The Sims 3/Review/SnootySims
From Simpedia
Below many questions that were sent to me. Though I missed the first part of the presentation (traffic), I did manage to get quite a few answers. Ben Bell showed a small part of the game. Mostly about all the new features. I would have liked to see some normal things like a sim going to bed, watching tv or preparing dinner, but ofcourse time is limited and presentations like this are meant to show off the cool new stuff.
Having said that, it all looks very familiar. Regular Sims 2 players can jump right in the game without learning too much new stuff.
There are 5 major changes in the game: The seamless neighborhood, traits, object customization, CAS and the movie making tools.
Seamless neighborhood: No loading screens anywhere. Just jump from house to house and see your Sims walking around town is very cool.
Traits: My favorite feature. Now you can create some very different Sims. No longer minor changes between sims.
Object customization: Never a need to download a recolored or re-textured object. Make your whole house fit with the same style.
CAS: Unlimited amounts of eye/hair/make-up/etc. -colors. Many ways to shape your sims as you like.
Movie making tools: Even the most novice in moviemaking can create something very special.
Now for the questions and answers:
Will families that you don't play get older, get children, die,etc?
This was the most asked question and yes it is true; Families you don't play, just live out their lives behind your back. I asked if there was a way to stop the aging for those families through a cheat. They didn't want to give an answer to that so it may still be an option.
Can fire burn the entire house down?
I don't think so. Ben Bell set the house on fire with a special object and though the flames quickly spread, I didn't see the walls caught on fire.
Is an internet connection mandatory for game play?
No, an internet connection is not required to play the game.
Is it true that if you have a weaker computer your town will be smaller than of those with a strong computer?
Though I did read this in a preview, Ben Bell was very surprised with this question and said something like: "Ofcourse not, that's ridiculous! Where did you hear that?!"
Can you add roads in your neighborhood?
No, you can't. There will be a Neighborhood creator available a few weeks after the game, but no details about that yet.
Can you follow your sims to school?
Yes you can! They will disappear into the building but you can surely see them travel to it.
Will there be a tool for users to create custom content?
There will be a tool to create new textures for the game. There was no info about an external CAS tool, but it's highly likely there will be one. There will be no tool to create entirely new objects though.
However with the in-game Create-a-Style, you have a very powerful tool at your hands. Nearly every object in the game, from cars to tv's, to chairs to closets, everything can be recoloured and re-textured. You can apply different types of fabric like wood, paint, brick, etc, then change it in every color possible. Let's say you chose a white/red blocked plastics on a couch. You can then use this specific combination on every object in the house just by simply dragging it from the tool to the object.
There were not that many types of hair yet. There is long hair as you can see but for even longer hair, you may need to find it on a fansite.
Will there really be different career paths per career?
I don't know. Looking at this pic though, it seems there are some changes as your performance is measured differently then in Sims2. Like you need certain skills. Also the payment is per hour now. Though that may still change.
How will death and weddings be handled? Are they any different from the Sims 2?
Both will be very similar as Sims 2.
Are there any other creatures aside from Aliens and Ghosts?
They did say they have something special but didn't want to give details.
It wasn't a question, but to my surprise, there are 6 needs in the game! In former previews, there were reports of only 4 needs.
Will there be apartments/weather/etc?
No. Though most likely there will be some objects from each Sims 2 expansion, the big features from each pack will not be in Sims 3. So no weather, no universities, no businesses, no vacations, no... Well you get the point.
The grabber/hand. Is it just for small objects? Could it open doors, touch sims maybe (and i mean like pick up babbies).
No it's only to pick up stuff like plates, books, garbage,etc. It's meant to get rid of some of the boring tasks for your sims, give them more time to do other things.
Any new buildmode tools?
They didn't show much about buildmode. Only the new feature that you can move a wall with everything on it. But there sure is a buildmode! I assembled the buildmode panel together as I couldn't get it in one shot.
Can you change your traits?
Yes, but you need a certain lifetime reward for that. After aquiring enough Lifetime points, you may choose from around 20 rewards.
Yes there's a very powerful tool for that. With this tool, you can upload a movie and then shape it in any way. You can cut the movie into pieces, give it effects, make a title, transitions, cutting, pasting,etc. The only downside is that it all has to be done online. So it will be a bit hard for those with a slow connection. There is also a tool for screenshot stories.
Can you add freckles? 
Yes, there's even a whole panel for that.
What are the system requirements?
You need a system a bit better then for Sims 2. But it shouldn't be much of a problem to run the game on a somewhat slow system. Final system requirements will be posted very soon.
And lastly some misc. pics:
Thanks very much to DeSims2.nl for the chance to check the game out!
