SimGuruMike, Assistant Producer posted an Island Paradise blog about the resorts in this expansion. In this blog, he builds up his resort and shows what you can do and the problems you can encounter like trash and roaches.
Dragon Valley blog Designer Alan Copeland posted a blog about the baby dragons. Benefits you get when you own a dragon, interactions and dragon powers, all can be read in this blog.
Read it here: Designer's blog.
Dragon Valley in Sims3Store This new world is already in the Sims3Store, but cannot be bought yet. You can however check all the items that it contains and its price. The regular version will cost $25.- and for $10.- more, you will get a Celtic Lands lot.
Check it out here: Sims3Store.
Screenshots Because of an error, it was possible to purchase Dragon Valley. SimGuruTaterTot warned in the forums it's better to delete it as it was an incomplete version. Lille Sims Side however made a whole bunch of screenshots from this 'incomplete' version.
Check these here: Screenshots
Dragon Valley screenshots
10 May
EA released a whole bunch of Dragon Valley screenshots:
Blog about Traits
10 May
Ray Mazza, Creative Director at Maxis wrote a great blog about Traits in The Sims 3. How they came up with them, why they were replaced with the Sims 2 system and which traits didn't make the cut, like Colorblind, Bully and Angelic.
Check this blog here: Raymazza.com
The Sims 4 will be released in early 2014. EA confirmed they will release 11 major titles (including The Sims 4) BEFORE March 31, 2014.
Check for more info here: Videogamer.com
Misc. Sims 4 news
6 May
Not an overwhelming amount of info about The Sims 4 but here are a few bits and pieces:
- SimGuruHydra posted a Sims 4 Q and A on the Sims 3 Forums: Sims 4 Q and A
- The official Sims 4 site is now online (though not much to see there yet): TheSims4.com
- EA posted a small press release for the game here: Press release
- And lastly, Gamersbliss posted 5 features they would like to see in Sims 4: Gamerbliss.com
Sims 4 announced
6 May
Maxis has officially announced The Sims 4. There's not much news about it (more news will be posted later today), but you can hear the Conference Call Audio here: VIP audio.
Thank you very much to TheSimSupply for that one.
Big announcement monday
5 May
German Simsite SimTimes.de tell on their site that there will be a big announcement coming from the Sims team coming monday. Also several fansites mention they will recieve an important phonecall from the US that day.
The Sims 4? A new Sims online? Let's hope not a combination of the two because many people are not waiting for that. It will be an interesting day tomorrow nonetheless.
Here's a new blog from SimGuruKelly about this new set: New blog
New poll
30 April
There's a new poll. The question is which of the three Movie Stuff themes you like most Click here to vote: New poll.
Last poll question was if you want more country/farm stuff. It's a very wanted theme as 55% wants a whole expansionpack based on it. And 14% would like to see some more Store sets.
923 people voted and here are the results:
Do you want more country/farm stuff?
- Yes give me a full expansionpack!: 55% - I would like some more Store sets: 14% - The set is ok, but not interested in more: 17% - No I don't like this particular theme: 14%
Misc. news
19 April
A new set in the Sims3Store:
Tutor of Tudors: 25 items for $14,50 (temporarily $12,-)
Here's a new blog from SimGuruTing about underwater activities in Island Paradise: New blog
Island Paradise screenshots
16 April
EA sent out a few new screenshots:
Livestream
16 April
Check the replay of the live stream about Island Paradise here: Live broadcast
Sims Social to be taken off-line
15 April
EA released a press release with the news that it will take down The Sims Social and SimCity Social. They don't really give a reason but the decrease of players is probably the cause of this decision.
On June 14th, the games will go off-line.
Read more info here: Eurogamer article
Island Paradise trailer and pics
10 April
The official trailer for The Sims 3: Island Paradise has been released. And a new batch of screenshots as well.
There's a new poll. The question is if you want more country/farm stuff. Click here to vote: New poll.
Last poll question was if you thought that making Sims4 online-only is a good or bad idea. Well it's very clear; The majority does not want Sims 4 to be online-only. More than 9 out of 10 thinks it's a bad idea.
1401 people voted and here are the results:
Would you like The Sims4 online-only or not?
- Yes it would be a positive change: 3% - It doesn't matter to me: 5% - I would not be happy about it: 13% - No that would be terrible!: 79%
New blog
4 April
Designer Alan Copeland posted a blog about the upcoming new Sims3Store set; Country Living which introduces Charles the Evil Chicken.
Read the blog here: A Designer's Take On Sims 3 Country Living
Island Paradise blog
26 March
SimGuruRyan posted a new blog on TheSims3.com about Island Paradise and included some cool screenshots.
Check the blog here: Welcome to Paradise
Island Paradise pics
24 March
The SimGuru's occasionally post new pics from Island Paradise on Twitter. The pictures below are from the past few days:
Sims3Store update
21 March
TheSims3 Store has been updated with a new set; The Mediterranean wedding set.
Store preview Here you see a preview for an upcoming new set in TheSims3 Store.
