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{{Era|URBZ}}
{{Pagecover
|image=urbzpromo.jpg
|gen=TU
|pagetype=Third console title in [[The Sims (series)|''The Sims'' series]]
|toc=
}}
{{Infobox game
|name = The Urbz: Sims in the City
|image = [[File:Urbz GameCube.jpg|
|caption= NTSC Nintendo GameCube cover art
|developer = [[Maxis]] <small>(GCN, Xbox, PS2)</small><br />[[wikipedia:Griptonite Games|Griptonite Games]] <small>(GBA, DS)</small>
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|series = [[The Sims series|The Sims]]
|platforms = [[wikipedia:Nintendo GameCube|Nintendo GameCube]], [[wikipedia:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]], [[wikipedia:Xbox|Xbox]], [[wikipedia:Game Boy Advance|GBA]], [[wikipedia:Nintendo DS|Nintendo DS]]
|release = {{vgrelease|NA=November 9, 2004}}{{vgrelease|PAL=November 12, 2004}}{{vgrelease|JP=January 13, 2005}}{{vgrelease|KR=December 7, 2004}}(PlayStation 2 & Xbox Only)
|genre = [[wikipedia:Life simulation game|Life simulation]]
|modes = [[wikipedia:Single-player|Single-player]], [[wikipedia:multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|ratings = {{vgratings|ESRB=T, E <small>(GBA & DS)</small>|PEGI=12, 3 <small>(DS)</small>|OFLCA=M, G <small>(DS)</small>
}}
{{For|the handheld version|The Urbz: Sims in the City (handheld)}}
[[File:The Urbz Logo.png|left|75px]]'''''The Urbz: Sims in the City''''' is a video game for the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox consoles, as well as the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS portable systems. It is the third game in [[The Sims series|''The Sims'' series]] for video game consoles and is the second game not to be released on Windows or Mac OS X. The next release for consoles and handhelds was the console port of ''[[The Sims 2 (console)|The Sims 2]]''.
Unlike other games in the series, Sims live in the city of [[Urbzville]], divided up into nine districts
R&B group [[Wikipedia:The Black Eyed Peas|The Black Eyed Peas]] provided several music scores for the game, which have also been translated into [[Simlish]]. Members of the group also appear as guest Urbz in the game.
''The Urbz'' is the first game in ''The Sims'' series to have weather. Weather was eventually featured in the PC/Mac games, appearing for the first time in ''[[The Sims 2: Seasons]]'' and ''[[The Sims Castaway Stories]]''. Weather also appeared in successors to ''The Urbz''', such as ''The Sims 2'' for console, ''[[The Sims 2 Pets (console)|The Sims 2: Pets]] for console'' and ''[[The Sims 2 Castaway]]''.
''The Urbz'' is the chronological sequel of ''[[The Sims Bustin' Out]]''{{fact}}.
==
===Goal===
The objective of the console games is to go to each of the nine districts and build their reputation (called "Rep", in-game). Rep is a measure of how popular an Urb is; as an Urb gains more reputation, they gain access to larger apartments and different districts. In the end, the Urb will have the largest apartment and be able to visit any of the districts.
In addition to gaining rep, the player must also make sure that his or her Urb has its needs fulfilled, and to increase the Urb's skills by playing mini-games. The amount of money Sims can make at the various jobs in each of the districts is determined by what skills they've leveled up. As the player progresses through the game, they will get messages for rent, from [[Darius]], the Sim with the highest rep in the city, and get programmed messages to their XAM. There are also other challenges like helping Sims (or Urbz) get money from people or taking pictures of Urbz.
===Features===
* '''Weather:''' The Urbz features real time weather.
* '''2 Player mode:''' Like the earlier games, players can play in 2 player mode, It requires 2 Urb Slots to play and 2 controllers.
* '''[[District relationship|District Relationships]]:''' People from some districts like and dislike people from other districts.
===Tasks===
The player will be given different tasks depending on the
*'''Needs''' – The first task that the player will have to perform and will continue performing throughout the game is fulfilling his or her character's needs. The needs are hunger, bladder, fun, hygiene, and energy. As time goes by, each of those needs starts to fall. They can be restored by performing specific tasks (e.g., eating to reduce hunger or sleeping to increase energy). If the player's Urb falls asleep in public on the floor, the policeman will fine them or even start a fight; the same applies when the Urb urinates on the floor.
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*'''Adding Furniture''' – At each apartment, the player will be asked to spend a certain amount of money on furniture in order to unlock a different pet animal to live with them. The pet has needs like the Urbz and requires care (though cleaning up after them is annoying, placing them under the "follow me" option reduces that issue/allow them to roam and you'll clean up after them all day: try it and see).
