The Sims 3: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox game

|name = The Sims 3

|caption = ''Play with life''

|publisher = [[Electronic Arts]], producer: [[Ben Bell]]

|series = [[The Sims series|The Sims]]

|aspect ratio = 3:2, 4:3, 5:3, 5:4, 85:48, 25:16, 16:9, 16:10

|resolution = 640x480 - 3840x2400

|platform = {{Vgplatform|win}}, {{Vgplatform|mac}}

|release = '''Windows/Mac'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA=June 2, 2009}} {{vgrelease|AUS=June 4, 2009}} {{vgrelease|EU=June 5, 2009<ref>[http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/thesims3/similar.html?mode=versions The Sims 3 release summary - GameSpot]</ref>}}

|genre = [[wikipedia:Life simulation|Life simulation]]

|modes = [[wikipedia:Single-player|Single-player]]

|media = DVD, Digital Download

|requirements = [http://www.thesims3.com/game/systemreq Minimum Hardware Requirements on TheSims3.com]

|creature = [[Sim]], [[Ghost]], [[Grim Reaper]]

|neighbor = [[Sunset Valley]]

}}{{for|other versions}}

{{shortcut|3|TS3|Sims 3}}

''The Sims 3'' keeps many of the innovations introduced by [[The Sims 2|its predecessor]], but adds several new features. ''The Sims 3'' is the first game to feature an [[World|open-world]] concept: players are no longer limited to having a single lot loaded at a time, and Sims are able to move about and explore an entire town without triggering a loading screen. ''The Sims 3'' features robust customization options through an expanded [[build mode]] and [[Create a Sim]]. ''The Sims 3'' also introduces the [[Create a Style]] tool to the series, which allows players to change the patterns and colors of objects and clothing, and copy styles between different objects.

 

 

''The Sims 3'' was released for Windows PCs and Mac OS on June 2, 2009. As of 2015, it has sold over 7 million copies, making it one of the {{WP|List of best-selling PC games|best-selling PC games of all time}}. In addition to the base game, ''The Sims 3'' features 11 optional [[Content pack#Expansion pack|expansion packs]] and nine stuff packs. ''The Sims 3'' boasts a robust [[TheSims3.com#The Sims 3 Store|online store]] that sells downloadable content including new game objects and object sets, venues, and worlds. The game also has [[The Sims 3/Patch|over three dozen]] free game updates that fix game bugs and add new content to the game.

== Description ==

[[File:The Sims 3 Logo.png|left|75px]]''The freedom of The Sims 3 will inspire you with endless creative possibilities and amuse you with unexpected moments of surprise and mischief! Create over a million unique Sims and control their lives. Customize everything from their appearances, to their personalities and even the home of their dreams. Then, send your Sims out to explore new locations around town and to meet other Sims in the neighborhood. Go online for exclusive extra game content and robust online features including $10 worth of free SimPoints and a bonus downloadable town. With all-new quick challenges and rewarding game play, The Sims 3 gives you the freedom to choose whether (or not!) to fulfill your Sims’ destinies and make their wishes come true.''

 

==Neighborhood==

[[File:Sims3collectors-poster.jpg|thumb|250px| Sunset Valley Poster]]

 

A second neighborhood named [[Riverview]]<ref name="sims3store">[http://uoem.com/sims/contentteller.php/news_story/the_sims_3_store_faq__april_2009.html The Sims 3 Store FAQ]</ref> is available as a free download in [[TheSims3.com|''The Sims 3'' Store]] when the game is registered.<ref>[http://www.feebs.nl/video/15601aa152670 The Sims 3 preview (5/8)]</ref>

''[[The Sims 3: World Adventures]]'' introduced three [[sub-neighborhood]]s, [[Champs Les Sims]], [[Shang Simla]] and [[Al Simhara]]. Each sub-neighborhood is a unique, exotic environment that is as large as a regular neighborhood. ''[[The Sims 3: Ambitions]]'' and ''[[The Sims 3 Deluxe]]'' compilation pack come with [[Twinbrook]]. ''[[The Sims 3: Late Night]]'' comes with the neighborhood [[Bridgeport]]. ''[[The Sims 3: Pets]]'' and ''[[The Sims 3 Plus Pets]]'' compilation pack comes with [[Appaloosa Plains]]. ''[[The Sims 3: Showtime]]'' comes with [[Starlight Shores]]. ''[[The Sims 3: Supernatural]]'' comes with [[Moonlight Falls]]. ''[[The Sims 3: University Life]]'' introduced a fourth sub-neighborhood named [[Sims University]], where Young Adult or older Sims can go to [[College (sub-neighborhood)|college]]. ''[[The Sims 3: Island Paradise]]'' comes with [[Isla Paradiso]]. ''[[The Sims 3: Into the Future]]'' introduced a fifth sub-neighborhood named [[Oasis Landing]].

