Telephone: Difference between revisions

Phones in ''[[The Sims]]'' are very simplistic compared to phones in later games or expansions. The original phone could make outgoing calls, but doing so would only result in the option to invite a Sim over - Sims could not have a conversation with another Sim over the phone. Phones could be used to hire [[Service|service]] workers]] such as [[maid]]s or [[gardener]]s, or to call the [[Policepolice]] or [[FireFirefighter Department(NPC)|firefighter]] in case of an emergency. Friends would often call the house as a warning to the player that a [[friendship]] was about to end (the relationship score was dropping too low); these calls always took place at 4:00 pm. Random calls would often take place throughout the day (and night). They could sometimes result in [[cashSimoleon|cash rewards]] rewards, but they could also be [[prank call]]s. Later expansions changed the phone menu multiple times, and added various features. Until ''[[The Sims: Unleashed|Unleashed]]'', a Sim's phonebook used the standard pie menu, and players would often have to press the Tab key to page through the menu in order to find the [[household|family]] they wanted the Sim to call. Starting with ''Unleashed'', the phonebook became a dialog box which listed families on the left, and known members of the selected family on the right.

''[[The Sims: Hot Date|Hot Date]]'' gave Sims the ability to [[social|talk]] on the phone instead of simply inviting other Sims over, though players had no control over what the Sims would talk about. With the introduction of [[sub-neighborhood|community areas]] and [[community lot]]s in ''Hot Date'', Sims became able to use the phone to call a [[Taxicab#The Sims|cabtaxicab]] and go somewhere else for a while. Additionally, some [[custom content]] creators made "phone plugins", which added features to the phone. Different models of phones were introduced over the course of the game, but cell phones were never introduced.

A telephone curfew [[time]] of 1-6 am is imposed. During this period, Sims will not be able to talk to Sims or invite them over, and will instead be shouted at and receive a negative [[notification|message]] (although there is no effect on the relationship). Services can still be contacted, although many will not arrive until daytime, with the notable exception of [[police]] and [[Firefighter (NPC)|firefighters]], who will arrive at any hour of the day.

|desc = Extended range. emergency numbers pre-stored. Virtually private conversations. Number memory for frequently called friends. Wall mountable. Integrated keypad. Additional memory for voicemails. Over 3 lines of electricity can apply to home and 3 rooms. Cords have a relay to no power backup.

Sims can talk to other Sims on the phone, and other Sims may call to talk to a specific [[household]] member. This has been improved over what was possible in ''The Sims''; players can now use the "[[Interest|Change Topic]]" interaction to affect what the Sims talk about, and phone conversations can have more than a minimal effect on the Sims' [[relationship]] with one another. The phone can be used to invite Sims over, and even to throw [[Party|parties]]. ''[[The Sims 2: Pets|Pets]]'' added an '"Invite household'" option, which will not appear when calling a [[Townie]] or a Sim who lives alone. When using this option, the player will be presented with a dialog which shows all other members of the called Sim's household, except for [[Baby|babies]] and [[toddlerstoddler]]s, even if the caller hasn't met them. Much like ''The Sims'', a Sim needed to live in a household with at least one phone in order to be called, or had to have a cell phone in their [[inventory]]. {{confirm|Sims who live in [[apartment]]s can be called even if they don't have a phone.}}

