The Sims: Hot Date

Last updated
The Sims: Hot Date
Sims Hot Date Cover.jpg
Developer(s) Maxis [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s) Electronic Arts (PC)
Aspyr Media (Mac)
Platform(s) Windows, Mac OS X
ReleaseWindows
Mac OS X
  • NA: 10 June 2002 [5]
  • EU: July 2002
Genre(s) Social simulation
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

The Sims: Hot Date is a 2001 expansion pack for The Sims developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The expansion adds a new community area to the game, Downtown, and provides players with more opportunities for their Sims to interact and romance one another. Upon release, Hot Date received generally favorable reviews, with praise directed to the game's expansion of game mechanics and locations in contrast to earlier expansions, although with some criticism of the limited options for customisation and the level of challenge with relationship management. Following release, Hot Date was a commercial success, becoming one of the top ten highest-selling computer games of 2001 and 2002 in the United States.

Contents

Gameplay

Hot Date introduces the Downtown area, allowing Sims to interact with multiple non-player characters named 'townies'. Sims Hot Date Screenshot.jpg
Hot Date introduces the Downtown area, allowing Sims to interact with multiple non-player characters named 'townies'.

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 in 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. 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. [6]

Development and release

The core objective of Hot Date for developer Maxis was to "get Sims out of the house", and "creating more interesting places for your Sims to go and giving them a much greater range of interactions". [7] In order to facilitate the overhaul of the interaction system, the developers added a daily and lifetime relationship rating due to it being perceived as "too easy to get high relationships" in the original game. [8] Because of the expanded scope of the project, Maxis expanded an additional team of 12-14 staff to develop the expansion, [9] including contracting studio New Pencil, who created most of the sprite assets for the game. [10] Development of Hot Date was completed on 3 November 2001 and shipped on 14 November. [11] [12]

Reception

Sales

Hot Date was a commercial success and one of the highest-selling computer games of 2001 and 2002. According to NPD annual sales charts for computer games, Hot Date ranked as the seventh highest selling game in 2001 and fifth highest in 2002, [13] [14] with the Entertainment Software Association similarly ranking the game sixth in 2002. [15] The game topped monthly ChartTrack and Virgin Megastores sales charts for computer games in January 2002 in the United Kingdom. [16]

Reviews

According to review aggregator Metacritic, Hot Date received "generally favorable" reviews from critics. [17] Several critics considered the expansion to be more substantial in content than its prececessors, Livin' Large and House Party , [19] with Mark Hill of PC Zone describing the game as a "significant addition", [27] and Cam Shea of Hyper finding the game to be a "breakthrough" that "truly [offers] something more than just extra frills and gimmicks". [24] Elizabeth McAdams wrote that "there's enough going on to actually make it feel like a new Sims game", stating "this is the add-on Maxis should have released long ago". [19] Vincent Lopez of IGN stated the expansion was not a "full-fledged leap", but was "certainly the largest step the game has taken". [25]

The additions to romance and social interaction were generally praised. Describing the new mechanics as making "interaction between your characters a huge game in itself", Vince Lopez found the features to facilitate "more elaborate and fulfilling interaction". [25] Cam Shea commended the new interactions for "significantly broadening the way sims interact". [24] Elizabeth McAdams of Computer Gaming World highlighted the greater variation of sim interactions and interests, but found dating to be addictive but too challenging. [19] Similarly, Carla Harker of GameSpy considered long-term relationships to be time-consuming and difficult to maintain, noting that whilst it added realism to the game, it in turn increased the difficulty of career requirements. [22] Nebojsa Radakovic of Game Revolution stated that "addition of expanded conversation options, physical interactions and interests makes it much harder for your Sim to win friends, but it is a much more rewarding experience", considering it to add "depth" and "drama" to the game. [20]

The Downtown neighborhood was also generally praised, but was noted to be limited in its design options. Describing it as the "most significant addition that's ever been made to the game", Andrew Park of GameSpot found it necessary to manage work and relationships, lamenting the existence of a single area compared to neighborhoods but noting the lots were large enough to "provide enough areas to build and customize". [21] However, Nebojsa Radakovic of Game Revolution critiqued the area, stating "the default lots are generally to sparse and the fun too far and few between", also writing that creating custom lots lacked the potential for "unique establishments" due to the "limited selection of start up items". [20] This concern was shared by Andrew Park of GameSpot, who enjoyed the ease of building new community lots in the Downtown area, but found the available objects "limiting", suggesting the game "[expects] the fan community to come up with the variety". [22]

