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The Sims Makin' Magic Hands-on Preview
8 Oct 2003 - 23:10

GameSpot has posted a hands-on preview of Makin' Magic. See what they have to say about the last expansion pack for The Sims.

Go To GameSpot.com

The Sims: Makin' Magic Updated Impressions

By Andrew Park

We take one last advance look at the final expansion pack for The Sims.

We recently had the opportunity to take a look at the seventh and final expansion pack for Maxis' extremely popular strategy game, The Sims. The Makin' Magic expansion focuses on the use of magic spells, wands, potions, and other items to create useful effects that complement the original gameplay of The Sims.

The Sims Makin' MagicUsing magic in Makin' Magic requires you to develop your cooking, logic, and mechanical skills to solve puzzles, fashion magical items, and create magic potions. You start a new game of Makin' Magic with a visit from the Mystery Man, a stranger who leaves you with a starter's magic kit, which includes such items as a modern-day electric cauldron and a handful of magic spell components. You also receive a magical tome (which has a total of five pages) that contains all your magic spells--when you unlock them--plus a "hole in the ground" item that transports sims to Magic Town, the expansion's new downtown area.

Makin' Magic has a series of all-new skill objects, as well as other objects that can be used at home to make money. In fact, if you don't care to go to work, it doesn't seem like you have to, since Makin' Magic lets you harvest honey from beehives, which can be sold at a profit or used as a magic component. You can also grow grapes and elderberries in your garden, which can also be sold or used as magic components. While Makin' Magic doesn't have a new career path, it does let you keep up with your old one by providing you with a new magic spell that lets you clone a sim for just about any purpose--including sending him or her off to work. Unfortunately, even the most successful clones expire after a certain period of time and burst into flames. In fact, most of the magic in the game actually has a detrimental "backfire" condition. The "perfect garden" spell, for instance, causes any wilted flowers or plants to perk right back up, but if the spell backfires, your lawn gnomes may instead come to life and trample your sims' gardens--and kick your sims in the shins.

Makin' Magic's new downtown area, Magic Town, lets your sims unlock higher-level magic spells and lets them find more-advanced components from the local apothecary. You can also use the nearby stages in Magic Town to put on a magic show, which is similar to putting on a show in the previous expansion pack, Superstar. As in the last expansion pack, your sim gets onstage to perform a trick, like conjuring ghosts from a coffin, but if your sim's logic skill is poor, the ghosts will end up scaring your performer while the crowd responds with unappreciative catcalls. Performing onstage earns you magic coins, which can be used to buy new items from the apothecary. Magic coins can also be used to purchase a new house lot in an all-new section of the suburbs outside of SimCity--a section that's more naturally attuned to magic. Magic Town also lets you refill your sims' needs (or "motives," as they're referred to in the game) with items like the new roller coasters, which replenish your sims' need for fun. When designing an empty lot, you can actually create your own roller coaster by laying winding track along the ground. You can even create an entire lot that consists of nothing but a huge roller coaster.

The Sims Makin' MagicAs you might expect, Makin' Magic has additional functionality that works with other expansion packs for The Sims. If you have Superstar installed, for instance, you may find a magic spell that boosts your fame rating without having to perform onstage or without having to hobnob with celebrities. If you have Unleashed installed, you may actually be able to turn your pets into humans. Even if you don't have any other expansions, Makin' Magic adds more than 175 new items, plus the oft-requested ability to magically change child sims into adults.

The Sims: Makin' Magic recently went gold. The expansion is scheduled to ship at the end of this month--just in time for Halloween.

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The Sims Makin' Magic Goes Gold
8 Oct 2003 - 23:00

The magic is in the air!
Can you feel it? 2 additional screenshots are included to help you feel the magic.

Read Press Release

The Sims Makin' Magic The Sims Makin' Magic
EA GAMES' The Sims Makin' Magic Goes Gold

The magic is in the air! Can you feel it?

Now's your chance to explore the world of magic, Sims-style. The Sims Makin' Magic Expansion Pack has gone gold and is scheduled for release on October 28, 2003!

In The Sims Makin' Magic, your Sims are granted magical powers to cast playful or mischievous spells. Venture to an all-new magical, carnival-themed destination, experience exciting new gameplay, gain over 175 new items, and encounter a whole new cast of quirky characters in this powerful pack of magical high jinx.

At home, use suburban magic to transform everyday objects into helpful minions, hypnotize your friends, or turn that pesky neighbor into a frog. Unlock mystical recipes one by one in the family spellbook, and mix individual ingredients to create dozens of original incantations. Cast spells to take care of the needs of your Sims, keep tidy the house, cook meals, and meddle with relationships. But be careful, because every spell has a unique backfire, if your Sims lack that magic something. Hair-raising consequences in the game include toad plagues, snakes, and lightning strikes.

Visit Magic Town, the new spellbinding location, to earn rewards by performing mind-boggling tricks at a side show or dueling it out in a magic arena. Discover secret recipes for mystical concoctions and powerful charms. Quest for unusual ingredients or build wild carnival rides from the ground up. Eccentric new characters are available to assist and amuse you including a snake charmer, gypsy, and even a ghost or two. See what happens when the fate of the Sims is challenged and magic spells are cast with good or bad intentions. In The Sims Makin' Magic, expect the unexpected.

The Sims Makin' Magic will be the final edition to The Sims original series and prelude to the highly anticipated launch of The Sims™ 2. The expansion pack was developed by Maxis and is being published under the EA GAMES brand. The game is rated "T" (Teen) by the ESRB and has a US MSRP of $29.95. The Sims, The Sims Deluxe Edition, or The Sims Double Deluxe is required to play The Sims Makin' Magic.

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Welcome to The Sims 2! Part 6
3 Oct 2003 - 23:00

Hello everyone.

I’d like to start by apologizing to the few of you who asked me questions since the last email. We are all very busy here working on the Sims 2 and some of those questions are tough to answer quickly.

You are not being ignored, I just need a little more time!

Now on to some more exciting news about The Sims 2. We have already shipped the first custom content tool for The Sims 2, it is called SimCity 4! In The Sims 2, you will be able to import your SimCity 4 generated terrain into the game and create neighborhoods based upon them. Instead of using the existing game neighborhoods, this will allow Sims 2 players to add a deeper level of customization, as they create original neighborhoods for their Sims to live in. I will provide a white paper describing how to do this in the next few weeks.

Next up, The Sims 2 Fansite Kit. This file contains all new assets to create your own official The Sims 2 fansites. We have even included a few new exclusive screen shots. We hope you will use this kit to freshen up and build out your existing sites and help us tell the world about The Sims 2 between now and its 2004 release (no date yet!). We will be providing additional updates and assets in the coming months. You will notice that some of those shots are not showing the UI. We are currently changing it for a better one, and we are trying to not show the old style anymore. In the next few weeks we will probably reveal the new one...

To top it all off, we have convinced the development team to let go of some video footage. Watch this super-secret 30 sec clip of game play footage from The Sims 2:






I hope you enjoy the latest information. Stay tuned for further details!

Cheers,

Luc

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Chat with Dr. Vu
2 Oct 2003 - 23:30

Thank You to everyone that showed up at our SimCity chat event. Transcripts will be posted at SimCity.com. Check back next week for another chat event.

Go To SimCity.com

Maxis let the insidious Doctor Vu and the nefarious CoxFromMaxis out of their high-security restraints long enough to talk to the Community about SimCity 4, SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition, and the Rush Hour Expansion Pack. What follows is the transcript, right up to when they had to be subdued with cattle prods and returned to their cages.
MaxisKitty (Oct 2, 2003 3:02:02 PM)
Hello and welcome to todays chat with the insidious Dr. Vu and Mike Cox. Today's topic is all things SIm City.

MaxisKitty (Oct 2, 2003 3:03:08 PM)
Dr. Vu is the assistant producer and Mike Cox an associate producer on Sim City

MaxisKitty (Oct 2, 2003 3:03:31 PM)
and now let the chat begin!

