The Sims Trailer
Enjoy the trailer for the game now considered a classic masterpiece!
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Welcome to The Sims, a mirror world created from the fantasies of thousands -- a random alternate reality where you view and play, both. Enter here and, you own a plot of land to create your own kingdom. Build a house, pizza joint, discotheque, library or anything you dream of. Take a walk through the locality around you and meet Sims just like you. Enhance your power, wealth, reputation and social standing by bonding with Sims everywhere. Here your destiny is in your hands, make it or break it.
Enjoy the trailer for the game now considered a classic masterpiece!
Watch the introductory cutscene to the very first Sims game.
High quality gameplay footage of a day in the life on a Sim.
After the Sorority sisters got the second bathroom, I figured everything had finally settled down. The Blonde house was doing pretty well, with Squeaky, Chocolate and Massa working up their career ladders successfully -- even after Ungar left to move in with Fergus & Patrick, and despite Massa's destructive bladder problem. The Greneriks had finally saved enough for a nice 80's leather couch, while shy Rod Torfelson was building a group of friends that seemed to help ease the downward spiral that was his life. Even the Groundlings survived their initial rough spell, building a second room onto their house and getting a pinball machine, some friends, and normal working hours. Just don't mention Veronica in their presence, and certainly don't bring up the greedy burglar that found a way to steal a stereo, computer, TV and chess board in a matter of 20 minutes.
EA shipped us a few of copies of the game nearly two weeks ago, and we've kept playing and playing them until someone had to physically pull the disks out of our hands. The game isn't just addictive, it's downright dangerous. Whether you loved playing with a dollhouse as a kid, or blowing up that dollhouse with M-80s, I feel safe in saying that you may have just found yourself a new religion.
I'm not going to bore you with the general details of the Sims again (we've got a preview for that), just to summarize and say that if you've ever played Little Computer People on the C64, or built a block mansion out of LEGOs, this will feel very familiar. Controlling people's lives and their respective environments is the name of the game, and whether you want to build the perfect retirement home or the imperfect crackhouse, you'll have free reign to do just that -- along with the tenants to fill them.
The Maxis team has once again taken a very complicated concept and sent it to interface heaven, with a menu system and control scheme that makes the brightly polished SimCity 3000 system seem like a rusty bucket. With one bubbly menu in the bottom left corner of the screen, you'll be able to do everything from check on your Sims relationships and desires to select the furniture and build the homes they'll relate in. A photo album option allows you to document their lives, and add notes for special events. The time bar looks like a CD interface, while the options screen has translated everything into simplified icons. Wonder what anything does? The rollover menu system will pop up with extensive information about almost every object in the game, from a character's job skills to the characteristics of a certain item or piece of wallpaper. It's a tutorial system in of itself, and will help ease you into the Sim world slowly. A tutorial house, as well as a pre-made house (the Goth family) will give you as much instruction as you could wish for, and if there are any gaps, the entertaining manual/Sim bible will give you tips on the finer points of Simburb living. Controlling the Sims themselves is a snap -- click on an object or person, and a set of options will spread out around your cursor letting you know what's possible at a given time. For instance you'll always be able to use a sink, but if the repair option appears on your access menu, it may be time to call the repairman before you have a plumbing disaster. Interaction with other Sims is even more seamless. If you've just met someone then your options are very limited, but become close and you'll be able to choose from a wide range of choices like teasing, bragging, flirting, and even -- gasp -- kissing.
