Sunday 1 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 23 - A Governing Change

Written at 08:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Arnold has left the house but Sim Brother has a very unpleasant surprise lined up for them today. How will the housemates cope? Find out what it is right here.

Cat's Eyes #4

Written at 23:00 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Arnie has been terminated. Over three weeks are over when it comes to Sim Brother 4, and last week there's been painting and partying. And possibly due to the stress, somebody went a little crazy. It's never a boring week at Sim Brother, which leaves enough to discuss during another edition of Cat's Eyes - looking at Sim Brother differently. Number 4 is now up to be read by you, and everybody else.

Read Cat's Eyes #4

Monday 2 May 2005

Extra Updated: Sims 2 Bugs, Features, Solutions...

Written at 00:32 by Neil - 0 comments.

Just added: A ridiculously big batch of new observations from visitors to the alt.games.the-sims newsgroup. A lot happens in six months on that newsgroup, available on Google and all good news servers.

Read about newly discovered "bugs" in Sims 2, including the one that suggest Toddlers are a product of reincarnation, the fires that burn sims in other rooms and what do diagonal doors have to do with it all anyway?

Meanwhile, have you ever wondered how fast a Sim actually walks? A usenet poster has worked it out. Also added today: The headmaster who eats everything in sight, three way conversations on the telephone and further proof that all nannies in SimVille are drunks.

Read the extra here.

Sim Brother 4 - Day 24 - Money, Fire and Therapy

Written at 06:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

With the possibility of a revolt in Sim Brother Penitentiary, will the Prison Officers be able to maintain control and run the prison as the Governor expects it to be run? How will the housemates cope? Click here for your visitor's pass.

Tuesday 3 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 25 - Half Way Point

Written at 06:14 by Andy - 4 comments.

It is half way through this series of Sim Brother 4. It is also the last day of the penitentiary task. Will the prison officers be able to retain order during this last day and what else might Sim Brother have in store for them? It's Day 25. It's right here.

Thursday 5 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 26 - Recrimination, Romance and Racks of Balls

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 1 comment.

There is a reaction to the revelation of who is up for eviction this week. Romance is still in the air and Sim Brother has a contest for the housemates to help them unwind. It's right here!

Friday 6 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 27 - Ladies' Games

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

The Nominees have won their first pool game. Everything is to play for today as Martha plays Condoleezza. Also, how will the budding romance between Alyssa and Steve develop? Also, it's Wednesday and we get to find what Dr.Phil has to say. Let's do it!

Sim Brother 4 - Day 28 - Clash of the Captains

Written at 13:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

With a winner or a draw in the Sim Brother 4 Pool Contest hinging on the final match, there is excitement in the house. With a risk that Alyssa & Steve may be split up tomorrow night, will the heat be turned even higher? It's right here!

Sims Franchise still strong in Fiscal 2005

Written at 23:58 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Last week EA revealed their results of the fiscal year 2005, which ran from April 2004 until March 2005. The Sims franchise brought more than 1 billion dollars into EA's bank account, by selling more than 16 million copies. The Sims 2 University has also reached platinum in the past quarter. During the conference call, EA also mentioned the new platforms, like the PSP and mobile phones, that EA will start publishing games on, including the Sims 2.

EA's revenue has for the first time ever surpassed $3 billion, of which $1.7 billion came from the US and $1.3 billion from Europe. EA thinks the fiscal 2006 game lineup is stronger than ever before, with titles like Burnout 4, Black, Battlefield 2, The Sims 2 on consoles, and the usual sports titles including Madden and Fifa Football. The company is ready to start operating on the next generation consoles, which will be shown on the E3 which starts in just over a week. All in all it's been a successful year for Electronic Arts, and we should have a nice E3 coming ahead of us if we should believe them. For more information, also see the press release.

Saturday 7 May 2005

SimDay - Competition Closed

Written at 00:04 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

The official site has updated with only a little bit of news yesterday, regarding the Nightlife Style contest. Over 1000 entries were received from North America alone, and the entries are now being judged. The contest has closed and the best few will be included in the second expansion pack. Other than that, news posted earlier this week was about Strangerhood 6, and Maxis' own poll. It's been moved to the community page, where you can cast your vote as ever before.

Sims 2 or Nightlife for Consoles?

Written at 00:23 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Although EA only announced the regular "The Sims 2" for the consoles, handhelds and mobiles, online shop GameStop is now listing The Sims 2 Nightlife for those platforms. This is reported by GameFront.de. The specific items can be found by searching Gamestop on The Sims 2 Nightlife. However, as the recently announced the Sims 2 is not listed at all, and the release date for both is set to fall 2005, it's unlikely it's actually Nightlife will be out for the consoles. Instead, it's probably a placement error by GameStop.

