List of expansion packs for The Sims

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Seven expansion packs were released for the 2000 life simulation video game The Sims , the first major title in The Sims series. All expansion packs were developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Expansion packs tend to focus on major new features, with many objects, clothes, styles, worlds and life states are geared towards the pack's major theme. The first expansion pack, Livin' Large , was released on August 27, 2000. The last expansion pack, Makin' Magic , was released on October 29, 2003.

Contents

Livin' Large

The Sims: Livin' Large
The Sims - Livin' Large Coverart.png
Developer(s) Maxis
Publisher(s) EA Games
Aspyr (Mac OS X)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Release
August 27, 2000
  • Windows
    • NA: August 27, 2000
    • EU: September 8, 2000 [1]
    Macintosh
    • NA: October 23, 2002

The Sims: Livin' Large (known as The Sims: Livin' It Up in Europe) is the first expansion pack released for The Sims. The pack includes new characters, careers, items, and features. This expansion pack is also part of The Sims Deluxe Edition and later compilations of the core game.

Gameplay

The game features new NPCs, such as Servo, the Tragic Clown, and the Grim Reaper. Santa Claus will come if the Sim leaves some cookies beside a Christmas tree, and a fireplace.[ citation needed ] Santa will leave presents under the tree. The Tragic Clown visits depressed Sims who own the Tragic Clown painting in order to cheer them up, always failing miserably. Sims can contract an illness from a bite by the guinea pig included in this expansion. [2] The Grim Reaper performs the final rites for deceased Sims. Living Sims can plead with the Reaper to save that particular Sim, which will result in three possible outcomes: death, resurrection, or a zombie.

Livin' Large comes with many new objects, such as a crystal ball, electric guitar, chemistry set, and magic lamp. Some of the objects had new NPCs associated with them. For example, a genie appears from the magic lamp and a booth comes with a Servo.

Multiple neighborhoods were introduced in this expansion pack, allowing the player to have up to five new ones.

Reception

Domestically, Livin' Large sold 263,076 units and earned $6.99 million by the end of October 2000, according to PC Data. [9] By the end of the year, its sales totaled 595,410 units ($16.1 million) in the United States alone. This made it the country's sixth-best-selling computer game of 2000. [10] Livin' Large remained the United States' sixth-highest computer game seller in 2001, [11] with domestic sales of 818,600 units and revenues of $22.9 million that year alone. [12]


House Party

The Sims: House Party
The Sims House Party Cover.jpg
Developer(s) Maxis
Publisher(s) EA Games
Aspyr (Mac OS X)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Release
  • NA: April 2, 2001

The Sims: House Party is the second expansion pack released for The Sims. The pack gives players the ability and facilities to hold parties and gatherings in their Sims' homes. Drew Carey makes a cameo appearance in the game if the player's Sims hold a good enough party. [13]


Hot Date

The Sims: Hot Date
Sims Hot Date.jpg
Developer(s) Maxis
Publisher(s) EA Games (Windows)
Aspyr (Mac)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
ReleaseNovember 14, 2001

The Sims: Hot Date is the third expansion pack released for The Sims, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on November 14, 2001, with overall positive reviews thanks to the addition of a Downtown area outside the neighborhood, which became the set up for upcoming expansion packs in which new areas were added; it also served as the inspiration for later games including The Sims 2: Nightlife and The Sims 3: Late Night .

Gameplay

In addition to many new items for households, the new downtown area is Hot Date's most significant new addition to The Sims . Sims can now use their telephones to call a taxi that takes them to downtown SimCity, which is composed of lots such as shopping centers, recreation areas, restaurants, or nightclubs. While a Sim is on a date, the Sim can be controlled, but not actually give orders to their date. Downtown features many brand-new, downtown-only items, like food vendors, clothing stores, picnic areas, and duck ponds that Sim couples can use to keep themselves busy, and a few new items, like the restaurant booth seat, that will let them get to know each other better.

All the time spent downtown takes place independent of time at home; in other words, Sims will get hungry, tired, and bored as usual during the time they spend downtown, but once they get home, the clock will actually reset to the time when they left. This makes having both a relationship and a job (which still typically takes about six hours out of a Sim's day) not only possible, but a lot easier than before. [14]

The relationship bar with acquaintances the Sims know, now includes a daily bar at the top showing short-term trends with decay quickly and a long term bar showing long-term trends. This development was carried forward in later expansion packs for The Sims and later incorporated into The Sims 2 .

