Sims 3 – An EA Visit

The Sims 3 Prima Print Team outside of EA

Sims 3.  There are a million things that run through my head when I hear that title, and as a classic Sims 2 player, I want to know if those million things will really happen.  Can I really have my Sim leave the house?  Do I have neighbors? Can I really really customize my Sim that much?  Even more freedom?  New careers?  New items?  Personality trait wha? The glazed look of glee fills my eyes as I too wait to receive my EA newsletter with a VIP code to check out the behind-the-scenes stuff…

But, as Prima’s Digital Product Manager, I am behind the scenes.  I have played the game already and got to confirm if some of my conjectures are true a little early (and nope, I’m not gonna tell you what they are…yet ~_^).

But recently, I had the opportunity last month to visit Electronic Arts Redwood Shores (EARS for short) and actually see some masters in action.  First, if you’ve never had a chance to see the EA campus, it’s amazing (and huge-bigger than my own university actually).  The campus is busy with people running back and forth between various projects and buildings, TV displays always buzzing with new titles…  Let me put it this way-they have their own Starbucks.

After my initial moment of awe at the entrance, we were greeted by our friendly licensor contact, Dan, for a brief walk around.  I knew immediately from the glass window displays and plumbob lamps hanging from ceiling where I was: the Sims Floor.  The walls were lined with nicely printed publicity posters and tons of the design documents literally stapled to the walls.  Ideas for every building in the Neighborhood in every shade of color and texture you could think of until it was “perfect.” A wide array of faces in every shape and expression imaginable (and even some I thought were impossible).  The wireframes of items as they were being created and laid out for development.  The sheer diversity in clothing and styles nearly dazed me.

I was so distracted looking at everything I ran into someone’s cube and then had to be pulled along into the meeting room.  Dan’s shared office was littered with Sims’ faces and yellow post-it notes.  As we entered, his office partner looked up from loading Sunset Valley and began a map view edit of the expansive neighborhood.  Once we had gathered our things, we were then taken to another building to witness the masters at work: the Creator Camp.

A library is an excellent explanation of what it was like entering that hall.  Two full rooms of people stacked in three rows working on creating lots, customizing items, and making movies for the Sims 3.  Head down and determined.  Grant you, I am not the lot building type, but some of the three story mansions that were being built with the craziest textures were pretty sweet.  Then I realized, the person working on that mansion actually made that texture.  I’m lucky if I can get my stairs to connect to the second floor correctly in the Sims 2!  But the camp was awesome.  You can actually start to check out some of the “stuff” people made at the camp over at the Sims 3 site.

So, the trip was nice, and following in the interview footsteps of the creator camp, here’s my two cents:

What is your favorite new feature from The Sims 3?

The neighborhood-going outside is awesome.  Running down the street in my PJs to get to work on time at a diner is even more awesome.

If you could take any aspect of the game and convert it into a real life moment what would it be?

Some of the achievement traits would be super helpful!

What is your favorite Personality Trait from The Sims 3?

Insane – it’s absolutely hysterical to watch your Sim talk to a bookshelf.  But, in actuality, it’s a super helpful trait if your Sim lives alone as they will keep themselves entertained longer and keep their mood up!  If it works for me in real life, it can work for my sim too!

You can also check out what’s going into the Sims 3 Prima Official Game Guide at our site and let us know what you’d like to see here at the blog.

Categories: Projects
Tags: creator camp, EA, EARS, personality, Sims 3, traits