Sim Brother 4 - Day 29 - Eviction Night Returned

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Tonight, one of these six people is going to be taken out of the picture and leave the Sim Brother House.

Voting has now closed. You have chosen which one of these six it is going to be.

It's eviction night and it's right here!!

Three Mac Blogs

Written at 03:07 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

The Sims 2 is being released on Mac next month, but last week the new version of OS X, nicknamed Tiger, was already launched. The result are three developer journals from Aspyr on Inside Mac Games. The first of these, "Put a Tiger in your tank," is mostly about the dashboard features of the new OS. The second blog is mostly just a link to a photo album of the Tiger Launch event. Both don't mention the Sims 2, though Karen Halloran does talk about it in the usual Friday entry of the blog: "The Life Cycle." As you can guess from the title, it's all about the aging life cycles and genetics of the Sims in the sequel. Karen tells how there are six life stages instead of two as in the Sims 1. Genetics will have to be passed on to the next generations as well. Included is the screenshot below. There's no new information compared to what we know from the PC version - the games will be very similar anyway - but for the interested read the brief journal for a little bit more info.

Condoleezza's Eviction Night Special

Written at 04:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Tonight, you decisively evicted Condoleezza from the Sim Brother house.

Find out what she has to say to Will Wright about her time in the house.

It's right here!!

Sunday 8 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 30 - The Day After

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Condoleezza has left the house and the housemates are wondering if they have time to get used to the change before they are thrown into something else. Will Sim Brother give them a break? Find out right here.

Cat's Eyes #5

Written at 23:00 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Now Condoleezza has been evicted out of the Sim Brother 4 house, the housemates have been given a little bit of rest before their next challenge hits them. However, it's been an eventful week with Sim Brother Penitentiary and pooling. Looking at the series from a different point of view, the fifth edition of Cat's Eyes has been posted. Enjoy it!

Read Cat's Eyes #5

Monday 9 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 31 - The New Task

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

The housemates have had a quiet Saturday but today, Sim Brother is getting them down to work on a task that will involve them facing the public. What does Sim Brother have in mind for them? Find out right here.

Tuesday 10 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 32 - Nominations & Recrimination

Written at 14:00 by Andy - 3 comments.

With the housemates working on their items for "Good Morning, Simerica", they have to do their weekly nominations. How will this affect them and who will be facing the public vote? Find out right here.

3 new downloads for little sims.

Written at 22:19 by Starrats - 0 comments.

Today 3 new outfits, 2 for toddlers and 1 for little girls. You can find them here.

Wednesday 11 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 33 - From the Heavens to the Deep Blue Sea

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

With four of the five housemates facing nomination, it is a tense house. To help relax the tense atmosphere, Sim Brother has provided the house with a new item to help relax them. Find out what it is right here.

EA's Official E3 Lineup [Update]

Written at 15:24 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

EA has announced its official line-up for the E3 next week. Between games like Battlefield 2, BLACK, Burnout Revenge, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Medal of Honor European Assault, The Godfather and many others, there's The Sims 2 Nightlife, The Sims 2 for consoles, handhelds and mobiles, and Wright's new project Spore. The latter project will be shown only behind closed doors, by appointment only. The "Next Gen Lab", where EA will show off its games for the next generation consoles is open by invitation only. The press release doesn't come with any information regarding Spore, though it does for Nightlife and The Sims 2. Read on for its descriptions from the full press release.

[Update 13 May, 1:30] EA has launched a new small site for the E3, with some information about the products. The Mobility and Next Gen sections are not yet available, but there is a little bit of info about Nightlife. Spore isn't mentioned. It's likely this site will be updated during the days of the E3. See the E3 site for details. Read More!

Thursday 12 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 34 - Psychology, Speculation & Feminine Wiles

Written at 07:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

It's Wednesday and as usual, Dr.Phil gets psychological with our housemates. He also gets to visit Zoltan and finds more about the local bookie. Also, someone in the house has been trying to get their way ... and with little effect. Let's do it!

Friday 13 May 2005

Tiny SimDay

Written at 03:17 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

This week's SimDay, just before the E3, is a very small one. There's just one link to an interview with SimMasterKat, moderator at the official BBS, as she's become the first SimMaster of the Month. She mentions when she got into the Sims, how she plays the games, and she even has a few useful tips for fellow Simmers. Read the interview for the details.

Seven Nightlife Screens

Written at 03:25 by ChEeTaH - 1 comment.

The official Swedish site has posted a batch of seven screenshots for the Sims 2 Nightlife. They show a red carpet, a DJ, the dance floor, a restaurant, and more from the new Downtown area. Take a look for yourself by clicking the thumbnails below.

Sim Brother 4 - Day 35 - Good Morning, Simerica

Written at 08:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

It's Day 35 and time for the DEF TV Network to hand over broadcasting to the Sim Brother House for their edition of "Good Morning Simerica". How well have the housemates prepared for this challenging task? Find out right here!

