The Sims 2 Apartment Life Preview
by Rosana Kooymans
Foreword
Last week SNW was invited at EA to play with the new expansion pack for The Sims 2: Apartment Life. We were looking forward to see this pack with our own eyes and boy, did we see cool stuff! As usual, we will try to tell you everything we know. If you do not wish to know everything before it hits the shelves, do not read this preview. We will tell you thoroughly what's new in this pack!
Apartments
Well, the title says enough already; this expansion pack is all about apartments. Your Sims no longer have to live "alone" on a lot. They can move into apartments! These apartments can be all kinds of habitats. You can have regular apartments, stacked on top of each other. Or apartments, next to each other. Or both. But you can also build your Sims a trailer park. The options are endless, and a lot of fun!
Apartments: Families
You can move in 4 different households on each apartment lot. This does not mean you get to play all of those families at the same time. When in the neighborhood, you click the apartments and choose one family to play with. If you want to play with another family, you can switch. But you can't control *all* of them at the same time.
In each household, you can place 8 controllable Sims, just like in a normal house. However, even though it's possible in the game, it will get crowded. So be sure to think twice before moving a biiiiig household into an apartment. And again, you can add 8 Sims per household in this case, not per lot. Technically, you can have 4 households, each consisting of 8 Sims, which would be a total of 32 Sims. That's way too much!
Apartments: Roommates
What's more fun than having apartments? Having a roommate of course! Find yourself the perfect roommate to live with. You can search for a roommate online or through your local news paper. Be sure to pick someone with high cooking and/or cleaning skill. It could save you a lot of work.
Roommates won't bring any new stuff for your apartment, no new furniture. You have to buy those yourself. And before I forget, you cannot control your roommate. If he or she doesn't want to do the cooking or cleaning, you can forget about it! You can have one (uncontrollable) roommate per household. You can have more playable Sims in an apartment though.
Fun part of uncontrollable roommates is not only that they can help you out doing the chores. But they can also help pay the rent. If you have just one Sim in an apartment and get a roommate, the roommate will pay half the rent. However, when you have two controllable Sims and let a roommate live in, the roommate will pay a third of the total rent. So the rent is basically determined by the amount of Sims living there.
If a roommate really isn't for you, you can always choose to throw him or her out. Then you can look for another, or perhaps stay alone. Not all roommates are horrible. But some might be.
Apartments: Neighbors
As you may understand, you now also have neighbors. These neighbors can be your own (other) families on that same lot, or NPC's who have moved in. The fun part here is that you can go over at their place and get them to come out, so you can build relationships and hang out. You can also go into their apartment and actually visit them. You will be able to see your own (active) Sims there!
Neighbors can cause problems. But you can also cause them some problems. Being a loud party animal does not help when you're trying to build a relationship with the neighbors. If your neighbors are too loud, you can bang on the walls to make them clear that they are being noisy. If that doesn't help, you can complain in person.
Apartments: Pets
So, you are really curious about this, right? Pets in your apartments. For this particular expansion pack, The Sims Division have added a few small pets to choose from. Apartments are usually very small. Thus having a pet can be too much. But that problem is solved with these tiny pets. You can have tiny dogs you can take care of. They live in a pen, inside your apartment. You can stroke them, put them on your lap, feed them. But you don't have all the fuss you'd have with normal pets!
Apartments: Landlords
With each apartment, no matter what size or price, there comes a landlord. The landlord is there to welcome you when you move in. And he or she is not just someone to take your money. It's also a great help around the lot. The landlord will repair items in and around your apartment. The landlord will also water plants and last but not least, the landlord will take care of vermin (roaches).
If you befriend the landlord, and become best friends, he or she will be able to give you a discount on your weekly rent. Now wouldn't that be awesome? The landlord is a NPC (non-playable character) and does not live on the same lot as your Sim.
Apartments: Rent
The rent of the apartment is determined by the size and the amount (and quality) of appliances already in the apartment when you move in. When you add items later on, the rent won't go up. So you can add as much furniture as you like. As long as you stay in that apartment, the rent will stay the same. You pay a weekly rent. And you have to pay a week's rent in advance.
Paying rent is the same as paying bills on normal home lots. You just go to the mailbox and get the rent check in on time. If you do not pay your bills on time, the repo man will come by and take some of your stuff.
