Sims Nieuws

Thanks to everyone that showed up and submitted their questions! If you missed the event, read the transcripts.

MaxisKitty (Oct 23, 2003 5:59:31 PM)
Hello and welcome to today's chat with Cooper Buckingham ... known to many of you for his apperance on the Sims BBS as MaxisProducer. Cooper was a Producer on both the Makin' Magic and Superstar Expansions and is here to to answer questions you may have on either of those games.

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 6:01:41 PM)
in the sims making magic will they have pumpkins?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:01:42 PM)
Yes, they are included in all the expansion packs! Woohoo!

xakana (Oct 23, 2003 6:02:51 PM)
Is there any way to prevent the obsessed fan from stealing your simmy/golden twang awards?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:02:51 PM)
YES! Magic works in mysterious ways, and there is certainly a magical way to get rid of Obsessive Fans . . .

freaksgeeks (Oct 23, 2003 6:03:58 PM)
How many bugs will Makin' Magic fix from previous expansion packs?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:03:58 PM)
Actually, because of the way we build expansion packs, almost all expansion packs include changes to the previous ones, but we searched the BBS, and grilled all of our SimMasters to get us everything that the user community wasn't happy with, and we fixed and changed a LOT! Almost every issue reported to us we fixed. The list is too long to recite, but if you want to ask about something specifically, I'll be able to give you the thumbs up or thumbs down on it. :

charmedchicki281 (Oct 23, 2003 6:04:59 PM)
can i have the butler and the skeleton maid at the same time?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:04:59 PM)
yes, though some Sims tend a get a bit uncomfortable around the skeleton maid.

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 6:05:37 PM)
Will any of the Superstar "glitches" (such as Waylon the Bartender) be "fixed" with Making Magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:05:37 PM)
yes, we fixed bartender Waylon, and we really are sorry about him, even Waylon himself is sorry about that one.

killdasim03 (Oct 23, 2003 6:06:15 PM)
i want 2 no when makin magic will come out

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:06:15 PM)
Oct 28, on the shelves. Soon, very soon.

SimNewsMan (Oct 23, 2003 6:06:55 PM)
What is the blimp thingy in some screenshots?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:06:55 PM)
it's exactly what you think it is! It's a magical blimp!

Night_Phoenix (Oct 23, 2003 6:07:41 PM)
Ok sims can turn other sims into toads right! how can u change the toad back in a sim? do u have to kiss it?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:07:41 PM)
There are lots of magical things with toads, and you never know what might happen when you kiss one . . .

babytux (Oct 23, 2003 6:08:10 PM)
In Making Magic, is the beanstalk climable?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:08:10 PM)
sometimes . . . maybe . . .

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:09:19 PM)
So, MaxisProducer is typing as fast as his fingers can go - be kind to him if he makes any grammar or spelling errors! thanks!!!!

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 6:09:42 PM)
I have the Sims Superstars. The thing is it don't work anymore. I uninstall it and it still don't work.Could it be The Sims Deluxe Edition because it doesn't work either and i uinstall it too.

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:09:42 PM)
If deluxe edition isn't working on your computer, then I think we'll have to figure out what exactly is having a conflict. I'm going to write down your user name. Would you send me a post on the BBS, so I can follow up with you more indepthly? Thanks.

SimFreak (Oct 23, 2003 6:10:23 PM)
hi, i would like to know about makin magic-- will this be the last expansion pack for the regular sims? or is there anything else up your sleeve

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:10:23 PM)
Alas, for now, our sleeves our empty. but we've done out with a bang!

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:10:37 PM)
This chat is about Superstar and Makin' Magic - we'll have another Sims 2 chat in the future so hang on to your questions about The Sims 2 - we won't be answering them today!

chatangel1 (Oct 23, 2003 6:11:43 PM)
Will you be available in the BBS for Making Magic as much as you were with Superstar? (you were wonderful then!)

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:11:44 PM)
Yes, even more. We've got it down to a science now. And we've also got our SimMasters all the knowledge we have so that we can all tackle any problems that you all run into.

HowlinLene (Oct 23, 2003 6:12:03 PM)
I read that Mortimer and Bella Goth and the Goth Sr.'s have been wizards all along . What are your comments on that?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:12:03 PM)
I'll leave that for you to discover, lol.

shellnick (Oct 23, 2003 6:12:29 PM)
Can sims ride on broom sticks to work?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:12:29 PM)
oh no! I wish we'd thought of that . . . great idea though!

Bonnaroo (Oct 23, 2003 6:13:23 PM)
Are there any new careers with makin' magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:13:23 PM)
there are not career tracks, but there are whole new ways for sims to make a living, magical ways! You may find yourself choosing to avoid work altogether . ..

Erin (Oct 23, 2003 6:14:00 PM)
in superstar when i hire a person they always get stuck in the portal where people and services come thru what is wrong???

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:14:01 PM)
Does it happen on all lots? Or just one? I know that there is a phone patch that has caused problems with ped portals.

PinkPanther115 (Oct 23, 2003 6:14:49 PM)
are there spells to get big celebrities to notice you?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:14:49 PM)
There are spells that have to do with many aspects of other expansion packs, but don't you want to discover them yourself?

PinkPanther115 (Oct 23, 2003 6:15:22 PM)
are the goths and newbies already equipped with magic when we get the game?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:15:22 PM)
Magic is obtained, and even delivered to Sims in lots of different ways . . .

DaveH6468 (Oct 23, 2003 6:16:08 PM)
Has the bug when moving sims with the move_objects on cheat in Superstar been fixed?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:16:08 PM)
YES YES YES. I'm really sorry about that, it never even occured to us that it would make you unhappy. It was one of the first things we fixed. I hope you'll forgive us.

superbanana000 (Oct 23, 2003 6:16:23 PM)
You love to answer our questions....without actually answering them don't you? lol

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:16:23 PM)
sometimes . . . LOL

Babi_Swt_An6el (Oct 23, 2003 6:16:48 PM)
do sims have a spell to max all their needs?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:16:48 PM)
They have spells to do almost everything you can think of.

