The Sims 3 buzz/gossip/rumours

[BeosBoxBoy]

DISCLAIMER: I am providing this info because I get PMs all the time and usually can't answer any questions about The Sims 3 simply because I don't know anything, I hear a lot from the guys I used to work with, but it's all rumour and we accept that it's probably wrong.  I ask you to accept that I am giving this info only to curtail the number of PMs I have been getting from people about The Sims 3, it isn't given here as fact, merely rumours I have heard and been able to get some degree of confidence it isn't complete BS.  I didn't include the stuff that was obvious BS and I didn't include anything that I couldn't find at least two independent confirmations. SO, keep in mind this is pure gossip!!

I spent some time trying to track down things on the Internet to prove or disprove the insider information I have been given in the past year. I haven't been able to find much in the way of Internet-based information on The Sims 3, mostly you see a lot of "announced in 3rd quarter 2006 report" and not much else.

Here is the personal web site of Cemre Ozkurt, he is one of the EA-employed concept artists working on character development for TS3: http://www.fistik.com/cemre_website/main.htm

The firms Gamma Ray Studios (defunct, seems to have merged into Feng Zhu Design) and Feng Zhu Design were contracted to do pre-development artwork back in 2006, I don't know that they did much we will ever see.

Gamma Ray Studios was run by James Cline (he seems to have not gotten on with Ms. Chu) and Mi Hwa Chu (now head of Feng Zhu Design), you can see James Cline's personal web site to get an idea of his style: http://www.jamesclyne.com/.

I was told that Feng Zhu Design approached Romano Molenaar to be the lead concept artist for TS3, but if he accepted the position, I don't know. He was already involved in another project, so it's doubtful he'd be able to do it due to standard conflict of interest clauses in whatever contracts he may have signed.

As far as the hard code of The Sims 3, EA made the October 11, 2007 acquisition of BioWare and Pandemic Studios chiefly to secure BioWare Aurora Engine, Infinity Engine, and Electron Engine (an improved version of the Aurora Engine) technologies, so it's very likely we will see some variation of the Electron Engine used in TS3.

It's being put about in the insider rumour mill that the same (or a very similar) sort of video engine we will see in Saboteur is what we'll see in TS3. You can see the trailer for Saboteur on GameZone: http://downloads.gamezone.com/demos/d19668.htm (2007_08_20_Saboteur_Teaser.mov, 710.4 MB, 08/21/2007 - requires Apple Quicktime) -- my personal thinking on this is that EA wanted some elements of the Electron Engine technology but plans to make a new fast render engine that takes better advantage of the DirectX 10 API, a missing aspect of the Electron Engine that thwarted the development of several games for the XBox 360.

That's more than you'll find in the totality of the Sims Community, but it still doesn't amount to much. Rumours and hints, and not much more. I know from insider information that The Sims 3 is scheduled to be "final" by no later than 31 October 2008 and on store shelves no later than 31 April 2009. That means that we should start seeing EA start the campaign of lies, false promises, and misrepresentations about April of this year (2008). I wouldn't even be surprised to see a teaser on the Free Time installation media.

Sorry I don't have more I can share and more sorry I wasn't able to milk more out of my contacts.

[lewisb40]

Fine job on getting this much information. I appreciate you for doing this. Thanks so much!

[oddball011]

thanks for the info :]

[Elyasis]

Ah yes. This is very good work youv'e done here. And yes, can't wait to bang my saltstick on their ads. They'll probably be promising holodecks, knowing EA.

[maniac19642003]

Thought I'd post this here since its partly about TS3.

In a gaming forum, Rod Humble said that The Sims 3 will be announced soon. No further details, but it's also apparent from his response, that FreeTime is indeed the final Sims 2 expansion pack.
Check the forum here: Quartertothree.com

[Pierre]

tank you very much for the info.

[BeosBoxBoy]

Thought I'd post this here since its partly about TS3.

In a gaming forum, Rod Humble said that The Sims 3 will be announced soon. No further details, but it's also apparent from his response, that FreeTime is indeed the final Sims 2 expansion pack.
Check the forum here: Quartertothree.com

Thanks Maniac! I was pretty certain everyone knew that Free Time was the last EP, so I didn't mention that; but this seals it.  I expect that Rod "Prince of Lies" Humble would be the one to know best.

[PegasusDiana]

Titles slated for this year:
Littlest Pet Shop
Monopoly
Scrabble
Sims 3
Yahtzee Deluxe
Yahtzee Adventures.
Trivial Pursuit
Risk
Operation
Pictureka
Bloom Blox

Drum Roll...Spore Summer Title,to begin shipment in Sept. Sims 3 to be announced Autumn Title, could be released at late as April 1, 09. But sources say look for it at Christmas. Sims Animals. My Sims. SimCity Creator.