Accolades

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Hot Date for its 2001 "Innovation in Computer Gaming" award, [28] which ultimately went to Black & White . [29]

Legacy

Producer Tim LeTorneau retrospectively remarked that Hot Date was a "big transition for the franchise" in "[breaking] the barrier of the house". LeTorneau expressed that the expansion was the starting point for the development of future innovations to the scope of the series, drawing comparisons with the setting of the neighborhood in The Sims 2 and the open-world design of The Sims 3 . [30] Hot Date also received retrospective praise, with TheGamer noting the expansion provided players with the "highly underrated" aspects of complex relationships and interests "really gave personality to your Sims". [31] The inclusion of downtown areas was later implemented in The Sims 2: Nightlife . [32] [33]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ported to Mac OS X by Westlake Interactive. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Sims</i> (video game) 2000 video game

The Sims is a social simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts in 2000. The game allows players to create and control virtual people, called "Sims", and manage their daily lives in a suburban setting. The game features an open-ended gameplay, where players can choose their own goals and objectives, and customize their Sims' appearance, personality, skills, relationships, and environment. A series of expansion packs were also released that add new content and features to the game, such as new careers, items, locations, and scenarios.

<i>SimCity 3000</i> 1999 video game

SimCity 3000 is a city building simulation video game released in 1999, and the third major installment in the SimCity series. It was published by Electronic Arts (EA) and developed by series creator Maxis. It was released for Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, and, through an arrangement with Loki Games, Linux.

<i>The Sims Online</i> 2002 massively multiplayer online game

The Sims Online was a 2002 massively multiplayer online game (MMO) developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts (EA) for Microsoft Windows. The game was a subscription-based online multiplayer version of the 2000 Maxis game The Sims, in which players could interact with others on virtual user-made lots, buy and customise properties, and make in-game money by taking on jobs. The Sims Online was the project of Maxis founder and Sims creator Will Wright, who sought to create an open-ended online game based on social interaction, with ambitions for the game to be a platform for emergent gameplay and the creation of virtual societies and politics. In line with these ambitions and the prior commercial success of The Sims, The Sims Online received considerable pre-release coverage, with expectations that it would be successful and break new ground for online multiplayer games.

<i>Civilization III</i> 2001 turn-based strategy video game

Sid Meier's Civilization III is the third installment of the Sid Meier's Civilization turn-based strategy video game series. It was released in 2001, and followed by Civilization IV. Unlike the original game, Civilization III was not designed by Sid Meier, but by Jeff Briggs, a game designer, and Soren Johnson, a game programmer.

<i>The Sims 2</i> 2004 video game

The Sims 2 is a 2004 social simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the second major title in The Sims series, and is the sequel to The Sims. The game was released for Microsoft Windows on September 14, 2004, and a port for MacOS by Aspyr was released on June 17, 2005. Eight expansion packs and nine "stuff packs" were subsequently released between 2005 and 2008. In addition, versions of The Sims 2 were released on various video game consoles, including the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo DS, and GameCube, and mobile platforms, including the Nokia Ovi Store. Unlike the original, the handheld and console versions are more storyline-based. The three handheld versions of the game are completely different among themselves, unlike the home console versions of the game, which are virtually identical to each other. A sequel, The Sims 3, was released in June 2009.

<i>The Sims: Unleashed</i> 2002 video game

The Sims: Unleashed is a 2002 expansion pack developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts for The Sims. The fifth expansion pack for The Sims, Unleashed expands the game's neighborhood to include a community area named Old Town which allows players to purchase pets, including cats and dogs, and farm their own produce. Unleashed was announced by Electronic Arts in June 2002 and released in September, with a Macintosh port of the game published by Aspyr Media in December. Upon release, Unleashed received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise directed to the scope and variety of the gameplay additions in the new neighborhood and pet mechanics, although expressing disappointment at the limited degree of control and gameplay mechanics involving pets. 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.

<i>The Sims: Superstar</i> 2003 video game

The Sims: Superstar is a 2003 expansion pack for The Sims developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The expansion allows Sims to become entertainment figures in a new area, 'Studio Town', featuring additional work and leisure items. Upon release, Superstar was a commercial success, leading sales charts and becoming the highest selling computer game in the United States in 2003. Critical reception of the expansion was generally favorable, with critics praising the addition of a new and challenging game mechanic through the star power system, and others critiquing the repetition and tedium of the system in balance with other gameplay mechanics. The addition of celebrity gameplay mechanics in Superstar would be re-introduced in future Sims expansions including The Sims 3: Late Night and The Sims 4: Get Famous.