The graphics are easy on the eyes, almost a natural progression of SimCity 3000. It's as if you were finally able to zoom into the individual buildings and see what the people were doing inside of those tiny walls. What this also means, unfortunately, is that the same 2D design is kept intact, instead of becoming more robust to reflect the detailed view. The objects are crisp and detailed, and animate in perfect simplicity, but home design could have had a bit more detail, particularly when you try to pull off any funkier shapes. Characters aren't 3D accelerated, but they have a nice look -- though you can't really sneak in close enough to get a nice view of their faces while they're conversing with the locals. Turn up the volume though, and you'll forget any complaints you had about the game's look and feel. Meticulous is putting it lightly -- the Maxis team is obsessive-compulsive when it comes to making sure that everything from flushing a toilet to chopping up vegetables sounds like the real thing. More complicated sounds like the stereo and television are handled with care and quality, providing original songs and sounds in the same gibberish language as the Sims themselves. The Sims talk in a language that, for not sounding familiar in anyway, perfectly captures the moods, attitudes and actions of every character in the game. You'll know when a Sim is telling a joke, and more importantly, whether or not the jokee thought it was funny. The music adds yet another layer, somehow turning easy-listening into something you look forward to. When it's playing at the Acropolis with Linda Evans in the stands it's a shuddering mess, but in a long-running game like the Sims, it's pure magic. I never thought that light-jazz piano music would make me so happy, or make me feel so calm while watching people burn to toast from starting a fire on a stovetop.
The relationships are alternately mature enough to please all age ranges and interests, but immature enough to provide a constant set of Rickie Lake-esque escapades of your choosing. You'll watch your Sims succeed, fail, and even die, if you're unlucky enough to have a gung-ho Sim who loves to fix their own broken TV without any mechanical experience. Children can come and go, loving marriages can fade, and all sorts of teen-romance situations can finally be played out in your very own home. Though in all honesty, it looks like a big dripping chunk of the gamers out there are only interested in re-enacting Bound again and again and again... all I can say is that I felt the same wonky feeling in my stomach about it as I did last week when I saw a faded bumper sticker on some car at a gas station that said "Avatars Do It Online." Sadly enough, it looks like some do. But in The Sims, it's a good thing. If you're only interested in re-creating every single sitcom family you've ever loved, then the possibility is there. Three's Company? Why not? Wright wanted people to be able to create their own family in the game, no matter what that configuration might be, and it looks like he's actually done it. You may not be able to get down to the finer personality details, but you'll definitely be able to paint characters with a fairly good brush, and with some Photoshop skills, even get them to look pretty close to the real thing. Jealousy, love, crushes and hatred will take place whether you like it or not, and it's a wonder to see in the game. I remember the first time one of my characters became somewhat close to a neighbor, and my surprise when I went to the neighbor's house and noticed that their friendship rating was almost twice as high. Some characters are born to hate each other, while others can find some common topics with time, given the right environment and the right moods. They're so touchy, those polygonal people.
When you've started to get the hang of creating and ruining lives, then you can start building the homes that they'll thrive or die in. You can set up the walls, plant the plants, and pick the wallpaper and windows that you want, the way you want it. It's just as fun as the game itself, particularly because you have to work hard over time to afford the slightest remodel. As you slowly add on to your house, you'll see it take shape, taking out windows, adding doors, changing carpeting and filling in the empty rooms with plants and life. It can be a satisfying experience, but it can also crush you if you aren't careful. Being a starving artist is one thing, but being a starving artist in a giant square house with no carpet and half a wall missing is quite another. There's a rating system for how good your house looks, and it gives you a few clues on how to create perfect palace. Don't want to mess with building from scratch? The game provides you with a few starter houses, as well as a mansion to move into when you save enough money. Personally, I could spend all day making a great mega-pool or slum dive, but if you're not as interested as I am, you can skip it and get right to the action. Furniture is as key to success as a Sims career, as it determines how much comfort they get from a couch, or happiness they get out of walking into a room. Different Sims have different needs, so a TV may be vital for some characters, while a chess board may be salvation for a shy, quiet type.
The one drawback to the designing scheme is the lack of textures and wallpapers that can customize your house. Because everything in the game is a texture, you can't just say 'I'd like that wall in green,' or for that matter, 'I want his hair in red.' Pink stucco's OK for some people, but what about those of use that want it in tiger print? The good thing about all this is that there are already a plethora of fan sites out there with floors and wallpapers of all styles and colors, which can be quickly popped into the game. Plants and objects are somewhat limited as well, especially when you're forced to buy a lime-green couch because it provides the most comfort possible. If nothing else, different colors for furniture would have been nice.