As [[expansion pack]]s are added, the call menu remains largely the same as in the base game; categories are added as needed, but the layout of the menu is unaltered. In ''[[The Sims 2: University|University]]'', Sims can have cell phones, although playable Sims who live in households without a landline phone still cannot be contacted by phone. ''[[The Sims 2: Pets|Pets]]'' and ''[[The Sims 2: FreeTime|FreeTime]]'' each add a new style of phone. In ''FreeTime'', 3-way calling is introduced as an [[aspiration benefit]] for Sims who have [[Popularity]] as a primary or secondary [[secondary aspiration]]. When a Sim with this benefit is on the phone, the player can click on the phone (or on the Sim, if he or she is using a cell phone) and select "Make 3-way call". The Sim's phone book will open, and the player can then decide which Sim in the book will receive the second call. Players should note that, if this is done on a table or wall phone, the "Hang Up" option will be unavailable until the second call has ended. Even without ''FreeTime'', more than two Sims can be involved in a phone conversation if a house has at least two table or wall phones. If a Sim is told to use a table or wall phone while another Sim is talking on one, the player will be asked whether to let that Sim join the conversation, or to have them hang up. ''[[The Sims 2: Apartment Life|Apartment Life]]'' introduced two "Silent Mode" options which allowed players to regulate incoming calls; players could "Screen Calls", which prevented the phone from ringing and instead directed incoming calls to a text [[notification]] on the top-right of the screen, or turn off the phone completely. These "Silent Mode" interactions are not available for cell phones.

Sims can call a [[Taxicab#The Sims 2|taxi]]. A Sim can invite another Sim to meet him or her on a [[community lot]], and, with ''[[The Sims 2: Nightlife|Nightlife]]'', can arrange [[outing]]s and even [[Dating|dates]]. Sims can hire [[services]], and order [[food]] deliveries. If the appropriate expansion packs are present, a Sim can apply for [[scholarship]]s, start a home [[business]], buy real estate, book a [[vacationing|vacation]], etc.

A bug in ''[[Apartment Life]]'' may cause a cell phone to disappear from inventory after it has been used for a while, at least for Sims who are living in apartments.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/thesims2apartmentlife/show_msgs.php?topic_id=m-1-45332584&pid=946800] {{deadlink}}</ref> This was fixed in the [[The Sims 2: Apartment Life/patchPatch|Apartment Life patch]], though it is not mentioned in the list of fixes.

An unusual feature of phones in ''The Sims 2'' is that the Sim on the other end of the call is, to some extent, considered to be on the lot. This occasionally results in that Sim being "teleported" to the lot after the call is ended. If that Sim is a [[child]], this can result in one of his or her parents appearing on the lot to bring the kid home, even after the call has ended. The player will need to watch for this, as the parent will not need to be greeted, and will not leave unless the Ask to Leave/Say Goodbye interaction is used.<ref group="n">[[J. M. Pescado]]'s [http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php?topic=1479.0 Phone Hack] mod corrects this issue; with the mod installed, calling child Sims at night no longer results in their parents coming over.</ref> However, the "voice on the other end" that is heard during a phone call does not appear to be the [[Voice#The Sims 2|voice]] of the Sim on the other end of the call.

Much like ''The Sims'', there is a telephone curfew that is enforced between 2am and 7am. During this time, any calls made to Sims will be rejected with a cranky [[Notification|message]] and a drop in relationship score. Crank calls can still be made and victims may still show up, but will usually leave immediately afterwards due to the time. Vampires are exempt from the nighttime curfew, but have a daytime curfew of their own between 7am and 6pm. Services can still be called, although service Sims will generally not arrive until daytime, with the exception of [[police]] and [[Firefighter (NPC)|firefighters]].

A '''crank call''' is an interaction in ''[[The Sims 2]]'' that a Sim with one or no [[Personality|niceness points]] can do with a telephone. When a grouchy Sim is directed to make a crank call, the phone book will pop up, as with other phone calls. After the player selects which Sim to call, the Sim using the phone will place the call and yell into the receiver. A few minutes later, the victim of the crank call may come to the caller's lot. The victim's reaction will vary, possibly depending on the relationship between the two Sims; he or she may shove, poke or slap the Sim who made the call, then yell about college (even if ''[[University]]'' isn't installed); or may simply greet the grouchy Sim. This interaction can be used to effectively "invite" an acquaintance over, allowing a grouchy Sim to build a relationship more quickly, but it runs the risk of damaging a relationship and causing both Sims to be [[Fury|furious]] with each other for a long time.

|desc = Talk to your friends. Invite them over for a party. Call for a maid, a gardener, or even a pizza! The SimLine makes it all happen at only the push of a few buttons. You get its cordless design and stylish ergonomic base all for a price that confirms for once and for all that talk really IS cheap. The answering machine on the side of the telephone leads to a voicemail for fire department, police administration, commencing medical EMS, ID verify, and more!

