The Sims Mobile is almost here! To celebrate our excitement, we’d like to introduce you to two team members that are working hard to make this game amazing. There’s so much happening behind the scenes, and you may be curious about what developers do, how they impact the game, and what they’re most excited to share with players. Say hello to SimGuruAzure and SimGuruRiley.
What do you do on The Sims Mobile team?
SimGuruAzure: Hi, Simmers! I’m the Content Producer for The Sims Mobile. I work primarily with the artists and designers to create clothing, objects, and game features like the Fashion Shop.
SimGuruRiley: I help the art team create beautiful assets. I help troubleshoot things that are broken, and I occasionally make cookies.
We know you used to work on The Sims for PC. How does the development pace of The Sims Mobile compare to working on The Sims?
SimGuruAzure: There are a ton of similarities between working on The Sims for PC versus The Sims Mobile, but I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to work on a game that has had time to grow and evolve through soft launch. For months, we’ve been watching how players interact with the game, gathering their feedback, and fine tuning our features to bring a fun mobile experience to life. Getting that player insight before a game is released to the world has been like a special treat. I’ve never had that privilege before and it’s definitely been my favorite part of making this game.
SimGuruRiley: OMG! It’s crazy. We go so much faster! And it’s really cool. The team is smaller so we can have informal meetings to solve a problem and go test it out in an afternoon.
What are you looking forward to when the game launches worldwide?
SimGuruAzure: I’m most interested in watching videos of the Sims and houses people have created using the items we’ve made. I usually have a picture in my mind of the types of things the community will make, but I’m always completely blown away! On launch day, I’ll be all over Twitter and YouTube, trying to find cool stuff to send back to the team so they can see what people are creating with what they’ve made. It’s a really special and fun time for us, and we feel really connected to the community.
SimGuruRiley: To hear what the players think! I hope players will love some of the upcoming features. I’m excited because we’ll be able to change the game for our community, and we can keep building upon what we already have.
What has been one of the most surprising moments of development so far?
SimGuruAzure: I’ve been really surprised by how fast the team is able to move. Anyone who’s been playing the game throughout soft launch knows how much we’ve changed it in the past few months. As soon as we’ve seen an opportunity to jump in and make the game a better experience, we just start working on a solution. It’s rewarding to be able to move so rapidly.
SimGuruRiley: How much we have done in such a short amount of time. The Risky Actions feature was one of my favorite things to work on. It had a pile of challenges we had never tackled before, and some of them were really difficult, but we worked together to solve them. I think that feature prototype was functioning in-game in about two weeks.
What advice would you give anyone who is looking to develop on mobile for the first time?
SimGuruAzure: I think the most important thing I’ve learned is how to be flexible. Game Developers spend a lot of time with our features and we love them; they’re like our babies! But if you put a feature out there and it doesn’t resonate or players don’t like it, you have to change it, especially in mobile gaming. So, it’s important to be passionate and to love what you’re working on but you also have to be willing to let things go and change up your strategy if it’s not working.
SimGuruRiley: That’s a really hard question. There are so many different types of games and so many different roles on a team. I guess I would say focus on what gets you excited and always try to work with good people. The excitement I got out of a new problem to solve, and the people who helped support me while I was fumbling my way through things, have been some of the best moments in my career.
What is your favorite food?
SimGuruAzure: I love potatoes. Seriously. Fried, mashed, scalloped, baked. Potatoes are amazing. Cake is pretty great, too.
SimGuruRiley: All of them. Oh wait, not broccoli! Definitely not broccoli. I guess if I had to choose one, it would be pancakes. I love them plain with no syrup or fruit or anything. I make them almost every Saturday for breakfast.
Looking for more details from The Sims 4 Jungle Adventure Game Pack’s first teaser? We extracted 5 high quality shots from the latest teaser just in case you want to go through all the details in each frame 🙂
SimGuruDave, one of the producers for The Sims 4 Game Packs has updated his profile picture on twitter with some new elements including the background and CAS items that probably originate from The Sims 4 Jungle Adventure!
We’ve put together our first ever Trivia quiz that will put your Sims 2 knowledge to the test! How well do you know The Sims 2 Base Game? Answer our questions below and find out!
The Sims Team has released a new sticker pack for iOS devices, including icons from The Sims 4 and The Sims Mobile. You can get them HERE!
Hey, Simmers! Use these fun and vibrant stickers in iMessage, inspired by The Sims 4 and The Sims Mobile games. Express your love for The Sims by sharing unique thought bubbles and creative icons. Want to send a llama to your mama, or tell your friends you’re craving cake? You can definitely do that. Did someone send you a selfie? Put a Plumbob on it! With over 40 different static stickers to choose from, there are lots of ways to show your love for The Sims. Download now to play with life, and make your messages more fun.
