Oh folks, first of all I am very grateful to all of your discussion about the Sims 3. I had asked this question a while back because I grew rather worried about the changes that might occur when the new game is released.
And from Beos and the rest who have contributed to this thread, it seems rather grim. When I saw the trailers and the previews afforded to the game (by virtue of You Tube and elsewhere), I admit I was rather curious about how our simmies might "come alive". But now that I've seen EA's preview page for TS3, I am more disgusted.
The skins, for one are awful. And even though it might be neat to custom make a house according to design, it still doesn't allow that same type of freedom that we have during TS2. Instead, it's as if our little Simmies will be shaped and molded by the evil hand of EAxis.

That makes me very sad. We have a vibrant community filled with great, talented and wonderful people. And the EA Fascists know that if anything if they want their game to stay popular, it depends on the fans who play it (and not only the kids and the teens, but the adults too).
What is even worse is the fact that it leaves the Mac people (which I am one) out in the dust. What are we to do? Are we going to passed by while the PC people get to try the game first? And what does Aspyr going to do about the new game?
You see, these are things that have been bugging me. And I, for one, have been reading what Beos has said in his blog. I've thought really hard about the corruption that is going on. EAxis has destroyed not only the heart of the game (which was really quaint in TS1), they've also destroyed the playability as well. And TS3 only amounts to an empty shell.
Even though I have an open mind about the future and will hope for the best, what I'm seeing doesn't quell my worry a little bit. Instead, if everything is going to be tied up to an "Exchange-type" system, it's time to throw in the towel.
I love my neighborhoods (despite the bugs, hacks and other little things I put in the game). I love the fact that I can have a diversity of body sizes (via Warlokk, Marvine, Beos and others). And I love the differences in hair, make-up, skins and other accoutrements that make the Sims2 playing worthwhile. If I can't have those things, then TS3 will not be on my wish list for future play.
In fact, it makes me rather sick what EA has done to a beautiful game which stood out apart from the war-like or other strategy games. I like the sociological and psychological aspects of it because you could try out a whole bunch of different scenarios to rear your neighborhood. Now, if they make it soulless in the next version, what in the heck are we going to have left?
Just my .02. Keep on fighting the good fight.

Ceci