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New Sims 3 Screens

Aaron Dunlap — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:23:12 -0500

While they don't tell us much about the game other than that it contains Sims, EA just released these 12 new screenshots from Sims 3.

Launch Gallery: Sims 3

(12 images)

E3 2008: The Sims 2 Apartment Pets Screenshots

Tim Grube — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:22:43 -0500

Launch Gallery: The Sims 2 Apartment Pets

(5 images)

The Sims Tops 100 Million Units Sold

Zach Lott — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:24:05 -0500

Will Wright's army of simulation games has changed the face of PC gaming over the years, but few games have had the impact of The Sims, which he unleashed back in 2000. Being the top-selling PC franchise of all time and having amazing longevity (The Sims 2 and its expansions are consistently at the top of PC software charts every year), it has now passed another milestone, as EA announced yesterday that the game has sold over 100 million units.

Rod Humble, Head of Studio for the Sims Label, had this to say:

"At this milestone, we want to thank players of The Sims everywhere for making The Sims such a worldwide phenomenon. The Sims has been an interactive experience for people around the globe to explore their passion for creativity and we're thrilled to be a part of that. From building houses and relationships, from first kisses to a toddler's first step, from kitchen fires - and even visits from ghosts, players have told more than 100 million unique and fun stories!"

A sea of expansions and a plethora of user-generated downloadable content have kept the franchise going strong over the years, and with The Sims 3 on the way it's obvious that EA isn't done, as there will surely be more units sold and more items downloaded for years to come.

If you're looking for a way to celebrate, head over TheSims2.com, where you can download an exclusive outfit in which your Sims can dance the night away.

Wii Review Bonanza, or: Your Wii is Sick - Must be Something you Played

Eric Jonathan Smith — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 20:25:13 -0600

Kneel. Place hands on either side of the ceramic-like object. Wait. A sudden urge takes you, spewing the remains of a previous ingestion. You glance at what was just created; between the remains of what were once good ideas you see those extra things you tacked on that seemed like a quick fix at the time but ultimately caused their own regurgitation. You lament at the pain you caused yourself, but deep down you can feel that the pain is still there.

So what have you been eating? Or in this case, what have various developers been feeding the ceramic bowl in question, the Wii? Their own regurgitation, that's what - and a little bit of Nintendo's own leftovers for good measure. The Wii is the one that's sick, suffering from delirious spells of minigame collections, shoddy ports, forced motion control schemes, and God knows what else.

A little examination is in order. Five case studies have been prepared, each a different opinion of how Wii software appears. Some of it isn't too pretty but fear not, we might even discover a cure. So lean back, relax, and try not to throw that Wii remote into the tv.

CASE STUDY #1: AUTO MINIGAME SUFFICIENCY SYNDROME

Subject: Namco Museum Remix

PROGNOSIS: Sudden ingestion of too many minigame collections causes repetition, boredom, and possible suicide in large doses.

A certain kind of bug that especially has a tendency to bite the older and wiser is nostalgia. It can be a pretty nasty little sucker, causing previously sane and logical men and women to do foolish things like pine for dated graphics and simpler gameplay styles. As the years have gone by, once bustling arcades have forever shut their doors and the game consoles of yesteryear require a type of mouth-to-cartridge action bordering on fellatio to get the games working.

Namco's Museum series of arcade home conversions are some of the first treatments that should come to mind when considering ubiquitous, readily available classical cures. After all, every system under the sun absolutely needs multiple versions of Pac-Man on it, right? Namco has now made sure that the Wii is no exception and has released Namco Museum Remix, the Museum containing the nostalgic classics and you guessed it the Remix consisting of Wii-specific minigames.

However, it's not a good sign when a classic compilation makes you wax nostalgia for older compilations. That's not to say that Namco Museum Remix has any large, glaring faults: it is by all means a competent product, even if you have to roll around Pac-Man in lieu of a standard menu interface, which can be slightly annoying. But no, as with any other compilation, its success or failure hinges on its selection of games, and Namco Museum Remix drops the ball a bit. Sure, it has standard classics in Xevious, Mappy, Dig Dug, and Pac-Mania (you know, that are available on most of the other collections) but trades in Galaga for its inferior predecessor Galaxian (dear God, why?) In the games that no one ever wanted to play section, there's Cutie-Q (a poor Breakout clone) and Super Pac-Man and Pac & Pal, two rather poor sequels to the original. At least it offers Gaplus (Galagas sequel) as a sort of cruel consolation prize.

