Came across an interesting post over at the NeoGAF forums about SimCity.  An image has been floating around the internet with a url at the bottom that directs you to simcityworld.com.  One user decided to do a domain search only to find out it belongs to EA:

Domain Name………. simcityworld.com
Creation Date…….. 2000-03-07
Registration Date…. 2010-01-28
Expiry Date………. 2011-03-07
Organisation Name…. ELECTRONIC ARTS
Organisation Address. 209 Redwood Shores Parkway
Organisation Address.
Organisation Address. REDWOOD CITY
Organisation Address. 94065
Organisation Address. CA
Organisation Address. UNITED STATES

It appears to have been created 10 years ago, but registered just last month which could possibly mean EA might have something in store for us SimCity fans soon.  The picture that surfaced with this information has been posted below.  After reading the comments, people believe to have seen it floating around for a long time – even suggesting that it was an architectural drawing for a development in Dubai.  No idea what to believe.  Could this be the next generation SimCity?  The beginnings of their so called Facebook app?  I have no clue, so I’m marking this as a ‘rumor’ until more information develops.

If you drop by Dimensao Sims, they are offering 3 new wallpapers in 1024×768 and 1600×1200 sizes to celebrate The Sims 10th Anniversary.  Grab them here.

All 3 EA games – The Sims 3, World Adventures and Spore fell from their normal positions in the UK charts.  At first I was wondering where was The Sims 3 Design & Hi-Tech Stuff…then I realized it was only out for a day in the UK, so that is understandable.  Hopefully next week will provide better results.  It doesn’t help when there are new games bumping them down as well

Source:  Chart-Track

The Sims allows you to play God to townspeople, but the flip side is that you’re also playing the role of an omnipresent voyeur. You watch your Sims as they shower, use the bathroom and even have sex. Granted, you don’t actually get to see any nudity or the sex itself, but for those unable to use their vivid imaginations to fill in the blanks, someone created a nude patch. Now weirdoes get to fulfill their fantasies of watching Barbie dolls bathe, dry their hair and then frolic in the bed sheets.

I think having The Sims on this list is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think? I can understand a few choices – BMX XXX, Dead or Alive, Bayonetta…What about the Mass Effect series? Leisure Suit Larry?

10 Needlessly Perverted Mainstream Games by The Game Reviews

Well, well, well…How should I begin this story.  After doing some research, I’ve came to conclusion that one (or possibly multiple) of the artists from The Sims Team is a thief and well, pretty much lazy.  I hate to call them out on this but all indications proved they have stolen the the artwork from Alex of SimGoodies to use in their January newsletter.

Lets start from the beginning.  On January 16th SimGoodies created a wallpaper using the renders that the Sims Team released – no harm in that, because thats why the renders are put out there – to use for fansites and graphics.  You can view his wallpaper below:

Now take a look at EA’s header for their January newsletter which was issued on February 4th:

*Update* – Cidade dos Sims directed me to his version of the newsletter that their local EA region sent out – this time with Marcela’s arm not lifted up – the exact same as Alex’s wallpaper.

The only difference you can spot is Marcela – the thief.  Her arm is raised in the air for the newsletter picture.  But wait, something isn’t right.  Here is her render.  Did they use a different one perhaps?  Copy the above newsletter image into your paint program and zoom in.  Look at her right arm and the area around her neck.  Does it look like an edit to you?  It sure does to me!  Her joint where her arm connects to her body looks off!

Not only that, but I had to ask Alex for proof.  I needed solid evidence to prove that he came up with the background.  Sure, the dates are valid…but I needed to see the actual PSD file with the layers in tact.  He gave me the PSD file and I had a look.  Here is the breakdown, first with my PaintShop Pro screen showing off the PSD file and then separate images showing their layers (I resized each layer so it can’t be used for other purposes and to protect his work):

Now after speaking with Alex I found out more information.  He used a template graphic for the confetti which can be viewed here.  The fireworks – just brushes in Photoshop.  So yeah, the ball is in Alex’s court.  Why did EA decide to use his artwork for their newsletter?  Isn’t that what they have graphics artists for?  Not only that but they didn’t even ask him or give him the honor of it being used.  Nope, it looks like they ripped it and added a few small changes.

But wait, there is more!  It appears the artist had a second lazy streak.  Instead of designing their own celebration background they used the following artprint!

Their background at the official Sims 3 site:

Was taken from this clipart:

Care to answer, EA?  This is just pitiful, extremely lazy and a horrible way to treat your fans.

I’ve been a slacker…I am pretty good at keeping up with the latest news in the Sims community, but very bad in keeping track of the latest programs.  While on Mod The Sims I came across 5 programs that I’ve yet to add to our programs section.  I’ll add their information below.

The Skininator
Source: Mod The Sims
Copyright: CmarNYC

Non-default replacement skins for the Sims 3 are here. This is a small program to create the necessary support files and package them with your modified skins, all ready to be put in the game.

A couple of sample screens are below. The process is pretty simple: give your new skin a name and decide if it’s a non-standard/fantasy skin (like blue or green). If you’re using a new color ramp (the color gradient applied over the skin), select it along with the corresponding png thumbnail ramp. Load up the skin files you’ve modifed. Anything you don’t import into Skininator will use the game default. Then click the button to save your new skin package.

Since a new skin may involve dozens of files, you can save your project and reopen it later.

MorphMaker
Source: Mod The Sims
Copyright: CmarNYC

This program is a tool to make new morphs for body meshes and new CAS sliders for faces.

