Tim LeTourneau has spoken about Nightlife at GameSpot, as we mentioned yesterday. The biggest news: you'll be able to see your neighborhood from a lot, and won't need to see big plots of grass land anymore, and there will be rugs. There's a lot of in-game footage in the video, which probably will be posted at GameSpot's media page very soon. However, we already have the details for you. Read on for those.
[Update 20 May, 0:45] As expected, the video interview has now been uploaded. You can stream it for free from the Nightlife media page at GameSpot.
When the first bit of in-game images is shown, Tim showed "The Hub," a nightclub Tim built himself. There are several Sims sitting at the bar, waiting to pick someone up - or not. Tim starts by describing the new aspiration, the pleasure seeker one, which will be added in the expansion pack. They want to have a lot of fun.[Update 20 May, 0:45] As expected, the video interview has now been uploaded. You can stream it for free from the Nightlife media page at GameSpot.
Every expansion has a lot to offer for three different types of players. There will be quite a few new items, for example the dance floor, the new lights (which can be recoloured using the usual recolour tool that's already in the game, so it seems), and more. On the new bowling alley, Sims can show off their skills. The body skill determines how well the sims do on that, which means they can fall. That sense of humour is what Tim says makes the game funny. It's not possible to run down a bowling alley, but sliding down to it is a possibility.
Tim also mentions the three basic types of players that play the Sims 2: the builders/creators, story tellers, and the ones who just mess around with the game, discovering new things. For builders, Tim points out the official exchange where a lot of items are posted. New things for builders include the corner sofas, which even allow you to create snakes, according to Tim. The main gameplay is made for story tellers, who work on relationships and deliver a story. Stuff like the new places, added interactions, the social game, etc are all such elements that story tellers can tell their stories with. Finally, there are those who try to find the boundaries of the game, and they'll just check what Maxis thought of or not. Maxis tries to satisfy all these people by developing an expansion pack that has something for everybody. Nightlife is such an expansion pack, according to Tim.
Tim also mentions the first teaser (the University jewelcase insert), and the woman with the fangs. There will be vampires, and you might even get alien vampires or a vampire alien zombie (if you ahve University). There will also be new objects to improve dates with. One is shown during the video. It's somewhat similar to the House Party Mechanical Bull, though it looks and works completely different. Depending on the body skill, Sims might fall out of this twisting object or not. At the same time, the right-top corner shows the date meter, which points out how well the date is going. The greener it is, the longer you'll be able to date, but you'll also be able to speed up improving the relationship. However, by kissing in public, Ms. Crumplebottom will show up and slap your Sim in the face - with her handbag - as she hates those Public Displays of Affection. That too is shown in the video.
After that Tim decides to send Jesse and his date, the Sims showing the PDA, to his car. Sims fans have wanted cars for five years now, and finally Maxis has made it possible for Sims to drive their own cars, but also to own a garage and driveway to park the car on. As for missing the carpool, LeTourneau gives a little more detail: you get one hour extra time to get to work, so you don't need to rush as much as before, but you can't come in last minute either. There will be five different styles of cars, which you can change into different colours. More will probably be added in the future though. After that he also tells about how Maxis has "opened up the neighborhood," which will now be visible from any lot. Houses are no longer in the middle of nowhere.
Tim also mentions that Nightlife will not be very separate from University, but if you have the first expansion pack, the game will be even richer. The example that's given is that you can give your Sims a car after graduating, or that college kids can go on dates. Of course you don't need to have University for Nightlife, but - by comparing it to sets of Lego blocks - with all of them you can create completely new things. News is also that the club objects can be taken home, to be used there.
After getting two viewer's questions, Tim points out that the Sims is not just American, but a very international product. It's been localised into 18 different languages. The fourth question was about a next expansion pack: it's still a little early to talk about it but Maxis has already been thinking about it. New objects in this one include a DJ booth, the card table and bowley alley, a karaoke machine, a photo booth and a ton of designer objects for bars, restaurants and all. A vampire coffin is also available. One of the bigger new things again are rugs, carpets that you can place under objects if you want. There will be several rugs in the game.
That's all Tim had to say during the interview. We'll let you know when any of the videos has been posted, by updating this post.
Written at 01:23 on Friday, 20 May 2005 by ChEeTaH.
