The Sims Get Occult With Makin' Magic

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The Sims Get Occult With Makin' Magic

Posted by simoniker on Wednesday July 9, 2003 @02:23AM from the ouija-board-ouija-board dept.

Thanks to GamersHell for posting a new press release and screenshots revealing The Sims: Makin' Magic, the 'expansion pack finale' for The Sims. In this 7th and final add-on expansion to the all-time top selling game, "..your Sims can cast magic spells to improve their love life, wreak havoc on visiting neighbors, or put an end to their tedious chores." Oh, and in case you thought all this expansion-pack wizardry was side-effect free, "..every spell has a unique Backfire, including toad plagues, donkey heads, and lightning strikes."

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Maybe by GallicoTheGreat · 2003-07-09 02:27 · Score: 4, Funny

Maxis can cast a spell of their own and make the expansion less than $50
1. Re:Maybe by leifm · 2003-07-09 02:40 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  I could be wrong, but I believe most if not all of the expansions retailed at about $29.99.
  And if this is the last expansion does that mean they are finally going to do some real work and produce a Sims 2, rather than milking the same damn game for years?
  
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2. Re:Maybe by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 03:12 · Score: 0
  
  -1 unlikely
3. Re:Maybe by dragoncortez · 2003-07-09 03:37 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Yes. They've already started on it. I believe they are trying to introduce aging in The Sims 2. Here's a link to Gamespot's coverage.
  
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4. Re:Maybe by Telastyn · 2003-07-09 04:36 · Score: 1
  
  That would be against EA's code of conduct: "bleed em til their dry"
  
  A shame given their history
5. Re:Maybe by Matrix272 · 2003-07-09 06:22 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Even at $30 a pop, that's 7 expansions, and the original game, plus The Sims Online, which carries a $10 monthly fee. If you buy the game, all the addons, and The Sims Online, you're up to $380, plus another $10 per month. That's a bit much. $400 for ANY game is too much. For that kind of money, I think they should give you a certificate for The Sims 2 for FREE, provided that you bought The Sims, and at least 5 of the addons.
  
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6. Re:Maybe by amrust · 2003-07-09 11:36 · Score: 1
  
  "..your Sims can cast magic spells to improve their love life, wreak havoc on visiting neighbors, or put an end to their tedious chores."
  And here I thought for sure this was going to be a parody.
  
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7. Re:Maybe by StarFace · 2003-07-09 14:21 · Score: 1
  
  I like the guy on the upper porch playing with a telescope while the entire house and neighborhood are lit up like Vegas.
  
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  V
At least it's the last one... by Decaffeinated+Jedi · 2003-07-09 02:30 · Score: 5, Funny

Spell-casting in the Sims, huh?
Personally, I'm holding out for the Sims Online expansion pack that will allow me to spend all day roaming around the local countryside killing rats with my +2 Decorative Lamp of Smiting in an ongoing quest to level-up my mage/accountant.
DecafJedi

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DecafJedi
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1. Re:At least it's the last one... by leifm · 2003-07-09 02:43 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I'm holding out out for the Sims Serial Killer and/or the Sims Dysfunctional Family, the possibilities there are numerous.
  
  --
  
  "Windows Me offers tremendous reliability and stability improvements..." -- Paul Thurott
2. Re:At least it's the last one... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 03:39 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  You obviously haven't been creative enough with your Sims... those features have been built in from day one!
  
  Once I got bored with the day-to-day lives of my Sims, I saw to it that no neighbor returned alive from a visit. Who wants to be a boring stab-wound serial killer when you can force your neighbors to swim forever until they fall asleep and drown, or trap your neighbor in a room and set off fireworks until they burn to death?
  
  And if building individual 1x1 rooms around your wife and kids where they soil themselves and can't even lie down to sleep (and eventually die from starvation if left there) isn't dysfunctional, I don't want to know what is.
3. Re:At least it's the last one... by leifm · 2003-07-09 05:00 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  That's not good enough. I want to decapitate my neighbors wife and put her head on a pole in his yard, and then throw his dog on the grill.
  
  --
  
  "Windows Me offers tremendous reliability and stability improvements..." -- Paul Thurott
4. Re:At least it's the last one... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 06:23 · Score: 0
  
  Is that how you unlock the Force Sensitive slot?
Why does this sound like... by anicklin · 2003-07-09 02:51 · Score: 5, Interesting

the Sims meets Harry Potter?

IANAP (I am not a player) but I thought the whole point and appeal of the Sims was to be semi-realistic (which basically means that people can be who they really want to be with no tangible consequences). But really. Magic spells? Next we'll be seeing Age of Sims: Post-Industrial War Expansion pack.
1. Re:Why does this sound like... by mahdi13 · 2003-07-09 03:11 · Score: 1
  
  What? You don't cast spells in your everyday activities?
  
