Sims Nieuws

Hi everyone,

Thought I would check in with you all, say hello, and let you know how things were going this week at Maxis.

Makin' Magic went Beta this week (tiring...), and a few of our best and brightest SimCity community webmasters came to Maxis to see and actually play Rush Hour. We had a great time with them. Hopefully, we will soon be able to get most of you to Maxis to see and play The Sims 2.

Below are answers to questions that I have received from you in the last few weeks. I hope these will clarify your concerns:

• Yes, it is okay to post the images I have sent you on your websites. I encourage it!
• Yes, you will be able to have Sims 2 user created content on your pay sites.
• The recommended 3D program for custom content is Maya. That's what we all use here at Maxis.
• The tools we will release prior to the ship of the game have their own 3D engine. This will enable you to view the content.
• I hope that Maxis' hosting capabilities will pertain to all kind of existing websites. Further details will be provided regarding this later this month.
• There is a design mode in The Sims 2 to change the color and fabric of objects in the game. There will still be a HUGE opportunity for custom content above and beyond the "Design mode".

I have a short report this week to give you some details on our current plans for the minimum platform required to play The Sims 2 and have a good play experience. Because the PC is a complex platform, there are quite a few details involved. I will try to be clear in describing it:

Memory requirements:
You will need at least 128MB if you have Windows 98, 2000, or ME. You will need 256MB if you have Windows XP.

CPU and Graphic cards requirements. There are 2 basic cases:
1) If you have a 3D graphic card with "Geforce" or "Radeon" in the name you need a CPU of 600Mhz or faster.
2) If you have no graphic cards, or another kind of graphic acceleration you probably need a CPU of 1.5Ghz or faster.

Screen resolution:
The game will run in 800x600, 1024x768, and higher resolutions. Lower performance machines are advised to run in lower resolution as usual.

Overall:
The more memory, the more speed, the better. Duh!

We believe that when we release The Sims 2, 75% or more of the original Sims active players and over 90% of the core gamers will have compatible configuration.

The above specs represent what I currently believe will be required. Nevertheless, it is subject to change. Right now, we have two teams working on improving the graphic performance of the game. They are working on delivering the best graphic quality at the lowest performance, and at the highest performance of the PCs.

Since all of this system information is a bit complex, it would really be helpful if one of you in the community actually wrote a tool to help users figure out if they have a machine that is able to run The Sims 2. Later this fall, I hope Maxis will provide such a tool, but I'd rather keep The Sims 2 programmers working on the game and the custom content tools at the moment! If you get something running that does this please contact me immediately!

That's all for now!

Thanks,

Luc

"If you thought the world of The Sims was already pretty wild, wait until your sims start casting spells, making potions, and raising pet dragons at home!"

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The Sims Makin' Magic - An Interview with Jonathan Knight.

Gardening gnomes? Pink flamingo dancers? Skeletons in the closet? If you though the world of The Sims was already pretty wild, wait until your sims start casting spells, making potions, and raising pet dragons at home! It's all part of the enchanted expansion for The Sims, Makin' Magic, that is due out in time to have your sims practicing magic by Halloween.

We wanted to get a closer look at what happens when you mix magic and sims, so we asked the game's producer Jonathan Knight some questions about Makin' Magic and here is what he had to say:

GT: How does a Sim get started in the world of magic?

JK: A Magic Starter Kit is delivered to your front door by the Mysterious MagiCo Traveling Sales Rep. The Starter Kit contains a genuine MagiCo Wand Charger, Family Spellbook, Magic Portal, and three Starter Ingredients.

GT: How are spells cast and what does a Sim need to cast spells? Magic ingredients? Spell power? A big cauldron and a pointy hat?

JK: Spells are cast by clicking on another Sim, and using your magic wand (previously charged in your Wand Charger). There are also physical charms that can be created (with the EverAfter Crafter), and these hold magic properties that can be unleashed by clicking on them. Both spells and charms are created by combining secret ingredients into the Wand Charger (or EverAfter Crafter). Your Spellbook will clue you into the correct combination of ingredients.

GT: Will there be dark magic spells?

JK: “Mischievous” is probably a better word Yes, not every spell is intended for good. There isn’t too much good that can come from turning someone into a toad or donkey, or even making a Sim cluck like a chicken, but it sure is fun!