Qwertyuiop2k11 (Oct 2, 2003 3:04:09 PM)
Is it possible to prevent those pop ups like when theres a fire or when your running out of money? Because those pop ups are very annoying.

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:04:09 PM)
There isn't a way to prevent those pop-ups. The best thing to do is to make sure your fire coverage covers all your lots. If the coverage is good, you should be able to minimize a lot of the pop ups.

Grnday_991 (Oct 2, 2003 3:04:55 PM)
do you think you are ever going to help the modders at SimTropolis on their mods

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:04:55 PM)
There has been some informal help already. I know some of our engineers and production people have provided information on the boards from time to time. We have been amazed at what all the modders have been able to do on their on.

Poohead_MAX (Oct 2, 2003 3:05:07 PM)
Dr Vu, I have noticed that I get a lot of repeat missions in U-Drive and I seem to have a hard time unlocking some of the more interesting missions listed in the Rush Hour Manual. Are you aware of any cheat codes or ways of removing the restrictions to allow instant access to all missions. ??

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:05:07 PM)
To fight against the repeat missions, just click cancel if you see them. They should then not appear for another year or so. Also, check in the manual to find the triggers of all the other missions. This should help you get the harder to get missions.

Qwertyuiop2k11 (Oct 2, 2003 3:05:25 PM)
Why does it take a lot longer in SC4 to get skyscrapers than in SC3000 Unlimted?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:05:25 PM)
Not to sound sarcastic but they are different games. The stategies you use for sc3 vs. sc4 are different. The games play differently for many differnent reasons. THe localized effect of buildings in sc4 is something sc3 did not have. The greater details in states of buildings is another difference. How the simulation works and has been tuned is also a change. Getting skyscrapers in sc4 happens on a different scale and timeline due to many of these decisions and differences

jbbry232 (Oct 2, 2003 3:05:48 PM)
Is there an easier way to drive the udriveit! vehicles? It is so hard to get the hang of driving.

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:05:48 PM)
Try different zooms and take it slowly. There are hints in the tips section for U-drive it on the Simcity.com website. Also, the keys are mapped in various places, so you can use the number pad to control the vehicles if that suits you better.

dagmgd (Oct 2, 2003 3:06:07 PM)
What issues with RH have been discovered that will be the first to be patched?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:06:07 PM)
For the most part we have been real happy with the feedback on the boards. Still, there are some crashes people have been telling us about and we are looking seriously into those issues. If you are crashing feel free to send us your exception reports from this directory My Documents\SimCity 4\Exception Reports Send them to bugout@maxis.com.

Gary (Oct 2, 2003 3:06:18 PM)
Does Dr. Vu really hate cats?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:06:18 PM)
Dr. Vu doesn't really hate cats. He's really not evil at all. He just plays evil in the game. Wink

Poohead_MAX (Oct 2, 2003 3:06:43 PM)
Over all Dr Vu I am very pleased with Rush Hour and U-Drive, so let me first say "Job well done!". ... however, I have a pet peeve with one vehicle type. I find that the 'copter's are very difficult to fly. Mainly because of the lack of a vehicle shadow to allow me to determine the hight at which I am flying at. ... Do you have any advice or is this an item that can be revised when Rush Hour goes through it's next update?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:06:43 PM)
When using the copters, try to move slowly at first to get the hang of flying. We tried to get the feel of flying a real helicopter, so the physics for the copters are pretty accurate to how real helicopters move and react. Unfortunately, it can make the learning curve a bit steeper. Try your best to check out the driving panel for the copter, especially the altimeter number indicator to see how far you are above the group. Practice with hovering and don't give up!

Dragons_Revenge (Oct 2, 2003 3:07:18 PM)
Is Dr. Vu supposed to be based on Dr. Evil - from Austin Powers?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:07:18 PM)
Not really based on Austin Powers, but more on the idea of an evil genius mastermind behind the crimes you see in SimCity.

calel (Oct 2, 2003 3:09:17 PM)
what kind of easter eggs can we unlock in rush/deluxe? and how does that happen? can you give an example?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:09:17 PM)
There are some easter eggs in Rush Hour that I have not yet seen on the boards. Maybe I should drop some clues!

Ashcat101 (Oct 2, 2003 3:09:45 PM)
What new things will be in deluxe?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:09:45 PM)
Deluxe is just SimCity 4 and Rush Hour combined. We wanted to offer something good for all of you that bought SimCity 4 and also provide a nice way for fans to get both if they had not bought SimCity 4 previously.

Dragons_Revenge (Oct 2, 2003 3:09:51 PM)
What does Dr. Vu do in his spare time?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:09:51 PM)
Dr. Vu is a hard core gamer (funny how I'm speaking in the 3rd person) and loves to try out anything and everything new. Other than that, he is intent on making the best game possible for ya'll to enjoy.

jbbry232 (Oct 2, 2003 3:10:55 PM)
When will the BAT come out?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:10:55 PM)
We're stil on track for getting something out by the end of the year.

jbbry232 (Oct 2, 2003 3:11:51 PM)
When will we get the Rush Hour building prop pack for the Lot Editor?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:11:51 PM)
That sounds like a good SimDay. Keep an eye out for that one.

Qwertyuiop2k11 (Oct 2, 2003 3:12:08 PM)
I've noticed theres a lack of Landmarks in Sim City 4 compared to Sim City 3000 Unlimted, does Rush Hour include more landmarks and are there Maxis made Landmarks we can download from the SC4 site?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:12:08 PM)
There are some new ones with RushHour. Keep an eye out for more landmarks on future SimCity days.

Mr.Peanut (Oct 2, 2003 3:12:11 PM)
Why did the Maxis team choose Dr. Vu as the "villain"?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:12:11 PM)
The SimCity team bestowed the name of the Evil DoctorVu during SimCity 4 core, and it stuck ever since. Since he was already evil, it only made since to make him evil in game too.

Dargor (Oct 2, 2003 3:12:52 PM)
Will Maxis release a new Lot Editor that is compatible with Rush Hour? There are lots of people that can run the programm anymore, all textures have disappeared. Is this issue known yet?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:12:52 PM)
We have learned recently that there are a handful of lots that do not work with the lot editor. The toll booth, the cruise ship seaport and a few others will not work. There is special code in those lots that are preventing them from working and we will provide a full list. However, you should be able to see the new textures and all of the new commercial and residential buildings from the european set. To say that lot ed is broken completely with Rush Hour is not quite accurate from what I have seen.

CaitlynSadie (Oct 2, 2003 3:13:07 PM)
In Rush Hour I always get an error when trying to build say a monorail, but it won't tell be why I can't build it. What are some of the common causes of those "not being able to build" errors?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:13:07 PM)
Try to level out your terrain more, it could be that the terrain is unsuitable for building the monorail.

DanielF (Oct 2, 2003 3:15:13 PM)
My computer can barely handle SC4. Does Rush Hour require even more system resources?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:15:13 PM)
We certainly added a lot more too Rush Hour but we also spent a great deal of time and effort making it as effecient as possible. I think we did a good job at it. My feeling is that you will be able to run Rush Hour at least as well as you are running SimCity 4.

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:16:12 PM)
Normally while I'm playing Sim City, disasters happen rapidly, like every 5 minutes or less. Is there a way to prevent them so my cities don't keep getting wrecked?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:16:12 PM)
Other than car accidents and fires all the other disasters in SimCity 4 are under your control. If you are getting lots of fires maybe you need more firestations.

Dargor (Oct 2, 2003 3:16:16 PM)
Dr. Vu, what U-Drive-It mission do you like the most yourself? and why?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:16:16 PM)
I really enjoy the tank missions where you can blow up things and control the finer points of the barrel.