All of that could actually be solved in the next six months, if Maxis delivers on all of its promises (which up to now, they've exceeded). The most brilliant, well thought out design concept with the game actually came out long before its release this week. HomeMaster, SimShow and FloorMaster have been out for months and months, and they've allowed fans of The Sims to start creating skins, wallpaper and flooring long before they could even view how the end result would look in the game itself. If you take a look at some of my screens you'll see some of the textures and skins at work, as well as some of my own creations using SimShow. Though the SimCity series has also supported fan design for the game, The Sims really takes it a step farther by letting fans tweak the environments that the characters live in -- and when you start playing you'll realize how important letting your cheerleader have that flaming pentagram wallpaper really is. Last year Will Wright spoke about an object designer and a career manipulator that could possibly appear at a later date, opening up even more possibilities for programming and art-savvy fans. The possibilities could, literally, become endless.
All is not hot tubs and roses in the world of the Sims, however. Pathing issues can create odd and sometimes critical situations, such as the person racing for work, but unable to move around a particular chair, or the unduly elaborate process of getting your Sim to greet someone at the door. It's understandable given the programming involved with pulling the game off, but it can still have you pulling your hair at times. A bit more frustrating are the deceivingly high requirements of the game, which will inevitably slow down even the fastest computer. With the texture detail turned all the way up some of you may run into choppy framerates as your house gets larger, and large groups of characters animate on screen. When you've seen hundreds of ships flying in full 3D in Homeworld without a glitch, it's sad to see a pre-rendered game run so choppy. The micro-management issue is sure to cause debates for months to come: some of you will find that you love telling your Sims when to go to the bathroom and instructing them on tiny details, while others will complain that there's never enough time for fun in the average Sim's life, especially when there's no official weekend in a Sim's schedule (you can take a day off at any time, just not two in a row).
Finally, I would just like to whine and say 'where are the kitties and puppies?' I know that it would probably be a nightmare to add animals into the Sim world, but that won't keep me from kicking my feet under my desk in protest. And what's up with the lack of tract lighting? The Sims, I guess, aren't allowed to actually put lights on a wall -- it's one of the odder design choices in the game, but a minor problem at best.
At this point, I'm just bitching. For everything that the game doesn't provide, there are 20 other ideas that the team is adding as we speak. With the Sim Exchange site going live soon, the Sim world will become a global community, not just a personal one. You'll be able to put your characters on the web for the world to see with just a mouse click, and even better, be able to adopt someone else's dysfunctional family just as easily. Maxis has far surpassed the expectations for a game company in terms of feeding its fans what they want, and it looks like it won't just stop with the introduction of the game.
The Sims, for all its frustrations, highs and lows, is still -- gulp -- better than your average working day in real life, and a fun experiment in psychology, love and relationships. Will Wright has once again changed the playing field, and hopefully the rest of the world will soon follow. Now if you'll excuse me, I want to find out why an established woman on a career track towards becoming Mayor of SimCity has just found it necessary to pee on the living room floor.
