The Sims 3: University Life/Detailed features

Details (View)(Edit)

Sims University is a new sub-neighborhood (similar to the sub-neighborhoods in World Adventures) and its university buildings are New England-inspired with some European influences. Its animal mascot is a llama.
 * University - Sims University

Pets do not show up in university, but paparazzi and aliens do.

An NPC mascot will arrive at your Sims' lot with a University kit that includes a banner and an aptitude test. Your sim can keep this kit in the personal inventory or put it anywhere in the house. The results of the aptitude test (which can be taken as many times as desired) will depend on their skills, traits, work experience and school grades which can provide how much financial assistance they can get. The results also show the total aptitude score, along with the sub-scores for the majors and credit award.

Enrolling in university can be done at any time via the phone or the computer. Players will be able to choose their Sims' major and how many credits to take, which affects the length of time the Sims will spend at university before completing a degree. The Sims may only study one major at a time, but they can enroll in university after completing one major in order to study another. They can also customize the duration of the Sims' term in university,1 week is the min and 2 weeks is the max.

When a Sim gets in the university, the Work tab on the UI is replaced with the Graduation tab. It keeps records of his schedule and responsibilities, including the schedule. The schedule will depend on his major and class load selected during enrollment.

During your Sim's university stay, time will move slower in the main neighborhood. Sims cannot marry one another and female Sims cannot be pregnant while at University. Married Sims cannot visit each other while one is away at University, but they may talk on the phone. If a parent goes to University, a babysitter will come to their lot and take care of the children. Sims use their family funds to pay for tuition and rent.

On the first day in Sims University at noon, there will be a "meet-and-greet" orientation at the student union, where Sims can "get to know" one another and get free items at stands.

Classes start on the first Monday morning. On Mondays and Wednesdays, classes are held on one of the university rabbit-hole buildings. They are seminar-styled, which varies from Introduction to "Dodging Questions" to "Methods and Practices of Tragic Clowns". Players are able to choose a variety of tones in these classes, which affects the Sims' academic performances. Some of the tones are: "Chatting with Friends" and "Suck Up to the Professor". The Sims can ask a Sim to attend their classes, but by doing so, the professor may notice.

The lecture halls are open, thus lectures are interactive. This feature is different from The Sims 2: University, where Sims would attend classes off-lot and could not be interacted with while at class.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, classes are held in lecture halls, and Sims can interact with the professors. They can ask questions and take notes. There are also a few interactions which can affect their academic performances. Sims can also do class activities, which give Sims a chance to use academic objects to gain knowledge relating to their major. Sims can schmooze with their professors to ask for extra credit.

Sims can skip classes for two days maximum. Skipping more than two days may result in punishment.

Spring breaks may occur if the player has Seasons installed, and it will depend on when the Sims' term ends. However, there are no holidays in the university.

Sims can only have part-time jobs at University, which they can find by looking on the Bulletin Boards located around campus. They look similar to the Adventure Boards in World Adventures.

Sims need to keep their academic performance level up. The different skills Sims have can help them to do better in academic performance.

Examinations will occur on Fridays. Sims can study from textbooks, computers and smartphones, or create a study group with up to three other Sims (four total). They can also cheat in the examinations by making a study sheet, but they might get caught. Sims with a high computer hacking skill can find examination answers the day before that examination on a computer. There is also a final examination. Minimal studying and a poor mood will likely result in a failing grade. Failing it will make a major impact on their final grade.

Sims can drop out university, but this may affect their life in some way. They can be kicked out of a class for cheating, but not out of the university, though they can lose their scholarship.

Graduations happen after Sims complete their major, and they happen at different times, depending on what they study and when they start attending university. The time needed to graduate will depend on how many classes the Sims take. Sims graduating will don graduation robes and mortar boards. If Sims graduate from university, they will get an extra trait slot and career benefits, depending on the majors. The grades will affect the advantages, so Sims with higher grades will get more bonuses, while Sims with lower grades will never get any benefits.

Graduated Sims who want to meet the Sims from university can call them to have them visit their home town. These Sims from university are called "university friends", which functions similarly to "foreign friends" in World Adventures.

Some of the university buildings are built inside of shells, similar to Late Night 's apartment building shells, where the interior can be customized while the exterior cannot.
 * University buildings

The buildings can be added on any home worlds, but they function as rabbit holes with new interactions, thus this will not serve as a real university.

Sims can study for majors in Business, Science and Medicine, Technology, Physical Education, Fine Arts and Communications.
 * Majors

They will receive a study object which helps them to improve their academic performance.


 * New lot types

University Community Home World Residential Both Community
 * Dormitory
 * Fraternity
 * Sorority
 * Apartment
 * University Hangout
 * Student Union
 * Java Hut
 * Nerd Shop
 * Rebel Hangout
 * Arcade

At the student union, there will be an option for Sims to sign up for group projects and clubs.

