The Sims 3 Island Paradise Has Docked!

Wow! Can you believe The Sims 3 Island Paradise launch day is finally here!? What an adventure this project has been! In fact, it’s been exactly one year since the very first meeting we had to figure out the theme for the 10th expansion pack for The Sims 3 . And, despite it being the 10th in a long line of great The Sims 3 titles, I’ve never been more excited for the launch of any game I’ve ever worked on! The Sims 3 Island Paradise is a huge expansion pack that adds major features for everyone – regardless of how you play The Sims . From houseboats and resorts, to uncharted islands and scuba diving, I can’t think of any other TS3 expansion that added so many new major systems and ways to play. But you guys already know all about what’s in the pack! So instead of using this blog to recap all of the great things in The Sims 3 Island Paradise , I thought I’d share a few tips and tricks so that you can dive into your very own paradise as soon as you get your hands on it.

• The easiest way to get into resort management is to “buy” Hobart’s Hideaway. This once, beautiful resort has fallen into disrepair and needs a lot of work, but it’s a great way to kick start your resort empire without too much financial commitment! Due to the state of the resort, it’s going for the low, low price of §0.00! It will get you into resort management much quicker than building one from scratch.
• There’s a multitude of different ways to discover uncharted islands. Some can be discovered by simply exploring the area around them via boat, and others will take a little bit more investigation. Try talking to some of the local Isla Paradiso residents, as they have inside knowledge of the surrounding islands and may send you on a quest for discovery!
• Scuba diving opens up a whole new underwater realm for your Sims to explore. But it can be dangerous! Make sure to acquire the Scuba diving skill by snorkeling first before you try heading out into the deep waters.
• Keeping guests at your resort happy is a tricky thing to do! Amenities and fun objects found in the Resort Objects Tab in Build & Buy Modes are key to making sure your resort guests have a great time. Happy guests can mean a successful resort!

• When it comes to houseboat living, the ocean is your backyard! Move between ports whenever you’d like, or leave the landlubber life behind completely and make home sweet home in the middle of the ocean.
• Scuba diving Sims may encounter a mysterious mermaid from time to time beneath the waves. Becoming friends with one is key to revealing the secret behind transforming your Sim into one of them!

• When it comes to building houseboats, there are many hull sizes and shapes to start with. If you’re building a smaller houseboat, ladders and the All-in-One Bathroom are crucial for maintaining a functional household in a cramped space.
• AQUA SLED!!!!! Different boats travel at different speeds. So if you’re looking to get somewhere quick, save up and purchase an Aqua Sled or Speedboat for your Sims. Both will get you where you need to go (which can be a very long way in Isla Paradiso).

And there you have it – some hot tips to get you up and Simming on the sunny shores of Isla Paradiso. As always, and even more so with this expansion pack, I can’t wait to hear about all the fun you’ll have with The Sims 3 Island Paradise – I’m always amazed to see the content and stories that we didn’t even think were possible being told and created by you. Until next time Simmers, Shaka Brah!

-SimGuruRyan

 

 

Mermaid Madness!

Mermaids are a new occult life state in The Sims 3 Island Paradise! Mermaids are a lot like regular Sims, but they like to spend their time swimming, preferably in salt water. As expected, Mermaids are more versatile in the water than regular Sims. They can swim faster, stay underwater indefinitely and, if they have the Evil trait, they have the special ability to Summon Sharks!

Mermaids Sims have beautiful fish-like tails when in water and scaly legs when on land. Their scale colors can be adjusted using the “Change Scale Color” interaction on the mirror. Female Mermaids will also be able to adjust the color of the seashell tops they wear while swimming with this interaction.

Mermaids have a “Hydration” motive that is fulfilled by water activities like swimming and bathing, and if you have The Sims 3 Seasons, even walking in the rain! It’s important to pay attention to this motive since Mermaids are creatures of the sea, they are easily dehydrated. If their Hydration motive gets too low they will start dry out! First they become chapped, then they get flakey (eww!) and finally they collapse from dehydration. If this happens, another Sim needs to revive the Mermaid by pouring water on them otherwise they’ll get a visit from the Grim Reaper!