TylerSSS (Oct 23, 2003 6:17:15 PM)
what causes a backfire in The Sims Makin' Magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:17:15 PM)
Lot's of different things, all the spells are different, you'll just have to let your sims find out for themselves.

raye1 (Oct 23, 2003 6:18:03 PM)
will the software (wintv etc..) /program conflicts for european players be addressed in the form of a patch in MM?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:18:03 PM)
uh oh, I've never even heard of this conflict. Could you please post everything you know about it to the BBS, and I promise I'll follow up on it.

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 6:18:49 PM)
so can you also turn your petz into adultz/humanz??

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:18:49 PM)
Now you're thinking. Like I said, almost anything you can think of, there's a spell for . . .

jpalyu (Oct 23, 2003 6:20:12 PM)
In Superstar, I hire the buttler, but when he comes to my house, the game slows down dramaticly, why is this?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:20:12 PM)
It's a bug. I'm sorry. It's because the butler is having to think of so much, that if you have a huge amount of things on your lot that he needs to attend to, and has to walk to all of them, he gets confused. For now, if you get rid of some plants, it should work, but if it's any consellation, we fixed it in Makin Magic.

MaxisKitty (Oct 23, 2003 6:20:20 PM)
If you don't see your question answered, it may be because it has already been answered. You can catch up on anything you might have missed in teh transcripts avialable after the chat on thesims.com

ThePersonWhoGotDisconnected (Oct 23, 2003 6:20:50 PM)
When does chat end?

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:20:50 PM)
This chat will go until 4 pm PST.

kit_kat0304 (Oct 23, 2003 6:20:59 PM)
What objects are there that help you earn magic points?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:20:59 PM)
Lots of stuff. Stages, and magic tricks, there's a whole magical world that functions entirely around MagiCoins.

ButrScth19 (Oct 23, 2003 6:21:51 PM)
In the screenshot with the guy and the mummy coming out of the coffin, in the background there is a brown, wooden trailer looking thing. Is this like the trailer in superstar?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:21:51 PM)
It is the trailer of one of the magical vendors you'll need to visit from time to time.

Jeff (Oct 23, 2003 6:22:09 PM)
When will Making Magic be out

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:22:09 PM)
Makin' Magic will be released on October 28.

Night_Phoenix (Oct 23, 2003 6:23:05 PM)
Can sims do magic outside their home and magic town. ie, can they do magic in Downtown, Vacation Island, Old town or studio town?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:23:05 PM)
Some spells can be used anywhere, some can't, but some should only rarely be used in front of non-magical Sims . . .

sandifay (Oct 23, 2003 6:24:05 PM)
Eventhough there won't be anymore additions, patches or objects that we can buy in the store for sims 1? After having to uninstall and re-install because of bad downloads, I would much rather buy an uprgrade from the store than trust other website.

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:24:05 PM)
We have more downloads on the way, don't worry. And all the downloads we put on the web before Makin Magic are shipped with Makin Magic. Is that what you're asking?

Eagle33090 (Oct 23, 2003 6:24:47 PM)
You know how there are cheats to get Simoleans, will there be cheats to get Magic Coins? (or what ever you call them)

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:24:47 PM)
MagiCoins are rare and magical things. You get them the old-fashioned, you earn them.

charmedchicki281 (Oct 23, 2003 6:25:30 PM)
Is there a spell to raise a family member from the dead?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:25:31 PM)
Well, not really, because there is already an old woman in Old Town who specializes in revivification

freaksgeeks (Oct 23, 2003 6:25:50 PM)
The "release date" question has been asked so many times on the BBS, have you considered a sticky thread answering it?

MaxisKitty (Oct 23, 2003 6:25:50 PM)
I will do that. =)

Qn471 (Oct 23, 2003 6:26:12 PM)
is there a cheat to make ur sims famous faster............... plese answer i dont know what i can do i have been working on the same person scince the game came out and she stilllsnt famouse i dont know what to do is there a cheat to make u get famouse faster ?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:26:12 PM)
don't dismay, magical help is on the way . . .

Night_Phoenix (Oct 23, 2003 6:26:44 PM)
Does the MM game come with info on the sims 2, or bonus info on any of the sims expacks? its the finale... so i guess u guys should end it with a bow?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:26:44 PM)
There's a Sims 2 video on the Makin Magic discs.

freaksgeeks (Oct 23, 2003 6:27:02 PM)
Are there any new landscaping tools in Makin' Magic? Like Hot Date added the "grass tool"...

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:27:02 PM)
I'm sorry, there aren't any new land tools in Makin' Magic, unless of course it's your only expansion pack, and in that case it has the land tools that are new since the original game. What type of tools were you hoping for? I'd be interested to know, as The Sims 2 is adding a lot of new tools.

SimFreak (Oct 23, 2003 6:28:00 PM)
i have a question... is it hard to get sims to accept marriage proposals, like in most other expansions, or can u hypnotise a sim to marry u or something along those lines?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:28:00 PM)
there are magical ways to get around even the most difficult aspects of the Sims' world, but some of the magical ways are very difficult to get themselves.

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:28:38 PM)
We will be hosting a Sims 2 chat in the future. Please hang on to your questions until then. We won't be answering Sims 2 questions today.

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 6:29:31 PM)
Will there be any non magic additions to the game and if so can you give examples?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:29:31 PM)
YES. Kitchen stuff, and bakers ovens, and berry bushes where you can grow and harvest, and bee hives, and lots of other objects. We tried really hard to fill the game out with a lot of gameplay that doesn't revolve around magic.

