Live Broadcast on July 23rd

That's right folks! On July 23rd we'll be seeing more of what looks to be the next expansion pack: Into the Future, and the upcoming movie stuff pack!  A few people have speculated about the next store world as well, but this remains to be seen.

Well it's not looking like a writing pad...

This tweet definitely helps to clear things up. Obvious restaurant menu is obvious.

What to have, what to have... pic.twitter.com/uPbRw7gkkg
— Alan Copeland (@SimGuruCopeland) July 12, 2013

I must confess I'm disappointed since I thought for a while it was going to be a writing pad or a journal, but the bistro environment and this setup are a dead giveaway!

As I'm sure I've said before (and if I haven't, I'm saying it now) there's been ALOT of speculation about open restaurants in TS3, and  as to whether it's even possible due to routing issues. Fortunately, that hasn't always stopped the game devs, although unfortunately, routing can still be problematic. Although over time there have been numerous attempts by fans to fix that, to the tune of recreating entire worlds from expansion packs! Some fans are happy just to have features, with or without glitches!

Personally, I'm skeptical that this could be a fix-all solution. Although, if this makes open restaurants somehow possible (with or without IP), I will be impressed.

New Store Content Hint: Something to do with OFB?

There's been quite a bit of buzz regarding the possibility of OFB style PC items in the store, and this particular tweet by Simguru Copeland has our attention!

Is it lunchtime yet? @SimGuruTatertot pic.twitter.com/rMI5gCBTUa
— Alan Copeland (@SimGuruCopeland) July 11, 2013

 At first I thought we'd finally be getting a writing pad, but as Ms. Crumplebottom here is situated in front of the bistro, one would presume otherwise. I'm thinking this is either a restaurant menu, or an item that goes along with something else, like one of those 'cash registers' we were all asking for.

Regardless of what comes to pass, I certainly hope we still get notebooks/journals/writing pads! OFB PC items would be an excellent opportunity to introduce such a feature!

Sims 4 officially announced

Some are excited, some are in tears! The Sims 4 was announced today when representatives from some of the big name Sims fansites were invited to take part in a conference call. Not long after, images of the official TS4 logo and a sample of the game's art style went public. If you were expecting this...

You won't be getting it. The TS4 logo is a departure from the traditional design, without a plumbob (not that the first installment had one to my knowledge). Audio from the conference call has also been put up on Youtube, so you should check that out as well!

In addition to this the www.http://thesims4.com is now active, although it currently redirects to a page on the TS3 site. Not much else is known about game features although some alleged 'mockups' have been found online tha are supposed to depict what the interface will look like when it's finished.

E3 2013

This year's E3 will be taking place from June 11th through to the 13th at the LA convention centre, and there'll be alot to look forward to. Sony just launched the PS4 (aka the PS3.5), and Nintendo is supposed to announce the next super smash bros and Zelda games at the event. A couple of years ago I wouldn't have payed too much attention to EA's broadcast, since they seem to go heavy on the sports and first person shooters. Yawn!

I'll admit that I've played (and enjoyed) a few FPS games but they really have to have character. I don't particularly enjoy being thrown into a warzone that feels even remotely close to real life. That's why Halo, Portal, Half Life, TF2 and Bioshock appeal to me so much. I was saving myself for the next super smash bros but Bioshock Infinite on the Wii U has me just about sold.

Anyway, TS4 speculation is on the rise. Being one of the fans who still believes TS3 has some life left in it, I don't like how common TS4 topics are becoming. Let's face it guys, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. It's not like I want to silence the opposition but I wish they'd be more careful about TS4 topics. I know people are excited about the things we could get (some of them we can't get in TS3 like unwrapped burritos) but is it really worth having them see 'TS4' trending and rushing to get it done? Think about it.

/rant

Yep, that's definitely a pro bar!

Finally we have some official confirmation, there will indeed be compatibility with Late Night assuming you have that installed. Also, if you place a pro bar in your resort, you'll be able to hire staff for that as well.

Yup, that looks like a pro bar alright...

Well I'd definitely call that a pro bar, and it looks like there's 3 barstools (swiveling no less) instead of the usual 2. Oh and there's the rest of that NPC! This was just before she ducked behind the counter to do... whatever it is mixologists do back there. I'd assume straightening things up to kill time between customers.

