing well with each other. It's a good thing that the Sims is such an established franchise, because this PR campaign (such as it is) has turned into a farce.

[lewisb40]

The set up from the picture on the Sims 3 facebook page is representive of an American game show, like Let's Make A Deal! or The Price is Right! The audience dress funny and try to be unique so they can get noticed and hopefully be called to play the game. Most of the audience wears hats.

[Captain THPS4]

Yeah, EA seems to really be stringing us along on a streak of disappointment and shady business. On top of the stuff aeval99 said, one of the daily deals last month even resulted in a light being twice the price instead of half. That's seriously messed up, and it was 33% sold by the time it ended. I can't imagine the transitioning in management from Rod Humble to whoever it is now being the entire excuse for the strangeness.

EA already gave us non-drinkable lemonade with OLS so I wouldn't put it past them to include decorative strollers. I guess all it would have took to stage that picture with the child was to have it already sitting on a chair at the same height and use moveobjects. If they truly are functional though, I'm glad we have at least two different models for those.

[kiwi_tea]

Yeah, EA seems to really be stringing us along on a streak of disappointment and shady business. On top of the stuff aeval99 said, one of the daily deals last month even resulted in a light being twice the price instead of half. That's seriously messed up, and it was 33% sold by the time it ended. I can't imagine the transitioning in management from Rod Humble to whoever it is now being the entire excuse for the strangeness.

My guess is that they're grossly understaffed, but still profitable enough that way that they have no incentive yet to provide good service.

[cameranutz2]

I just hope the spiral stairs come with the EP and are not something you have to buy at the store.

[matrix54]

At least 2 spirals should come in the EP. Whatever they sell in the store... meh. It's like if you don't own LN or OLS, and you want a hot tub, you have to settle for that GOD AWFUL tub in the store. I hope if tey do have spirals, they don't get treated the same way = furniture that only fits a THEME not a STYLE. -_-

[lewisb40]

Yeah, EA seems to really be stringing us along on a streak of disappointment and shady business. On top of the stuff aeval99 said, one of the daily deals last month even resulted in a light being twice the price instead of half. That's seriously messed up, and it was 33% sold by the time it ended. I can't imagine the transitioning in management from Rod Humble to whoever it is now being the entire excuse for the strangeness.


The sad thing is that it was 33% sold at double the price, a profit with no work. Just by offering something in the daily deal, players bought it on pure general purpose without thinking. :deal: :wtf:

I wonder if those people got anything back? At least a special offering. I doubt it.

[crocobaura]

That does seem odd. Maybe it could be a hint that hats will be an accessory now, instead of part of a hairstyle. I would love that. I hate when I like a hat but not the hairstyle that goes with it :P Or maybe it's a hint for a costume party and/or costume trunk, as it looks like their outfits sort of go with their hats. It's probably all just wishful thinking on my part, and it's simply that whoever snapped the screenshot just likes hats :lol:


Hats as an accessory would be great! At the moment all ingame hairs also have a version with a hat on, but most of the hats are ugly. Separate hats would be nice, considering the size of hair files in TS3.

[FuzzehPeach]

BUNKBEDS! I love that idea, I can cram more legacy kids in smaller rooms now :P

[Pax]

will generations have different seasons and weather? all these expansions are great but i have yet to see an expansion pack that REALISTICALLY simulates our REAL WORLD.

It won't have weather. Would EA miss the chance to make more money by including weather in a separate expansion? Does Santa Claus vacation in my second home in Prague with my boyfriend the Pope?

Spoiler: the 2nd is the true one.

[kiwi_tea]

http://www.simprograms.com/29173/the-sims-3-generations-information-swedish-coverart/

Well. I'm sold. I also notice it appears to include university to some degree. I imagine it'll add a College rabbithole. :)

Edit: Humbug. "High school graduation". But still...

The new memory system was hinted at strongly in the trailer, and sounds awesome. Although, it might involve a lot of micromanagement.

