I haven't had alot of time on my hands lately due to a summer internship, but today I finally got to try out the contents of the La Cinema Plumbob set! Quite generously gifted to me by Corettabarajas!
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| Outside View (It'll look nicer up against a proper road) |
The first step with any new venue/PC items is to set up the lot by either using a premade or building your own. Since this one came with a venue, I figured it'd be best to show you that first.
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| Top Floor |
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| 3rd Floor |
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| 2nd Floor (Landing) |
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| Main Floor |
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| Default Bars |
If you have University installed, I'd recommend you replace the bars with Barista bars as they will spawn NPCs and fit exactly into the space left by the regular bar.
You can also change the colour with CASt so they fit in with the existing counters!
And as you can see, NPCs are spawned...
Sent my sim for a hot drink (typical theatres serve fountain drinks though, so I certainly hope the sims team has that in the works, along with popcorn machines, cotton candy machines, and some candy apples). You could also use vending machines if you want to modify the lot or build your own.
This is a far better use of the bar setup, and because of the NPCs sims don't wander back behind the counter (as often), although they can still get back there if they're aged Teen or older. It'd be interesting to see if Twallan comes up with a mod for the system. Next, have your sims buy a ticket, or they'll complain about being unable to route to the door (mine did)
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| This machine works like many standard automated ticket machines |
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| And then the ticket is printed |
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| It looks like the typical 'admit one' ticket you can buy in bulk |
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| You can watch quite a few movies in that time |
Finally, time to watch the movie!
The 'watch movie' feature from University really compliments this item! (Ignore that, I forgot it was a PC Item... Doi xD) The seats come in single and double sizes (both available in the 'Living Room' tab), and look really nice with this setup, albeit a bit chunky.
You may have to tell your sim to take their seat or they'll just stand in the back and watch. Just click on the spot you want them to take and click 'Join' on the big screen to continue watching the movie. They'll get up and leave when they're done, especially to fulfill needs. You'll also get a +20 moodlet for each type of movie you watch.
It's also worth noting that the lights will actually dim as the film plays! And unlike theatres in real life (and quite like the lazier ones) nobody will care if you wander into another theatre! Just make sure it's set to allow the same kind of ticket your sim is carrying.
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| THAT CLOWN IS SPY! |
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| The aisle carpets look pretty nice |
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| BOOO! THAT WAS WAY TOO SHORT!! |
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| AGAIN!! |
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| And hypnocow for good measure... |
The TV screen is actually bigger than the big screens that came with Showtime and the
Level Up Collection, you'll be pleased to hear! It reaches all the way to the ceiling and is at least 3 blocks wider than it's predecessor!
For a size comparison, I've lined up wall mounted TVs from smallest to largest (excluding the one from Late Night), starting with the one from the base game and another from the store. To the right of that is the TV from the Level Up Compilation, and right of that is the TV from Showtime, which actually looks slightly larger due to the frame surrounding it. Far right of course is the behemoth itself! Needless to say, the ability to set up your own open theatre is amazing! On top of that, you get the biggest wall mounted unit in the game to date. In order to top this, I'm pretty sure they'd need a two storey screen.
Setting up the barrier to entry system is really easy!
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Set or remove all locks
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There are a number of options for restricting and allowing sims, although it's not limited to just ticketholders. You can even limit entry to certain age groups, genders, non-humans, celebrities by level, your household, current sim, etc.
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| Age Options |
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And if you want to be more/less specific
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| Different coloured tickets (assuming you can set the price of each on your own lot) |
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| You can even define whether or not you need a ticket to get in, and still set these filters! |
Also, here's what I was able to do with my own lot! Albeit I'd forgotten the ticket machine the first time around, so the doors/turnstiles only let them walk through.
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| Turnstiles... |
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| And doors... |
Again, the barista bars make for a top notch snack counter as far as the limitations of the game go. It'd be better if we had an outright snack counter, a fountain drink machine, maybe a slushy machine or two. In the meantime, the waterfall lights from Island Paradise and ocean mural served to decorate my main lobby. The elevator goes to the second floor and arcade!
I used a trick from a previous build to create a sunken room for the main theatre, albeit it created graphical artifacts hidden in the walls. I moved that tree when I realized it was an obstruction, don't worry xD
A major downfall for this set is the lack of a popcorn machine, but with the barrier to entry door/turnstile and the ticket machine serving as a way to set the price of entering a closed off area, there are your two premium content items, even though they're both downloaded together. For having this kind of game functionality, I suppose it's worth it but I can't say I'm not disappointed. Otherwise the set is a little expensive but worth the cost if you really want an open theatre.
I've been hoping for popcorn, slushy and cotton candy machines since before Seasons, but thus far it hasn't happened. I'm just hoping we get those (and maybe a fountain drink dispenser/proper blender) either in the store or in the Into the Future pack!
In the meantime, this set is a great excuse to build an
adjoining arcade!
