The Urbz: Sims in the City (GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox)

The Urbz: Sims in the City changes up the usual suburban lifestyle of The Sims and puts all the action into a city with workable jobs, crazier social interactions, an infectious soundtrack, and stereotypical caricatures. Also, The Black Eyed Peas make an appearance.

It's so ambitious that the game was even planned to start a sub-franchise for the series, but it never came to be due to overall poor sales. Though the game is rarely acknowledged to this day, several elements were revisited in future Sims titles, most notably in The Sims 2: Nightlife with the city setting and The Sims 3: Late Night with the reworked reputation system and bouncers.

Development Info

Prerelease Info

Developer Options

The Sims: Bustin' Out LeftoversBelieve it or not -- same engine!

Regional DifferencesLots of changed faces.

Build Tags#

Platform	Sandbox Version
GameCube (USA)	`0.mainline_SKU1.0.126`
GameCube (EUR)	`0.mainline_SKU2.0.119`
GameCube (JPN)	`0.mainline_SKU3.0.101`
PlayStation 2 (USA)	`0.mainline_SKU1.0.125`
PlayStation 2 (EUR)	`0.mainline_SKU2.0.124`
PlayStation 2 (JPN)	`0.mainline_SKU3.0.101`
PlayStation 2 (ASIA)	`0.mainline_SKU4.0.92`
PlayStation 2 (KOR)	`0.mainline_SKU5.0.34`

Unused Audio#

Interestingly many of the following unused sounds are left unused in later console games up to Castaway.

Elevator Load Loops#

load_loop_elevator1, load_loop_elevator2 and load_loop_elevator3 were likely intended to be used when the player visits a district with an elevator, such as Diamond Heights and Blankwood Towers considering the used sound effects sound similar in style, but the regular loading screen theme plays instead.

XAM Sounds#

Filename	Sample	Notes
`cellphone_dial1`		Earlier and simpler sounds for the XAM before they were replaced with realistic cellphone sounds.
`cellphone_dial2`
`cellphone_dial3`
`cellphone_ringtone2`		An alternative and earlier version of the Cozmo Street Ringtone with a jingle present over the morse code message. `cellphone_ringtone` is used as the generic ringtone sound.
`cellphone_ringtone3`		The same as above, except without the morse code message, sounding like a generic ringtone.

Unlock Sounds#

Filename	Sample	Notes
`ui_unlock_social` `ui_unlock_level`		Unused unlock sound effects for new areas and social options.

Menu Sounds#

Filename	Sample	Notes
`UI_accept`		Unused generic menu sound effects. Would be used as a placeholder for sound effect entries.
`UI_back`

Unused SFX Data#

There are over a dozen of sound entries that all use the same UI_accept sound effect played above, including leftovers from the previous games.

Filename	Notes
`ui_action_menu_browse`
`ui_action_menu_close`
`ui_action_menu_open`
`ui_action_menu_select`
`UI_cancel`
`ui_bm_fail`	Unknown what "bm" stands for.
`ui_bm_succeed`
`ui_browse_kbd`	Unknown what "kbd" stands for.
`ui_cac_cyclehead`	Unknown what cyclehead means.
`ui_cas_accept`	Cut sound for accepting something in Create-An-Urb.
`ui_cas_browse_category`	Cut sound for browsing through object categories in Create-An-Urb.
`ui_cas_browse_item`	Cut sound for browsing items in Create-An-Urb
`ui_cas_close`	Cut sound for closing a menu in Create-An-Urb.
`ui_cas_kboard_backspace`	Cut unique sounds for typing out Urb names on the keyboard in Create-An-Urb.
`ui_cas_kboard_char`
`ui_cas_kboard_done`
`ui_cas_kboard_end`
`ui_cas_kboard_key`
`ui_cas_kboard_shift`
`ui_cas_kboard_space`
`ui_cas_open`	Cut sounds for Create-An-Urb.
`ui_cas_rotate`
`Ui_help`	Cut sound for help UI.
`UI_move`	Placeholder sound for moving stuff.
`UI_NHOOD_BULLDOZE_DEMOLISH`	Sound entry leftovers from The Sims Console and Bustin' Out.
`UI_NHOOD_CLICK`
`UI_OBJECT_MONEYBACK`
`UI_OBJECT_MOVE_PLACE`
`UI_PLACE`
`UI_ROTATE`
`ui_open_sub`	Cut sound for sub-menu.
`ui_pda_close`	Cut sounds for the XAM, including that of EyeToy features.
`ui_pda_eyetoy_delete`
`ui_pda_eyetoy_save`
`ui_pda_open`
`ui_phone_call1`
`ui_phone_call2`
`ui_pda_submenu_browse`	Cut sub-menu sounds for the XAM.
`ui_pda_submenu_close`
`ui_pda_submenu_open_side`
`ui_pda_submenu_open_top`
`UI_PIEMENU_APPEAR`	Sound entry leftovers from The Sims Console and Bustin' Out.
`UI_PIEMENU_HIGHLIGHT`
`UI_PIEMENU_SELECT`
`UI_QUEUE_DELETE`
`UI_QUEUED`
`ui_rotate`
`UI_SPEED_1TO2`	Sound entry leftovers from The Sims Console and Bustin' Out. Final uses lowercase equivalents.
`UI_SPEED_2TO1`
`UI_SPEED_2TOP`
`ui_unlock_money`	Sound entry leftovers from Bustin' Out.
`ui_unlock_objects`
`ui_unlock_services`
`ui_unlock_skins`

Unused Text#

To do:
Way more...

