Changing the Neighbourhood of Your Sims.... One Job at a Time

Some Sims players never leave the deep architectural shopping catalogue that is Buy Mode or the Sim character creation machine of the aptly named Create-A-Sim. We’re completely fine with this, but we couldn’t overlook the opportunity to bring these wildly creative players into Live Mode for The Sims 3 Ambitions.

The Architectural Design and Stylist Careers, as well as Tattoos and the Tattoo Chair will do exactly this. Get ready for a “day in the life” as a Sim in each of these professions!

 Architectural Designer Day 10: The Entertainment Room, aka “the Man Cave”

My Sim, Grant Duders, has made a name for himself in the community as an up and coming Architectural Designer. However, he doesn’t have enough clout to land high paying jobs like Home Re-Modelling or Kitchen Re-Designs.  Thankfully, a local sports enthusiast is keen to have THE room for watching athletic events with friends. As a male, Grant Duders understands the macho psyche and feels up to the task.

Before I begin remodelling I have Grant chat with the owner of the home to learn more about his tastes. It turns out my client Loves the Outdoors and is a Snob. This is good information as I can incorporate these traits into my Sim’s design.

With my client’s traits in mind I begin the renovation. This puts me in a variation of Build and Buy Modes called Renovation Mode. In the top left corner of the screen there is a list of requirements set forth by the client. These will always vary so that each job is unique, which makes sense because every client is unique! For this entertainment room my client has requested a new big screen TV, a bar, a comfortable sofa, and a foosball table for entertainment. That sounds easy, but I’m working on a limited budget and there is only so much room in which to fit a foosball table, bar, and big screen TV!

Because my client is a Snob, I know he wants me to spare no expense. I use only the highest quality items, which means I have less money to spend on new flooring and additional decorations. The wall-mounted big screen saves space on the floor, so that actually works in my favour.

Now, a good way to cater to his Loves the Outdoors trait is to buy windows – lots of them. My budget is tight at this point, but I find a few that really open up the space and still maintain a more rugged, manly aesthetic.

Before I exit Renovation Mode I double check to ensure I didn’t clutter the room or place objects in a way that Grant Duders’ client cannot use them. You can always go back and forth between Renovation Mode and Live Mode in case you want to conduct further research on the client or even paint a portrait of them for that special touch.

Grant Duders tells the client the job is done. I’m a little nervous as I watch the client pace around the room to examine my work. Did I pick the right colours? Will he like the couch? Thankfully, the client loves it and Grant Duders receives a great review. He was pleased to see I purchased everything he asked for and also took note of the fact that I put in some windows so he could see the outdoors. Although the client offered my Sim a drink from his new bar, my Sim declined – his mind is focused on work today. Speaking of work, Grant Duders just earned a promotion which means new clients and dozens of potential jobs!

Stylist Day 2: Introducing the Bowl Cut

Stylists wield a pair of scissors that can make someone’s day, or absolutely ruin their week. It’s a lot of responsibility, which is why Katy McMenace was drawn to the career. The local Salon had open Styling Stations and Kay appeared to be a fashionable shoe-in for the position.   But looks can be deceiving.

Poor town!

It’s true that Kay is a bit malicious in her fashion vision, but it doesn’t help at all that this intent is paired with an utter lack of skill. After all, most Sims aren’t born as brilliant stylists. It’s something they must learn and improve with time.

Katy’s first client (or victim?) came in requesting a new hair style as she had lofty dinner plans for the evening. I had Katy briefly converse with the client, after which Katy set to work. Now the game switches to a new, fashion-themed Create-A-Sim. I browsed the options and settled on a short hair that I deemed fetching and playful for a dinner date. Sadly, Katy’s possessed hands ended up creating a horrid perm that was not meant for this world. Perhaps an evil dimension?

Needless to say, that job did not end well and the client left a tinge angry. I say tinge because her hair was literally pulsing with over-perm.

The second day brought a new client. She wanted a complete makeover – hair, outfit, everything. The client recently had a mid-life crisis and desired a new direction.

Enter Katy.

The client seemed a bit stuffy and reserved, as if she didn’t go outside enough to enjoy the fresh air. I selected an exciting and slightly revealing skirt as well as a shirt with a really cool print. Instead of a tight ponytail I selected a new hairstyle with the hair down – no reservations I thought!

But then, I had a realization – Katy isn’t meant to be a Stylist. At least, not a good one. Though she may be fired soon there are plenty of ways to have fun while still employed.

I immediately took a complete design U-Turn and decided the theme of this tragic makeover would be flannel. Flannel skirt, flannel shirt, flannel heels – the works. I also had Katy buzz the poor client’s head.

