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1671. TSZ 1.5 years old, newspost #1000

Written on Saturday 17 May 2003 at 20:37 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

It's taken us a long time, but this is exactly number thousand of all the newsposts we've written during the existence of The Sims Zone (exactly 18 months today too!). Although not all of them are available anymore (some were deleted, some were to test our software - there are still 925 articles in our database), we have actually written 1000 posts now (including this one) - that does not include the old articles from TheSimsFusion, which we were known as until April 2001. It's a nice milestone to achieve. We're ready for the next 1000 newsposts, and the next 18 months... And after that? We'll try to double it again then :-) Oh, and if you're wondering what our first newspost over here was: follow this link.

1672. Search functionality improved

Written on Saturday 17 May 2003 at 02:20 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

I've just improved the searching facilities here at The Sims Zone. If you look at the left, you'll see 3 places where you can enter some text (under News, Community News, and Files). To search the specific section of this site for something, simply enter the text and press enter (or click the >> link). You will immediately see the items matching your query. Another improvement is that it no longer will look for the entire word, but you can now also enter parts of a words. For instance, if you want to search the news for Superstar, you can type 'Supersta' and it will find everything matching that, which includes 'Superstar'. Besides that, from now on the authors of the item will be included in the search, so you can find everything from me by typing ChEeTaH somewhere. For files, the name of the filesection will be included as well, so searching for skins will display all files in the Skins file section, as well as the other sections matching 'Skins'. We hope these improvements will make it easier for you to find what you're looking for here at TSZ. Don't leave it unused!

1673. E3: Bustin' Out Preview @ GameSpy

Written on Saturday 17 May 2003 at 00:14 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Like so many other sites, GameSpy is at the E3 and they've also visited Maxis' The Sims stand. Along with some screenshots we found days ago, which are from the trailer, they also posted a preview of the Bustin' Out Expansion pack for the consoles. Apparantly the graphics engine will be updated a bit too:

"Graphically the game is shaping up to be pretty cool, but on the show floor, there were some significant framerate hits. This will certainly be addressed and ironed out as the project progresses. New lighting techniques lit up The Sims Bustin' Out to a very satisfactory level, and with a few more graphical bells and whistles still to be added, I expect something pretty special from the final version of the game."

You can read the whole preview right here. To check out those screenshots again, click here.

1674. Sims 2 Preview

Written on Friday 16 May 2003 at 16:07 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

GameMarshal has been at the E3 watching The Sims 2 as well, and they got to see the movie - apparantly in extended form as they see a few things not seen in the GameSpot clip. Perhaps IGN Insiders are able to see everything, but I can't tell that for sure. As it's an official trailer, the whole thing will probably be made available as download by Maxis or EA themselves. Besides telling about watching the video, GameMarshal also went to talk with Charles London, creative director of Maxis. The main feature talked about is the DNA, which is quite life-like: "Dominant and recessive features such as eye or skin color are also decided based on the DNA of the parents and passed onto the baby". They also talk a bit about how much you can change the looks of your Sim. They also mention a thing that's new to us:

"The Sims 2 will include new animation styles, facial expression based on the situation along with mouth movements when Sims talk. There will be weekdays and weekends, and your Sims will establish a work schedule. So while mom or dad could be working on Saturday or Sunday, the kids will stay home since there is no school on the weekend."

Finally parents can take some days off without the danger of being sacked, and kids can stay at home to play with their friends, without being sent to military school. Nice indeed. You can check the whole preview out right here.

1675. Sims 2 and Bustin' Out movies

Written on Friday 16 May 2003 at 15:59 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

I already briefly mentioned the movie of The Sims 2 yesterday, but now I've been able to check it out myself too. IGN Insiders can also enjoy a movie, most likely the same one, but split up in one The Sims 2 clip, and another Bustin' Out trailer. Basically, the whole gamespot thing are those two trailers joined together. To be honest, these official trailers are pretty neat. The Sims 2 trailer, GameSpot starts with this one, you can first see a few Sims dancing to some music, while two others are at the couch playing a video game (on a console). It follows with the first steps of a baby, with the dancing Sims in the background. As Sims like to eat, you can also see two of them grabbing a slice of pizza, followed by some chatting. After some playing in the hot tub and some working out, it's the end of this trailer. It all looks somewhat similar to The Sims 1.0, only much smoother and nice in 3D. The Bustin' Out trailer starts off with making a Sim with a green Afro haircut. Two Sims on a motorbike show us some climbing in a hall. Then there's some swimming and working out going on. Time for a party then, and we can see a disco with DJ, a dance floor with some Sims on it, and a complete light show going on. That's the end of it all. In total there's over 3 minutes of footage: 80 seconds of The Sims 2, and 2 minutes of Bustin' Out. For those who want to check it out: you need at least a free GameSpot Basic account. You can then find the videos (two-in-one) at this page. GameSpot Complete members can download the clip in high-res QuickTime (40 Mb) or low-res MPEG (26 Mb) formats. If you're not so lucky and don't have GameSpot complete, then just sign up as GameSpot Basic member and watch it using streaming video (Windows Media Player or Real required).