[Mishy]

awwwwww memories! EA does listen <3
so it looks like the basic needs will be leveled....Finally!
and if all goes well we'll know more tomorrow.

*fingers crossed*

[FridaKahlo]

The chemistry set is back!!! YAAAAAY!

[suzetter]

Thanks for the update and link Kiwi-Tea.

Home movies they can watch on TV? Yay! Maybe this will also translate into letting us make our own sims tv shows again. And memories are back again. I like hearing this. There's hope yet. Though the tree house better not be an RH (pretty sure the prom will be an RH event though). Chemistry set sounds intriguing -- wonder what they can make besides stink bombs?

[mickeymouse254]

Coverart released:
http://snootysims.com/generations/genbox.jpg

[Miss Harlequin]

Memoriesmemoriesmemoriesmemoriesmemoriesmemoriesmemoriesmemoriesmemoriesmemoriesmemoriesmemories!!!!!

[Mishy]

Though the tree house better not be an RH (pretty sure the prom will be an RH event though).
the tree house got its own big promotion in the trailer, so it would be really stupid to do that if it only turned out to be no more then a boring rabbit hole.

[lewisb40]

See, told people to stop calling this EP a stuff pack! Too excited for memories, maybe I can throw away my notebook of activities my sim have done or need to do. Might be easier to remember what's going on in one particular game. Woohoo! Now gossip wil contain something more than who is rich, I want it to cause lots of drama. Yay! Finally my sim have the chemistry set again, too excited for that. Always wanted one as a kid, but my parents didn't trust me enough to have it.

Dang, have to wait til June. Oh well!

[Robodl95]

Let's hope that it's early June following the pattern set by previous years, it's always nice to have a new EP the first week of Summer after school's out. I kinda doubt that though because I think that LN came a little bit late.

To be honest nothing on the info sheet excites me that much. I still think that this is going to be an amazing EP but I'm curious on what else is included. I feel like this will be the underdog EP that doesn't seem that great/lacking a central new thing but once we play it it's going to become really essential.

[jay_envy]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5589944626_bf470021f9_o.jpg

Lookie what I found.

[Laisanae]

Lookie what I found.

Cool! Is that guy drinking that stuff? Maybe the new occult is SuperSim. :D

[Mishy]

Dang, have to wait til June. Oh well!
foreplay is half the fun. to me, anyways :heyhey:

[Mishy]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5589944626_bf470021f9_o.jpg

Lookie what I found.
Yay Jay!!

[bassoon_crazy]

Memories... Hm... would be excited for that, but I have to know more. Do they actually effect Sims this time around?

If they're just like the ones in The Sims 2 and they don't I couldn't care less about them.

The EP ever being purchased by me hangs on the line with that. And by ever I mean when it goes on sale for $20. There isn't any way I'm paying a cent more than that for this. There just isn't enough to it, and it has bothered me even more by making it look like it has University but it doesn't.

[jay_envy]

Cool! Is that guy drinking that stuff? Maybe the new occult is SuperSim. :D

Honestly, I hope they bring back all the stuff from TS1 chemistry set - Frankensim especially. The way he would freak out and go around and break shit, and wake everyone in the house up. And who can forget the clones?! They'd be a total jackass to other sims and completely mess up your relationships... ahh, the memories. :rofl:

[lewisb40]

Haha, totally forgot about the clones. Too many fun nights playing and trying to fix what the fake sims X would mess up. Thanks for the memories.

[Nukael]

Memories... ohmigod, yes!! Woooh, and fun with chemistry. I'm also very excited to find out what the new supernatural will be (I love supernaturals!).

[Robodl95]

Mmmeh Frankensim is too similar to the Simbot (heck it's even called that in the code! Or possibly EA scraped the Frankensim from Ambitions for here?) Super sim would be cool, I've had enough of the undead occults (We've had a ghost, mummy, vampire...)

The supernatural is usually unveiled pretty early. The WA trailer showed mummies, LN showed vampires, I'm not positive about whether the Ambitions trailer showed Simbots but they're on the cover so we also knew pretty early then too.

