Pets are now official

[lol300]

Well, it's not fair for the little children who are dependent on their parents to buy the game.
But I don't think even EA is that stupid to put just one Pet Shop in the game.

[Audren]

I really don't get what the big deal is. It's hard for me to imagine that between now and when it comes out the people who really want the special content can't save up enough money to get it, and to everyone who's already planning to wait and see what other people think, you obviously aren't sure you even want the game, so do you really care about the extra content that you may not even want? They're simply trying to reward the people who are really looking forward to it and plan to preorder or by it right off the bat. They're not making any extra money off it, it's the same price as the regular version, so again I ask: What's the big deal?

I understand everything you're saying, and I agree with it. But if EA not only them a different pet store, but the only pet store, then that's giving too much of a bonus to those who pre-order.

[paperangel]

It's not going to be the only pet store, just the only one that sells a particular kind of item. At least that's what I gleaned from all the things I've heard and read. There will be a pet store you can make with a register, and one that's a rabbit hole, and it's the rabbit hole one that comes with the special edition. I agree that it's not fair to the kids that have unreliable parents, but it's hardly EA's fault if your parents decide that it's not important enough to get you the game when it first comes out. I don't want to seem unsympathetic, my parents never bought me any games growing up, let alone a special edition, and the one time my dad tried he got me the expansion for age of empires, but not the game. That's just a part of growing up. Eventually you get old enough to have a job and start buying things for yourself, and then you get to decide whether or not you can afford it.

[Leto85]

Preordering send me to this site: http://store.origin.com/store/eaemea/nl_NL/pd/ProductID.229351900/Currency.EUR/Pgm.
The only version I can download from there is the digital version. What if I want a special version from the store? And I mean a real store. Is that not possible?

[Pam]

Preordering send me to this site: http://store.origin.com/store/eaemea/nl_NL/pd/ProductID.229351900/Currency.EUR/Pgm.
The only version I can download from there is the digital version. What if I want a special version from the store? And I mean a real store. Is that not possible?

I looked at the site you linked and you can purchase the physical disk version or the digital download version.  So, it's possible to get the disk.  Whether you can get the limited edition at a retail store remains to be seen.  When Medieval was released, I was able to purchase it at a retail store a few days after release and I still got the special content from the limited edition.  It was right there in the package with the disk.  The same thing may happen with Pets.  We won't know until it hits the stores.

To everyone:

This is something that EA is doing to reward its loyal customers who purchase in advance.  They need as many pre-orders as they can get so that the game gets off to a strong start in sales.  It's not a punishment to other customers or the little children.  It's perfectly fair.  They can make special deals on anything they sell and it's all perfectly fair.  Being a Sims 3 player doesn't automatically entitle everyone to have all the features of the game.  Let's please get off the topic of complaining about the pre-ordered limited edition.

[TheChronicR]

So has it been officially confirmed which animals we are going to see in the game besides dogs, cats and horses?

[jessssi]

To everyone:

This is something that EA is doing to reward its loyal customers who purchase in advance.  They need as many pre-orders as they can get so that the game gets off to a strong start in sales.  It's not a punishment to other customers or the little children.  It's perfectly fair.  They can make special deals on anything they sell and it's all perfectly fair.  Being a Sims 3 player doesn't automatically entitle everyone to have all the features of the game.  Let's please get off the topic of complaining about the pre-ordered limited edition.

Pam, I know you said to get off the topic of complaining but I think I should just explain really quick about why people are complaining. EA released statements about the pet store that could be interpreted in two different ways. One of them being that if you don't pre-order, you don't get any sort of pet store. To me, that's not actually fair. If people who didn't pre-order the game got some kind of other pet store, I don't think people would complain. But taking away something that should be included in all games doesn't seem fair.

[Phyre]

I looked at the site you linked and you can purchase the physical disk version or the digital download version.  So, it's possible to get the disk.  Whether you can get the limited edition at a retail store remains to be seen.  When Medieval was released, I was able to purchase it at a retail store a few days after release and I still got the special content from the limited edition.  It was right there in the package with the disk.  The same thing may happen with Pets.  We won't know until it hits the stores.

This is different per country Pam. Leto is Dutch, like me. In Holland you can only pre-order a digital version. EA doesn't offer disks on their Dutch website (you could order from the US one, but they don't ship overseas so that's no help either). If you want a disk you need to get it from a retail store (I usually get mine from bol.com, Leto), but you'll lose the pre-order specials. This is also my biggest peeve at the moment. I really want a physical disk, but I also really want the pre-order specials. Sadly, in Holland, you can't get both.

[Leto85]

This is different per country Pam. Leto is Dutch, like me. In Holland you can only pre-order a digital version. EA doesn't offer disks on their Dutch website (you could order from the US one, but they don't ship overseas so that's no help either). If you want a disk you need to get it from a retail store (I usually get mine from bol.com, Leto), but you'll lose the pre-order specials. This is also my biggest peeve at the moment. I really want a physical disk, but I also really want the pre-order specials. Sadly, in Holland, you can't get both.