After weeks of teasing, the modder Sacrificial has released a trailer and early access to his new mod, Slow Dancing! It’s been a missing feature from Sims 4 fans have wanted for a while, now you can have the first dance at your sims wedding or finish that romantic date perfectly.
You might know Sacrificial for his Road to Fame mod and his Extreme ViolenceMod (Note this Mod is NSFW and recommended for 18+).
You can gain early access to his Slow Dancing mod here by supporting his Patreon. However, this mod will become freely available to all on February 12th.
For information on how to install mods head to our handyguide!
Watch the trailer below!
Express Your true love by having a romantic slow dance with the one You love.
The Sims 4 for Xbox One and PS4 received a brand new update, adding Create A Sim content that we’ve received on the PC version as well as adding a new feature in build mode which lets you rotate any object at any angle. In this overview video we also talk about The Sims 4 Romantic Garden Stuff Pack which is now available on Consoles!
The Sims Team has released a brand new Update for The Sims 4 for Console devices – Xbox One and PS4!
Patch Notes
Update: DATE – v1.04
Hey Simmers.
Happy 2018! Now that the eggnog is past the expiration date, and you’ve found the last of those pesky wrapping paper bits from under the sofa let’s have some real fun!
You wanted to be able to freely rotate objects, and now you can! With free rotate you can rotate objects to any angle – thirty degrees, thirty-two degrees… thirty-one… Forty-eight clockwise, nine counter-clockwise, three clockwise… Oh gosh, that’s something different! Forget I ever said that!
When you own a restaurant, let the food to do the talking and not the questionable décor when placing your eatery from My Library.
Sometimes you just want to back out of a decision and now you can, with added reliability.
It’s come to our attention that it is rude to ask someone their age, so we decided to be polite and not ask when you switch between an Adult Vampire to a Toddler in CAS. It can be your little secret.
EA has uploaded a new Behind Closed Doors article talking about eighteen years of The Sims! So take a look and feel nostalgic while you step back in The Sims history!
In 1991 Will Wright creator of SimCity, suffered an unfortunate turn of events during the Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm. Losing his home to the firestorm left him assessing both his losses and material needs. Having always been passionate about architecture, Wright began to develop an idea for a game where players could simulate daily activities and building homes from scratch.
It was this idea that went on to become The Sims. Thus, eighteen years ago, on February 4th, 2000, the game launched on PC. Appealing to all genders and ages, the game’s non-objective and open-ended gameplay gave players the freedom to set their own goals and their Sims’ destiny, while pioneering a whole new type of video game genre.
In The Sims, players create their own Sims, design their personalities, their skills, their appearance and guide them through relationships and careers – for better or for worse, in addition to building their neighborhood and sharing their stories with the world.
This style of sandbox gameplay means players can do as they please, if they take care of their Sims eight basic needs: Hunger, Energy, Comfort, Fun, Hygiene, Social, Bladder, and Environment. Failure to do so often results in depression and even death…
The Sims was one the first ever video games to introduce same-sex relationships. In this title, same sex partners could only move in to a home together, something the franchise would advance further in future games.
It even had its own fictional currency – Simoleons (§). Players receive an initial §20,000 budget to purchase a pre-made house or buy a lot and build a house from scratch in Build Mode. Once your pre-made or self-built home is ready, it’s time to furnish it in Buy Mode, choosing from over 150 in-game items.
It was an expansion pack that saw Sims put into outrageous situations, from roach infestations to alien abductions.
Also unique to the game, was its fictional language – Simlish; adding a whole new dimension to the relationship between gameplay and audio.
As the success of The Sims grew, so did the demand for more content, and six months later in August 2000, Maxis released its first expansion pack, The Sims: Livin’ Large.
It was an expansion pack that saw Sims put into outrageous situations, confronting everything from roach infestations to alien abductions, and introduced franchise favorites like Sunny The Tragic Clown and The Grim Reaper.
Further packs followed – The Sims: Hot Date, The Sims: House Party, The Sims: Unleashed, The Sims Vacation, The Sims: Makin’ Magic and The Sims Superstar expanded gameplay through new objects, features, sub-neighborhoods and things to do.
In 2004, the incredible sequel to the best-selling PC game of all-time, The Sims, was launched. In The Sims 2 players direct an entire Sims’ lifetime to try and reach their life goals. The option to develop a master plan for their social life, career and pathway to greatness, or the decision to let them live in utter chaos, added a new depth to gameplay.
Sloppy/Neat, Shy/Outgoing, Lazy/Active, Mean/Nice, Serious/Playful remained the same as The Sims for personality types, but Sims now had Fortune, Popularity, Knowledge, Romance and Creativity aspirations, alongside 200 wants that would give players the chance to achieve unlimited success or absolute failure.