Social guide Games Radar posted a 'social influence' guide here: Games Radar guide
Island Paradise screens SimGuruRyan posted a few funny screens from Island Paradise:
New poll
19 March
There's a new poll. The question is if making Sims4 online-only a good or bad idea. Click here to vote: New poll.
Last poll question was if you were looking forward the most to University or Island Paradise. The majority goes for University Life with 43% and 1 out of 4 thinks they're equally cool. 8% however is not very happy with the expansionpacks from 2013.
1144 people voted and here are the results:
University or Island Paradise?
- University Life: 43% - Island Paradise: 24% - I don't really like both of them: 8% - They're both awesome!: 25%
LGR review Lazy Game Reviews made their review of University Life.
Check it here: LGR review
Cinema venue
7 March
TheSims3 Store has been updated with a new venue; Le Cinema Plumbob. This large venue contains two Premium Content items being the 'Large as Life Movie Screen' and 'Barrier to Entry System'.
Primagames posted a small part of their University Life Eguide online. It's about the Jocks, Nerds and Rebels.
Check it out here: Become a Master Socialite
New blog
4 March
SimGuruSNelson wrote a blog about University Life's launch here: New blog
University Life released
4 March
University Life is now for sale. EA released a new trailer, new screenshots and a press release.
Check it here: Press release - New trailer
Blaise interview
1 March
About a week ago, I reported about the singer Blaise, a singer with a simlish song where you could download this Sim in your game (Blaise sim).
Now she gave an interview and EA also released a new University Life trailer where she talks about the game.
Check it here: Interview - New trailer
New blog
27 February
Brittany Henry, Associate Producer posted a new blog on the Sims3.com about University. The blog is about the building options and Plantsims.
Read it here: New blog
Aurora Skies out
21 February
Aurora Skies is now available in TheSims3 Store: Aurora Skies
The standard version is $24,50. The gold version is $43,50 (temporarily $39,-).
Note that the toddler Learning Center is not yet available individually. But when it does, it will cost $19,-.
New patch
19 February
EA released a new patch. It's a pretty big update with fixes for almost all expansionpacks, but most for Seasons. It also includes a few free items.
See the changes here: New patch
New poll
19 February
There's a new poll. The question is which of the two upcoming expansions you like most. Click here to vote: New poll.
Last poll question was what you think about Island Paradise. A devided result; 29% thinks it's going to be awesome and an equal number is not so sure about it.
1073 people voted and here are the results:
What do you think about Island Paradise?
- It sounds awesome!: 29% - I look forward how it's going to turn out: 42% - I'm not so sure about it yet: 29%
Blaise download
19 February
Blaise, who has a Simlish song in University Life, can now also be downloaded in the game. SimGuru_UK has her uploaded on the Sims3.com.
The first blog is from SimGuruTaterTot about Aurora Skies new venue "the Tiny Prodigies Early Learning Center".
Find it here: 'Early Learning Center' blog
The second blog is from SimGuruHydra and she writes about the community day at EA headquarters.
Find that one here: 'Community day' blog
Island Paradise info
14 February
EA posted the description and info on Island Paradise together with some screenshots.
Check all the details here: EA.com
Also, an infopage for Island Paradise was added on the Sims3.com with lots more screenshots here: Island Paradise infopage
Misc. University news
14 February
Producer's walkthrough EA released a producer's walkthrough. In this video, they follow two young adults through university and beyond.
Check it here: Producer's walkthrough
Interview Gamesradar had an interview with Sarah Nelson, producer of University Life.
Read it here: Interview
Preview University - Island Paradise
14 February
IGN posted a preview for University and Island Paradise with some new screenshots.
Read it here: IGN preview
TheSims3.com posted a few screenshots of the airballoon from the upcoming new downloadable world; Aurora Skies. The balloons are a premium item and Sims can picnick and woohoo in it.
New University screenshots
5 February
SimGuruHydra posted a few new University screenshots:
Aurora Skies
31 January
SimGuruTaterTot revealed the next downloadable world; Aurora Skies. This new world resembles Iceland with its hot springs and waterfalls, but the main feature is the Aurora Borealis (northern lights). Aurora Skies willl be released on February 21.
Read the info here: Forum post - Blog - Community blog
New University blog
30 January
Brittany Henry, Associate Producer, wrote a blog about University where she explains how classrooms work.
Read it here: Academics: A Guide to Making the Grade
University Q and A
27 January
SimGuruHydra posted a blog with a Q and A for University.
Read it here: University Q and A
There's a new poll. The question is what you think about the expansion after University, Island Paradise. Click here to vote: New poll.
Last poll question was if you liked the Sims 2 University. It seems EA did a good thing bringing this expansion back as 59% liked it a lot while 31% thought it was ok. Just a very small percentage didn't like it.
2046 people voted and here are the results:
Did you like the Sims 2 University?
- Yes I liked it a lot!: 59% - It was ok: 31% - No, I didn't like it at all: 6% - I never played University: 4%
