The Sims 3: World Adventures
The Sims 3: World Adventures is the first expansion pack for the strategic life simulation computer game The Sims 3. The game was announced on The Sims 3 website in August 2009, with a North American release scheduled to November 17, 2009, to coincide with the release of Need for Speed: Nitro. The expansion pack focuses on traveling to 3 different areas as The Sims: Vacation and The Sims 2: Bon Voyage did previously, but in a new twist focuses on adventures over simple family vacations. At these new sim-inspired destinations found in China, Egypt, and France; Sims can meet Sims of different nationalities, hunt for treasure, and learn new skills.
Gameplay
Players will be able to take their Sims to landmarks in whole new countries. Sims will be able to hunt for hidden treasure and display those newly found artifacts in their home. New skills, such as Photography, and personality traits are to be included, as well as new rewards for Sims who succeed in challenges. Players will be able to take their Sims to explore ancient tombs in Egypt, master martial arts in China, and discover and enjoy making nectar (the non-alcoholic Sims 3 equivalent to wine) in France. Sims from the included locations will feature in the game and Sims will be able to share cultures and traditions, another first in a Sims game. Another feature mentioned is visa points, which determine how long you may stay on your vacation. If you get enough visa points, you can purchase a vacation home (which is an improvement from the camping area you get first).
One of the new architectural developments are the trigger-able doors and staircases, similar to the doors in the Sims 2 Apartment Life.
On an IGN preview, it was revealed that mummies would be playable in the game. Mummies can awaken from their sarcophagus and curse your sim, causing them to die in two week’s time if they do not perform the proper ritual at the Sphinx. Sims can also become mummies. These would move slower, have limited needs, and have increased strength. It is not known at this time if playable mummies can curse other sims, but mummies die only in fire, and will become mummy-ghost hybrids.
Development
The Sims 3: World Adventures was first announced on August 3, 2009. An expansion pack for The Sims 3 was seen as inevitable given the amount produced for both The Sims and The Sims 2. In particular, the themes of pets, downtown areas and vacations carried over in both games leading some people to guess that they would be included in future expansion packs.
During an interview, producer Lyndsay Pearson said that real-world locations were a draw for their players and that users had been creating famous buildings on the exchange. The expansion pack represented an extension of that desire. She also stated that innovations present in the expansion pack could not have been achieved before.
It has been announced that exclusive online content would be made available on The Sims 3 Store when the expansion pack is released. This is seen as creating extra incentives for the players to buy the game. Lyndsay Pearson also stated that when creating the expansion pack that they are adding content that could not be sent through the Store. $10 (£6) worth of credit have also been offered for people that buy the expansion pack.[1]
In addition, mobile versions have also been planned with customised mobile features. These are slated for a 2010 release.
On August 18, it was revealed that Nelly Furtado, Pixie Lott, Stefanie Heinzmann, Matt & Kim and Young Punx would be recording songs in Simlish for the game.