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11 Oct 2001 - 23:10

Think speaking 'Simlish' is easy? Watch these videos from our sound booth and join the fun!

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11 Oct 2001 - 23:00

We will be making some upgrades to TheSims.com over the next few days so some areas of the website will not be working. You can expect the Exchange, BBS, downloads, and login functions to be down until sometime during the weekend. Thank you for your patience.

9 Oct 2001 - 23:00

For those of you that are entering the Halloween Building Contest, you have one week left to send in your entries. For more information about the contest, follow the link to the Contests area.

4 Oct 2001 - 23:20

In case you missed the Developer Chat with Hot Date Assistant Producer and Game Designer, MaxiSean, you can read the transcripts in the About Hot Date section.

Go To Hot Date Chat Transcripts


MaxisJenna says, Ok. Welcome to today's chat with
MaxiSean, who his here to answer all your questions on the new expansion pack, Hot Date!
MaxiSean says, Hi everybody!
MaxisJenna says, Here we go...
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #39 from aba:

Is there going to be one downtown area for all the neighborhoods or one for each?

MaixsBrookesays, Who writes all of the cool catalog text?
MaxiSean says, Yes, there will be a seperate downtown area for every neighborhood
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #12 from kriton01:

can you talk to the NPCs that work in shops?

MaxiSean says, The npc's are under strict contract obligations that allow them minimul interaction with the public
MaixsBrooke says, What are some of the new objects?
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #15 from thursday:

With this expansion we are seeing a few more suggestive items, such as the Love Tub and Cuddle couch, as well as such advertised features as "tonsil hockey" from the press release. How difficult has it been to maintain the Teen rating?

MaxiSean says, We don't have any interactions labeled with such wording, so waht they are doing is left up to the player. Nothing was cut for the teen rating
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #49 from aliclare:

on the downtown areas will we have a limit on how much money we spend on building the places?

MaxiSean says, No! Developers of downtownhave access to federal funding, which as you know islimitless!
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #16 from thursday:

How will travel between the different lots downtown take place?

MaxiSean says, Travel is accomplished by calling the new taxi company that has set up shop downtown. Just call your friends or call the company directly to be taken downtown.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #48 from jacensoloz:

Can you actually race remote control boats with your date?

MaxiSean says, Yep. You just need to rent them from our rental shack.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #43 from sunbonnet:

Can children go downtown on their own?

MaxiSean says, We have laws in our town about that! All minors must be escorted by an adult at all times.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #29 from hogiesgiggles:

how should we get the sims ready for hot date now

MaxiSean says, Well make sure they have telephones, plus you may want to get their relationshsips up high, as we will now have two kinds of relationships, daily and lifetime
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #34 from jacensoloz:

What kind of new interactions will there be in Hot Date?

MaxiSean says, There are over 40 new social interactions...from several new hugs and kisses, to some very interesting entertains and attacks
MaxiSean says, One of the new kisses is a dip kiss, also akiss- hand
MaxiSean says, Slap fight
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #61 from jacensoloz:

will sims be able to hold hands in HD?

MaxiSean says, Well, if you get them into our new date objects like the swing, sofa or dining booths, they can do some caresses and cuddles
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #66 from aba:

how many new (unplayable) characters will there be? and you care to mention some?

MaxiSean says, Well downtown is full of shops and restaurants and amusement areas so we have cooks, waiters, bartenders, park grounds keepers etc, plus if you have Living Large or House Party, some of your "old friends" will make guest appearances
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #56 from sunbonnet:

Can more than one Sim get into a taxi at the same time?

MaxiSean says, My heart goes out to the poor janitor downtown who has to clean up after everyone,
MaxiSean says, Sure, just invite your friends downtown by clicking on them and they both get in the cab maxisbrooke says, Hi Jenna.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #47 from paigekd:

Will your dates really be able to come home with you and spend the night?

MaxiSean says, Well, if you manage to take them of GOOD dates they will come home with you...you will need Living Large to uh, ask them to uh sleep ober...for a slumber party
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #67 from astroalex:

Will Sims be able to date Sims in different Neighborhoods?

MaxiSean says, Just like before, each neighborhood is a different world...but you will be able to download dates off our website
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #97 from mehaf:

What exactly happens on the 'cuddle couch'? Anything 'exciting'?

MaxiSean says, Plus, downtown is filled with sims that are created automatically, so there are tons of people to meet and date
MaxiSean says, Well, you can scoot next to people, do the old "fake yawn" and then cuddle. Once you cuddle you have "advanced" couch options
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #96 from ponyta1:

How far, percentage wise, along is Hot Date?

MaxiSean says, We have modified all the sofas to have the cuddle couch action
MaxiSean says, We are almost done now. We are doing the final tunign to make sure everythign works well and that the orginal game is still as challenging
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #105 from aba:

will the in the resturants and stuff be computer controlled and if they are will I put them there?

MaxiSean says, they are computer controlled
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #106 from mehaf:

Will there be new objects in each category (appliances, misc, electronics, etc.) and in build mode?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #110 from aba:

how many new item will there be?

MaxiSean says, Yep. Lots of new stuff. We have actually recategorized all the stuff as tthere is so much
MaxiSean says, There are more new items that in any of the past expansion packs
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #112 from astroalex:

Will there be a time limit sims can spend Downtown?

MaxiSean says, Yes, once you get too tired you go home automatically
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #111 from sambdman:

So........how much will Hot Date cost?

MaxiSean says, the same as the past expansion packs
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #103 from paigekd:

Can you take your roommate on a date?

MaxiSean says, Sure, you can take anyone downtown you want. It doesn't have to be a "date"...
MaxiSean says, you can ask people just to hanmg out too
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #123 from addition:

what is your fav new object/interaction in the new expansion pack?

MaxiSean says, My FAVORITE? Well I like entertaining people with the hand puppets personally
MaxiSean says, Especially when the puppets fight
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #129 from mikeb88_69:

Is Downtown one big lot or do you have to go to different lots for different shops??

MaxiSean says, Downtown has ten lots for all those real estate developer sims out there
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #125 from astroalex:

Will Sims be able to go downtown at any time they please or can you only call for a cab at certain times like with the Throw Party option?

