Issue 100 Wednesday 18th January 2012

Welcome to my News Email, bringing you all the latest news, website updates and poll results from Danny's The Sims Website

Latest Updates
Four new preview links, a new video and four new screenshots added to “The Sims 3 / Expansion Packs / The Sims 3 Showtime” page

Latest News

Behind The Scenes Of Capturing The Sims 3 Screenshots And Videos

If you’ve ever wondered where the official screenshots and videos of The Sims 3 and expansion packs come from, an interview with an EA staff member on EA.com confirms there’s a dedicated team:

Let’s start with your name and job title.
My name is Charles Graf and I’m a Game Capture Artist on The Sims Video Team.

The Sims Video Team? What does that team do?
We make all of the gameplay footage used in The Sims game trailers and television ads. We also produce all of the images used for PR screenshots that get sent out to magazines, news sites, gaming sites, and blogs.

  > “Breaking Into The Industry: Charles Graf, Game Capture Artist” at EA.com

Senior Designer Answers Showtime Questions

The Sims 3 Showtime senior designer Aaron onners has posted three blog posts on TheSims3.com in which he answers quite a few different questions about the expansion. One of the things he confirms is that the new online features (except SimPort) aren’t actually part of Showtime and will be made available via a base game update:

7. We’ve heard that there are other online features coming, can you give an overview on how the online aspects work including the new achievements, the in-game player wall and player updates?

The goal of our new online features, which will be available for all The Sims 3 players when The Sims 3 Showtime launches in March, is to allow you to connect with your The Sims 3 friends -and us – in fun and rewarding ways.

 > “The Sims 3 Showtime – Producer Q&A – Part 1″ at TheSims3.com (UK)
 > “The Sims 3 Showtime – Producer Q&A – Part 2″ at TheSims3.com (UK)
 > “The Sims 3 Showtime – Producer Q&A – Part 3″ at TheSims3.com (UK)

Showtime Katy Perry Collector’s Edition Announced

Katy Perry in The Sims 3 ShowtimeEA has announced The Sims 3 Showtime Katy Perry Collector’s Edition, which includes “a downloadable venue, plus a Katy Perry themed hairstyle, fashions, guitar, fruit-themed stage props, and an exclusive poster”.
 > “The Sims 3 Showtime Katy Perry” at TheSims.com (UK)

They’ve released a music video for her single “The One That Got Away” created in The Sims 3 (performed in English) as part of the announcement, which can be viewed here:

Watch The Master Suite Stuff Live Chat Right Here

The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff Live Chat with producer Jennifer Lane is now available on demand and can be watched below:

Graham Nardone Discusses The Fans In New Feature

A feature by The Sims 3 producer Graham Nardone has been posted on The Sims 3 (UK) Facebook page in which he discusses how the team listen to fans’ requests:

For those of you who have been fans and active in the community spanning the years of The Sims, we thank you. We’re thrilled that people are so passionate about the games that you ask for past favorite features to return in new game experiences. Many fan requests have been incorporated into upcoming game releases and are being factored into future game developments.

He also discusses whether the new connected features coming in The Sims 3 Showtime were requested by fans.
 > “Q&A with Graham Nardone” at The Sims 3 (UK) on Facebook

Got An iOS Device? Want The Sims 3 Tips? There’s An App For That

Prima has released an “Official Strategy App” for The Sims 3 on the iTunes store for iOS devices:

The Sims 3 Bundle Prima Official Strategy Guide app is free to download and contains hundreds of tips for The Sims 3 and The Sims 3 expansions. You can purchase additional content through in-app purchasing. The paid apps include interactive maps, an objects catalog and advanced strategy for The Sims 3 base game and the expansion packs: The Sims 3 Ambitions, The Sims 3 Late Night, The Sims 3 Generations and the newly released The Sims 3 Pets. Each expansion pack can be purchased separately for $0.99 or all five for $3.99.

This might be US only — if you’re not in the US but have an iOS device, why not see if you can download it and leave a comment? (I don’t have access to an iOS device.)
 > “The Sims 3 – Prima Official Strategy App” at Apple (US)

Now You Can Get A Mouse That Reflects Your Sim’s Mood

The Sims 3 Mood MouseNow available on Amazon.com for $25 is the “Mad Catz Inc Sims 3 Mood Mouse”, which lights up to reflect your Sim’s mood:

The backlit Plumbob intuitively reacts to how your Sim is feeling while you’re playing The Sims 3 or any of the game’s expansion/stuff packs. When your Sim is living the good life, the Plumbob will illuminate green. You’ll see a yellow Plumbob when your Sim is beginning to need some of your attention, and if you see the Plumbob turn red, it’s time to get into the game and do something about it.

  > “Mad Catz Inc Sims 3 Mood Mouse for PC (SM34361100A1/04/1)” at Amazon.com

It’s also available at Mad Catz’s UK store for £19.99, but there’s more information at Amazon:
 > “Illuminated Mouse for The Sims” at GameShark® Store

Current Poll Extended To 24th January

I’ve extended the current poll, which asks whether playing The Sims 3 Pets Create a Pet demo affected your decision to get the full expansion pack, to Tuesday 24th January as I still haven’t received a sufficient number of votes. If enough votes have been received by that date, that’s when the results will now be revealed.
 > Go to the website to vote!

New Showtime Feature And Screenshots Focus On Magicians And Singers

EA UK has posted a new feature on their The Sims 3 Facebook page focusing on magicians and singers in The Sims 3 Showtime:

Singers are unique in the game as they can accept paying jobs such as performing singing telegrams to gain experience. Singing telegrams are also a social feature, and the types of jobs your Sims will receive will directly correlate to the happenings around town. If a Sim in town has just lost their job, cheer them up. If it’s a Sim’s birthday, sing them a song.

They also posted four related new screenshots, which you can view on the game page (added Wednesday 4th January 2012).
 > “The Sims 3 Showtime – Magicians and Singers feature” at The Sims (UK) on Facebook
 > The Sims 3 Showtime screenshots

Discuss this news on the website!

Current Poll Results
Did playing The Sims 3 Pets Create a Pet demo affect your decision to get the full expansion pack?

Yes, it made me want it more!:

28.57%

Yes, it made me want it less!:

14.29%

No, I still wanted it just as much/little as before:

0%

:

57.14%

Go to the website to vote!

Results were correct when this News Email was sent
Old Poll Results
Which of these things about The Sims 3 are you most excited about?

:

25%

:

7.14%

:

7.14%

:

10.71%

:

39.29%

:

10.71%

One poll choice explanation - go here to read it

Ran between Saturday 5th April 2008 and Saturday 3rd May 2008

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