[ dan ] (Oct 2, 2003 3:17:51 PM)
How does the new zoom level work in Rush Hour...wouldnt it be all pixelated since its closer?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:17:51 PM)
There is a zoom 6 in Rush Hour. It is a bit more pixelated since we are using the same art as zoom 5 but I think it looks pretty good. The pay off of getting closer in is well worth the minor pixellation. Check it out and let us know what you think.

The_New_Vlad (Oct 2, 2003 3:18:34 PM)
Is there a way that allows us for tunnels to be made under water?

themallard12 (Oct 2, 2003 3:18:47 PM)
Doctor Vu, could you please gives us a hint about (an) easter egg(s) now? Please?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:18:47 PM)
It has something to do with gnomes.

Hayly (Oct 2, 2003 3:19:41 PM)
in preperation for the BAT, it was mentioned to learn gmax, is this because the bat is gmax with a new face, or just based on gmax's functions?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:19:41 PM)
gMax will provide the modeling tools needed to make art for SimCity 4. What we are doing is providing the render pipeline and the ability to define the buildings and props that you make in gMax. The result is a very powerful tool and great looking custom art to use with the lot editor and the game.

nyaren (Oct 2, 2003 3:20:06 PM)
I'm having problems connecting one way streets to avenues ... is it just not meant to be?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:20:06 PM)
What type of problems are you having? They should connect as easily as roads and streets. Try to intersect avenues at a T, and not at the ends.

MaxisLucky (Oct 2, 2003 3:21:00 PM)
System Specifications for SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition can be found at: http://www.eagames.com/pccd/sc4_deluxe/home.jsp

MaxisLucky (Oct 2, 2003 3:21:29 PM)
System Specifications for SimCity Rush Hour can be found at: http://www.eagames.com/pccd/simcity4_rh/home.jsp?

Mr.Peanut (Oct 2, 2003 3:21:52 PM)
Has the Sim City Community affected the way you develop your games?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:21:52 PM)
Absolutely! We listen to the fan feedback constantly and try to deliver on what it is you want most. It can be overwhelming at times because if we tried to do all the suggestions the games would never get done. We all feel so lucky to have such an active and vocal community. It trully helps us make better games.

The Sim's Stash (Oct 2, 2003 3:23:12 PM)
What's the deal with maxis and llamas..ever since SC classic I have seen tons of referances. Why llamas?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:23:12 PM)
Why not.

Qwertyuiop2k11 (Oct 2, 2003 3:24:29 PM)
Did you guys work on the original Sim Cities?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:24:29 PM)
I've been involved with SimCity since SC3k. There are people here at Maxis who go all the way back to classic. Some guy named Will keeps boasting he's been around since the beginning. Wink

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:24:32 PM)
What dose Area 5.1 due besides give you money?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:24:33 PM)
Fun vehicles that come with the building and missions that unlock because that building is in your city.

thesiddog (Oct 2, 2003 3:25:48 PM)
Why does my game seem to crash when I don't match the map with the map on the other city? Is that what's causing it to crash? When they're even, my game doesn't crash.

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:25:48 PM)
That sounds bad. If you are running Rush Hour or deluxe please forward us you exemption report next time you crash. The report can be found here, \\My Documents\SimCity 4\Exception Reports and you can send the files to bugout@maxis.com

billy_bob55 (Oct 2, 2003 3:26:53 PM)
I saw that planes bounce on bridges-buildings and mountains. Why can't we crash?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:26:53 PM)
Crashing planes is not something we wanted do in this game.

joe_the_coffee_man (Oct 2, 2003 3:26:54 PM)
Can you tell us about the UFO? Will you be able to abduct or what?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:26:54 PM)
You can control the UFO, shoot lasers, and yes, abduct your inhabitants.

TheSimFan44 (Oct 2, 2003 3:27:41 PM)
Why is it that when it is on the closest zoom, the texture quality drops to like in SimCity 3000? I didn't have that problem with the original SimCity4 (rush hour not installed)

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:27:41 PM)
In SimCity 4 you didn't have the closest zoom that you have in Rush Hour. We added a zoom 6 in Rush Hour and Deluxe.

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:28:06 PM)
Isn't the music from the ice cream truck from Sim City 2000?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:28:06 PM)
Good catch! That's some of the humor and easter eggs that you may find in Rush Hour.

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:28:50 PM)
hi i i nned to know because i want to buy simcity deluxe edition but when i buy it online the page say that i have to buy the sim city 4 and then buy the deluxe edition !!?? can you explain me this ??

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:28:50 PM)
You don't need to have SC4 prior to Deluxe. Deluxe comes with both Rush Hour and SimCity 4. If you have SimCity 4 I would suggest getting Rush Hour to add to it.

hot_devil (Oct 2, 2003 3:29:07 PM)
do you get any of your ideas from your fans? or do you just think them all up yourself??

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:29:07 PM)
We come up with a lot of original ideas, but we also love to listen to our fans and try to incorporate those ideas too.

The Sim's Stash (Oct 2, 2003 3:29:09 PM)
how long will this chat be? an hour or untill there are no more questions?

MaxisLucky (Oct 2, 2003 3:29:09 PM)
The chat will run from 3 pm to 4 pm Pacific Time

yoan2003 (Oct 2, 2003 3:29:48 PM)
hey my question is if i have to buy simcity 4 and then buy cimcity4 deluxe edition or everything is inside ( the expansion pack and simcity ) or not please ???

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:29:48 PM)
Simcity 4 deluxe will contain both Simcity Core and Rush hour in it.

Elzar760 (Oct 2, 2003 3:30:11 PM)
There seems to be some confusion on posts I've read on other forums. Is the pathfinding engine completely rewritten, or just changed to try and make it more efficient.

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:30:11 PM)
The real problem is this. The pathfinding does not look at every single trip. If tuned it to do that the game would literally crawl to its knees. There are a lot of trips and it would be very expensive for the cpus to calculate it all. We made decisions to tune it to a happy medium. It is possible to provide a tuning that is much more aggressive but that tuning would not be reccomended for slower machines.

bluebird316 (Oct 2, 2003 3:31:05 PM)
Is there anything in Deluxe that's not in Original + Rush Hour?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:31:05 PM)
They are the same.

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:31:11 PM)
What can i do to prevent my buildings from getting the burned-down look? It seems like once i reach a population of about 40,000, everything just starts going downhill.

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:31:11 PM)
There are so many reasons why this could be happening. Try going through the hint sections on the simcity.com site or some of the tutorials over at simtroplis.

Catz_1 (Oct 2, 2003 3:32:18 PM)
willl there be a transcript of this chat for later viewing?

MaxisLucky (Oct 2, 2003 3:32:18 PM)
There will be a transcript posted to the site some time after the chat.

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:32:42 PM)
Tips on Terraforming?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:32:42 PM)
Here is a tip that I do not think is very obvious to the fans. If you hold shift and press any of the number keys, the size of the terra-forming brush changes!

Poohead_MAX (Oct 2, 2003 3:32:52 PM)
If the Evil Dr Vu becomes America's favorite video game villan is it possible we will see him spin-off into other Games?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:32:52 PM)
At the very least we should allow him his on clothing and hairstyling line of products Wink

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:33:56 PM)
What are some cool new veicales and what is there abilaty

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:33:56 PM)
Tanks, helicopters, UFO, toxic truck, etc!

StacysMom (Oct 2, 2003 3:35:16 PM)
Will you still be able to win awards for being a good mayor?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:35:16 PM)
Yes, you can get all rewards without using U-Drive it and high mayor rating can certainly be in the criteria.

Dragons_Revenge (Oct 2, 2003 3:35:33 PM)
Could they have an Option for a more aggressive pathfinding option...for those of us with a faster system? Or would that be unfeasable?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:35:33 PM)
That is possible and it cuts to the core of the issue. The tuning is such that the game will not run at a crawl because every path is being calculated. A more aggressive tuning is feasible.