MaxiSean says, You can make seperate shop lots or have one big mall on a lot
MaxiSean says, Call cabs whenever you want
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #38 from thursday:

Will it be possible to apply charges for simply walking into an establishment, such as a door charge for entering a bar or club?

MaxiSean says, No but good question, because the better you decorate your lots, the more expensive some services will be
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #136 from vipercamz:

What was the inspiration for HD?

MaxiSean says, Well, we all looked at our own love lives and just made a game out of it
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #140 from a_cheerleader_who_broke_a_nail:

if i am married in Hot Date...can i stil go on a date with my wife

MaxiSean says, Actually the inspiration was what all our fans were asking for over the past 2 years
MaxiSean says, Well sure, you can go on date with anyone, I just ope your wife doesn't catch you downtown
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #141 from mehaf:

Can a sim ask someone on a date and be rejected? If so, does this only apply for people who do not have a 50+ relationship, or if they are in love?

MaxiSean says, Yes. definitely...especially if you didn't shower before asking them.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #145 from czarinaedres:

Will HD have more capacity in the "Build Mode" then the game has now?

MaxiSean says, Yes lots. a dirt tool. A water tool. many more fences
MaxiSean says, We have a new archway fence that looks great. Plus some "gazebo technology"
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #146 from mikeb88_69:

How many people will be in downtown while you are there?

MaxiSean says, Depends on the time of day
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #149 from gt_gohan32:

what are some of the things you can do downtown?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #150 from paigekd:

Can my sim walk freely through all the downtown areas or he is confined to a certain lot?

MaxiSean says, You can buy gifts, by magazines to increae your interests. ...
MaxiSean says, If you have the other expansion packs like House Party you can make a disco
MaxiSean says, You can eat, buy snacks, play in the park,
MaxiSean says, Sims have to remain on one lot at a time just like in sims1
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #148 from kaitlin13:

What are some of the new social interactions in the game?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #151 from jacensoloz:

what kinds of "kiss" will there be in HD?

MaxiSean says, There are several new kisses: hand kis..
MaxiSean says, a fiery dip kiss
MaxiSean says, a very romantic hold-the face kiss
MaxiSean says, a suave kiss
MaxiSean says, plus the old passionate and polite kisses from before
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #157 from mehaf:

What do these surprise people like the 'blonde bombshell'? Are they part of the dating service? Is there even a dating service?

MaxiSean says, There is no dating service but we will have a date maker tool wheer you can make dates and upload them to our website and stick them in your game
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #5 from kriton01:

How do you create the NPC people for the shops and stuff?

MaxiSean says, You just plop their objects and they appear next to them wehn you visit downtown
MaxiSean says, A cooks comes froms stoves, busboys from dishwashers etc
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #161 from mikeb88_69:

can you go to downtown just to hang out as well as date???

MaxiSean says, Sure. Downtown is great place to hang out and just get hunger and fun and social points takenscare of...but it will cost ya
MaxisJenna says, Couple questions about waiters...
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #163 from bugdan:

Can you flirt with the waiters?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #52 from astroalex:

At the restaurants downtown, will the sims just sit down at a table and be served food, or will a waiter come and give them food? How does it work?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #167 from bugdan:

Are waiters automatically added to your resturaunt after you build it?

MaxiSean says, Ok you can't flirt with waiters...they are all professionals...
MaxiSean says, The waiters seat you in restaurants, then give you menus...
MaxiSean says, You then order food and they take it to the cooks who make your order..
MaxiSean says, then the waiters bring the food back...you can order 1,2 or 3 course meals
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #177 from damaris2:

Will you be able to date and eventually marry the NPCs?

MaxiSean says, Waiters are there automatically if you add a waiter podium
MaxiSean says, Sure. You can meet NPC sims (not the service people) and marry them if things go well
MaxiSean says, Marriage is a little harder now..
MaxiSean says, you need to know people longer
MaxiSean says, But.
MaxiSean says, the great thing is...
MaxiSean says, Married people can NAG each other now
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #138 from bugdan:

What's your favorite new object in Hot Date?

MaxiSean says, My fave new object is the swing
MaxiSean says, You can swing with your date on it
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #184 from demented33:

how big is the downtown area?

MaxiSean says, Downtown is roughly the sdame size as the old neighborhood, but the lots are a bit bigger.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #181 from bugdan:

How does the game know if you're building a resturaunt or a department store?

MaxiSean says, Well you could have a departmentstore/restaurant if you put the stor e and waiter objects together..it all depends on what you stick in your buildings
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #160 from jacensoloz:

what kind of "talk" interactions will be in HD?

MaxiSean says, There are new talks..you can gossip about people, talk about interests, change the subject when talking, even ask people about their jobs and needs and interests
MaxiSean says, Changing the topic is really fun...
MaxiSean says, it feeels just like real life
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #185 from gt_gohan32:

will the downtown be different for every neighborhood?

MaxiSean says, Yes, eahc neighborhood has its own downtown
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #195 from laurenad:

Can married couples go downtown as well?

MaxiSean says, Sure, just invite the huband or wife downtwon (maybe stops them from nagging so much)
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #197 from kaitlin13:

Will there be any additional career tracks in the expansion pack?

MaxiSean says, No, but we have included 7 new interest topics, so they have much more to talk about now, plsy you can change what they are interested in by reading magazines
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #191 from jacensoloz:

Will we actually be able to switch grass to sand, and vice-versa?

MaxiSean says, You bet. It used to be a secret cheat, but now anyone can make a beach or desert
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #200 from laurenad:

What else can you do in the park?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #201 from orlmagictmac1:

can you go swimming in the beach that i saw in a pic?

MaxiSean says, The water can'st be used for swimming, but you can enjoy the park pond for picnicking, feeding koi fish and playing with toy boats..
MaxiSean says, plus there is a new picnic table and a new grill for camping areas
MaxiSean says, Plus, many of the objects from the other expansion packs can be used outdoors for fun...
MaxiSean says, But now, you have to pay to play pool downtown...
MaxiSean says, so if you can't afford a pool table at home, just run downtown with friends for a quick game
MaxisJenna says, a couple about kids...
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #170 from neousagi:

are kids going to be able to take the cab to the downtown area?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #204 from doublehelix:

Are there any new interactions for children?