Exchange Issue results in broken Uploads

Written at 15:54 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Due to a temporary issue on the official site's exchange, a "small number" of exchange uploads has not been uploaded correctly. Although the issue is resolved now, there might be some items with a broken image with some uploads. If this is the case with one of yours, Maxis suggests that you reupload the file. The problem may have occured with any item uploaded between 12pm PST (8pm GMT) on 11 May and 3:30pm (11:30pm GMT) on 12 May. If you see any broken images at an exchange item for you, which may be a lot, sim or story, Maxis advises to reupload it. They also apologise for the inconvenience. The whole issue is described in a "mail" on the official site that all members have received. A copy is in the rest of this newspost (Read More). Read More!

Saturday 14 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 36 - Eviction Night Reprised

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Tonight, one of these five people is going to be taken out of the picture and leave the Sim Brother House.

Voting has now closed. You have chosen which one of them it is going to be.

It's Eviction Night 4. It's right here!!

Tiger's Eviction Night Special

Written at 05:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Tonight, Tiger became the fourth eviction from the Sim Brother house. Find out what he had to say to Will about his five weeks time in the house. It's the Eviction Night Interview and it's right here!!

Sunday 15 May 2005

Cat's Eyes #6

Written at 23:00 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Gradually the amount of housemates is getting smaller. Sim Brother 4 has brought over 5 full weeks of entertainment so far. And there was some special entertainment this week, as the housemates had the job to host Good Morning Simerica, in their own way. Through a cat's eyes, we look back at that and see what it shows of the housemates. Cat's Eyes 6 shows you all there is to know.

Read Cat's Eyes #6

Monday 16 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 37 - Smells, Solitude & Showing

Written at 00:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

It's Day 37 and Tiger has just become the fourth eviction from the house. Although the housemates passed their task, how well will they handle losing another of their number and realising they are under two weeks from the end? Find out right here!

Sim Brother 4 - Day 38 - Run For Your Life

Written at 04:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

It's Day 38 and Sim Brother has a snap task in store for the housemates. Are they as prepared as they think or will this really catch them unawares? Find out right here!

Tuesday 17 May 2005

The Spore Zone Launched

Written at 02:00 by ChEeTaH - 2 comments.

The Sims Zone is now three and a half years old. With the E3 starting this week, and more information of Spore being expected, we have launched a new sister site: The Spore Zone. On that site, we'll keep you up-to-date with all the latest information about Will Wright's new upcoming game. It's still a fairly small site, with a news section, some extras, screenshots, links and forums, but will grow as time goes by. So, for all your latest Sims news, stay here. For information about Spore, visit The Spore Zone!

Sim Brother 4 - Day 39 - The Final Nomination & Double Trouble

Written at 08:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Today, the housemates find out what their next task is. They also get to make their final nominations. Alyssa gets to find out what her reward is ... and finds a twist in the tail. What's it all about? Find out right here!

Wednesday 18 May 2005

The Sims 2 Console and DS Screens

Written at 01:16 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Games site GameSpy has posted several new screenshots of The Sims 2 on both the consoles and Nintendo DS. With the E3 having started, it won't be long before more screenshots or videos will appear. For now, enjoy the seven new shots - of which five for the consoles and two for the DS - showing a 3D genie, fire, a DJ set, a house overview, Create-A-Sim, and finally some interactions for the DS version. Click the thumbnails to enlarge the shots.

EA E3 Site Updated

Written at 01:23 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

EA has updated its E3 Site with some new information of The Sims 2 on consoles, PSP, GBA, DS and mobile phones. Other than there isn't much news to see, though it's expected that the site will be updated with information about mobile games in the next few days. Of course we'll keep you updated with all the Sims information from the E3, which has now started.

E3: Nightlife Trailer and Interview - Drivable Cars

Written at 12:04 by ChEeTaH - 1 comment.

The first material from the E3 has bee published, and for the Sims 2 Nightlife it's on GameSpot. The biggest new information that's given is that there will be drivable cars in the game - due to popular demand and as it fits the aspect of Sims going out of the house. They can save your Sims time, as they don't have to worry about missing the carpool, and they don't have to wait for a cab. The car can attract Sims too, and the better the car the better the appeal of your Sim will be. Of course there are also garages and driveways. Tim has promised some more suprises for the E3 Expo which starts today (the conferences started yesterday). Besides the interview there's also a new trailer of 45 seconds. Remarkable in that is that it doesn't say "EA Games," but just "EA" as the brand instead. If the EA Games brand has been renamed is not yet confirmed, but we'll let you know if it has. Finally, the three screenshots below are new as well.

