The Sims 4 daily live gameplay streams

Updated: 30/08/2014

The Sims team has been doing some daily live streams on the official Twitch channel. Until now there were 2 broadcasts. You can see the live replays here. Further broadcasts will be added to this thread as soon as they become available.


1st broadcast: Build Mode


Watch live video from TheSims on Twitch



2nd Broadcast: Live Mode


Watch live video from TheSims on Twitch

Watch live video from TheSims on Twitch



3rd Broadcast: Live Mode (scroll to 9:08)


Watch live video from TheSims on Twitch

4th Broadcast: Live Mode



Watch live video from TheSims on Twitch


5th Broadcast: Live from PAX (Recorded by simsvip.com)




6th Broadcast: Live Mode


Watch live video from TheSims on Twitch

The Sims 4 recommended System requirements unveiled by official website

The FAQ at The Sims 4 Official Website has finally unveiled the recommended system requirements. Unlike the minimum system requirements, these are the ones recommended to have a faster/detailed experience. Here's the quoted list:

REQUIRED: Internet connection required for product activation.
OS: 64 Bit Windows 7,8, or 8.1
PROCESSOR: Intel core i5 or faster
AMD Athlon X4
MEMORY: 4GB RAM 
HARD DRIVE: At least 9 GB of free space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content and saved games
DVD-ROM: DVD ROM drive required for installation only
VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GTX 650 or better
SOUND CARD: DirectX 9.0c Compatible
DIRECTX: DirectX 9.0c compatible
INPUT: Keyboard and Mouse

New The Sims 4 Gamescom gameplay video from directsims.com

Since the other post is no longer sticky, we'll be starting to announce additional Gamescom gameplay videos in separate posts, as well as updating the former.

Here's the new video:

Life Simulation in 2014

2014 is a year full of life simulation game releases. While arguably some people consider this genre to be casual (the games tend to absorb a lot of your free time so "casual" may not be the most appropriate choice of a word), it is somewhat niche. By niche we mean that, while some games have become immensely popular, others, such as Japanese dating sims, appeal less to the masses. The two most relevant games already released this year fit in the latter category:


Tomodachi Life (Nintendo 3ds)

Know as Tomodachi Collection: New Life in Japan, this Nintendo 3ds title has arrived a full year later in western countries. The game sees you taking care of your Mii's, by giving them a dedicated room in an apartment complex, feeding them, and watching them develop relationships with each other. They can even get married and get baby Mii's, which you may let go on a journey through other 3ds handhelds (via StreetPass), or keep them in your apartment complex. There are some other activities/events that your characters can engage in, such as rap contests and going to a funfair complete with a roller-coaster.





Hometown Story (Nintendo 3ds)

Released back in 2013 in North American and Japanese territories, this game finally saw a European release back in the 2nd of May, 2014. It puts you in charge of shop you inherited from your deceased grandmother while you befriend other townspeople. Does this concept sound familiar to you? It's probably because it came from the mind of Yasuhiro Wada, the creator of Harvest Moon. Among the things you can do to improve your shop and customer satisfaction you get to choose your shop's stock and upgrade its size.





Although August is already coming to an end, there's still plenty more games to come in the remainder of the present year:


Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley (Nintendo 3ds)

The latest entry in the Harvest Moon franchise lets you manage a farm in a more blocky, Minecraft-alike world you get to customise. The story starts with a Harvest Sprite telling you that all seasons have disappeared, except for Winter. It's your duty to recover the missing seasons with the help of the other characters. The game is rumoured to be released in North America on the 21st of October, while a release date for other territories is still pending.

Story of Seasons (Nintendo 3ds)

Yet another entry in the Harvest Moon series for 3ds. The publisher Marvelous was forced to drop that label, tough, because the name "Harvest Moon" belongs to Natsume in North America. The gameplay is mostly similar to previous iterations of the series, in the sense that you are put in charge of a farm and do the usual tasks, like taking care of crops and animals, and sell your products through a trading station. It also features a Safari Park where it's possible to interact with exotic animals. The game is already out in Japan and has a pending release of 2014 for North America. There's still word on the release for other territories.