*'''Build Reputation''' – In each
*'''Master a Job''' – There's a different job to master in each
*'''Make Friends''' – The player is required to establish friendships with the residents of each
*'''Use a Powersocial''' – As one makes friends, the Urb will earn powersocials. Powersocials are unlockable actions that Urbz can use when socializing with other Urbz. Each one is unique to a certain
*'''Tag an Object''' – After becoming friends with the Sim Urb, Rolanda Skye,
*'''Helping Urbz''' – Some Urbz want
*'''Villains''' – In every district, there is a villain which will come, and take money off
==
{{Main|The Urbz: Sims in the City (handheld)}}
The handheld versions are played as an adventure game and require the player to complete missions to advance.
The goal of both the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance versions of ''The Urbz'' is to complete the five main missions. Both versions also include optional rep missions, but only the Nintendo DS version has the special Splicer Isle based mission.
==
Unlike in most games of [[The Sims series|''The Sims'' franchise]], Urbz have only five basic needs: [[hunger]], [[hygiene]], [[energy]], [[bladder]], and [[fun]]. While the social need does not exist in the game and does not change the mood of Urbz, reputation degrades over time, and can be increased by socializing.
*'''Hunger:''' – Satisfied by eating cooked or purchased food.
*'''Hygiene:''' – Satisfied by taking a shower or washing hands.
*'''Energy:''' – Satisfied by sleeping on a bed, couch, or bench.
*'''Bladder:''' – Satisfied by using a toilet (or peeing on the ground).
*'''Fun:''' – Satisfied by using various objects like the television, trampoline, dance floor, etc., etc.
== Characters ==
===[[Skyline Beach]]===
*[[Lil Bit]]
*[[Toots Sweet]]
*[[Ridiculous D.O.G.]]
*[[Isis Ice]]
*[[S.A. Loco]]
===[[Gasoline Row]]===
*[[Pork Chop]]
*[[Duke Headbutt]]
*[[Sharky Splitz]]
*[[Suzie Mack]]
*[[Jet Rockit]]
===[[Central Station]]===
*[[Kidd Chaos]]
*[[Scary Mary]]
*[[Frag Grrl]]
*[[Beelzebob Jones]]
*[[Genghis Lincoln]]
===[[Kicktail Park]]===
*[[String Bean]]
*[[Rolanda Skye]]
*[[Trang Hang]]
*[[Skid Mark]]
*[[Alley Stile]]
===[[The Foundry]]===
*[[Crispin Black]]
*[[Bella Ciao]]
*[[Neo Flange]]
*[[Roxanna Hardplace]]
*[[Arthur Pop]]
===[[Neon East]]===
*[[Professor Chewy]]
*[[Mazuiko Jackson]]
*[[Loop D. Loop]]
*[[Venus Moonflower]]
*[[Sara Tonin]]
===[[Cozmo Street]]===
*[[Will.i.am]]
*[[Apl.de.ap]]
*[[Fergie]]
*[[Polo]]
*[[Taboo]]
===[[Diamond Heights]]===
*[[Diva Roma]]
*[[Babbette Couture]]
*[[Sophie Couture]]
*[[Pootie Fads]]
*[[Cash Monet]]
===[[South Side Bridge]]===
*[[Louie Bricks]]
*[[Luke Laruffle]]
*[[Babs Margarita]]
*[[Pamela Sneer]]
*[[Jimmy Two-Shoes]]
===Service [[NPCs]]===
*[[Scotty Almost]]
*[[J.J._Bradley]]
*[[Officer Sludge]]
*[[Captain Catastrophe]]
*[[Slim Freddie]]
===[[Villain]]s===
*[[Kiki Blunt]]
*[[Urangoo McBain]]
*[[Harry Snivel]]
===Other===
*[[Jayde]]
*[[Darius]]
*[[Bobo]]
*[[Robot Street Performer]]
==Development==
Development for ''The Urbz'' started in
''The Urbz'' was also intended to be the first ''The Sims'' game released for consoles, but Edge of Reality released the console port of ''The Sims'' earlier. ''The Urbz'' was the second ''The Sims'' title not to be released on Windows or Mac OS X.
Ports to the
==Differences between The Urbz and other titles==
''The Urbz'' is different in several ways from ''The Sims'' and other console games games that came before it. Some of the changes between other titles ''The Urbz'' were later incorporated into later games, including games in the main ''The Sims'' series.
''The Urbz'' is the first ''The Sims'' game to feature Sims living in a big city. Cities (often [[SimCity]] specifically) are referenced in other games, but the games themselves take place in mainly suburban areas; [[Bridgeport]], in ''[[The Sims 3: Late Night]]'', is considered the first "urban" world in the main ''The Sims'' series. It is also the first game in the series where [[time]] passes on all lots; this feature would not re-appear within the series until ''The Sims 3.''
