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741. Will Wright to speak at E3

Written on Sunday 24 April 2005 at 14:57 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is starting again in about three weeks, at 17 May. The biggest exposition of computer and video games will be a good one for Maxis fans this year, with The Sims 2 for consoles and handhelds, The Sims 2 Nightlife for the PC and Spore for PC and possibly Xbox 2 being shown. Besides that, Will Wright, designer of the original Sims game and now Spore, will be speaking at the "The path to creating AAA games: How successful designers learn from experience, or decide to break from it" workshop. The panel will discuss if developers learn from previously made games, and if they get inspired by them. Learning from mistakes will also be a topic. The moderator will ask the guests, including Wright, how the previous game influenced the game they've most recently completed or are working on now. To quote the exact description:

"In what ways do designers draw on their previous games for lessons and inspiration? Is the muse that contributes to the game design process wholly new for each game or does it tap a well of ever-increasing knowledge and experience? And what's to be learned from mistakes and games that underwhelmed and sold poorly? This session will ask a panel of experienced developers how they learn and build on their game design experience. We'll ask them to specifically address how their most-recently completed project (or one they are working on now) was influenced by the game that preceded it. If there are rules and conventions to follow in creating games, where do they come from? Is past experience a viable resource or is it best to start new projects with a clean slate?"

Carly Staehlin will host the workshop, and other guests are Mark Firor (Mythic Entertainment), Todd Howard (Bethesda Softworks: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion), Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Q Entertainment: Meteos, Lumines) and Tim Willits (ID Software: Doom 3). It's quite likely Wright will be speaking about Spore, although that is not specifically mentioned. For more information also see the E3 workshop list. Thanks to WorldSims for the tip.

742. Mac Developer Journals and Trailer

Written on Sunday 24 April 2005 at 14:47 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

During the past few weeks, a developer of Aspyr working on the Sims 2 for Mac has posted developer jounals at Inside Mac Games. We already mentioned the first issue, but by now three more have been posted. In the second one Karen Halloran tells about the aspiration system and careers, whereas the third journal mentions music and trying to break the game. In the last issue, posted last friday, mentions doughnuts and a trailer. All in all, considering what we know of the PC game, there isn't too much information about the game. If you're into reading the articles, go to the developer journals page. Two screenshots that were included in the journals can be seen below. There are more photos in the journals themselves, but not of the game.

The mentioned trailer also seems to have been posted already, by Apple themselves. You can view the trailer over there.

743. The Sims 2 @ PSP Info

Written on Sunday 24 April 2005 at 14:24 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

The Sims 2 for PSP is, besides several other console versions, also in development. After discussing the other versions (except for mobile phones) GameSpot has also posted a preview of the Sims 2 for PSP. Virginia McArthur talks about the game (again) in a video interview, which is summarised by GameSpot. She tells that the game will be set in Strangetown, like the other handheld counterparts. However, the story is quite different. You'll start off with a Sim whose car has broken down near Strangetown. After socialising a bit with a mechanic, Oscar, he fixes your car while you're in a curio shop. There, with a set of tarot cards, your goals and aspirations will be determined. You can of course go back and do it again if you don't like the outcome. A little bit of what happened to Bella Goth in the PC game will also be unveiled. You'll move into her house (that she leaves), but the house will have to be fixed up a lot despite the maid's attention. When you get back, everything is gone - the car and the garage... That's where the game really starts.

You can go to five different neighborhoods with a map, where you'll need to socialise. There will be characters from the PC version but also some new and unique ones in the neighborhood. You can throw party and so invite some Sims to move in and become roommates. As possible on the PC, you'll be able to customise those Sims to your likings. Two players of the PSP version can also join the game over the wireless capabilities, and socialise to get extra points. You can also copy characters over this way, and trade objects and such. Audio capabilities will also be used to the max, using all Simlish features from the PC and a brand new soundtrack.

Read the preview for more information, or see the video interview to get the word from Virginia straight away. You can also check out the first three screenshots below.

744. The Sims 2 for Console Looked at

Written on Saturday 23 April 2005 at 00:56 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Yesterday there was an interview with Virginia McArthur about the Sims 2 on the GBA and DS. Today, GameSpot is continuing their coverage, by posting a new article about the Sims 2 on the big consoles - PlayStation 2, XBox and GameCube. In a video interview with producer Scott Amos, he talks about the aspiration and the new food systems in the console version of the game. It's also said that the game will feature a more rich Create-A-Sim mode than on the PC, with options to morph shape the face and body, but also to create new clothes by unlocking items, and combining them in the create-a-fashion mode. As for the food, you have 60 ingredients of which you can combine up to 4 at a time. These will create your own power ups, as the food will affect moods or other things. The aspiration you pick at the start determines a bit in which way the story will develop, though - quite like the Sims Bustin' Out - you can go in whatever order you like. As mentioned earlier as well, you can play the game with two players in split-screen mode, and so play the game side-by-side. Direct control works there too.

The game is set to be released in fall 2005, along with the handheld versions. Tomorrow GameSpot will cover the PSP edition of the game. For now, there are two new artworks and a sketch from the console version to be admired by clicking the thumbnails below. You can read GameSpot's preview or see the video for more details.

745. Nightlife Screen

Written on Friday 22 April 2005 at 23:56 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

After yesterday's screenshots of Nightlife, the second expansion pack for the Sims 2 on the PC, a new one has appeared again. It's included in the Dutch Sims 2 Screensaver. You can spot the DJ below. Thanks to SP Zone for the find.

746. First Look at The Sims 2 GBA/DS [Update]

Written on Thursday 21 April 2005 at 14:20 by ChEeTaH - 1 comment.

