The latest scenario from Maxis can be both easy and hard. In fact, you choose what sort of challenge you want in this scenario. This little puzzle from the ever popular, MaxisWaylon collection, should keep you busy for a while. Set your own difficulty and take on the challenge of your choice. You can find the scenario, Pick Your Climb, in the download section here.
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19 Sep 2000 - 23:00
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14 Sep 2000 - 23:20
New York City-based band Electric Funstuff today released Sim-Hilarities, a song by a player of The Sims™ finding odd parallels between his life and the lives of his Sims. Sound familiar? You can download it from Beatz 4 Geekz, a Web site devoted to music for technophiles and gamers. Warning: it just might get stuck in your head!
Sim-Hilarities (4:07)
Sims Fans! Ever notice mood icons and bladder meters floating above the heads of your friends and families? Is this how life really works? Are we all just machines that facilitate the act of existence?
You can also download the song from the Electric FunStuff website.
14 Sep 2000 - 23:10
Live large in your own home! Just like The Sims do, you can listen to your favorite tunes played on The Sims Jukebox. This desktop music player brings your favorite tunes to you, Sims-style!
14 Sep 2000 - 23:00
Some users have noted that the jukebox game object we're giving away is already in The Sims Livin' Large. Here's why.
In the expansion, we included all the web-downloadable objects: the guinea pig, the topiaries -- everything. We had always planned to release the jukebox as a downloadable game object; you can tell because it appears in the downloads folder of Livin' Large (unlike, say, Servo). The intent was to release the jukebox first, then release Livin' Large, but we got ahead of ourselves in our excitement to get the expansion disk to you early. Essentially, Livin' Large users got the jukebox ahead of time.
As it turned out, the jukebox in the expansion disk had a small bug (in the "join" option for dancing), so our slip up in release timing actually gave us a chance to fix things. Download it and enjoy!
Jukebox
Give your Sims a real party machine: the jukebox!
Download The Jukebox (670 Kb)
12 Sep 2000 - 23:00
Thanks to all who took the time to enter the contest! You can see all the winners and their fabulous buildings on our contest winners page!
7 Sep 2000 - 23:10
We've updated our help section specially for users of The Sims Livin' Large. Check it out!
7 Sep 2000 - 23:00
Our new contest starts this SimDay. What has The Sims Livin' Large done for your Sims? Show us and win!
5 Sep 2000 - 23:10
Many of you may be familiar with this building since it was included on the original SimCity box, but not in the game. Maxis was quite impressed with the depths of sleuthing that went on as our fans uncovered small hints and clues as to the nature of this missing building. The theories on the BBS were extensive and the spirit in which SimCity fans discussed the long-lost arcos of old was, to say the least, mesmerizing.
From Maxis' perspective, the history of this particular building is not that glorifying. As it often turns out in the world of software development, not everything gets into the final game. That is not to say the final game was lacking, but clearly, arcologies did not make the cut (well, except for the box).
In the spirit of supporting our fans in any way that we can, we now humbly offer you this mystery building as a Landmark. It's not going to boost your population; it is not going to launch your sims to that great city in the sky (watch the Space Debris closely to see how that adventure turns out); and it is not going to help you with your homework. One thing it will do, however, is look very cool in your favorite city. We sincerely hope you enjoy this free plug-in and the fanciful feelings it evokes.
31 Aug 2000 - 23:30
That's right! The Sims Livin' Large is out the door and in the stores. Go get yours! Or, if you're a lazy Sim, just click here to buy it online -- Freddy the Pizza Guy will bring it to your door.
31 Aug 2000 - 23:20
There's a great review of The Sims Livin' Large over at DailyRadar.com. Check it out!
The Sims Livin' Large Review
It's more of the same, and that ain't such a bad thing.
While the appeal of the new expansion pack for The Sims supposedly lies in its crazy new items and tile sets, Livin' Large is, at its heart, just more of the same. There are five new career tracks and tons of new tiles and items, as well as the chance to have more neighborhoods than before. None of these, however, really change the game dynamic. The new careers are just like the old ones; there are just different requirements for them. Similarly, although most of the new items are of a more whimsical nature than those from the original game, the majority of them don't actually do anything that couldn't be done before. That's not to say that none of the new items are exciting, because that certainly wouldn't be fair, but most are less innovative than the average new download from The Sims homepage.
The half-dozen or so items worth playing with are a strange assortment of everyday objects that do a little more and completely fantastical creations that allow for just plain silly behavior. In the realm of everyday objects now infused with 30% more fun are a telescope, a workbench and a vibrating bed. The telescope teaches logic and isn't really necessary since the chess table does the same thing, plus allows for multiple people to sit and participate at once. What the chess table does not do, however, is let Sims be abducted by aliens, who scramble the Sim brains are release them with completely different personalities. Advantage: telescope. The workbench similarly fills a spot already taken by teaching mechanical skills but, like the telescope, offers something more -- namely, lawn gnomes! That's right, Sims with the mechanical wherewithal can now create beautiful lawn gnomes to make the whole neighborhood jealous. Third on the list is the vibrating bed, a heart-shaped monstrosity that actually has a "play in bed" command for couples. Use the ol' imagination for that one.
On the fantastic side of things are a mad scientist lab set, a magic lamp and, best of all, a robot. The lab set goes perfectly with the turn of the century (19th century, that is) decor now available and allows insane Sims to mix potions in the safety of their own dungeons. What do the potions do? Well, there's only one way to find out, and that's to use Sims as guinea pigs, altering their personalities, turning them invisible and worse. The magic lamp, when cleaned, releases a pretty pathetic genie that, when commanded, will attempt to make a Sim's life a little better. More often than not, it backfires, and the Sim who was supposed to be smitten with love becomes angry instead -- or the stove blows up for no particular reason. The granddaddy of all luxury items, however -- and the most expensive one at a wallet-smashing $15,000-- is the personal robot.
The personal robot cleans. It cleans toilets and sinks, floors and showers, all without complaint. The personal robot gardens. It makes sure the petunias are perky, the grass is green and the trees stand tall, all while the Sims are at work. The personal robot cooks. Breakfast is prepared while the Sim showers; lunch is served up while the Sim is chatting up the girl next door; or dinner is served on the patio -- and it all tastes better made with metallic hands. Best of all, the personal robot repairs. That's right. No more waiting for that shot of espresso or that long shower; just turn on the personal robot and watch it go to work. Now isn't that worth a measly $15K?
The five additional career paths, while not actually requiring any new approaches to gameplay, are generally more amusing than the old ones. The slacker path takes Sims through such great jobs as convenience store clerk and golf caddy. The musician class makes roadies of the less domestically inclined and encourages them to reach for the stars. Sims hoping to crack national security can become hackers, as long as they don't get caught. Want to play games all day? There's a journalist class that'll accomplish just that. Perhaps the funniest of all, though, and the class that most represents the feel of the expansion pack, is the paranormal path. After all, at the end of the day, what better accomplishment could a Sim have than to own a robot, have a vibrating bed full of cute neighbors and be the leader of their very own cult?
- Daniel Erickson