''The Urbz'' is the only game where the subtitle ("Sims in the City") is trademarked; all other expansion, stuff, game, or compilation pack titles and subtitles are not trademarked. It is also the only game released in a [[The Sims|prior game era]] after the beginning of a [[The Sims 2|new era]]; as despite
==Appearances or references in other games==
*In ''[[The Sims 2 (console)]]'' when a Sim uses a metal detector, they might find a copy of ''The Urbz''. They will then throw it away in disgust.
*In ''The Sims 2 (console)'', there is a painting of a woman with purple hair who looks a lot like [[Jayde]] from ''The Urbz''.
*''The Sims 2'' for console borrows many resources from ''The Urbz'', such as animations, objects and sounds.
== Cancelled
''The Urbz'' was also intended to start a spin-off subseries for ''The Sims'' franchise, so it could give Electronic Arts more profit. There would even be merchandising, including product placements and even figurines that were originally sold when the game came out.
The half-developed sequel got cancelled due to poor sales, which only sold 2.4 million out of 5.0 to warrant a sequel. As such, all future sequels and franchise plans for the subseries were scrapped.
=== The Urbz 2 ===
''The Urbz 2'' started development in the summer of 2004, about a few months after ''The Urbz'' was originally revealed by Electronic Arts. It would've introduced new features, such as online play, multistory housing, and children, and would've seen a release on the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox consoles in 2005.
The plot for ''The Urbz 2'' took place directly after the first game, after the player's Urb got famous in Urbzville. After that, the famed Urb moves to SimCity (With the city itself actually making an appearance physically) and they suddenly find themselves without money or fame. Luckily, the player's Urb is offered a place to stay, and they need to get enough money and rep to make themselves famous again.
This game also would've featured a plot, involving [[Daddy Bigbucks]] trying to buy out the city while [[Jayde]] (who would've made her actual appearance as a character) would've worked as the main Urb's sidekick. It also would've featured characters from the [[The Sims: Bustin' Out (handheld)|handheld]] [[The Urbz: Sims in the City (handheld)|games]] for the Game Boy Advance such as [[Dusty Hogg]] and [[Nora Zeal-Ott]]. Characters from the first game (including The Black Eyed Peas, which would've lent some of their musical scores to the game) would've made an appearance there as well.
Also, several locations old and new would've made an appearance in the game which would've had multiple stories, subway entrances, clothing/furniture stores and workable jobs just like the original game.
Due to poor sales of the video game, it got cancelled around December 2004 and the project was turned into what would later be [[The Sims 2 (console)|''The Sims 2'' for consoles]]. As the game had to be closer to the Windows counterpart, several features like the XAM, workable jobs and furniture/clothing stores were all removed.
Online play was also removed due to declining usage of ''[[The Sims Online]]'' and ''[[The Sims Bustin' Out (console)|The Sims: Bustin Out's]]'' Online Weekend and certain technological problems with the new engine for sixth generation consoles. Even though it was scrapped from ''The Urbz 2'' project, it was originally considered for inclusion in ''The Sims 2'' for consoles during development, but was later cancelled.
Although, an in-house LAN test was done and worked perfectly, which explains several features relating to server data in the PlayStation 2's code.
Other features like children and multistory housing were removed due to technical limitations, even though references to them can be found in the files.
Even though ''The Urbz 2'' was completely cancelled, a lot of things were retooled for console platforms. Characters like [[Candi Cupp]], [[Felicity Usher]], and [[Betty Buttercup]] were originally characters from ''The Urbz 2'' before they were redesigned. Also, locations like [[8 Rockpile Rd]], [[Jugen House]] and [[HMS Amore]] were originally from the project even though very few things changed in the locations like the removal of multiple stories (Jugen House originally had 5 floors) and subway entrances.
As an "apology" to developers and other staff for wanting another ''The Urbz'' game, a few references like a portrait and an EyeToy filter of Jayde were added in.
Through the files of ''The Sims 2'' for consoles, tons of leftovers from ''The Urbz'' can be found, ranging from textures, XAM ringtones, and even some NPC thumbnails.
==Trivia==
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Screenshots =
<gallery>
Two Urbz kissing.jpg|Two Urbz kissing each other.
Urbz-sims-in-the-city.jpg|
Create an Urb.jpg|Creating an Urb
</gallery>
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==See also==
* ''[[The Sims (
* ''[[The Sims Bustin' Out]]''
* ''[[The Urbz: Sims in the City (handheld)]]''
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* [http://urbzsims.ea.com The Urbz Official Website] (Shut Down 12-1-11)
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/game/920432.html The Urbz: Sims in the City on GameFaqs]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040930215111/http://urbzsims.ea.com/index_flash.php%7C Official Urbz Website on wayback machine need flash to see more of it.]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Urbz}}
{{Wikipedia}}
{{S-urbz}}
{{Sims|state1=uncollapsed}}
[[fr:
[[es:Los Urbz: Sims en la ciudad (consola fija)]]
[[de:Die Urbz: Sims in the City]]
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