r e v e r i e (ex_spellboun8) wrote in e3, @ 2009-11-29 00:15:00 |
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Entry tags: | #game info, pc, source: wikipedia.org |
The Sims 3 World Adventures
The Sims 3 World Adventures is the first expansion pack for the strategic life simulation computer game The Sims 3. It was announced on The Sims 3 website in August 2009, and had a North American release on November 18, 2009. Some people were able to obtain it the day prior to the release.
The expansion pack focuses on travelling to various areas in a manner similar to previous expansions The Sims: Vacation and The Sims 2: Bon Voyage. Sims are able to travel to simplified versions of France, China and Egypt. At these locations, sims are able to participate in adventures to earn rewards and benefits. Sims are also able to level up in three new skills; Photography, Martial Arts and Nectar Making. In addition the game provides new objects, socials, wishes and opportunities.
Early reception of the game has been positive with the game earning a Metacritic rating of 85.
Gameplay
Players can take their Sims to landmarks in whole new countries. Sims can hunt for hidden treasure and display those newly found artifacts in their home. New skills, such as photography, martial arts, and nectar making, and personality traits are included, (photographers eye, disciplined, adventurous) as well as new rewards for Sims who succeed in challenges. Players can take their Sims to explore ancient tombs in Egypt, master martial arts in China, and discover and enjoy making nectar (the Sims 3 equivalent to wine) in France. Sims from the included locations are featured in the game and Sims are able to share cultures and traditions, much like in The Sims 2 Bon Voyage, where the Sims actually travel to countries with different cultures as opposed to the vacation lots on The Sims Vacation. Another feature included is visa points, which determine how long the player's Sim may stay on its vacation. If a Sim can get enough visa points, the player can purchase a vacation home (which is an improvement from the camping area the player gets first).
One of the new architectural developments are the trigger-able doors and staircases, similar to the doors in the Sims 2 Apartment Life.
On an IGN preview, it was revealed that mummies would be playable in the game. Mummies can awaken from their sarcophagus and curse the player's Sim, causing the Sim to die in two weeks time if the character does not perform the proper ritual at the Sphinx. Sims can also become mummies. These would move slower, have limited needs, and have increased strength. It is not known at this time if playable mummies can curse other Sims, but mummies die only in fire, and will become mummy-ghost hybrids.It was also confirmed that Sims would have a scooter to ride around town on and there will be new animals to collect like frogs and snakes.
Development
The Sims 3 World Adventures was first announced on August 3, 2009. An expansion pack for The Sims 3 was seen as inevitable given the amount produced for both The Sims and The Sims 2. In particular, the themes of pets, downtown areas and vacations carried over in both games leading some people to guess that they would be included in future expansion packs. On November 2, 2009, it was announced that the game had gone gold.
During an interview, producer Lyndsay Pearson said that real-world locations were a draw for their players and that users had been creating famous buildings on the exchange. The expansion pack represented an extension of that desire. She also stated that innovations present in the expansion pack could not have been achieved before.
It has been announced that exclusive online content would be made available on The Sims 3 Store when the expansion pack is released. This is seen as creating extra incentives for the players to buy the game. Lyndsay Pearson also stated that when creating the expansion pack that they are adding content that could not be sent through the Store. USD$10 (£6) worth of credit have also been offered for people that buy the expansion pack.
In addition, mobile versions have also been planned with customised mobile features. These are slated for a 2010 release.
Music
The score to The Sims 3 World Adventures was composed by Steve Jablonsky, who had previously composed the score to The Sims 3. He recorded his score with a 35-piece string and woodwind ensemble at Eastwest Studios in Hollywood.
On August 18, 2009 it was revealed that Nelly Furtado, Pixie Lott, Stefanie Heinzmann, Matt and Kim and Young Punx would be recording songs in Simlish for the game. Then on October 13, more artists were announced.
* Audrye Sessions - "Turn Me Off"
* Broken Hearts Club - "Na Na Na"
* Esmee Denters - "Outta Here"
* Fefe Dobson - "I Want You"
* Friday Night Boys - "Can't Take That Away"
* Nelly Furtado - "Manos al Aire"
* Stefanie Heinzmann - "No One (Can Ever Change My Mind)"
* Pixie Lott - "Mama Do"
* Madina Lake - "Lets Get Outta Here"
* Manchester Orchestra - "I've Got Friends"
* Matt and Kim- "Daylight"
* Katie Melua - "If the Lights Go Out"
* Metalkpretty - "Wake Up, Wake Up"
* Natalie Portman's Shaved Head - "Me + Yr Daughter"
* Hot Chelle Rae - "Say"
* LeAnn Rimes - "You've Ruined Me"
* Cassie Steele - "Summer Nights"
* Evan Taubenfeld - "Pumpkin Pie"
* Young Punx - "Juice and Sim"
Reception
Early reception for this game has been largely positive. In her GamePro review, Raychul Moore argued the game's only bad feature was being able to make players lose several hours in the addictive gameplay. In his IGN review, Steve Butts criticized the adventure-based gameplay and the difficulty of having family vacations. However in his conclusion said that "I hope World Adventures sets the pattern for future Sims expansions."
Get It Now
@ GameStop.com - $29.99
@ Amazon.com - $29.99