[CinderEmma]

I'm curious, why is everybody so excited about the memories? I don't get it, do you guys not remember what you've done with your sims? Because I found the memories, at least in sims 2, kind of redundant.

[kiatyn]

I'm curious, why is everybody so excited about the memories? I don't get it, do you guys not remember what you've done with your sims? Because I found the memories, at least in sims 2, kind of redundant.

Because sometimes things happened and we missed (didn't catch it) it happening. It was a way to keep track of that.

[Mishy]

Because sometimes things happened and we missed (didn't catch it) it happening. It was a way to keep track of that.
Especially now that life next to our active sims lives continues.
with memories we can find out what other simmies have been up to.

[lewisb40]

The thing that would be the cherry on top of the whipped cream, collections! If that is announced in this EP there will be a squee heard around the world. Seriously!

[olomaya]

The thing that would be the cherry on top of the whipped cream, collections! If that is announced in this EP there will be a squee heard around the world. Seriously!

I agree! Would be so happy if collections returned.

Cap and gown is pretty much the norm for high school graduations here in the U.S., not just university but I can see why so many people jumped to that conclusion. I wonder how the high school graduation ceremony will take place. Maybe it'll just be a message that pops up telling you your Sim is ready to graduate and then you can throw a Graduation Party like in Uni. I found that EP kind of tedious after a while but it was nice to have some time between teen and adult stage to sleep around and gain skills.

So glad we're getting memories back! I'm kind of worried about the gossip mill system though. I foresee many a Sim becoming hated by everyone in town because they flirted with some random person, something akin to the scandals in LN.

I'm curious to see what else is in the game, specifically what sort of new family interactions we're going to have. I see the pic on the box of the old woman looking disapprovingly of the grandson figure. I hope we get some kind of Nag interaction like we had in TS1. :lol:

Edit: Snooty Sims uploaded 4 pics (including the one posted above by jay) to his site. I am loving the fro! :lovestruc

[rkalanu]

The mountains in the background of the wedding shot aren't familiar to me- maybe we're getting a new town with Generations?

I remember the survey EA gave a while ago, about possible new Store items and worlds- one of which was a mountain resort town with magical springs and so on. Maybe this town?

[Ranissa]

I'm not so sure about the memories. They borked my game eleventy-billion times in Sims 2. I can see them causing even more issues in 3, especially if you play more than 1 household.

I'm cautiously interested. More interactions for teens, toddlers and children would be amazing. Throwing parties is sorta meh though more wedding interactions would rock my boat. I'm not sure this adds enough that I will run right out and buy it. Maybe when I see the list of new objects, clothing, hairstyles, etc I will be more excited.

Now if the Pets thing is real, I'll preorder. Especially if I can have a working farm!

[BenC0722]

The mountains in the background of the wedding shot aren't familiar to me- maybe we're getting a new town with Generations?

I remember the survey EA gave a while ago, about possible new Store items and worlds- one of which was a mountain resort town with magical springs and so on. Maybe this town?

Who knows? WA didn't include a new main town, although it did introduce sub-neighborhoods that can be visited.

It would be nice if there was a new town. Even nicer if there's room to place nightclubs and Ambitions lots. Remember, with every new EP, EA can't assume that any of their customers bought any of the previous EPs, so they can't include nightclubs in a new town.

On that note, I wonder what new lot types will be introduced. I'm building a world, and my goal is to include at least one of every single lot type from every EP (except Base Camp, Hidden Tomb, and possibly Market and Chinese Garden).

[matrix54]

I'd assume we're getting a playground, but that can just be a small park. :)

[DigitalSympathies]

Honestly I'm still thinking Aliens here of some sort for the supernatural. As I said earlier, Aliens + Telescope = Alien babies = New Life = Generations. :P

IT JUST ALL MAKES MOAR SENSE TO ME.

The one thing I'm really, really excited about is that we might get a -subhood- this time. *dies* YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS! :D