The Sims 2 Series
The Escapist pokes fun at the Mass Effect/Spore 3 SecuROM Activation Limits
Aug 15th
I feel as if this is my duty to post the following article which was written by The Escapist.
If you have already forgot the issue of the “Mass Effect” 3-limit controversy thanks to the latest SecuROM, then please check out our article on that to brush up what could possibly happen for Spore.
Yes, Spore has plans to contain the same “3-activation” SecuROM limits of Mass Effect. In fact, the Creature Creator has the same limitation. Have people been having issues with the Creature Creator? To be honest, I haven’t heard much on it. But when Spore reaches the shelves, will we have the same outcome, or will all hell break loose as it did for Mass Effect?
I can’t give you a definate answer, only my opinion. And my opinion is yes, we probably will. However, it will take some time for these issues to pop-up.
I don’t quite understand why EA would go this route. Is it truely to combat piracy, or to squeeze every last penny out of the consumer and then when they are toss them out in the trash? To say it is to prevent piracy is just plain idiotic. Do you know how easy it is for me to jump on google and grab a free working copy of the Spore Creature Creator? It takes me less than 2 minutes! Worst of all, this illegal copy has no limitations!
But I have no use for a free copy when I have 3 myself (the digital download Maxis sent me, my own purchased hard-copy, and then a copy that I bought for my 4 year old nephew). However, folks aren’t as lucky as I am and can only purchase 1 copy of the game (note: I know it’s only $10 here, but let’s just say it is a $50 game for this article). Why should they be punished and limited for their purchase?
What if they install the game to find out that it does not work properly the first time. (Chews up Activation #1). They then reformat the computer thinking it will fix it and install it again to find out it’s still not working right (this is activation #2). So they troubleshoot the problem and find out they need an updated video card. Put it in and it works. Something happens to the game (driver related issue) which requires another install. (Activation #3). After this, they won’t be able to install their games anymore, having to contact EA for “permission” to install it again.
All and all, let’s say this happens in a week’s time. Well, expansion pack #1 for Spore rolls out. This just opens up a new can of worms to those who have already used up all of their activations. We all had to re-install all of the games in The Sims lineup, who hasn’t encounter errors with those :P
So should people resort to purchasing another copy of the game or just jump on the internet to obtain a free *limitless* copy? Since I had already shelled money to buy my copy, why should I do it again? There are tons of other games on the market that are worth my time. I don’t have the funds to keep buying the same game over and over due to the stupid limits the publisher slaps on there…
And that, is my *horribly written* rant of the day/week/month. Take care!
-Jud
IGN – The Sims 2 Apartment Life Preview
Aug 15th
Apartment Life in some ways is a retrospective game; the designers are modernizing content from the original Sims that has been long requested by fans. Things such as the heart-shaped vibrating bed and circular staircases are finally back. This also promises to be a “big” expansion, in that now you can finally build huge apartment buildings populated by multiple families. To keep the frame rate from dying, a “fog of war” feature ensures that the only things that you can see are your sims and their habitat; if a neighboring sim from across the hall disappears into his apartment, he disappears from sight and you can’t see inside his apartment.
The Sims 2 Apartment Pets (DS) Updated Impressions- GameSpot
Aug 14th
Your uncle has gone on vacation in Europe for a year and he’s letting you move into his swanky apartment as a house-sitter. There’s just one catch: you also have to manage his pet spa business downstairs. Customers will bring in their pets, each with their own specific problems ranging from displeasing odor to massive flea infestation. In order to help out these animals in need, you play through a number of minigames, earning cash which in turn can be used to purchase new items for your own pet or your apartment.
Apartment Life pre-order freebies
Aug 13th
It is about time freebies for pre-ordering started popping up for The Sims 2 Apartment Life. Thanks to Wifeee, a few were discovered:
Amazon (US) and Circuit City: Pre-order today and receive an unlock code for the GlowStation 90XD.
Instructions will be e-mailed to pre-order customers after the game has released. Offer good while supplies last.
You can pick this download up from either the US site of Amazon or at Circuit City
Weltbild.de (German) – Pick up a DEZ-TV and a sweet Speaker System if you pre-order your game from Weltbild.
NPD PC Chart for the week ending on August 2, 2008: Sims are back at #1
Aug 13th
Look like Nancy Drew is starting to lose stem. Either that or The Sims 2 Deluxe sold more copies. For this weeks NPD results, The Sims 2 Deluxe clocks in at the number 1 position. #4 is Spore Creature Creator, #6 is The Sims 2 Ikea Home Stuff and #10 is The Sims 2 FreeTime.
1. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe
2. Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice
3. World of Warcraft: Battle Chest
4. Spore Creature Creator
5. World of Warcraft
6. The Sims 2 IKEA Home Stuff Expansion Pack
7. Diablo Battle Chest
8. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
9. World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Expansion Pack
10. The Sims 2 FreeTime Expansion Pack
Source: GamesIndustry
More Fansite previews on The Sims 2 Apartment Life
Aug 12th
Time for Round No. 2 on previews for the next expansion pack, The Sims 2 Apartment Life. Only 2 weeks left to go until its release!