E3: GameSpy about TS2 on GBA and DS

Written at 19:26 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

GameSpy is, as well as many other games sites, magazines, developers, publishers and others attending the E3. They've posted some information and screenshots of The Sims 2 on GBA and DS. About the DS version they say that the CAS screen is very detailed, and that the game is all about customization. The downside is that the connectivity between two DSes is limited to sharing content - there's no head-to-head gameplay. About the GBA version it's said the game focuses more on goals than previous Sims games for the same platform. As with the DS version, there will not be any head-to-head gameplay either, but sharing is possible through the GBA-GBA connectivity. The screenshot below is also of the GBA version, and was included in the article. You can find out more at the DS Preview or GBA preview.

E3: Sims 2 and Nightlife at IGN LiveWire

Written at 19:36 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

IGN and GameSpy are together broadcasting the usual E3 Livewire shows. Several games will be discussed by the editors of IGN/GameSpy and the developers of the games. Tomorrow, Thursday, at about 3:33pm PST (11:33pm GMT) Maxis will pop in to talk about The Sims 2 on the consoles, and the Sims 2 Nightlife. It's available to IGN Insiders, though in previous years the shows were made available for download after the E3. Of course we'll keep you updated with any info that comes from this webcast.

E3: IGN about Nightlife

Written at 19:48 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

The updates continue at high pace. After GameSpot had a chat with Tim LeTourneau, producer of Nightlife, IGN has done the same. They describe the situation for the second expansion: players wanted to let their Sims go out. With Sims of the other (or same) sex. The new attraction system will show how well a Sim is attracted to someone, so a player can judge if certain actions will have a good or bad effect. When going on a date, a new set of wants and fears will be loaded, triggered by the quality of the date. You can ask a date about their wants and fears, and so ask them for a dance if they want to (or not). The new Pleasure Seeker aspiration is also briefly mentioned. Besides the drivable cars, mentioned by GameSpot in the other article, there will be sectional sofas (which work like counters), a poker table and bowling alleys. Since this information came from a pre-E3 show, IGN too promises more in the next few days, when the game is shown on the expo floor. Read the article for some more details.

E3: Nightlife at GameSpot Live

Written at 19:56 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

This E3, GameSpot is showing live video feeds from the floor. Although it's not live now, due to a partial power outage at the conference center, it should be tomorrow. On Thursday, from 2pm PST onwards (10pm GMT), GameSpot will show several games, including The Sims 2 Nightlife. Although you need a GameSpot Complete account to see the live show, a free rerun will be available on-demand later on.

E3: GameSpot's Nightlife Impressions

Written at 20:07 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

GameSpot didn't just have an interview with Tim LeTourneau about The Sims 2 Nightlife, the second expansion pack. There's also a new preview at the games site. They give the number of approximately 125 new items in the pack, including a new light engine. New romantic socials include the dip kiss and the blow kiss, which can be done across the dinner table. Other news in the preview is that the pack has reached alpha status, which means it's feature-complete. It's mostly a matter of tuning and fixing problems now. Although for now the game has been set for release this fall, the article mentions "this summer" as shipping date. There's no exact date yet, so it's unsure if this is true, or if the game will perhaps be released late summer/early fall. We'll keep you updated, but for now you can read the preview.

The Sims 2 (Console, PSP, GBA) Screenshots

Written at 20:47 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

EA has released several screenshots for the Sims 2 on consoles and handhelds. Two of them, one for the PSP and one for the GBA, are new. Four others were posted by GameSpy last night. However, EA has given some slightly bigger versions. Also remarkable are the original filenames of those screenshots. On the UK press site, the files are named like "Sims2_-_CurGen_-_E3_-_Image_1.jpg". Mainly the CurGen part would suggest the game will also be released on Next Generation consoles like the XBox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Revolution. Of course this is just a vague rumour and absolutely not confirmed, but we'll keep you updated if it's true or not. You can click the thumbnails below to see all the larger screenshots.

E3: GameSpy discusses TS2 for Consoles

Written at 23:41 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

After talking about the handheld versions of The Sims 2, games site GameSpy has also posted an article of their bigger version on the console. The direct control feature is pointed out, and its customisability is much larger than any previous Sims game on the consoles. Using an EyeToy on the PlayStation 2, you'll be able to see yourself in the game. It was already revealed earlier that the GameCube will have extra content, and the Xbox will have HDTV support. News is that Sims can multitask, playing the PSP on the toilet if you want. An example of the new food feature that's given, is that you might have to buy a fishtank, raise a rare fish, and so get a special ingredient. As mentioned with other versions, GameSpy is disappointed about the lack of head-to-head online gameplay on the console versions too. Check out the preview for more information.