If this somewhat mediocre selection of its past was all Namco offered in Museum Remix, this collection would be DOA. Luckily, they put a slight bit of effort in its resuscitation: the titular Wii-specific "remixes" of other classic titles. Unfortunately, they aren't enough to keep this one alive for too long. However, they did get the nostalgic feel down pat! Feel like playing the rollercoaster minigame from Final Fantasy VII? Play Galaga Remix! How about Whack-A-Mole? Then Gator Panic Remix is for you. Granted, Rally X Remix is a rather fair version, as are Pac Motos (a Pac-infused version of the original bumping off the edge game Motos) and Pac 'n Roll. But the problem is that these suffer the same shallow fate as other Wii minigame collections, and in the few minutes that you'll be done with them you're then left with merely the arcade collection.

Diagnosis? The entire weight of Namco Museum Remix will rest on how much you like the classic arcade games included. Considering the selection isn't all that great to begin with, the weight will likely fatigue the classics in a relatively short amount of time.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

She'll eat the monkey.

CASE STUDY #2: PORTROENTERITIS

Subject: The Sims 2: Castaway

PROGNOSIS: Patients suffering from contact to shoddy, careless ports from other systems suffer from: shattered belief in console's viability, fatigue, and indigestion.

One of the oldest epidemics in videogamedom is that of the port. Whether it was arcade to console, PC to console, or vice versa, the word port has connotations of mediocrity and for good reason: many ports are sloppy, rushed, stripped down versions of the original. Even in more modern times, ports retain that sloppy, rushed feel when they stray from the hardware they were built on. Unfortunately, this has been a lazy way for developers to cash on the Wii's success.

One such wave that has plagued nearly every piece of gaming hardware to ever exist, past, present, and future is The Sims. Popular with 15-year-old girls of all ages, The Sims is an omnipresent choice with casual gamers, and logic would successfully conclude that it should end up on the Wii.

The premise is simple: after constructing your Sim on a yacht, something bad happens and he or she washes ashore on a mysterious, deserted island with nary a volleyball around to keep as company. Obviously a tropical island is a terrible place to be lost, so it's up to you to guide your Sim to his/her ultimate goal of getting off the island alive. And to be perfectly honest, the interface in which you'll be accomplishing this works fairly well; with the Wii Remote acting superbly as a pointer in lieu of a mouse, navigating menus isn't all that hard.

Too bad the menus themselves looked like they were ported from a higher resolution without the proper tweaking. The entire game really looks very simple and to be frank, boring. You could choose to stay on the island for as long as you wanted, but when it looks that dull, why would you? Jagged edges are more reminiscent of the graphical hell that was the 32/64-bit era more than a tropical Eden.

But, this is a simulation at heart, and that gameplay still works. The Sim will have to collect resources to survive with the help of monkeys (of course) and eventually should have a decent little living space set up. There are also various goals that you can find scattered across the island that will give you some objectives amidst the rather open-ended (if not mundane) tasks.

Diagnosis? Not as bad as it could have been. Wii Pointer functionality works well amidst the poor resolution and the gameplay experience isn't a complete throwaway. More hardcore gamers, stay away (if the name wouldn't make them do so already).

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

My, Soulcalibur. You look as beautiful as you play.

CASE STUDY #3: MOTION SICKNESS

Subject: Soulcalibur Legends

PROGNOSIS: Prolonged exposure to poorly implemented Wii waggle controls can lead to: madness, frustration, and nausea.

Having new ways to control games means that there will be new ways for developers to screw up their implementation. Even after decades with a pretty standard diagonal pad and any number of supporting buttons, some still couldn't get it right. Poor control is absolutely killer to a game's success and probably the worst blight it could have.

Enter Soulcalibur Legends. A spin-off of Namco's eternal (also, a mere shadow of its former self) fighter, Legends tells the story of Teutonic Knight Siegfried Schtauffen and his dealings with Soul Edge, the evil blade. Yeah, it's a fighting game story. What the hell do you want from me?

Though it may have been built ground-up for Wii, it plays nothing like it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it was built ground-up to be a cheap cash-in. Siegfried and the other Soulcalibur heroes you command all control by swinging the Wii Remote as you would their weapons. It's a good enough idea in concept. In execution, it's abysmal. Controlling attacks in this manner is ungodly unresponsive and makes you question whether simple button presses would have been better. Considering this is a central gameplay mechanic, this is inexcusable. There is no way that Legends could be an adequate action title due to this flaw alone.

The game is also cringe-worthy in the visual department. In some aspects, especially the environments, it looks like a launch title for the PlayStation 2. That might be forgivable, but the level designs are as monotonous as the enemies you fight. Character models fair a bit better, because they are based around the designs from Soulcalibur II, if not taken wholesale from it. Legends also suffers from the tired design choice of "defeat every monster in the room before you can move on". Please.