Sim Guy (Oct 23, 2003 6:29:46 PM)
is this the last expansion pack for the sims

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:29:46 PM)
yes,

vampiress_kitty (Oct 23, 2003 6:30:33 PM)
What are some of the new skills sims need to learn?(cooking, logic.....)

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:30:33 PM)
Sims need to study up on cooking and mechanical and logic in order to thrive in the magical world.

rahlink (Oct 23, 2003 6:31:07 PM)
will the entire family go to magic town in the blimp, or can individual sims visit alone

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:31:07 PM)
BOTH! Pretty good thinking on our part don't you think?

shellnick (Oct 23, 2003 6:32:43 PM)
Where did you guys come up with the magic idea? (harry potter maybe?)

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:32:43 PM)
Actually, the game really feels nothing like Harry Potter, it's a very different world. One of out Producers, Lyndsay McGaw, came up with the idea, and the rest was history. There are definately hints of all types of magic, and magical fiction in the game, but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised that's it's unlike any one type.

pinkduckssaymOo (Oct 23, 2003 6:33:13 PM)
can you be a superstar and be a magician at the same time?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:33:13 PM)
Definately. You can be anything and a Magician at the same time.

freded124 (Oct 23, 2003 6:33:38 PM)
is the carnival music in the video i saw is that goin to be the music for the gameplay too?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:33:38 PM)
There's all knew music for magic town private and public lots.

WieGehtEsDir (Oct 23, 2003 6:33:51 PM)
Thank Lyndsay for all of us please!

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:33:51 PM)
She says YAY!

clover_44 (Oct 23, 2003 6:34:29 PM)
Are there any new Simlish expressions? Any new sounds they make instead of the good old "whistling" etc.?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:34:29 PM)
There's all new sounds for all the new things they do. And a lot of new kid sounds as well!

geishagreen (Oct 23, 2003 6:35:10 PM)
will there be different themed lots in magic town, X# for magic shopping, magic questing, magic showing, etc...?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:35:10 PM)
YES! Haunted lots, and carnival lots, as well as some good old mishmashed ones.

steph (Oct 23, 2003 6:35:27 PM)
Are there more love beds in Makin Magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:35:27 PM)
THere is a beautiful new canopy bed in Makin Magic.

geishagreen (Oct 23, 2003 6:35:58 PM)
will the sims be able to cook and eat the dragon eggs?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:35:58 PM)
NO! Why would you want to do that!?

taltalims (Oct 23, 2003 6:37:39 PM)
what happened to cassandra's glasses?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:37:39 PM)
This whole thing has just cracked me up. It really isn't that big of a deal, but I didn't think anyone would guess it. The people in charge of makin the posters and screenshots for the game, thought that Cassandra looked to much like Harry Potter, and we were trying so hard to make it clear that the game was it's own amazing magical world, that we decided to take off her glasses to avoid any possible confusion.

Only1SuperSweet (Oct 23, 2003 6:38:17 PM)
Will you be able to "invite" someone to Magic Town?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:38:17 PM)
Magic Town is really more of a family getaway, or a special place to visit by yourself to fill up your magical needs . . .

BicuspiD (Oct 23, 2003 6:38:34 PM)
What do dragons eat? Are my pets safe?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:38:34 PM)
No one is safe around an angry dragon!

thesiddog (Oct 23, 2003 6:38:54 PM)
Can the dragon fly?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:38:54 PM)
He can try very hard to fly . . .

zachandal (Oct 23, 2003 6:39:50 PM)
In superstar if you have anagent than there is a bar showing how famous they are, in makin magic will there be a bar for how much your liked as a magician?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:39:50 PM)
Not exactly, the magical world is far more intricate than that, there are many factors to how succsessful and powerful any Sim we be at Magic.

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 6:40:06 PM)
Will kids be able to cast spells? or only adults?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:40:06 PM)
Kids can do magic and they have a specific set of magical objects and spells that only they can do. After all, what seems magical to kids and what seems magical to adults are often very different.

pacificgurl (Oct 23, 2003 6:40:47 PM)
will the game have more cheats?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:40:47 PM)
They have magical "cheats". Makin Magic allows Sims to use magic to avoid doing the things they don't like to do.

maxgreer (Oct 23, 2003 6:40:54 PM)
so, can kids have invisible friends?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:40:54 PM)
yes

DaveH6468 (Oct 23, 2003 6:41:19 PM)
Were there any other 'classical' influences other than Shakespeare in Makin' Magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:41:19 PM)
Um . . . I, um, er . . .

CheerGirly6 (Oct 23, 2003 6:42:16 PM)
when is the game going to be released?

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:42:16 PM)
The game will be released on October 28

Leschasin (Oct 23, 2003 6:42:35 PM)
How many lots has Maxis designed in Magic Town, and how many are left open?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:42:35 PM)
We give you new lots. The public lots come with crazy magical things onthem, but the private lots we leave much to you.

sandifay (Oct 23, 2003 6:43:10 PM)
Will the dragons roam the neighborhoods like strays?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:43:10 PM)
Dragons are very specific with were they like, and do NOT like to be.

roowolfe98 (Oct 23, 2003 6:43:12 PM)
aren't wwe supposed to be talking about superstar?

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:43:12 PM)
This chat is about both Superstar and Makin' Magic. Ask questions about either!

The Sim's Stash (Oct 23, 2003 6:43:54 PM)
Any spells to help get rid of Tragic Clown?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:43:54 PM)
There's lots of new good stuff with good old Sonny, you may discover more than you'd suspect. Did you know he was terrified of carnival rides!?

Fishun4 (Oct 23, 2003 6:44:28 PM)
Are there any other "carnival themed" items in MM, besides the roller coasters?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:44:28 PM)
yes lots! THere are objects to fill out all of the themes!