-- Vincent Lopez
|---------------------------------------------------| | The Sims : Complete NPC Guide | |---------------------------------------------------| |Written by : AC Chua (albino_chua@yahoo.com) | |Last Update : August 26, 2004 | |Version 2.5 | |---------------------------------------------------| ================================================================================ >>>>> Version History <<<<< Version 1.1 - (May 14, 2002) First Version. Version 1.11 - (May 15, 2002) Fixed up some minor errors in grammar and word spacing. Version 1.2 - (May 16, 2002) Fixed the format of this FAQ for better viewing. Version 1.3 - (May 17, 2002) Added a new Review Section. Version 1.4 - (May 18, 2002) Made some minor corrections with character placements. Version 1.5 - (May 19, 2002) Added more info for the Headless Ghost, Entertainer, Mime, the Violinist, Janitor Sonya Claire The Bear, Genie, Drew Carey and Servo. Added 2 new NPC's (Space Aliens and Evil Clone) as well as a new section, (Miscellaneous Info). Edited the title's format. Version 1.6 - (May 23, 2002) Corrected the description for the Pizza Delivery guy. Version 1.7 - (May 25, 2002) Added more new links where my FAQ can be found. Version 1.8 - (May 27, 2002) Added more info for the Cashiers/Shopkeepers, Evil Clone, and Police Woman. Added 2 new NPC's, the Clown Catcher, which is available thru the official Sim website, (www.thesims.com) and SimGhosts. Version 1.9 - (June 3, 2002) Made a correction, removed the Braided Cowgirl from the list since she's not an NPC. My mistake! Added a new NPC, Santa Claus. Edited the description of the fireman to make more sense. Version 2.0 - (June 4, 2002) Made corrections on the descriptions of some characters. Version 2.1 - (June 16, 2002) Added some contributor's tips. Check the credits section for more details. Version 2.2 - (June 30, 2002) Made some corrections with the Santa Claus. Added more info for the caterer, Drew Carey and Headless Ghost. Version 2.3 - (Sept. 30, 2002) Added a new NPC, the DJ. Version 2.4 - (Nov. 16, 2002) Added the NPC's from Unleashed Version 2.5 - (Aug. 26, 2004) Added the NPC's from Superstar and Makin' Magic, as well as Unleashed characters who were missing, previously. ================================================================================ >>>>> Table Of Contents <<<<< 1. Introduction 2. Contact 3. Review 4. NPC's a. The Sims b. The Sims : Livin' Large c. The Sims : House Party d. The Sims : Hot Date e. The Sims : Vacation f. The Sims : Unleashed g. The Sims : Superstar h. The Sims : Makin' Magic i. Extras 5. Miscellaneous Info 6. Credits 7. Copyright Info =============================================================================== >>>>> Intro <<<<< Part of the excitement of playing "The Sims" are the several Non- Playable Characters that appear during certain situations. If you're like me and had some problems looking for a certain character in the game, then I hope that this FAQ will be able to guide you into the right way. This FAQ will try to name all NPC's, and on what expansions they appear in. I don't want to ruin the excitement for everyone so I'll just give a brief description for each NPC. ================================================================================ >>>>> Contact Me <<<<< Corrections, Additions, Clarifications, Comments and Suggestions are all welcome. I know that there are still many characters and descriptions lacking from this FAQ. If you know any extra info and would like to contact me regarding this FAQ, you can email me at albino_chua@yahoo.com. Also feel free to visit my site, http://www.angelfire.com/space/chronicle - a site which features interesting links, gaming news and more. You may also contact me through the message boards I'm administering at http://users.boardnation.com/~ace I will, of course, give you full credit for your contribution. If you email me, please put Sims in your subject and indicate the version you read and the site where you found my guide. Do not ask me about serial numbers or technical problems 'coz most probably, I wouldn't know how to solve them. ================================================================================ >>>>> Review <<<<< Around 2 years ago, I was addicted to this new game everyone was talking about called "The Sims". I've been a fan of SimCity 2000 and I kept wondering if the new game was just as good so I decided to try it out. At first, I discovered that my computer's specs weren't good enough for "The Sims". After hearing all the good things about the game, I just couldn't wait anymore. I was so eager that I bought a new PC right away. And then IT started; many days and nights were spent with "The Sims". "Mania" was the word to describe my fixation. I don't know exactly why I was so obsessed with the game. After all, there's nothing special about being able to control people's bladder and hygiene. The real world is