Pets are now official

[MoonsAreBlue]

We're going to need a new acronym.  When you said we could create a horse in CAP, VP, I automatically wondered why you would use Create-a-Pattern to make a horse.   

Hah, me too!

Yes y can create them in CAP. There were some pictures in SimPrograms where they were in CAP creating a horse.

Okay, so taming is just a way to get horses during game play. I don't really know what the purpose of it would be then. The idea of it is cool, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see just how much it adds to the game.

[pallyndrome]

Okay, so taming is just a way to get horses during game play.

And unicorns!

[pallyndrome]

snooty posted some new previews! Below each link I'll try to summarise the new stuff mentioned, for those who don't want to read for themselves

http://www.simsnetwork.com/news/2011/8/21/preview-the-sims-3-pets-pc

Horses are fully customizable: different mane types, short/long necks, fat belly, patterned coats.
New sim traits: dog/cat/horse/animal lover, no hater traits.
No pet careers on computers (console only).
Pets can only die from old age. No pet-related deaths for sims.
Minor pets include: turtles, lizards, birds, rodents, snakes, guinea pigs, baby squirrels. No rabbits for some reason.
Dog traits include: adventurous, aggressive, pig, friendly, genius, hyperactive, hunter, noisy, neat, calm, loves swimming, shy, snob, loyal, independent, playful, afraid of water, destructive, easily afraid (note that these are translated from german so may be worded differently in english games)
All pets can drink from lakes/rivers, but only dogs can swim in them.
Cat/dogs can use taxis, but not horses (duh). You can take dogs for walks, or ride horses around.
New community lots in Appaloosa Plains include: cat jungle gym, dog park, horse ranch (practice riding, jumping and racing skills - more below).
You can create your own race course, and can include fireworks (sims can burn their behinds). There are competitions and you can win cash prizes, trophies and a mention in the newspaper. You can also breed horses and buy/sell horses.
Sim homes can include horse barns with stalls for horses to eat/sleep/drink/woohoo in.
Dogs can learn tricks and the hunting skill, cats only have the hunting skill. Sims and dogs can enter trick competitions and win money.
Unicorns have two sides - sweet and angelic, and black and evil! They can start fires and drive sims out of town, and curse sims, bless sims, let plants grow where they go, and teleport.
A new lifetime wish is to add a unicorn to the household.
Children and below cannot ride horses.

...thats the first link. I'll get on to the next one

[pallyndrome]

These 2 videos are silent, but go through some of the Create a Pet options:

Horses: http://www.simfans.de/?subaction=showfull&id=1313835231&archive=&start_from=&ucat=6&

Cats/Dogs: http://www.simfans.de/?subaction=showfull&id=1313949202&archive=&start_from=&ucat=6&

This site has lots of screenshots. Of particular interest at the little critters, but keep in mind that this site is not in english, so it's only really good for the photos. If this site is not appropriate, moderators, let me know and I'll post only some pictures from it.
http://www.simfans.de/sims3/erweiterungspack/einfach-tierisch/screenshots/page2.html

And lastly, I stopped watching this video because it seemed to concentrate on consoles, but for those who are interested: http://live-event.ea.com/gamescom/the-sims-3-pets-live-broadcast/

[CandyHeartedSim]

Thanks for all the info, Pally. So, just to set this straight, Pets take up one space in the household?

[samoht04]

The maximum Household Size is 10, 8 Sims and Two Pets, but you can have 2 Sims and 6 Pets. Only Horse, Cats and Dogs take up 1 Space Each.

[Pam]

The maximum Household Size is 10, 8 Sims and Two Pets, but you can have 2 Sims and 6 Pets. Only Horse, Cats and Dogs take up 1 Space Each.

I apologize that I haven't been following this thread every day.  There was some talk awhile back that the pet's spot in the house might be attached to the Sim owner.  I gather that's not the case after seeing more information released?

[TheChronicR]

I apologize that I haven't been following this thread every day.  There was some talk awhile back that the pet's spot in the house might be attached to the Sim owner.  I gather that's not the case after seeing more information released?

No that's not the case. Currently we have this info:

Maximum household size is 10 members. As Thomas noted only cats, dogs and horses take up 1 space each.

You can only have max 8 Sims and max 6 pets. But the combination must be under 10 allowed. 8 Sims, 2 pets, or, 6 pets, 4 Sims, or, 5 Sims, 5 pets, etc..

[CandyHeartedSim]

Thanks Samoht and Chronic.

[samoht04]

Thanks Samoht and Chronic.

You're welcome Candy.  I'm wish we could have more pets for an 8 Sim Household but I guess that performance of the game would be slower if we had that. I can settle for just having two pets I hope. I'm also glad we can build our own Stables on our home lots! 

[Tommyo3000]

Yes you can tame it. It was confirmed by EA on the Live Chat (they were playing an unicorn)

Do you have a link to this? (sorry if it was already posted before)

[RubyLovesSims]

Thanks for the links, pally!
The pictures on the German site (SimFans.de) look really good! The smaller pets seem a little like the ones from Wildlife Tycoon!
I pre-ordered my game on Monday... Can't wait!

[pallyndrome]

More links!

This one describes:
Create A Pet options
wild animals (protect your crops with gnomes!),
pet traits can be learned in game!
the pets have special needs: cat - scratching, dog - destruction, horse - exercise.
cat/dog and sim interactions
horses can change outfits - they jump and rotate like sims
pets can drink from streams(/ponds, etc.) AND pools AND toilets (lol)
you can't create puppies in create a pet - assuming that would be also for foals/kittens
unicorns can be ridden - the sim teleports with the unicorn when riding - and they're fully customisable, and can breed with horses!
small animals have 12 colour options but aren't customisable.
collections are now able to be made in buy/build mode!
new plant - carrots!
sims keep to the roads, but pets can run over lots
pets have wishes, but not lifetime wishes
pets have memories
pets need a medicinal bath if they get fleas.
dogs can guard against, and catch burglars
horses can throw their rider while jumping
cats cannot climb trees
and the link is: http://www.platinumsimmers.com/2011/08/the-sims-3-pets-preview-gamescom/

I'll read the other one now

[pallyndrome]

Ok, link number 2 mentions:

cats can play with laser pointers
pet/dog/cat/equestrian lovers will have wishes for those pets (duh)
pets can pass on their appearance, their traits - these can also skip a generation
grim will throw a toy/stick for dead cats/dogs, and ride dead horses away
to get animals in game: buy a horse at the equastrian centre, or befriend and adopt a stray.
small animals can be left around the house or in a sim's inventory - but leave them too long and they may escape and disappear.
birds can be taught to talk, and can get out and fly around the house.
cats/dogs/horses/sims can interact, but some relationships are harder than others (e.g. cat/dog)
wild deer/raccoons can be interacted with (by sims or pets), but not added to the household
(non-magical) gnomes from buy mode can discourage/encourage certain animals from entering your yard
there are new magical gnomes
pets contract fleas from being outside too much, and can spread it amongst the household if not treated
horses can be sold at the equestrian centre (a way of making money breeding horses)
small animals can be sold for money (your cat might hunt some down for you)
noisy pets will how when hearing music/radio
they're still adding pet breeds, but expect to have hundreds of dog/cat breeds, and 'tons' of horses
dogs can pee on sims
link: https://www.facebook.com/notes/the-sims-3-uk/the-sims-3-pets-pc-gamescom-2011-behind-closed-doors-interview-blackgarden/10150349099526742

[pallyndrome]

one last thing, some screenshots from create a pet: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.248102161897275.64238.129373043770188

and thanks to snooty for all these links