MaxisLucky (Oct 2, 2003 3:36:28 PM)
If you are not seeing the answers to the questions, please try re-sizing your chat window.

StacysMom (Oct 2, 2003 3:37:33 PM)
Can you now control tornados or other natural disasters?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:37:33 PM)
You can control tornados by holding down the left mouse button when you activate it.

Sk8zim17 (Oct 2, 2003 3:38:35 PM)
will the BAT for SimCity 4 have more potions and items than the Simcity 3000 one did?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:38:35 PM)
Oh yeah. It will be built on gmax and will provide full 3d modeling support. Check out the discreet site for a free download of gmax.

broomhilda (Oct 2, 2003 3:39:52 PM)
why is it harder to make money in SC4 than it was in the earlier versions?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:39:53 PM)
Are you using Rush Hour? We provided some easier modes of play to help with peoples budget problems. We also have some tutorials on making money in SimCity 4.

tmjkfriend (Oct 2, 2003 3:40:06 PM)
Can we open older city on the new Rush Hour so we can use U-Drive it in the city? Maybe like Maxis made city?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:40:06 PM)
Yes you can.

Sk8zim17 (Oct 2, 2003 3:41:03 PM)
How in-depth will creating buildings be with the SC4 BAT? will it be like before, with the blocks that you use?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:41:03 PM)
No blocks. The new version will allow for full 3d modeling. IT will be a more diffiecult tool to use perhaps but it will be very powerful.

PatrickG_2 (Oct 2, 2003 3:41:10 PM)
You guys added the Bank of America Tower in Seattle as a landmark but why not the Space Needle?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:41:10 PM)
As you know, there are tons of landmarks all over the world that we would love to do, so we try to pick and choose a wide variety.

red29_11 (Oct 2, 2003 3:42:07 PM)
did you leave the code open on purpose? we have seen people create "modds", was that something you wanted to happen?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:42:07 PM)
The modds are typically not modifying the code for simcity. The files they are able to manipulate are more the data files that contain all kinds of tuning and scripts. It is great to see how much they are able to do with these data files.

jbbry232 (Oct 2, 2003 3:42:31 PM)
where'd you maxoids get the inspiration for your screen names?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:42:31 PM)
I got mine because my last name is Cox and I work for Maxis.

balrog (Oct 2, 2003 3:43:16 PM)
why can't i do the water training mission even though i know i meet all of the requirments?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:43:16 PM)
If you've completed them before, you will never get them again unless you reinstall the game.

jbbry232 (Oct 2, 2003 3:44:39 PM)
so your saying that the new BAT will be difficult to use, will yall include a step-by-step VERY HELPFUL tutorial?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:44:39 PM)
We are going to do what we can to make it accesible to as many people as possible. Step by step will get people started but there is a lot of power with gmax that we don't want to loose. With that power comes complexity. The upside is that we believe there will be better buildings and props made with this tool than anything you ever saw with the original bat.

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:44:54 PM)
Is there any new disasters besides crashes,UFO,and AtutosaurasRex

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:44:54 PM)
Train derailments, toxic waste spills, boat sinking, etc.

Vancouver_BC (Oct 2, 2003 3:45:21 PM)
Where can we find gnomes in our cities?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:45:21 PM)
It's very secret, keep your eyes open!

Elzar760 (Oct 2, 2003 3:45:48 PM)
still seeing answers to missing questions even after resizing my window

MaxisLucky (Oct 2, 2003 3:45:48 PM)
You might try logging out and logging back in.

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:46:02 PM)
What's your favorite part of Rush Hour?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:46:02 PM)
I love everything from U-Drive it to the new building set, bridges, and new networks along with disasters. It's all so much fun to play with.

dagmgd (Oct 2, 2003 3:47:37 PM)
Are there legal issues to using certain landmarks?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:47:37 PM)
Oh yeah. There are tons of issues with landmarks depending upon where the landmark is. For example, all the cool buildings in France are protected by the government as cultural artifacts and using them usually means we have to jump through lots of legal hoops. Another example would be the famous casinos in Vegas. All of those are owned by corporations and are treated and trademarks. We would have to pay a lot of money to use something like the Luxor or the MGM Grand. We love doing the landmarks but it is always a big legal job before we can actually start making something.

The Sim's Stash (Oct 2, 2003 3:48:05 PM)
Why hasn't the big spider like alien with a big eye from SC2K been bronght back in SC3K or SC4?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:48:05 PM)
That sounds like something that would be really fun to do.

billy_bob55 (Oct 2, 2003 3:48:11 PM)
is there a prima guide for Rush hour?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:48:11 PM)
Yes there is. The writer of the guide spent a lot of time with us here at Maxis so all the inside scoops can be found there.

MaxisShorty (Oct 2, 2003 3:48:52 PM)
There is a Prima Guide available right now, and in fact, we offer a downloadable excerpt on our site.

The_New_Vlad (Oct 2, 2003 3:49:46 PM)
What is GMAX?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:49:46 PM)
gMax is a watered down version of 3dStudio Max and both are 3d modeling tools. gMAx can be downloaded for free from the Discreet web site.

slimy rhyme (Oct 2, 2003 3:49:56 PM)
so, uh, is this chat still going on?

MaxisLucky (Oct 2, 2003 3:49:56 PM)
Yes - for another 10 minutes!

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:50:43 PM)
Why was there such a drop in the amount of maxis cities that shipped with the game? I really liked your cities!

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:50:44 PM)
I know that space was an issue. Hopefully, we can give users downloadable cities and regions that we created.

jbbry232 (Oct 2, 2003 3:51:11 PM)
could you give us a link to GMAX if possible

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:51:11 PM)
Just do a search on discreet and gmax. You will find it. I don't have the link on hand.

Poohead_MAX (Oct 2, 2003 3:51:31 PM)
Is it possible in future releases of SimCity to include a "SandBox" mode for those of us who don't want to worry about budgets and just built a beautiful city?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:51:31 PM)
Some of the lot and mods from the exchange give users a lot of money so that they can essentially play as though in Sand Box mode.

Alrowan (Oct 2, 2003 3:51:39 PM)
when will the log be available?

MaxisKitty (Oct 2, 2003 3:51:39 PM)
It will be posted on the SimCity site sometimes after the event

MaxisKitty (Oct 2, 2003 3:52:12 PM)
We have about ten minutes left, please send in your best questions now

Dragons_Revenge (Oct 2, 2003 3:52:19 PM)
Are there any plans for a Rush Hour/SC4 Deluxe City best city competition\, like that was had for SC4 core?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:52:19 PM)
That would be something incredibly fun to do since the new networks and building styles can be used to make very unique cities!

The_New_Vlad (Oct 2, 2003 3:52:48 PM)
Is it possible that Maxis will put a City Exchange on the website?

MaxisLucky (Oct 2, 2003 3:52:48 PM)
Anything is possible. Happy

The Stash Master (Oct 2, 2003 3:52:51 PM)
Can I buy a copy of SimCity Classic that works with Windows XP? I bought the game in the 80's when it came out, and I play the game at simcity.com, but I want an offline version I can play on XP? My old disks don't work on XP.

MaxisShorty (Oct 2, 2003 3:52:51 PM)
You can find SimCity Classic available for play on the SimCity website!

The_New_Vlad (Oct 2, 2003 3:53:01 PM)
Is it a challenge to put landmarks in the game?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:53:01 PM)
They tend to cost a lot of money so the challenge is there, but they do give a yimby effect.

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:53:13 PM)
WHAT IS RUSH HOUR?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:53:13 PM)
Rush Hour is an amazing expansion pack for Simcity 4. It gives you a whole new set of European buildings, a bunch of new bridges and networks, new disasters and U-Drive-It missions that allow you to drive , fly and float around you city. Go get it now! It is fun and there is even more in it that I just typed. But, don't take my word for it. Check out the BBS to see what others are saying.

gamegirl815 (Oct 2, 2003 3:53:54 PM)
dr vu, what is your real name?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:53:54 PM)
You can find it on the box, guess who it is with the last name "Vu".

