The Sims 4 Official Information

[Pam]

Big news!!  Carl has published the first page of his Sims 4 Guide.

Happy happy happy!!

[Bri]

If you buy Sims 4 via Origin, you will be able to 'pre-load' the game.  Beginning August 29, 2014 you can download Sims 4 via Origin.  You still won't be able to play it until September 2, but it should be faster to install.

Digital pre-load on Origin begins August 29th at 10am Pacific, 11 am Mountain, 12pm Central, and 1pm Eastern.

Note:  The Pre-Load information mentions which time and the date if you already purchased Sims 4 via Origin. 

If you are curious about how Pre-Loading works:
Origin Pre-Load FAQ

[Bri]

There will be no apartments in the release of Sims 4.  One will only be able to build houses and community lots like the base Sims 3 game.  This comes from a tweet by SimGuruSarah:

Right now you can just build houses and community lots, like in The Sims 3 base game

(Source:  SimGuruSarah Twitter)

[Dellena]

Lyndsay Pearson, Senior Producer on The Sims 4, has tweeted a few things yesterday that people might find interesting:

Question: Hayley Marie ‏@thatsimsgirl @SimGuruLyndsay Will the baby bottles in TS4 finally be white, instead of green?!

Response: Lyndsay Pearson ‏@SimGuruLyndsay @thatsimsgirl Yep, white bottle. Mommy Sims can also breastfeed!

O    M   G

Question: Sims Community ‏@TheSimCommunity @SimGuruLyndsay Can you shine some light on going to the space?

Response: Lyndsay Pearson ‏@SimGuruLyndsay @TheSimCommunity Your Sim can build a rocket and go on space adventures.  They might bring back money, space rocks, or crash coming home!

Further question on the same subject: Sims Community ‏@TheSimCommunity @SimGuruLyndsay Can we keep track and observe our Sims during those adventures? Hope I'm not pushing the limit with these questions!

Response: Lyndsay Pearson ‏@SimGuruLyndsay  @TheSimCommunity If your Sims own an observatory object you can listen in on the Sim in the rocket. You don't go into space with them.

Lyndsay also tweeted the following:

One fun thing - Teen Sims can complain about their parents.

You can make a child or teen's parent be an elder. @SimGuruJill wanted to give more story options in Create A Sim.

Today's tidbit - your Sims will be able to paint paintings created by all sorts of people on the development team!

Second tidbit - the kids get to create art too. Their "best" creations feature macaroni art.   AND their art was inspired by the doodles & art created by our own kids.

I'm staying camped on Twitter as it seems to be a preferred method for all the SimGuru's to communicate with the players.  All of this would confirm babies and teens (we've seen children).  Toddlers not yet confirmed as far as I know.

[Bri]

*grins*  All good tidbits Dellena.  And I merged the topics as planned.

 I admit, I like a lot of these ideas as small touches like the macaroni art, and breastfeeding.

 And I can confirm the source of these tweets (Source:  SimGuruLyndsay Twitter)

[Dellena]

Cheats confirmed by Grant Rodiek, one of the Sims 4 Producers.

Question Asked on Twitter: Alli ‏@AlliKatSimmer @SimGuruGrant Has the team made any cheats and if so do u have a lifetime rewards cheat

Grant's reply: Grant Rodiek @SimGuruGrant @AlliKatSimmer There are lots of cheats.

You can read it for yourself here.

[Bri]

Popular Mechanics has an article about the Sims 4 as well:

The AI Behind the Sims 4

[Bri]

This is compiled from a variety of twitter questions for the SimGurus:

First, the Sims 4 will have a mod folder where you can put things straight away
(Source:  SimGuruGraham Twitter)

There will be new objects:

There are lots of new objects in TS4 that were not in TS3. Like the cupcake machine!

(Source:  SimGuruSarah Twitter)

There won't be acne for teens, though.
(Source:  SimGuruSarah)

There will be same-sex relationships in the game.
(Source:  SimGuruSarah)

[Bri]

Looks like there is one thing removed from Sims 4:  Woohoo as a skill.  Originally, it was meant to be a hidden skill which could be built up, but this was removed due to people concerned with ratings.  Note that Woohoo itself is still in the game, just the removal of it as a skill.

From SimGuruGraham:

It was cut from the game since we originally talked about it. Lots of things shift during the development of a base game

For a bit it was changed to a hidden skill, then removed entirely. People weren't comfortable with the implications and our rating.

It was actually called the Romance skill for a period of time as well. The content just didn't fit with the game we're building

(Source:  SimGuruGraham)

[Bri]

More  Twitter Tidbits (Twitbits?) from the SimGurus. 

Be aware that some of this may change before the shipping of Sims 4 (such as the removal of Woohoo as a skill above).

*There will be six needs that we known and love:

6. Bladder, Hunger, Energy, Fun, Social, Hygiene. Others are subtly integrated into the system.

(Source:  SimGuruGrant)


Adoption will be in the game, and work much the same as in Sims 3.
(Source:  SimGuruGrant)


The plumbobs will change color above the Sims:

The plumbob above them changes color based on their needs. Their emotion is communicated through the UI and their animations.

(Source:  SimGuruGraham)

[Dellena]

Clothing filters!

[Lysita]

Looks like it's possible to choose multiple filters at once, which will make things easier than being limited to one filter at a time. Colour being one of them is awesome!

[Bri]

A video on Youtube (IGN's channel), where they talk with SimGuruGraham:

Building a Family with the Sim's 4 New Genetics Tool

[Dellena]

From Sim Guru Ryan posted at:

http://www.thesims.com/news/neighborhoods-weird-moments-and-more

We also have beautiful Neighborhoods! Did you know that for the first time ever in The Sims, your Sims will be able to not only travel between Neighborhoods, but also between entire Worlds without having to start a new game!? This is something that I always wanted in The Sims 3, and I’m so excited to finally have it in The Sims 4. Neighborhoods and Worlds will be separated by a short load screen, but for the first time you’ll be able to live in one world and work (or play) in another! All of your Sim’s personality, accomplishments, and relationships stay with them as they travel around the best play-space we’ve ever created in a The Sims game.

However, further in the article:

And while we recognize that some of you will be disappointed that pools and toddlers won’t be available when The Sims 4 Base Game launches in September, you should know that we’re building an incredibly strong foundation that is capable of fulfilling every one of your desires in the years to come. The future of The Sims 4 is bright!

I'm thinking babies have gotten a major revamp though.  Will be curious to see it in game.

[Bri]

As Dellena's post mentions above, pools won't be in the base game, neither will swimwear (such as swimsuits), or swimming at all.

(Source:  SimGuruGraham)