The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat Review

Outdoor Retreat, the first (probably of many) game packs to be released in the Sims 4 series. Sending your virtual people to the virtual outdoors sounds like a lot of fun (since you're probably not very outdoorsy, hence why you're reading a Sims review). I was extremely excited because we haven't had any new additional content, aside from the wonderful game updates, for the Sims 4. The new concept of "Game Pack" is a series first and I was looking forward to the new form of content but mostly I just wanted new stuff for my game. 

The theme of the game pack appealed to me very much because of good experience with The Sims 3: World Adventures and The Sims 2: Bon Voyage. I love my sims. In particular, I love my Sims 4 sims and buying a game pack so they can enjoy a vacation away from the vacation, that is their everyday lives, sounded like a good plan. 

10 Things about The Sims 4...

So finally this game comes out! It seemed a lifetime away when it was first announced but it's already been over a week since The Sims 4 was released. I had HUGE expectations for the game. Let's see if it lives up to those expectations. Here are 10 most interesting, funny or just plain weird points about The Sims 4.

1. The Sims themselves...

Sims in Sims 4 are more dynamic, extra funny and definitely more fun to play with. The game's main focus is the Sims. There are more social interactions than ever! I can see that the developers paid most attention to sim detail and to the amazing animations. The sim's actions seem so fluid and life-like. Sims will still, however, be sims. They still don't think to remove a dirty dish blocking the refrigerator nor do they think to get out of the way of a fire!

2. The MULITASKING!

This has got to be the most amazing feature ever added to the Sims series! It's so useful,  allowing you to satisfy a lot of your sim's needs all at once. Eg. Having breakfast while watching TV and blowing your wife a kiss. It's possible! Sure the other Sims series attempted it, i.e. you could talk while eating in Sims 3 but there are so many more actions that can be performed now. Your sim can now cook or paint while talking to another sim and listening to music!

The Sims 4 Create-A-Sim Demo Review

Let me start this off by acknowledging that I'm one of the privileged few who got the demo early and I feel really grateful to have received it. Many are upset because they didn't and I'm very sorry for that. A few more weeks and you too will join in the CAS fun.

This is a post stating my views on The Sims 4 CAS demo. This is by no means an overview of the content. For that there are heaps of youtube channels and websites for you to check out. I give the best and the worst of the demo. Hope you enjoy!

my finished product, Rocco Da Vinci (twitter avatar)

The Best...

•  The first thing I noticed was the speed and smooth running of the demo. On opening the game this was immediately evident. The game runs exceptionally well on my old machine. This is such a relief and such a huge contrast to the super slow Sims 3 CAS. I do, however, realise that the base game and subsequent expansions will have tons more content and it may slow it down but I don't think by very much.

World of Wonder Review!

Another month, another Sims 3 store set. This one slightly under the radar due to the buzz being directed at the Sims 4 E3 appearance around the same time as release of this set. This is the 2014 June store release and is a venue in the carnival/circus/fun fair theme which is not a new idea in the series.

 

Note: I have decided to exclude price/simpoints as a factor in my reviews. I will mention it (sometimes) but it will no longer affect rating and review of the content. There's just no winning with the cost of store content for the remainder of Sims 3 and going into Sims 4 it will always be overpriced.

Here are some points to note about the venue.... 

•  The whole venue itself. The size. The layout. The detail. Perfection. The lot loaded very quickly despite the size and the amount of objects on it. It kind of reminded me of something out of Sims: Makin' Magic because of the simplicity and excited feeling I got just from looking at it. 

Store Review in 5: Deliciously Indulgent Bakery

A bakery. It has got to be the most requested store item ever. Simmers (including me) have been BEGGING for this since, practically, the beginning of the Sims 3 series. And as the release of Sims 4 gets closer, we FINALLY get the Deliciously Indulgent Bakery which includes the Baker's Station AND the Baker's Bazaar Collection so your sims can sell the goods they make. I was super excited for this store content and really hoped it would not disappoint! Here's a quick review, in 5 points, on my thoughts about the venue, content and amazing desserts!