Of course, Mermaids can have children. If a Mermaid falls in love with another Mermaid (woohoo!) they are guaranteed to have Mermaid offspring. A Mermaid and a regular Sim have a 50/50 chance of their children being Mermaids.

Mermaids can eat the same foods as regular Sims, but they prefer tasty kelp and fresh fish. This makes them very popular with cats if you have The Sims 3 Pets! It is rumored that there is a secret, uncharted island known only to Mermaids. If your Sim is lucky and befriends a Mermaid they may let you in on the secret!

Be sure to tune into The Sims Live Broadcast on Tuesday, June 18 to see a see Mermaids in a live gameplay demo of Island Paradise as well as catch more information about underwater activities in this expansion releasing on June 25.
 

 

The Sims 3 Island Paradise – From Roaches to Riches: A Resort Story

Hi Simmers!

How do you plan to play with resorts? One of our main goals when developing resorts was to make sure that it provided plenty of diversity ingameplay and customization. We recently held a development team “play day” andit was really great to see the many creative ways that people played withresorts. We had an engineer who decided to open up a small yet successfulfamily-operated bed and breakfast. Another team member was on the fast track torunning two five-star mega hotels in Sunset Valley. For some players, resortmanagement was just a little too stressful and felt that having their Sims stayat a resort was a much more enjoyable experience.

I thought that one of the best ways to talk about resorts is totell you about the one that I’m currently building. After discovering anuncharted island, I decided that it was the perfect place to break ground on mynew resort. Using the blueprint mode, I quickly went from zero to well…bareminimum (at this point I’m fighting the urge to just use the money cheat.)

Tip: Blueprint mode is intended for players whowant to get their resort built quickly so that they can jump into gameplayright away. However, if you choose to do so you can use Build and Buy tools tobuild your resort from scratch. Required objects for resorts are: the frontdesk and at least one resort tower rabbithole. In general, the resort tower isrequired as a place for guests to fulfill their motives as well as manageresort worker population. A new Buy Mode sort was added to display amenityobjects that make the most impact to your resort quality.

Funds were low so I had to start small. It was a good thing thatmy Sim family was up to the task because keeping employees on the payroll canget quite expensive for an upstart business like mine. Daily tasks includedmaking sure that the front desk was always covered and resort guests weretreated to delicious drinks at the bar. I decided that since my Sim does nothave a fulltime job, he’s going to have to cover both day and night shifts. There’snever a dull moment when running your own resort. Just like residential lots,things can get dirty or break. I’m just glad that my resort is small enough towhere I can get the job done on my own. All looks well so far!

Tip: We wanted to make sure that players can runresorts by using only their active Sim family if they elect to do so. Thisallows you to choose your level of involvement with resorts. Simply disable shiftson the front desk, bar, or food stand and the amenity will remain un-manned forthat specified time period. You might have noticed from the screen shot belowthat my Sim is operating a professional bar. If you have Late Night and IslandParadise installed you will be able to place professional bars on your resortand have it count as an amenity. You will be able to operate or hire employeesfor these bars as you would other amenities on your resort.

As my resort grows in popularity so does the maintenance requiredto keep things running. I’ve slacked off a bit and now things have gotten completelyout of control. Trash is everywhere and now I’m told that we have a full blown roachinfestation. Resort guests are starting to vomit from the sight of this filth. Whata mess! The next morning I checked my resort’s star rating and it’s gone down onefull star. I might be in trouble here.

Tip: Poor upkeep can tank your resort’s qualityrating that in turn can result in fewer customers. Each piece of garbage orbroken appliance will be reflected negatively in the resort reviews panel. Andyes, roaches. When I queried the team and asked what best represented a poorlymaintained hotel, the unanimous answer was “roaches”.

I really needed to clean this place up fast if I want to continueto stay in business. I hired a fewmaintenance workers to help me tidy up. I also took advantage of my Sim’s handyskill and upgraded a few of my toilets to not break.

