The first news for the consoles (PS2, XBox, GameCube) is that your character will be made by manipulating grandpa's and grandma's appearances. The genetics are passed on and result in your character. Unlike the PC version, you will not be able to have kids in the same way, but this way there are still some genetics in the game. The game will feature wants and fears, and even a new aspiration: creativity. This is in line with the new food mechanism talked about in earlier previews. You can create food using ingredients. Whatever you make can have five effects: aphrodisiac, nausea, revulsion, skill boost and energy boost. Direct control is mentioned, but also some other content: there are 10 career tracks, and over 500 objects, of which 350 will be completely new. The twelve story locations will guide you through the missions. Socialising takes you to the conversation mode which blurs the environment and highlights your Sim and the one your talking to. Some social actions might work and others not. Unlike the Urbz though, they are not coloured, but you have to watch the body language to see if an action will give a positive or negative result. Making friends will give you DNA and clothing options to make new Sims with, or to dress your existing one with. Clothes can be layered to give your Sim an unique look. Some of these things can be seen in the gameplay videos. You can read both the GameSpot preview and the IGN preview for more details.

For the PSP, both sites talk about the start of the game - your car breaks down in Strangetown, you go to Oscar the mechanic to get it fixed, meet Bella Goth and Mamba Loa where you define your appearance and aspiration by answering questions. Bella Goth tells her secret, that she was abducted by aliens and is leaving Strangetown, leaving your the keys, and then the game really starts. Socialising is done with the usual options. However, in this game, you have to watch the speech bubbles closely to make the conversation work well, and to get new info. You can only make a number of mistakes, given by the patience meter. The normal speak mode, to improve a relationship, is also still available, and so simlish sessions are more or less split up in this and the converse modes. The game will have five mini games, some of which may be familiar from the Urbz, and several ones nested in the story, like the inline dancing shown in one of the videos. IGN also says that the Create-A-Sim options are almost as detailed as on the PC version. Read the GameSpot preview and the IGN preview for more precise details.

Both sites do report on the DS version, although GameSpot's preview is fairly short. The goal is to build the biggest and best hotel in Strangetown, while you also explore the desert to find pieces of alien ships, which you can sell for cash. Cash is needed to expand the hotel, but you can also get it from the guests. The music room and art room are also mentioned. You can create a tune or painting in those rooms, using the touch pad and microphone. These creations can be exchanged with other players using the wireless functionality. The microphone is also used to control a vacuum cleaner. You have to clean it out using the mic if a bag or so gets clogged in it. You can create 3D Sims with the new engine, which runs smoothly at about 30 frames per second. The motives, combined into a sanity meter, do not play a very important role in this version. Enjoy the GameSpot preview or the IGN preview for more.

Finally there's the GBA again. This is a story based game where you have to take your Sim through 15 or so episodes successfully. He's an actor on a set, and the episodes are downright weird. Think of the cola scene shown in the gameplay video. In another episode you have to drive a car following instructions. All episodes are more or less commercials and require product placement. There are minigames in all episodes, and depending on how you react you go through the episodes in any order. As long as you please the Goths you'll be allowed to go on. New is also that girls will be allowed to wear skirts, something which was not possible in previous GBA games. Finally, by linking up two games using the GBA link, you'll get three new mini games and a TV episode to play. Again, see the previews at GameSpot and IGN for details.

Written at 04:28 on Saturday, 16 July 2005 by ChEeTaH.