Virginia McArthur, producer of the handheld versions of the Sims 2, has sat down with GameSpot and given a video interview which the gaming site has now posted. In it, some information regarding the GameBoy Advance (GBA) and Dual Screen (DS) versions is given. Both games will be set in Strangetown, although at different places there. The GBA version plays at the set of a TV show, where you have to complete 20 episodes. The player is the star of the show, and by fulfilling your needs and satisfying the aspiration (which can change in every episode) you can get high ratings from the Goths. If the rating is high enough, you can unlock new objects and episodes. The game is less linear than its predecessors as you can complete the levels in any order you like. You can also trade unlocked items with other players using GBA-GBA connectivity, so you don't have to uinlock everything yourself.

The DS version is very different, in that it's completely 3D and instead of at a TV show set, it's located in a two-room hotel. Your goal is to manage that hotel, and to make all visitors happy. There will also be three bosses refusing to leave the hotel, until they are completely satisfied. You are given a lot of freedom, and thus you can expand the hotel with new rooms including lounges and art galleries. Paintings for the art gallery can be played in the touch screen, whereas music that plays in the lounges can be recorded using the built-in microphone of the DS. You can also play that music in any other hotel room, and so drive your residents mad. As with the GBA versions, items can be traded.

Both titles will not be as linear as previous versions. There is an underlying storyline, but you're totally free as to whether you follow it, or just go out and socialise. Gamespot has promised some more information regarding the version for the big consoles for later this week. For now you can check out the preview, to which a video is attached. That video can be watched for free with a GameSpot Basic account. The screens below were also posted, one for the GBA and three (quite low quality ones) for the DS.

[Update 22 April, 22:40] As you can see below, the DS images have been reuploaded by Gamespot and now they're in good quality. We've replaced them here too. Thanks to Fabian for the tip.

747. New Nightlife Screens

Written on Thursday 21 April 2005 at 13:36 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Maxis has sent out a new scoop e-mail of the Sims 2, which is all about Nightlife. There isn't anything new in it, except for two screens which have been posted on the official site. Both can be found below, just click the thumbnails to see the big versions. Thanks to XPDude for the tip as well.

748. The Sims 2 @ Consoles Announced

Written on Tuesday 19 April 2005 at 23:50 by ChEeTaH - 1 comment.

After the articles earlier today, EA has officially announced the Sims 2 for the consoles. The earlier mentioned direct control, as well as wants and fears, fully customizable content and the storylines for the handheld versions (including PSP, from the looks of it). Real new information hasn't been given, though you can read the press release for more info. Also see our previous newspost for a lot more details.

749. The Sims 2 Heads to Consoles

Written on Tuesday 19 April 2005 at 14:25 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

After the Sims, Bustin' Out and the Urbz, Maxis is developing a new edition of the Sims franchise for consoles and handhelds. After the PC version sold over 4.5 million copies, the Sims 2 will make its transfer to the other systems later this year. The game is in development for the current generation consoles (Playstation 2, XBox, GameCube), handhelds (GBA, Nintendo DS and Playstation Portable), and even mobile phones. As with the previous versions, the console edition will differ quite a lot from the handheld ones. An official announcement is yet to be released, but IGN already has the scoop.

Compared to previous verions on the GBA, The Sims 2 won't be too much different from Bustin' Out of the Urbz. Gameplay will be very similar: mission-based, but of course with new graphics. On the GBA it will be possible to trade unlocked episodes by connecting two GBAs to each other. GBA-GameCube connectivity will most likely not be brought back. A small interview with Maxis regarding this version can be found at IGN.

The Sims 2 on Nintendo DS will be 3D, and features like the touch screen will be used. Dual link between the DS and GBA editions are not yet definite. More of that can be seen at another interview. It's not unlikely the PSP version will be similar to the DS version rather than the GBA version, though not much information about that has been given.

The console version will feature graphics similar to the PC version, as well as some of the assets. Just copying it entirely to the consoles is not possible, so the console version will differ from the PC. Characters will have developed slightly further, e.g. you can find an alien abductor in Strangetown. The console will feature 60 characters, 35 of which are from the Sims 2 and University, and the remaining 25 are unique to the console editions.

A major feature is the Direct Control you can have over your Sims, controlling them directly through a third-person view. As soon as you get near enough to an object, you'll be able to have your Sim interact with it. Other than that, you don't have to wait for the game to figure out the path - you'll be able to determine it yourself. Customization will be possible through CAS, but creating objects (to which extend is not mentioned) will also be possible. A two-player split screen will be back again as well.

The food system will be new as well. Rather than just getting a fridge that has all meals, you'll have several ingredients which you can combine the way you like. Some ingredients will have to be bought, others have to be harvested. There will also be some potions, which can be combined and create many different effects. Motives will be limited to six, but will also play a secondary role in the game. The primary objective is to get in the game, and explore it. The new social system is one thing to explore. Sims will show how they feel about another, through the way they stand.

Finally, just as with the Urbz, the PS2 version will have EyeToy and HDD support, whereas the XBox will feature hi-res HDTV graphics. The GameCube will get some extra content on it. A lot more can be found in the interview IGN held with Scot Amos.

This title most likely renders the Urbz 2 rumours to be false. More of the Sims 2 will be shown at the E3 next month. For now there are already some screenshots which you can see below - three from the GBA version, three from the Nintendo DS and one screenshot and two artworks of the big consoles' version. Click the thumbnails below to see larger versions of all of them.

750. Sim Brother 4 - Cat's Eyes #2

Written on Sunday 17 April 2005 at 23:00 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

If you've followed Sim Brother again this week, you'll know that it was a political one. Marmalade, the new house president, and a new Sim Brother voice have played a big role in the past few days. Your vote helped Sim Brother decide who won these elections. To see what happened the past week, from a different perspective, check out the unique analysis in Cat's Eyes.

Read Cat's Eyes #2