MaxiSean says, Kids must be escorted by their parents at all times
MaxiSean says, Children acan use the ice cream stand and the pcinic basket and hot dog stand, plus you can give the teddybears and even a copy of the ZIMZ...some new video game I guess
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #188 from jacensoloz:

what kind of stores should we expect?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #202 from laurenad:

Can ice cream really be eaten at the parlor?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #207 from jacensoloz:

Will we actually be able to buy things such as lollipops and clothes downtown, and take them home to wear them?

MaxisJenna says, stuff about stores
MaxiSean says, You can make any kind of store by combining objects. Just stick the gift displays or clothing down with cash registers and you have instant stores
MaxiSean says, Yes. There is a new inventory where you can store gifts to give to people later...
MaxiSean says, plus you van buy new clothes (pajamas, lingerie, swimwear and formal attire) that sims will pin into when they change clothesd
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #189 from laurenad:

Tell us more about the love tub and cuddle couch

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #214 from newbiekid:

I heard of something called a love tub. What is it?

MaxiSean says, Ah the love tub..
MaxiSean says, Well remmeber the love bed for Livin Large...?
MaxiSean says, well, it is like a cross between the old hot tub and the livin large bed
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #215 from alex33990:

is hot date going to have some objects from earlier expansions?

MaxiSean says, We have over 125 new objects , but you need to get the other packs for the other objects
MaxiSean says, ...Downtown really rocks with all three packs
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #176 from mehaf:

Any specific date of release for Hot Date?

MaxiSean says, November 13th...go to your own "downtown" and find it!
MaxiSean says, You can actually buy a copy of the sims IN our game now....how is that for that navel gazing?
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #199 from kristi_the_dingle:

Sean.. uh.. who exactly are you!? lol just like some dude who helped make HD or what?

MaxiSean says, That's me..just some dude who helped make the game. Officially I'm an assitant producer.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #227 from jacensoloz:

What exactly are the "Daily" and "Lifetime" relationship bars?

MaxiSean says, The daily bar is the old relationship bar, but the new one builds up slowly over time, to represent long terms friendships
MaxiSean says, so..
MaxiSean says, people can be really old friends but in a fight , so that is when they tease and nag, but..
MaxiSean says, old enemies might be havign a good run recently and pop up the new "grovel" appology.
MaxisJenna says, speaking of fighting...
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #231 from zelda360:

will there be a way for the girls to kick the guys where it hurts?

MaxisJenna says, you mean, in the heart?
MaxiSean says, Um, well...I'm not sure what area you are referring to
MaxiSean says, but...
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #230 from gt_gohan32:

do you only get one date per sim?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #234 from demented33:

will other sims be able to "steal" your date?

MaxiSean says, Yes, you can only go out with one person at a time
MaxiSean says, Other sims can talk to your date an do interactions....maybe you will need to "slap fight" them so they back off
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #232 from paigekd:

What else can you rent at the rental shack besides remote control boats?

MaxiSean says, You can buy fish food, rent a picnic basket, I think you can even get inside the booth for some hanky panky.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #235 from ladybug224:

is there a limited number of stores and restaraunts yuo can make in Hot Date?

MaxiSean says, We have specific types of stores and things to buy, but you can make as many will fit ona lot as you want
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #249 from mrsim:

How does the restaurant work? How do you order food?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #213 from laurenad:

Will sims get to choose their food on the menu?

MaxiSean says, You choose what kind of meal you want, then the waiter will take the order to the cook...
MaxiSean says, while waiting, you can do special things with your date at the tables
MaxiSean says, footsie, admiring, gossipping
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #241 from sunbonnet:

Will there be slow dancing?

MaxiSean says, yif there is a bar in the place you can order drinks too
MaxiSean says, Yes there is a very steamy slow dance now
MaxiSean says, But you can use the House Party DJ booth and dance floor for a club too
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #248 from kaitlin13:

Will Sims have to buy a special couch to cuddle or will they be able to cuddle on any couch?

MaxiSean says, You can cuddle on any couch, but the new "Love Seat" sofa is build for cuddling.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #255 from laurenad:

Will sims get to write love poems or songs to their lovers?

MaxiSean says, Sadly, the EVIL producer Tim LeTourneau cut that from the game, I think he just doesn't "get" poetry
MaxiSean says, hahahaha
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #259 from a_cheerleader_who_broke_a_nail:

I have heard alot about The Prune, what does she do?

MaxiSean says, The Old Prude you mean...she is downtown to maintain a strci moral code..make sure she isn't around before trying any hanky panky, or she'll smack you with her purse
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #229 from mehaf:

Will there be just shop fronts in the downtown area, or will Hot Date incorporate clubs and raves slightly?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #228 from laurenad:

Will there be bouncers at the clubs?

MaxiSean says, No bouncers, but the dates will "bounce" a drink off your face if you try getting too fresh too quick
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #238 from mikeb88_69:

Is it true that you can talk about another couple in downtown? in the restaurant???

MaxiSean says, Yep. You can gossip about other people....you see a picture of their face in the thoguth balloons and a red x if they don't like them .
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #268 from 16bat:

Can sims go to sleep downtown like in a hotel?

MaxiSean says, Not quite yet.... we don't allow sleeping downtown, you go home if you get too tired
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #292 from demented33:

will you be able to use cheesy pickup lines?

MaxiSean says, Well, if you are in the bar, there are some new sleazy interactions...sexy growl, check out, flirts...it gets pretty trashy aftre a few drinks
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #287 from vipercamz:

After a successful date, will you be able to call that date up at a later time for another? Can they move in or get married?

MaxiSean says, Sure! Anyone you meet downtown becomes a phone friends..invite them to parties or chat on the phone (great way to get up that career ladder)
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #299 from caffienehacker:

Besides the Downtown area, what other things about Hot Date do you find particularly innovative?

MaxiSean says, Well people will be able to upload downtown lots to the exchange...
MaxiSean says, So you can browse and dowload lots..there will be more contests..
MaxiSean says, plus th datemaker tool allows you to make dates for our soon to be released dating site
MaxiSean says, But just finally going to another lot is a great thing all by itself
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #316 from kaitlin13:

Will there be new walls and floors to reflect the subject of the new expansion pack?