Tip: Maintenance workers are the key to keepingyour resort clean and presentable to the public. You have the choice of hiringup to three low, medium or high quality workers. Low quality workers arecheaper but have a greater chance of slacking off whereas high quality workers willalways use their time wisely but come at a price.

Resort quality is finally restored and business is good. With alittle money on the side, it’s finally time to class things up. The first thingI decided to add was some private VIP rooms for my guests. Blueprint Mode wasperfect for this as I’m able to stamp down multiple rooms at once. After goingback to Live Mode, I immediately assigned door locks to the rooms to allow theresort system to assign them to guests.

Tip: VIP door locks are exclusive to resorts.Resort owners can select any build/buy door and assign it a unique key number.If a guest chooses to check into a VIP room they will be handed a key thatcorresponds to the number that is assigned to a door. If there are no VIP doorlocks set on the resort, guests will be sent to the rabbithole to sleep andfreshen up.

Resortowners are automatically checked into resort tower rabbitholes but will stillneed to check into VIP rooms in order to reserve the space.

What’s a resort without a place to eat? I decided to plop downsome resort buffet tables and a food stand to add even more amenities tosatisfy my guests. I sent my Sim over to the food stand to get a nicerefreshing drink.

Tip: The resort buffet table is exclusive toresorts in that your staff will be responsible for maintaining the food. As anowner, you will be given the option to choose what type of food to serve andthe quality. Higher quality food will require a higher upkeep cost but willbetter satisfy your guest. Check the reviews panel regularly as they can clueyou in on what type of food your guests are craving. Sims with highrelationship to one another will often choose to dine together at the buffet.

The resortfood stand serves up new food such as fried plantains and drinks in pineappleor coconut cups.

I’ll put the final touches on my resort by customizing uniformsfor my staff. I wanted to go with a beach casual look so selecting one of the availablepresets will work for me. However, we thought it would be fun to open up thecustomization even further. You will actually be able to go into Create-A-Simand customize uniforms (hair, makeup, and clothing) for each one of youremployees. All installed content from EPs, SPs and The Sims 3 Store that arevalid for career uniforms and can be used to outfit your Sim.

My resort is definitely on the right path to success. I’m notreally sure where to go from here. Perhaps I’ll find the next great locationand do it all over again. Maybe take my family to someone else’s resort andcheck out what they have to offer.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy playing with resorts this Junewhen The Sims 3 Island Paradise becomes available.
 

 

The Sims 3 Island Paradise – Underwater Activities

Hi There!

I’m SimGuruTing, one of the Assistant Producers on The Sims 3 team currently working on the next expansion pack, The Sims 3 Island Paradise.

Those of us working on the game can’t wait to let you guys get your hands on our new expansion pack. With new activities for Sims to do along the coastline and in the ocean, The Sims 3 Island Paradise is full of features surrounding the idea of the island lifestyle. Here’s a bit of a sneak peek of what you can expect in this upcoming pack!

The beach has been integrated in order to accommodate a new coastal life of relaxation. Sims can lounge around on beach towels and enjoy the sun while relaxing by the sea. When it’s time be more energetic, Sims can play in the ocean, splash around in the water and splash each other! Treasure seekers can snorkel in the water too and may discover unique items that were once lost.

Also new to the beach is the Lifeguard Career. Lifeguards are the sworn protectors of the beaches they watch over. While on duty, a Lifeguard’s job is to survey the beach for any swimming Sims in need of assistance. When a Sim is struggling at sea, the Lifeguard races to the rescue, helping drowning Sims back to shore and performing CPR if needed. However, not all alerts are real emergencies; some Sims may be inclined to “fake it” in order to get some one-on-one time with the Lifeguard on duty. But I’ve never heard the Lifeguard complain – it is quite the admired role.

By far, my favorite new feature is the ability to scuba dive! The ocean is no longer just for traveling across, now Sims can dive below! The Sims 3 Island Paradise Expansion Pack comes with a world that has exclusive dive spots. Sims with the new scuba diving skill can visit and explore the underwater surroundings where there is lots to discover. Each dive spot is rich in beautiful sea life, from the many corals and kelps that grow from the ocean floor to the fish that you can catch! But watch out for those sharks! I hear they bite and can be pretty nasty about it too.