If you befriend the landlord, and become best friends, he or she might give you a discount on your rent. Definitely worth the trouble if your Sims are short on money. Rent is also connected to your reputation. So if you have a good reputation, you will have to pay less than low reputation Sims.
Apartments: Building
When you decide that the default Maxis-made apartments are not exactly what you are looking for, you can always give it a try yourself. Just build any apartment on a lot and when you're done, use the cheat code 'changeLotZoning apartmentbase' and/or 'changeLotZoning apartmentsublot'. The building will then function as an apartment lot, and you will be able to move in multiple households.
Apartments can't be changed with the build mode. The only things available in Build Mode are walls and floors. If you really need to change some things with other tools in Build Mode, you can either use a cheat to change the apartment lot, or create your own apartments.
Apartments: Trash
Let's say your Sims lives on the fourth floor. You wouldn't want to have your Sims walk all the way down with every bit of trash, would you? No, neither would the people at The Sims Division. So they came up with something realistic for apartments, a trash chute! This chute can be used to dump your Sims's trash. It saves quite some time!
A huge plus with these trash chutes is that Sims and pets can't kick it so it will fall over and cause roaches to roam your front yard anymore. I can often get annoyed by that in my own game. I can imagine others being annoyed by that as well.
Apartments: Mail
In normal Sims homes, you have one classic mailbox in front of the house, no matter what size it is. And no matter how many Sims live there. But with apartments, it would be a bit odd to have 4 mailboxes lined up next to each other. Wouldn't you agree? There is a solution. The shared mailbox. This mailbox also has a note box for the landlord. It's quite a big object. Then again, it saves a lot of room when you think about all those separate mail boxes.
Reputations
Sims now also have reputations. These reputations decide how other Sims will see you. And it will have effect when you meet other (new) Sims. When your reputation is (too) low, you might notice a slight drop in the relationship score when meeting someone. But when the reputation is higher, you will get a boost!
The reputations can be changed by changing your behavior towards other Sims. When your Sims is a nice Sim, he or she won't get as negative results as mean Sims. I'm personally wondering about Romance Sims. They tend to hurt other Sims with their "life style". Hurting other Sims is not exactly a nice and social thing to do. So I'm guessing their reputation might drop a few times.
Social Groups
These are completely new in Apartment Life, social groups. These social groups dress the same way, have a special greeting, have certain benefits to earn and certain groups live in certain areas. Gearheads and bohemians live near low rent buildings. Techies and socialites can be found near high rent buildings. There are two other social groups, one of which are the Jocks. Unfortunately, I don't know anything (yet) about group number 6. So, let's just say I kept that a secret for you, okay? ;-)
New Skills
In The Sims 2 FreeTime, we were able to let our Sims learn about Parenting. It was a new skill (not visible anywhere in the UI though). Learning this skill added the option to check on the little ones.
Now, in The Sims 2 Apartment Life, there are 5 new skills to learn! Again, these are not visible in any UI. But you can choose to learn them by clicking on the bookcases. Let us talk about the new skills!
- There's Fire Prevention. This skill makes sure you won't panic as much when fires occur, instead have a better chance of putting the fire out.
- Couple Counseling is a skill you can learn. Afterwards, an option is added when you are having a bit of relationship trouble with other Sims. You can try and heal the relationship if you've learned this skill.
- Anger Management helps your Sim to stay calm when something happens (something that would normally piss them off).
- Physiology is another skill, which helps your Sims to hold on to their fitness and body skill.
- Lifelong Happiness supposedly helps your Sims remain their aspiration for a longer period of time.
Create-a-Sim
You wouldn't think so perhaps (looking at previous expansions), but there have been added a bunchload of new clothing for elders (male too!) There have been added many "new" outfits to the game, for teens to elders. However, many of these outfits are transfered from The Sims 2 FreeTime (but converted, for other ages).
There are over 30 new hairdos, however, some of these will just have a different color hair clip or hat.
Other expansions
With each new expansion, EA makes sure the packs work well together. In this particular expansion pack, options sometimes depend on other installed expansions. For example, you can't cast certain spells without certain expansion packs. And for some things, having expansions will add extra functionality. So if you have all the expansion packs, wou will not miss out on anything. If not, you may want to consider buying them anyway.