Thursday 19 May 2005

E3: Another Nightlife Trailer

Written at 01:24 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

After the trailer posted earlier by GameSpot, another one has been posted. A brief video shows a nightclub of The Sims 2 Nightlife, possibly with some new in-game music in the background. The video can be streamed for free (with GameSpot Basic account) from their media page.

E3: Official 360 Degrees Video

Written at 01:33 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

The third video of the day comes from the official site. It's what visitors of the E3 can see at the Maxis stand. The Sims 2, University and Nightlife have all been combined into a 360 degrees video. It's a short clip that scrolls from one to another game version. You can download it from the official E3 Videos page.

Sim Brother 4 - Day 40 - Our Daughters Are Aliens

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Alyssa is sharing her chalet prize with Steve. All of the housemates, however, have to spend the day seeing how well they can get on with their new charges. - How do they get on? - Who can't sleep so well? - Can they all take the strain? Find out right here!

E3: Sims 2 Live Stage Demo

Written at 04:03 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Two people of Maxis have visited GameSpot at the E3 to talk about the Sims 2 on consoles. A video where GameSpot talks to Virigina McArthur, producer for the Sims 2 Handheld, has been posted to be streamed for free. The video shows the first moving images of The Sims 2 on DS, GBA, phones and PlayStation 2, all in about 18 minutes. For the handhelds the quality isn't too great, as a camera watches over the shoulder of Virginia as she plays, but for the PS2 version the game is shown quite well. Read on for the details from the video. Read More!

E3: IGN Hands-on The Sims 2 PSP

Written at 09:31 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Over the few hours that I slept, a few articles were posted. One of them is at IGN PSP, which has had a hands-on of the Sims 2 on PlayStation Portable. As with other handheld games, the PSP version is set in Strangetown, unveiling some of its mysteries. There are several classic elements of the game, like build/buy mode, but different from the PC version is the direct control feature. As with the GBA version there is a Sanity meter, which streamlines the daily business of your Sim, as well as the story.

In the game, every NPC will have a secret to tell. By interacting with them you'll eventually unlock a social mini-game, in which you have to respond to the body language correctly. This was currently done using a simple system, in which you have to push the button the Sim is leaning in. The game can in the end become quite complex, and it might be harder to play the social game. In the end you'll be busy for a while spending time to reveal the 100 mysteries. As with all other handheld and console versions, you can go online to trade items, but there's no head-to-head gameplay. Technically the PSP version still had some glitches when it comes to framerate, but it's a detailed game. You can read the preview if you want some more precise details.

E3: IGN Nightlife Preview from E3 Floor

Written at 09:38 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

IGN already posted their impressions of Nightlife from a pre-E3 show. They have now also seen the game on the floor and have posted their preview about it. In it, they start talking about the dating game. It's the biggest new gameplay element of the pack. They describe the situation with Lee picking up on a girl - two girls, in fact - and although he doesn't have much luck with the first, the second doesn't mind. The mini-game really starts when you ask someone on a date, and the date accepts. A meter will show up in the top-right corner of the screen. To fill it, you need to complete wants. Another new interaction to impress your date with is the slow dance social. Someone who has returned in the expansion pack, is Mrs. Crumplebottom. She still lives to criticise any public showings of affection. It won't stop your dates, who can eventually be going home in brand new cars. More detailed is the information that IGN gives about missing the carpool - you can actually come in late at work. For the details, head to the article.

E3: TS2 Console Footage - with Sound

Written at 09:54 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Last night GameSpot posted a Live Stage demo, showing several versions of the Sims 2. The PS2 footage from that video has been cut out and has been posted on GameSpot in five separate videos. Different from the previous video is that these do have in-game sound. The videos are in a somewhat odd order, meaning that number five starts with CAS and the neighborhood view. Then you have to see numbers 1 to 4 in the right order if you want them all in the right way. The first continues the introduction on a lot, and shows the fire being started and extinguished. The second video continues where number one left off, and shows some socialising with puppets and getting something out of the fridge. The third (or actually fourth) video shows how you can create a dish by combining the ingredients from the fridge, followed by the swapping of characters as they are in the shower, watching TV, or eating. Finally, "Gameplay Footage 4" shows a vacuum cleaner being used to do tricks, and a little bit more socialising. All in all there is quite a bit to see. You'll need a GameSpot Basic (free) account to stream the videos, which you can find at the Sims 2 media page.

Sim Brother 4 - Day 41 - Alien Psychology

Written at 10:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

It's Wednesday and Dr.Phil is here and getting psychological with our housemates. He also gets to visit Dr. Balina from the SimCity Childcare Department for some more detail about their work and the background of this task. On top of that, we're seeing how the housemates have lasted another day with Emily and Erin. Let's do it!