I found myself looking more at the menus and the art in the story sequences because, well, they are actually rather decent, and not just in comparison to the game itself. I'd be tempted to say that the menus are the best part of the game. When all is said and done then, the most hardcore of Soulcalibur fanatics will be able to eke something out of this game though I wouldn't go so far as to call it enjoyment. The controls are just too poorly implemented for anyone with more than a merely casual interest in the franchise.

Diagnosis? Highly contagious, and not in the good way. Contagious in that it will creep up on your brain and soul and make you regret every penny and second spent on it. Unless, of course, you're just a hardcore and gullible fighting game fan - those people are crazy.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

Okay, so it's not the sexiest thing on earth. Maybe you can dig it.

CASE STUDY #4: THE MYSTERY BUG

Subject: Smarty Pants

PROGNOSIS: ???

Sometimes even the best doctors can get baffled. True to that, every once in a while a game will come up that makes you question why it was necessary to be in videogame form. Was it really easier to play Monopoly on a TV than on a board (Hint: no)? Much of the experience of such a famous and standard board game rests on handling those gaudy bills and tapping your piece of choice past go. In other words, the actual game could sometimes be boring, but having it physically in front of you kept you from falling asleep.

EA's Smarty Pants dares to go into this territory. It is a trivia game, not unlike the old board game pursuits of old. Each of its cavalcades of questions ranging from pop-culture to history has a multiple choice selection. There are a few different modes, including ones for both single remote and multiple remote setups, suitably nudging itself into party game territory.

So. That's it. That's Smarty Pants in a nutshell. Sure, there's some sort of dancing thing you have to do with the Wii Remote, but we'll not mention that any more for its own sake.

Is there a benefit to having a trivia game on a home videogame console? From my own experience, I'd have to say yes. Smarty Pants is actually fairly well presented, with voiceovers and decent sound effects that make it seem more like a game show than just a trivia game. The group mode, which requires multiple Wii Remotes, each acting like a buzzer, manifests this presentation style. As with anything trivial, in a group setting you'll likely find yourself shouting out the answers, as much as you may regret this in your memory later on. The fact that Smarty Pants is capable of this is something positive in and of itself.

Diagnosis? Smarty Pants is hardly a wonderful title, but it's not necessarily a throwaway. If you really want to play a trivia game on the Wii, it's a decent enough choice. But, uh, you know, you could buy a copy of Trivial Pursuit for less.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

I can't even tell what's bleeding.

CASE STUDY #5: NO MORE TEARS

Subject: No More Heroes

PROGNOSIS: Exposure to games designed for Wii from the ground up may cause: enjoyment, fun, laughter, and world peace.

"Will you do it with me?"

If any of the above games had asked you such a question, I hope by now youd have learned to at the very least understand the risk factors involved; simple precautions will keep your Wii from being subjugated to possible infection.

However, another game asks this favor, a game so dirty yet so clean, some would say downright filthy in content yet nearly spotless in design. "Will you do it with me?" If you're privy enough to hear those words uttered by Travis Touchdown, by all means, accept. Travis is the star of No More Heroes, a game with the distinction of being the near opposite of the Wii flu - it is a coherent, focused, original title using the Wii Remote in a startlingly effective manner.

The premise is straightforward but with spry delivery that never takes itself too seriously. Travis is essentially both a dork and a loser and while drowning his sorrows at a bar he runs into a mysterious woman named Sylvia who promises him he can be the world's top assassin all he has to do is off the rest of the world's top-ranked assassins. Naïve Travis of course accepts the offer, with his prime motivation being to sleep with Sylvia. Your prime motivation to play the game will likely be to see what outrageous and foul-mouthed things will come out of the mouths of Travis and his co-stars.

The game's structure is built around going after each of the 10 assassins. To get to each, Travis must pay Sylvia a fee, which he can earn by doing sidejobs like lawn mowing (seriously) and minor assassination gigs all within the façade of an open-ended environment and setting for the game, Santa Destroy. This environment is one of the game's faults because jobs and assassination gigs must be selected at specific locations before they can start, thus the free-roaming world really serves no other purpose than to add the filler of travel. Still, it is ultimately a minor issue.

How the story and gameplay unfold within each of the 10 main assassination missions is, in a way, underwhelming yet satisfying. Combat may appear simple at first, as pressing A controls Travis's attack, but Wii-specific moves come in the forms of finishers and grabs. If an enemy is near death, an arrow will appear on-screen, prompting you to move the Wii Remote in its direction for a super-violent finisher. Travis cuts his enemies into pieces, with blood and guts as exaggerated as his own persona. Later it is not uncommon to dismember entire groups of enemies at once, causing the entire game to slow down, ludicrous in its fulfillment. Travis also has a number of wrestling moves that are controlled by moving both the Remote and Nunchuk and do add a bit of variety. After every successful finisher, Travis also has a small slot wheel that can serve to make him even more powerful than he already is, providing temporary invincibility and the like.