MaxiSean says, Yes...this is our tightest selection of ealls anf floors yet..they even match some the furniture this time
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #285 from briguy070:

Will there be any robbers that ... steal your purse or something?

MaxiSean says, Downtown in the Sims is one fo the safest urban areas in the world
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #294 from directorjosh:

Can we customize Downtown?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #283 from jacensoloz:

Can we customize the price of food and such downtown?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #305 from demented33:

will users be able to create their own shops?

MaxiSean says, Of course! Bulldoze all our lots into oblivion and build your won if you want
MaxiSean says, Yes...you can make the smallest toursit gift store up to something like a Mall if you please
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #272 from kuseikos:

Is it required to have past expansions for this one to work?

MaxiSean says, Not at all. You can jst have the first Sims, or any combinations of other packs. It is pretty fun to see the dance floor from House Party though
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #309 from 16bat:

whats this new super tickle thing?

MaxiSean says, Ah...this actually might be my favorite
MaxiSean says, the super tickle is an "extreme tickle"...
MaxiSean says, it is available only if you are a really fun and outgoing sim..
MaxiSean says, but the best part..
MaxiSean says, Not sure if I should say this actually...jenna?
MaxisJenna says, Oh go on Sean....we're all friends here...
MaxiSean says, Well, if you tickle someone who has a low bladder, they will wet themselves
MaxisJenna says, good thing i didn't have to tickle it out of you!
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #346 from mr_basketball1:

Will it be as hard to fufill all sims needs in downtown as it is in the house?

MaxiSean says, um, yeah especially as I had a lot of coffee at 3 o'clock
MaxiSean says, Actually it is a bit easier...since all you need is money to buy food and comfort and meet people downtown for social
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #349 from deathdude1:

how many actions do you think are in it? the new ones i mean..............

MaxiSean says, there are over 40 new ones...we actually made social submenus to hold them all
MaxiSean says, 70 total now...mood has a lot more to do with them too
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #303 from ladybug224:

is it true that you can buy jewelry, teddy bears and other stuff for your sim's date?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #352 from newbiekid:

Will there be malls on Hot Date?

MaxiSean says, Sure, you can buy jewlery, toys, candy and flowers, then give them to othr sims as presents..
MaxiSean says, you can also buy magazines and clothes and little snacks...plus
MaxiSean says, if you have living large, you can make the lawn gnomes and then give those as gifts
MaxiSean says, We will ship with a mall, but people can make their own too
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #362 from caffienehacker:

any information regarding new skins? i though some of the skins from HP were really neato...

MaxiSean says, Well, we have some new skins for the date sims downtown, a nerd, a hottie, a jock and lounge lizard..etc, plus nice new clothes to buy
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #366 from stk992:

Will you be allowed to use user objects in downtown?

MaxiSean says, Yes, as long as they are in categories of objects we allow downtown. Beds for instandce are not allowed there
MaxiSean says, plus,,
MaxiSean says, downtown objects are not for the home (like the restaurant podiums)
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #378 from ladybug224:

Can sims splash a glass of water on their date?

MaxiSean says, That happens when you are at the bar and have "gone too far" with the flirting
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #373 from paigekd:

Can my sim wear the clothes they buy downtown?

MaxiSean says, If there is a place to change clothes into formal, bathing or pajamas they can
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #381 from paigekd:

If my sim is wide awake in the middle of the night can they go downtown? Are the shops open 24-hours?

MaxiSean says, Yes...they are always open for business
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #391 from jacensoloz:

will there be a bridge for over the new water tool?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #393 from mikeb88_69:

Did you add a feature in the Build mode that we can get rid of the water made with the water tool??

MaxiSean says, Yes, you just hold Ctrl+ water tool to delete water
MaxiSean says, No bridge...yet
MaxiSean says, There are tons of new trees
MaxiSean says, not just green ones either
MaxiSean says, cherry, myrtle, prune
MaxiSean says, nice red and pink tress
MaxiSean says, Plus the Clown Burger sign...hee hee hee
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #333 from kew1boy86:

can other sims ask YOU out on a date?

MaxiSean says, You have to be proactive about dating....
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #398 from irishgirl43002:

can you ask the hot dog stand girl out on a date?

MaxiSean says, She is married already and doesn't do that sort of thing maxisbrooke says, Hey Jenna. How are you?
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #365 from sunbonnet:

Is there a club that was mentioned in one article that opens at 11 PM?
maxisbrooke says, Do you miss me?
MaxiSean says, If you wanta club, just stick in a bar and a juke box or a House party dance Floor
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #323 from mehaf:

Will there be any 'people of the night' downtown?

MaxiSean says, Only if you play one...you can keep the album stories going while you are downtown...we'll see what people make up
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #350 from briguy070:

Can you go downtown to one lot than move to another without going home and coming back?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #358 from briguy070:

How do you get back from the Downtown?

MaxiSean says, You get back from downtown with the cab as well...the cab is supposed to take take you to other lots of you wnat
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #236 from a_cheerleader_who_broke_a_nail:

what is dip kiss?

MaxiSean says, We actually don't call it that in the game, it is "fiery" kiss..they grab each other and one sim dips the other like a tango dance. Very dramtic..not all soms can deal with it
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #426 from astroalex:

will sims be able to do naughty dances like the lambada or anything else that's latin-esque?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #424 from newbiekid:

will people be able to "play" under the table?

MaxiSean says, Well, if you have the House Party dance floor and DJ booth, you get all those hot dances
MaxiSean says, They can play footsie under the table...they can play under the bubbles of the love tub too
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #328 from neousagi:

will the way relationship points build be different?

MaxiSean says, Yes, you still get points for interactions like before..
MaxiSean says, but, your mood and personality are more important for outcomes, ..
MaxiSean says, plus, in group talk like the hot tub or pool table..
MaxiSean says, they don't always like the conversation..so you need keep on your toes
MaxiSean says, and change the topic
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #440 from newbiekid:

Will family albums still be made in Hot Date?

MaxiSean says, Of course, we would never take that away
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #409 from briguy070:

Can you get all 10 in all the interests? (saying 10 is the highest)

MaxiSean says, No..that would be too much of a cheat! If you get really interested ina new topic, ones you don't like will be going down
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #454 from briguy070:

Will time change in Downtown.. or will it always be the same time down there?

