The Sims Social thanks players, comes out as beta in official email update

While the official Facebook fan page of The Sims Social has kept quiet over the game's troublesome downtime, Electronic Arts have finally broken the ice by sending a direct email to all the fans via the game's newsletter. (Even if you don't remember ever agreeing to subscribe to the newsletter, you probably got automatically subscribed by being a fan of the game's Facebook page.)

The email, with a subject heading of "Update about The Sims Social", was sent from "thesimssocialemail.com" which was registered by the Corporation Service Company (CSC), so it checks out as legit.

In it, the staff of the game thanks the fans for being "adventurous early adopters", promises us that they're working hard on improving the game, and that -- here's the most important bit --


    Part of of this beta testing stage is gradually adding more players in a controlled way. So if you are currently not able to play The Sims Social, this is why. Please bear with us while we go through this process and rest assured that you will not lose your progress in the game to date.

This sounds like they're getting ready to let folks back in, but it's not going to be all of us at once. Aside from that, I guess they're being nice and just wanted to emphasize to players that the game's still in beta, which is why they refer to game as "The Sims Social Beta" in the opening and closing paragraphs. Because hey, if you look carefully, you'll also see that they've finally tacked the word "beta" onto the game's logo.
The Sims Social email
So, Electronic Arts... I guess that answers everything, except this: if we tell you, "You're welcome," do you think we'll get in faster? Signed, an Adventurous Early Adopter.

New Playfish GM Aaron Loeb: '[Social games are] just not going away'

The next console developer to join the ranks of the Facebook game regime, Aaron Loeb--formally of Planet Moon Studios, now of Playfish--said to Gamasutra, "People might look at the Facebook games right now and say, 'I can't imagine that's what people will be doing 20 years from now, ergo this will never last and it's a bubble.'" Loeb, now the general manager of Playfish in San Francisco, claims to have never been on the traditional developers to roll their eyes in response to the social gaming movement.

In fact, Loeb said, "It's just not going away," he says. "In fact it's only going to get stronger and better, and games are always at the forefront of how new technologies expand. We have no idea how huge this stuff can get, and it's going to be unbelievably important to the growth of companies, and to the growth of the industry." In other words, advanced social gaming is bound to expand into more devices and become simply commonplace.

Loeb went on in the interview to explain his strengths honed in his days of console development and how he plans to apply them to new position. Team building is his game, and he's bringing it to Playfish. More important is how confident he claims to have been in social game development while working with consoles. Most traditional developers we hear are crying foul. Perhaps time for lashing out at social games is nearly over, and now the movement boons? Let's hope, because it's about time.

How do you think Loeb will fare at Playfish? Do you think the time for the movement to, well, move forward is here?

NHL Superstars coming to Facebook in October

Adding to its popular brand of "Superstars" titles on Facebook, Electronic Arts has announced the production of NHL Superstars for Facebook. This new game, as reported by ShackNews, comes on the heels of EA's NHL 12 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 breaking franchise records for the biggest launch week in the franchise's history.

As for the franchise's jump onto the Facebook ice, we're told this: "NHL Superstars will bring an all-new NHL experience to millions of hockey fans by enabling players to build and manage their ultimate team of professional hockey players. With dynamic and accessible gameplay, fans can compete head-to-head in games against their Facebook friends from around the world."

While specific details are still lacking as to what we can exactly expect from NHL Superstars, we can't imagine EA / Playfish breaking the mold. We'll likely be able to collect cards that contain professional hockey players, and then trade those cards out to create the best team possible. Each player will likely have stats, and we'll be able to use those players in virtual hockey games against others for supremacy.

We don't have a specific release date for NHL Superstars, although the game is set to take to the ice sometime in October. We'll make sure to give you a complete look at the game when we know more.

Are you excited to see NHL Superstars come to Facebook? Which players will you look for to create your perfect team?

The Sims Social celebrates launch of Sims 3 Pets with free virtual poster

Dogs, horses and cats, oh my. Because life is better with pets, The Sims maker EA has launched an expansion pack today for players that allows pets to take center stage in the game. Helping promote this launch is a free virtual poster offered to fans of The Sims Social.

You can grab The Sims 3 Pets Poster by clicking here, after you become a fan of the game's official Facebook fan page.

Aside from looking cool, the poster takes up two tiles of wall space and adds 100 House Value points to your home. If you don't like it, it can be sold for 150 Simoleons. It also comes with one action, "Learn More", which sends you to the Sims 3 Pets website when you click on it.

Do you play any of The Sims games along with The Sims Social? Were you able to grab the free poster?

The Sims Social Haunted House Week items punish friends' pranks

We know, you're sick and tired of your arch nemesis in The Sims Social sabotaging everything you do. From peeing on your azaleas to hacking into your computer and breaking your appliances you've about had it. Luckily for you, EA and Playfish recently brought Haunted House Week to The Sims Social. Of course, that means a long list of new items are up for grabs.