Deckmaster (Oct 23, 2003 6:44:46 PM)
I can't wait to chat about Bustin OUt on the consoles. Will there be a chat soon?

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:44:46 PM)
We will try and schedule chats for Bustin' Out at a later date. Please hold your questions until then - we can't answer them today.

bvtrumpeter (Oct 23, 2003 6:44:48 PM)
In Superstar, who are all the real stars? Are there any besides Marylin Monroe, Christina Aguilera and Avril Lavigne?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:44:48 PM)
THere are more on the way . . .

Jessamyn (Oct 23, 2003 6:45:11 PM)
Which do the makers like better Superstar or Makin' Magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:45:11 PM)
We are split down the middle.

sandifay (Oct 23, 2003 6:45:24 PM)
In Supertstar, how do you get rid of the obsessed fan for good?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:45:24 PM)
Be nice to the rest of your fans . . .

shellnick (Oct 23, 2003 6:45:48 PM)
can your sims tame the dragons or is it impossible. I want to sick a dragon on the newbees

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:45:48 PM)
With dragons, it's all about how you treat them in their formative years.

zachandal (Oct 23, 2003 6:46:28 PM)
Are you able to design magic town like old town, stuidio town ect.?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:46:28 PM)
If you'd like to. Many of the objects are available in the sort. A lot of makin magic objects can also be placed in other areas.

TomVancouver (Oct 23, 2003 6:46:42 PM)
Please have a spell for the obsessed fan!

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:46:42 PM)
there is! We do! Woohoo!

Lerf (Oct 23, 2003 6:46:59 PM)
Has the Pizza Dude figured out whether he's Freddie or Dale?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:46:59 PM)
I don't think so, both of them are very confused.

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:47:53 PM)
No! It's streamlined! Runs great! But if you have mjajor slowdown, we should talk about it on the BBS, and maybe I can sort some of it out for you. Do you have thousands of downloaded objects?

orangegummybear8 (Oct 23, 2003 6:48:28 PM)
can you ever get back stolen trophis (in superstar)

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:48:28 PM)
None of us have been able to find where the obsessed is keeping them all, so as of right now, no . . .

kait (Oct 23, 2003 6:48:38 PM)
do u have any info on sims 2 dying to hear!!

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:48:38 PM)
We will be hosting a Sims 2 chat in the future. Please hang on to your questions until then. We won't be answering Sims 2 questions today.

¡Hola! (Oct 23, 2003 6:50:20 PM)
SS patch?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:50:20 PM)
As of yet, we havn't seen any major problems that would allow us to patch the game. I know that sounds like a poor excuse, but it is complicated, and sometimes patching does more harm that good. If you've seen what the horrible user created patches can do to peoples games, maybe you can understand why we choose to not patch like they do. Maybe I should explain more adequetely on the BBS.

MaxisKitty (Oct 23, 2003 6:51:30 PM)
You guys are in luck! MaxisProducer wants to keep answering your questions for another half-hour

maxgreer (Oct 23, 2003 6:51:55 PM)
Would you consider MM goin out with a bang?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:51:55 PM)
Yes, it's awesome. It solves all the issues that we've heard users complain about, and it is one of the most fun games we've ever made.

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:52:38 PM)
Stop thanking us - we are glad you're happy, but you are flooding and we can't find the questions.

babytux (Oct 23, 2003 6:52:44 PM)
Has the "bug" regarding the watering of plants and certain flowers been fixed for Old Town in Making Magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:52:44 PM)
Yikes, I don't know. I don't know the exact bug you're referring. SOrry.

Bonnaroo (Oct 23, 2003 6:54:28 PM)
Will MM be as much of a memory "hog" as superstar is for XP?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:54:28 PM)
Ouch. My official statement on that is that, "all of out expansion packs are designed to make the most out of your machine." Superstar fixed a huge amount of performance issues. It should be running fantastically. If it isn't, we should see if we can't figure out what's wrong.

Emily (Oct 23, 2003 6:55:11 PM)
can we ask about the sims 2 here?

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 6:55:11 PM)
We will be hosting a Sims 2 chat in the future. Please hang on to your questions until then. We won't be answering Sims 2 questions today.

catk102 (Oct 23, 2003 6:55:46 PM)
will there be any problems with conflicting object ID's as there were with superstar,specially if you have many downloaded objets?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:55:46 PM)
We had our SimMasters, and our web team querry as many of the public builder sites as we could in order to avoid object ID conflict, as well as skin ID conflict. But remember always run filecop to double check.

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 6:56:00 PM)
umm, i forgot but when does MM come out again?

MaxisKitty (Oct 23, 2003 6:56:00 PM)
October 28th =)

LesMinton (Oct 23, 2003 6:56:42 PM)
Is there a way to keep the energy level up for Sims while they are becoming more famous than the Beatles?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:56:42 PM)
It's really hard to become more famous than the Beatles. It can be very tiring. But there is always a magical means to a difficult end . . .

pnhoj88 (Oct 23, 2003 6:56:51 PM)
Will SIMs be able to practice magic and have a job?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:56:51 PM)
yes.

i_2_kool_4_u (Oct 23, 2003 6:57:25 PM)
Is there any way to make friends with Christina Agulera?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:57:25 PM)
You'd have to ask Christina herself, I don't personally know her very well.

dawg384 (Oct 23, 2003 6:57:59 PM)
i heard there is some kind of rain. will it rain by itself or is it a spell?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 6:58:00 PM)
One of the many new and useful spells can help you out with your garden, there's another kind of "rain" too, but you'll just have to wait and find out what that one is...

simsnshock (Oct 23, 2003 6:58:12 PM)
How many spells are there in total

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:58:12 PM)
a whole lot! More than you'd even expect, I hope!