14 unique locations, including Pleasantview and Strangetown, over 400 buildings and designing options, 350 new objects, and 10,000 available fashion options formed the backbone of its immersive gameplay, along with newly introduced Free Play and Story modes. (Source: http://www.vgchartz.com/)
Much like its predecessor, The Sims 2 had many expansion packs, such as The Sims 2: Apartment Life in addition to a slew of new Stuff Packs. These minor packs like The Sims 2: Glamour Life Stuff added fun new objects and fashion without implementing changes to core gameplay.
By June 2009, the next franchise installment hit shelves. With a large community that continues to rally around this version to this day. The Sims 3 offers more gameplay diversity, endless creative possibilities and unexpected moments of surprise and mischief than had ever been seen before.
Its in-game Wishes system, much like the Wants system of The Sims 2, had a plethora of requests to keep Sims happy, as well as work towards their short and long-term goals and rewards.
Sometimes however, Sims need a change of scenery – whether that be exotic destinations filled with adventure in The Sims 3 World Adventures, or something a little more random, like jumping through a time portal to a world hundreds of years from now, with The Sims 3 Into the Future.
Other popular add-ons for The Sims 3 bring realms ripe with fresh experiences. The popular Dragon Valley see players explore a whole new mythical world inhabited by colorful elven Sims and a place where baby dragons were kept as pets.
As Maxis thought about the next installment of the game, the Development Team carefully listened to its dedicated fans to help set the vision for The Sims 4 to allow players to create new Sims with big personalities and distinct appearances and ultimately, play with life.
Staying true to this mantra, new emotions, personality traits, behaviors, and interactions were developed alongside the games technology base having a major upgrade.
This upgrade resulted in an entirely new AI system, audio positioning tools, locomotion logic, routing intelligence and much more, provide a rich gameplay experience across the games core tenants – the tactile and intuitive Create A Sim tool, the intelligent animation system, the new emotional gameplay mechanics and the powerful and flexible Build mode.
This mode alone has added a whole new intuitive and fun way to build with features like Wall Height Adjustment, Dynamic Foundation Sizing, and Smart Windows.
For the first time ever in the franchise’s history, Maxis also removed gender boundaries. This has empowered the creation of Sims with any type of clothing, physique, walk style and tone of voice – regardless of their gender.
An all-new Gallery means players can share their creations directly from the game or browse other players’ creations directly, to see what The Sims community had to offer.
Continually listening to The Sims community and fans, Maxis have evolved some of the best experiences from previous games and currently has over 20 pieces of DLC including Vampires where Sims attain supernatural abilities in the eerie destination of Forgotten Hollow.
To date, The Sims 4 has seen a Life To Date CAS of Dogs at 5,940,100, Cats at 3,395,250, Toddlers at 5,129,700, Sims at 494,500,490. A staggering Life To Date Woohoo figure of 456,732,830, proves Sims fans have clearly been busy.
For years, Maxis have worked to make Sims games they feel players will love and that have always been about those special moments where something unexpected, sad, hilarious or intriguing just happens.
Want to see the latest new content from The Sims 4’s latest update in action! Check out our brand new video talking about new bug fixes and showcasing new Create A Sim items in The Sims 4!
The above designs not only come in a range of T-shirt styles for men, women and children but you can also get the designs in hoodie form and even on lounge pants too!
Not only that some of the designs are also avalaible on phone cases, prints, beach towels, note books, water bottles, pillows, blankets and so much more.
Be sure to checkout The Sims Threadless Store and also remember that until 12th February if you spend over $45/$80 International you can get free shipping by using FREESHIP18a03687 but make sure you check the terms and conditions!
Origin has leaked first information about The Sims 4 Jungle Adventure – the next Game Pack for The Sims 4!
Explore a unique wilderness landscape, revealing a temple, jungle obstacles, cursed relics and treasures. Experience the culture and customs of Selvadorada, from devouring local eats to learning spicy new dance moves!
KEY FEATURES
Venture to Selvadorada. Travel to Selvadorada a new destination where your Sims can befriend locals at the cantina or purchase essential survival gear. Your Sims can try traditional foods, dance to new music, practice native customs and shop for authentic décor. Dress your Sims in local fashion from outfits full of colourful patterns to durable clothing suitable for the jungle!
Explore the jungle. Sims gear up in hiking attire and prepare for danger as they trek deep into the jungle, revealing hidden pools, ancient artifact sites and ruins. Beware of natural dangers and obstacles (from deadly bees to poisonous spiders) that will surely keep your Sims on their toes!
Discover a hidden temple. Your Sims will be pleasantly surprised with what they’ll find when they stumble upon a unique temple. Venture into the mysterious rooms where Sims may find priceless relics, great treasures or doom! Have your Sims visit again to experience new challenges and uncover different treasures or traps.
Collect ancient artifacts. Uncover hidden items as Sims seek out ancient artifacts and mysterious relics. Sims can excavate and examine these precious objects closely at the archeology table, determining their quality, but watch out for fakes!