Tutorial text.
Text for unobtainable furniture.
Text for requests.

Text is found in QUICKDAT.arc/SimsObjects in the PlayStation 2 version.

Unobtainable Furniture#

There's text entries for otherwise unobtainable furniture.

ID	Furniture	Desc.
??	`Red Bull Vending Machine`	`Red Bulls`
??	`Bar TEMP`	`Guess What?`
??	`TEMP`	`Guess What?`
??	`Bar TEMP`	`Guess What?`

Scrapped Opening?#

Dialogue strings relating to a scrapped opening, likely supposed to come after the player's Urb leaves their apartment. Interestingly, some of the prerelease media likely shows that scenario.

ID

String

??

DEBUG Welcome 
<name>! I'll bet you thought you were heading to your first district!

In case you don't recognize me from the posters around the city, the name's Darius.

There's nobody with higher Reputation than me.

??

DEBUG I'm glad you agreed to meet me here in my penthouse to discuss my... problem.

A new crew has moved in on my turf. They're shaking down businesses and hassling Urbz in the city.

I need you to help me run them out of town.

??

DEBUG Heck, I might even give you the keys to this PENTHOUSE.

Do we have a deal?

The following strings, though aren't marked as debug.

ID

String

??

You're here because there's (sic) big problem in the city. And I need help from a nobody like you.

If you help me, I just might give you the keys to this PENTHOUSE.

But first, feed my  monkey.

??

Hey! You don't have enough REP to be doing that here!

In case you don't recognize me from the posters around the city, the name's Darius.

There's nobody with higher REPUTATION than me.

??

Okay, that should get you going on your own. I'll text you on your XAM in a little while
Now go meet some Urbz and work on that REP! Remember, we have a deal...

Unused Tutorial Text#

ID	String
??	`Select and find a CLOTHING STORE to enter it. Once inside, spend $500 on some new clothes! Be sure to at least buy a new shirt...`

Unused Scenarios?#

An unused scenario relating to your pet running away from your Urb's apartment.

ID	String
??	`Your pet ran away! Check your apartment to see if it went home.`

Unknown. Related to gambling?

ID	String
??	`TEMP You lack the money you've agreed to trade.`

Other#

Unused warning, likely from Captain Catastrophe. This string never shows up, no matter if an Urb passes out or uses a bed on a public lot.

ID	String
??	`obsolete string Sleeping in public is in contravention of Civic Code 3499... uh... 62c.`

Unused Graphics#

To do:
rip the ui-jayde icons.

Early Main Menu Gradient#

Though the mainmenuscreen texture from Bustin' Out remains in the files, it was overwritten with an orange and black gradient. Final game doesn't use the graphic at all, implying it is an early leftover.

Tex.	Mockup

Early Jade#

Create-an-Urb#

af_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_01_left_action_queue

af_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_01_right_action_queue

af_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_02_left_action_queue

af_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_02_right_action_queue

af_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_03_left_action_queue

af_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_03_right_action_queue

am_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_01_left_action_queue

am_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_01_right_action_queue

am_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_02_left_action_queue

am_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_02_right_action_queue

am_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_03_left_action_queue

am_jw_generic_bracelet_extra_03_right_action_queue

am_jw_generic_necklace_extra_01_action_queue

am_jw_generic_necklace_extra_02_action_queue

am_jw_generic_necklace_extra_03_action_queue

piercing_f_l_nipple_gold_ring_attach_80_action_queue

piercing_f_l_nipple_silver_ring_attach_80_action_queue

piercing_f_r_nipple_diamond_ring_attach_70_action_queue

piercing_f_r_nipple_gold_ring_attach_70_action_queue

piercing_f_r_nipple_silver_ring_attach_70_action_queue

Unfinished Chinese and Korean Localization#

While The Urbz: Sims in the City was released in Taiwan and Korea, it was never localized and is only playable in English.

There are two duplicates of the game's English logo with those languages which are ui_logo256_kor_dark and ui_logo256_tchinese_dark.

To do:
Are these different from the ones used in Bustin' Out?

There's also unused Chinese and Korean text in the files, different from Bustin' Out.