MaxiSean says, It will be 30 minutes after whatever time you leave the house
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #436 from abx00:

I read on a site that you could find a date on your simcomputer, is this true?

MaxiSean says, time varies with each cab driver actually
MaxiSean says, You have to download dates from the hot date website , but there are already dates in the game downtown
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #422 from jacensoloz:

does the new "Love Swing" actually swing?

MaxiSean says, Yes! you can swing alone, or cuddle and swing with a friend or lover
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #468 from mikeb88_69:

question would you have to add 5 waiter stands to get 5 wiaters? how does that work?

MaxiSean says, Well the expenive restaurnat stand has a maitre d' and a waiter...but the diner podium only has the waiters and waitresses...you can make more waiters with more podiums..yes
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #439 from herecomestrouble:

Has Sean ever thought about using a spellchecker?

MaxiSean says, Yes, sean uses it extensively in emails and elsewhere because he is a spaz and can't ype correctly
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #438 from a_cheerleader_who_broke_a_nail:

can you go on a double date?

MaxiSean says, No, but you will see other sims going on dates on their own downtown.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #487 from kristi_the_dingle:

Can you like entertain your date or something? Like be really funny.. like me for example.. and ask stoopid questions.. and stuff like that? lol

MaxiSean says, Yes you can do new entertains and ask them how they are doing
MaxiSean says, The new puppet-entertain is hilarious
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #457 from glb0172:

can your building have more than two levels?

MaxiSean says, Sure. Just like the house lots
MaxiSean says, Oh. no only the two levels
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #494 from kc_450:

can u build bars or is it all clean?

MaxiSean says, What is so unclean about bars? They only serve "smart drinks" that are non-alcoholic
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #423 from quicksilver1323:

When you buy flowers for your date do you always come up as the same one? Like it will always be roses? Or different types...?

MaxiSean says, You can buy a bouquet of red roses or a single yellow rose
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #447 from alex33990:

what kinds of new cheats will there be in hd?

MaxiSean says, new cheats? No idea what that means
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #496 from samsung_2000:

Can you make a Mall with resturaunt's and shops in it?

MaxiSean says, Yes. Food courts are a must for hungry shoppers
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #219 from caffienehacker:

how many people can you control downtown at once, can you control people from diffrent families?

MaxiSean says, You just control your one sim, that is why you need to ask your date what they want
MaxiSean says, but..
MaxiSean says, you can see which Sim is your date at all times'
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #510 from laurenad:

what new interests can sims talk about?

MaxiSean says, they can talk about food, technology, exercise, parties, style, Hollywood and romance
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #511 from kristi_the_dingle:

Will the sim's still speak Simmishness? Or speak normally like good little sims? *I predict the answer will be Simmish* lets see if i really am phsycic.. lol

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #435 from neousagi:

What does it mean if your psychic advisor's head explodes?

MaxiSean says, Absornakay...foo foo fee no kay toe. Sul sul
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #425 from addition:

in a screen shot i saw some sort of toy vending machine.....can u give us any idea to what this is?

MaxiSean says, That is where you can buy stuffed animals or video games
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #517 from neousagi:

What would happen if your sims spouse caught you "cuddling" on the couch with another sim?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #522 from ponyta1:

Will there be more jealousy interactions now?

MaxiSean says, They would go into a blind jealous rage I imagine
MaxiSean says, With all the new kisses and hugs, you can se a lot more jealousy!
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #521 from irishgirl43002:

can your sim get a job as a waiter downtown?

MaxiSean says, NOT YET
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #518 from ocean_14:

will the downtown area have some pre-made buildings like they did in the Sims neighbor hood??? ie, Goth house, and all those other houses

MaxiSean says, Yes, we will have 4 to 10 lots...still deciding
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #531 from neousagi:

If your sim is downtown, can they call another sim to join them?

MaxiSean says, Yes
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #537 from doublehelix:

Can you really go camping in the park?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #539 from deathdude1:

will there be new disasters? like ants steasling your food?

MaxiSean says, There is a new disaster that involves a wild animal
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #538 from mjmcp:

Can downtown be burnt down?

MaxiSean says, PLus the old Tragic Clown "Sunny is his name, can be seen weeping at his failed burger empire
MaxiSean says, Downtown is build of space-age fire resistant polymer materials
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #528 from mikeb88_69:

what is that green booth that the one guy stands in?

MaxiSean says, That is Rental Shack Jack's place..he rents the park stuff
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #542 from gabman2000:

What are some of the New NPC's other than the cooks, waiters, and musicians?

MaxiSean says, There is a janitor, the Old Prude, a sales clerks, fast food clerks, and ice cream man, a wandering musician, bartenders, barmaids, busboys, chefs
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #553 from paigekd:

Will you be able to upload your downtown areas to the sims exchange?

MaxiSean says, yes I mean
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #250 from newbiekid:

Will the option "Play in Bed" have more interactions?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #558 from thesimschick:

are there any new things that the sims can do in bed?

MaxiSean says, We concnetrated on our new cuddle technology and Hot tub "washing" and " caressing"
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #363 from vampire_slayer:

if you do invite a NPC home will he/she leave in the morning?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #557 from brend0:

Can my sim be "picked up" by another sim while downtown?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #212 from demented33:

will you be able to take other sims back to your house?

MaxiSean says, they will leave when they need to go home due to motives
MaxiSean says, Yes, if dates go well, you could go home to show them your "art."
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #574 from skirve_of_borg:

can sims have weddings downtown ?

MaxiSean says, You can propose whenever you want, build yourself a niceChurch chapel with the Livin Large castle textures downtown and th new gazebo fences fro Hot Date...that will make a ncie wedding area
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #562 from a_cheerleader_who_broke_a_nail:

what is your favorite outfit?

MaxiSean says, The female wall flower is really, really cute..I'd date her
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #578 from thesimschick:

can the sims play in the love tub?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #577 from abx00:

lol so what you are saying is that you can have a baby by playing around in the love tub?

MaxiSean says, Yes they can....but only under the bubbles
MaxiSean says, I suppose that would follow from a rigorous playing in the hot tub..but that water is really hot...
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #579 from directoradam:

Whos that guy with the guitar? He looks cool.