Other expansions: University and Apartment Life
If you have The Sims 2 University, your Sim students (young adults) can become witches. However the students cannot move into an apartment, since they already have dorms which function the same in some ways.
Other expansions: Nightlife and Apartment Life
You can use cars, driveways and garages on your apartment lot if you have The Sims 2 Nightlife.
As a witch, you can make a love potion if you have The Sims 2 Nightlife.
Other expansions: Open for Business and Apartment Life
If you have The Sims 2 Open for Business, you can still own a business lot, if it's on a community lot. You cannot start a home business on an apartment lot. Servo (robot) can become a witch as well. Quite interesting.
Other expansions: Pets and Apartment Life
If you have The Sims 2 Pets, you can have pets in your apartment as well. You are not restricted in bringing pets to your new apartment. And there aren't any restrictions when it comes to pets in general either. There isn't an apartment in which you can't have pets at all. The only limit here is the same limit you have in normal homes, the amount of pets. You can have a total of 10 Sims/Pets. However, you can never have more than 8 Sims in a household, and never more than 6 pets in a household. Examples are 8 Sims/2 Pets, 7 Sims/3 Pets, 6 Sims/4 Pets, 5 Sims/5 Sims, 4 Sims/6 Pets.
Other expansions: Seasons and Apartment Life
If you have The Sims 2 Seasons, you can enjoy functionality of the radiators and vents added in Apartment Life! Without Seasons, you can still place the items in your Sims's homes and apartments, but they will only be decorative.
Witches in Apartment Life can cast spells to summon butterflies and dragonflies, if you have The Sims 2 Seasons installed as well.
Other expansions: Bon Voyage and Apartment Life
If you have The Sims 2 Bon Voyage, you can let your Sims buy a vacation home. However, you can't let them buy or rent an apartment. However it is possible to rent and live in an apartment and buy a vacation home if you have Bon Voyage. But this vacation home would still have to be a real house, not an apartment you can share with other roommates and households.
Other expansions: FreeTime and Apartment Life
If you have The Sims 2 FreeTime, you know all about hobbies, right? Well, in Apartment Life, there are new interactions in which your Sims gain hobby enthusiasm.
(Social) Interactions
Many new (social) interactions have been added. The first and probably cutest of them all is "huggle". This is a hug between toddlers. If you have The Sims 2 Pets, you may have seen a toddler hugging a pet? Well, this has the same kind of "awww" factor to it. Very cute. Will make a great pose for cute snapshots too.
Another new social interaction is the classic dance. Sims of all ages supposedly can do this. However I've only seen it with my own eyes happen with two adult Sims. There are five new gestures: earthy hug, fake out, high five, kiss kiss darling and tough handshake. We did not try them all. So there are a few things left for you to discover on your own ;) I love the fact that you can now lie on the ground with another Sim, while holding him/her.
I do believe that, just like in The Sims 2 Bon Voyage, you can learn to breakdance from another Sim, on a community lot. If you have Bon Voyage, you know how this works, with fire dancing? You need to place a special rug on a community lot, and the NPC on that rug will teach you how-to, if you pay them well. This is a lot like that!
Parents can play with their children, by swinging them around, by their arms. When watching this, you sometimes feel like, "Oh, don't let go now!" It's definitely fun. Parents can also read a bedtime story to their children.
Woohoo
There are new locations for your Sims to woohoo. There is of course the elevator. But you can now also woohoo in the helicopter and the built-in closets!
Death
As if we didn't have enough ways to kill our Sims, we can now also try to have them killed by using the Murphy bed!
Walk to School
Missed the school bus? That's no longer an excuse to stay at home, because you can now walk to school! It's something small added to this pack, but very welcome for my Sims without cars.
Playground
I have asked for this myself years ago, back when we had just a few expansions for The Sims 2. But like me, there were so many people who craved these new items. Toddlers, kids and teens can now enjoy themselves on the playground. There are some new objects for them to play with. Those of you who have The Sims 2 Seasons may recognize the pool slide. Well, this pool slide is no longer just for the pool. It can be used on ground as well! There are also monkey bars, spring riders (for toddlers), merry-go-round and a jungle gym (which is two stories high!)
To finish this whole playground image, add the swings (those were already in the game, but look awesome next to all the other playground items) and a few kids using the jump rope. Adults can also use this jump rope. So it's not just something for kids.
