The head of The Sims Studio, Rod Humble, talks about the changes that were made to create The Sims Life Stories and how it is different from The Sims 2.
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2 Feb 2007 - 22:00
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1 Feb 2007 - 22:00
Two new blooper screenshots and a video have been released from the game team's vault!
31 Jan 2007 - 22:00
A new patch is available for The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack.
25 Jan 2007 - 22:10
Get the inside scoop from this fan letter written by The Sims? 2 Senior Producer.
Letter from the Senior Producer
Hey there Sims Fans!
So The Sims 2 Seasons was announced just before the holidays and I know you're scouring the web for every tidbit of information that you can find. I've read the message boards and we're just as excited to get the game to you as you are about hearing more details! We had an awesome Fan Day here on December 1st, where we invited about 20 Sims fansite creators from all over the world to our EA campus in Redwood City, California and gave them a preview of the game and a ton of playing time. I'm not going to speak for them, but from my vantage point they seemed pretty happy with what they saw. A number of them returned home and wrote about their experience and, of course, the game before the holidays. You can check out a list of their sites here.
So I guess the biggest hit in this Expansion Pack is pretty easy to guess... your Sims are getting all 4 seasons! We've brought to life dramatic and detailed weather effects including rain, snow, hail, lightning and vibrant fall colors to give you a ton of brand new experiences in The Sims 2. Snowy Winters, cool Falls, wet Springs, and hot hot Summers with your Sims. The different seasons not only offer a ton of cool new activities, like snowball fights, raking leaves, gardening and fishing, but they affect your Sim in funny ways as well. If you don't keep them cool in the summer they could pass out from heat stroke! Or they could freeze to death if you keep them exposed to the cold too long. So, be careful!
And content creators should love that your new object, building, and clothing creations will work with our weather effects too. Your retextured objects can be covered in snow, and your custom Outerwear will keep you warm just like our original items will.
In addition to adding in the seasons and all its details, we made sure to include lots of other little touches to really help complete the experience. For example, one thing that we're really proud of is the pool upgrades. Your swimming Sims will cast real-time shadows beneath the water surface on both pool walls and floors, we also added reflections of objects and Sims in the water, and customizable pool floor and wall designs.
Other fun additions are 6 new Sim careers, the ability to set a unique hairstyle for each outfit type, and leftovers! Never will your Sim waste food again! 
And last but not least, we just released an official video for Seasons. Make sure to check it out!
All in all, this EP is a ton of fun to work on and we are totally stoked to ship it on February 27th! Make sure you post all your thoughts on the BBS once you get it.
Talk to you soon,
-Sam (a.k.a MaxoidSam, The Sims 2 Senior Producer)
25 Jan 2007 - 22:00
A cool new video for Life Stories is now available!
24 Jan 2007 - 22:10
We have added some new Seasons buddy icons to the site. Take a look in the About Section or the GetCoolStuff section.
24 Jan 2007 - 22:00
Whether you have a cute kitty, a hot dog, or some other adorable critter, he or she belongs in CG!'s first Pet Beauty Contest!
18 Jan 2007 - 22:10
An amazing video for The Sims 2 Seasons and pre-order information is now available!
18 Jan 2007 - 22:00
It's National Blood Donor Month. Upload your vampire or goth inspired Sim/Lot to support this cause!
16 Jan 2007 - 22:00
The Sims Life Stories is First Installment in a New Line of Unique Story-Driven Games.
EA BRINGS LAPTOPS TO LIFE WITH THE SIMS STORIES
The Sims Life Stories is First Installment in a New Line of Unique Story-Driven Games
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - January 16, 2007 - Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that The Sims™ is launching a new line of games - The Sims Stories. These laptop-friendly games will feature engaging characters and easy-to-play storylines that are sure to entertain both the novice and experienced player.
The Sims Stories games are the latest offering from the popular Sims franchise, which has been translated into 22 languages and sold more than 70M games around the world -- that's more than enough to give a game to every single person in the UK! It's popularity is due in part to The Sims appeal beyond a traditional gaming audience; more than half of The Sims players are female.
The first of these games, The Sims Life Stories, introduces an all-new Story Mode with two stories that follow the lives of Riley Harlow and Vincent Moore, two very different characters who have reached similar crossroads in their love lives. A comic romantic plot centered around engaging characters guides players through twelve chapters of this one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. Players can take their Sims through unique and entertaining storylines filled with romance, intrigue and dramatic twists. Will female lead character Riley ditch beau number one to marry and have kids with beau number two? Will successful entrepreneur Vince ever find love, or the culprit who's been foiling his heart-earned efforts to find it? Players can discover these answers and more, or enjoy classic open-ended Sims gameplay.
"Everyone loves a good story. The Sims Life Stories gives players two wonderful romantic comedies to enjoy," declared Rod Humble, VP Head of Studio for The Sims Division. "For those who are interested in The Sims, The Sims Stories are accessible and fun for everyone." According to Humble, the world of The Sims provides the perfect place for these romantic comedies to unfold. Built around virtual people called Sims, daily activities-from sleeping and eating, choosing outfits and decorating the house, even cooking and getting a job?are controlled by the player. The Sims celebrates the choices that we make in life. What's more familiar than being confused by life and love?
Designed to be laptop-friendly, The Sims Stories are accessible and fun for everyone. The Sims Stories are standalone entertainment experiences that do not require companion products from The Sims library - just pick up your laptop and play!
Product Specifications
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts Redwood Shores
Ship Date: US: February 6, 2007
Europe: February 2, 2007
- PC
- Category: Simulation/Strategy
- ESRB Rating: "T" (Teen)
- PEGI Rating: 12+
The Sims Pet Stories and The Sims Castaway Stories are scheduled to ship in Summer 2007 and Winter 2008, respectively. These standalone products will not require expansion packs or stuff packs from previous The Sims or The Sims 2 collections.
About The Sims™ Life Stories
The Sims™ Life Stories is the first release in an all-new product line called The Sims Stories. Play through all the great moments of your Sim's life in this easy-to-play, laptop-friendly version of The Sims. Also Coming Soon to The Sims Stories Line: The Sims Pet Stories invites your Sims to care for and train loveable but unpredictable pets, and in The Sims Castaway Stories you help your Sims make a new life in an unexplored deserted island paradise. All releases in The Sims Stories line offer two fun ways to play, directed Story mode and open-ended Classic mode, and are designed with laptop-friendly controls that let you play even when you?re on the go! For more information check out www.TheSimsStories.com.