GT: Will there be a magic skill for Sims? What can cause a spell to backfire and what are some of the negative consequences of spells gone bad?

JK: Mastery of certain skills help in the creation and effective casting spells. And spells backfire for all kinds of unique reasons, ranging from mood to time of day. Backfires can transform Sims, make creepy crawly reptiles appear on your lot, cause floods, and even make the little gnomes angry…

GT: Can Sims use magic on other Sims, say to catch the eye of a love interest or get rid of an unwelcome party guest?

JK: Of course! What good would magic be if you couldn’t use it to shortcut your way to romance?

GT: Tell us a bit about the minions. If a Sim creates a skeleton maid or gardener gnome, will they have their chores done for free? Do gnomes do good work?

JK: Once you have a Skeleton Closet (get it?), then yes, the maid will be free ever after. And the gnomes do great work… just keep them away from your nectar.

GT: What happens once ghosts or mummies are summoned? Do they cause any trouble? Do they hang around until banished?

JK: No, they won’t hassle anyone. They’re summoned as part of the Spook Show act and behave… for the most part.

GT: Can Sims make money with magic or will they still need to keep their day jobs?

JK: There are all kinds of new ways that Sims can make money in The Sims Makin’ Magic, from bottling nectar, to selling homemade ingredients. Magic itself is usually not a money maker (although there is one spell called “Rain of Riches”), but magic can certainly replace some other activities that usually cost simoleons.

GT: Who are some of the Questing NPCs Sims will encounter?

JK: Magic Town is full of unique characters – including Vicki Vampiress and Apothecary Todd – but they are all genuine employees of the Sims’ MagiCo corporation.

GT: Where can the Questing NPCs be found? Will Sims need to do anything special to find them?

JK: Just visit Magic Town!

GT: What type of quests will Sims receive and what rewards will they get for completing them?

JK: Quests include simple deliveries, speed and coordination games, and complex puzzles. And there are a variety of secret ingredients as rewards for a job well done. There is also a dueling arena where you can match your wits and spells against other Magic Town visitors.

GT: Will Magic Town be a separate location similar to Downtown or Studio Town?

JK: A little bit of both. Like Downtown or Studio Town, it’s a new and fully customizable location. However, Magic Town is unique in two ways. First, you can either take the whole family there, or you can opt to just take a single Sim. And most importantly, Magic Town is the first location with additional residential lots, which can be earned through gameplay. Experienced magic Sims will be able to move into one of three brand new residential lots in the exclusive “Creepy Hollow” section of Magic Town.

GT: Can Sims perform magic at other locations such as Studio Town?

JK: Yes, they sure can!

GT: What kind of carnival rides will be in Magic Town? Can players customize or build their own rides?

JK: There are six rides in total, in two distinct themes: Carnival Clown and Haunted House. These rides can be connected to each other in any combination, and can also be linked with several additional track pieces. Once the ride is built just the way you want it, you can send one or more Sims through the ride, and let the mayhem ensue. The options for these rides are endless, and we can’t wait to see what combinations fans come up with.

GT: One of the new objects for the home is the Dragon Nest. Will players need Unleashed to hatch a pet dragon? How big will the dragon grow and will it set fire to everything?

JK: No, you do not need Unleashed to enjoy the pet dragon. Just buy the Dragon Nest (egg included) at Magic Town, bring it home, and take care of it. Depending on how well you care for the egg, different dragon personalities may emerge from the egg. Some personalities are more, well, fiery than others.

GT: Sims will now be able to grow grapes and berries to make nectar. What happens when Sims drink nectar?

JK: They’re not thirsty anymore!

GT: What are some of the new character skins included with Makin’ Magic?

JK: The Sims Makin’ Magic includes some of the wackiest character skins we’ve done, including witches, ogres, sprites, wizards, and a suite of renaissance clothes. But you have to cast magic to get to some of the best characters.

GT: Are there any hints or tips on making magic in Makin Magic that you can share with us?

JK: Read the Spellbook descriptions carefully since they contain clues on how to prevent spells from backfiring (or how to force them to backfire if you prefer).

GT: Thank you for your time, it is most appreciated!