<i>Baldurs Gate II: Throne of Bhaal</i> Expansion pack

Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal is a 2001 expansion pack for the role-playing video game Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. It adds a multi-level dungeon called Watcher's Keep to the game and completes the main plot. There are several new weapons, a higher level cap, a further refined Infinity graphics engine, and new class-related features and magical skills. The novelization of the game was written by Drew Karpyshyn and released in September 2001.

<i>The Sims: Livin Large</i> 2000 video game

The Sims: Livin' Large a 2000 expansion to The Sims developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The first of several expansions to The Sims, Livin' Large introduces several new objects and architecture features, new characters and careers. The expansion was designed with a more humorous and unusual tone to broaden the creative direction and scenarios in the game. Upon release, Livin' Large received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise directed to the unique and unusual range of interactive objects, and criticism to the expansion's largely cosmetic approach. In 2002, Livin' Large was combined with the original game and packaged by Electronic Arts as The Sims Deluxe.

<i>Rayman M</i> 2001 video game

Rayman M, known in North America as Rayman Arena, is a party video game developed and published by Ubi Soft. A spin-off of the Rayman series, it features two modes in which players control one of eighteen characters.

<i>SimsVille</i> Cancelled video game developed by Maxis

SimsVille is a cancelled simulation video game game developed by Maxis. The game was conceived as a hybrid between the gameplay of The Sims and SimCity. Development of SimsVille was undertaken over two years by the Maxis development team for SimCity as an opportunity for expansion of The Sims franchise. Following delays to the game's release window, Maxis discontinued development of SimsVille in September 2001, citing the studio's concerns with the quality of the gameplay experience. Despite its cancellation, design elements of SimsVille would influence later Maxis products, particularly the community features of The Sims: Hot Date and the integration of Sims into SimCity 4.

<i>The Sims: Makin Magic</i> 2003 video game

The Sims: Makin' Magic is a 2003 expansion pack for The Sims developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The expansion introduces magic to the game, featuring items that allows Sims to create and use spells, charms, and potions. The pack also 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. The game was the last expansion released for The Sims prior to the 2004 release of The Sims 2, with previews for the game included in the expansion. Upon release, Makin' Magic received generally favorable reviews from critics, with reviewers praising the novelty and depth of the magic mechanics and the Magic Town neighborhood, with some critiquing the expansion's difficulty and conceptual incompatibility compared to other aspects of the game. The expansion has received praise following its release, leading a pattern of magic-themed expansions in succeeding Sims titles including The Sims 2: Apartment Life, The Sims 3: Supernatural and The Sims 4: Realm of Magic.

<i>The Sims: House Party</i> 2001 video game

The Sims: House Party is a 2001 expansion pack for The Sims developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The expansion introduces the gameplay features and facilities for players to hold parties and gatherings in their Sims' homes. Upon release, House Party met an average reception from reviewers, with praise directed at the new objects and mechanics that aided social interaction and variety of visual styles, and criticism at the limited scope and lack of changes to core gameplay. Many of the objects and gameplay mechanics in House Party would be reintroduced in The Sims 2: Nightlife.

<i>The Sims: Vacation</i> 2002 video game

The Sims: Vacation is a 2002 expansion pack for The Sims developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The expansion introduces the ability for the player's sims to take vacations, as well as new social features including interests, daily and lifetime relationships, and new interactions. Vacation was announced by EA in January 2002, following speculation about a vacation-themed fourth expansion to the game, and was shipped in March 2002.

<i>The Sims 3</i> 2009 video game

The Sims 3 is a 2009 social simulation video game developed by the Redwood Shores studio of Maxis, and published by Electronic Arts. Part of The Sims series, it is the sequel to The Sims 2. It was released on June 2, 2009, for Microsoft Windows, MacOS, and mobile versions. Console versions were released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS in October 2010 and a month later for Wii. The Windows Phone version was released on October 15, 2010. A Nintendo 3DS version, released on March 27, 2011, was one of the platform's launch titles.

<i>The Sims</i> Series of video games

The Sims is a series of life simulation video games developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The franchise has sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide, and is one of the best-selling video game series of all time. It is also part of the larger Sim series, started by SimCity in 1989.

<i>The Sims 4</i> 2014 video game

The Sims 4 is a social simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released in North America on September 2, 2014, for Windows, a macOS version was released in February 2015, and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released in November 2017. It is the fourth major title in The Sims series, following The Sims 3 (2009). The game was moved to a free-to-play model on October 18, 2022, monetized by the purchase of various paid downloadable content packs that have been developed since its release.

