I didn't realize I needed these...till I found them.  Thanks Beos.

I have the tools, I just don't have the heart to start dealing with this.  I just installed Bon Voyage a couple of weeks ago and haven't recovered from SecuROM yet.  This morning I visited my sister.  We're both middle aged.  She was installing the Original Sims.  And she has purchased the last EA game she will ever buy.  You know something?  That sounds like a good idea.  Don't give up, just return to something that has all the bugs worked out and is playable.  Their mouths don"t work and they have club hands, but they are so sweet.

I don't know.  I really want to, but it depends on EA and you.  Will EA abandon SecuRom and make Sims3 open source?  What will you say about it once released?  Going from Sims1 to Sims2 was wonderful.  Even with all the bugs and fixes, it was worth it.  If it looks like going from Sims2 to Sims3 is going to be wonderful without screwing up my computer, I'm getting it.  Stay out of my way, I'm getting it.

I noticed "women's clothing" and "mods" are getting the most votes.  I'm thinking that "other" should be getting more votes.  That would be my answer.  It's not what I want more of, but what I would want less of.  Give us the meshes and let us do the textures.  Truly, we do a better job.  You keep your textures, we replace them anyway.  SecuRom?  We don't want that either.  Only buy items on your site?  You can keep that too, our sites are much better, and they're free.  That needs repeating:  And they're free.  Barbies?  No thank you, there again, we've did a much better job skinning.

The one thing I want to see more of is:  Keep the game open source so we can make the game into the game we want it to be.  And do that without that stupid SecuRom that has played havoc with my Multimedia Computer that I've spent a small fortune on.  Folks, EA really dropped the ball on that crappy Sony software, SecuRom.  It looks like I'll have to do a re-format of my hard drive to straighten everything out. If I have to do that, I'll never buy another EA product again.  It has taught me a lesson.  Before buying any new software, it will be researched on the internet first.

I just don't know.  SecuRom?  I bought Bon Voyage.  SecuRom came with it.    I'm still trying to fix my computer.  EA still plans using SecuRom in Sims3.  I'm not a hacker or have I copied any games, but I'm sure paying the price of a greedy (or should i say paranoid) EA that sees thieves in all of us.

(This could be rumor) However, I understand Sims3 is going to be like Spore.  You have to have internet capabilities for the game to verify every 10 days.  No verification, no play.  No more support from EA, no more play.  You don't own it, you rent it at EA's pleasure (or profitability).

Custom content?  The way I understand it, you customize everything within the game.  If you believe what EA says, there's a lot.  Want new textures, so far there isn't any indication we will be able to put it in.  I guess we'll have to pay EA for those extra swatches at their site.  (I for one, replace just about every one of EA's swatches in my game, how about you?  I just love their swatches.)

I waited before getting Sims2.  Patches were out, Modders were online and expansions were out when I fired up Sims2.  Then I started joining sites.  Within a short time, I had a game going I could really enjoy.

I will wait and see, but I suspect there's going to be some major complaining.  You can't do this, you cant do that.  Why can't someone make this for me. I also suspect there will be some that will just love it and have nothing but praise about EA.  However, if the game isn't open ended (like Sims1&2), their praise will be short lived.  Because the rest of us will have moved on to something else, or are happily still playing Sims2.

I truly hope I'll have to eat my words.  But I have no confidence in EA.  Maxis (who I did have confidence in) isn't making this game, EA is.  Remember that wonderful game Maxis made called Sim City?  I still play it.  Ever hear about the sequel, SimCity5.  Well, it was called Sim Societies.  I say "Was" because it is now bundled with SimCity4 in hopes of salvaging flagging sales.  EA killed SimCity.

Will they kill TheSims?  I'm not placing any bets either way.  I do know there's a lot of hype, but they are being very tight lipped about answering any of our questions.  Something is up and we're not going to like the answers.  They weren't this way with the releases of Sims1 or 2.  We were treated with actual programs to begin creating before the games came out.  There were online meetings with the creators to field questions and answers.  We were given the red carpet treatment and we ran to them with fistfuls of money.

My answer is:  Wait and see.  SecuRom?  No.  Pay for items only on EA site?  No.  No custom content from us?  No.  No modders from us?  NO.  I'll just continue with TheSims2, and when I'm tired of it, don't look back.

These are great, I too am going to try bodybuilders in my game.  I do have a lot of questions about how they appear when they go to work (clothing & meshes), but I can wait and see what happens.  If I continue to look through this site, that will probably be answered too.  The questions and answers following the "attached files" have answered all the other questions I would have ask.