MaxiSean says, He is the gypsy musician...you pay him to play songs ...just remember to tip him well or else
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #568 from irishgirl43002:

can you buy jewelry, clothes, etc. for yourself?

MaxiSean says, You can buy clothes for yourself or your date, but you only buy gifts for other Sims
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #594 from neousagi:

How long have you been working on HD?

MaxiSean says, Hot date has been in the works ever since the first game went out, we were always thinking of how to improve the social game
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #593 from thesimschick:

can we order HD online right now?

MaxiSean says, Yes, from EA.com
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #603 from jacensoloz:

What is this new, "The Zims" in HD? What does it do to sims?

MaxiSean says, Hhehehe. it is an incredibly addictibe video game. if you give it to kids, it is REALLY hard to make them stop plyaing it...
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #575 from neousagi:

Will the clothes your sim is wearing effect their relationship? Like if a neighbor sees them in their pj's they freak out?

MaxiSean says, Sims don't think like we do you know...they are very liberal about their clothing standards
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #623 from samsung_2000:

do you like working for maxis?

MaxiSean says, Yes, except for these weird keyboards I can't type on...mine is a weird globe shape
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #630 from thesimschick:

how much does HD cost?

MaxiSean says, it will be the same price as our previous expansion packs.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #632 from deathdude1:

will there be any new forms of teaseing or fighting? like choking or biteing?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #637 from gabman2000:

will you be able to break up with your sim-dates?

MaxiSean says, Yes...new slap fight...new "immitating"...
MaxiSean says, also the new shove and "raspberry" where you stick your tongue out
MaxiSean says, You will get a crush before you get a love symbol...you can gain and lose a crush easily, but love is harder to get now
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #645 from alex33990:

can you get a job downtown and bring your sim to the job?

MaxiSean says, Not is THIS pack...talk to me in a few months
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #655 from jennypoo:

can you hire a piano player for your restaraunts?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #658 from thesimschick:

who works in the stores you make?

MaxiSean says, yes you can...there is a new black grand piano that a pinao player will appear at downtown
MaxiSean says, If you place cash registers...clerks will be hired for the stores
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #624 from directorjosh:

In Hot Date, can we Two-Time?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #664 from thesimschick:

can you fool around with your date in public?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #665 from ponyta1:

Can your Sims end up with hickeys?

MaxiSean says, You can two-time, three-time-Octuple-time if you manage not to get caught
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #667 from directoradam:

I heard that if you click on "Kiss" in the pie menu, you can have about 4 different kisses, is this true?

MaxiSean says, Hickeys are part of the next generation technology we are researching, but not fot Hot Date
MaxiSean says, IF YOU PLAY YOUR sIMS RIGHT, YOU CAN HAVE UP TO 6 KISSES!
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #672 from directorjosh:

Can we hold parties from House Party in the Downtown region?

MaxiSean says, Parties are only for the house, but the bar gets pretty busy
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #673 from gabman2000:

if you have House Party, and you build a club downtown, will there be NPC's to DJ?

MaxiSean says, Yes, a DJ comes to play the club and you can make song requests
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #552 from astroalex: Are you as excited about Hot Date as i am?
MaxiSean says, I am more excited, because I know everyone will be blown away.. I can't WAIT to see the new stories
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #683 from gabman2000:

I, being an object maker, would like to know if the new interactions for older objects (such as clones of couches) automatically have the new interactions too such as cuddle?

MaxiSean says, Good question. I'm not sure. If they are made from old couches then I think they get updated...I'll make sure to pester the programmers about it.
MaxiSean says, Oh they just said NO
MaxiSean says, Old objects will have the old intractions
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #696 from neousagi:

Are there bathrooms downtown? How do you keep your sim from getting upset by another sims walking in to the bathroom?

MaxiSean says, so you will need to use the new couches in the transmogrifier
MaxiSean says, There are male and female doors for bathrooms, but downtown, like in real life, multiple sims can use the same bathroom
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #660 from neousagi:

How will you get a cab to take you back home?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #705 from czarinaedres:

does the cab ride cost money? how much?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #704 from thesimschick:

so, if your sim gets tired it just goes home automatically?

MaxiSean says, The cab costs about $50 simoleons...it will come when you use the phones
MaxiSean says, We are still toying with the best way to get them home when tired.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #698 from thesimschick:

can you ditch your date for someone else while you are on the date?

MaxiSean says, Sure...just tell them to take hike with one of the many new say goodbye's, then "upgrade" to a better date
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #715 from neousagi:

What happens if you don't take a shower before you go downtown. If you really stink, will you get kicked out of restaurants?

MaxiSean says, No, but nobody will go on a date with you.
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #406 from alicat26:

Can you bump into other neighbors in downtown and then maybe spend the rest of the day with them, instead of your original date?

MaxiSean says, Sure. Your date will play tag a long unless you tell them to go away
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #731 from a701farr:

What happens if you buy something in Downtown?

MaxiSean says, You can give it as a gift when you see someone next, either at home or downtown, but you take magazines home to read later...
MaxiSean says, magazines go on the new COFFEE TABLES everyone has been begging us for
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #742 from alex33990:

who is your favorite NPC?

MaxiSean says, Well that is still the tragic CLOWN! Watch him cry at the restaurant chain he used to own, before he lost everything and had to do trciks for a living!
MaxisJenna says, Last questions...
MaxiSean says, ok
MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #100 from ponyta1:

Is Hot Date really supposed to be the best expansion ever (for The Sims of course.)?

MaxisJenna presents the speaker with question #368 from master_mass:

can u make HD come out sooner?

MaxiSean says, It has more stuff than anything we ever did before ...the other packs had 10 game play objects, this has 20, we have the same amount of floors and walls, plus a new area to go to, plus 40 new interactions and the new social objects..it almost a whole new game!
MaxiSean says, Um, sooner? We need to sleep too! Thanks for coming everyone! simmasterfran says, no.........you don't need to sleep
MaxisJenna says, Thank you
MaxiSean simmasterfran says, honest
MaxisJenna says, We went WAY WAY over time simmasterfran says, we can tie you to your chairs
MaxisJenna says, lots of good questions simmasterfran says, thanks Sean and Jenna
MaxiSean says, That's ok....we had LOT of people!
MaxisJenna says, sorry we couldn't get to them all
MaxiSean says, Sul sul everyone...