1676. Bustin' Out Preview @ IGN

Written on Friday 16 May 2003 at 01:04 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

I must admit this news is probably a bit late, as I should've been writing this a week ago. Anyway, IGN has posted a preview of Bustin' Out, but there aren't many new facts in it. Still it's nice to read it, especially the part where IGN says they will give us a hands-on preview from the E3. That means we should be knowing more of this title tomorrow, as the E3 will end then. Hopefully we'll be getting some screenshots of both Bustin' Out and maybe The Sims 2 then too. So far the amount of information from the E3 is probably smaller than expected, but it's possible that these Sims titles, and The Sims on GBA, haven't been shown in the exposition yet. If not, then we should see more tomorrow. Back to the Bustin' Out preview:

"Along with the slew of new locations, Maxis is packing the game full of more, more, and more of our favorite Sims objects. Now we can track down and earn groovy collectibles such as the Laser Light Show, DJ Booth, Climbing Wall (for those athletically inclined Sims), and High Dive. Maxis never disappoints with the many wacky and creative additions to its Sims universe, and Bustin' Out looks no different. Players can now customize their characters with things such do-rags and piercings, in addition to teaching them new moves like the crowd-favorite French Kiss, hilarious Towel Snap, and funky fresh Moon Walk. Afraid of what your parents will say to a full body tattoo? Save your money and get one in the Sims instead."

It occurs more often that sites post one review of the same game on different platforms in different flavours. The same has happened here, and IGN has posted the review 3 times. Twice with the first screenshot (GameCube and PlayStation 2 editions), and once without it (X-Box). Have fun reading!

1677. More of The Sims on GBA

Written on Thursday 15 May 2003 at 20:40 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

After hearing about The Sims coming to GameBoy Advance that can be linked to the GameCube, IGN has posted a little hands-on preview of the game. They say the game looks slightly similar to the PC version, with the camera on an isometric perspective. Within 2 weeks Maxis will officially announce this title, and apparantly Bustin' Out for the GameCube will add the support to link up the GBA version of the game to the GameCube. The game is still in very early development, and there wasn't much to see yet. The press release with the announcement, as expected soon, will reveal more gameplay items. The whole hands-on preview can be found at this page. For the first two screenshots, check out at the mediapage.

1678. The Sims 2: E3 preview and movie

Written on Thursday 15 May 2003 at 17:03 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

IGN has had a look at The Sims 2, and are giving us a 2-page preview of the game, straight from the E3. It's a bit humorous, as the editor (I won't mention the name of Ivan Sulic) apparantly had his notes drowned in some "unidentifiable liquid" - he probably had a few drinks too many. Hence, all the quotes are from pretty nameless people. Anyway, the preview discusses the creation of skins, which is as follows: first you select an archetype. That can be a Caucasian, African American, Chinese, Persian, and even an Elf. You can then totally modify the archetype, using various sliders. They also mention the DNA, which is passed on to the Sims' kids, their kids and so forth. When another editor at IGN (PS2) commented raising kids isn't fun, this was Maxis' response:

"Sims producer: It is about domestic chaos. It's a chaos simulator. Children aren't the main focus. It's not made to be tedious. It's made to be a challenge. Kids have been added for fun."

I wonder who said that... Anyway, on the second page the life quality is discussed, and it seems it's determined by what the Sim desires to have, i.e. what he's done in the past. Although they only talk about having a good and happy life, they unfortunately don't mention if a Sim who hates all the goody-goody stuff can have a good life too, without having children, a career, etc. Maxis will also try to keep the system requirements down, but The Sims 2 won't run on low-end systems, mainly because of its detail. Maxis will also make the game as expandable as The Sims 1.0, and they will release tools to make archetypes for instance. If you want to read everything I mentioned here, and a few other things, in detail, then click here. Besides that, GameSpot has posted a direct-feed movie trailer from GameSpot Live. You can check it out from this page. Unfortunately I'm unable to check the movie out myself on the computer I'm at now, but perhaps someone will post their say about it in the comments.

1679. New poll: more The Sims 2

Written on Thursday 15 May 2003 at 02:00 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

After asking if you were looking forward to the E3 this week, this week we're asking you to tell us what you think will be the best new feature of The Sims 2. Are you stunned by the 3D graphics, the aging, DNA, the life score, multiple-story homes, Create-A-Sim or just nothing at all? Tell us by voting at the right, or at this page. As for our last poll: most of you apparantly never heard of the E3, the big event that's going on now. Basically it's a convention and exposition (hence Electronic Entertainment Exposition, E3) where the newest video games are shown. 39% (53 votes) said they've never heard of it, but those of them reading this now have. Second in the list are those who are looking forward to it just because The Sims 2 will be shown there, with 37 votes (27%). Following that closely is the option "Yes, but not just for The Sims 2. I want to know more about other games too", with 30 votes (22%). Twelve people (9%) are even going (or went by now) to LA to check it out, and just 2% (3 votes) don't care about The Sims 2 or any other games at the E3. A clear overview of this list can be found at this page, in our archive.

1680. The Sims for GBA-GameCube coming

Written on Thursday 15 May 2003 at 01:49 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Nintendo gamers who are fans of The Sims as well should be happy to hear this: Will Wright announced that The Sims will be coming for the GameBoy Advance at the E3, during the Nintendo press conference. Using a GameCube GameBoy Advance link cable, the two games will be able to exchange Sims from one version to another. It seems that the GameCube version will be re-released, with special options available to link the GBA and GC versions of the game. On the GBA, players can earn money, send those Simoleans to the GameCube and buy special items that normally aren't available. Other ideas will be implemented later. Currently both games (i.e. one GBA edition, and an enhanced GameCube version) are still in heavy development. Although currently no release date is known, Will Wright said that the new GameCube version will be shown at the E3 in the Sims booth. That means we'll probably get more news about this within the next few days. It's also unknown if the Bustin' Out expansion pack contains the 'upgrade' for the GameCube, or if current owners of The Sims on the GameCube will be able to get a refund or exchange their game. Right now things are indeed still very vague about this...