No More Heroes is by no means a cure for the Wii's blues the game is not perfect. The aforementioned faux open-ended structure along with somewhat repetitive combat (the finishers never get old, however) and the fact that the assassin bosses take from dozens of hits to hundreds to defeat can sometimes sometimes leave a foul taste. But it lasts for but an instant in the presence of the rest of the game as a whole. Its language and bloody style may put some off, but if you're into that sort of thing, your Wii could really deserve the pleasure of doing it with Travis.

Diagnosis? While not a panacea, No More Heroes is certainly the type of original, short term treatment that the Wii needs in larger doses. A must-buy for anyone who needs a good action title for any system.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

Some Curious Imagery for Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy Fans

Shiva Stella — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:44:45 -0600

Our friends over at Gamefront have posted new magazine imagery of several hot titles currently being developed in Japan, which you can view at the links below. I'm beginning to wonder what Square is doing to my precious Kingdom Hearts (excluding KH2) series...

GH Review: SimCity DS (DS)

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:14:00 -0500

This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Brian Mohr.

Plenty of other classic titles have made their way over to the Nintendo DS after being largely successful on the original consoles. So its no surprise that the classic city builder SimCity has made its way to the Nintendo handheld too. Although it features the same addictive gameplay all the previous versions do, the experience isnt quite the same with SimCity DS.

First and foremost, Electronic Arts didnt mess with the formula that makes the game successful, allowing players to take on the role of mayor and giving you the opportunity to build a city as you see fit. Just like in every other version, players are responsible for building residential, commercial and industrial properties and keeping everything in perfect harmony. Of course its much more detailed than that as you must build roads, power lines, water towers, hospitals, schools, police, fire stations and much more. Accomplishing that feat and keeping the city vibrant while still balancing the budget and making your citizens happy is what makes the game addictive and thankfully EA didnt mess with that formula.

In addition, the game features an extensive tutorial in case you arent familiar with the city building experience. SimCity DS features 15 lessons that break down everything you need to know before getting to work. It was a solid inclusion as the game can overwhelm some players if jumped into too quickly.

Finally, there are some unique minigames thrown in to make things a little more interesting. These include blowing into the microphone to put fires out, using the stylus to do fireworks and more. One final item of note is the mail system, which enables you to communicate with other mayors. Its a nice touch, although not utilized much.

Although SimCity does bring the city building experience to your handheld, there are a lot of issues that werent quite dealt with. The biggest is the controls which utilize the touch screen for a majority of the game. Players can move with the d-pad, but selecting items and building the city requires the point and click interface. It seems like itd work well, but the grid is so small that you often find yourself building in the wrong area. It is a nuisance and very frustrating. Thankfully EA at least put in an undo button to fix any mistakes you may make although if you demolish something it is gone; there is no do over.

The controls arent the only issue though as the graphics for SimCity are poor. The character design of your citizens and advisor are simplistic and then the actual city looks like a dump. There are some details in buildings, but more often the textures and color scheme make most of the environment uninteresting. This is particularly frustrating when you consider the impressive graphics in other games on the handheld.

Meanwhile, the sound isnt much better, but at least thats understandable. There are some sound effects that are ok and the music isnt irritating, but its hardly interesting either.

Finally, its hard to see who this game is actually geared towards. Its too complex for younger children, but it is on the Nintendo DS and still is SimCity. Not exactly the game most children are lighting up to play.

Although theres a lot of potential here, Electronic Arts didnt quite hit the mark with SimCity DS. The game brings the popular city builder experience to the Nintendo handheld, but it comes at a cost. The controls are much less desirable as are the graphics and sound. Simply put, SimCity doesnt seem to work well on the DS and makes you realize that a good idea can be implemented unsuccessfully.

The gameplay is solid although frequently the stylus is more trouble than a benefit.

The characters and city are unappealing.

The sound effects are mediocre and the music is generic.

The problems hurt the experience, but otherwise it is just as addictive as any other

The one thing is that SimCity DS will keep you busy for a long time.

EA Announces The Sims 2: Pets

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:33:00 -0500

Electronic Arts has announced the development of The Sims 2 Pets for current generation consoles, handheld units, and the PC as a Sims 2 expansion pack.

The game will "build on the celebreated The Sims 2 experience that allows players to create and control digital characters throughout their lives while determining the outcome of their relationships and choosing their destiny." And for kicks, each version will feature unique content tailored to its console, which certainly beats half a dozen direct ports.