In addition to the rich sea life, hidden away in many dive lots are treasure chests and underwater caves where many surprises await! What will a scuba divers’ scavenging reveal? Unique treasures? An uncharted island? Or an encounter with a mysterious monster?

And this is only a portion of what you can expect with this new expansion pack! We can’t wait to read about your Sims’ adventures above and under the sea when The Sims 3 Island Paradise comes out this June!

Thanks for reading!

SimGuruTing
Theresa Chen, The Sims 3 Assistant Producer
 

 

Welcome to Paradise

@SimGuruRyan, Lead Producer for The Sims 3 introduces the newest expansion, The Sims 3 Island Paradise, dropping anchor this June!

When we started work on The Sims 3 Island Paradise , we had one goal – to deliver you the content, features, and gameplay to not just create and play with an island paradise, but to create and play with what you envision an island paradise to be. We all have different ideas of what paradise means, so we strived to create an expansion that includes as many of those concepts as possible. Through features like sailing the open seas on a houseboat of your own design, scuba diving in search of sunken treasure, or relaxing in the lap of luxury at a mega resort (just to name a few!), The Sims 3 Island Paradise gives you the opportunity to both create paradise, and then play with it. As we continue to build Island Paradise, we’re focusing on a few major parts of the game to achieve this.

The first one is definitely the ocean. With the release of The Sims 3 Seasons , we enabled swimming in the ocean for the first time, and with The Sims 3 Island Paradise , we’re really taking what you can do on, and below, the ocean to a whole new level. You might enjoy having your Sims sit back and relax on a sailboat as they venture off into the sunset, or maybe even go for a quick paddle on a rowboat. Alternatively players might be more interested in a speedboat or Jet Ski to quickly head out in search of uncharted islands veiled by a mysterious fog!

Players that love to build things can create fully functional houseboats using the complete suite of Build/Buy Mode tools to design and furnish floating abodes. And did I mention scuba diving?? For the first time ever in The Sims 3 , you’ll be able to take your Sims under the ocean’s waves in search of sunken treasure! While down there you might even encounter some unexpected – or dangerous – marine life. The tropical ocean in this brand new world is packed with tons of all new ways to interact with your Sims, and our hope is that it gives you the feeling of your own island paradise, even if you’ve never before stepped your own toes into beautiful crystal blue waters.

Resorts are another area of the game that we’re focusing on. Whether you’re looking to build a sprawling mega resort, have your Sims stay in a stilt foundation bungalow out over the ocean, or even directly manage an exclusive beachside retreat, resorts in The Sims 3 Island Paradise provide these experiences and much more. With advanced Build/Buy features such as the ability to build out over the ocean, create pools using the new resort-specific Blueprint Mode, and place dynamic new resort towers to attract potential guests. For those of you with more of a business mindset, resorts allow you to manage and fine tune the characteristics of your resort down to the smallest detail – all while making a little money on the side! Utilize the Resort Star Rating System to see how your guests like your resort and then make crucial business decisions like adding fun amenities, hiring maintenance staff, or setting quality levels. All decisions tie into the popularity and overall success of your resort, so make sure your guests are happy… or don’t! It’s your paradise, and you get to make the decisions. But don’t worry, resorts aren’t all about work. If your Sims are looking to melt away into an extended vacation, resorts are the place to go! Belly up to the in-pool bars, eat until your heart’s content at epic buffets, or even test your skills at the fire walk pit and many other amenities! Resorts are a massive new experience that really offers fun for everyone, regardless of how you play The Sims 3.

Of course, no The Sims 3 expansion pack is complete without all new careers, skills, collectibles, Lifetime Rewards, traits and places to WooHoo, of course! We’ll get into more detail of what those new items look like so be sure to stay tuned for upcoming blogs, Q&As, Twitter Takeovers and more. Also be sure to mark your calendars for our next Live Broadcast on April 16 where we’ll be showing an all-new gameplay demo and taking your questions live!

Until then, Sim-on Simmers, and get ready to spend your summer in paradise!

@SimGuruRyan