E3: Sims 2 Consoles Preview at IGN

Written at 10:11 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

IGN has done more last night, which includes writing a preview of the Sims 2 for the consoles (PS2, XBox, GameCube). They describe features like dating, a downtown area and cars, which seem to be from Nightlife rather than The Sims 2. Other than that, they mention the real options of the game, which include a buy and build mode, creation systems of "food, fashion and music," and a deeper sense of awareness and memory for Sims than on the PC version. Check out the brief preview for what else they have to say.

E3: MaxoidMonkey Blogs [Update]

Written at 11:09 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

MaxoidMonkey is one of the creatures who often can be seen as Maxis representative on the official site. That same MaxoidMonkey is now at the E3, and will be blogging with some updates. In "MaxoidMonkeys E3 Extravaganza" there isn't much to see yet, except the message that MM has arrived in LA. Updates will be posted in the near future though. See the blog to read what MaxoidMonkey has to say. You can go to the same page through the renewed intro at the official site's front page.

[Update 20:30] In the blog Monkey has posted a bit about the first E3 day, during which he visited the EA booth, and checked out Nightlife. He doesn't bring any news, except that he met Evil Knievel and that he'll bring some news regarding the console and handheld versions of The Sims 2 at the end of day 2. The three pictures below were also posted in his blog (click the thumbnails for larger versions).

Friday 20 May 2005

E3: Tim LeTourneau about Nightlife on GameSpot Live [Update]

Written at 01:23 by ChEeTaH - 5 comments.

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. Read More!

E3: Tim LeTourneau, Virginia McArthur and Scot Amos at IGN/GameSpy LiveWire

Written at 02:32 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

After visiting GameSpot, Tim LeTourneau went to IGN/GameSpy LiveWire, together with Scot Amos and Virginia McArthur. Unlike previous years, Will Wright didn't join LiveWire, as he's probably busy showing off Spore. Scot Amos is the Senior Producer for the consoles, Tim does the same but for Nightlife, and Virginia is a producer for the Sims 2 on handhelds. She already showed the handheld versions for GameSpot earlier. A summary of the show is in the rest of this item. It's unsure if or when a video or audio file will be uploaded with this interview, but we'll keep you updated with that as usual. Read More!

Two Nightlife Screens

Written at 02:43 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

For a change there's one post not directly related to the E3: Spanish Sims fansite Todo Sims has found two screenshots for Tim LeTourneau's next e-mail two days ago. The screenshots show the rugs, which were first mentioned in the GameSpot interview a few hours ago. Click the thumbnails below to see large versions of the screenshots. Tim hasn't sent out his e-mail yet though, but we'll post it once we did.

E3: TS2 Console Gameplay Movie

Written at 03:01 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

IGN has posted a movie for the Sims 2 on PlayStation 2, XBox and GameCube. Nicely mixing it up with Nightlife, a video of the PC expansion pack has been posted on the same page. We've already seen that one yesterday though. This new footage can be downloaded from the videos page, where you can find it under the title "Gameplay 2".

E3: The Sims 2 Mobile Shots

Written at 03:09 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

The E3 news keeps coming in, as do the new screenshots and such. This time we have two screenshots of the Sims 2 for mobile phones, from GameSpot. You can click the thumbnails below to see slightly larger versions of these screenshots.

Sim Brother 4 - Day 42 - First Steps

Written at 04:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

The housemates get some unexpected news from Sim Brother and get to see how well their charges can be taught to walk. On a change in pace, we get to look inside the chalet and find out where the furnishings came from. It's all in here!

E3: Sims 2 Consoles Trailer

Written at 20:37 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Maxis has posted a new trailer for the Sims 2 on consoles (PS2, XBox, GameCube). In a style that's somewhat similar to the earlier Nightlife trailer, the trailer takes you through the key features of the game. The Sims is "everywhere you want to play" You can find the video on the videos page on the official site.

Saturday 21 May 2005

E3: MaxoidMonkey Blog Continued

Written at 00:01 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

MaxoidMonkey has posted a second and last blog on his E3 blog. Monkey has been to see demos of the Sims 2 on consoles, PSP and mobiles. Included are the three pictures below. Read the blog to find out how enthousiastic MaxoidMonkey is.

E3: Sims 2 Mobile with Persistent Online World

Written at 00:39 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

One of the Sims games not mentioned as much as others this E3, is the Sims 2 for mobile phones. This game will come in three versions, a low-end 64Kb version which will work on 60 handsets, the 128Kb one for 40-50 sets, and the high-end 178Kb edition will work on an additional 15-20 sets. This information is from GameSpot, which has posted a hands-on from the E3... Read More!

Sim Brother 4 - Day 43 - Talk the talk before Return to Lender

Written at 04:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Erin and Emily can walk the walk but can they talk the talk? Also, Sim Brother has another twist for the housemates. It's all in here!