Reception

Overall, the game was judged to be the most substantial of The Sims expansion packs at its point of release, and critics praised the new downtown area. [14] [17] [19]

Hot Date was received 86% and an 85% averages from aggregate sites GameRankings and Metacritic respectively. [16] [15] The Armchair Empire gave the game 9.2/10 points saying "Where Livin' Large and House Party were basically enhancements to the original, Hot Date completely revamps the gameplay by making it possible to focus more on social and romantic relationships and for the first time get away from the Sims house. [20]

Hot Date was a nominee for Computer Gaming World 's 2001 "Best Game Expansion" award, which ultimately went to Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal . The editors wrote, "Hot Date added the one thing The Sims players clamored for, which was the ability to actually leave the house." [21] Similarly, the editors of Computer Games Magazine nominated Hot Date as the best add-on of 2001, but ultimately gave the award to Diablo II: Lord of Destruction . [22]

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Hot Date for its 2001 "Innovation in Computer Gaming" award, [23] which ultimately went to Black & White . [24]


Vacation

The Sims: Vacation
The Sims Vacation Cover.jpg
Developer(s) Maxis
Publisher(s) EA Games (Windows)
Aspyr (Mac)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
ReleaseMarch 28, 2002

The Sims: Vacation (known as The Sims: On Holiday in the UK, Ireland, China and Scandinavia) is the fourth expansion pack released for The Sims, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on March 28, 2002. The pack introduces a new destination called "Vacation Island" where Sims can take vacations with family members or with other Sims and marks the first time Sims can stay on lots away from home. Adds ability to save the game while a Sim is on Vacation Island. Allows Sims to purchase or find souvenirs, stay at a hotel, or rent a tent/igloo. [25]

Unleashed

The Sims: Unleashed
The Sims Unleashed Cover.jpg
Developer(s) Maxis
Publisher(s) EA Games (Windows)
Aspyr (Mac)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
ReleaseNovember 7, 2002

The Sims: Unleashed is the fifth expansion pack released for The Sims, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on November 7, 2002. The pack introduces cats and dogs into the game. The pack also introduces farming and gardening, and expands original ten-lot neighborhood to over forty lots, with the added ability to rezone these lots for residential or community use. Community lots can be modified to shops, cafes, and other commercial establishments. [26]

Small pets like birds, fish and reptiles are also introduced. The concept of owning pets would be later re-introduced in The Sims 2: Pets , The Sims 3: Pets and The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs .

Superstar

The Sims: Superstar
The Sims Superstar Cover.jpg
Developer(s) Maxis
Publisher(s) EA Games (Windows)
Aspyr (Mac)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
ReleaseMay 13, 2003

The Sims: Superstar is the sixth expansion pack released for The Sims, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on May 13, 2003. The pack allows Sims to become entertainment figures and includes representations of several famous personalities. Celebrities can make cameo appearances but cannot be controlled by the player, and include Avril Lavigne, Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, Jon Bon Jovi, Christina Aguilera, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah McLachlan, Jennifer Lopez and Richie Sambora.

Various new work and leisure items are also included, as well as a new destination called Studio Town, which functions as a workplace for celebrity Sims where regular visits may be required to maintain their fame and career, marking the first time where players can follow their Sims to work. Non-celebrity Sims are allowed to visit Studio Town for leisure.


Makin' Magic

The Sims: Makin' Magic
The Sims Makin' Magic Cover.jpg
Developer(s) Maxis
Publisher(s) EA Games (Windows)
Aspyr (Mac)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
ReleaseOctober 29, 2003

The Sims: Makin' Magic is the seventh and final expansion pack released for The Sims, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on October 29, 2003. The pack introduces magic to the game and allows Sims to cast spells, forge charms, and buy alchemical ingredients. The pack introduces the Magic Town neighborhood, as well as Magic Town lots, which house vendors of magical ingredients and items and a number of magic-related mini-games.

Baking and nectar-making are also introduced. Adds additional residential lots in Magic Town, which contain new aesthetic accents such as new grass textures, background sound effects, and a higher chance of growing magical items, marking the first time that Sims may live outside of the main neighborhood. The game includes a disc with a preview of The Sims 2 , which would be released in 2004.