From interesting, bovine-headed plants to spooky couches and infernal organs, you're just about covered for scaring the bejeezus out of your friends' avatars. Let's not delay this any further. Here are all the decorations (that matter) from the Haunted House Week in The Sims Social:

Trans-Van Furnace

    Costs: 45 SimCash
    House Value: 6,650


Trans-Van Turn

    Costs: 2,000 Social Points
    House Value: 5,350
    Boosts Sleep


Haunted Organ

    Requires 15 Music Skill
    House Value: 5,200
    Boosts Fun


Trans-Van Candle

    Costs: 3 SimCash
    House Value: 450


Toasting Drinks

    Costs: 50 Social Points
    House Value: 100
    Boosts Funs and Social


Candelabra of Calamity

    Costs: 4 SimCash
    House Value: 600
    Boosts Fun and Social


Trans-Van Buttress

    Costs: 350 Simoleons
    House Value: 250


Sullen Ancestral Skull

    Costs: 350 Simoleons
    House Value: 250
    Boosts Fun and Social


Light in Despair

    Costs: 12 SimCash
    House Value: 1,750


TrueReflection Afterlife

    Costs: 200 Social Points
    House Value: 400


Infernal Organ     L. Simnivorii     Light in Despair
Undying Classics Side

    Costs: 400 Simoleons
    House Value: 250


Vlad's Dog

    Costs: 14 SimCash
    House Value: 2,050


Trans-Van Mort

    Costs: 500 Simoleons
    House Value: 350


Trans-Van Compact

    Costs: 600 Simoleons
    House Value: 450


Trans-Van Throne

    Costs: 600 Simoleons
    House Value: 450


Trans-Van Boss

    Costs: 24 SimCash
    House Value: 3,550


Gargle Goyle

    Costs: 29 SimCash
    House Value: 4,300
    Boosts Fun and Social


UndyingClassics Desk

    Costs: 1,000 Simoleons
    House Value: 950


Furnace     Trans-Van Pew     TrueReflection Mirror
L. Simnovorii

    Costs: 500 Social Points
    House Value: 1,150
    Boosts Fun and Social


UndyingClassics Chest

    Costs: 600 Social Points
    House Value: 1,450


Trans-Van Dining Table

    Costs: 39 SimCash
    House Value: 5,750


Trans-Van Pallid

    Costs: 700 Social Points
    House Value: 1,750
    Boosts Sleep


Cuckcoo Clock

    Requires Quest Unlock
    House Value: 1,900
    Boosts Fun and Social


Trans-Van Pew

    Costs: 800 Social Points
    House Value: 2,050
    Boosts Sleep


UndyingClassics Shelf

    Costs: 1,000 Social Points
    House Value: 2,750
    Boosts Fun


Trans-Van Bloodcold and/or Spinechill

    Cost: 2,500 Simoleons
    House Value: 2,000
    Boost Happiness and Food


EA and Playfish threw in a number of new floor tiles, wallpapers and windows for players to use to fill out that haunted house feel. While a good amount of the cooler items in this collect go for SimCash, as one would expect, there are quite a few decorations like the L. Simnovorii and the Trans-Van fridges that at least go for Social Points. Don't worry, you'll get some good scares for your friends on the cheap this Halloween. Well, at least in Littlehaven--have you been to a costume shop?

Have you picked up any of the new Haunted House items in The Sims Social this week? How do you normally celebrate Halloween outside Facebook?

The Sims Social Cheats and Tips: A Guide to Land Expansions

You've grown out of room to put all of your cool stuff? Man, a Sim's life sure is rough, huh? Well, we're about to make your Sim's life in The Sims Social even easier. A large component to the game is building out your Sim's dream home, which of course, requires you to expand, expand expand. So, here is everything you need to know about Land Expansions in The Sims Social:

Are You Financially Prepared?
Before you even think about expanding your home, you will need to level up a bit. To expand your property for the first time, reach Level 10 and accumulate a House Value of at least 25K. To increase your House Value, simply buy more stuff! Once that's through, you will find "For Sale" signs littered around your property.

Location, Location, Location
Next, it's time to choose where you want to expand first. Expansions are good only for the square in which you request. Click on the square, and a pop-up window will appear with the requirements for a Land Expansion. Surprise--you'll need to ask your friends for items in true Facebook game fashion.
The Sims Social For Sale Sign
Oh, and it'll cost you a chunk of Simoleons, too. While the first Land Permit Application requires just four items and 2,000 Simoleons to take, we imagine this would increase with later expansions. Also, read carefully: This is a Land Permit Application, remember? That means ...

The Waiting Game
Every time you apply for a Land Expansion through this process, it'll take some time go through. And we're talking literal time: Your first Land Permit Application will not be accepted for one minute after completing it. Sure, this is nothing, but just wait until you reach your 11th and final expansion. That's right, it'll take days later on for applications to go through. Here are the requirements for each Land Permit Application, and the time it takes for each to go through:

Land Expansion Requirements:

    * First: 25K House Value; Level 10
    * Second: 30K House Value; Level 11
    * Third: 70K House Value; Level 12
    * Fourth: 80K House Value; Level 14
    * Fifth: 90K House Value; Level 16
    * Sixth: 100K House Value; Level 19
    * Seventh: 120K House Value; Level 22
    * Eighth: 140K House Value; Level 26
    * Ninth: 170K House Value; Level 31
    * 10th: 200K House Value; Level 38
    * 11th: 250K House Value; Level 45

The Sims Social Land Permit Application
Land Permit Application Wait Times:

    * First: One minute
    * Second: Five minutes
    * Third: 30 minutes
    * Fourth: One hour
    * Fifth: Two hours
    * Sixth: Four hours
    * Seventh: Eight hours
    * Eighth: 12 hours
    * Ninth: One day
    * 10th: Two days
    * 11th: Three days


Once your application has been approved, you'll definitely know. It's said that a prize comes with each major Land Expansion, and that your Sim won't be able to help but celebrate. And after all the hard clicking work, we doubt you will either.

[Source and Image Credit: Playfish]

Have you started expanding your property in The Sims Social yet? What do you think of how Playfish is handling land expansions in the game? Share with us in the comments. Add Comment