E3: Sims 2 @ DS Screenshot

Written at 13:41 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

This E3 we've seen many screenshots of several games. Although the E3 is over now, sites are still updating with information from a few days of havoc. One of them is GamersHell, which has posted the screenshot below, for the Sims 2 on the Nintendo Dual Screen. It shows how creating your own painting using the touchpad works. Click the thumbnail for a larger version.

Sunday 22 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 44 - Entering the Last Week with the 5th Eviction

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

What have the remaining four housemates been up to on their last day as a quartet? Also, who have the public decided is going to be the 5th eviction from the house? It's all in here!

Martha's Eviction Night Special

Written at 04:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Martha is the person you have chosen to evict from the Sim Brother house. Find out what she had to say to Will Wright about her six weeks in the Sim Brother house. It's all in here!

E3: EA about The Sims 2 and Nightlife

Written at 18:25 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

EA has a special site all about the E3, and on it several reports from EA employees have been posted. About the Sims 2 on consoles there is some new information: it'll have over 350 object in it. As for Nightlife, the same demo as on the GameSpot Live show is being described. This is all posted in a report about the second day of E3, which was last thursday. For all the details, read the report.

E3: Nightlife Pictures

Written at 18:31 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Our affiliate WorldSims has been to the E3, and of course went to the EA booth to see something of Nightlife. Several pictures have been taken, and although they are a bit dark, they show some parts of the game very well. For example, Ms. Crumplebottom is knitting a lot. Other than that you can see some new parts of the interface, including new wants, the "Attraction" panel, showing turn ons and offs, some of the new interactions, and more. There are also some pictures of the EA Booth in general. Check out the image gallery for the pictures.

Cat's Eyes #7

Written at 23:30 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Sim Brother has entered its final week. But it's still ongoing, and that means Cat's Eyes is still being done too. As usual a special analysis of the week is made. This week we check out who the housemates would like to see win this series, but we also look back at the week during which Erin and Emily were taught the basics of life. Do you want to know what a different view at Sim Brother is like?

Read Cat's Eyes #7

Monday 23 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 45 - Cleanliness, Cooking, Odours & Embarrassment

Written at 02:30 by Andy - 0 comments.

Martha has left the Sim Brother house, but how will the Final Three handle life in there without their cook? It's all in here!

Tuesday 24 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 46 - Dreams of Stardom

Written at 05:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

With Steve stuck under the fishtank and the housemates getting to know about their final task, can they all work together as a team for the last week? It's all in here!

Wednesday 25 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 47 - Creative Differences

Written at 06:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

The housemates have got to form a band and have only three days to come up with a professional performance to a music critic. Today, as well as practicing, they have to come up with what form of group they are going to be and work on the basics of their song. It's all in here!

Thursday 26 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 48 - Dr.Phil Goes Walkabouts

Written at 08:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

In this last show from Dr.Phil, he gets to tour the studio meeting those behind the show and also goes inside to meet the housemates. How did he get on with the housemates and what did he find out about their day? It's all in here!

E3: No aging for Console Sims 2

Written at 23:24 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Website 1Up has previewed the Sims 2 for the consoles. It starts with a small introduction about the typical hot-selling game, and the Sims. The biggest revelation is that aging will not be a part of the Sims 2 on consoles though. Sims will stay the age they were born to be. It's something consoles currently can't handle, says 1UP, though next-gen consoles might do so. Other than that the preview is quite much like others we've seen earlier, and there isn't much news in it. Just read it for a slightly better insight though.

E3: Sims 2 PSP and DS Previews

Written at 23:36 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Websites PSP Advanced and DS Advanced have looked at two of the handheld versions of the Sims 2, which are to be released later this year. The PSP preview mentions ghosts in a house that you'll have to clear out. All animations were taken from the PC version of the game, though the interface was heavily simplified due to the nature of the handheld systems. Other than that the game and story are briefly described, but there's nothing too new in it.

The DS preview has a little more news. The story is a little more in-depth, in that it says you start your own hotel and have to make it a five-star one. Meanwhile, you also want to uncover the town's (Strangetown's) secrets. The game will feature ten guest rooms, which will be fully interactive. Even PC fans should notice a change in customizability. Some of the hotel's activity rooms are also mentioned: a music room, where you can compose music using the touch screen, a casino, and an art gallery, where you can create some paintings and artwork, also using the touch screen.

Each of the NPCs in the game will have a mood bar, displaying their appreciation for the hotel. Their needs are replaced by one bar, though if a specific need is getting too red a warning icon will appear, telling you to satisfy that specific need. The same goes for the PSP version. The Sims also have taste, and might or might not like your music or art. The touch screen is also used for social interactions, as you'll have to press specific buttons at the right time to succeed in, for example, a high five. Failure will put the other sim in a bad mood.

Nightlife in September?

Written at 23:41 by ChEeTaH - 1 comment.