So I was right after all? Personally I was hoping to be wrong and able to buy the special version in stores (or bol.com, from which I've buyd De Sims 3 Levensweg also.
Phyre, good to know you're Dutch too. If I find anything on Bol.com where you can buy the special I will let you know.
Just waiting 'till it hits the store (or not) can be risky.

[Hosfac]

Pam, I know you said to get off the topic of complaining but I think I should just explain really quick about why people are complaining.

We fully understand why people are complaining.  Trust me when I say that we are totally aware of the issues people have, because as players, we have them too.  But understanding goes both ways, so everyone needs to understand why complaining is discouraged here.  It tends to devolve into EA bashing, which 1) doesn't change anything, and 2) brings down the general mood of the forum.  EA bashing threads are against the forum rules, and when someone starts complaining they often cross that line.  I would ask that anyone who is unfamiliar with the rules take a moment to look over them now through the link I provided above, please.

While the information here makes Carl and Pam's good, we're awash in a sea of fansites providing similar information.  It's our membership that makes us great, and a very large portion of that membership was attracted by the friendly atmosphere of our forums.  Complaining detracts from that atmosphere, so please, don't do it.

[paperangel]

So I was right after all? Personally I was hoping to be wrong and able to buy the special version in stores (or bol.com, from which I've buyd De Sims 3 Levensweg also.
Phyre, good to know you're Dutch too. If I find anything on Bol.com where you can buy the special I will let you know.
Just waiting 'till it hits the store (or not) can be risky.

I don't know if this is the same in every country, but EA did say that the first shipment to retail stores is all going to be the special version.

[Laurencius]

So has it been officially confirmed which animals we are going to see in the game besides dogs, cats and horses?

I really hope we get llamas!

[jeanamariex3]

I really hope we get llamas!

I want to see llamas too. I hope this means they're adding more exotic types of fish into this EP too. Maybe will get a choice of salt or freshwater aquariums with this pack, one can only hope though.

I hope the adoption services (on the Sim Phone) will also be included with pets. It could teach our younger Sim Players how important it is to adopt a dog or cat in need. Or even rescuing a stray.

I think I'm really excited about finally being able to select a dog or a cat, and that dog or cat will have their own little moodlets, wants and wishes.

[PlatnumDymnd]

Everyone calm down and take a breather.  

Wow. Got a little hot in here on that limited edition thing. I agree with Pam and Hosfac. It's a bit out of hand. I don't know if everyone got to see the live broadcast but they didn't say it would be the only store just another store. Pam took the words right off my fingers. It is just a perk for pre-ordering and first day buyers. Personally I am so happy they allowed the first day release to get it because they have considered that everyone may not be able to do pre-orders. (i.e. paying with a cred/debit card)

It's not like the game will be out in two weeks. Everyone should have plenty of time to save their pennies. And the young Simmers will have plenty of time to get on the good sides of the parental units so they can get the game in time if they want the limited edition perks.

So all you naughty kiddies better shape up and fly right for the next months to come. Keep your rooms clean, save up your allowances, and eat your vegetables.  

EDIT: The adoption service would be cool. However I was always a sucker for taking in the strays. But I will be a bit thrown off by the horse in my pool though. 

[jeanamariex3]

Pam took the words right off my fingers. It is just a perk for pre-ordering and first day buyers. Personally I am so happy they allowed the first day release to get it because they have considered that everyone may not be able to do pre-orders. (i.e. paying with a cred/debit card)

Exactly. It sounds like one of those things like "Get Outdoor Living free when you pre-order Generations." I am personally too impatient for pre-orders, which means, less perks obviously. I didn't pre-order Generations, and get Outdoor Living free, and Generations still works fine for me. If Generations works fine for me without Outdoor Living, and my Sims 3 Base Game (that's not Collecter's edition, with the special little Plumbob hard drive key chain, by the way), works just fine, Pets will still be playable too. Are your base games, deluxe, or collectors edition? Are you still Simming till the cows come home without the fancy plumbob hard drive port or free Ambitions? If you answered yes to both of these questions, you will be just as fine without Deluxe. I promise. 

It's not like the game will be out in two weeks. Everyone should have plenty of time to save their pennies. And the young Simmers will have plenty of time to get on the good sides of the parental units so they can get the game in time if they want the limited edition perks.

So all you naughty kiddies better shape up and fly right for the next months to come. Keep your rooms clean, save up your allowances, and eat your vegetables. 

*Laughs* 

So why not you young Simmers just wait for your birthday? Your parents love you and know you well enough, which means they more than likely know you're into Simming. So that just means an extra item on your birthday list.

Since Generations made aging gnomes, with a gnome family, do you think this means Mr.Gnome will have his own pets in mysterious Mr Gnome form? What do you guys think if EA actually did add mysterious feline, canine, aquatic, or hamster type gnomes, that would be Mr.Gnome's pets, in gnome form of course? I personally, would love to see that in the Pets expansion.

I hope this means reptiles will be included as pets too.