 

 

A new neighborhood, [[Adventureland]] is shipped with [[The Sims 3/Patch 69|patch 69]]. It is based on the base game neighborhood [[Sunset Valley]], sharing the same description and image.

Also, on the map, icons for buildings are different colors. Red icons are career buildings, royal blue icons are public places, light blue icons are for the location of Sims in the active household, orange icons are for other Sims' homes that the selected Sims knows, and green is the active household's house.

* Sims farther from the center of the neighborhood spend more time commuting to work.<ref name="Town">The Sims 3 Blog (October 9, 2008)</ref>

* Sims have many more places to "public [[WooHoo]]" and the chance of getting caught in their underwear.<ref name="MTV">[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/09/15/sims-3-details-sex-and-candy/ MTV>> 'Sims 3' Details: Sex in the Science Lab, Stealing Candy from Babies]</ref>

 

There are also new public events in ''The Sims 3'', such as music concerts, movie premieres, pool parties, barbecues, sporting events, outdoor fishing, and the most civic-minded public activity in a Sims game to date, attending a public [[protest]] at the City Hall, where Sims can voice their discontent with the administration's legal mumbo jumbo by angrily shouting their own nonsensical [[Simlish]] mumbo jumbo.<ref name="reallynew">[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/thesims3/news.html?sid=6205762 The Sims 3 Preview - What's Really New - GameSpot]</ref>

== Creatures ==

{{Main|Life state}}

* [[Mummy|Mummies]] are introduced in ''[[The Sims 3: World Adventures]]''. They are found in pyramids and tombs, and can be either NPCs or playable characters. Players may transform a Sim into a mummy by having him or her sleep two nights in a special [[sarcophagus]]: The Cursed Sarcophagus of the Kings. As a playable mummy, the Sim has slower motive decay and a lengthened lifespan, but moves at a slower rate, and will die instantly if they catch on fire. However, if cursed by a mummy, a Sim will die in 14 days if the player does not successfully remove the curse. Ways to remove The Mummy's Curse include successfully performing the snake kiss, or pleading to the soul peace statue within the Sphinx before the time expires.

* [[SimBot]]s are introduced in ''[[The Sims 3: Ambitions]]''. They can be only invented with an [[inventing]] skill of level 10, and gaining the ability to make them also requires an opportunity. SimBots require 1 Palladium, 1 heart-shaped cut Pink Diamond, 10 Life Fruits and 100 units of scrap.

* [[Imaginary Friend]]s are introduced in ''[[The Sims 3: Generations]]''. At first they start as a toy doll in a toddler's inventory. However, if the toddler plays with it long enough the doll will turn into an imaginary friend. Imaginary friends can become real Sims using a chemistry set.

* [[Horses]], [[cats]], [[dogs]], and many small animals are introduced in ''[[The Sims 3: Pets]]''. Pets do not count toward the eight Sims allowed in a household, and small animals which live in terrariums (or briefly, in Sims' inventories) are not playable. [[Unicorn]]s also exist as a life state of horse.

* [[Genie]]s are introduced in ''[[The Sims 3: Showtime]]''. A genie can grant wishes to Sims. Sims can also release free a genie through a certain opportunity and high relationship with the genie. Genies have special abilities and their offspring can be hybrids, as well.

* [[Fairy|Fairies]], [[Witch]]es, [[Zombie]]s, and [[Werewolf|Werewolves]] are introduced in ''[[The Sims 3: Supernatural]]''. Players without ''[[Late Night]]'' also now have [[Vampire (The Sims 3)|vampires]], and ''Late Night'' vampires have expanded features. Much of the functionality of witches is similar to ''[[Makin' Magic]]''.

* [[PlantSim]]s are reintroduced in ''[[The Sims 3: University Life]]'', though they are changed from their original appearance in ''[[The Sims 2: Seasons]]''.

* [[Mermaid]]s are new creatures introduced in ''[[The Sims 3: Island Paradise]]''. They are playable just like other occult life states. Mermaids can be male or female and possible to Sims become a mermaid by buying a "Mermadic Kelp" in lifetime rewards or obtaining it from another mermaid.