Buy Mode
There are a lot of new objects. But it's too many to list everything here. So I will highlight a few. There's the open mic. This is a bit like the Karaoke Machine, however you can use this to sing, recite poetry and stand-up comedy. There is new bedding, a new pool table, a home cinema (3 tiles wide), connecting sofas and many decorative items (photo frame, bowling trophy, shelves). Of course, this is a pack full of space savers. And that's exactly why they have added a Murphy bed.
Buy Mode: Vehicles
There aren't any new cars in this expansion. Then again, for cars, you should get The Sims 2 Nightlife. We do have a new vehicle though, a helicopter! You can buy one for §20.000. And where do you keep it? Well, there's a heli pad you can place on the ground or on top of a building. It's a big heli pad though, so you will need quite some space in order to place it.
Buy Mode: Roofs & Decorative
You'd think I would tell you about the new French roofs under Build Mode. But I'm not. I figured the new roofs were actual build mode options. However, they consist of new objects you have to buy (unfortunately seperate) in the Buy Mode Catalog. They do look awesome. I mean, they look really awesome. But it's a pity we have to build them block by block instead of just pulling the tool one way and having a roof instantly.
The roofs look awesome just being roofs. They look even better combined with some of the decorative cornice molding. Unfortunate, these moldings are also separate items you have to place on each wall. This won't be always easy. But I can understand why The Sims Division chose to do so. If they would have made it wall-type molding, we wouldn't be able to place them on walls. I'm guessing there was no other way. But this does remind me of the Sims 1 days, in which fansites made these awesome looking, but time consuming roofs and fences. But let's not forget, it looks awesome! So it will be worth my time.
Buy Mode: Paintings and Shelves!
OMG! I just couldn't believe this when I heard and saw it. You can actually move items like paintings on the walls. I mean, you can move them higher and lower. So you can place multiple paintings on the same wall! That's awesome. I've been waiting for a feature like this forever. I love it. If there is anything I will be using in *all* my Sims homes, it would be this. It works for some other items too, not just paintings, but lights also. I guess you will just have to try each object in your game when you get Apartment Life. Because this really works on a lot of objects.
In the past, I often had problems with paintings and deco items being too low on the wall (i.e. with beds, fireplaces and counters). Now that problem is solved. I'm guessing (for me) this is the biggest surprise in this expansion pack.
As a nice addition, shelves have been added. You can place small decorative items on these shelves (like trophys, photo frames, plants/flowers etc). And the shelves can also be changed in height.
Buy Mode: Radiators & Vents
To give your apartments an even more realistic feeling, radiators and vents have been added. These are not just decorative items. If you have The Sims 2 Seasons installed, these objects have real functionality as well.
Buy Mode: Secret Door
For many players and storytellers, this item is a wonderful addition. Because you can now give your Sims a bookcase which has a secret door when you read a certain book! You can make the whole being a witch thing more mysterious this way. Perhaps use the secret door to go to the basement, where your Sim is a witch (or a warlock), making potions, learning spells and so forth. The bookcase looks like one of the bookcases that was added in the original game. But this one is bigger (mainly wider).
Buy Mode: Food Stuff
Have you missed the hot dog stand? You no longer have to, because this one made it's return from The Sims Hot Date. It is a community lot object. As far as I know, you won't be able to use this on residential lots.
But you can use the soda and snack machines on any kind of lot.
Buy Mode: The Sims
In the past, people were asked which objects they really wanted to see again in The Sims 2. People obviously wanted spiral stairs, but that's not all. They also asked for The Sims Livin' Large's vibrating bed. And they got it back in this expansion pack! Another items people may not even recognize at all, is the double bed from Makin Magic. I recognized it right away, although there are a few minor changes (like the pillows). I can't wait to give my Sims this bed again. I just loved that one!
Buy Mode: Wardrobes
Did you ever dream of having a built-in wardrobe, in your Sims homes? Now you can build one! That is, if there isn't one built-in, in the new homes and apartments already. There are two types of built-in wardrobes. One looks like a door with a mirror (basically, it is a door with a mirror, so that makes sense). It's 2x1 big. Your Sims can woohoo in it! And it has extra functionality. Not only is it a space saver. You can also use the mirror for speech practising and changing your Sims's appearance.