The Stash Master (Oct 2, 2003 3:55:25 PM)
Why have you not talked about the SC2K release for GBA on the site...it is being released in 12 days!!!!

MaxisLucky (Oct 2, 2003 3:55:25 PM)
Maxis is not involved with the SC2K GBA version. That is being produced by another company.

billy_bob55 (Oct 2, 2003 3:55:46 PM)
why can we throw money by the window on the limocar?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:55:46 PM)
There is a mission that uses the money. Plus anywhere you used the money will give you mayor rating and desirability boosts at those locations.

jbbry232 (Oct 2, 2003 3:55:48 PM)
if a sc4 player manages to recreate a building like lets say Luxor, would that be bad or illegal if he were to post it in some sort of building exchange?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:55:48 PM)
That would not be bad because you are not selling it.

Catz_1 (Oct 2, 2003 3:56:27 PM)
why do boats sometimes start inside the marina, is this a bug, if so, a very annoying one

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:56:27 PM)
Try placing the marina in a different location. If it still occurs, it may be a bug.

gamegirl815 (Oct 2, 2003 3:56:34 PM)
what is 3d studio max?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:56:34 PM)
That is a 3d modeling program that we use to make all of the buildings and props in SimCity. Autodesk makes the application.

Catz_1 (Oct 2, 2003 3:57:54 PM)
any other hint's that you wanna share? :P

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:57:54 PM)
I would but it would eliminate the fun of finding the easter eggs.

billy_bob55 (Oct 2, 2003 3:58:34 PM)
Thanks for maxis for that chat

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:58:34 PM)
Thanks for noticing. The orchestral stuff is very exciting for us as well. I'll be sure and let the composers know how much you like it.

Guest (Oct 2, 2003 3:58:44 PM)
What do you prefer to make: Large cities or country cities?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 3:58:44 PM)
I like making cities that are between 100-120 thousand inhabitants.

The_New_Vlad (Oct 2, 2003 3:59:42 PM)
Is there a way that we can obtain this 3D studio max modeling program and make some buildings of our own?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 3:59:42 PM)
You can get gmax for free from Discreet. Gmax is a watered down version of 3dsMax. You can buy 3dsMax from Autodesk but it is very expensive and gMax is what you will want to be familiar with for SimCity 4.

billy_bob55 (Oct 2, 2003 4:00:49 PM)
so, as i understand, if you give us downloadable free landmarks, it's legal?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 4:00:49 PM)
It doen't necessarily work that way all the time. Every landmark deal has the potential to be it's own unique problem.

StacysMom (Oct 2, 2003 4:01:30 PM)
I'm really thinking of buying the game now, because of this chat. Could someone maybe give me some more information before I buy the game?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 4:01:30 PM)
This game is a blast to play and it will bring out the creative city building spirit in you.

MaxisLucky (Oct 2, 2003 4:01:50 PM)
We're running out of time. We'll be taking just a couple more questions.

gamegirl815 (Oct 2, 2003 4:02:24 PM)
is the deluxe version out yet?

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 4:02:24 PM)
In the United States Deluxe has shipped already and so has Rush Hour. The rest of the world has Rush Hour and some have Deluxe but some territories are doing Deluxe on a different schedule.

MaxisKitty (Oct 2, 2003 4:03:00 PM)
Thank you all for coming to the chat, it is now four pm here in Maxis Land and sadly our guests Dr. Vu and Mike Cox need to get back to doing work... and check for the transcript on the SimCity site later!

Dragons_Revenge (Oct 2, 2003 4:03:22 PM)
Aren't the building rewards for completing UDriveIT missions a little overboard sometimes, for instance, having a small landing stip can get you a Major League Stadium with a town of only about 13,000 people?

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 4:03:22 PM)
That's the beauty of it, you can get great things early, but can you afford to keep them. That's the real question.

coxfrommaxis (Oct 2, 2003 4:03:23 PM)
Thank you everyone. You really make creating games very rewarding for us. Group hug everyone. Bye!

DoctorVu (Oct 2, 2003 4:04:29 PM)
Thanks everyone one for coming and chating with us! Great questions and I would love to speak with ya'll again!

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Read more!
Designing Makin' Magic
2 Oct 2003 - 23:20

Read the exclusive interview for SimInsider! Associate Designer, Jenna Chalmers, explains some of the mystique behind creating Makin’ Magic.

Go To Interview

We caught up with Jenna during the final development stages of The Sims™ Makin' Magic Expansion Pack at Electronic Art's Maxis Studio in Walnut Creek, CA. Right away, we knew we had come to a place where creative inspiration is welcome. Jenna's work space was strung with white lights, fabrics and other décor creating a real magical ambience. Jenna glowed with excitement when she talked about Makin' Magic and we're looking forward to playing the final version when it comes out this Halloween.

1. What is a Designer's role on a development team?
Generally, a designer's job is to take all the great ideas that come from different people, sort out the ones that work well together and use their own creativity to weave them in to a cohesive, rich gameplay experience for the player.
For "The Sims" in particular, keeping the players in mind is critical. Here, the players are the storytellers. You have to put yourself in their place and determine what elements they need to create their world.

2. How excited was the Development Team to design The Sims Makin' Magic?
We were very excited. With every expansion pack we try to push the limits of what's possible within a game, which is always fun. But with The Sims Makin' Magic, the very nature of the content meant that the sky was the limit in terms of what we could and could not do. This allowed us to let ourselves go creatively, and to come up with some really wacky, off-the-wall moments.

3. What magic themes did you try to follow?
Because magic means different things to different people, we had to focus on what magic means to the Sims. We describe it as "domestic" or "suburban" magic. Some TV sitcoms you could think of that fit this bill are Bewitched, The Addam's Family, and I Dream of Jeannie. To stay within the context of The Sims world, daily life needed to remain somewhat realistic, yet introduce magic with humorous, tongue-and-cheek twists. For example, think of classic elements of pop culture like flamingo and gnome lawn ornaments (also in previous Expansion Packs). In The Sims Makin' Magic, you can now enchant these ornaments to do your gardening or help entertain. Putting a spin on those is very much within the context of The Sims.

4. What were the most fun characters, objects, spells, etc. to design?
The Sims Makin' Magic was fun to design, because we could let our imaginations really run wild. Two things cool stand out. First, spells were really fun. For example, with "Shed Your Skin," you can change your character's looks into something completely different. Coming up with all of these looks was a blast. Also thinking of how and why spells can go wrong was a riot. Our fans are sure to laugh a lot.
Second, the whole look and feel of the game was a treat to design. We created a cross between an old-timey 40's carnival and bohemian gypsy world. Additionally, The Sims Makin' Magic introduces more old fashioned elements with a sense of history like the butter churns, spinning wheels, and an antique tea set which add a real nostalgic feel. We also created a distinct mood with autumn and spooky trees, wishing wells, and fog among other things.

5. Regardless of a new Expansion Pack theme, Maxis always provides something for every fan. What's your favorite new non-magical gameplay or feature?
Baking and cooking in The Sims Makin' Magic is really outstanding. There's a lot of rich gameplay related to cooking which greatly adds to the base play. For cooking you can grow, make, harvest, and buy a lot of the ingredients you need. And with the Baker's Oven and Nectar Press, players can mix ingredients to bake pies or make nectar. In addition, we designed a whole new Mediterranean kitchen set to match the look and feel of the Baker's Oven. I also really like the funhouse rides which you can build and customize for your Sims. The Clown and Spooky themed rides turned out incredible!

6. What is your favorite thing about The Sims Makin' Magic?
The whole look and feel of the game is amazing. The Magic Town location is so mystical and fun that I sometimes think I would want to live there. Some other things I like are the all-new the floors, walls, outfits, and environments such as autumn trees and fog that all contribute to creating an atmosphere that is true to the The Sims Makin' Magic world. Compared to the previous expansion packs, you can dramatically change the way your environment looks. I love that about this game!