The D.I.C.E. Award for Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This award recognizes games "in which user directs or manipulates resources to create a set of conditions that result in success as determined within the confines of the game. These games can offer the user the chance to simulate or to virtually reproduce an experience, real or imaginary, which would require some form of equipment. Strategy games emphasize the planning of tactics rather than the execution". All active creative/technical, business, and affiliate members of the Academy are qualified to vote for this category. Originally, there were separate awards for strategy games and simulation games, which simulate aspects of the real world.

<i>The Sims 2: Nightlife</i> 2005 video game expansion pack

The Sims 2: Nightlife is an expansion pack for the 2004 life simulation video game The Sims 2, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The second expansion pack for the game, it was released 15 September 2005. Nightlife expands the game's social and romantic interactions, introducing elements such as romantic chemistry and a formal dating minigame. It also introduces "downtown" neighbourhoods that house community lots such as bars, clubs, and restaurants; changes to the game's handling of objects, including a full inventory system; and new gameplay options, such as the ability to turn sims into vampires.

References

  1. ↑ Cohen, Peter (June 10, 2002). "Aspyr ships The Sims Hot Date". Macworld . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  2. ↑ Walker, Trey (November 2, 2001). "The Sims: Hot Date goes gold". GameSpot . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  3. ↑ "UK release dates". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on October 29, 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  4. ↑ Mether, Nicklas (November 5, 2001). "Gi' et kys! Nye billeder fra The Sims: Hot Date" [Give a kiss! New images from The Sims: Hot Date]. Gamereactor . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  5. ↑ Sanchez, Rick (June 10, 2002). "Hot Date Shipping". IGN . Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  6. ↑ Chong, David; Cohen, Mark (2004). The Sims: Hot Date Expansion Pack: Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games. ISBN   0-7615-3729-5.
  7. ↑ Walker, Trey (14 November 2001). "The Sims: Hot Date Ships". GameSpot.
  8. ↑ "The Sims: Hot Date". IGN. 3 October 2001. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  9. ↑ "The Sims Hot Date". PC Gamer. No. 88. September 2001. p. 12.
  10. ↑ London, Charles (January 2002). "Keeping Up With the Sims". Game Developer Magazine. p. 32.
  11. ↑ "Hot Date Gold". IGN. 3 November 2001. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  12. ↑ Walker, Trey (14 November 2001). "The Sims: Hot Date Ships". GameSpot. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  13. ↑ Calvert, Justin (11 December 2002). "NPD reports flat PC game sales for 2002". GameSpot. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  14. ↑ Walker, Trey. "2001 game sales break records". GameSpot. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  15. ↑ "Who's Playing What?". Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry: 2003 Sales, Demographics and Usage Data. Interactive Digital Software Association. 2003. p. 2.
  16. ↑ "Charts". PC Zone. No. 113. March 2002. p. 24.
  17. 1 2 "The Sims: Hot Date". Metacritic. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  18. ↑ Bauman, Steve (12 March 2002). "The Sims Hot Date". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 June 2002. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 4 McAdams, Elizabeth (March 2002). "The Sims: Hot Date" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 212. p. 80.
  20. 1 2 3 Radakovic, Nebojsa (1 November 2001). "The Sims: Hot Date Review". GameRevolution. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  21. 1 2 Park, Andrew (17 May 2006). "The Sims: Hot Date Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  22. 1 2 3 Harker, Carla. "The Sims: Hot Date (PC)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 26 September 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  23. ↑ Davis, Susanne (29 November 2001). "The Sims Hot Date Expansion Pack". GameZone. Archived from the original on 5 December 2001. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  24. 1 2 3 Shea, Cam (February 2002). "The Sims: Hot Date". Hyper. No. 100. p. 85.
  25. 1 2 3 Lopez, Vincent (7 December 2001). "The Sims: Hot Date". IGN. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  26. ↑ Whitta, Gary (January 2002). "The Sims: Hot Date". PC Gamer. No. 93. p. 60.
  27. 1 2 Hill, Mark (January 2002). "The Sims: Hot Date". PC Zone. No. 111. p. 101.
  28. ↑ "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.
  29. ↑ "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.
  30. ↑ Takahashi, Dean (3 February 2010). "Interview with Tim LeTourneau on 10 years of making The Sims". VentureBeat. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  31. ↑ "The 8 Best Sims Expansions (And 7 That SUCKED)". TheGamer. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  32. ↑ Ocampo, Jason (1 July 2009). "Charting The Sims Expansions". IGN. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  33. ↑ McNamara, Tom (7 April 2005). "Sims 2: Nightlife Interview". IGN. Retrieved 14 March 2024.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.