Chinese

font_china_s24_p0

font_china_s24_p4

font_china_s24_p8

font_china_s24_p12

Development Oversights#

To do:
So much more....

Object icons not matching final.
- HygiElite Luxury Shower Stall icon not matching model.
- Neon Nights dresser using different icon.
- Sexi Plexi Window using wrong icon.
- Manhole Cover, Sidewalk Grate and Newspaper Box using placeholder icons.
"Neon Nights" dresser using Diamond Heights dresser icon instead.

Overwitten Song#

Pootie's Top 40 (the station in Diamond Heights) is the only Radio Station to have three songs, in comparison to four on other stations. This is because Pop One (music_24_celebs1) is duplicated over music_24_celebs2, where the song itself can be played twice in a row in some instances.

There was supposed to be a fourth song for the Station, which is called I Wanna Be Bad, but it was only playable on the official website before its shutdown. The song is sampled in the XAM Shot Power Social and on a XAM ringtone that can be listened to below as (xam_ringtone_celebs).

Filename Oddities#

ui_sm_meter appear as blank, implying there were originally sounds.

Team Photo#

A secret graphic of developers that worked on the game can be found by pressing Up, Down, X, Up, Down at the credits screen.

Platform Differences#

The European PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions have a language select menu and Xbox happens to have fewer languages available. It's missing Polish, Danish, Norwegian, and Finnish.

PlayStation 2	Xbox

Create-An-Urb#

The Create-An-Urb for the GameCube version has a much brighter background than in the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions.

PlayStation 2 & Xbox	GameCube

Xbox Loading Screens#

The Xbox version has unique loading screen backgrounds that can be seen. These textures also exist in the PS2 and GameCube versions, however they are 8×8 in size, and even if it's shown in-game there, there's no way it can be seen at that small of a size.

PS2 & GCN	Xbox	PS2 & GCN	Xbox

house_load0		house_load1

house_load2		house_load3

house_load4		house_load5

house_load6		house_load7

house_load8		house_load9


house_load10

Oddities#

Unplugged Controller Screen Background#

When the controller screen is unplugged, a light-blue gradient background with text on it reminds the player to plug it back in. It's actually reused from Bustin' Out, with the only difference being the font. It would later remain in the rest of the Sims console games, with the respective menu font being used.

v · t · e The Sim series

SimCity
Mac OS Classic	SimCity • SimCity 2000 • SimCity 3000
NES	SimCity
SNES	SimCity • SimCity Jr.
DOS	SimCity: Enhanced CD-ROM • SimCity 2000
Windows	SimCity 2000 • SimCity 3000 (Unlimited) • SimCity 4 • SimCity (2013) • SimCopter • Streets of SimCity
Nintendo 64	SimCity 2000
Sega Saturn	SimCity 2000
PlayStation	SimCity 2000
Nintendo DS	SimCity DS
Linux	SimCity 3000 Unlimited

The Sims
Windows	The Sims (Prototypes) • The Sims 2 (Creative Tools) • The Sims 3 (Prototype) • The Sims 4 The Sims Online (Prototype) • The Sims Life Stories • The Sims Pet Stories • The Sims Castaway Stories The Sims 2: Pets Activity CD-ROM
GameCube	The Sims • The Sims: Bustin' Out • The Sims 2 (Prototypes) • The Sims 2: Pets
PlayStation 2	The Sims • The Sims: Bustin' Out • The Sims 2 (Prototypes) • The Sims 2: Pets • The Sims 2: Castaway (Prototype)
Xbox	The Sims • The Sims: Bustin' Out • The Sims 2 (Prototypes)
Wii	The Sims 2: Pets • The Sims 2: Castaway (Prototype) • The Sims 3 (Prototype)
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360	The Sims 3 • The Sims 3: Pets
Game Boy Advance	The Sims: Bustin' Out • The Sims 2 • The Sims 2: Pets
N-Gage	The Sims: Bustin' Out
PlayStation Portable	The Sims 2 • The Sims 2: Pets • The Sims 2: Castaway
Nintendo DS	The Sims 2 • The Sims 2: Castaway • The Sims 3
iOS	The Sims 3 • The Sims FreePlay • The Sims Mobile
Android	The Sims 3 • The Sims FreePlay • The Sims Mobile

MySims
Nintendo DS	MySims • MySims Kingdom • MySims Agents
Windows	MySims • MySims Kingdom
Wii	MySims Kingdom • MySims Racing (Demo) • MySims Agents • MySims SkyHeroes
DSiWare	MySims Camera
Nintendo Switch	MySims Kingdom
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360	MySims SkyHeroes

Other
Windows	Sim Theme Park • SimCoaster
Mac OS Classic	SimAnt • Sim Theme Park
PlayStation	Sim Theme Park
SNES	SimEarth: The Living Planet • SimAnt
GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox	The Urbz: Sims in the City
Game Boy Advance	The Urbz: Sims in the City