Castaway Paradise (iOS)

We usually don't cover mobile games, but this one seems to be like a fully fledged experience. While it's been widely criticised for being an Animal Crossing clone, the game offers a more goal-oriented gameplay and fixed characters. It's already out in Canada, Australia and Vietnam, but it may come to other territories later this year. It's a free download, with a paid monthly subscription to unlock some extras.






Fantasy Life (Nintendo 3ds)

This is an RPG with some elements of life simulation like customising the player's house with crafted furniture and establishing relationships with the villagers. The player gets to choose one of the following 12 character classes: Paladin, Mercenary, Hunter, Wizard, Miner, Woodcutter, Angler, Alchemist, Carpenter, Blacksmith, Cook and Tailor. The active class can be changed at any time without loosing the acquired skills. Despite being out in Japan since late 2012, the game is yet to launch in other territories. It's set to be released in Europe on the 26th of September and a month later in North America, on the 24th of October.





The Sims 4 (PC)

The king of life simulation games starts anew in early September. After tons of store stuff, and expansion and stuff packs, The Sims 3 era has come to an end. Despite being involved in some controversy due to the cut of key features from previous games (especially Create-a-Style, toddlers and swimming pools), the game got some good impressions from the few who got to experience it first-hand. Key features are the introduction of emotions with gameplay effects, new jobs, improved buy/build mode, more intuitive Create-a-Sim (with a demo now available for download) and smarter AI.



So, which game are you most interested in? Let us know in the poll the on the right side of the page.

New The Sims 4 videos straight from Gamescom 2014

Updated: 25/08/2014

Some sites that have attended Gamescom have been releasing gameplay videos. But first things first, here's the footage from the EA press conference (video by Simsvip):




And some teasers that have been released at the official Sims page:







And now for the fan videos:

IGN Italy:




The English Simmer:





Garry's School:




BeyondSims:


 











Rachybop's playlist:




Simcookie:





GameRiot:





Simfans.de:




Sims4.eu:




Everyeye.it:





Simgoodie:






Directsims.com


As usual, we will be updating this post as more videos get released.

There's a new developer diary for Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley

The official Natsume Facebook page has just published another monthly developer diary for Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley. This time it focusses on animal personality traits, a feature that's never been implemented in previous Harvest Moon games. Here's the full text:

Our monthly developer diary series will give you a little bit of insight into the development behind Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley. Fans have regularly asked us to "peel back the mysterious curtain" on game development, and we're happy to share some of what goes into a game.
While we were first developing Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley, we called it by a code name: Back to Basics. We've applied this philosophy to many aspects of the game, including the animals available on the farm. We went back to the basics: cows, sheep, chickens, and, of course, horses.
But we didn't just want to reduce the number of animals; we wanted to make each animal feel unique in some way, and we wanted there to be a better reason to keep animals – whether you've previously kept a full barn or eschewed animal husbandry all together. Now, each animal will have its own personality traits, called “skills” in the game.
We really like this push-pull mechanic of this system,because it lets players seek out animals with the traits they desire most for their own personal play style.  Some farmers may aim for a barn with all of the same traits, while others may look for a selection of traits for a balanced barn or coop.
Here's a sample of a few traits:
Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall– This season is the animal’s favorite! Their affection level will go up faster in that season.
Calm/Strong-Willed/Patient– These animals will have a higher tolerance for stress in different situations.
Elegant – These animals really, really hate being dirty! You'll get a big affection bonus when you brush them. The higher an animal's affection, the higher quality products they'll produce, as well as a higher quantity of that product!
Like a particular trait? You can breed that particular animal and get the same skill over and over or, even better, you can breed them into a rare, super version of that skill! Here's a few skills, and how they level up:
Great Goods becomes High-Quality Goods: These animals have a strong and powerful body! Because of that, they will sometimes produce higher-quality products.
More Goods becomes Super Goods: These animals are gifted with fantastic health! Because of that, they will sometimes produce a higher quantity of products.
Rarely, animals can also be blessed with the skill of Learning, which allows them to learn skills quickly and easily.
One exciting way you can have your animals learn skills is by feeding them special animal feed. In Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley, there's a large variety of animal feeds that can be made! However,exactly how you'll make these special animal feeds is a secret we'll save for another day!
We'll be talking more about animal skills in the coming months, so keep watching for the next Developer Diary!  