Features:

• Accepts morph meshes and converts them to BGEO files containing the morph information.
• Creates the necessary supporting files to use new morphs in the game.
• Edits clothing packages to import the new morph and link it correctly.
• Creates packages for sliders.
• Has help screens with brief instructions for the basic tasks.

What it does not do:

• Does not create morph meshes. Use Milkshape with Wes Howe’s plugins for that: Download here.
• Only runs on Windows.

Sims 3 Log Generator
Source: Mod The Sims
Copyright: ShanOw

The log generator can be used by game help and support people and everyday players to help find out exactly whats wrong with there Sims 3 game.

Information it lists:

• Game settings
• PC Hardware/Software + configuration
• Installed Custom Contents
• Check if Caches are present
• Checks for Awesomeware location
• Game Version
• External Game Options
• Resource.cfg file locations
• Correctly installed package framework

Using this tool you can determine:

• Whether the users hardware is sufficient
• Whether the game supports the users graphics card
• Whether package framework is correctly installed
• Whether it is a game setting that is causing isssues
• What Custom Content they have installed

Sims 3 Dashboard
Source: Mod The Sims
Copyright: Delphy

It’s basically designed to let people easily clear the cache and identify problem content.

This tool has 4 main tasks:

• To easily show you which games you have, whether or not they have a full framework, and to browse to that games root folder.
• To show you the contents of the Sims 3 cache files, and clear them
• To show you all of your custom content in .package format, and display any “corrupted” files, or Sims 2 content, or stuff that just plain wont work.
• To fix any problems with corrupted files, empty files, generally broken files, and allow you to fix conflicts yourself

Sims 3 Framework Installer
Source: Mod The Sims
Copyright: Delphy

This tool is a replacement for the Sims 3 Framework installer part of the Helper Monkey program. It only checks and sets up the Framework to enable you to use .package file custom content with your TS3 games. It does not in any way help you to actually install that content. It is only a framework installer.

I’m not speaking about myself but of Kraid over at Destructoid.  He published an article earlier today about how SimCity 3000 introduced him to Jazz and how he became a fan of the genre.   While I do find the music of SimCity 3000 to be enjoyable, I can’t really say I have the same opinion.  I don’t mind Jazz but it isn’t something I care to listen to all the time.

Ten years ago I bought one of my favorite games of all time. I still play SimCity 3000 Unlimited every now and then like any other classics in my collection. Creating huge metropolis, challenging myself with weird urban designs and landscapes, I’ve always been fascinated by Will Wright’s series from the very beginning. One of the best aspects of the game however is the music, vilely infused with pure post Hard-Bop era smooth-jazz and some cool New Age Electronica.

It took me a long time however to finally realize that I had this secret love for Jazz. Prior to two or three years ago I had no idea who John Coltrane or Miles Davis were yet at the same time I knew these songs and rhymns. I was familiar with the specific era of which I am now a huge devoted fan.

Destructoid – How SimCity 3000 made me fall in love with Jazz

A portion of a review by Cinema Blend:

The elevator and the hot tub! Both of these items have yet to be introduced into The Sims 3 and I think it would’ve been great to build a loft that had an indoor hot tub and definitely an elevator. In fact, I’m willing to go as far as to say that those two items would easily justify the $20 price tag on this pack. Not that the aquarium, electric guitar and vibrating bed aren’t great but for for those of us who get frustrated trying to incorporate stairs into our floorplans, the elevator in Sims 2 was always a great convenience. And the hot tub was great for socializing. Without those two items, I’m on the fence. It’s not that I’m not satisfied with most of what’s offered in the pack, but the price still feels a bit high. Perhaps my thoughts on that are skewed a bit after familiarizing myself with the online store that EA offers Sims 3 players.

Sims 3 High loft Stuff Pack impressions by Cinema Blend

The last of LadyM’s review is now online, this time she explores France in World Adventures!

While at the nectar factory she went exploring in the basement and found a pool of juice to explore. She back flipped into it and eventually found some relics at the bottom. Outside the nectar factory she went to pick grapes and found a very unique item. I have to say I got very excited when I saw it. It was a gnome, but not just a regular gnome…

.. it looked like a little Napoleon and it was laying on it’s side sucking it’s thumb. She picked him up, named him and put it in her backpack and took it home. The gnome was placed in her garden and we soon found out that it moves. The next day it was standing up straight like any other gnome and the next it was laying down again. I’m hoping to find a different gnome in each country. That would be so cool.

LootNinja – The Sims 3 World Adventures review (part 3) – France

I don’t like the idea of a top list that features anything ‘of all time’.  I mean, 10 years from now, wouldn’t there be a new ‘of all time’ list?  Perhaps if they put these games in a specific timeframe – like the best PC games of 20 years or something of the likes, then I wouldn’t mind it.  Regardless, GamesRadar published their list and you can only imagine what games made it on there

81 – SimCity 2000 (1993)
Cities are staggering, beautiful, things. They’re also bastards. SimCity games always captured the latter, but 2000 is the best at balancing endless frustration with the compulsion to create a more perfect city. It’s also the only one in the series to capture a little bit of that futurism, letting you build arcologies and then prompt a mass exodus into space. More games should end on a mass exodus to space.

42 – The Sims 3 (2009)
It’s a suburban what-if machine. What if I hit on my neighbour? What if I have kids? What if I explore this crypt? The answer to each is usually funny, dramatic and calamitous. The Sims 3 finally tones down the tedious baby-sitting elements, leaving you free to toy with the soap opera.

Full list over at GamesRadar