EA speaking of the Sims 2 Pets:

The addition of a new friend is guaranteed to enrich the daily lives of your Sims! Not only will players have the opportunity to choose from a variety of existing breeds, and hot designer mixes, but theyll also be able to personally design their new friend with the Create-a-Pet feature. The ability to customize gives fans the opportunity to create their ideal pet by choosing their body shape, unique markings, even their pets personalities! With so many different animals to choose from, theres no telling what unpredictable experiences could occur!

Players will also be able to teach their pet new tricks, take them for a romp in the park, outfit them with new pet accessories and even give them a job! As in real life, your Sims pet will require care and training. A neglected cat with an urge to scratch might claw up your new couch if you arent careful, and leaving your dog unattended near a freshly planted flower bed probably isnt wise!

No kidding. Here's a feature list sectioned by system.

All platforms:

Sims Have New Friends - Pets! Sims can share their lives with their new pets and add more fun to the Sims experience. From dogs, cats, caged animals and more, your Sims share new friends to experience lifes precious moments. With so many different animals to choose from, theres no telling what unpredictable experiences could occur!
Create-A-Pet: Choose from dozens of dog and cat breeds or customize features for a one-of-a-kind pet. You can even modify your pets body shape by choosing from specific colors and unique markings. Dont like the way they act? Change their personality from smart and sweet to silly and sloppy anyone can create their ideal animal friend in The Sims 2 Pets.
Sit, Spike, Sit: Your Sims can encourage and discipline pets, training them to shake, roll over, play dead, and more. Unruly pets might dig in the yard, claw the sofa, or topple the trash. Thankfully, a little training can go a long way.
Classic Sims Open-Ended Gameplay: Create and control digital characters over a lifetime, setting their goals in life from popularity and romance, to fortune and family their stories are in your hands.
Share unique Pet unlocks: Use special codes to share unlockable pet accessories, fur types or markings with other The Sims 2 Pets players.

PC features:

Friends for a Lifetime: Your Sims pets are members of the family and share all of lifes great moments whether its kids training puppies, teens playing fetch in the park, adults watching TV with their cats, or elders enjoying a sunny day in the park with their long-time companion!
Create a designer breed: Your Sims pets have genetics, allowing you to create the latest designer pet, including popular hybrid breeds like the Labradoodle, Puggle and Schnoodle! Like what youve created? Register them to appear in Create-A-Pet as a unique pedigree!
Bring Home the Bacon: Sims arent the only ones with careers anymore! Skilled pets can earn a living from three career tracks Show Business, Security, and Service and work their way up through five job levels.

PS2 features:

Stroll the Central Town Park: Take your Sims and their pet for a romp at any of the nearby park areas, or head to the Central Town Park which is a favorite of pet owners. While there, watch your pet play well with others while your Sim can meet others and socialize with fellow animal lovers.
Shop til you drop: Visit the adjoining Town Center, a great gathering spot for Sims that evolves over time. Once youve seen the latest styles and decided on a purchase, deck your pet out in the latest clothing and accessories around. From geek to chic and cool to casual, your Sim can customize their pets look with one stop in the Town Center. Its sure to be the coolest pet in town!

DS features:

Manage a Pet Care Center: Pamper, preen, and nurse all the neighborhood pets at your new Pet Care Center that you create and customize.
How Much Is That Doggie in the Window? In a pet store that you own and operate, you can help other Sims pick out the perfect pet. Earn extra Simoleans by selling the pet products that include the latest pet fashions and accessories!

GBA features:

Give Your Sim a Career in Pet Care: Take care of the towns pets by being a veterinarian, a world-class pet trainer and more. Players can even choose from a variety of cat and dogs to adopt as their very own. Whether they are healing pets or just taking them for a stroll, there is always something to do in the pet-friendly town of Barkersville.
Toys, treats and tricks!: Sims can teach their pets cool and amazing tricks and then compete in the World Championships to be the best in show!

The Sims 2 Pets captures the magic between pets and their owners, said Executive Producer Rod Humble. A dog gnawing at his chew toy, a cat jumping at a dangled feather, a toddler stroking the chest of a big dog who sits by patientlyeven a frisky dog getting caught rolling around in the trash. These special moments all come to life through the lifelike animations and artwork of The Sims 2 Pets. There is something delightful about your Sim, a little pet person, having a pet of their own. Pets allows players to tell more stories with their Sims and helps create more emergent anecdotes within the game.

The Sims 2 Pets will see release on the PlayStation 2, GameCube, GameBoy Advance, Nintendo DS, and PC on October 17, followed by a November 20 release on the PlayStation Portable. All versions will be rated Teen. Originally written by Shiva Stella

New MySims (Wii) Imagery, Isn't that Cute?