The java hut assignment in University Life is different from the Coffeehouse assignment from Showtime. The difference is that the coffee shop has an interior with a barista bar which is interactive. The shop will open from 9am to 1am.

Hobby shops open from 8am to 2am.


 * New lots
 * B's Bowlarama - Arcade
 * Keith's Komics - Nerd Shop
 * Roasted Toasted Beans - Java Hut
 * The Grotto - Rebel Hangout


 * New rabbitholes
 * 25 Frames Cinema - Theater
 * Nigh Owl Foods - Supermarket
 * Schmidt Memorial Stadium & Annex - Stadium
 * University Bookstore - Bookstore
 * Busche School of Science
 * Nichols School of Business
 * St. John Administration Center
 * Thomas School of Art


 * New living quarters
 * Dormitories (Dorms)
 * Sororities and fraternities
 * Individual houses
 * Apartments (home world only)

Dormitories can be built and edited through Edit Town mode. These dormitories will automatically fill in with Sims acting as roommates.

Sims can rent a dorm room or pay and rent an individual house in Sims University. Renting a house is more expensive than living in dorms. Unlike The Sims 2: University, dorms are completely customizable. Players can "set bed ownership" for the Sims by clicking a bed. Sims can kick out their roommates.

If there is an unused room in a rented house, a Sim can advertise for a new housemate or two, so that he/she pays less for the rent.

Sorority houses are for female Sims while fraternity houses are for male Sims. These houses are more for the social side of the Sims' university life. Sims living in these houses are likely to be dared to do some actions by other Sims.

Apartment lots are similar to dormitories. but Sims living in apartments pay the rent each week. The rent cost is determined by the overall value of the lot.

Social groups are groups of Sims who usually socialize with one another and have particular interests, skills, and attitudes. Your Sim can gain influence with as many of these groups they desire. These groups still exist outside of the university. To learn a Sim's social group, hover over the Sim with the mouse.
 * Social groups

Sims can choose to join one of the three social groups: the nerds, the jocks, or the rebels. They can be in more than one social group, and the groups are optional to join. Interacting with a Sim in a certain social group may result in your Sim gaining influence with that group whether or not you intended it.

The Jocks like to win anything. They usually hang out at B's Bowlarama in Sims University where they practice bowling. They can also throw parties which are considered the best around the university.

The Rebels like to stand apart from the crowd. They usually hang out at The Grotto, a hangout with a new pool table. They work on their Painting skill, as they usually tag walls on the university and drink organic brew from barista bars. They like to add herbs to their drinks and they are known for organizing protests on campus.

The Nerds like to be smart. They usually hang out at Keith's Komics in Sims University which is a ideal hangout for the nerds as it has hobbies which they can enjoy such as computers, arcade machines and comics. They love to play video games, perform research from their majors, and win trivia challenges.

Sims can hang out with these groups and gain credibility, which can offer advantages to them, such as lifetime rewards and unlock new social interactions. To check their current status to the groups, there is the "Check Social Groups" interaction on the Sims' smartphones.

If the Sims become a legend with their social group, they may land a career like:
 * New careers
 * Video game developer
 * Art appraiser
 * Sports Agent

The Llama Mascot will drop off a package with freebies in your Sims' residential lot. It will also provide an aptitude test for them. Being friends with the mascot can lead to apprenticeship and your Sim will learn some dance moves. A barista works in a coffee venue.
 * New NPCs
 * Llama Mascot
 * Barista


 * New life state - PlantSims
 * They cannot be created in Create a Sim, but there are ways to create them.
 * They have special relationships with plants and can converse with harvestable plants.
 * They do not need to eat, but need to keep hydrated. They can keep hydrated by absorbing water through activities such as swimming, bathing, absorbing puddles and photosynthesising.
 * Their Flower Kisses cause obsession and their Poisonous Kisses cause sickness in Sims.
 * PlantSims can be in households. It is possible but rare to meet a random PlantSim around town. They can be grown.
 * Sims who volunteered as a test subject at the Science school may turn into a PlantSim.


 * New interactions
 * Sims will be able to streak, a feature returned from The Sims 2: University.
 * Sims can chant the college song and "perform school cheer".
 * Sims can protest.

There are new romantic options in University Life. Some of these are kiss interactions. These kiss interactions are "Heat of the Moment Kiss", "Juiced Kiss" and "Cinnamon Kiss", which can spice the relationship a bit higher than a normal kiss.

Sims can convince roommate Sims to do things for them. They must have a good relationship with them in order to do so successfully.

They can tag a wall or draw murals of varying sizes using a street art kit. Sometimes, it can trigger the police's attention.

Sims can get two extra trait slots. One for reaching level 8 in a social group and one for graduating with a degree.