already full of such problems. The obsession didn't stay for long. By the time, "Livin' Large" was released, I was already sick of the game. Not even a new expansion pack could renew my interest. But then, 2 years and 3 expansion packs later, I decided to give it another shot. And so I bought "Vacation" in addition to the "Hot Date and "House Party" expansions that I borrowed from a friend. Now, I don't play "The Sims" as often as I did before. While new expansion packs like "Vacation", "Superstar" and "Making Magic" couldn't bring back that "mania", these expansion packs can still be considered as deserving additions to the best-selling "Sims". The 6.3 million selling game is not just a game anymore, it has also been embedded into popular culture. And now, two years later as I update this FAQ, a new Sims will be released, with just less than a month to go. Here's to more NPC's in the new installment! ================================================================================ >>>>> NPC's <<<<< This section is divided into 9 parts. I placed each NPC in the order of which they appear at the 7 different expansions plus the original game. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> The Sims <<<<< (Original Game without expansions) 1. Newspaper Delivery Person - Probably the most common NPC in the game. Appears everyday at around 9am to deliver the paper. 2. The Maid - For $10 an hour, the maid will clean up dirty dishes, toilets, wet floors, etc. All it takes is a phone call to avail of her services. 3. The Gardener - Appears every 3 days to water your plants. Similar with the maid, service costs $10/hr. 4. Postal Woman - She appears every 3 days to give you your bills. You'll find them inside the mailbox where she placed them. 5. Repairman - Fixes everything from broken TV's to overused computers. The charge is a bit high ($50/hr). I suggest you let your sims handle the repair provided that they have mechanical points or else they might get electrocuted. 6. Fireman - When your house is on fire, you can always call the trusty fireman for help. If you have the fire alarm installed in the room that is burning, he'll come automatically. If not, you can call him by phone but it takes more time for him to come that way. 7. Police Woman - In charge of the neighborhood's welfare, there are a few "rules" you must remember. Be careful having your parties late at night. The policewoman will come and charge you $$$ for parties 11:00PM and beyond. But she'll warn you first. Also, having a burglar alarm around the house is an advantage since it automatically calls the police whenever a burglar robs your house. If your burglar is caught, you'll be given $$$$$ to compensate for the stolen items. For Livin' Large : the police will come if you use the chemistry set while having 2 or less logic points and she'll complain about the stench of the chemicals. Again, she'll fine you ($500 this time). 8. Pizza Delivery Guy - Tired of having to cook the same meal all the time? You can call your nearest pizza place for a delivery right at your doorstep. Pizza costs $40 each. 9. Burglar - (See Police Woman) Creeps into your sims' house in the middle of the night. 10. Repo Man - Looks like someone from Pest Control. His reporizing gun will absorb your house objects if you don't have the money to pay your bills. 11. Social Worker - Take good care of your SimBabies or they just might be taken away by the Social Worker. Pay attention to their warning, 'coz it is the last and only one. 12. SimGhosts - Ever wonder what happens to your sims when they die? Well, they're not OVER yet! They still come back from the dead once in a while to haunt the living. Done in random, the dead sims do their haunting at around midnight. You must have the dead sim's urn or tombstone in order to have them appear as ghosts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> The Sims : Livin' Large <<<<< 1. Servo - The robot maid costs a whopping $15,000. Servo's an all-in-one maid, repairman, gardener and cook. Works anytime (24 hours) as long as there's something that needs to be done. Click on his pod to get him going. 2. Grim Reaper - The Grim Reaper is a cool addition to the Sims game. This time, you're allowed to plead and play a Rock, Papers, Scissors game to decide the fate of your dying Sims. If you win, your Sims will live but if you lose, he might turn them into zombies. Then again, he might just let them die if he feels like it. 3. Genie - Comes with the Antique Lamp. Just clean the lamp and he'll appear. Be careful! For every two good wishes there are 3 bad ones. The Genie can be used only once a day. 4. Tragic Clown - He'll appear if you have the Tragic Clown Painting. As the name says, the clown will bring nothing but misery to your Sims and lower their overall mood. (Read Miscellaneous section) 5. Male and Female Monster - Your Sims may turn into monsters through the chemistry set. You have to make a chemical of purple color to do the trick. Your sim will remain that way for a few hours during which he/she will throw a fit and destroy whatever object crosses its path. Everything except the art easel! Yes, the monster loves to paint! What's more, the painting can be sold for a LOT of money! 