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GameGal Previews Makin' Magic
2 Oct 2003 - 23:10

"Personally, I can’t wait to get my peepers on the Vampiress and gypsy vendors that inhabit Magic Town."

Go To GameGal.com

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Double Deluxe Object Pack Download #3 of 3
2 Oct 2003 - 23:00

The last Double Deluxe download is now available! This object download contains tables, fountains, wallpapers, and more!

Download Double Deluxe Object Pack #3 (1.74 Mb)

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Welcome to The Sims 2! Part 5
26 Sep 2003 - 23:00

Hello everyone.

We are in "stealth mode" as we create the first The Sims 2 website. If you would like to post a link to your Sims 2 fan site, please go to http://thesims.ea.com/us/index.html?frame_src_content=chat/links/index.html and select the Sims 2 category.

Last but not least, we have opened the asset vault once again to give you another glimpse of The Sims 2.

Check out our film strip of the teen party demo:

The Sims 2

In addition, you can see an exclusive first shot of the custom content tool interface below. The asterisk you see in the screen will serve to identify player created content in the game. Note that this is a work in progress but we wanted you to be the first to see what we have cooking:

The Sims 2

I hope you enjoy the latest information. Stay tuned for further details!

Cheers,

Luc

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Chat With Makin' Magic Associate Game Designer, Jenna Chalmers
25 Sep 2003 - 23:20

Thank you to everyone that showed up at our chat event with Makin' Magic Associate Game Designer, Jenna Chalmers. We have posted the chat transcripts for those of you that couldn't make it.

Read Transcripts

MaxisKitty (Sep 25, 2003 6:00:19 PM)
Hello and welcome to the Sims chat with Jenna Chalmers! She is a designer on the Makin' Magic expansion and ready to answer questions you have about the upcoming game.

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:00:58 PM)
Hi all. Thanks for coming Happy

Scary69 (Sep 25, 2003 6:01:30 PM)
Can only certain Sims use magic or they all have to use magic???

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:01:30 PM)
All Sims have magical power inside of them. But before they can really use their magic, you must add a "wand" to their inventory. You can get them a wand from new objects like the "Wand Charger"

Iamabbw (Sep 25, 2003 6:02:33 PM)
Will the dragon count as a family member like the dogs and cats?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:02:33 PM)
No. The dragon is an independant spirit. He is not a full-fledged family member.

Zsky2 (Sep 25, 2003 6:03:47 PM)
Hello, what will making rollercoasters in Makin' Magic be like?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:03:47 PM)
We wanted to give you pieces to play with...so that you could build your own rollercoaster...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:04:37 PM)
you will have various track pieces....and also larger "ride" pieces.

nathan7056@aol.com (Sep 25, 2003 6:04:54 PM)
how do you live in magic town.

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:04:54 PM)
Magic Town has three residential lots.

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:05:20 PM)
In order to move there, it will cost you simoleons and magicoins....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:05:36 PM)
you earn magicoins by performing magic in magic town.

kitkatbarish (Sep 25, 2003 6:06:05 PM)
What are some of the new skins?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:06:05 PM)
Personally, i LOVE the new skins in this pack...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:06:36 PM)
in create-a-sim we did a bunch of stuff from different periods of time...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:07:24 PM)
in addition, there is a spell called "Shed Your Skin" which lets you completely change the look of your sim for a limited period of time.

Irishlass (Sep 25, 2003 6:08:49 PM)
If we have The Sims: Unleashed, will out pets be able to do anything magical?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:08:49 PM)
If you have Unleashed, you will have an extra spell to cast on you pet. Wink

NiGhT_PhOeNiX (Sep 25, 2003 6:09:26 PM)
will there be breeds of dragons? or differnt colors of the dragon?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:09:26 PM)
When you buy the dragon egg....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:09:44 PM)
you have to take proper care of it.

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:09:53 PM)
depending on how well you do....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:10:15 PM)
you will get a well-behaved dragon.....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:10:34 PM)
or...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:10:38 PM)
not Happy

Iamabbw (Sep 25, 2003 6:10:53 PM)
Can sims get attacked by the bees from the beehive?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:10:53 PM)
yes.

skppy1225 (Sep 25, 2003 6:11:50 PM)
What are MagiCoins used for?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:11:50 PM)
Magicoins are use for buying some of the magic ingredients for spells and charms as well as buying lots in Magic Town.

pic620 (Sep 25, 2003 6:13:21 PM)
I like my old house can i move my old house to magic town?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:13:21 PM)
No sorry. Just like moving to a new lot in the old neighborhood, you can't take it with you. Happy

AlmoANDKelbel (Sep 25, 2003 6:14:26 PM)
Will every family have their own spell book?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:14:26 PM)
No. The family shares the information in one spellbook.

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:14:47 PM)
This is helpful in unlocking all the information in the spellbook.

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:15:33 PM)
it would be a pain to have each family member have to unlock it all.

buschnut (Sep 25, 2003 6:16:40 PM)
What are the bubble-like lizard toys in some of the sreenshots?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:16:40 PM)
That is the kids "charm maker"....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:17:05 PM)
Kids use it to combine ingredients and make spells.

vampiress_kittycat (Sep 25, 2003 6:17:58 PM)
Who are some of the new characters we will see ?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:17:58 PM)
Magic Town has lots of new characters...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:19:01 PM)
for example you buy some of the ingredients from a Fairy and others from a Vamipress

siggyb2too (Sep 25, 2003 6:20:26 PM)
Are there any spells for kids and their grades? Mine are ready for Military School. :(

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:20:26 PM)
There is a spell where the kids can send a "clone" to school in their place....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:20:53 PM)
which i guess means they could stay home and study Happy

shortcakejermz (Sep 25, 2003 6:21:39 PM)
will there be ghosts in magic town?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:21:39 PM)
One of the stages, the "spook show", has a spell that musters up some ghosts....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:22:10 PM)
if your skill is high enough....you may even get them to dance for you. Happy

ShrimpandSeafood (Sep 25, 2003 6:22:51 PM)
Does every mixture of ingredients make something?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:22:51 PM)
No. You will have to use your spellbook to learn how to mixthe ingredients.

Zsky2 (Sep 25, 2003 6:23:23 PM)
I have seen some mushrooms in the screenshots, can sims pick mushrooms?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:23:23 PM)
Yes they can. Mushrooms are a magic ingredient,

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:23:42 PM)
all you have to do is figure out how to get them to grow Happy

MaxisLucky (Sep 25, 2003 6:24:05 PM)
What are the recommended system specs? Win 98/XP/2000 450 MHz processor or faster with 128MB RAM 1.3 GB free hard drive space

rymndchn (Sep 25, 2003 6:24:38 PM)
Are the spells that children can make, different to the ones that adults make?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:24:38 PM)
Yes. They have some similar ones...and unique spells too.

Guest (Sep 25, 2003 6:24:56 PM)
Do you keep MagiCoins in your inventory?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:24:56 PM)
Yes.

Guest (Sep 25, 2003 6:25:49 PM)
What happens if one of the family members move out....how do they get the spells?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:25:49 PM)
Each family member holds their own spells in their own inventory.

ShrimpandSeafood (Sep 25, 2003 6:26:08 PM)
Will the Genie from Livin' Large get updated with Makin' Magic?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:26:08 PM)
Nope. The genie is magical enough as he is Happy

The_Gunman (Sep 25, 2003 6:26:23 PM)
Hello Maxis Jenna,Will there be any spells to make more money?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:26:23 PM)
Of course!

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:26:51 PM)
Rain of Riches will create tresure on your lot that you can sell or enjoy...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:26:59 PM)
of course, if it backfires.....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:27:06 PM)
you get....Rain.

