Tim promised us earlier that Virginia McArthur and Scot Amos would be sending out community e-mails like he does, only for the Sims 2 on handhelds and consoles. And it's true: the first e-mail has been sent out to the community, along with 2 new PSP screenshots and 1 new Console screenshot (and three old ones). Virginia kicks off in the e-mail by telling that the PSP game looks great. Also, nobody has been able to finish the game completely yet simply because there's too much content in it. Over a 100 secrets are to be unveiled, while you also take care of your aspiration. Scot tells about the console version, and this time specifically on the food creation system. Even console veterans say they like it, and how it opens up a lot of new creative ideas for the game. If you're interested in reading it all, click read more or just read on. For the screens, click the thumbnails below.

PSP:


Consoles:

"Hi Everyone,

"As Tim told you last week, I'm Virginia McArthur and my focus is all things handheld for The Sims 2. You may have seen me in chat sessions over the past two years as my focus has been on the HandHeld Sims products, The Sims Bustin' out for GBA and last year, The Urbz for the GBA and DS. Before moving to HH, I was a producer on The Sims Online and two of the original expansion packs, Hot Date and Vacation.

"One of the handheld platforms I'd like to tell you about is the PSP. You should see The Sims 2 characters and objects on the PSP, they look gorgeous; I love the PSP graphics. In fact, there is so much content on the PSP that no one has yet been able to play through the whole game! The premise of The Sims 2 on PSP is to uncover all the secrets of Strangetown, there are over 100 of them, so the game is definitely keeping us occupied. You can choose aspirations and mange your wants while collecting these secrets slowly unveiling the truth of what has been happening to the residents of Strangetown. For example, you will finally find out what really happened to Bella Goth and why she was missing from The Sims 2 PC when we shipped the game.

"Until next time :)

"Thanks,"

Virginia

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"Hiya folks - Virginia is right as usual :). It is an exhilarating time right now! I'm Scot Amos and I'm focused on the console-side of things; that's the PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube. Currently the Sr. Producer for The Sims 2 on console, I've been living the dream in video game development for 15 years, the last 2.5 here at Maxis working with The Sims Bustin' Out and The Urbz teams.

"The Console team is working towards a major milestone right now that gets us one step closer to being gold. So the whole team is cranking hard and playing the game a TON to make sure we are giving players the best game possible. One of the things I've loved watching is our test team playing with our new food creation system. It's amazing to hear these Sims console veterans who've played all the previous versions saying things like, "This is so much fun" and "I love it!" Being able to create unique and interesting food from ingredients you grow, harvest or find in the game really makes the game more intense and opens up all new possibilities like using different ingredients to make another Sim fall in love with your Sims or making other Sims feel sick. Players now have the ability to really change the game through the use of the food creation system!

"We can't wait to let you guys get your hands on all the Sims 2 games this fall. We're looking forward to hearing from all of you about how you play the different games on different systems. Since everything is so unique, there are infinite possibilities to explore across every game.

"Take care!"

- Scot