When I learned about The Sims 2 Apartment Life a few months ago, I almost fell of my seat. I was so darn excited. According to various sites, new features include:
– a reputation meter
– new character types (bohemians, sports fans, techies)
– being able to visit neighbors’ homes
– apartments and townhouses
– new interactions (“Kiss Kiss Darling” is one)
– toddlers can interact with each other (“Huddle”)
– new objects and tools (finally, spiral staircases for The Sims 2, a vending machine, etc.)
– astrology as a new career path
– new NPCs (non-playing characters) like a landlord and butler
– new life skills (like “Couple Counseling” or “Lifelong Happiness”) that you can learn from the bookshelf
– Witches (like Werewolves from Pets, Zombies from University, Vampires from Nightlife, Plant Sims from Seasons, etc.).
The most interesting thing about this is getting your Sims to live in an apartment with other families. While several families can live in a building, you can only control one household at a time. I’m super excited about this because I like building homes for my Sims apartment-style. I also have stories for my Sims — after graduating from University, they go to the city (Nightlife EP) to rent a home and find jobs. When they’re more stable and their families (if any) are growing bigger, they move to the suburbs (Pleasantville, Verona, Riverblossom Hills or Desiderata Valley). I like the scenery of those suburbian neighborhoods, especially Desiderata. But I like the downtown setting too because there are a lot of fun community lots. It’s easier to load too when your Sims live within downtown and go to those lots.
While it’s the newest expansion pack, could Apartment Life also be the final EP in The Sims 2 series? 
I’m not quite ready for The Sims 3 yet (see official The Sims 3 trailer here), so I think I’ll be sticking to The Sims 2 for a long time. Then again, you never know. For now I can’t wait to move my Sim into an apartment and get a roommate via the paper’s ads, mingle with her neighbors by the apartment mailboxes, try a career in Astrology and learn how to breakdance in the park. Maybe I’ll turn her into a white witch too.
The Sims 2 Apartment Life will be in stores at the end of August 2008.
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
Jeanny
July 23, 2008 at 4:27 pm (16 years ago)wow ang ganda naman. I am addicted with sims din kaso If I’m playing it sa pc or sa gba, wla na kong nagagawang iba sa house. Sometimes, hubz is nagpapansin na nga if I’m so focus.
Kaw ba ganun ka rin ba?
Jeannys last blog post..Rambling
Caryl
July 31, 2008 at 3:21 am (16 years ago)I love playing the Sims din, especially when Sims 2 came out. But have you heard? There’ll be a Sims 3 na, it’ll be released 2009 daw. Here’s a link of the trailer, you might want to see it.(“,) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-0Ze4cHxSI
Zack
August 14, 2008 at 4:09 am (16 years ago)i wonder if you will be able to build your own apartment complex and than be the landlord as your career that would be pretty cool!
Edinburgh Forever
August 26, 2008 at 11:52 pm (16 years ago)I came across this while browsing blogs, and wanted to leave a comment. While I otherwise think that the Sims games are great, the idea of revisiting the nightmarish days of apartment dwelling does not appeal to me. What comes back to mind is the smell of cigarette smoke from the neighbor, drifting into our apartment, or the blasting of loud music next door, or the kid upstairs thumping around, etc. Worst of all was the unsympathetic apartment manager. I can’t see this game being a hit, but who knows.