MaxisKitty (Oct 23, 2003 6:58:13 PM)
Guess what all! MaxisLittleL has joined to help Cooper answer all your millions of questions... She is Lyndsay McGaw the woman who came up with the Makin' Magic Expansion idea

simgelf (Oct 23, 2003 6:58:20 PM)
Can we put coasters on Vacation Island?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:58:20 PM)
YES!

tiffyt (Oct 23, 2003 6:58:36 PM)
Wll there be a magic lot exchange??

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:58:36 PM)
But of course.

catk102 (Oct 23, 2003 6:59:08 PM)
will there be an updated version of file cop?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:59:08 PM)
Not that I know of. Is there a reason it should be updated? I thought it was still working well.

tiffyt (Oct 23, 2003 6:59:23 PM)
Can you do magic on npc's????

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 6:59:23 PM)
There are some spells you can cast on certain NPC's....

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 6:59:57 PM)
what can my sims do after they reach superstardom...

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 6:59:57 PM)
What can't they do!? They rule the town, they can do anything they want. Especially once they have magic!

Joe_the_coffee_man (Oct 23, 2003 7:00:41 PM)
besides a wand, what other things will the sims need to help them do magic?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:00:41 PM)
Well, it's not all about waving your wand, there are magical ingredients you have to buy, find or trade for to give your spells that special something.

pyrosim18 (Oct 23, 2003 7:01:15 PM)
I'm a poor college studen't will you pay for my MM game?please?im really broke.....and i really want this game....

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:01:15 PM)
You're going to have to do something far more amazing than that to get someone at Maxis to send you a free game. Isn't there a contest going on right now on the web for that sort of thing?

kattofstarfox (Oct 23, 2003 7:01:23 PM)
Can they puke on the coasters?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:01:23 PM)
ew

taltalims (Oct 23, 2003 7:02:32 PM)
can you curse the shark in vacation island? or turn him into a real shark?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:02:32 PM)
Um, ah, hmm . . . there's lots of other cool stuff you can do though

moogleman58 (Oct 23, 2003 7:02:43 PM)
how many different dragon colors are there?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:02:43 PM)
dragons come in 3 flavors.

shellnick (Oct 23, 2003 7:03:08 PM)
can we do magic on the grim reeper?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:03:08 PM)
Do you seriously want to mess with someone like the grim reaper!?

MagicMan14 (Oct 23, 2003 7:03:55 PM)
i read that there is a spell where kids can be adults, is that permantly or temporary?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:03:55 PM)
Some magic is permanant, some is temporary, buyer beware! MWAHAHAHAHA

Night_Phoenix (Oct 23, 2003 7:04:33 PM)
can sims lose their magic if they use it for bad things?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:04:34 PM)
THere are many ramifications to improper use of magic, financial, personal, magical . . .

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 7:04:45 PM)
Can You Cast Any Spells On Cats?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:04:46 PM)
yes

SimNewsMan (Oct 23, 2003 7:05:05 PM)
When does this Chat end?

MaxisKitty (Oct 23, 2003 7:05:05 PM)
The chat will go till 4:30

bvtrumpeter (Oct 23, 2003 7:05:23 PM)
I have a really ugly friend named Danielle. I was wondering if there are going to be new skins that are ugly in Makin' Magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:05:23 PM)
Well, I'm not sure if Danielle is going to be your freind for much longer, but there are more types of ugly skins in MM than you expect.

colsoh1 (Oct 23, 2003 7:05:47 PM)
Simple yes or no .. MM will be on store shelves on tues. october 28th ?

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 7:05:47 PM)
Yes.

i_2_kool_4_u (Oct 23, 2003 7:05:56 PM)
Can you kill the grim reaper and take his job?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:05:56 PM)
"On a Pale Horse" Piers Anthony. Great book.

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:06:02 PM)
I know a few of you asked, so here's where the idea came from: I thought Magic would make sense in the kooky sims world. They spin into clothes, pull presents from invisible pockets, why not turn annoying neighbors into toads! Besides, to go out with a bang, why not give sims every crazy thing you could think of. I've always enjoyed magic tricks and illusions, it seemed like it would be a lot of fun. (And I'm a super genius)

FyreCatt (Oct 23, 2003 7:06:21 PM)
after the dragon hatches, do you have to keep the nest, or can you get rid of it?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:06:21 PM)
You don't have to do anything you don't want to, but dragons can be very picky . . .

renvegg (Oct 23, 2003 7:06:51 PM)
What is your favorite objects from makin magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:06:51 PM)
The Haunted Houses, by far. THey are fantastic!

simsnshock (Oct 23, 2003 7:07:06 PM)
Will there be transcripts for this?

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 7:07:06 PM)
Yes, we will be posting the transcripts from this chat in the next day or so.

catk102 (Oct 23, 2003 7:07:51 PM)
this is to lindsay how much time did it take from your idea of makin magic til completion of makin magic?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:07:51 PM)
A long time. Lots of 32 hour days...

raye1 (Oct 23, 2003 7:08:29 PM)
i have heard that some high fashion user created skins can cause SS to crash. Is this true?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:08:29 PM)
I've heard that as well. Especially if the skins are installed before the game attempts to generate the sims that inhabit the away areas. We'll look into it and post something about it on the BBS.

Sims2Pleez (Oct 23, 2003 7:08:32 PM)
does each person need a wand or just 1 family

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:08:33 PM)
Each sim needs a wand, that way you can all be casting crazy spells at the same time

renvegg (Oct 23, 2003 7:08:42 PM)
Did you ever get any sleep while you were working?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:08:42 PM)
no. Next question.

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 7:09:16 PM)
how is the magic box delivered to your sims house?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:09:16 PM)
A mysterious travelling salesman will drop it on your doorstep, keep an eye out, you might run into him other places.

simlish_sim (Oct 23, 2003 7:09:17 PM)
can the dragon set fire to objects and sims?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:09:17 PM)
let's just say, don't mess TOO much with dragons.