  Phah! You Normal =P
  
  --
  "Some things have to be believed to be seen." - Ralph Hodgson
2. Re:Why does this sound like... by eighthevachild · 2003-07-09 03:28 · Score: 0
  
  nah...
  the sims' appeal was never that it was realistic. it's just fun to screw around with mindless pawns... much like the appeal of lemmings :)
3. Re:Why does this sound like... by eviltypeguy · 2003-07-09 03:29 · Score: 1
  
  Silly Muggle, that's exactly what the Minister of Misinformation at the Ministry of Magic wants you to think.
  
  ta!
4. Re:Why does this sound like... by Ian+Jefferies · 2003-07-09 06:34 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  What? You don't cast spells in your everyday activities?
  
  Phah! You Normal =P
  
  You meant muggle :)
  
  --
  A physicist is an atom's way of thinking about atoms
5. Re:Why does this sound like... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 06:38 · Score: 0
  
  IANAW but I hope we get to cast AVADA KEDAVRA on our neighbours... ... btw SIRIUS DIES...
6. Re:Why does this sound like... by chaobell · 2003-07-11 02:11 · Score: 1
  
  You do know that you have the option of not buying the expansion pack if you don't like what it's going to put in the game, right?
  
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  This is a Chao. A Chao says "Mu."
This sounds like trouble by The+Evil+Couch · 2003-07-09 03:02 · Score: 4, Funny

"... wreak havoc on visiting neighbors, or put an end to their tedious chores."

why do I get the mental image of a Sim looking at a neighbor and a sink full of dishes and then yelling, "VAS POR FLAM!"?

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1. Re:This sounds like trouble by Carrion+Creeper · 2003-07-09 03:23 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Hours of gameplay will be added by wandering around failing to figure out that the nightshade is growing in the neighbor's flower garden.
  Not that I could ever identify with that problem...
2. Re:This sounds like trouble by chaobell · 2003-07-10 02:59 · Score: 1
  
  *SPLUTTER*
  
  Or going downtown, standing in the middle of the commercial lot, and screaming "VAS KAL AN MANI IN CORP HUR TYM!"
  
  Which would, of course bulldoze every residential, commercial, and vacation lot in the whole damn game.
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  --
  This is a Chao. A Chao says "Mu."
Hmm by an+irish+spy · 2003-07-09 03:05 · Score: 1

I wonder if these sims were in Hufflepuff
Great...just what people want to see.... by Lord_Dweomer · 2003-07-09 03:08 · Score: 3, Funny

I can see it now....
(Wife comes home to find husband cheating with neighbor)
Wife: You cheating bastard!!!
Husband: I can explain!
Wife: Corp Por!
Husband: (sizzle)
I hope to god this never makes Sims Online. They'd have to rename it to
Sims: The Return of Lord British

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1. Re:Great...just what people want to see.... by DansnBear · 2003-07-09 05:42 · Score: 1, Offtopic
  
  Ah. . . yes, thank you. I haven't heard "Corp Por" sense I stopped playing Ultima Online a long time ago. Thank you for bring back my vision of playing for hours on end, running around naked with my deadly poisoned noobie katana (no one ever saw that one coming) trying to find the bastards who PKed me, just so I can get killed again when I found them. Again, thank you for reminding me of those numerous hours of my life wasted on a virtual world. Oh well, I left Ultima when they split it into the two worlds (pk, and no pk) Hearing those words just makes me want to go back. Mabye when Ultima Online 2 comes out. Untill then, at least I have Shadowbane to keep me company now
  
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  -= Who are The Headlocks? =-
2. Re:Great...just what people want to see.... by jafuser · 2003-07-09 06:25 · Score: 0, Offtopic
  
  Mabye when Ultima Online 2 comes out
  
  Wasn't the team that was working on UO2 diverted into developing SWG?
  
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3. Re:Great...just what people want to see.... by August_zero · 2003-07-09 07:45 · Score: 1
  
  There you go reminding me of my days on UO!
  
  We had this group of 4 character all named Nyarlathotep, we all wore purple robes and skull helmets, and we would arrow the bejebus out of any fool that dared walk between Vesper and the dungeon of Covetousness. Ah those where the days, kill the newb, steal his stuff, dismember the body and keep all the heads in a big bag. We all lived in the same dorm so we used the phones for voice com as we pillaged, and back then, most of the people that played were on dial-up so our school connection was much faster and almost lag free.
  
  God we were bastards.
  
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4. Re:Great...just what people want to see.... by zeno_2 · 2003-07-09 11:22 · Score: 1
  
  Umm no.. The people that were developing UO2 made some stupid looking monsters for UO and thats probably about it..
  
  SWG was made by Lucasarts / Sony, not EA / Origin.
Oh, great by 0x0d0a · 2003-07-09 03:14 · Score: 2, Funny

In the Bible Belt, one already has to put up with Southern Baptists constantly complaining about the Satanism in Harry Potter. I'm going to love the effects of this.

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May we never see th
1. Re:Oh, great by Stargoat · 2003-07-09 03:28 · Score: 1
  
  Has someone told Jerry Falwell about this yet?
  