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Wed, 02 May 2007 11:46:00 -0500

Electronic Arts has published several new screenshots of its MySims on the Nintendo Wii. The game is also being developed for the Nintendo DS and will launch in Q4 for the US. Here's the scoop from EA:

Transforming the traditional Sims gameplay for the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms, MySims moves the player to a delightful but disorganized town where thanks to the easy and unique controls they can re-shape everything and make it their own. The town is rundown, but the player can make it much more dynamic. Using a selection of building blocks, unique patterns and engaging creativity tools, players can design furniture and appliances, architect new homes and businesses, and re-define the entire MySims landscape!

As players explore and build up the town, they will get to know dedicated, long-time residents like the always-busy Mayor Rosalyn P. Marshall and Buddy the mostly-lazy hotel Bellhop. Once things start to look up, theyll meet and choose from a variety of colorful, would-be residents. Will they build a restaurant for Gino Delicioso the Italian Chef, or will they help Ocean Breeze set up his Yoga studio instead?

Design is everyones domain in MySims. From building a new Pizza Oven for Gino to putting the finishing touches on a new roof for Buddys busy hotel, each completed task will help the town grow. As it expands to new areas, players will receive special building blocks, decorations and patterns which help customize their unique creations. From furniture and buildings to the town as a whole, every choice informs how residents and visitors feel and behave.

Originally written by Shiva Stella

The Sims for Wii: Turning Japanese?

Aaron Dunlap — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 09:55:09 -0600

This trailer for "Wii Sims" just hit, and if you can spot the similarities between the previous Sims games you win a secret prize. The new visual style is interesting, though I can imagine some flack for looking a bit like Animal Crossing.

I hadn't thought of it, but the Wii's pointer-style remote does open some doors for mouse-driven game styles (like Sims) that usually have to suffer a shoddy adaptation to analog sticks. Could we see some RTS games next? Or punch-the-monkey flash banner ads?

Microsoft Flight Sim X Images Soar In

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 10:22:00 -0500

This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.The original author is Evan Lahti.

In anticipation of its scheduled landing on October 17 in the United States, we've added images from Microsoft Games' Microsoft Flight Simulator X. The game will be released in two editions, and features new aircraft, busier airports, multiplayer modes, and challenging missions, according to the title's website.

Standard Edition 18 airplanes40 airports28 cities30+ missions

Deluxe Edition24 airplanes 45 airports38 cities50+ missions"Glass panel" cockpitTower controller Check out the screenshots below, and check back soon for our review of Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

Flight Simulator X Announced

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:37:00 -0500

Microsoft today announced at the CES event in Las Vegas, that ACES Studios is developing Flight Simulator X.

Flight Simulator X will be fully optimized for Windows Vista and will also present players with a wide array of new aircraft to fly in a beautifully rich and believable world which will contain greater detail than past entries in the franchise. Players will enjoy the opportunity to fly their dream aircraft, from classic seaplanes like the de Havilland Beaver and Grumman Goose to the Cessna 172 there is a plane for every terrain and every player.

The game is due out within a few months. We will have more updates as they arrive.

Originally written by Tim Grube

My Sim Aquarium Images, Info

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 10:54:00 -0500

Viva Media and Formosoft VR released five images for the upcoming PC title My Sim Aquarium today.

The pet simulation game features 48 species of fish, different ways to decorate your tank and a 3D camera. As you watch your swimmers grow and prosper, Sim Aquarium will also allow you to set your screensaver as your fish tank.

"My Sim Aquarium allows all fish lovers an opportunity to enjoy their pets like never before. Rarely does virtual pet software allow the user the chance to engage their pets in their own environment. With My Sim Aquarium, players have the freedom to play, swim, and feed their fish from a full 360 degree underwater perspective," said Viva Media CEO Carlo Voelker.

Viva Media, a New York-based publisher known for picking up educational and adventure-themed titles, has not announced pricing or release date information for My Sim Aquarium.

Originally written by Evan Lahti

EA Announces Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 11:44:00 -0600

Electronic Arts has announced a new expansion for The Sims 2, The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff.

The expansion pack will include 60 new items for your sims including crazy new costumes, decorations and more. Some examples of the new items include cruise ship replicas, castle beds, a desk lamp and a trunk. The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff is scheduled to ship in April 2006 for the PC.

Originally written by Brian Mohr

Sims 2: Open For Business Heads to Retailers

Brian Mohr — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 21:16:00 -0600

This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.

Electronic Arts has announced that they have shipped The Sims 2: Open for Business for the PC.

Open for Business allows the sims to find their dream jobs and flourish in the business world. Players can create various types of establishments including boutiques, restaurants, salons and more. The game will feature over 125 items along with new gameplay elements. Players can also create floor plans, sales displays, hire and fire employees and set prices for their businesses.

