The Sims 3: Pets
Preview
Who let the dogs out?
by Danielle Harrison
previewed on PC
Endless Expansions
Since I was a child The Sims has always been a big part of my life and I watched the original game expand with amazing expansion packs. I was even more blown away when The Sims 2 was released and with all of its expansion packs, the possibilities were endless. When The Sims 3 was announced I couldn't have been more excited and I could hardly contain myself when I learned that EA were about to release another expansion pack, but that initial excitement soon dwindled and stagnated as each and every one of the expansions bored me senseless. Well fear no more, sims veterans, as EA have recently let the cat out of the bag with the announcement of their newest addition to The Sims 3. After three years of waiting, EA have finally kicked their asses into gear and answered their fans' prayers. On June 3rd 2011 The Sims 3: Pets was announced not only as a PC expansion pack, but also as a stand alone console game for Xbox 360, PS3 and Nintendo 3DS.
Playable Pets
In The Sims 3: Pets you will be able to create a huge variety of dogs, cats, and for the first time ever; horses, with over one hundred different breeds. Once you've created your pet you can horse around with the customization tool and produce truly unique pets for your sims. Not only can you determine how your pet will look, but you can also pick the traits of your animal from intelligent and brave to skittish and clueless. The traits you pick will determine the personality of your pet, whether you have a fierce guard dog a destructive cat or a trusty steed.
In previous pet expansion packs your pets have always had a mind of their own and they've never really been fully playable, bringing an element of realism to the game. If your pet was mischievous they would scratch at the furniture and your sim would have to spend time disciplining the animal to teach them to stop, but now that's all changed. For the first time you can take full control of your pet, experiencing the world from their perspective. You can choose to make your animal chase, dig, tackle, and much more. Your pet can be the perfect companion or make your sims life a living hell. It is definitely different, but I'm not too sure this is a good idea. It was entertaining and fulfilling when you had to stop your dog from digging in the garden so now, who would want to choose to make their animal be disobedient and destructive? It would maybe be fun once or twice, but I can't imagine people doing it much more. In my opinion, I'll probably leave my animal on free will and hope it plays out like the previous pet expansions.
Can We Keep It?
Giving your sims a new member to their family will open up a new range of activities and interactions and you'll be able to discover all-new ways to make your sims lives fun and entertaining. Your pets can now learn skills for example. Cats and dogs can learn to hunt, dogs can unearth collectibles, and horses can learn racing and jumping. You can even take your animals outside to places like the park, library, or the all-new equestrian centre. A huge part of the pets expansion packs has always been breeding, so worry not! Breeding remains in the game and you will also be able to share your pets with friends to create numerous pet possibilities.
Players buying the limited edition for PC and Mac will get access to an exclusive pet store filled with unique objects. The pet store will be fully interactive, unlike other stores in the game where your sim simply disappears inside of the building. Limited editions for Xbox 360 and PS3 will include 10 extra breeds of animals. The Xbox 360 version will also feature kinect capabilities, allowing you to issue voice commands to your pet. The Nintendo 3DS makes use of the built in pedometer, giving the player karma points depending on how much they walk. Nintendo 3DS also utilizes the streetpass feature to allow players to share their pets with their friends. In my opinion, this is the most anticipated title for The Sims 3 so I can only hope it lives up to all my expectations. I cannot wait to get my hands on the game when it hits stores.
