The Sims 2: Apartment Life

The Sims 2: Apartment Life is the eight and widely rumored of being the last expansion pack for The Sims 2. It will be released in August 24th 2008. It's notable that apartments, despite the name, won't be the biggest asset of the game. Most community-requested features, including magic, butlers, ceilings, etc. are added.

Belladonna Cove
Belladonna Cove will be the neighborhood added. It may be named after Bella Goth. Belladonna is also another name for deadly nightshade, a highly poisonous plant. The neighborhood will contain apartment lots.

The neighborhood will showcase many of the pack's new features, mainly apartments. It has very distinct districts, including slums.

Apartment Lots
"Apartments" are a new type of lot for Sims to reside. It's notable that apartment lots DON'T have to be apartment buildings, but just need up to four different sections with a special door separating them. These lots aren't unlike hotels in Bon Voyage or dormitories in University. Up to four families can live on one apartment lot. If no playable family moves into spare apartments, then NPC's will move in. Only one playable family is control-able at a time.

Every Monday, rent must be paid, either via mailbox, or collected by the landlord (see below).

Roommates
Sims may advertise for a roommate to help with the rent. Once accepted, the roommate (a random NPC) will move in. They won't be controllable, but instead have a "Satisfaction Meter", which tells players how satisfied they are with the apartment.

Landlords
The Landlord is a new NPC. Landlords will repair and clean up apartments and collect rent. Sims may complain about noisy neighbors to the landlord.

Butler
It may be possible for your Sims to have a butler, which had been available in The Sims.

Pets
Sims can adopt small, apartment-friendly dogs without the Pets EP.

Reputation
Sims now have "reputations". The nicer a Sim is to others, the higher their reputation goes (and vice versa). The higher their reputation, the bigger the bonuses to other relationships with Sims. Having a low reputation may increase rent for apartment-owners.

Witches
The Life state added in Apartment Life is a witch. Witches can be male or female, and are divided into five groups: Infallibly Good, Good, Neutral, Evil and Atrociously Evil. These groups are determined by the Witch's "alignment". The differences between these alignments include appearance, types of spells cast and items created, and title.

"Regardless of the path a Sim chooses to take, all witches get access to a secret community lot inhabited by the High Witch of Light or the High Witch of Darkness (who may be rather familiar to Sims 2 fans)" Some gamers speculate that Bella Goth may be the head witch. Wikipedia claims that Merlin (of King Arthur) will be the high "witch". In an online chat sims officials claimed that there would be individual High Witches of Light and Dark unique to each neighbourhood.

Interactions
New Gestures
 * High Five
 * Earthy Hug
 * Fake Out
 * Kiss Kiss Darling
 * Tough Handshake

New Interactions
 * If neighbors become very noisy, use the "Bang Wall" interaction.
 * Toddlers can use the "Huddle" interaction.

New Dances
 * Break Dancing
 * Classic Dance

New Skills
 * Fire Prevention
 * Anger Management
 * Lifelong Happiness
 * Physiology
 * Couple Counselling allowing a new interaction: "Repair relationship with . . ."

Social Groups

Mingle with Sims from all-new social groups: stylish socialites, artsy bohemians, sports jocks, gadget-collecting techies, or edgy gearheads.

Building and Furniture
Building is greatly improved.

New features include:
 * Ceilings, which can be customized like floors
 * Heating and cooling vents and radiators, which can moderate the temperature of any room
 * Spiral staircases
 * Decorative objects, such as pipes, cornice (skirting-like features that go around the top of walls) and support beams
 * Space-saving objects such as Murphy beds and closets, coming in "male" and "female" varieties
 * Fun objects for toddlers, children and adults, including a Jungle Gym and an Open Mic.

More additions to current objects, like doors and windows, will also be made.