Rumours have appeared about a fairly specific release date for the Sims 2 Nightlife, the second expansion pack for the PC version. The official French site has posted the date of 15 September as release date on the Nightlife info page. If true, the (official) US release date would probably lie a few days earlier, on 13 September (Tuesday), or the worldwide release date would be 16 September (a Friday). Nevertheless, this date is yet unconfirmed by Maxis, but we'll keep you posted with news about this.

Friday 27 May 2005

Nightlife TMail #3

Written at 00:00 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Tim LeTourneau, Senior Producer of the Sims 2, has sent out a new email to the community, with an update about Nightlife. Included were 6 shots, of which two, showing the rugs, were found earlier. Another shot shows the neighborhood while having a lot loaded, and three other screenshots show the Hub from the E3 demo. In the email itself Tim looks back at a great E3 show for Maxis, with the Sims 2 being shown on several systems, including the PC version of Nightlife, and Will Wright showing Spore. He highlights the new features we got to know about during the E3 as well - downtown, including Mrs. Crumplebottom, Dating and Attraction, and the Cars. Read on for the details, and click the thumbnails for large versions of the new screenshots.

Read More!

Sim Brother 4 - Day 49 - No More Evictions ... NOT

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Today is the day that Plumbbob Black Pants gets to perform No more evictions to Simon Cowell, who is currently in Simdemol's Sim Brother house. Unknown to the housemates, however, after they have been evaluated, Sim Brother is taking another of them away so only two will remain in the house for the last day. Who will it be? It's all in here!

Steve's Third Place Eviction Night Special

Written at 04:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

Steve is the one who your votes have made the Third Place Finalist for Sim Brother 4. Find out what she had to say to Will Wright about romance, fish, sandwiches and his other goings on in the 49 days he has been in the Sim Brother house. It's all in here!

SimDay - Nightlife Horoscope

Written at 19:32 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

The E3 is over, but it resulted in quite a few previews of the Sims 2 and the Sims 2 Nightlife. Maxis has linked to a few of them, but for many more check out our E3 Overview. But there's (little) more than that. First of all, there's a reminder of the movie competition with which you can win $5,000 or a four-week internship at Maxis. It's your last chance to enter, as the deadline is on next Monday, 30 May. Read the contest details for more about it. Finally, something brand new, is a horoscope. In a Nightlife theme, Maxis tells you what the next month will bring. If you want to know what that is, check out the horoscope for details.

Saturday 28 May 2005

Sim Brother 4 - Day 50 - And the Winner is ...

Written at 02:00 by Andy - 0 comments.

You've followed the series. You've cast your votes. You're now about to find out who won.

It's Day 50. It's the Final Night.

It's right here!

Alyssa's Runner Up Eviction Interview

Written at 03:30 by Andy - 0 comments.

Alyssa is the Runner Up for Sim Brother 4. Find out what she has to say to Will about tasks, tactics, romance and hopes for the future. She's right here!

A Champion's Interview

Written at 06:00 by Andy - 5 comments.

You voted John to be your winner of Sim Brother 4. Find out what she has to say to Will about politics, nomination methodology, Martha, and the challenge of tasks. He's right here!

Sunday 29 May 2005

Cat's Eyes #8 - The Final

Written at 23:00 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Sim Brother has finished, but Cat's Eyes isn't just yet. There's one more edition to be read - the final one, looking back at the final week, and the entire series. If you've been following the series, and forgot what all happened, there's a summary of some of the highlights of the 7 weeks and 1 day - 50 days in total. We've had fun, we hope you had too. Enjoy this final special.

Read Cat's Eyes #8

Wednesday 1 June 2005

Sims 2 on Mac gone Gold

Written at 00:51 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

The Sims 2 for the Mac has gone gold last week. One of the most popular games on PC of last year has almost made its transfer, and will be released soon. An exact release date hasn't been given though, but it'll be some time in June. This is reported by MacWorld.com, and the Aspyr Project Status also reflects the new stage, Gold Master, for The Sims 2. A new flash intro showing the Sims 2 is shown on the Aspyr Homepage as well. You can also find some more details in the latest Aspyr Newsletter. Of course you can pre-order the game from our shop.

Wieden+Kennedy to make Sims ads [Update]

Written at 00:58 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

After EA stopped their relationship with SEE Advertising for making TV commercials for EA's games, EA has been looking for a new partner. They've found one in Wieden+Kennedy. The W+K department in Portland will take over the US advertising, whereas the Amsterdam location will take care of the European ads, both on print and commercials. One of the game Wieden+Kennedy will be advertising for is The Sims 2. All this was announced in a press release by EA Netherlands - EA US hasn't released any info regarding this yet.

[Update 1 June, 11:55] EA US has now too released the press release. You can find more details by reading the press release.