The Sims Makin' Magic will be the last expansion game for The Sims, but should provide sims fans with plenty of magical fun while they await the release of The Sims 2. We'll keep you posted on new details about the game as the become available, and are looking forward to making a little magic of our own come October.

Your Makin' Magic questions have been taken from the BBS and answered here!

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Your Makin' Magic Questions Have Been Answered!

Welcome to Part 2 of your Makin' Magic questions. Let's get right to your questions.

super_dude_brad: Will there be a dragon???
Yes, there is a pet dragon! You can buy the dragon egg at Magic Town, and bring it home. Depending on how well you care for the dragon egg, you'll get variations on the personality of the dragon that hatches.

Johanna_Grumblin: I hear talk about a new oven for baking bread, and also some grapes/winery stuff. Will these be new home business, meaning can I bake bread and then sell it, or produce wine and sell it, or will the bread and wine be part of some magical spell?
Not wine, nectar. And yes, you can make & bottle multiple types of nectar, and then either sell them for Simoleons, drink them, or in one case, trade some nectar for a secret spell ingredient.

Johanna_Grumblin: I'm personally not into magic, but it might be fun going to Magic Town to watch a magic show or go with the funfair facilities (despite my age... *shrug*). Will it be possible for us non-magic Sims to visit as an audience, or is Magic Town closed to anyone but the magicians?
Absolutely! Non-magic Sims can have an entire carnival experience at the new Magic Town location.

Thursday: Given that it's rare for one expansion theme to be unanimously thought up, I was wondering what other ideas for themes for expansions were knocked around the office during initial brainstorming sessions, as well as what selection criteria (if indeed there is any typical criteria) were utilized in the process of selecting a particular theme to approach.
We're always knocking around ideas. The selection criteria is basically centered around what we think will be fun for you guys to play with.

Tazzyluck: Is it true that this Expansion Pack is going to have a patch for bug issues in Superstar? Or... will there be a patch for Superstar available for download on this site?
There were some issues with Superstar that we discovered after it shipped, thanks to fans reporting problems. (We would never have shipped with those problems if we'd known about them and could have fixed them!) Through the course of developing Makin' Magic, we have done our best to address those issues, and expect that Makin' Magic will be the most problem-free release to date. And we have doubled our testing efforts to make sure that's the case.

ctfields: Will MM expand the kids at all "outside" of magic -- are we going to find the kids a bit more active in this pack?
[see above]

ctfields: Who is the green-skinned girl in one of the screen shots? Are we going to have some "other worldly" skins or is she an NPC?
Makin' Magic introduces some of the craziest characters yet and there is a charms spell. The green-skinned Sim you mention is Vicki Vampiress, who is one of the Magic Town Vendors who can sell you spell ingredients, or send you on quests to win them.

pepperonicheese: If the Magic salesman came and you deleted the objects he gave (the starter kit), can you ask him to come back again?
You can always find him at Magic Town.

pepperonicheese: And will the portal to Magic Town be like a fireplace?
No! It will be much cooler than that!

pepperonicheese: And do MagiCoins count as inventory?
Yes they do.

pepperonicheese: Are there more other-expansion-related objects?
You can bring to life the Sims 1.0 Flamingo and the Livin' Large Garden Gnome.

pepperonicheese: How big will the game be?
There are more objects and items in this expansion pack than any we've ever made. So I would say... big!

Narmir: Will I really have to go out and get Livin' Large or Deluxe for the gnome-maker?
No, the Gnome Workbench comes with Makin' Magic.

Narmir: What will determine whether certain sims are magical or not?
Whether or not they have a magic wand, of course!

Narmir: If one Sim can do magic, does the whole family have to?
No, you can have as many or as few family members you want perform magic.

thefragile3: Is the magic skill as difficult to gain as the fame skill in Superstar, or will it actually make the Sims lives easier?
Magic is not a skill, like in Superstar. Magic spells are created by the Sim from ingredients, and then exist as charms in the world, or as spells in the inventory. The game is to keep finding all the ingredients so you can keep making the magic. So it's a completely different type of gameplay than Superstar... much more of an adventure. We hope you like it!

That is all for now. Keep an eye on the news area for more news about Makin' Magic.

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