6. Space Aliens - They are the only NPCs that can't be seen. They appear through a purple light to abduct your Sim. This happens only if your sim is using the telescope. After a short time, the abducted Sim reappears, albeit with a small difference. His/her personality has been changed. 7. Evil Clone - You have to make a Dark Green chemical through the chemistry set to create a clone. Since it is an NPC, you cannot control it. The clone is an exact opposite of your Sim (personality-wise). They fade away in a matter of hours. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> The Sims : House Party <<<<< * This expansion features a lot of NEW NPC's (for your party needs) 1. Headless Ghost - During the party, have a Sim with six or more charisma & creativity points "tell a story" while gathered around the bonfire. There's no telling when a headless ghost might just appear...... 2. Drew Carey - Throw an especially good party and he might just drop by along w/ his limo. Like all party guests, he will mingle and have fun, especially with female guests. 3. Male and Female Strippers - Err...I mean "Entertainers". Buy the large cake under Miscellaneous and click on the command, "Hire Male/Female Entertainer", depending on what you choose. Be careful though 'coz the entertainer might stir some jealousy with the other people in the party. 4. The Mime - Bore your guests to death and the Mime will surely come. While he will try to raise the mood by a bit, the mime is also known to steal objects in the house! So keep a close eye. He'll leave only if the party mood gets better. 5. Pink Gorilla - Sometimes, the Pink Gorilla appears as replacement for the Female Entertainer. The gorilla will entertain the kids, too. (Read Miscellaneous Section). 6. Caterer - Call him when you're throwing a party. For an all-you-can-eat fee, he'll replenish your buffet table & punch bowl whenever they run out. But be careful, he's known to forget his work during the party. He likes to stroll around & chat with guests and his bad social skills will ruin their social ratings. He will also rummage through the costume trunk so keep a watchful eye. 7. Party Crasher - These rowdy crashers come during mediocre to (Guy w/ bandanas) fairly good parties. They tend to destroy objects. 8. Party Crasher - Can be easily spotted from the crowd by their (Euro Punk) outrageous outfits and dyed hair. You can't find them in your neighborhood and they appear only during parties. 9. Boxers - When you hire a male entertainer through the large cake, there is a small chance that a fit, nerdy or tragic clown (if you have Livin' Large) boxer will appear instead of the usual male stripper. He will do the same things the stripper does. (Read Miscellaneous section) 10. Santa Claus - Yes, there is a Santa Claus in The Sims! Buy the plate of cookies just a little before midnight & place it on a table beside the fireplace. Make sure you have a Christmas Tree nearby and he'll appear while your sims are asleep. He'll leave a gift for each of your sims plus an extra special present! The "present" is randomly chosen but I got a stereo once. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> The Sims : Hot Date <<<<< 1. Mrs. Crumplebottom - Perhaps the most interesting NPC in Hot Date, Mrs. Crumplebottom guards Downtown from any "improper acts". Just don't have her in the same room while your sims kiss, hug and make-out. As the Old Prude would say, "Why don't you get a room?" 2. Rental Shack Person - He comes as Jack if you have Gimme Gamble's rental shack or Zack if you have the Rental Shed au Naturel instead. Your sims will need to approach him if they need to rent anything Downtown or in Vacation Island (Note: for the latter, Sims : Vacation is required) 3. Waiters/Busboys/Cooks - They are required if you want a smooth-running restaurant. Podiums automatically hire waiters, Dishwashers = Busboys, Stove = Cooks. 4. Janitor Sonya - Responsible for keeping the Downtown area clean and working, you can often see her mumbling to herself or dancing with her mop. 5. Cashiers/Shopkeepers - Each type of cash register hires corresponding Bartenders/Barmaids sets of shopkeepers. Required when building shops. The Ice Cream and Hot Dog stands automatically hire store clerks as well. The same trend follows for future expansions, where new shops (such as Sushi Bar, Coffee Shop) are introduced. 