=== Needs ===

{{main|Motive}}

Sims in ''The Sims 3'' have six needs: [[hunger]], [[bladder]], [[fun]], [[hygiene]], [[energy]], and [[social]], omitting [[comfort]] and [[environment]], two motives found in ''The Sims'' 1 & 2.<ref name="Snooty">[http://www.snootysims.com/thesims3index.php?id=fanevent Sims 3 preview/Q&A]</ref> (Though their function is replaced by certain moodlets.)

 

=== Pregnancy ===

{{Main|Pregnancy}}

Pregnancy in ''The Sims 3'' is similar to pregnancy in ''The Sims 2''. Pregnant Sims experience the same belly expansion, though in ''The Sims 3'' the expansion is gradual. Sims can now read books about pregnancy and get medical advice at the hospital. Sims can also announce they're pregnant to their husband/lover, family, friends, and just about any person they meet. A Sim relatively high in the Medical career track can also give the pregnant Sim some medical advice and determine the gender of the baby. Pregnancy lasts 3 days and during that time the Sim will have backache moodlets, cravings, and in the earlier days, morning sickness. They also have a positive "Pregnant" moodlet throughout the pregnancy. When the day comes, a message box will alert the player that the baby is on its way. Wherever the pregnant Sim is, she will have contractions. The player can have another member of the family drive the to-be mother to the hospital, or tell her to go on her own, (the father of the baby will join the mother at the hospital separately, after she has entered it, and this applies for if the father is in the active household <u>or</u><u> </u>not). After a few Sim hours the Sim will emerge from the hospital with a little bundle of joy. Boys are wrapped in blue blankets, while girls are wrapped in pink ones. If your Sim gave birth at the hospital and had twins,each parent will carry one; if she has triplets, the mother will come out with a baby basket and remove the babies when she gets home (the basket will disappear). Depending on how the pregnancy went, the player can get to choose one of 2 traits, both, or none. After birth, the Sim gets an "It's a Boy!", "It's a Girl!", "It's Twins!" or "It's Triplets!" positive moodlet which lasts for 2 days.

 

=== Traits ===

{{Main|Trait (The Sims 3)}}

Traits are like segments of a whole personality that the player can assign to their Sims. They can combine to create increasingly complex personalities. There are 63 traits to choose from in the base game, with Expansion packs adding more, plus some hidden traits which can be passed on to the offspring of service Sims (firefighters, police officers, etc.) or from Sims in certain careers (such as the Criminal career). When the player assigns Traits to a Sim, that Sim will look and act the part. Toddlers, Children and Teens get a new trait at their birthday. If children had a good childhood, then the player can choose a trait. If not, the game will give them a random one, which is usually negative. They’ll have unique behaviors, preferences and advantages. Some traits give special abilities. They can be useful towards skill improvement (Artistic and Athletic traits, for example) and special interactions (Childish Sims can play with toys. Mooch Sims can ask for food.)

<ref>[http://thesims3.ea.com/view/pages/blog.jsp?author=Ben%20Bell#HellofromTheSims3team! The Sims 3 Blog (August 13, 2008)]</ref>

=== Wishes ===

{{Main|Wish}}

{{See also|List of Lifetime Wishes}}

Wishes are exclusive to ''The Sims 3'' and provide the player with a wide selection of requests that keep their Sims happy as well as working towards some short and long-term goals and rewards. Wishes come from anywhere and everywhere, based on the Sims’ Traits, their job, their skills, their friends or coworkers, where they are in town, or what they might be doing. The player can promise to help their Sims with a wish or throw it away. Satisfying these basic tasks will unlock minor rewards and increase the Sim's overall morale with a "moodlet"—a minor condition that contributes to the characters' overall mood. Evil Sim just stole candy from a baby? This is considered a positive moodlet for this Sim. Having to listen to the annoying sound of the crying baby? This is considered a negative moodlet. Working toward a Lifetime Wish will win the Sim "Lifetime Happiness Points" that can be spent on extremely powerful items, including the [[Teleportation Pad|teleporter]]<ref name="reallynew">[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/thesims3/news.html?sid=6205762 The Sims 3 Preview - What's Really New - GameSpot]</ref>

 

=== Lifetime Rewards ===

{{Main|Lifetime reward}}

Points gained from wishes may be spent on rewards, either in the form of an object or a permanent change in the Sim. For example, with 20,000 points the player can choose to buy the lifetime reward "Mid-Life Crisis" for their Sim, which allows them to pick their traits again.