So what if there won’t be a Day 3? Katy McMenace is going out in style. That doesn’t mean this has to be every Sim’s story. In the same way that Stylists can destroy, they can also create. Clients can enter the salon miserable and exit with an entirely new outlook on their life, a boost to their self-esteem, and a fantastic new style that will really turn heads.

Tattoos as a Work of Art

It wasn’t enough for us to simply allow tattoos in The Sims. Applying a tattoo is a life altering decision as tattoos are more or less permanent. We wanted tattoos to be a work of art.

My Sim, Buzz (just Buzz), has a tattoo chair in the basement of the local Salon. Sims come to him for a tattoo because they know he will create a unique masterpiece every time.

Once Buzz’s client is in the chair I am taken to the Tattoo editor in Create-A-Sim. Within this powerful tool I can select where I want to place the tattoo: Upper, lower, or full back, neck, ankle, chest, stomach, wrist, shoulder, bicep, or forearm.

I can then pick the tattoo I want for Buzz’s client. There are dozens to choose from and I’m able to mix and match any of them on any part of the body with up to five layers. Every layer can have its colours modified in multiple ways, so I can have blue and gold flames or hot pink skulls if that’s what Buzz chooses to use. Sometimes he does!

 I can change the size of individual layers to better mix and match. For example, a gnome should be large, whereas I want the barbwire layer to be a small accent. Finally, I can modify the opacity on the entire set so that it gently blends with the client’s skin, or is a dark, bold statement for all to see.

That’s a lot of choice and power! Thankfully, Buzz is a patient artist and is up to the task. He is able to mix and match with almost no reservations, with the exception of Llama tattoos. Buzz refuses to work with Llamas as inspiration.

Buzz is pretty tough, so I’ll let him have that one.

To install this update, please start your game and use the “Updates” tab in your Launcher.

This game update includes:

• Create a World - Updating compatibility version of Create a World Tool – Beta to be compatible with The Sims 3 to ensure it continues to function with in-game features and the Exchange.

To install this update, please start your game and use the “Updates” tab in your Launcher.

This game update includes:

Before installing an Update for The Sims 3, an Expansion Pack, or a Stuff Pack, it is a good idea to run through the following checklist to ensure your game continues to work smoothly.

If you have any questions about the below steps, please visit the Technical Support forum on the official Sims 3 community found at this URL: http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/forums/show/10.page

Step 1: Disable Custom Content

Custom Content is all Sims content that did not come from an official The Sims 3 Update, The Sims 3 Store, Expansion Pack, or Stuff Pack. Custom Content is created by 3rd Party Developers that are not regulated by Electronic Arts or The Sims 3 Development Team and may not work with new updates. Custom Content may cause the game to behave unexpectedly or not function entirely.

To disable your custom content, undo whatever you did to install this content to get your game back into an unmodified state. If you placed it in a Sims 3 directory folder, move it to a new folder that is outside your Sims 3 file directory. Your Sims 3 file directory can be found using the paths listed below:

Windows File Directory: C:\Documents and Settings\USER\My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3

Mac File Directory: User/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims/

Once you have installed the official update you may re-enable your custom content. If you experience problems, disable it again until the 3rd party developer updates their content to work with the official Update, Expansion Pack, or Stuff Pack.

Step 2: Back Up your Save Files

It’s always a good precaution to back up your save files before installing an Expansion Pack, Update, or Stuff Pack. To do this, copy the “.sims3” folders found in the Saves folder onto your desktop or another file directory.

Your Sims 3 Saves folder can be found using the paths listed below:

Windows File Directory: C:\Documents and Settings\USER\My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves

Mac File Directory: User/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims/Saves

After the Update is installed, run the game to verify your saves still function correctly.

Step 3: Let the Update Complete Entirely

Updates can sometimes be rather large and may take a while to download and install completely. Cancelling the update before it has completed may cause unexpected problems, so it is always best to let it finish entirely. Do not close the Launcher until you have confirmed the update is completely installed, as this will cancel the update.

Now your Sims can be a hero or revel in chaos with The Sims 3 Ambitions.

And now you can see the cool careers that await your Sims in the first video for Ambitions.

 Watch it now!

• For the first time ever, you control your Sim’s actions and interactions while they’re on the job.
• Be a hero or mess with the neighbours as a firefighter, private investigator, doctor, ghost hunter, and more!
• Choose how your Sim’s career progresses — will they work for good or evil, pursue creative endeavours, rise to success as a mogul, or shirk responsibility as a slacker?
• Your Sim’s on-the-job choices now change their town and affect other Sims as well. Modify the town’s structure as an architect or set neighbourhood fashions as a stylist.
• Enjoy all-new skills and activities! Master the arts of inventing, sculpting, and tattooing, and use your skills to earn Simoleons.