Gameplay

The main feature of the pack is the ability for Sims to create magic charms and cast spells, which work much like cooking meals from a recipe book. Ingredients are added to a Sim's inventory, from where they are used with the correct equipment to produce an item of food, or charge the Sim's magic wand with a spell, or produce a charm. These ingredients, which are many and varied, can be purchased in Magic Town or made at home with various machines and items that can be purchased. The ability to have a dragon as a pet was also introduced.

Upon moving in a new family, the Mystery Man appears with a box which includes a wand, a spell book, the magic ingredients needed for the Toadification spell, a wand charger (which also dispenses wands), 35 MagiCoins, and a Hole In The Ground which provides easy access to Magic Town.

Being caught casting spells outside of Magic Town by non-magical Sims is met with a fine by the Mystery Man. However this is not the case in Magic Town, although the spells may backfire as the vast majority of Magic Town residents are equipped with their own wands.

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References

  1. ↑ "CTW Game Guide". Computer Trade Weekly. No. 806. United Kingdom. 8 September 2000. p. 25.
  2. ↑ Markoff, John (April 27, 2000). "Something Is Killing the Sims, and It's No Accident". The New York Times .
  3. ↑ "The Sims: Livin' Large". GameRankings . Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  4. ↑ "The Sims: Livin' Large for PC". Metacritic . Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  5. ↑ Wright, Brian (September 8, 2000). "The Sims Livin' Large Expansion". GamePro . IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2005-11-24. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  6. ↑ Park, Andrew. "The Sims: Livin' Large Review". GameSpot . Archived from the original on December 3, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  7. ↑ Lopez, Vincent. "The Sims: Livin' Large". IGN. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  8. ↑ Atkin, Denny (November 3, 2000). "The Sims Livin' Large Expansion Pack". Computer Games Magazine . Archived from the original on March 4, 2005.
  9. ↑ Asher, Mark; Chick, Tom. "The Year's Ten Best-Selling Games". Quarter to Three. Archived from the original on February 2, 2001.
  10. ↑ Staff (April 2001). "Eyewitness; It's All in the Numbers". PC Gamer US . 8 (4): 40, 41.
  11. ↑ "NPD Reports Annual 2001 U.S. Interactive Entertainment Sales Shatter Industry Record" (Press release). Port Washington, New York: The NPD Group. February 7, 2002. Archived from the original on August 20, 2003.
  12. ↑ Bradshaw, Lucy (January 31, 2002). "Markle Forum on Children and Media" (PDF). New York University. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 19, 2004.
  13. ↑ "The Sims House Party, The Easter Egg - Drew Carey at Your Party". The Easter Egg Archive. Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
  14. 1 2 3 Park, Andrew Seyoon (November 19, 2001). "The Sims: Hot Date for PC Review". GameSpot . Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  15. 1 2 "The Sims: Hot Date Reviews". GameRankings . Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  16. 1 2 "Sims: Hot Date, The (pc:2001): Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Harker, Carla. "Reviews: The Sims: Hot Date (PC)". GameSpy . Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  18. ↑ Davis, Susanne (November 13, 2001). "The Sims Hot Date Expansion Pack Review - PC". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  19. 1 2 Lopez, Vincent (December 6, 2001). "The Sims: Hot Date Review". IGN . Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  20. ↑ Cieniawa, Lee. "Sims: Hot Date PC Review". armchairempire.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2002. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  21. ↑ Editors of Computer Gaming World (April 2002). "Games of the Year; The Very Best of a (Sometimes) Great Year in Gaming". Computer Gaming World (213): 69–73, 76–84.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ Staff (March 2002). "11th Annual Computer Games Awards". Computer Games Magazine (136): 50–56.
  23. ↑ "Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Announces Finalists for the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards" (Press release). Los Angeles: Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. February 5, 2002. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
  24. ↑ "Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Announces Recipients of Fifth Annual Interactive Achievement Awards" (Press release). Las Vegas: Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. March 1, 2002. Archived from the original on March 6, 2002.
  25. ↑ Bates, Jason (2002-04-08). "The Sims: Vacation". IGN . Archived from the original on 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  26. ↑ Park, Andrew (2002-09-30). "The Sims: Unleashed Review". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
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