Late Night: First Impressions

[Crimson]

I would say it resembles a Mini New York City in design and a Los Angelas atmosphere for the actual experiences. Bridgeport seems like a small city much like Boston who only has a population of 600,000 as opposed to Manhattan's 22 million people.

[LlamaMama]

I mentioned the butterfly dome somewhere on this forum, but haven't seen anyone else mention it. You enter it through the gazebo. It's really worth checking out, and would be great for building, too, except that it requires a flat 64x64 lot.

Wait, I'm ditching the junkyards since the patch, so I can use that space to place butterfly domes.

[PlatnumDymnd]

As a player of Sims 1 through the present, I don't expect things to be the same but I did expect similar but better because it is more evolved. Especially since they are bringing so many things from TS2, i.e. the vampires, the gardening, and the late nite partying venues. (And I expect they will bring in  some furry friends to add to the household.) The apartments are great, but I miss the ability to put different households in one apartment complex. I'm just starting the game so maybe there's a way I just haven't found yet. I really like being able to go dancing and party just like in TS2, however, the celebrity thing for me is a bit annoying. I haven't run into vampires yet but as I said I'm only two days into playing. And I have not dipped into the technical features like CAW or that pattern thingy. For those who have not been around since House Party, the Sims trilogy is always the same from a general standpoint. Otherwise it would be called something different.

[Glic2000]

As a player of Sims 1 through the present, I don't expect things to be the same but I did expect similar but better because it is more evolved. Especially since they are bringing so many things from TS2, i.e. the vampires, the gardening, and the late nite partying venues. (And I expect they will bring in  some furry friends to add to the household.) The apartments are great, but I miss the ability to put different households in one apartment complex
....
the Sims trilogy is always the same from a general standpoint. Otherwise it would be called something different.

It may seem the same from a general standpoint, but The Sims 3 is very different from a technical standpoint.  The fact that there is no loading time when moving from one lot to another makes a big difference, and, I assume, is the reason why we can't have more than one houshold in the same apartment building.     

In order for the game to keep everything moving smoothly, the amount of stuff on each lot needs to be strictly limited.  Allowing more than one household on the same lot would have added a huge new layer of complexity that the game just couldn't handle.

At least that's what I think.

[PlatnumDymnd]

I like your way of thinking Glic. Its a very good theory and probably the exact reason. Not to mention being able to go on-line from in the game. I really enjoy being able to minimize the game without the loading issues.  If I had to choose between the loading time and having multiple households in the apartment I would definitely sacrifice the apartment part. That loading thing was a bit annoying.

Also, I agree that it has definitely advanced on the technical side, which is the very thing that doesn't phase me. I really don't do the technical stuff. They have made creating/building a thing of beauty. Much more user friendly that TS2. I even considered dabbling a bit into it to the point where I created a house from scratch. Don't know if I would do it often but it was much more fun. Though I know it, I am for the most part just a player than a creator outside of CAS and even there I don't do much. I just recreate my own family.

Sure there are some hiccups in Late Night but the pros definitely outweigh the cons for me. I think there's a lot of stuff for the simple player and/or the techie players. And I definitely like the challenge of TS3 all around. Never get bored even from just having the base game.

[Anushka]

I mentioned the butterfly dome somewhere on this forum, but haven't seen anyone else mention it. You enter it through the gazebo. It's really worth checking out, and would be great for building, too, except that it requires a flat 64x64 lot.

Wait, I'm ditching the junkyards since the patch, so I can use that space to place butterfly domes.

LlamaMama, I've checked it few times now, first time it was new game and no butterflies were spawned jet, but after a while they did and it is beautiful. I also like that flower arrangement in shape of butterfly:) I found special seed in it too, so it is definitely worth checking out, and it would be really eco-friendly to replace junkyard with it

I checked around web about city inspiration, and it seems that one group agreed with me about combo of SF and LA, while other agreed with Pam and Crimson, comparing it to NY and Dallas:) I Still I think it's the Rocky Mountains in background, and West Coast because of that broken road and crack in the ground. And probably as Pam said, combination of many large cities around USA which look alike.

As for the apartments and comparison Sims 2 vs Sims 3, it is pretty pointless. It is crazy to think about 30 apartments on one lot, but nice expensive penthouse with few small cheap apartments on lower floors is doable. My dynasty has a home with 9 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms etc and it loads just fine. Also, there is no loading screen but there is still loading time. You can see only lower quality 3D images of everything around town, but it takes to zoom in and wait a while to get a better detailed view. And even then you can't see inside if your Sim is not there. So technically it is doable, but it is really pointless to discuss it here, I think.
 

[DeNile]

Wow! I just got Late Night and I've got to say it is amazing! I made my San Fransisco Simself and I became a vampire.... when I should have been in Chemistry. But missing school doesn't matter today because it was an amazing experience! I'm loving the new instruments, the penthouses, the vampires. And I'm already a Level 3 Celebrity! This is without a doubt one of the coolest expansion packs out there. But I can't dance on tables That makes me sad.

[Esther1981]

Wow! I just got Late Night and I've got to say it is amazing! I maede my San Fransimco Simself and I became a vampire.... when I should have been in Chemistry. But missing school doesn't matter today because it was an amazing experience! I'm loving the new instruments, the penthouses, the vampires. And I'm already a Level 3 Celebrity! This is without a doubt one of the coolest expansion packs out there. But I can't dance on tables That makes me sad.

Skipping school to play the sims? Lol that's a true addict! But if I was your principle, I wouldn't punish you for it I would reward you lol.

[DeNile]

Hid in the library for the day actually. And it's no big deal. I understand everything anyways. Sometimes it pays to have such a good memory!

[Esther1981]

Hid in the library for the day actually. And it's no big deal. I understand everything anyways. Sometimes it pays to have such a good memory!

Lol that's funny! It is a good thing that you have a good memory! 

[Glic2000]

! I made my San Fransimco Simself and I became a vampire.... when I should have been in Chemistry. But missing school doesn't matter today because it was an amazing experience! I'm loving the new instruments, the penthouses, the vampires. And I'm already a Level 3 Celebrity! This is without a doubt one of the coolest expansion packs out there. But I can't dance on tables That makes me sad.

Well, don't feel bad, I missed work the day the game came out.  


As for the dancing on tables... I just noticed my Sim will not dance on tables unless she buys a drink at the bar first.  I dunno if that's a pre-req for all Sims or what, but it works reliably in her case.   

[LlamaMama]

As for the dancing on tables... I just noticed my Sim will not dance on tables unless she buys a drink at the bar first.

That's a good rule-of-thumb in real life too.

[DeNile]

Ah that would explain it. LOL, yes I suppose that's a good rule in real life too. Ha ha.

[Esther1981]

Well, don't feel bad, I missed work the day the game came out.  


As for the dancing on tables... I just noticed my Sim will not dance on tables unless she buys a drink at the bar first.  I dunno if that's a pre-req for all Sims or what, but it works reliably in her case.   

That's funny! Although I'd do the same thing hehe.

That's a good rule-of-thumb in real life too.

That's plain hilarious lol. I laughed really hard at that one, LlamaMama!!

[Saltypaws]

Mine will dance on the table anytime, lol.  If they have the party animal trait, they will dance even without a drink and sometimes, even after a drink, the option will not come up.  My sim without the trait will only dance on it randomly and if there is someone playing an instrument, they will not dance on the table at all, until that person quits playing.