Let's Play The Sims 3 Roaring Heights!

I love this town so far! It may be the best one yet.

The Sims 3 Store Review: One With Nature

My sims love the outdoors, so naturally this set should get some good use!

Review: The Sims 3 Movie Stuff

My first stuff pack review! Superheroes :D

Sims 3 World Showcase (playlist)

Yay! This was another thing I've been wanting to do for a long time. Custom worlds don't get a lot of attention on YouTube and I think that needs to change. So now I'm doing a series where I show off the best custom worlds in the community, often ones not many know about! The first episode has already received a lot of positive feedback, can't wait to see what people think once more are released!

New Intros!

As a videographer in real life, I realized my let's plays were missing an important element. I needed something to catch the viewer's attention right off the bat. What better way to do that than to produce snazzy intros? Here's a couple of them, with some "behind the scenes" sort of commentary.

 Doing intros is also a nice way to show what my sims are like and give them "character themes" much like in the Sonic Adventure games.

This one was really fun to make. Since Island Paradise is all about living the island life, I decided it would make sense to use a scrapbook design since people usually vacation in those types of places, and scrapbooks are a great place to keep memories. The Moonlight household are laid back and carefree, so some relaxing music in the background was ideal.

Ladford is the first of the two sims to receive an intro, but the filmstrip transition will very likely apply to both him and Alice. With the "Rivals" aspect making the let's play more story-driven and the Medieval atmosphere of Dragon Valley in mind, I knew I had to do something more film-like with both the look and the music.

The Sims 3 Store Review: Surf's Up Sun and Fun Collection

I never expected this! I love it!

The Sims 3 Store Review - Business as Usual Bistro

This is a pretty cool venue. Finally open restaurants in The Sims 3! Well, sort of. The chefs are the waiters. Actually in my case the bouncer was the chef waiter.

Island Paradise MADNESS!

Well, it's been a busy past couple of days. Island Paradise came out on Tuesday (released on Origin pretty much right on time too!) and it's glorious. Glorious enough that my new Let's Play for this expansion has already caught up in number of episodes to Let's Play Dragon Valley Rivals. I love expansion packs that can offer a completely new lifestyle just as Late Night and Pets have done in the past, and Island Paradise falls into the same category.

Here's the full playlist:


Some pictures will be coming later too! Have fun :)

SimGuruCopeland's Pyramid of Doom Gym

Hey everyone, here's a quick overview of a bonus venue SimGuruCopeland uploaded to the exchange, the "Pyramid of Doom Gym." Love that name. This is meant to go with the Skylight Studio of the Performing Arts (Click here to watch my video review).

The exterior. First thought was "Whoa, this is really bright!"

Here's what you see when you first come in. Interesting use of blue, I like it.

This is the second floor. Orange lockers! :D

Third floor. Very bright green. Not sure what to think :P

Fourth floor, easily my favourite. Nice view up here! Perfect place to be at peace with oneself.

Hope you enjoyed this post, leave a comment letting me know what you think of this lot. Thank you SimGuruCopeland for sharing it with us!

Island Paradise Patch Goodness!

While a week later than everyone expected, the Island Paradise patch (AKA patch 1.55) is out! Like the Seasons one, there is much awesome contained within. Three ghosts, stilted foundations, ability to move to a different town, ability to own multiple houses, a ladder, a spiral staircase, a new arch, and many fixes.

The lot I made for the ghost video (I suck at building) (Click here to watch the video)

Death By Drowning While Scuba Diving:

Death By Dehydration (Mermaids)

Death By Shark (My favourite!) 

MY EARS!

I'm very excited to see what sorts of lots people will make using the stilted foundations!

It Begins With Ghosts 'n' Weirdness!

Part 1 of the Let's Play is up!

I really need to get used to seeing ghosts walk through stuff.

Let's Play! With A Twist!

It was a very long time coming, but I managed to start work on a Let's Play for The Sims 3! I was first inspired by the likes of HeadbuttArcade and Quxxn, but at the time I didn't have a decent computer or software to record. Now in 2013 I finally have both.

In the past couple of years, several simmers have started their own Let's Plays. As time went on, I realized I wouldn't be happy if I followed the single household/generational gameplay/no mods/no cheats format everyone else seems to be following. Being unique is a big part of my personality. I rarely  play past generation 2 anyhow, because I get too caught up in my sims "having to" do this or that before I contemplate aging them up. While the "conventional" LP isn't out of the question for the future, I also wanted to take the opportunity to change things up a bit and doing that in a Sims 3 Store world was the perfect way to do it, rather than in an expansion pack where there's many more features to explore at the same time. With Island Paradise on the horizon I don't know exactly how many parts there will be, but I know I'm not stopping this Rivals LP when that game releases.

This LP focuses on two different sims leading their separate lives. One is the "Hero" character, and one is the "Dark" character, though whether for the right reasons is questionable. Every other part or so I'll switch between them. I'm hoping this keeps things interesting, especially later on when there's less new things to see. I plan to have their paths cross once in a while (hopefully both accidentally and on purpose!), where they'll clash and try to make things miserable for the other.

Up first will be Ladford Hemming, our Hero character!

We'll get to know him better in episodes 1 and 2. Episode 1 should be up tomorrow if all goes well.

Dragon Valley From Another Perspective...

I've been hard at work for the past couple of days on a rather unique way to show off Dragon Valley. It's a Medieval world...so why not explore it on horseback? Really glad about how it turned out! I didn't even get to use everything I recorded. There's so many different locations in this world I couldn't have covered them all here.

Gameplay Gallery: Dragon Valley

My first impressions of this world are pretty good. Considering replacing everyone's cars with horses though. More after the break!

