The Sims 3 (Windows)

To do:
Everything....

Concept art (base game), box art etc
Expansions + base game concepts can be found here Search through SimGuruSarah's tweets for higher resolution concept art!
Even more concept art, objects and mock-ups galore
A gallery of images can be found here (some are higher quality than Sims Fandom gallery)
GC 2008 Screenshots and presentation
World Adventures prerelease; Prima guide was published before release?
UI elements etc concepts here
Sunset valley beta screenshots
[Expansion development process https://web.archive.org/web/20160828065734/http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/897947/ask-a-guru-game-development-edition/p5]

This page details pre-release information and/or media for The Sims 3 (Windows).

Just like the two mainline numbered titles, this game was a massive financial success, praising the open world and extended customisation. During the game's release lifespan, it was criticized by fans for lacking some of the content that the previous entry had to offer, especially in the base game, and having a larger emphasis towards microtransactions. Nowadays, its retrospectively seen as a solid entry in the franchise when especially compared to the likes of later Sims games, yet again still having a dedicated modding community and following to this day.

Developmental Timeline#

2004

Unknown - When asked if EA were planning to make "The Sims 3" in one of The Sims 2 prerelease chat logs, it was said they would do one if the game meets sales expectations.

2006

Sep. 13 - A Sims 3 game was teased at an intern event at EA, in the form of a "Welcome 'Sims 3' Team" message inside a room entirely covered by blinds.¹

2007

Unknown - Concept art for the game was made around late-2007 (plaza, town hall, etc). The concepts would be uploaded later on.

2008

Feb 22. - The Sims 2: FreeTime is released, containing The Sims 3 as video game included as a teaser video. Said video would be uploaded later on.
More concept art made (graveyard etc), and released later on.

2009

Feb - The Sims 3 is delayed to June for polish.
May 18 - The Sims 3 was leaked on the internet, a few weeks prior to its release.²
Jun. 2-5 - The Sims 3 is released.

2008#

August#

Behind The Scenes Video#

Watch on YouTube

On August 26, 2008, a Behind the Scenes video of The Sims 3 was uploaded, containing numerous differences from the final game. Window title reads as DebugRelease, further backed up by GC 2008 screenshots

At 1:17, the UI display can briefly be seen, containing numerous differences;
- The general design was plain white, compared to the final's blue palettes.
- Wishes appeared in the form of a thought bubble rather than in a box. This would later appear in the Wii port of the game, and The Sims 4 would use a similar feature in the form of Whims.
- The time and forward buttons were displayed on the top left screen, before being moved back to the bottom UI traditionally like in previous Sims games.
- The Sim mugshots faced forward, unlike the final.
- There is a sun icon displayed on the right, which suggests that Weather was again planned for the base game, as further proved by similar icons found in the final's base game files. Weather would eventually be included in Seasons.

November#

Developer Game Tour Video#

Watch on YouTube

Later, on November 7 2008, a video teasing gameplay and showing off the new world and trait features was uploaded, looking more closer to the final game, but still with pleanty of differences.

Several parts of the UI still look quite different in places, appearing a lot lighter (and sometimes darker) in color, and (in the case of a couple CAS menus) often has placeholder text for where icons are meant to go. Notifications are also white. Several parts of the Live mode UI look incredibly different.
Create-A-Sim has a completely different background to the final.
- Many of the traits that were scrapped in the final game are present here.
Sunset Valley looks only slightly different from the final version.
- A few of the pre-made sims look quite different.

Unsorted#

Early Sims 3 logo (sourced from ghost concept art)

Late Night prerelease?#

Weather was planned for the base game as evidenced by unused icons and their brief appearance in a prerelease video, but would be saved as an expansion. Weather was going to return as a feature in Late Night, but was postponed because they didn't want to make it a minor feature in a city-based expansion and would rather make it as a great addition in another expansion pack. ³. Weather would fully return in Seasons.

The Sims 3 Press Tour playlist and info#

Presentation videos and screenshots etc
https://www.simtimes.de/specials/games-convention-2008/die-sims-3/
The Sims 3 - Press tour (Part 1)
The Sims 3 - Press tour (Part 2)
Producer walkthrough playlist The Sims 3 PC Games Feature-Commentary - GC 2008: Demo

Image gallery#

UI#

EARLY ui BUILDS:

I primarily helped with functional wire frames of various areas of the UI, and also helped in developing the final look and feel of the game’s various interfaces.
– Siddhartha Deb (https://mrsidslounge.com/)