Q&A REVIEW: Bohemian Garden

 The Bohemian Garden set was released as the monthly store release for March. It contains premium content in the form of eight new harvestables. That's right, EIGHT NEW HARVESTABLES! You can tell that I was pretty excited for this set because technically it's eight new premium content items and I loved the initial look and theme. This review will answer those questions you may have about this new spring-time themed set.

Is that a hanging chair I see? 

In essence, yes it is a hanging chair. One of the main features from this set is the Wonderfully Woven Hanging Chair. It's not new premium content because it has no new features and sims use it as a regular chair. In fact it doesn't even seem to be affected by the forces of gravity or the wind. It remains stationery even when sims sit on it. That means no swinging which is a little disappointing. What makes up for that disappointing fact is that it can be put anywhere and IT LOOKS FREAKIN' AWESOME! I can safely say this is the best chair in the game if there had to be a countdown of best chairs (not that anyone will ever do that, I hope...).

Q&A review: The Prism Art Studio

The Prism Art Studio was released as store content for February as part of the monthly trend of store releases. It is a venue for 1900 simpoints and comes with new premium content and a new skill. Is it worth the price of 1900 simpoints? What can I do with it? Is it simply just a modified art gallery? This review will hopefully answer all these burning questions and more.

For aesthetics this is definitely one of the top venues. 

What exactly is the Prism Art Studio? 

Basically it's exactly as the title says, an art studio. It has everything you would expect in an art studio such as easels, an art display area and it contains the new premium content: The Artisan's Glass Blowing and Jewelry Making Station. It also contains stained glass windows which kind of made simmers think this would be a church or something. I love the look of this venue. The Business As Usual Bistro and the Skylight Dance Studio are the best looking venues, in my opinion, but this comes very close! It fits perfectly in any setting and I loved how it showed off the objects (stained glass windows and L-Shaped stairs). It's a large lot (40X40) and it is packed with objects and beautiful architecture. I really like how the store team designed this one. I hardly changed anything except add the sculpting station from Ambitions to really make it very arty.

Homecoming Set Review

The Sims 3 expansions have long since stopped but the store must go on. The first set of 2014 and it's a strictly CAS set in the theme of the American tradition of Homecoming. Homecoming started as a celebration to welcome back the alumni of a school. This usually includes a game of football and a banquet. This set includes attire for both: 

(all the outfits for teens are also all available for young adults and adults) 

Bring on the Bling Dress.

Gorgeously Gathered Dress

Top 5 Sims 3 Store Worlds - in my opinion...

11 store worlds so far. Each one is different in it's own way but some are more playable and enjoyable than others. In this post I countdown the 5 best store worlds and give my thoughts on each one. Hope you enjoy!

5. Midnight Hollow... It seems a bit shocking to be on this list as many seemed to not like Midnight Hollow. A very dark and mysterious place, I found it to be the perfect world to play with all my supernatural or just super-weird sims. I like this world because it reminds me of a Tim Burton movie. I loved the Golden Ticket Toy shop and the fact that the world included The Savvy Seller's Collection. The world was also very well designed and very detailed. I grew used to the permanent darkness but I couldn't seem to play in it for very long.

4. Monte Vista... An old Italian themed world. You can almost smell the freshly baked pizza and breads from the premium content Wood Fire Oven. The world is breathtaking. The theme is well thought out and well stuck to. The famous Monty family from Sims 2 made a return in this world. The world is perfect for your farmer or nectar-making sim. With the addition of the Al Fresco Street Market, this makes for a perfect simple farming village. As I said before, the world is beautiful but it felt as if my sim was on vacation and I kept wanting to send my sim home to a normal world after a while because I ran out of things to do.

ROARING HEIGHTS REVIEW!

I got Roaring Heights the minute it came out. I started a review that very same night but  felt like I didn't do it justice because I had only played for a few hours. One vacation and a couple of very lazy days later and I finally completed the review. This is Roaring Heights, the 11th Sims 3 Store world. Released on 12 December 2013, it was an early Christmas gift that simmers gave themselves.