Don Laabs, senior producer for The Sims 2 said, "The Sims 2: Open for Business opens a limitless world of new gameplay for Sims fans...This is one of the most open-ended expansion packs we have created and we encourage fans to discorver their irreverent, quirky business personalities."

Trainz Railroad Sim 06 Now Available

Shiva Stella — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 11:05:00 -0600

This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.

Publisher Merscom has announced that Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006 has now shipped for the PC. The game was developed by Auran Games and is rated E for Everyone.In this latest installment in the Trainz series, virtual engineers can run long haul freight services, high-speed passenger runs and challenging yard operations. Players can also design rail systems using over 7,500 scenery objects and operate more than 150 types of locomotives on ready-to-drive routes over hundreds of miles of stunning 3D terrain. A new asset management utility, Content Manager Plus, lets players organize files and handpick new content from over 50,000 assets online. You can pick up a copy from here if you're interested.

The Sims Gets Stamped In France

Shiva Stella — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 23:12:00 -0600

This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.

Despite the fact that The Sims franchise has sold more 58 million games worldwide, it wasn't until recently that the series was honored by the French postal service, La Poste, with a themed Sims postage stamp. The stamp, which will be published in a limited edition of 3 million units, is one of 10 stamps in La Poste's "Heroes of Videogames" collection. The set carries an MSRP of roughly $3.09 USD (2.67 euros) and is available now at La Poste's website, La Boutique du Timbre.From fashion to food, history to heraldry, the French have always been cultural tastemakers, said EAs Chief Creative Officer Bing Gordon. We thank them not only for commemorating The Sims with an official postage stamp, but also for making it one of the top ten most celebrated entertainment products in France - Merci!Below you'll find an image of an actual Sims stamp.

GH Review: NASCAR SimRacing (PC)

The Gaming Horizon Archive — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 22:22:00 -0600

This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Chuck Landry.

If you think Nascar is nothing but racecars driving in circles, then why are you reading this review? And if you ever say that to a dedicated fan, you might just get knocked out. There are so many strategies, details, and intricacies to the sport (both on the track and behind the scenes), that it would be impossible to include it all in one videogame. The Papyrus team had it almost nailed before EA bought up the exclusive rights a few years ago (the NFL was not the first, people). Since then, EA has struggled to catch hardcore sim fans attention with its much more simulation-like PC Nascar outings, even though the Nascar Thunder console games managed to hit the spot with casual gamers. This year, EA has given the series a major revamp that those of you starving for a decent Nascar simulation should find very satisfying.

No rap! At last, no rap! EA Sports games love to make us listen to rap, regardless of whether were shooting hoops, tossing the pigskin, or touching gloves in the boxing ring. Heck, even a nice Sunday game of golf, being one with the pristine wilderness, gamers playing Tiger Woods 2005 are subjected to hip hop tunes of popular artists. But no more! Nascar Simracing does not go that route; instead opting for some slightly lighter rock tunes which, while not an exact fit, suit the game much better than previous EA Trax compilations would have. But enough of my little tirade. Lets get to the important stuff.

Make no mistake this is not Nascar Thunder. Nascar Simracing is all about being realistic, and that it is. The sheer volume of options in this game is simply astounding. I honestly dont know what half of them do but thats besides the point. Hardcore sim fans will love it. Of course youll find the normal options, like turning flags on or off, limiting number of laps per race, adjusting the time of day and weather, or turning on unlimited fuel and tires. Of course, none of those are going to help your car go any faster. For that, youve got a plethora of options. You can adjust everything from the differential ratio to the wedge, the nose weight to how much grille tape you have on the front. Tire pressure obviously can be adjusted as well, including tweaking your spoiler, spring, ride height, and shocks. And if that doesnt look like much, know this: that isnt half of it, plus things like toe in/out have six sub-options. Trust me. If you can dream it, you can probably do it to get that extra 1/16th of a second.

The races themselves are beautiful to watch. The detail levels can be adjusted as per your systems capabilities, but on a nice machine things really stand out. Little details really help to bring the game alive. Your entire pit crew is animated on screen as they change out tires, refill the tank, and make other adjustments. Each track is marvelously recreated, complete with blackened roads where the tires of racers have worn a visible race line. Everything shines and shimmers appropriately from the sun (which appears and reappears on a cloudy day, and even sets eventually). The cockpit view is extremely limiting (understandably) but also well represented, as well as the driver and his gloved hands working the racecar.

Special effects are also nice, but not overdone. Metal against pavement produces a whining, screeching noise as well as orange-hot trails of sparks and smoke in your wake. Car damage is visually represented and consistent with what has happened. It isnt uncommon to see an ugly right angle in the front right panel after a slip-up. When cars do wreck, white smoke fills the air, making anyone unlucky enough to be behind the crash have a difficult time navigating the resulting chaos. Too bad it doesnt happen very often without somehelp.