You wouldn’t think so perhaps (looking at previous expansions), but there have been added a bunchload of new clothing for elders (male too!) There have been added many “new” outfits to the game, for teens to elders. However, many of these outfits are transfered from The Sims 2 FreeTime (but converted, for other ages).
There are over 30 new hairdos, however, some of these will just have a different color hair clip or hat.
For those with Pets, you don’t have to worry: you can bring pets along to your new apartment. If you don’t have pets, and stil want a small lap dog, you can by buying the dog pen. This will house one small dog, you can pick a few types and name it, play with it and feed it. Or ignore it, if that’s more like you.
And for you Dutch fans, check out SimsPlanet2′s articles on the game: Article 1, Article 2 and Article 3 as well as MammaSims Articles: Article 1 and Article 2
Thanks SnootySims!
Handango Announces Global Distribution Deal With Electronic Arts Inc. for Top Game Titles on Smartphones
Aug 12th
Deal Signals Handango’s Continued Content Expansion
HURST, Texas, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ — Handango, Inc, (“Handango”) the world’s leading provider of smartphone content, today announced a deal to distribute top casual game favorites from the mobile division of Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS – News). EA Mobile(TM) is the leading mobile game developer and publisher to the global smartphone market. The EA mobile titles including Madden NFL 08, The Sims(TM) 2, The Sims(TM) Bowling, MONOPOLY Here & Now, TETRIS®, Bejeweled®, and many more, are now available on leading smartphone platforms including Windows Mobile(TM), BlackBerry® and Symbian UIQ(TM) through Handango’s web properties and Handango’s on-device client, InHand.
“Our customers are downloading entertainment content more than any other category offering, making it clear to us we need to satisfy this growing demand, and that’s why we’re working with top content providers like EA Mobile to offer compelling options beyond traditional business and productivity offerings,” said Bill Stone, CEO of Handango. “Electronic Arts is a leader in creating innovative games for all platforms and now, through Handango, more smartphone customers globally will have access to their titles.”Handango will offer EA mobile games on one of Europe’s largest platforms, Symbian UIQ. Titles including The Sims(TM) 2 Pets, EA SPORTS(TM) FIFAMANAGER08 and TETRIS® will be available in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.
According to a recent study by Gartner, worldwide smartphone sales are up nearly 30% from last year.* As more mainstream consumers enter the smartphone market, Handango is joining forces with key industry players to meet the growing demand for expanded entertainment and personalization offerings. And to make that content more readily accessible to the consumer, Handango is rapidly is expanding its distribution channels through partnerships with big box retailers and device manufacturers. Earlier this year, Handango announced a deal with The Carphone Warehouse, Europe’s largest independent mobile phone retailer, to bring mobile content directly to consumers at the point of sale. Handango also recently announced a global partnership with Sony Ericsson to bring smartphone content to Sony Ericsson’s UIQ and Windows Mobile devices.
About Handango
Handango is the leading provider of smartphone applications globally. Leveraging its network of more than 16,000 content partners and its vast distribution network, Handango seamlessly delivers the smartphone marketplace to millions of consumers on the Web and from the device. Handango’s market-leading content delivery platform, Handango AMPP, is the platform of choice for numerous mobile industry leaders including Microsoft, HP, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T and AOL. By delivering intuitive and compelling consumer experiences, Handango has become the trusted source for millions of smartphone users around the world. For more information, visit http://corp.handango.com.
*Smart phone sales double in North America, Associated Press, June 9, 2008
About Electronic Arts Inc.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, and The Sims are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. John Madden and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. Tetris is a registered trademark of Tetris Holding, LLC. Bejeweled is a registered trademark of PopCap Games, Inc. HERE & NOW, the MONOPOLY name and logo, the distinctive design of the game board, the four corner squares, the MR. MONOPOLY name and character, as well as each of the distinctive elements of the board and playing pieces are trademarks of Hasbro for its property trading game and game equipment. © 2008 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Source: Yahoo Business
Fansite event on Apartment Life
Aug 11th
If you are looking for more details on The Sims 2 Apartment Life, then SnootySims has you covered! They share a bunch of questions and answers from a recent fansite visit to demo the game.
DMS2C also shares their impressions on the game:
The rents of the apartments are determined by the size and the appliances that are already in the apartment.
Every apartment comes with a kitchen and a bathroom, so you don’t need to buy that stuff.
When you hold your mouse over an apartment building you can see what the rent of a apartment in that building will cost.
For you Dutch fans, you have two articles just for you! Gibbie Sims and SimsPlanet 2 were able to attend the event.
A video was discovered with a neighborhood view of Belladonna Cove:
EA’s lineup for the Leipzig Games Convention
Aug 10th
The week of August 20 – 24 will be jammed packed with news! While I’ll be at Maxis’ Spore Community Fansite Event, those in Germany will attend the Leipzig Gaming Convention. EA will be out their to display their latest games.
Thanks to Infinite Sims, we now know what those games are:
1. The Sims 3
2. The Sims 2 Apartment Life
3. The Sims 2 Apartment Pets (NDS)
4. MySims, Made for PC
5. MySims Kingdom (Wii & NDS)
6. SimAnimals (Wii & NDS)
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KP Sweet Treats
Diesel Stuff
SimCity 5