GeishaGreen (Sep 25, 2003 6:27:19 PM)
Can dragons cast magic spells?

Rtraf (Sep 25, 2003 6:27:28 PM)
Can children use magic to make a play mate?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:27:28 PM)
Yes. They sure can!

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:27:50 PM)
wait Happy

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:27:56 PM)
Dragons. no.

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:28:01 PM)
Kids yes Happy

GeishaGreen (Sep 25, 2003 6:28:42 PM)
What use are the pink flamingo ladies?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:28:42 PM)
They will help entertain your guests.

SimStash (Sep 25, 2003 6:29:02 PM)
About how many spells are in the game?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:29:02 PM)
Oh goodness....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:29:08 PM)
two.

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:29:12 PM)
just kidding

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:29:21 PM)
there are tons!

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:29:44 PM)
depends also on what you count....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:30:09 PM)
some people will enjoy the backfire as much as the positive outcome...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:30:18 PM)
so thats like two speels for the price of one Happy

cameron (Sep 25, 2003 6:31:10 PM)
Can you make a living off of magic? Or will you still need a job?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:31:10 PM)
Magic does not replace your career...but since you can create money, you may not be interested in going to work any longer....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:31:35 PM)
like the kids...you can send a clone to work in your place...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:32:00 PM)
Even though you don't *need* a job...you will still want to work on those skills...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:32:13 PM)
especially logic, mechanical, and cooking.

MMfan (Sep 25, 2003 6:32:35 PM)
Can dragons eat toadified sims?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:32:35 PM)
Would we do that... Wink

thesiddog (Sep 25, 2003 6:33:21 PM)
I know this is off topic but...Your name is Jenna Chalmers, I saw a building in Sim City4 called Chalmers Inc. or something like that. Was it named after you?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:33:21 PM)
Yup. lots of the building in SimCity are named after people at Maxis.

equusgirl (Sep 25, 2003 6:34:00 PM)
Hey MaxisJenna, what's the dragon like? And how do you make it a nice dragon?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:34:00 PM)
THe dragon is SUPER cute. Make a nice dragon by taking good care of him before he hatches!

Irishlass (Sep 25, 2003 6:34:44 PM)
I've heard there's a spell that can make you famous... is this true?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:34:44 PM)
Yes. if you have Superstar, you can give yourself a fame boost!

Aa ServoPro.com visit ronalchn (Sep 25, 2003 6:35:37 PM)
Do gnomes and pink flamingos who are turned into garderners and hostess' permanent?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:35:37 PM)
No. It is a temporary change.

winie143 (Sep 25, 2003 6:36:50 PM)
Will the sims get to plant new things in their gardens?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:36:50 PM)
There is a new "vine plot" you buy in build mode...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:37:36 PM)
then you can purchase a grape or elderberry sprig in Magic Town and come home and plant it.

MMfan (Sep 25, 2003 6:38:52 PM)
Hi MaxisJenna,are there spells to teleport a sim?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:38:52 PM)
There is an "ability" you can earn that gives you the power to telepot yourself around the lot....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:39:00 PM)
Very helpful!

Guest (Sep 25, 2003 6:39:31 PM)
do nice dragons look different than mean dragons?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:39:31 PM)
Yes, they are a different color.

shortcakejermz (Sep 25, 2003 6:40:36 PM)
whats the use of the snakes, i saw some in the screeshots

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:40:36 PM)
The snakes are a backfire for "Shed Your Skin"....get it? ;-P

Irishlass (Sep 25, 2003 6:41:58 PM)
Is there a spell that you can cast to conjour up food?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:41:58 PM)
Yup. Its called "Horn Of Plenty"...but if it backfires....watch out for plenty of horny toads

Qwertyuiop2k11 (Sep 25, 2003 6:43:02 PM)
Jenna how in the world do you keep up with all these questions? :P

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:43:02 PM)
YOu should see all the ones i Can't keep up with Happy

SEKhorselover (Sep 25, 2003 6:43:24 PM)
How many dragons can you have in one family?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:43:24 PM)
Lots

Qwertyuiop2k11 (Sep 25, 2003 6:44:02 PM)
Can you make your Sims live in a haunted house?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:44:02 PM)
We did alot of new cool creepy architecture...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:44:22 PM)
stairs, windows, doors...wallpapers...etc///

jfade (Sep 25, 2003 6:44:34 PM)
What types of vines can they plant?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:44:34 PM)
grapes and elderberries

gamegirl815 (Sep 25, 2003 6:45:23 PM)
what do u mean by "ability"?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:45:23 PM)
as you cast more and more magic, things start to grow on your lot...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:45:42 PM)
one of the things that might grow is a "magic crystal"...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:46:25 PM)
these crystal have the power to bestow you with magical abilities...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:46:49 PM)
like being able to teleport yourself or put out fire ...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:47:08 PM)
which is particularly helpful if you have a "bad dragon" Happy

SiMan (Sep 25, 2003 6:47:40 PM)
Does the skeleton have a difference with the robot of livin' large?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:47:40 PM)
well...for one....its cheaper...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:48:19 PM)
but the skelton maid doesn't perform all the services the robot does either.

Poisoned Kandy (Sep 25, 2003 6:50:08 PM)
can two dragons have babies.....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:50:08 PM)
No. sorry.

Joe_The_Coffee_Man (Sep 25, 2003 6:50:28 PM)
In the screenshot there is a machine, and it looks like you put your mood crystal thing in it. What does this thing do? Is it a mood changer?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:50:28 PM)
Hmmm....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:50:41 PM)
i think you are think of the "charms"

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:51:09 PM)
the magic charms you make are in the shape of the "plum bob"

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:51:28 PM)
they are different colors for different charms

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:51:49 PM)
(the plum bob is the green thing above the sims head)

anamo52 (Sep 25, 2003 6:52:42 PM)
do you need unleashed to have the pet dragon?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:52:42 PM)
Nope! You don't need Unleashed. You buy the dragon egg from the Vampiress in Magic Town

Bronco907 (Sep 25, 2003 6:53:00 PM)
what does the butter churn and the gargoyle bench do?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:53:00 PM)
BUtter churn is a skill object that makes....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:53:06 PM)
butter Happy

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:53:21 PM)
butter is also and ingredient

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:53:50 PM)
the gargoyle bench makes gargoyles....kinda like the gnome workbench...

Guest (Sep 25, 2003 6:55:14 PM)
Makin' Magic looks much more detailed than the other packs. was there a different art team for this one?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:55:14 PM)
Some of the art team members were the same. But much credit goes to Bob King who drove the art for Makin Magic.

Adam Lachlan (Sep 25, 2003 6:55:59 PM)
MaxisJenna, the previous Sims games have come with excellent music. What is the music for Makin' Magic like?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:55:59 PM)
The music for this pack is some of my most favorite we've ever done

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:56:31 PM)
its kinda gypsy carnival-y...kinda european circus-y

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:56:55 PM)
hard t o describe.... but VERY cool

MMfan (Sep 25, 2003 6:57:00 PM)
Are there 'marry me' spells?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:57:00 PM)
Yup.

Bronco907 (Sep 25, 2003 6:57:33 PM)
Can only one person ride the rollar coaster at a time or can many people ride at a time?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:57:33 PM)
yes.

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:57:49 PM)
One sims per car....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:58:11 PM)
but once the car leaves a particular section, the next car can start...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:58:35 PM)
so more than one sim can be on the entire coaster at a time.

Matt (Sep 25, 2003 6:58:52 PM)
Do you need to have Unleased to plant that garden thingy?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:58:52 PM)
nope

ShrimpandSeafood (Sep 25, 2003 6:59:29 PM)
Whats your favorite objects Jenna?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:59:29 PM)
I like the new skill objects....the spinning wheel and beehive and stuff...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 6:59:59 PM)
i also love the new kitchen collection and the new bed is beautiful!!!!!