6. Pianist - Just place a piano in Downtown and she'll appear during play mode. 7. Violinist (Carlo) - Not sure how you get him to appear but my guess is that you need to build a posh restaurant, meaning the most expensive amenities. Your sims can interact with him by requesting a song or by tipping him with $20. Don't tip him and you might just end up with a cheesy mini-puppet show. 8. Claire the Bear - Often seen in the front yard digging for scraps in the garbage can. If you have a teddy outside, she will talk to it. She also appears in Downtown to disrupt picnics by raiding the picnic baskets. With Sims Unleashed, Claire the Bear will be able to enter your house and do much more. 9. DJ - The DJ will only appear if you have the turntable from House Party. He'll make sure the audience gets into the groove. You can interact with him by requesting a song and he'll put the record on for you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> The Sims : Vacation <<<<< 1. Vacation Director - A familiar sight during family excursions, she's in charge of coordinating with the Vacation Island Staff in order to make your sims enjoy their stay. Ask her all that you need to know about Vacation Island. 2. The Beach Shark - Found in the Beach Portion of Vacation Island. These wandering entertainers help keep kids (and their parents) in a good mood. 3. Archie Archer - Found in the Forest Portion of Vacation Island. These wandering entertainers help keep kids (and their parents) in a good mood. 4. The Yeti - Found in the Snow Covered Portion of Vacation Island. These wandering entertainers help keep kids (and their parents) in a good mood. 5. Hotel Staff - They range from the Front Desk Clerks where your Sims check-in to the Janitors that keep watch for any mess 24 hours a day. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> The Sims : Unleashed <<<<< 1. Miss Lucille - Found in the old town, she can read the palm of your sims and turn any zombie sims back to human. 2. Pet Judges - The name says it all. They give out first, second and third prizes to deserving pets. They also give out special awards if your pet is not yet exactly in the show quality range. 3. Animal Control - Had enough of those skunks and raccoons? You can call animal control to get rid of your pests. It'll cost you however, a mere $20. 4. El Bandito - Creeps into your sims' lots in the middle of the night to scavenge for scraps. They can sometimes cause a considerable amount of noise to wake your sims up. 5. Skunk - Another midnight visitor, courtesy of Unleashed. Aside from decreasing the room bar, they don't Possess any harmful effect except when you try to pet them, thus decreasing your sim's hygiene bar to zero. 6. Pet Trainer - Are you sick of having your pets peeing all over the place? Think they need some training? Then don't fret! For a small fee, all you need to do is to engage the services of the Pet Trainers in Old Town. Just go to the nearest pet shop and you'll be sure of finding them there. 7. Sax Player - His function is similar to the Violinist, if you have Hot Date. The only interaction allowed however, is "Listen." 8. Gardeners - They sell their produce over at the Old Town. Ask them all you need to know about growing your own vegetable garden. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> The Sims : Superstar <<<<< 1. The Superstars - With the Superstar expansion pack, your sims get to have that chance to rub elbows with big names like Marilyn Monroe and Avril Lavigne. The only interaction available is "Ask for Autograph." 2. Obsessed Fan - With 3 stars and up, your sims get to have their very own stalker hounding them! They'll follow you everywhere! At work or at home, they also leave 'special presents' (black roses) to your superstar sims. Having them in the same room as your sims can also decrease overall mood. 3. Butler - For $500 a day, the butler can perform all the tedious work such as making phone calls to the maid or gardener and repelling stalkers. They even take care of your sims' babies! The best part is that they stay until night, thus saving your sims a lot of precious time. 4. Paparazzo - Monitor your sims' actions well for there are paparazzi wandering about Studio Town. They tend to be picky so it's best to use them for your own advantage with controversy stunts and photo ops. 5. Directors/Photographers - These are the people whom your sims have to turn Fashion Designers to in order to land jobs in Studio Town. Whether it's a modeling career you choose or a tiny bit for a soap, it's best to choose your combinations wisely, else your sims might have their stars degraded. 6. Masseuse - Her services are open to anyone who visits Studio Town. Your sims don't need to be celebrities to enjoy her massage, which comes in three different intensities. 7. Lana - New in Studio Town? Haven't got a clue about stardom? There's no reason to worry at all for Lana will be glad to help! Ask her anything you need to know about Tinseltown's ins-and-outs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> The Sims : Makin' Magic <<<<< 1. Apothecaries/ Vampires - These beings have their own world in Magic Town, Gypsy Clerks where they reside. Your sims may opt to barter or sell products to them. They're not exactly willing to make small talk since they believe it's bad for business. 