Sound effects throughout the game were right on par with what I expected. Engines are loud and deafeningly low roars and the screeching tires, sounds of crunching metal, and screeching rubber are pretty accurate. The pit crew will be communicating to you as the driver almost constantly, informing you of who is trying to pass you, where cars are located when near your vehicle, and when people enter/exit the pit. There are actually quite a few lines of dialogue, which helps add that little extra touch of this being a real race, screaming along at 180 mph. Music is non-existent during the races because youll have plenty going on in the auditory department as it is, so no complaints there. In the menus, however, youll hear the aforementioned EA Trax of alternative rock. Some of it you may have heard, but other songs probably not. Overall, its mainly enjoyably music that isnt so far off the Nascar vibe that you cringe and wonder what they were thinking.

And that pretty well sums up all of the pretty little details that make this a true sim racer. You can obviously do any of this in any custom race you see fit, or you may choose to go into the games Career Mode. As you might expect, this will put you as a rookie trying to climb up the ladder into the high ranks, in pursuit of glory, money, fans and, ultimately, the championship cup. You can choose your paint scheme as you start, and then just try to get a few races under your belt. You begin in the truck series with a couple of low-dollar sponsorship offers, which you can use and replace to your liking as contracts expire. Youll also have your prestige tracked, which will fluctuate due to your performance in races. Something completely new to the game is the ability to also merchandise. You can create branded souvenirs such as t-shirts and they will sell better when you have higher prestige and thus a larger fan base. Of course you can also lose money on these little investments if nobody wants them.

Multiplayer is your other main option, and lets up to 43 players race for first place at once, which I was very excited about. You can imagine how much different the race dynamics are when youre paying against 42 other aggressive humans rather than the somewhat predictable A.I.. Nascar Simracing supports voice over IP during the races for the appropriate smack-talking, and you are also able to trade car settings online with other drivers if you find yourself having trouble tweaking your car for a particular track.

This really is a much better offering in the way of a Nascar sim than EA has given us in the past, but it isnt without its problems. The first problem I spotted occurred almost immediately when playing in the Career mode. I was on my second lap, and although I had not hit anything at all, nor had I been doing donuts or anything else out of the ordinary, and still my car was sending up sparks on the turns. I could understand this if I was driving into barriers or other cars, or if Id somehow seriously messed up my tires in the first lap of Daytona, but I was driving the proper line, doing nothing out of the ordinary. Even when my car didnt begin sparking that early, I immediately found myself falling behind the pack (within the first quarter mile), and it was then near impossible to catch up.

In other words, this game does not go easy on you. If you are anything but a diehard Nascar fan, this game will simply punish and frustrate you, even on the beginner difficulty setting.

But it does have some fundamental flaws as well. When playing an online game, observing as a spectator after wrecking is very cumbersome. By the time I finally figured out how to watch a full screen, uninterrupted view of a particular racer, it wasnt easy to do anything else until the race stopped. And watching a replay seemed equally buggy. Once I started one, I couldnt seem to find any playback controls. Things like this make the interface just plain strange at times. Although the sound effects are generally satisfactory, I found it odd that your engine sounds the same, whether youre inside the cockpit, using the hood view, or trailing camera view.

Admittedly Im not the most knowledgeable fan of Nascar, although I am a fan, and know the basic rules. Still, controlling the car during a yellow flag is not fun for anyone, so I usually had the computer take over for me. On more than one occasion, the computer would get me a penalty due to its driving, although I couldnt figure out why, and it is very frustrating to essentially lose a lap due to the A.I. being quirky. And apparently Im not the only one who has seen this issue.

Lastly, although I definitely played this game in the way it was intended, as a true sim racer, I was kind of disappointed to see that it really isnt conducive at all to letting you let loose to work out some aggression. You get disqualified very easily in Nascar Simracing, and I found no easy way to change the settings to allow me todrive the track in the wrong direction, for instance. Thats understandable, I suppose, but still kind of a letdown, since the wrecks are so cool.

I kind of look at Nascar Simracing as EAs apology to Nascar fans. It really is an overhaul of the series, and finally one that does the sport justice. Again, the customization is incredible youll find everything you need to run your dream race. Those of you whove been depressed without a decent sim the past few years now have cause to rejoice. But casual racers beware: this game will chew you up and spit you out if youre just looking for cheap thrills. Nascar Simracing was created to be a simulation of the fastest sport there is, and its impressive where it counts.

All of the options are here, even the ones you dont expect.

Everything is marvelously detailed and accurate.

Crunches and scrapes sound great. Engine Noises are sub par.

There are enough settings in this game to drive any sim fan wild.

Its great while it lasts, but once youve played it to deathyouve played it to death.