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  Hoist Number One and Number Six.
2. Re:Oh, great by awakened+tech · 2003-07-09 04:44 · Score: 1
  
  Just toss them on the bonfire
  
  21st what was that boy!?!?
3. Re:Oh, great by ex_ottoyuhr · 2003-07-09 05:40 · Score: 1
  
  In this respect, I love the Biblical spell side-effects. Plagues of frogs? Are they actively Baptist bating?
4. Re:Oh, great by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 06:58 · Score: 0
  
  I'm going to love the effects of this.
  
  Oh, you'll love the effects of this.... WHEN YOU ARE BURNING IN HELL!!
The title of the next expansion pack: by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 03:55 · Score: 4, Funny

The Sims: We Have Actually Run Out Of Ideas So Here's Some More Furniture
1. Re:The title of the next expansion pack: by leifm · 2003-07-09 05:03 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, that's exactly what I hate about the expansions. It's like here you go, a collection of 650MB of crap you could download online for free. I wouldn't resent it as much if my gf's daughter didn't need to have every $30 bitmap collection they release though.
  
  --
  
  "Windows Me offers tremendous reliability and stability improvements..." -- Paul Thurott
2. Re:The title of the next expansion pack: by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 22:59 · Score: 0
  
  Simple really, being a sad pathetic slashdot reading geek I am, women don't really want to talk to me.... well until they are about 35, when they realise they need somone to pay for their shit. She had a daughter and needed somone to look after her finincially so she eneded up siducing me. Im not bitter because I couldn't do any better really. So we're all happy.
Yep, YANAP by fm6 · 2003-07-09 04:03 · Score: 2, Interesting

The "realism" of The Sims is much overrated. Their stock of behaviors is limited, and even simple interactions can get stuck in various kinds of deadlock. If you micromanage their lives you can get them mates and fancy jobs, but that gets old quickly. I suspect most players just use a well-known cheat to award themselves lots of money and then spend all their time building fancy dream mansions. Which is sort of fun, but ...
Magic is not new to The Sims. The very first expansionsion pack (now part of the basic product) includes a Genie that grants wishs that have nasty side effects, and a potions set that with various silly, but basically pointless, effects.
Hmmm... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 04:08 · Score: 3, Funny

Is there a "beating a dead horse" spell?
I can't wait for the next one by garymcg · 2003-07-09 05:26 · Score: 2, Funny

The last one? Damn! I was hoping they would come out with The Simpranos expansion pack so I could build the pork sausage store and start shaking down the neighbors businesses.

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--If 50,000 people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.
1. Re:I can't wait for the next one by spitzig · 2003-07-09 19:02 · Score: 1
  
  Apparently there is a Mafia in Sims Online. They run prostitution(?), extortion, and assassinations. There is also vigilante justice for this. People do get kicked off for harassment, but I don't think the ways they do these things are under that.
Simpsonpranos Expansion Pack? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 05:31 · Score: 0

"Someone whacked Krusty!"

"Bada bing, bada-d'oh!"
Simpsonpranostradamus by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 05:33 · Score: 0

"Someone WILL whack your Krusty the Klown avatar in 2013".
Simpsonpranostradamustard by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 05:36 · Score: 0

"With lethal Grey Poupon, someone WILL whack your Krusty the Klown avatar in 2013"."
Re:SimpsonpranostradamusTARDIS by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 05:38 · Score: 1, Funny

"With lethal Grey Poupon, The Doctor WILL travel through time and whack your Krusty the Klown avatar in 2013".
Hmm! by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 05:54 · Score: 0

I like your style.
How about lesbian witch couple? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-09 10:26 · Score: 0

mmmmm....
But... by StarFace · 2003-07-09 14:15 · Score: 2, Interesting

...I thought playing a lot of chess would make me the best doctor in town!
If I recall correctly, the potions you could make were done using a huge chemistry set. There was no allusion to magic.
The Sims started farely realistic, I mean, as much as one could in "real" time on four year old technology. They stayed pretty close to that formula with a few silly diversions here and there. The genie, a voodoo doll. When I say their formula was realism, I don't mean it actually is realistic, but it is the basic intention.
Sims 2 might be a bit more interesting on the realism score. At least from the screenshots I have seen, it looks like they have spent a lot of time on the emotions of the Sims, and giving them unique and varied responses to situations. Sims will also grow up into adults, get old, and then die. So you could play a family for generations, instead of the same twenty-somethings and bratty six year olds year in and year out. Chasing the green.

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V
another "final" expansion pack? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-10 00:31 · Score: 0

Didn't they market Sims Superstar as the "final" expansion pack? And then House Party as "final" before that?
The Simtrix by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-10 04:17 · Score: 0

Does this mean that Sims will eventually realise that they're just Sims, find a way out of the game by emailing themselves through exit and pop back in from time to time to upset the balance of the Simverse with Kung Fu? Or am I missing something...?
What should the next expansion pack be? by danila · 2003-07-11 11:06 · Score: 1

The Sims: Eating Like Pigs

The Sims: Mad Orgy

The Sims: Criminal Intent

The Sims: Alternate Lifestyle

There shouldn't be any more expansion packs!

Source: some obscure game site that is no longer online.

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