2. Mystery Man - Who exactly is the man in the pink suit? His origins remains a mystery but his purpose is obvious - to market the products of Magic Co. to the residents to Sim City. He'll present you with a sample of Magic Co.'s product upon your move to a lot. You can also choose to inquire about Magic Co. products from him in Magic Town. 3. Snake Charmer - The name says it all. He also barters products on the side. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> Extras <<<<< * This section features NPC's that are not applicable for any of the other sections above but are nonetheless, official NPC's of The Sims. There are many websites that feature new NPC's or NPC replacements. Those user-created NPC's/alternatives shall not be included. Only official Maxis/The Sims releases will be included here. 1. Clown Catcher - When all else fails, these experts can take care of your little "clown problem" in a friendly, professional manner. This NPC is available for download from the official The Sims website, www.thesims.com. It is included in this FAQ since it is an official NPC of Maxis, creator of The Sims. Livin' Large is required. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This FAQ currently covers 62 NPC's. There could be more. Again, if you know any additional info or if you wish to make corrections, please see the Contact section for more details. ================================================================================ >>>>> Miscellaneous Info <<<<< Killing your NPC's ------------------ I tried to burn, drown and confine my NPC's but none of these strategies seem to work. Thus, I have come to the conclusion that you cannot kill NPC's. They may disappear after a long time of "solitary confinement" and they might get stuck during a fire but they will not die. Get rid of that Clown ! ----------------------- The Tragic Clown can be a nuisance to your sims. Here are some ways to get rid of that pest. 1. Don't buy the Tragic Clown Painting. 2. Put the painting on top of the fireplace and let the painting burn. The clown will burn as well. 3. Keep your Sims happy and he will leave. 4. Download the Clown Catchers from www.thesims.com Surprise Cake Dancers ! (by Joseph Grabko) ------------------------------------------ Buy two cake dancing cakes. Then, hire a male cake dancer. Then, try to hire another male dancer with the other cake. The message "You've already hired that cake dancer!" will appear. Ignore this, and click "OK". Keep trying to hire another male cake dancer, and sooner or later you will either get the Tragic Clown or Elvis. The same can be done with hiring two females, but you will get someone in a pink gorilla suit. Submissions of other strategies/miscellaneous info dealing with NPC's are welcome! ================================================================================ >>>>> Credits <<<<< Maxis : Creator of The Sims and all expansions. Chris Edric Tan : For lending me "House Party" and "Hot Date". Christopher Manson (tychoa@hotmail.com) : For pointing out that Claire the Bear appears in Hot Date. Glynnys Chua (synnylg@yahoo.com) : For pointing out that each order of Pizza costs $40 instead of the $30 that was previously stated. Alyssa (OoDawn2DreamoO@aol.com) : For pointing out an NPC I missed, Santa Claus. Si (MrFreak@youareadork.com) : For supplying info regarding the Boxer. Catania Tami (cataniaf@uplink.net) : Made some corrections regarding the Grim Reaper, Monster, Boxer, Pink Gorilla, Mrs. Crumplebottom and Rental Shack Person. Joseph Grabko (coolgamer167@hotmail.com) : For pointing out corrections regarding the party crashers and extra info about the monsters, pink gorilla, caterer, headless ghost, Drew Carey and boxers. Contributed one tip under Miscellaneous info section. Anders Aughy (malinger@hotmail.com) : For pointing out that the Santa Claus appears in House Party instead of Livin' Large. Ryan Seney (ryanpowers007@hotmail.com) : DJ NPC contribution. ================================================================================ Copyright 2002 A.C. Chua ( Albino C. Chua ) This FAQ is meant for personal use. You may distribute it to other people who might find this FAQ useful provided that you do it for free and no money is generated from this FAQ. If you wish to put this FAQ on any other site, please email me first ! This FAQ can be found at : <- The most recent version of my FAQ can always be found here. www.neoseeker.com www.actiontrip.com www.cheats.de www.gamewinners.com www.cheathappens.com http://faqs. Shameless Self-Promotion: Please visit my site at www.angelfire.com/space/chronicle and join my message boards at http://users.boardnation.com/~ace (Gaming, music, general discussion and more!)