The standard phone in the Sims' inventory is replaced with a smartphone, which looks like a Blackberry smartphone. This smartphone comes with a variety of new skins to apply. It functions the same as the standard phone, but with new features such as: By taking these photos, the player has the option to either print them out and hang them on a wall, or keep them stored in the smartphone.
 * Smartphone
 * Social networking
 * Take photos
 * Self-portrait photos with other Sims
 * Romantic photo with a kiss

Sims can also send texts on their Smartphones. They can send secret admirer texts, insulting texts, woohooty texts, breakup texts or friendly texts.


 * New traits
 * Avant Garde
 * Irresistible
 * Socially Awkward


 * New skills
 * Street Art
 * Science
 * Social Networking
 * Photography (carried forward from World Adventures)

The social networking features work in computers and smartphones. The skill can be increased by taking pictures and videos, and blogging, and by doing so, Sims will unlock new social networking interactions.
 * Social networking

In blogging, Sims can select a blog theme and attach photos to their blogs. The more they blog, the more followers they get, which helps to gain influence with social groups faster, have better attended protests and get more Simoleons for donation and buyouts of their blog.

As Sims build this skill, they unlock different smartphone applications in their smartphones. Such applications are:
 * Sim Finder - helps Sims to easily find an unmet Sim
 * Relationship Transmogrifier - set any relationship status to any Sim


 * New death
 * Death by Blunt Force Trauma (Murphy Bed/Vending Machine)
 * Death by Ranting (Protest Against Death)


 * New WooHoo spot
 * Murphy bed
 * Photobooth


 * New lifetime reward
 * Honorary degree - Sims who wants benefits of a degree without going to university can buy this reward.
 * Jock Influence - Sims gain 2,000 Jock Influence
 * Nerd Influence - Sims gain 2,000 Nerd Influence
 * Rebel Influence - Sims gain 2,000 Rebel Influence


 * New lifetime wishes
 * Perfect Student - Earn a university degree with a perfect GPA.
 * Scientific Specialist - Reach level 10 in Science skill and reach level 10 in any Scientific, Medical, or Business career.
 * Street Credible - Reach level 10 of Street Art skill and create 7 masterpiece murals.
 * Major Master - Earn three degrees
 * Reach Max Influence with All Social Groups - Reach max influence with all social groups.
 * Blog Artist - Reach level 10 in Social Networking skill and create a five-star blog.


 * New Create-A-Sim items

Hair

There are 4 new hairstyles for female Sims and 4 new hairstyles for male Sims.
 * Dreadlocks
 * Side ponytail with headband
 * Crop hair with barette.
 * windblown hair
 * Messy hair in beanie

Clothes

There are 7 new clothes for female Sims and 6 new clothes for male Sims.
 * Casual college inspired clothing
 * Nerd, Rebel and Jock clothing
 * Mascot (2 styles)

Other CAS


 * New tattoos
 * New skin tone - PlantSim green


 * New music
 * Geek Rock

New objects To put on your backpack, either select it in the personal inventory or click on your Sim and select "Put on backpack."
 * New party types
 * Bonfire Party
 * Juice Kegger
 * Masquerade (Limited Edition)
 * Toga Party (Limited Edition)
 * Arcade Table
 * Backpacks
 * Frequency Fun Mobile Radio Station (Communication)
 * Frisbee
 * Foosball Table
 * Internal Reflections Sketchbook (Fine Arts)
 * Juice Keg Stand
 * Ping Pong Table
 * Roentgen Register (allows sims to buy comic books)
 * Soccer Ball
 * Street Art Kit
 * "Them Bones" Anatomy Skelaton (Science & Medicine)
 * Welcome Kit
 * Whiteboard
 * Workforce Warrior Business Planner (Business)
 * ZRX-9000 Science Research Station (Technology)

Two sims can do a keg stand at the juice keg stand.

Returning objects
 * Arcade Machines
 * Barista Bar
 * Bonfire
 * Bowling Alley
 * Bunk Beds
 * Kicky Bag
 * Laundry
 * Megaphone
 * Mini Fridge
 * Murphy Bed
 * Photo Booth
 * Podium
 * Vending Machines

Sims roast food on the bonfire or throw things into the flames. Throwing something on the bonfire will give positive or negative results, for example, a test tube will cause a Sim to be smelly.

Sims can do bowling moves at the bowling alley.

Vending machines can malfunction, but can work again if they are shaken. Sims who do this have a chance of dying of "blunt force trauma".


 * New games
 * Bowling
 * Ping Pong
 * Juice Pong
 * Frisbee


 * New food and drinks


 * Quick meals and microwave recipes
 * Energy drinks and sweets can be obtained from vending machines.


 * Herbs
 * Herbs are used to make herbal tea and can be thrown on a bonfire to create funny effects.
 * Using too many herbs make Sims sick and cause nausea.
 * Sims can do the cinnamon challenge.


 * New collectibles
 * Coffee beans
 * Insects