 

=== Skills ===

{{Main|Skill}}

[[Skill]]s have been expanded on from previous versions adding two skills that were [[Talent Badges]] in ''The Sims 2'' ([[Fishing (The Sims 3)|fishing]] and [[Gardening (The Sims 3)|gardening]]), and two that were ''hidden'' skills ([[writing (The Sims 3)|writing]] and [[Painting (The Sims 3)|painting]]), plus 18 more skills added by various expansion packs. Four additional skills were also introduced from [[TheSims3.com|''The Sims 3'' Store]] and they include [[Artisan]], [[Dancing]], [[Gambling]], and [[Instrument skill|Violin]]. They still have 10 levels of proficiency with the exception of [[Collecting (The Sims 3)|collecting]].

 

== Careers ==

{{Main|Career}}

[[Image:Thesims3-63-1-.jpg|thumb|250px|A female Sim in astronaut outfit.]]

 

== Features added with patches ==

{{main|The Sims 3/patch}}

Game Update 1.5/1.6 on 11/16/09 introduced several features from ''[[World Adventures]]'' such as the new basement tool that allows players to build basements up to 4 levels deep under a lot, new Pagoda style roofs, and the ability to place decorations on roofs. It also added the ability to customize stairs, fences, and gates with textures, as well as being saved and shared with others and a ‘Sell All’ option for a family’s inventory.

 

== Game comparisons ==

{{Main|Comparison between The Sims 2 and The Sims 3}}

A few features from ''The Sims 2'' are not in ''The Sims 3''. Some of them are the [[cleaning]] and [[Creativity (skill)|creativity]] skills, the [[Slacker]] career, and [[Aspiration reward (The Sims 2)|aspiration rewards]]. See [[The Sims 3/Removed features]]

 

** Limited Edition items (which can be permanently missed) and Origin exclusive items as of ''[[The Sims 3: Pets|Pets]]''.

* ''The Sims 3'' is the first game in the series that has multiple expansions representing a similar theme.

* The Main Theme is a remix of the Main Themes of ''The Sims 2: University'' and ''The Sims 2: Open for Business''.

* In the Action Channel, the player can see the opening video of ''The Sims Castaway Stories''.

* On the "Channel Trowler 27" Deluxe TV" television, copies of both ''MySims'' and ''The Sims 2 Castaway'' can be seen in the lower area.

* This is the 3rd Sim game to require a Service Pack. The first is ''SimCity Societies'', 2nd being ''MySims'' and the 4th being ''[[The Sims Medieval]]''.

** However, ''[[The Sims 3: High-End Loft Stuff|The Sims 3 High-End Loft/The Sims 3 Design &amp; High-Tech]]'', ''[[The Sims 3: Outdoor Living|Outdoor Living]]'', ''[[The Sims 3: Generations|Generations]]'' and ''[[The Sims 3: Town Life Stuff|Town Life]]'' are exceptions to this as they do not display the disclaimer.

* Interestingly, many downloadable towns for ''The Sims 3'' feature Sims from ''[[The Sims 2]]'' starting with [[Riverview]] featuring [[Don Lothario]] and the [[Broke family]], [[Barnacle Bay]] having [[Nina Caliente|Nina]] and [[Dina Caliente]], [[Lucky Palms]] with the [[Dreamer family]], [[Sunlit Tides]] with [[Daniel Pleasant|Daniel]] and [[Mary-Sue Pleasant]], [[Monte Vista]] with the [[Monty family]], [[Aurora Skies]] with the [[Beaker family]], [[Dragon Valley]] with [[Jennifer Burb|Jennifer Pleasant]] and [[John Burb]], [[Midnight Hollow]] with [[Olive Specter]], and finally, [[Roaring Heights]] with the [[Capp family|Capps]].

** Although Daniel, Jennifer, and John appeared in ''[[The Sims 2]]'', Daniel and Jennifer actually made their debut in ''[[The Sims]]'', while John first appeared in ''[[The Sims: Unleashed]]''. This means that as of [[Roaring Heights]], Daniel, Jennifer, and John are the only Sims from the original game and its expansions to appear as living Sims in both ''The Sims 2'' and [[TheSims3.com|''The Sims 3'' Store]] towns.

** Some ''The Sims 2'' base game Sims didn't make an appearance. Among them are the [[Oldie family|Oldies]] from [[Pleasantview]], the [[Smith family|Smiths]], [[Grunt family|Grunts]], [[Singles household]], and [[Ajay Loner]] from [[Strangetown]].

 

== External links ==