SimNewsMan (Oct 23, 2003 7:10:07 PM)
How long does it take for dragons to hatch?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:10:07 PM)
The more attention you pay to your dragon, the sooner you'll enjoy his company.

AngelSim (Oct 23, 2003 7:10:08 PM)
Will you have like Easter eggs or stuff like that in MM?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:10:09 PM)
Always!!! you won't believe some of the hidden stuff you'll stumble upon!

Night_Phoenix (Oct 23, 2003 7:11:13 PM)
can sims lose their star level in superstar? and how?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:11:13 PM)
If you start failling on the fame objects or stop visiting Studio Town, you're bound to loose some of that "attention".

ChiquitaGal (Oct 23, 2003 7:11:18 PM)
Does The Dragon Growup? Then Do You Have Like This Huge Dragon in your Backyard?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:11:18 PM)
Dragons are tiny little magical dragons. Their size befits their condensed hyper-magical nature.

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 7:11:44 PM)
hello will the dragons bite???

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:11:44 PM)
dragons do what dragons do. This includes bite.

Geosdsd (Oct 23, 2003 7:12:17 PM)
will there be any npcs like townies that you can marry in magic town?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:12:17 PM)
Magic Town has it's own interesting visitors to get to know and socialize with. If you're charming enough, sure you can marry them

colsoh1 (Oct 23, 2003 7:12:49 PM)
Can an ugly sim be made into a pretty sim in MM ?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:12:49 PM)
Sims can be made into many diffent things, including other types of sims, though, whether their appearance is beautiful or beastly, I'll leave up to you.

Anne (Oct 23, 2003 7:13:05 PM)
Are you excited about the sims 2?

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 7:13:05 PM)
We will be hosting a Sims 2 chat in the future. Please hang on to your questions until then. We won't be answering Sims 2 questions today.

Night_Phoenix (Oct 23, 2003 7:13:30 PM)
can a lot have more than one dragon?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:13:30 PM)
Oh yeah. I wouldn't always reccomend it, but you can go dragon crazy.

Guest (Oct 23, 2003 7:13:40 PM)
Will the gnomes have temper tantrums like the downloadable one?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:13:41 PM)
As cute as gnomes may be, they have feelings too. If you try and take their job away, they might not be so happy with you...

khaari (Oct 23, 2003 7:14:07 PM)
will the animated gnomes do anything else other than help or destroy the gardens?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:14:07 PM)
they seem to have a certain fascination with nectar...

dawg384 (Oct 23, 2003 7:14:13 PM)
can you marry the pink flamingo hostess??

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:14:13 PM)
Flamingos are not interested in the worldy idealogies of the Sims, but they love to dance!!!

freaksgeeks (Oct 23, 2003 7:14:27 PM)
Will two dragons be aware of each other?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:14:27 PM)
yes

taltalims (Oct 23, 2003 7:15:14 PM)
what do the flamingos do once they're transformed?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:15:14 PM)
Mostly they dance around and socialize with your Sims or visitors on the lot, they have been known to be caught chatting with the lawn flamingoes at times...

>frootloops in superstar can u have 5 stars without having your start friendships , because i can seem to get past two full stars without having the two star freinds!

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:15:16 PM)
in the studiotown business, it's not what you know, it's who you know.

Joe_the_coffee_man (Oct 23, 2003 7:15:56 PM)
Can dragons produce offspring?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:15:56 PM)
We are still unsure as to where all the dragon eggs are coming from. Vicki Vampiress brings them back from a far off land.

simlish_sim (Oct 23, 2003 7:16:17 PM)
I noticed in the screenshots, the Inventory is organized different to sort different types of inventory... what are the new sorts?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:16:17 PM)
With all the new ingredients and spells you can have in your inventory, it was getting crowded! Now it's split up into ingredients, magic items and other stuff.

bvtrumpeter (Oct 23, 2003 7:16:28 PM)
I think ghosts are really scary! Will there be ghosts and other creepy beings in Makin' Magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:16:28 PM)
there are, and there will be, maybe even some Sims you know might be . . .

i_2_kool_4_u (Oct 23, 2003 7:16:46 PM)
Do dragons count as family members?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:16:46 PM)
THey are a bit more independant than that.

Joe_the_coffee_man (Oct 23, 2003 7:17:35 PM)
Since Maxis loves llamas sooo much, will there ACTUALLY be a llama in the game? (I've been waiting...)

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:17:35 PM)
well, they're just like horses...invisible! ... we really wanted one too though

geishagreen (Oct 23, 2003 7:18:15 PM)
can dragons do any magic tricks? Any pet tricks? What good is a dragon to the family?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:18:15 PM)
well, that's an interesting question. They do definatley have benefit, but I'm going to let you find it out on your own, but I do have to say that the main benefit in my mind is that you GET TO HAVE A DRAGON! WOOHOO!

yinyang13 (Oct 23, 2003 7:18:45 PM)
Do dragons die or leave when you neglect them?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:18:45 PM)
If your dragon is unhappy, he will take off in search of happier times...

catk102 (Oct 23, 2003 7:19:05 PM)
what is the deal with llamas anyway

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:19:05 PM)
they are a native quadruped of Peru, often associated with the mountanous regions. Clothing made with Llama fur is normally referred to as being alpaca.

tiffyt (Oct 23, 2003 7:19:23 PM)
How can I get my third star without having a breakdown? That really happened once.

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:19:23 PM)
Pace yourself. Too much fame gained in 1 day can be overwhelming.

Joe_the_coffee_man (Oct 23, 2003 7:19:49 PM)
you just like to say WOOHOO a lot huh?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:19:49 PM)
it's a bit of acompany motto. It's how we pass the wee hours of the night . . .

