Post-E3 2003

This is a sub-page of Prerelease:The Sims 2 (Windows).

Late May-July#

Will Wright Interview#

https://web.archive.org/web/20031004164947/http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/technology/5964000.htm Will Wright confirms that kids will inherit personalities from their parents.

Designer Diary Build (GC 2003)#

To do: Find the source of the PCGP and unknown magazine scan in the gallery.

Watch on YouTubeAfter a month without any new information, some new images of the game was shown off on July 18, 2003 taking place on a different lot¹ More images would be posted on the first ever Designer Diary, in the form of a film strip²

It would be the same build that was shown off at the GC 2003 convention on August 23, 2003.

• The Love icon animations were different, where both sound effects (for Crush and Love) also played.
• The exercise machine originally had a logo at the bottom that said "Simaster 5000", using the font typography of The Sims. It was removed in the final, leaving only the "5000".

Screenshots#

Film Strip

General Coverage

Other

Christian Stratton's Website#

This gif is located on Christian Stratton's website which depicts an early concept pie menu and interaction UI elements. This may be the clearest image of the pie menu at this time in development. The file does not have date information available, so the general date range of this gif does have to be assumed from the composition. ³

The yellow background color of the interaction in the top left, combined with the lighting and objects can place this gif generally in this date range. From footage from this time, this pie menu shape appears to match somewhat closely, but the quality of the footage makes it difficult to tell.

August#

Camp EA Press Event#

The game was shown again at the Camp EA Press Event on August 14, 2003.

https://www.simsnetwork.com/news/2003/08/14/gamespot-looks-at-the-sims-2

ComputerandVideogames Interview#

https://www.simsnetwork.com/news/2003/08/14/the-sims-2-exclusive-interview

Designer Diary #2 Build#

A new set of images were released on August 19, 2003, as part of the second Designer Diary⁴. It's the same build that was shown on the lost German 3Sat broadcast.

Screenshots#

Renders

In-game Images

3Sat Coverage#

To do: Look through the SimZone.de archives to see when the lost 3Sat Broadcast was.

The last two images from the second gallery in this build would be released much later on.

Similar Images

Differences#

• The Funds font was changed to the one used in SimCity 4.
• The Exercise machine looked a bit different.
• You could originally choose to see how the Sim would look in different life stages rather than up to a Teen.
• The "Go Here" interaction has the word typed out like in early previews of The Sims. The final version of this obviously changes it to footsteps.
• The road markings now match that of the final. Though, sidewalk surrounding it was adjusted to be closer to the road.
• Motives were displayed from top-to-bottom like The Sims: Bustin' Out.
• There was originally an inventory system, before it was cut from the base game and brought back in the Nightlife expansion pack.
• Other Sims on the lot were inside a drop-down menu rather than sided to the left.

Development Bloopers#

• The HUD received a redesign at this point, resembling the aesthetical style of SimCity 4. The controlled Sim's mugshot appears on the corner rather than in the bar.
• The School Bus appears to use a much more low-poly and simpler model.
• Multiple children could originally be seen on the school bus, whereas in the final, only the driver is present. People are present on the bus in the Athletic Career, where the graphics are separated from Sims.
• The sidewalk was next to the road, as opposed to be separated by one tile. That curiosity is seen in later builds, though it is unknown how it is caused.
• The doors do not appear in the final.
• The brick pattern on the foundation was completely different, looking more basic than detailed.
• A small animation glitch of a toddler walking on the stair can be seen, which looks more unrealistic.

GC 2003#

The Sims 2 was shown off at the Games Convention 2003, held in Leipzig Germany. At that time, much of the gameplay was still under wraps, but the build from July was showcased.

Welcome to The Sims 2! Part 2#

Images from a Post-E3 2003 build were shown On August 29, 2003 on the SimsNetwork fansite⁵.

• The fridge had a completely different reflection.
• The minigolf set can be seen in the background, which may have originally been a regular furniture item rather than as a Career Reward.
• The cancelled interaction icon was a thicker red cross.

SimNetwork Interview

This SimNetwork interview has some more interesting info;

• Going to "Downtown blocks and buying groceries" are mentioned, which made it to the final.
• At that stage of development, timing for Life Stages were still being balanced.

September#

Early September Build#

Images that were posted in November date to an early September build. The arrangement of the furniture and HUD in comparison points this towards an early September Build https://web.archive.org/web/20031207094237/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/thesims2/preview_6073607-2.html

• The third screenshot uses the "Tuscany" Tin Wainscoting from The Sims.

Early September Bloopers#

To do: Video is dead...upload an mp4 version.

Watch on YouTubeIncluded with a bonus DVD coming with The Sims 2 Deluxe edition contains footage of the Bloopers that happened around this point of development.

• Social Bunnies were likely being implemented at this point, with the animations for it behaving (almost) identical to the final version of the game.
• The Grim Reaper is implemented at this stage.
• Curiously, Sims can be seen using swimming animations, which means that Pools were being developed as a feature at this point. Pools would not be implemented until January 2004 which were one of the first features to be added after the delay happened.

Welcome To The Sims 2! Part 4#

Posted on September 13, 2003.⁶

Screenshots#

Film Strip

Other Images

The images were posted later in November 23, but that doesn't amount for the fact that the images later in the month show a finalized UI. The last image is taken from a presentation.

Differences#

• The Hunger and Thirst Motives were scrapped.
• The HUD was slightly redesigned, to appear brighter.
• The bed seen in the slob's room does not appear in the final game, but graphics and textures for it remain, which notably shares a different mapping style.
• The Simple Sink from Krampft Industries now uses it's final design, with a soap and toothbrush.
• Outer lot graphics are now implemented at this stage.
• The plates had a different texture, appearing with a blue outline trim.

Welcome To The Sims 2! Part 5#

Though the same images of the E3 2003 build were posted in film strip form, an early image of the Body Shop was shown, demonstrating the features of custom content in the form of different Sims. It was also the time that the website opened. https://www.simsnetwork.com/news/2003/09/26/welcome-to-the-sims-2-part-5

• The Twintails hairstyle was different.
• Create-A-Sim originally had many different mirrors as opposed to one.

WorldSims.org Chat#

A chat was held exclusively on September 20, 2003 with one of the Maxis developers.

• When asked if pool water was transparent, the developer was doubtful about the question, though it could be referring to hot tubs.
• It was confirmed that there would be other types of weather than just rain, including snow and lightning. Neither of those would appear until Seasons.
• It is confirmed that there will be more than one neighborhood.
• Create-A-Sim originally had a feature for altering height of the Sims.
• When asked about the potential feature of Sims communicating with Sims from other neighborhoods, the idea has yet to be conceived, but it may have been reworked into Sub-Neighborhoods in expansion packs.
• Lightning death was originally present in the base game, as opposed to shocking the Sim.
• It was mentioned that there would be custom tools coming in "Fall/Winter 2003", where it would have "floor and wall editors, object creation program and skinning".
• It was confirmed that Sims cannot visit others' houses.

Earlier Neighborhood Screen?#

A very early mockup of a neighborhood screen, tentatively titled "Happy Acres" (sounds familiar?). It appears to have been taken in mid-late 2003 judging from the UI changes.

• The roads had different sidewalk graphics.
• The houses had simplistic designs, likely for testing stuff.
• Unoccupied lots were originally marked with green blocks, but in the final they are unmarked unless it is hovered over with a mouse cursor. These textures can be found in the final, albeit unused.
• One of the lots have a garage door and driveway, which would not appear until Nightlife.

Footnotes#