The other built-in wardrobe is one you can build yourself. Do you know the clothing racks you often find on community lots? Well, these clothing racks have been edited a little and are now available at home, to place in your bedroom or walk-in-closet. You can place a few of these racks next to each other in a room and make it look like a huge walk-in-closet. It's amazing.
Build Mode: Windows & Doors
We have pretty new doors and windows in this expansion. Modern, urban and classic. There are even some "open" windows. However, if you want to close them, you will have to replace them with other windows. It's still cool though. There are plenty of new doors and windows.
For those of you with The Sims 2 Nightlife; I even spotted new garage doors. These match some of the doors and windows already in the game. An extra garage door can't hurt!
A special door for apartments can be bought. You will need it when building apartments. Each door also has a small rug in front of it, makes it a little easier to see which direction the door should be placed when building. Like we've seen in The Sims 2 University and The Sims 2 Bon Voyage, the special doors have extra functionality. You can claim a door when you move in. That way, the game will recognize which area your Sim will be moving into.
Each apartment can have a (closed) balcony. But other than that, you cannot use doors on the side of your apartment.
Build Mode: Awnings, Fireplaces, Columns
If you do not own The Sims 2 Open for Business, then you may be surprised with the new awnings in Apartment Life. I like them a lot. Well, fireplaces are not new at all. But there is a new one in this expansion. Other than that, there are new columns to use in- and outside your apartments.
Build Mode: Elevator
People with The Sims 2 Open for Business have already experienced what it's like to have elevators. But with apartments, you need elevators. That's why there is one new elevator! (However, the elevators from Open for Business have also been added - but people with OFB will see just one new item.)
Build Mode: Spiral Stairs
Ever since The Sims 2 came out, people have been asking for spiral stairs. We've got them in The Sims Unleashed years ago. And people assumed we would have had them by now. They are finally here. And they look fantastic. There are several spiral stairs, in many colors. Both Sims and pets can use them, which is a plus. There are three different spiral stairs. And each of those have separate textures. There will always be one that will suit your home.
Build Mode: Roofs
For the new roofs, please read the chapter "Buy Mode: Roofs & Decorative". We checked the catalog. For normal roofs, there won't be any new roof textures.
Build Mode: Ceilings
If you have paid attention the past couple of months, you may have read that this expansion offers the ability to add ceilings. It really does look cool. And it will be a fabulous addition for storytellers. I myself participate in some legacies. I can tell you, it takes a lot of time getting a decent looking ceiling in, when editing a snapshot! So I'm very glad ceilings have been added. And I'm pretty sure millions of other people are too.
If you don't want to use any of the in-game textures for your ceiling, you can always download HomeCrafter and make custom floors, since the ceiling textures are the same as floor textures.
In the UI, a new button has been added which switches ceilings on or off. So all your buildings have ceilings. And those won't cost you any money, except if you want to change the texture on your ceiling.
Last but not least, a few small facts about ceilings. You do not have to use a ceiling, it's an option. You can use a ceiling on parts of your lot, you don't have to use it anywhere. And when you place a roof, you don't necessarily have a ceiling right away (in some of my own homes, I prefer not having a ceiling under my roof. I made these fancy roof textures which look like wood below the roof. I wouldn't want them to be gone)
Build Mode: Measuring Tool
There is now a measuring tool you can use to see the amount of tiles when placing walls, floors and roofs.
Witches & Warlocks: by Mipas
Our team member Mipas traveled along with us to EA to play and see The Sims 2 Apartment Life and decided to write about witches and warlocks. Enjoy reading!
Using magic in The Sims Makin' Magic apparantly was a big success amongst players in the community. So the community has been asking for magic back in The Sims 2 for ages.
EA has decided to give the community what they want in The Sims 2 Apartment Life. So from now on, we can add one more to our long list of weird creatures (zombies, vampires, werewolves and plant sims), the witch/warlock.
While playing The Sims 2 Apartment Life we ran across a witch and tried to befriend her, so we could have our own Sim turn into a witch (well, warlock really).
The way you become a witch or warlock is a lot like becoming a vampire and werewolf; first you befriend a witch or warlock, then you can choose to become a witch/warlock yourself.