Another bachelor has also been announced:

Gilbert is the second BACHELOR we’re revealing for Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley. A travelling bard, Gilbert has a unique speech pattern among the residents this time – this eligible gentleman speaks in rhyme! 
“I am called Gilbert, my friend. Farewell until we meet again.”

Gilbert’s knowledge is deep and wide; his knowledge of history and lore will be an asset by your side. Humble and gentle to a fault, yet Gilbert’s heart is locked inside the tightest of vaults. He'll teach you the art of fishing when he arrives; it's a necessary skill for long winters you must survive! His knowledge of the Harvest Goddess is important to your task, and his wit is as sharp as your favorite axe.

“I've been seeking somewhere to plant seeds, the perfect spot for their growing needs."

Gilbert is a wanderer at heart, traveling from place to place. However, it seems there is a specific reason he has come to visit the Lost Valley. Do you have what it takes to get Gilbert to open up to you about why he really came here, and also convince him to plant his roots firmly in the Lost Valley?

Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Tomodachi Life (among others) get a discount until the 21st of August

via Nintendo Life

Nintendo is doing a promotion to celebrate the upcoming title Super Smash Bros. For those who don't know, Super Smash Bros. is a brawler which features several Nintendo's and other brands' characters as fighters. In order to promote the game, titles that involve the characters featured are being temporarily discounted. Among those are the life simulators Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Tomodachi Life, which now cost, respectively, €27.99/£24.49 and €31.99/£27.99. For more information on these and other titles, please visit the link provided above.

Meet Arehim, the official blog mascot

This is Arehim Bernardino, and she will be the official Life Simulator Gamer mascot. She will be testing all the features of future Sims games and expansions and appear in reviews. Other versions of her will also be created whenever possible to feature in other games. Her traits are: neat, outgoing and good. You can find her in The Sims 4 Gallery under #lifesimulatorgamer. Enjoy!!

Here's a torrent of news about The Sims 4

Updated on 12-08-2014

The embargo on the information colected by fansites who attended the latest The Sims Creator's Camp has been lifted today. Also, some gaming sites have been publishing more information and previews about the game. This means a whole batch of information about The Sims 4 has recently started flowing the web and social media. Some videos of gameplay have already been published:


Kotaku:




PC Gamer:





The Escapist:

The Escapist : Previews : The Sims 4 Gameplay Preview - Mad Scientists and Fancy Houses


IGN:

The Sims:










SimsVip:














SimsNetwork:







More videos will be coming up as soon as EA delivers the previously recorded footage to the fansites.
Also, they have been given a USB stick containing the following 9 screenshots:

The following articles and posts also contain some more screens:

jeuxvideo.com

USGamer

Telegraaf

Sara de Moor

Ruthless K.K.

Multiplayer.it

Simtimes.de

SimCookie

ehaught58

simfans.de

Kotaku

Bill Sim

Rachybop

Alala Sims

That's it for now, we'll try and stay up to date.

The Sims 4 CAS Demo is now available to everyone

Previously only a select group of simmers had access to the new Create-A-Sim demo. That's no longer the case, as Origin has made it public and free to download. You can find it on Origin's page.

Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley: the first harvest sprite has been revealed

Nintendo World Report has revealed the first harvest sprite for the game. You can find the information on the original article published here.

The official Sims 4 forums are now live

After closing for a few days for upgrading, The Sims 3 official forums have now been rebranded as The Sims 4 official forums. If you were already a user, you may want to update you avatar, as the previous ones have been deleted. Check the revamped forums here.

Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley: yet another villager revealed

Jimmy is the new villager revealed at Natsume's official Facebook page. Here's the info:

Jimmy is the next villager revealed in #HarvestMoon: The Lost Valley! A mischievous 12-year-old, he's already got his whole life plan figured out, and won't let anyone deter him from what he wants to do! He's one of Brutus' sons, and the younger brother of Tony.

"My brother is such a wimp! He needs to stand up for himself more!"

Jimmy doesn't have a lot of respect for his older brother Tony, who he views as unreliable and a wimp. Unlike his brother, Jimmy is always on the lookout for food and other items that will make him big and strong, like his father. However, he's usually not the biggest fan of the things he needs to eat and drink that will make him big and strong, so eating things like vegetables is a huge challenge for him! Can you help him overcome his vegetable-phobia?

"I'm gonna be a great blacksmith like my dad when I grow up!"

Jimmy worships his father, and wants to follow in his large footsteps. He's already started training to become a master blacksmith, and will do anything to become as good as his father at shaping metal and creating tools. Much like his father, he's not good at discussing feelings and is terrible at arguing, leading to him become frustrated and obstinate. Jimmy also has a bit of a one-sided "rivalry" with Sally, who he sees as competition, but Sally doesn't really pay him any mind...

The last set from The Sims 3 Store has been released today

The final set from The Sims 3 Store, appropriately named "Last Venue of Amore" has been released. The set features a rideable gondola as a premium content item. The venue is now available here and currently costs 1700 simpoints.

Here's a video of captured footage from the gondola:

New Screenshot for Story of Seasons

A new screenshot for Story of Seasons, a Harvest Moon game (do not confuse with Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley) coming later this year, has been published in the game's official Facebook page:

New characters revealed for Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley

As usual, a new batch of characters has been revealed at the official Natsume Facebook page, including the first bachelorette. Here's the info:

Emily is the first BACHELORETTE we’re revealing from #HarvestMoon: The Lost Valley!
"Welcome to Hanna's Groceries! Home to all your shopping needs!"
Daughter of the motherly Hanna, Emily is the unofficial cheerleader of the Lost Valley. Always quick to smile, she is both very energetic and active. You'll quickly make friends with her exploring around the Lost Valley.

"Eek! A bug!!! Get it off me! Get it off me!"

Emily is terrified of insects, but otherwise is adventurous, and practically fearless. Like her mother Hanna, she's very straightforward, and loves working as a waitress, carrying on the family tradition. As she works at the restaurant, Emily is a force to be reckoned with in the Cooking Festival! You'd better give it everything you've got if you want to beat her cooking!

"I want to make people feel GOOD by making food that is uplifting!"

Emily's dream is to cheer up people with her delicious food. She looks up to her mother very much, and is constantly trying her hardest to become a great chef like her. However, compared to Hanna, Emily feels her food is always second-best. Can you help Emily become a great chef, and make her dream come true? Emily is a marriage candidate.
 

Hanna is this week’s featured villager in Meet the Residents of The Lost Valley! Hanna is the owner of the local café. With a mix of a feminine appearance and a tomboy personality she's never outgrown, Hanna is a bit of a contradiction.

"Buy some of my food, will ya? I'm sure you're gonna love it!"

Though she can be a little careless with her words and actions, Hanna has a big heart, and plenty of love for all her customers – and her daughter, Emily! As a middle-aged woman, she's comfortably settled into the slower-paced lifestyle of the Lost Valley, and couldn't think of living anywhere else. Stop by, and Hanna will be sure to feed you plenty of delicious food, cooked and served by fellow family members.

"My hubby and I have a restaurant in town! Emily is the hostess!"

Hanna runs the local eatery, while her daughter Emily serves as the hostess of the restaurant. Hanna is very proud that her daughter Emily is carrying on the family tradition by working in the restaurant.