What I was wondering before is if that 'pool bar' was merely an alcove where you could insert a pro bar if you wanted to, although that doesn't look like the case here (unless they all got updated or something?). Still, I'd like to see some pro bars alongside the one by the pool!

3 Days Left!!

There are but 3 precious days until University is released. Uh oh, something about that sounds familiar. Anyways, to make up for the lost Seasons stream, there will be a proper stream to introduce the University gameplay as soon as I get my copy in the mail.

I won't say too much yet but we'll be seeing some new traits, new careers and new looks for some of the characters. Majors (for the most part) have been decided amongst the characters (6 characters, 6 majors, one each). University terms are one sim week long, unless I opt to do two (two sim weeks). One term would be easier to digest  in one sitting, so I'll still do two (to extend gameplay) but they'll be split up into two separate episodes. Also, since there are 6 characters, I'll only be sending  3 characters per term.

Pool Table (and Photo Booth) returning for University?

Remember how Showtime was the debut EP for pool tables? Since EA normally does the live chats with only the base game and currently featured EP installed (Seasons was supposed to be the exception because of the weather stone), I couldn't help but notice that there was a pool table in the student union building...

And what's more, one of the hosts pointed out that there was also a photo booth! Is it just me or is that two things from Showtime? Also, weren't coffee houses also introduced with that EP? Mind you, they were rabbit holes, the new ones are supposed to be open (hope for restaurants and bars yet?)

This isn't the first time EA has made EPs with content & features that had been previously introduced as part of another EP...

• Bunk beds made their first appearance in Generations and returned for Supernatural
• Hot tubs came with Outdoor Living and Late Night but have also shown up as Premium Content via the Sims 3 Store, and in multiple EPs
• Arcade machines also came with Late Night but have shown up on the Sims 3 Store, and in other EPs/SPs
• Fireworks first appeared with World Adventures but also appeared in Katy Perry Sweet Treats, Seasons, and as part of a free store set
• The Vampire Life State was reintroduced (and expanded upon) from Late Night to Supernatural
• Along with Vampires, Plasma Fruit and Plasma Juice (as well as their vegetarian counterparts) were available in both Late Night and Supernatural
• Dance floors came with Late Night, although there is one available with Seasons

Given time I'm sure the community could think of more, although if they're going to re-release anything, I'd like to see more variations of Elevators and Pro Bars. Perhaps some spiral staircases (or spiral slides xD) One good sign is that pool tables are tied to a skill, as are professional bars!

University, Island Life... Time Travel?

Well it looks like we're going to see yet another... no wait. Not one, not two, but THREE new expansion packs! The Sims 3 University is due to be released sometime in March, followed by Island Paradise somewhere in June, and (I refuse to say lastly) an unnamed expansion pack reported to be about time travel and the future. Myself, I'm hoping they do NOT choose that one to end the sims 3 series. Some have (rightly) pointed out that it would be a fitting way to conclude the series, and while it's hard to deny that, I'm still in the group that wants to squeeze in just a bit more!

I've heard pleads for Farming, the return of Open for Business (which may or may not be lumped in with Island Paradise), carnivals, and much more! I'd like to see at least one more pack after the future one, regardless of what it may be. I'm sure we'll get more store content in the meantime, what with a new premium content item being released every month or so. Between the Massage Table, Baby Changing/Bathing station (that surprisingly does let you attend to your burritos)  and everything else, I'm confident that there's still much more to come!

Winter is coming, but Seasons is here!

See that dripping off the umbrella? When did he get an umbrella!?! That's right! Get ready for this, as the weather engine alone is unlike anything I've seen since Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life! HM fans will recall that the weather engine was completely different from anything we've experienced in HM at the time (unless I missed something in one of the playstation titles). I've yet to see what Tree of Tranquility or Animal Parade have to offer, but with weather now in the sims the pace of the game slowed down to roughly what AWL used to be, but I'm enjoying every minute of it!

Winter is Coming!

With the release of seasons fast approaching (and the fact that I've acquired new EPs and SPs since the last episode), now might be an appropriate time to remake some characters on air. Also, newcomers to the series will have the chance to jump in while I'm creating :D

New Worlds!

Thanks to some VERY generous gifters (TekLogan and yesiamroxane) from the sims 3 forums, HMO sims will be moving to either Lucky Palms OR Sunlit Tides! Leave a comment here and cast your vote now!

Livestream!

Follow the Sims Shenanigans as they happen. Be sure to check out the Livestream page for access to live broadcasts, archives, and real time chat!