Tweeting!

Follow me @Iron_CGull for more fun things Sims, as well as other gaming-related stuff and seagull humour! Join the fun!

Ah, Slightly Outdated Memes.

(Must...ignore...!)

Family Bonding

Nothing like some family bonding over a bonfire on the beach! The Esposito siblings are having a great time at Sims University.

The Sims 3 Store - Fowl and Feathers Chicken Coop

...Well, this is interesting. Thanks to the Store team, we have chickens for the first time in the series!

I'll be doing more videos with commentary in the future. There will still be some random videos without it, but we'll see what happens!

And yes, I do have Internet now!

Selfie

The jocks are going to love this shot? Okay then.

It's taken much longer than expected to get Internet at my new place. Still not sure when I'll have it! Guess I'll have to go to Tim Hortons, Starbucks, and McDonalds for a bit longer....

Another Full Moon...

"Gotta get out that umbrella. That should protect me from the werewolves...."

Dark Artistic Strokes...

Really changes the whole feel, doesn't it?

A Little Experiment With Photoshop...

Origin Exclusive: Campus Cruiser

I love this little scooter!

If you're seeing this, this is my first pre-made scheduled post!

ETA: Oh, looks like it worked! Woo!

Playing SimCity!

One more quick post before I leave for Alberta!

Le Cinema Plumbob (Modified)

I replaced the theater in Sims University with this new venue from The Sims 3 Store! I've modified a bit through adding expansion pack content.

 

With EP content, this venue's pretty great! There are some drawbacks like the movies being recycled clips that are too short, but the turnstile opens up so many possibilities. We essentially got part of Sims 2 Open For Business back. Many including myself have been pleading for EA to do it and we've finally got something! Woo!

I'd like to let you all know that for the next couple of weeks, updates will be few, but I've set up some posts to go up throughout the next week. I will be moving to the province of Alberta on Monday and my dad and I will be driving all the way there. I've landed a full-time job as a commercial writer and producer at a TV station over there. Should be exciting!

Gameplay Gallery: University Life

Many more after the break!

Sims 3 University Life - Vending Machine! (Video)

For the first time I pre-ordered a digital download expansion pack through Origin. Wasn't able to download until 1 AM EST, but that's still earlier than when I usually get a game from the store or through shipping.

Anyway, I can't post much at the moment since it's very late, but here's a couple of videos of the vending machine! I did not expect to see the Death By Blunt Force Trauma so soon, completely out of left field. Love that they finally brought back vending machines though, they were sorely needed and will also go great with Island Paradise resorts.

Oh, and this is the 50th post! Well how about that.

Gameplay Gallery: Monte Vista #2

Started playing in Monte Vista again, so the long-awaited follow up is finally here! More after the break, click for larger size!

Normal...Not Normal.

Just goes to show how things can be completely normal, but then all of a sudden, you notice something completely abnormal standing not too far away. Such is the life of The Sims.

Robots Vs. Monsters Arcade Table

An entertainment object from Showtime that I don't use enough. It's actually pretty a fun thing to have at home if you have enough room. The Michel family here has a large basement with an entertainment room and bar, and it was recently expanded to have its own bathroom. I ended up having some space left over so I added in some arcade stuff!

Sims 3 Store Video - Wood Fire Oven

So last night I got my hands on some free video capture software called MSI Afterburner (or Predator as they say on their website, but it's part of Afterburner). After doing a few test videos (including this one) on different games I ended up pretty satisfied. Looks like this is what I will be using in the future so there will be a huge quality increase going forward with University Life and beyond!

Why a video about the Wood Fire Oven? Well, because it was there! And my sims were hungry. Plus it happens to be one of my favourite premium content items that I hadn't shown in video form yet.

Cuteness Incoming!

One of my families' dogs gave birth to three new puppies, and this is one of them. :D

Patch 1.50 Features!

The University Life patch is out, and among many long-awaited bug fixes there are a few new features as well. The dumpsters are no longer just decorative props, they can now be recoloured and sims can dumpster dive for furniture and collectables. This will be great for homeless sims as they can have houses entirely out of found furniture.

Not one, but two new ghosts this time. Death By Blunt Force Trauma (crushed by the murphy bed or vending machine) and Death By Ranting, whose colour reminds me of Mountain Dew. Both have special effects trailing them.

The resemblance is "uncanny?" Ugh...I almost regret making that pun.

There are also new patterns (two of which were used on my dumpster), a new traffic light, new terrain paint, smaller versions of the A/C units from Supernatural, the ability to set bed and door ownership, and new care packages as part of the in-game gifting system. Check out more pictures at SimsVIP.

Oh right, and the new Maxis logo made it in!

Drifting in Bliss...

I love the pool lounger. Looking at this picture reminds me of the super relaxing songs of Owl City and getting a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightning bugs. Or did I just dream that last part...?

Anyways, if the new patch 1.50 installation goes well, expect some videos of the new stuff from that in the near future. Looks like nearly all of Twallan's mods have already been updated.

Full Moon...

It's a full moon in Setra. Good thing there aren't many supernaturals in this world...yet. :P

A New Home

Time for a new beginning, again. Not leaving Storybrook County behind but this world seems like an amazing alternative...

SCAREcrow

I love it when The Sims universe makes puns and takes things literally.

Don't Bury Your Head in the...

...snow?

Yeah, I know it's going to be an expensive year for The Sims (they didn't even mention future Store stuff)...but it's going to be worth it. I mean....boats. We're getting livable boats. I can't believe Maxis actually managed to pull that off. The only other transportation we'll need after boats are helicopters!

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a great new year. Seeing as 2013 will probably be the last full year for The Sims 3 let's hope it's a good one!