When you are a witch, there are several alignments you can choose, you can become a good witch, neutral witch or evil witch. You can choose this while studying magic. Some spells are specific for an alignment. Good witches can bring back the dead as normal Sims, while evil witches can bring Sims back as zombies.
There are also two secret lots, they are a lot like the secret societies in The Sims 2 University. One is for good witches and one is for evil witches.
If you are trying to avoid the virtual burning stake, you can choose to go undercover as a normal Sim, because witches/warlocks can wear normal clothes as well.
Isn't the helicopter spectacular enough for you? Then try riding the broom, which isn't only used to sweep frog's eyes away from your cauldron.
Magic happens, unlike in The Sims Makin' Magic, not with a wand. But by making potions. The only things you will need to start as a witch/warlock, is a magic spell book and a cauldron.
Witches & Warlocks: Alignment
There are many types of witches and warlocks. They are all witches and warlocks. However, the alignment determines which path they are on. Because you have good, neutral and evil witches and warlocks. Their alignment is an important factor for their clothing, the spells they can cast and the potions they can make. The alignment is important for many things.
Witches & Warlocks: Magic Skill
Witches have a magic skill, which determines (also) which spells your Sim can and cannot cast. The better your Sim is at witchcraft, the more success he or she will have casting spells.
Witches & Warlocks: Spells
There are 30 spells for witches, 10 for each alignment. I won't be telling all about the spells here, I do have all the spells on screenshots, so I could post all of them. But I figured it would be fun to save a few for you to discover. Especially with the whole magic being so magical and mysterious. A few spells are expansion pack dependable, and a few are not. For example, you can summon butterflies if you have The Sims 2 Seasons. And if you have The Sims 2 University, you can bring back a Sim as a zombie. A few other spells have something to do with teleporting, freezing time and giving Sims a good mood.
Would you ever grow old with being a witch or warlock, then you can cast a spell which will turn your Sim back to normal. You can always decide to become a magical Sim again.
Witches & Warlocks: Craft Items
Witches of each leven can craft their own items. As far as I know, these items consist of a throne and some lights.
Witches & Warlocks: Regeants
In order to cast certain spells and make potions, you will need regeants. These regeants can either be bought, or home made, through the cauldron. You do not have to worry about getting a cauldron. When your Sim turns into a witch (or warlock) he or she will automatically get a caldron and a spell book.
Witches & Warlocks: Clothing
Are you worried about being seen as a witch? You don't have to. In the game, other Sims probably know that your Sim is a witch and you do not have to worry about any Sim trying to get your magical Sims on the burning stake. But if you would like to tell such a story, you can. Because witches get a special outfit (when they reach a certain alignment of witchcraft, good, neutral or evil, they will get a matching outfit and hat). These are optional. Your witchy Sims can wear everyday clothing if you want them to.
Witches & Warlocks: Secret Lots
There are two secret lots for witches. It's not exactly like The Sims 2 University and secret societies. Because your Sims do not need to friend three witches in order to get in. In this expansion, you merely have to become a witch to enter these lots. There's a good witches lot and a evil witches lot. Both types of witches and warlocks can visit each of these secret lots. But it's still very unclear.
Witches & Warlocks: Spectral Cats
Spectral cats are special cats for witches. They are not at all the same as normal cats from The Sims 2 Pets (however you do need this expansion in orde to have spectral cats). Spectral cats are in some ways less needy than normal cats. And they look different as well. Spectral cats are often used as assistents to the witches.
Witches & Warlocks: Ages & Special Creatures
You must be curious who can and cannot become witches or warlocks? Well, everyone from teen to elder can become a magical Sim. And adult witches or warlocks can have children. So it's not like being a Zombie (Zombies can't have children).
Another fact you may want to know. Sims can combine being a witch with other species. So you can create an alien/zombie/vampire/werewolf/plantsim/witch if you really want that to happen!
NPC's
Well, we have butlers in this pack. Butlers are awesome. I did not try them out myself, but I am aware of what they can do in this game! Butlers do household chores, but can also take care of the kids, repair broken items, take care of the garden, cook you any meal and last but not least, the butler opens the door when someone visits you! That's awesome, isn't it?
The butler is not the only NPC in this pack. There is of course the landlord. But on community lots, there are also breakdancers and human statues. And there are high level witches. And let's not forget about the social groups, who hang around on apartment lots and community lots.