4 Oct 2001 - 23:10

IGN.com gets a preview of Hot Date, take a look at what they have to say about our latest expansion pack.

Go To IGN.com


The Sims: Hot Date

We talk with two of the minds behind the next Sims expansion. New screens inside.

The Sims Hot DateWe joke a lot about the consistency of the top selling software reports. The Sims and its expansions have held the top slots on the list ever since they've been released. And now, as if having the three of the top-selling software titles of the past two years isn't enough, Maxis is planning on releasing several new expansions. Assistant Producer Sean Baity and Game Designer Mike McCormick stopped by today with a build of the latest expansion, The Sims Hot Date. After taking a look at what the new expansion offers, there's very little doubt in our mind that we'll have to clear out another spot on the best-sellers list.

Hot Date adds more to The Sims than any expansion to date. According to Sean, "This expansion pack has more than the other expansion packs. The bar keeps getting raised with each expansion." But it's not just about adding more objects; it's about creating more interesting places for your Sims to go and giving them a much greater range of interactions.

The Sims Hot DateAccording to Sean, "it was a little too easy to get really high relationships" in the original game. Hot Date measures your relationship by both a daily and lifetime rating. (Relationships for existing Sims will be obtain both a lifetime and daily rating equal to the current relationship rating. From there, you're on your own.) Mike explains how the two ratings interact: "The lifetime rating pings the daily one. So if you're daily's really good it'll slowly bring up your lifetime. Accepted romantic interactions will also improve the lifetime one. So you can move it up quicker by steamier ways."

Mood is much more important this time around. So the steamy approach can also have a negative effect on the Sim if their mood isn't right. "You can know someone for a long time but are in a bad mood, you get new interactions like nag." Conversely, apology options open up when you're in a good mood around a Sim you don't like. Good couples who are having bad days will have lots of options to nag one another.

The Sims Hot DateTo account for the forty new social interactions (more than doubling the current set), the team has sub-tiered the pop-up menu. Now when you select "talk" you can choose from different subjects. You may also choose to gossip about other people or brag about yourself. New insults have been included. The poke's still here, but you can now also shake your fist at them. Ooh.... The cool thing is that you can open up new interactions based on the level of your relationship with the other person. Different kisses are available depending on how your Sim and the other Sim feel about each other.

The Sims Hot DateInstead of the basic hug, you can now choose from up to four different kinds of hugs depending on your mood. The basic hug is still here of course, but you can increase the passion of the hug by picking the intimate or romantic hug option. Then there's the option to leap into someone's arms. Sean showed us a demo of how this works by getting one character to leap into the arms of another: "If her hygiene is high enough, he'll accept it and both their moods goes up. However let's say her bladder is really low. He's got a new tickle he can do on her [the extreme tickle]. If the bladder's low enough on the other person, they'll wet their pants." Once she jumped back into his arms, he got the scent of it and threw her on the ground. Awesome.

The Sims Hot DateEight new interests have been added as well. Interest in romance, politics, arts and other topics will determine how well your Sim and another will get along. So what happens if you don't share any (or many) interests? Sean explained that "if you find someone that you really want to date, and they're interested in nothing but politics" you could go to a nearby magazine rack and buy magazines that relate to that topic. At home you can brush up on current events or the arts and impress your date with that knowledge.

To get a magazine, you've got to go downtown. That's where the other half of the expansion comes into play. To get downtown you simply need to call a cab. It shows up just like a carpool would. From there you choose which of the ten downtown lots you'd like to go to. The game will ship with three pre-built areas -- a beachfront, a restaurant and a park. When you're making a new area, you can spend as much as you want (although you can't build while on a date or you want to make sure that your Sims can afford the services you're providing).

The Sims Hot DateThe individual pieces you place in the restaurant have a cumulative effect on the price of meals. "Depending on what you've put in the restaurant, it'll make the food more expensive but it'll also be more satisfying," says Sean. You can create anything from a five-star restaurant to a hot dog cart, but you should watch that you don't make things too expensive; otherwise your Sims won't be able to afford to eat. You can also create shops, parks and other areas where your Sims can spend, interact or just relax.

Although your neighbors will frequent the downtown area there will also be randomly generated NPCs wandering around. They are taken from your skins folder. With a new Date Maker app you can even create NPCs and upload them to the Sims Exchange. You can relate to these NPCs and even get them to go on dates with you. The NPCs who are working downtown won't be available for dating, but the rest will. You can ask them what they're interested in doing. If they say eat, you go eat; if they say drink, you can go drink.

The Sims Hot DateSean says there are "all sorts of ways to force your fun and hunger and comfort up when you're down here but you gotta pay for it. Basically, you're buying love and paying for comfort. At home you buy the objects, here you pay for the services that give you satisfaction." You can tell musicians to play for you date, buy flowers or jewelry or candy or toys for them. The better your gift is, the more your date will like it. You can even buy a copy of a game called The Zims. We're not sure what someone's reaction to that might be.

If things go really well, you can even ask your date to come home with you. If they do decide (against their better judgment) to go home with you, you can play in the new Love Tub. This heart shaped sauna allows you to wash, cuddle and "play" with each other. The playing mostly seems to take place underwater, so we're not sure exactly what could be going on. If you take things too far on the date, your companion will excuse Simself and head home.

The Sims Hot DateApart from the love tub, there are over 120 other new objects in the game. Some (like the giant aquarium, porch swing, koi pond or the industrial stove) can be used in the home or downtown. Landscape objects include numerous varieties of tree. The option to replace grass with sand should make for some awesome Tempe, Arizona neighborhoods. New fences, windows, doors, and such add more options. And to keep track of this stuff, the item categories have been redefined. Electronics now includes separate categories for phones, stereos, and such and art is subdivided into rugs, sculptures, plants and so on.

The game is due out really soon and, at a price of only thirty bucks, it's sure to take up one more slot on the top ten lists. With the other expansions coming out soon, we may need to clear out even more space. Sean even hinted that he'd like to see a workplace-centered version of the Sims in the future. While nothing's confirmed of course, it'd be nice to see that too.

-- Steve Butts

2 Oct 2001 - 23:00

It is time for the SimCity Halloween Building Contest! It is time to build the Haunted House of your dreams! Can you build something creepy enough to scare the judges? Find out more in the Contests area!

