Hi everyone,

I am mostly a Sims 2 player. Never tried the Sims 1. I just went into Sims 2, because I was attracted to the fact that it had realistic 3D graphics instead of teeny pixels on the computer screen. I am willing to spend thirty dollars plus tax on the game and try it for myself. But first, I would like to know about the base game clothes. Do they wear any "normal" clothes? As far as I know, base game clothes from The Sims 2 are pretty normal-looking or something that I would wear outside. It would be really helpful if anybody here can take a screenshot of the base game clothes of the Sims 3.

I also would like to know if I have to download all the patches or just the most recent official patch here.

The Sims 3 characters wear their normal clothing. You can also change other clothing too.

But depending on how many expansions you have for TS2, you will be highly disappointed with TS3 unless you own ALL the EPs. Id recommend downloading the demo off of the official site here: http://thesims.com/en_US/what-is-the-sims

Holy moly the Sims 3 has a demo? I thought the base game was the demo!

Origin has the Base Game Sale at $12 for digital download (personally I prefer digital download=no scratch disk+lost CD key):
http://store.origin.com/store/eara/...uctID.254372900
Don't worry about Sims 3 Clothing, you can take a look at some screenshots of Sims 3 clothing here:
http://mysims3blog.blogspot.com/sea...0Adult%20Female
http://frani721.tumblr.com/tagged/BGC-clothes

Unless you are in a great hurry to buy the game, I would wait for a better price than that. Keep an eye out for sales on Steam, Origin and Amazon. Origin has one on right now. You can pick up the base game and an EP for that less than 30 bucks. Base game/ base game + expansion Expansions If you don't like to use credit cards online, you can buy an EA card at any Target or Best Buy and redeem them for games. You can also choose to download the games (cheaper) or have a physical copy sent to you in the mail.

As for the clothes, I much prefer Sims 3 clothes to those from Sims 2. Being able to put any colour or texture on an outfit means that you can get by with fewer outfits. Also, the ability to select shoes for each outfit allows for more "going to the market" outfits and a lot less "hookerwear". I don't know of a site that has pictures of the base game clothing but someone else might be able to help.

When you install the game, Origin will give you messages about updating your game. It's not anything you have to worry about.

I'd wait a little bit, TS4 has been announced and once it's available for pre-order the price of the base game will probably go down.

And the clothes in the base game are normal clothes really, they're a bit basic but they get the job done.

And as for the patches, you only need to update it to the most recent patch and I usually use this site to download my updates

I only have Open For Business, Kitchen & Bath Interior Design, and H & M Fashion packs. So, for me, The Sims 3 would be a big advancement. Cars in the base game. The ability to recolor objects right in the game. Ceilings. Furniture that look like they come straight from The Sims 2. (I see the Missionary furniture from The Sims 2 in The Sims 3 in various screenshots as well as windows that look like they come from The Sims 2 Seasons in EA screenshots.) In the trailer, I noticed that Sims could also use cell phones!

There's been announcement of a "starter pack" for TS3 with release for next week. If you're in the US and near a Target, their ad shows what looks to be a combo pack of base+Late Night+High-End Loft Stuff with a price of $19.99 beside it. If that price is correct and means you could get base, EP and SP for $20? Well, I'd personally wait for that myself.

If you're coming from TS2 with 1 EP and 2 SPs, TS3 will definitely be a vast difference. If you can, look up LGR on youtube -- this here is his "top 5 reasons to buy TS3" and he's also done videos for the various EPs and SPs, which might help you out.

Hey, it looks like the price at Gamestop for The Sims 3 (base game) has been reduced to $19.99!

http://www.gamestop.com/pc/games/the-sims-3/70858

That's not bad, if it's new.

(I like discs. Digital Download means that if you really want to keep playing the game 5 years from now, you may be out of luck.)

That's not bad, if it's new. Used should knock another 5 dollars off. At least.

(I like discs. Digital Download means that if you really want to keep playing the game 10 years from now, you may be out of luck. Discs mean you just need to find everything again.)

Woohoo! I finally got The Sims 3! I am so excited!

But wait, there is no The Sims 3 manual?!? How am I ever going to get a quick hands-on tutorial on the game? I wonder if there is a tutorial game right in the game, like in The Sims 2. I have learned that the free camera controls of The Sims 3 moves very similarly to The Sims 2, but the camera can actually turn sideways. It would be really useful in making some awesome movies with this tool.

Hey, for $19.99 you want a manual too?

Actually, IIRC, the base game came with a very short, 12 pagish manual. Around LN, they dropped the pretense completely. There are tutorials available in game. Any thing advanced, though, might require searching this site for reliable info. Enjoy!

In The Sims, the tutorial family was Bob and Betty Newbie. I personally never played the original Sims games. Then, when The Sims 2 arrived, the tutorial family was Bob and Betty Sim's child, Joe Sim. I wonder who the tutorial family would be when I play The Sims 3. :D

I am keeping the receipt, since there is a 90-day warranty if I am not satisfied with the product.

There doesn't seem to be a tutorial family from what I can see for TS3, but the families all do have difficulty ratings from 1 green bar to 5 red bars -- naturally, the lower the number of bars and the greener they are, the better.

In Sunset Valley, all the one-green bar families are: Jolina, Kennedy, Koffi, Steel, Ursine, and Crumplebottom. With the exception of the Ursine family (where Claire starts off pregnant) they're all one-person families.

Regarding the camera, if you want to take screenshots up close with more precise zoom-in you should download the camera mod: http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=345987 It's unbearable for me without it, I can't move the camera anywhere I want.

there is no tutorial family, but under the Options button, there is a tab marked "Lessons" (when you first install the game you have the option to turn them off or leave them on). A little pop will show up when there is an applicable one, or you can look them up whenever you want. They aren't always as in depth, but since most controls are similar to previous games, it shouldn't be too hard.