Roaring Heights at night! What a sight!

ROARING HEIGHTS: First Impressions

Roaring Heights was released on 12/12/13 on the Sims 3 store and its release was met with much excitement. In this post I give you my thoughts on Roaring Heights having played the game for only a short while. A review of the world and the Boardwalk Venue will follow. This is just to showcase the world and give you an idea of what this new 20's inspired city has in store.

Skylight Studio for The Performing Arts Review

Another unique venue from the Sims 3 store team. This time it's a dance-studio-type-gym called the Skylight Studio for the Performing Arts which is so named due to the inclusion of skylights. This was a rather nice addition to the game. The venue included many CAS items, build/buy objects and TWO premium items. It seems to be an amazing venue just from looking at all these aspects but does its gameplay options and new content match up to its beauty?

Business As Usual Bistro Overview and Review

It's business time in the sims 3! Well it has been for a long time and I've had this set for a long time as well. I only chose to do a review now because I finally had the chance to play with this venue properly. Currently ranked as the 8th best selling item on the sims 3 store, this seems to be something sims players wanted.

Boardwalk Venue Preview

Its getting closer to the release of Roaring Heights and The Boardwalk Venue. SimGuru Copeland has initiated much excitement by posting amazing pictures like this one:

And the pictures just kept on coming (all pictures taken from SimguruCopeland's twitter) :

SET SHOWCASE: Through the Spy Glass Bedroom

An Alice in Wonderland themed set. Some very unique items with amazing designs are included with this set. I usually don't enjoy the fairytale theme but I really enjoyed this set because of the weird looking objects and designs. The set is very limited though and only includes these few items:

Roaring for a New World : Information and Thoughts on Upcoming World, Roaring Heights.

Roaring Heights, a forthcoming Sims 3 world, has officially been announced by EA following hints from Simgurus Copeland and Sparkle. The world was generally met with much excitement from the simming community as we have been begging and pleading for another city world.

Introducing the beautiful Roaring Heights, an early 20th Century style Sims 3 world: 

Need to know info: 

• Releasing on 12/12/2013 on the Sims 3 Store. 
• Will be available in Gold and Standard Edition. 
• Can only be purchased via simpoint bundle which includes 1900 simpoints (Gold Edition)  to spend on anything really but the Boardwalk venue is recommended (it is 1900 simpoints). The Standard Edition comes with only 100 simpoints. 
• The Gold Edition also includes the Boardwalk Attire. 
• PREMIUM CONTENT: Classically Cool Fixer-Upper Car which brings back car woohoo and sims use car doors. 
• The Boardwalk Venue will include Premium Content: roller coasters! 

The first hint, a limerick, from SimGuru Sparkle on twitter:

Sims 3 Store Set Review: Mother Russia

The phrase "Mother Russia" became popular after the 2nd World War as an effort to restore Russia's pride, unity and patriotism. It was implemented to create positive feelings. Does this store set also create positive feelings? Is it worth it to spend 1600 (sale price) simpoints on a few roof decor and Create-A-Sim (CAS) items ? This review will answer these questions. 

Store Set Showcase: Ultra Lounge

I decided to acquire the Ultra Lounge sets because when something looks like this all you can do is want it with your whole simming heart:

. As usual with these set showcases I give an overview of the set, rate the set and show you how I used it in game. Hope you enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed using the Ultra Lounge set...

Into the Future in Pictures: Part 4 - The Utopian Future

This next part finds our characters (Rocky, Ali and the plumbots) in the Utopian Future. Personally I didn't like the idea of this happy, sunny place where everything looks too bright. As I played more I actually realised how beautiful it is.

The Sims 2 or The Sims 3? Which is better?

Hi everyone,

Today I set out on a mission determined to play The Sims 2 after not playing the game since the release of The Sims 3. I only set out to play it for a few hours but it ended up being the entire day. I had to get used to the camera controls and also get used to not pressing game speed 4 but I was hooked. After playing I asked myself the question. Was Sims 2 a better game in its time than Sims 3?