27 Sep 2001 - 23:10

We have been very busy testing the new registration system and BBS so there will be little in the way of an update this week. We will be hosting a chat with members of the Hot Date team in the next week or so, and there will be a new contest announcement as well. So stay tuned as we have many wonderful things in store for you in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience.

27 Sep 2001 - 23:00

We have added many new fansites to the fansite list and will be adding even more in the coming weeks! We would like to thank all of the dedicated fans who run their fansites all over the world!

Go To Fansite Listing

21 Sep 2001 - 23:10

Yesterday we learned that SimsVille will never be. GameSpot sat down with Patrick Buechner and asked him some questions. Curious? Read the article on GameSpot! Or click read more to read it on our website.


Maxis talks to us about yesterday's sudden cancelation of its highly anticipated game SimsVille.

Yesterday's news of SimsVille's cancelation came as a surprise to Maxis' countless SimCity and The Sims fans. After all, SimsVille promised to combine gameplay elements from those two respective series of city-building and life-simulation games, which have proven so successful to the company in recent years. We received word of the sudden cancelation from a high-level and reliable source at Maxis, who chose to remain nameless in our news story, and while that person provided us with some important details about the decision to cancel the game, we still had many unanswered questions. What were the specific reasons for SimsVille's cancelation? Who made the final decision? What will become of the game's impressive 3D technology? For answers to those questions and more, we sat down with Maxis' director of marketing, Patrick Buechner, who was able to shed some light on yesterday's unfortunate news.

GameSpot: Patrick, was it Maxis or Electronic Arts that decided to cancel the game?

Patrick Buechner: The decision definitely came from within Maxis. It was a studio decision that involved the members of the SimsVille design team as well as a number of senior [executives]. At Maxis, we constantly evaluate all of our games during different stages of development, and during the constant review process for SimsVille, we decided that the game didn't live up to our standards.

GS: What exactly didn't live up to your standards? Can you tell us specifically which parts were lacking?

PB: For the past three years, we've had an extremely high standard for our games, and our customers have come to expect a certain consistent quality of gameplay from us. And while SimsVille had certain fun elements to it, the game had other parts that simply weren't as fun. For me, specifically, the first 10 minutes of building up my town was always enjoyable, but once I got past that part, the game became less compelling. Similar issues also influenced our decision.

GS: So would you say that SimsVille's design initially looked good on paper but was poorly executed within the game?

PB: No, I wouldn't say that. Our design process at Maxis is very different from that of other studios, and that's how we've been able to create such hit products recently. The secret to our success is what we call an iterative design process, wherein we constantly reevaluate a specific game's design as we develop it. For example, The Sims changed quite dramatically from when Will Wright originally envisioned it seven years ago as a game about architecture to what the final game is about today. SimsVille also changed a lot from when we first started working on it more than a year and a half ago, and the decision to cancel its development didn't have anything to do with [its original concept].

GS: Another reason cited for the cancelation was that The Sims: Hot Date will include some of the same features that SimsVille included. Does Maxis plan to include more SimsVille features in upcoming expansion packs for The Sims?

PB: Well, the whole reason we came up with the idea for SimsVille was the feedback from The Sims players, who were asking to see the lives of their Sims outside the house. They were sick of being stuck indoors, and while that aspect of The Sims is still fun, players wanted to know what goes on in their Sims' lives outside the house. The Sims: Hot Date lets players do everything they've been asking for, like hang out at the bar, have a picnic downtown, go shopping, and so on. After a while, we found that it was simply more fun than what we had in SimsVille.

GS: The official SimsVille Web site states that development of the game has been suspended. Does this mean that it hasn't been completely canceled? Is it possible that the game could be reworked to meet Maxis' standards and be released sometime in the future?

PB: No, SimsVille has been completely canceled. The game's idea is a good one, but it's not something we're currently thinking about reviving. We've got a lot of other projects we're working on, and we're focused on those right now.

GS: Did SimsVille's more mature content, such as adult theaters and armed robberies, have anything to do with the decision to cancel the project?

PB: No, certainly not. The Sims was a teen-rated game, and it had a lot of content that we consider to be cutting edge, so we're not afraid of dealing with mature content. Besides, the adult theaters and such in SimsVille simply represented the same kind of sense of humor that was found in The Sims. Ultimately, we were shooting for a teen rating for SimsVille, and if that content would have prevented us from getting such a rating, we would have simply removed it.

GS: Was EA or Maxis worried at all that SimsVille might compete with The Sims Online? Did that have any effect on the decision to cancel the game?

PB: No. SimsVille had a play experience that was unique from that of The Sims Online, and fans were excited about it. But the last thing we want is for our fans to be excited about one of our products, have them buy it, go home, and be disappointed with it. Honestly, we could have sold hundreds of thousands of copies of [SimsVille], but people wouldn't have had a great play experience with the game. It was a tough decision that we made--knowing that there's a lot of anticipation around a product, but having the will to say "This doesn't meet our standards."

GS: How close was SimsVille to completion when it was canceled?

PB: We were hoping to have the game done by March 2002, so I'd say we were about 60 percent complete.

GS: Will Maxis use some of the content and technology from SimsVille in its other upcoming games? Can you share any specific things from SimsVille that we'll see in new games? Will SimsVille's 3D engine be used in any new games?

PB: A 3D environment for some future Sims game is certainly something we want to do, but it won't be incorporated into anything that we've publicly announced, including The Sims Online.

GS: What projects are the people who were developing SimsVille working on now?

PB: They're all working on a variety of projects, including The Sims Online and several unannounced games.

GS: Is there anything you'd like to express to gamers who are disappointed with the cancelation of the game?

PB: I'd just like to reiterate that most of what the fans were looking for in SimsVille, we will be delivering in Hot Date. These people will really be satisfied with the town-building experience and other aspects of that expansion pack.

GS: How are Maxis' other projects coming along? When can we expect to see The Sims: Hot Date and The Sims Online in stores?

PB: We're all set for a November release date for The Sims: Hot Date, and The Sims Online is still on schedule for a late 2002 release.

GS: Thanks for your time, Patrick.

20 Sep 2001 - 23:30

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