For Pogo Yahtzee is scheduled for summer 2008 and Monopoly.
Here & Now
Trivial Pursuit for the autumn.
Tetris

Little Tidbit of News on Sims 3 link below:
The Sims 3 adds social situations. Some examples he(Richard Evans) gave were visiting (what to do while over at another Sims), mealtime, bedtime and dates. He showed a demo where the Sims recognized the situation and knew what was appropriate or inappropriate. For example, it’s inappropriate for a visiting Sim to watch TV, take food, or sit on the bed of the host. This actually allows for more interesting interactions where you can force your Sims to violate social norms and the other Sims will recognize this and react. It is fun to be naughty but you can only be naught if people know what’s appropriate.

New AI Techniques For Sims 3 (Richard Evans, Electronic Arts)
"In this session, Evans will show some of the more unusual AI techniques being used in Sims 3, including very long-term planning, autonomous traits, and a new socializing model based on overlapping normative processes. He will show how these technology components serve two high-level design goals: to make each Sim be a unique snowflake (recognizably distinct from the others), and to move up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (so that the player focuses less on peeing and sleeping, and more on social relationships and situations). Additionally, Evans will demonstrate these ideas working in action in a 2D experimental testbed."
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16048
https://www.cmpevents.com/GD08/a.asp?option=C&V=11&SessID=6233

Richard Evans speaks on the Sims 3
http://tara.teich.net/archives/aiide-2007-richard-evans-talks-sims-3/

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=15058
http://www.ea.com/article.jsp?id=hasbro21108

Sims 3
MySims (a version just for the pc)
MySims Kingdom
Sim Animals
MySims Party
Sim City Creator

Creative director of EA’s Sims studio in Redmond, Rod Humble, stepped in to clarify. After pointing out that the information wasn’t supposed to be in people’s hands yet, he states,

02-14-2008, 12:39 AM    
Rod Humble
Settle down in here you roustabouts! You shouldn't be reading those analyst reports! Its not for you!
Its not complicated, we are actually launching less skus this year than last.
For our latest original game, MySims we are following on from the success of our launch last autumn (over 3M sold so far) with MySims Kingdom and Party (details to follow).

Our latest new game SimAnimals will be announced with games press partners later. But the title should tell you a lot. No information on SimCity Creator right now. And yes we do have other things coming, The Sims Label was created to innovate, make original games and take creative risks with older ones. Its what we do. No apologies.
Found his post, it's #7
http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showthread.php?p=1248180#post1248180

for Mac 6 new titles:
http://www.apple.com/games/articles/2007/06/ea/

EA's proposal to aquire Take Two:
http://www.eatake2.com/

Article from EA about Spore and shipment:
http://www.ea.com/article.jsp?id=sporefeb1208

Starbreeze studios teams up with EA to reinvent EA franchise:
http://www.ea.com/article.jsp?id=starbreezfeb2108

John Riccitiello announces more upcoming titles. Getting out of sequel business. Aquisition of Bioware and Pademic Studios. And Sims Animals.
http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2008/02/04/ea-trying-to-turn-things-around-with-new-ips-and-less-sequels

The Sims3 to be announced on GameSpot:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/thesims3/index.html
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/thesims3/news.html?sid=6160951&mode=all

adding another link for Mr Humble and his session at the game developers conference.
https://www.cmpevents.com/GD08/a.asp?option=G&V=3&id=383537

[BeosBoxBoy]

Blurg - if they are trying to get Sims 3 ready in time for release at Christmas '08, then it is pretty much a sure bet it will be bugulated crapware of the highest order... in other words, precisely what we have come to anticipate from EA.

[PegasusDiana]

lol Have we come to expect anymore? I'd like to see what they've done with the Hasbro titles. Especially Yatzee. I must buy 4 of those a year. It's easy enough to sit down and play with the children. But can never keep the dice or pads. I'd like to find a computer version of Snake Eyes that was a fun game my grandmother used to play with me when I was a child. That and an original Clue game for the PC. I'm not going to hold my breath on Sims Animals being any less glitchy. That just became a working title and it's already going to be released? Can't be a good sign.

PS Thank you for combining the posts.

[cupcub]

Sorry if this has been asked before and/or if it's in the wrong forum, but wasn't there supposed to be some kind of big revelation from Maxis regarding the sims 3 by the end of February? I've searched everywhere but can't find anything new. Anyone have any info?

[BeosBoxBoy]

None of the people I know that are usually the first to hear stuff like this are expecting anything until April

[so_unfluffy]

There is "the sims 3" video game available in FT.

[_cactus_]

I don't know where is true for openin this thread ^_^' I'm sorry...