Night_Phoenix (Oct 23, 2003 7:20:14 PM)
i have aghost bug in my game, they stopped spooking my sims... is that bug fixed in the game?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:20:14 PM)
YES! we found it at the last second, and we fixed it!

Sims2Pleez (Oct 23, 2003 7:20:28 PM)
can dragons get jealous of other pets

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:20:28 PM)
Dragons pretty much do whatever they want to do.

The Sim's Stash (Oct 23, 2003 7:20:56 PM)
What type of non-human characters are there in Makin Magic?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:20:56 PM)
Ghosts and goblins and fairies and skeletons, oh my!

nina666 (Oct 23, 2003 7:21:02 PM)
when is the sims 2 coming out ?

MaxisLucky (Oct 23, 2003 7:21:02 PM)
We will be hosting a Sims 2 chat in the future. Please hang on to your questions until then. We won't be answering Sims 2 questions today.

ChiquitaGal (Oct 23, 2003 7:21:25 PM)
What Do Dragons Eat? Can They Get Sick?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:21:25 PM)
They prefer dragon treats and a good chew on their "damsel in distress doll" but if those aren't available, they'll probably go after flowers and garbage...

TheSimsLover (Oct 23, 2003 7:21:34 PM)
Are there any ZOMBIES in MM?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:21:34 PM)
THere are already Zombies in the Sims, the grim reaper makes them.

simsnshock (Oct 23, 2003 7:21:43 PM)
Can invisible friends improve the social bar?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:21:43 PM)
yes

MaxisKitty (Oct 23, 2003 7:21:59 PM)
Eight minutes left.. send your very best questions in

TheSimsLover (Oct 23, 2003 7:22:12 PM)
Why are the celebrities in Superstar so stuck up?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:22:12 PM)
do you really have to ask? LOL

Joe_the_coffee_man (Oct 23, 2003 7:22:20 PM)
So many Sims2 and "When Is MM coming out" questions, and they've been answered a hundred times

MaxisKitty (Oct 23, 2003 7:22:20 PM)
yup

tragic_clownery (Oct 23, 2003 7:22:41 PM)
Can Vicki Vampiress bite your sims and make them into vampires?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:22:41 PM)
Vicki is a buniness woman, and I don't think that kind of behavior would be very conducive to sales.

bvtrumpeter (Oct 23, 2003 7:22:49 PM)
What is the difference between the skeleton maid and the regular maid, besides the fact that on is dead? Do you have to pay her?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:22:49 PM)
The skeleton maid is more like servo, but creepier. The regular maid and the skeleton maid both have silly outfits and they both clean the house, but I'd avoid putting them together if I were you.

>frootloops will making magic be boring ?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:23:09 PM)
LOL, well I certainly hope not.

bingoparty (Oct 23, 2003 7:23:29 PM)
What do you like about MM?

MaxisLittleL (Oct 23, 2003 7:23:29 PM)
Everything! What's not to like! Although turning Mortimer into a frog just makes me smile every time...

Coke (Oct 23, 2003 7:23:57 PM)
Youe wont answer my questions.... Don't you like me.... is it because im short?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:23:57 PM)
It's because you're using a copywrited name, we're very legally conscious here.

TomVancouver (Oct 23, 2003 7:24:07 PM)
Will there be a 24 one visit per day time limit form Magic Town like Studio Town?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:24:07 PM)
NO!

Only1SuperSweet (Oct 23, 2003 7:24:30 PM)
After all of the completion of M.M. were you tired?

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:24:30 PM)
We are still tired.

tapanga123 (Oct 23, 2003 7:28:37 PM)
I think i might cry nobody will answer my question how in the world do you get rid of snakes and frogs???

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:28:37 PM)
THey are very ornery, if you find yourself with them, you've probably done something bad . . . but there are some animals in the foodchain that don't like snakes and frogs.

maxisproducer (Oct 23, 2003 7:30:01 PM)
THanks all. We really appreciate all the positive feedback. Please continue to post any of your concerns with any of the expansion packs to the BBS, and I promise we'll all try as hard as we canto get back to you.

MaxisKitty (Oct 23, 2003 7:30:20 PM)
That concludes our chat today with Cooper Buckingham and Lyndsay McGaw. Tune in next week for another Makin' Magic chat with Jonathan Knight and Jenna Chalmers. Be sure to check thesims.com later for the transcripts of today's chat.

Electronic Arts and Maxis will magically make the Grand Prize winner appear in the game, creating character skins for the winner and up to 4 friends or family, including a pet! Also, the winner and a guest will attend The Sims™ Makin' Magic sponsored, Teen People 2003 Artist of the Year Awards Party in Los Angeles on November 16!

I Want To Enter!

The first set of Makin' Magic wallpaper images is now available to download. Available in 3 sexy sizes.

Go To Desktop Downloads

"Maxis has taken the high road with the last few expansions, offering plenty of new gameplay challenges as well. Nowhere is this more apparent than in The Sims: Makin' Magic."

Go To IGN.com

The Sims Makin' Magic

The seventh time's a charm for Maxis's series.

by Steve Butts

Maxis has made a bundle of cash off of their Sims franchise. And though it's clear that gamers will flock to the stores in droves (or drive to the stores in flocks) just to purchase titles that merely add lots of new toys, Maxis has taken the high road with the last few expansions, offering plenty of new gameplay challenges as well. Nowhere is this more apparent than in The Sims: Makin' Magic.

We recently had a chance to sit down and take a look at the game and explore its new features. This time around it's pretty clear that Maxis has pulled out all the stops and is going for a much zanier feel than previous expansions. Taking their cue from shows like Bewitched, I Dream of Jeanie, The Addams Family and Charmed, Maxis have crafted a new expansion that allows your Sims to cast spells to help build relationships, ease the burden of housework and generally make your life more fun.