Neighborhood
There's a whole new neighborhood. Not just a sub neighborhood, but a whole new neighborhood. The neighborhood is called Belladonna Cove and has many new families, new lots (including apartment lots and trailer parks), some decorative items.
Neighborhood: Apartments
When you visit Belladonna Cove for the first time, you will see that it is filled with home lots and apartment lots. There are some new lots in the Lot Catalog as well. And if those are not enough for you, you can always create some apartments yourself!
Neighborhood: Families
In Belladonna Cove, there are 10 new families in the Family Bin.
Neighborhood: Decorations
Well, the decorative items are not just new in the new neighborhood. They can be used in any neighborhood. Something that has been made for Belladonna Cove is a Bella statue. Basically it's a bronze statue of Bella, holding a platinum plumbbob. There are also some other decorative props you can put in your neighborhood. A new building has been added. There are many new "urban" neighborhood decorations to make your neighborhood look more city like.
Music
There are no new radio stations in this expansion pack. But there are new songs added to existing radio stations.
Cheats
There are some new cheats. If you have The Sims 2 University, you will know that you can't change the dorms with build mode tools, unless you use a specific cheat. In Apartment Life, it isn't any different. You can't use the build mode tools, except for when you use a cheat. This cheat is 'boolprop apartmentBuildBuyRestrictions off/on'.
There's another cheat, which isn't entirely new. The base cheat has been in the game for a long time (The Sims 2 University) and was originally made to be able to change the lot type to a dorm, or greek house, or secret society. So now, when you are done building an apartment for your Sims, just use the cheat code 'changeLotZoning apartmentbase' and/or 'changeLotZoning apartmentsublot'. Save the lot, go back to the neighborhood and you have got yourself new functional apartments!
There is a cheat to control your roommates, this supposedly works the same way with roommates as it does with pets.
Releasedate
The Sims 2 Apartment Life will be in stores on August 28, 2008 in the United States and in The Netherlands. Fans from the UK will be able to get this expansion one day later, on August 29.
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Afterword
Like many people, I've been wanting to move my Sims into apartments for a long time. I absolutely can't wait for this pack. Usually, I am looking forward to something, but now I just can't wait. Mainly because this does not "just" add apartments. It adds many types of habitats, or at least the option to build them myself. I've seen good ideas by other people (trailerparks, homes for elders, small communities), and I have many ideas of my own as well. Another huge plus is the fact that I will be able to move my paintings up and down. That's so awesome, I can't say this enough. Spiral stairs are wonderful as well, they will come in handy sometime. Being able to visit my neighbors (at least those on the same lot) is fantastic. Witches are something I will use sometime, but like with most of the special creatures added in each pack, I won't use them often. A new neighborhood is always a lot of fun.
And well, there are so many small but welcome additions in this expansion. If it's not clear after reading the preview, I can't wait to move my own Sims into apartments. And I will have a lot of recoloring to do as well, I recolor most of the items added in the games, simply to make my game even more fun. Apartment Life gives me the opportunity to recolor some more ;)
If I look back on the other expansion packs, Apartment Life is a lot like Nightlife. Because a lot of tiny, but useful things have been added. Things that I can no longer live without, things that have made my game more complete. This expansion is definitely like that. It's not just one theme and a few small ones. It's one theme with a lot of small ones.
And I'm not trying to bring this expansion pack down. However I would have liked the new roof to be an actual new roof in Build Mode. Right now, I have to place a lot of objects on top of a building, in order to place that new French roof. Whenever I decide to change the roof, I have to choice but to repaint them or remove them separately. That truly is a downside to the roof. I love the way it looks and it will be easier for me (and many others) to recolor it. But building (and afterwards changing) a roof like this won't be a fun thing to do.
Adding ceilings was a smart thing to do, like I have mentioned before. Overall I'm very happy with this expansion pack. It will be hard for me to choose what to play with Spore coming up as well. I think I will just have to switch between two awesome games ;) I'd like to thank EA Netherlands and especially Nita for the opportunity to be able to play this game and see what it's about.
If you would like to know more about this game, please do visit the other fansites who attended the event (see my news post for this, I will update this news post regularly). And you should also check out the product page on the official website. Click here to talk about The Sims 2 Apartment Life on our forums.
