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The Sims 3 blowout: on RPG elements, real-time neighbors

Posted Mar 13, 2008 at 5:23PM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: News, Titles Tags: Electronic Arts, PC Gamer

It's official: Electronic Arts is packing a punch in The Sims 3, the next installment of the best-selling franchise, with the explosive introduction of new features that will keep your heads spinning. To give you a fair idea of how The Sims 3 is leagues beyond its predecessors, let's just say it's almost an RPG "set in regular life."

According to developers from The Sims studio who spoke with Games for Windows, The Sims 3 will attempt to reach the hardcore gamer audience. To do so, among its impressive feats is the addition of what easily could be considered as buffs. There are three elements that give flavor to Sims, namely Dreams, Promises, and Opportunities.

If anything, Dreams sound like an attribute which will let your virtual avatar excel in certain fields. It was explained that these Dreams allow a Sim to steer clear of the commercial path, and make money as a painter or a street-performing musician instead. "[You can make] a self-sufficient cook, a bum who doesn't have a job who just is the hippie going roundabout - it definitely gives you more freedom."

No details were given for Promises and Opportunities, but they were defined as "optional game systems" to help The Sims 3 attract the hardcore.

Furthermore, Sims get buffs and debuffs in the RPG-esque life simulator. For example, a kiss can give benefits to a Sim that will last for five days. On the other hand, the Sim will suffer from a debuff if he or she walks in the rain unprotected.

To further explain:

There are buffs for everything. You can be in a bad mood because you just pissed yourself. You could be in a good mood because you like sitting in sofas. You could be sad because your lover died. Or you could be happy because you're pregnant.

Of course, it's no RPG without quests. The Sims 3 will provide your Sim objectives with a Simlish twist. Compared to MMORPG quests, "instead of fetching 15 landshark fins, you're planting 15 tomatoes or shacking up with 15 women."

Another drastic change that sets this iteration of The Sims apart from its predecessors is the leap to real-time open worlds. Gone are the days when your Sim family is stuck in where you place them, as they'll be moving around the 'hood and beyond. "Everything you would expect to be happening is happening, whatever the time of day," says the preview.

In that sense, everyone in your Sim world changes in real-time. If one of your younger Sims interacts with another kid, they may end up as sweethearts, grow together, get married, and have a family of their own. They will then live on in real-time along with your family.

There's no need to be worried about how difficult it could be to manage the family tree, because the day-to-day lives of Sims have been tweaked. From eight attributes, you'll only involve yourself with three including a "stress versus fun" meter. Also, your Sims know better not to piss their pants when they shouldn't even if the bladder level is down to zero.

Cosmetic changes are in full swing with the option to use sliders to adjust your Sim's body type. Like recent games with create-a-character modes, other sliders are provided so you can shape every detail of your Sim to your liking. Character models are said to be much more realistic, coupled with convincing movements and expressions.

Via Infinite Sims

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