The NOYIN 2680 Cellular Phone must be purchased from a [[Sellafone Gadget Kiosk]]. If ''[[The Sims 2: Nightlife|Nightlife]]'' or later is installed, cell phones will appear in the Sim's [[inventory]], and can be be used by left-clicking the Sim. Sims who are [[teen]]s and older can only use this cellphone.<ref group="n">If ''[[Nightlife]]'' or later is installed, a cell phone can be placed in a child's inventory; however, while the "cell phone buzz" will appear, children must use a wall or table phone to answer the call.</ref> The phone can also be put anywhere in the Sim's home; it will function, but is very small and may be hard to find with the cursor.

A Sim who has a cell phone can call other Sims and [[taxi]] from a [[community lot]], and can invite them to the lot. In ''University'', a Sim with a cell phone could not always use it when another Sim in the house was on the phone. However, in later expansion packs, Sims with cell phones can make or receive calls even if other Sims in the house are using their phones. While there is no "Hang Up" interaction for the cell phone, the player can still end a call by cancelling the action.

Telephones in ''[[The Sims Castaway Stories]]'' are replaced with '''Shell Phones'''. They are basically the same as the phones from ''The Sims 2'', only in the shape of a large shell. They are only available as a story reward object. They are more similar to mobile phones than telephones, since they're usually carried in the Sim's [[inventory]] and can be used by clicking on the Sim and selecting the option "Call...". Unlike the phones from ''The Sims 2'', they can only be placed vertically.

In ''[[The Sims 3]]'' all Sims (except babies and toddlers) have an irremovable cellphone (smartphone in ''[[The Sims 3: University Life|University Life]]'') in their inventory from the beginning, meaning that Sims no longer needed to own a landline phone in order to be called, although landline phones can still be purchased for [[residential lot]]s. Phones can be used to talk to Sims, invite them over or out on a [[dating|date]], check real estate, throw [[party|parties]], call for [[service]]sservices, and [[moving|move]]. Cellphones can also be used to take pictures and teleport back to a [[teleportation pad]]. Sims can also change the ringtone of their cell phone. Sims who purchase the Future Sim{{Vgversion|TS3:ITF}} [[lifetime reward]] get a HoloPhone, which only differs in appearance to regular cellphones.

Like in the previous game, certain expansions packs have expanded the pie menu and things that can be done with the phone. If ''[[The Sims 3: World Adventures|World Adventures]]'' is installed, the player can plan a [[vacation]] for their Sims. With ''[[The Sims 3: Late Night|Late Night]]'', a mixologist and butterbutler havenhave been added for the home [[Service]]service. The phone also acts as the transmittor for the [[callbox]] and electric gate in the expansion pack. If ''[[The Sims 3: Generations|Generations]]'' is installed, teens can make [[prank call]]s, and Sims can use phones to enroll in boarding schools. With ''[[The Sims 3: Showtime|Showtime]]'', NPC services have been added for each type of performer and DJ, as well the ability to request a Sing-A-Gram from anywhere for a Sim they know. If ''[[The Sims 3: University Life|University Life]]'' is installed, phones can be used to enroll in [[Sims University|university]].

There are no home telephones in ''[[The Sims 4]]''. All Sims who are children or older automatically receive an irremovable smartphone, similar to ''[[The Sims 3]]''. The phones are at the bottom of the screen on the desktop interface instead of in a Sim's inventory. Unlike previous games, Sims can use their phones while sitting down. In addition to most functions included in ''The Sims 3'', Sims can use the phone to find jobs, pay bills, listen to music, and play games. The player can also change their Sims phone case from multiple options. A Sim's mood will also allow a Sim to send a text message associated with that mood to another Sim (e.g. a flirty Sim will be able to send a flirty text), which in some cases may result in the latter inviting the former to another lot.