ShrimpandSeafood (Sep 25, 2003 7:00:39 PM)
What does the spinning wheel do?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:00:39 PM)
Makes Golden thread. (and is a mechanical skill object)

MaxisLucky (Sep 25, 2003 7:01:02 PM)
We're getting to the end of the chat - We'd like to thank you all for coming and particularly our guest Maxis Jenna.

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:01:25 PM)
SHall we take one more?

MaxisKitty (Sep 25, 2003 7:01:46 PM)
send in your best question

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:01:51 PM)
heh

ShrimpandSeafood (Sep 25, 2003 7:03:02 PM)
Can you make a spell that will make this chat last longer? Happy

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:03:02 PM)
i wish Happy

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:03:16 PM)
ok... ONE more Happy

Qwertyuiop2k11 (Sep 25, 2003 7:03:58 PM)
Can you make a spell so we can have a chat every week? :P

MaxisKitty (Sep 25, 2003 7:03:58 PM)
we will be having chat events every thurs at 3

MaxisKitty (Sep 25, 2003 7:04:14 PM)
spell granted Wink

Qwertyuiop2k11 (Sep 25, 2003 7:04:47 PM)
Will there ever be chats like this for TS2 or SC4?

MaxisKitty (Sep 25, 2003 7:04:47 PM)
yes

Matt (Sep 25, 2003 7:04:55 PM)
when will it be released?

MaxisLucky (Sep 25, 2003 7:04:55 PM)
We have not announced a release date for Makin' Magic yet. Stay tuned to thesims.com for announcements!

Always_Smile (Sep 25, 2003 7:05:03 PM)
over all, is Making Magic the best Sims game out of all of them?

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:05:03 PM)
To be honest, i had TONS of fun making this expansion pack. ...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:05:24 PM)
The new location, skins, objects, music....

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:05:46 PM)
i LOVE the look of the stuff we did for this pack...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:05:58 PM)
plus the new gameplay...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:06:32 PM)
collecting the ingredients and mixing the spells...

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:07:22 PM)
This is my favorite pack we've done!

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:07:41 PM)
Thank you guys soooo much for your great questions!

MaxisJenna (Sep 25, 2003 7:07:55 PM)
I hope we can do this again sometime!

MaxisLucky (Sep 25, 2003 7:08:54 PM)
Thanks for coming everyone. Look for the chat transcipts posted on thesims.com soon!

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Sims 2 Designer Diary #3
25 Sep 2003 - 23:10

GameSpot.com has the third installment of The Sims 2 designer diary. Lucy Bradshaw and Charles London discuss emotions in The Sims 2.

Go To GameSpot.com

The Sims 2 Designer Diary #3

Maxis' vice president of PC development Lucy Bradshaw and creative director Charles London discuss the many moods of the sims.

The Sims was a surprise hit when it was released in 2000. No one thought a strategy game that lets you control the lives of little computer people, also known as "sims," could possibly be as addictive or as popular as it has proven to be--except maybe the game's developer, Maxis. Now, Maxis is hard at work on the sequel, The Sims 2. The game will not only let you control your sims' lives, but it will also let you follow their development from birth to adulthood to senescence. In this edition of The Sims 2 designer diaries, Lucy Bradshaw, vice president of PC development, and Charles London, creative director, explain exactly how moods and emotions will affect the way sims live, act, and feel in the sequel.

Putting Sims in the Mood

By Lucy Bradshaw and Charles London
VP PC Development/Creative Director

Happy Sim Animation video

Let's face it: Mood is everything. Think about your own life. Do you remember feeling like everything in the world was an exciting adventure, even taking out the trash, just because you finally kissed that person you had a crush on forever? Have you ever been in a terrible mood because you were hungry? Or so tired that everything around you seems drab and irritating? Moods color all of our perceptions. It's the thing that makes us unique as a species.

Bringing that same dimension to The Sims 2 is the goal of the design team. Before The Sims 2, mood was just a bar on an interface. It was hard to tell, just by looking at a sim, what mood he or she was in. A sim could get slapped or kissed and walk away as if nothing had happened. That's not an accurate illustration of mood. Mood is indicated by such things as bouncing when you're happy or sagging a little when you're sad.

But why is mood so important? Anyone who plays The Sims knows that, in their world, mood is everything. It's what determines whether your sims will go to work, chat with other sims, build skills and interests, or fall in love. Whether you're a human or a sim, your mood encompasses much more than just how thirsty you are or how much fun you've had. It's a reflection of your personality, memories of the past, and hopes and dreams for the future. We're bringing a realistic representation of all these factors to your sims in The Sims 2.

Depressed Sim Animation video

Until now, sims have lived "in the moment." They had no real sense of context because they had no recollection of what had come before in their lives. Giving the sims memories--and the impact they have on their moods--is key to the new game. Memories are, in essence, a collection of life moments that shape how we respond to new experiences and how we view the world. And this will also be the case in The Sims 2. A sim who has accumulated a lot of happy memories is going to be in a better mood. By contrast, a sim who is carrying around a lot of emotional baggage will be in a bad mood. Players have direct control over both scenarios and can work to change them. As we design the game, we're trying to form a landscape of events that players can explore to gain insight as to what makes their sims tick. This gives sims personal histories that really matter.

Nothing More Than Feelings?
These days, The Sims 2 design team spends a heck of a lot of time inventing memories that are relevant to a sim. For example, in The Sims 2, not only will a sim remember if he or she was jilted by a lover, but another sim who witnesses the event will also remember it, and will be able to share it with their friends. After the breakup, the jilted sim might still be reeling from heartbreak. A friend who "heard it through the grapevine" can lessen the pain with a simple pat on the back. However, salt can also be poured on the sim's wound when he or she sees his or her old flame with a new love. It's this type of context that introduces surprises, crazy successes, and failures to the game--along with a dynamic new strategy.

Shy Sim Animation video

The development process can be both fun and disturbing during design sessions, particularly on subjects like memory. Locking the "final" memory and [list of memorable moments] for sims in The Sims 2 isn't a straightforward or easy task. There are lots of obvious examples, like a "first kiss." After that, it's incredible how quickly everyone's ideal memories and moments lists differ. During the development process at Maxis, we ended up sitting around in a room writing lists of memories on a white board. You learn a lot about each other during this type of meeting. After a coworker mentions something like "first time locked in an elevator" or "puked in public," the memory lives on and it stays burned into your brain when you run into him or her later on in the hall. After we get over the initial trauma of "sharing," it's all about "sim-ifying" our favorite moments and adding them to the game.

Memories not only affect the mood of the sims in The Sims 2, but, over the course of their lifetimes, they also affect a sim's personality. In The Sims 2, each personality is unique. You will be able to recognize a shy sim from an outgoing sim immediately. His or her body language, autonomous choices, and unique interactions all become more pronounced in the extremes of mood. For example, a shy sim is apt to daydream or talk to houseplants to meet his or her social needs, whereas an outgoing sim will work the room and chat incessantly. [And to be a bit more imaginative], ultraneat sims clean everything in a house in seconds when their moods are elevated, while ultramean sims [deplete] the moods of other sims when theirs are in the basement. The possibilities are intriguing and endless. In The Sims 2, we want to uncover the hidden amusement that lies at the edges of our sims' personalities.

Outgoing Sim Animation video

We're continually struck by how our journey to good sim designs is often through modeling ourselves and then abstracting the findings into something that players can experiment with and enjoy. Sims need to feel alive, genuine, and true. Above all, and if we have done our job correctly, sims need to surprise the players. When that comes together, you know it immediately. That feeling and knowledge that we have "nailed it" is our benchmark. We begin to see these little beings move around their world, and, one day, we find ourselves believing. When moods start showing through in The Sims, players start believing. They suddenly care deeply about their sims because the sims care too. In the last few weeks here at Maxis, these little guys have finally started to wake up. It's pretty cool.

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