After installing the expansion, you'll find a strange box on the doorstep of your Sims' houses. When you open it, you'll discover Magico's Magical Starter Kit. It contains Version 2 of the Spell Book, a convenient hole in the ground portal, a wand recharger, some Magic Coins and a few other surprises that'll get you started on your road to home-brewed witchery.

The Spell Brewer allows you to combine dozens of ingredients to create new spells that are stored in your wand. You begin the game with just three ingredients -- butter, toad stools, and toad sweat -- and you can combine these to create a spell that will temporarily turn a Sim into a toad. You'll use your cooking skill when combining these ingredients and a higher skill level means you'll get more charges from the brew than a character with a lower skill rating. The spell book shows you which ingredient combinations work but you won't know what spell they create until you bite the bullet and try it for yourself. Eventually you may even stumble across a clone spell that lets you create a double of yourself that will go to work for you.

There's also a Charm Maker in the box which you'll use with your mechanical skill. You can fill this device with a range of ingredients as well. This time around, the ingredients you'll be using are solids, not liquids. The range of items you can place into the Charm Maker run the gamut from mundane to magical -- bee's wax, diamond dust and even dragon scales are all to be found in the game. In terms of spell types, the Charm Maker grants you a wide variety of options. You can create a Rain of Riches charm which will sprinkle your house with lots and lots of treasure which you can then sell to raise some cash. You can use the Perfect Garden charm to keep your flowers and lawn nice and pretty.

A range of enchantments are also here for your casting pleasure. You can use these temporary enchantments to bring some of the inanimate objects in your home to life, at least for an hour or two. While the enchanted refrigerator's wildly swinging doors is plenty fun, you'll get more mileage out of animating things in your yard. The pink flamingos turn in to Vegas-style show girls. These ladies are great to spell up right before a big party. They basically run around being nice to everyone and giving people backrubs. Any party you go to that doesn't have these pink and white feather-clad beauties sucks as far as we're concerned.

But Mom and Dad aren't the only ones getting in on the act. Makin' Magic includes plenty of spells just for kids. Their unique charms allow them to summon an invisible friend (who promptly and hilariously gave our dear little tyke the cold shoulder) or even temporarily change their appearance. One of the most powerful charms is the Age of Instant, which permanently transforms children into adults.

But you'll need to be careful that your spells don't backfire on you. There are a number of reasons why things might not work out exactly as you planned so you'll need to be on your toes. If you try to cast a spell on a Sim who also knows that spell, you run the risk of having it turned back on you. You can also have horrible catastrophes for just being greedy or using spells without a real need. Cast the Perfect Garden spell when thinks are already rosy outside and suffer the wrath of dozens of animated garden gnomes bent on destroying all your plants. Cast the Horn of Plenty spell when no one in the house is hungry and you'll have a sudden infestation of toads. You'll have to go around kissing each of them hoping you'll find a prince who will move in with you and become part of the family. If you try to magically increase everyone's mood when they're already pretty happy with things, all you'll do is force everyone in the house to pee themselves.

At this point, there's usually nothing to do but head to Magic Town while your skeleton servant mops up the floor. You can either pop there yourself using your hole-in-the-ground portal or you can call up a giant balloon to take the entire family along with you. This entirely new locale has three distinct themes (four, really, but we'll get to that in a minute) that have their own look and feel. A nice Halloween lot offers more obvious visual frights than the large carnival lots or the gypsy fair lots but you'll find plenty of magic at all three.

You'll also find plenty of quests. Vicky Vampiress and Apothecary Todd are just two of the vendors who are willing to trade ingredients and other magical items for favors and trades. Though you can buy items with Magic Coins, you may find better deals through barters. Knowing that Vicky Vampiress hates garlic, you can probably take it off her hands in exchange for some harmless bees wax. If you want the really choice ingredients, Wizard's eyelashes, for instance, you'll probably need to go on a small quest. In our example we had to head to a graveyard and arrange the stones in a particular order.

More challenges await for those who want to try the new magic performance objects. The basic entry-level object is the trick table. Once you're done pulling rabbits out of hats, you can graduate to levitating your lovely assistant, Wanda (get it? Wanda?) or poking swords into her. The performance objects reach their peak with the Dueling Arena. Here you square off against another wizard in a turn-based spell selection game. You each get four spells of various colors and have to pick a spell color that dominates the color of the spell chosen by your opponent.

But it's not all work and there are plenty of opportunities to have fun without getting your pointy hat all singed. The Haunted House rides are large roller coasters that can be assembled in a variety of ways -- well, whatever variety you can get from the nine main pieces that is -- and you can even create these rides on Vacation Island if you have that expansion pack. (There are other connections with previous expansions: Superstar's obsessed fan leaves black roses can be made in to fame-boosting charms, Unleashed's pets can transform into humans, etc.) You can also build your very own mini-golf courses.

Magic Town also has a special fourth lot reserved for residents of Magic Town. That's right; if you have enough Magic Coins you can buy yourself a house here and never have to leave. The visuals here are very Addams Family-like with some really interesting touches. For instance, you won't have flowers in your yard. Instead you'll have large crystal structures and beanstalks stretching up the heavens.

As always, it wouldn't be a Sims expansion without plenty of new items and toys. There are almost 200 new objects, many of which are tightly integrated into the overall game experience. The bee hive, for instance, is a new skill object that lets you create bee's wax and honey that you can use as ingredients or sell for cash. The skeleton closet comes with an automatic housecleaner and repair technician. If you're lucky you can even buy dragon eggs which you can take home and...well, you know how eggs work.

This seventh and final expansion pack for The Sims is due out on the 28th of this month, just in time for Halloween. Look for our review then.