The Sims 3's official website is open right now!And a new information central;

 http://www.thesims3.com

 http://www.sims3.info/

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Upd. 17th March

Hey guys!Just 2 days for opening! (Official Website)

I said before,I'm from Turkey.I found the newest and real pics. of the sims 3 @ simstr.com!

Our site admin took photos from magazines (: ~So sharing

Richard Evans AI Researcher will be working on the AI for the game A+

1. Sims can break Social Norms.
2. Sims can plan long term goals
3. Sims have the ability to change shoes apart from clothing.
4. Sims will have the ability to like or dislike television.
5. Objects can be placed diagonally.
6. Houses go Through a Construction Process.
7, Different "Body" sized sims "Not Height".
8. No Lot Restrictions - Ability To Travel Freely Around The Neighborhood.
9. Curved Footpaths.
10. Larger, Continous Neighborhoods.
11. Individual meters will be a thing of the past; new system of discrete moods will replace them.
12. In Game Customization.
13. buy cookbooks to learn & ingredients to cook with.
14. Popup Message telling you the sim is hungry with Click here to feed them.
15. Cars will be included in the base game (?)
16. grow your own produce.
17. Weight and Muscle sliders.
18. Sims can spy on each other in seamless neighborhood.
19. Furniture can be angled.
20. Events influence sims moods.
21. Sims have traits, not 'values' like 'evil', 'playful' or 'paranoid'.
22. Developing your characters, is about picking how you'd describe them rather than moving sliders.
23. Sims can wander down to the shops.
24. creep around the neighbourhood spying on other people's offspring.
25. Attribute bars have been reduced from eight to three with a "stress versus fun" meter; standing out as the most essential.
26. "you have a Hand of God", If your sim leaves trash around or if they leave a book out,
you can clean it up or put it back instead of directing them to do it.
27. Sims can view the same sunset and will most likely paint it differently than another sim.
28. 80 or so Traits you use to establish their identity
29. You can pick up to five Traits for each Sim.
30. Only one single, set map of Pleasant Valley is all that ships with The Sims.
31. your Sim will disappear into a building without you actually able to follow inside (Workplaces ect ect.)
32. Sims have dreams and promises that can be broken.
33. All buildings can be interacted with, How depends on workplace or home.
34. You can read or purchase books at the ingame library and get a job there if you do not want a career,
there is also a Science lab, be careful eating the fish from the pond!35. Traits can be passed from parent to child.


They refer to Sims 2 as a den, The Sims 3, The den becomes a Warren,
Den = Static, Warren = nonstatic.
(You grow old while playing your family They grow old in theirs as well)

Related to #31
'You can decide if you want to leave work early or stay late --
If you want to take it easy or suck up to your boss,' effectively sleeping your way to the top....
'Of course, if your boss dies, or gets married to someone else, you're kinda screwed.'"

Sims 3 Careers are now called Opportunities, the functional equivalent of MMORPG quests -- only instead of fetching 15 landshark fins, you're planting 15 tomatoes or shacking up with 15 women."

"Create a Sim" (CAS) Returns (?)

Traits. 80 or more said to be in the game.

Artistic
Athletic
Bookworm*
Brave*
Charismatic*
Childish
Commitment Issues*
Conversationalist*
Cursed
Daredevil
Dreamer
Easily Bored
Evil*
Family-Oriented
Flirt
Fortunate*
Friendly
Frugal
Genius*
Gloomy
Good*
Green Thumb*
Good Sense of Humor
Grumpy
Handy*
Hot-Headed
Inappropriate
Insensitive
Kleptomaniac
Light Sleeper
Mooch
Natural Cook*
Neat*
Outdoorsperson
Outdoorsman*
Paranoid
Partier
Perfectionist
Pizza Lover
Playful
Rude
Schmoozer
Shy
Slob
Unforgiving
Workaholic*
Worrywart
Vegan*

Starting Jobs.
*Culinary track - Waiter.

These majors are unclear if they are part of the game with how they worded it.

Majors.
Movie Making?
Fashion Design?


Last But not least!
"We're going to be releasing world-building tools," says Bell,
"advanced tools definitely for the modding community. On TheSims3.com.


We'll have more choices about gear,work and personal features ^^ Great! Ummm,like that,we'll change shoes out cloth ^^ So jewelleries etc...

New sims'll have different body shapes! (I prefer Marvine & Beos're meshes ^^ lol) Umm,i guess they will have more realistic looking than The Sims 2 ^^

I don't have more ideas for now.So "the end" ^^

Warning : The photos are fuzzy,because these are from SimsTR's webcam (:

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Quotation from French "Les Sims Magazine"
I'll update when i get news (:

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[maniac19642003]

Thats only 2weeks from now so its not long at all and I know its going to be very buggy since its being released this early.