Lucky Palms: New Store World Announced

[babele44]

Amidst a lot of Oohs and Aahs from dedicated forum members, EA announced the arrival of a new world in the Store. This is the quote found in the news section of thesims3.com. It comes with pictures and to me it looks like a Lunar Lakes on earth ;) Ah yes, and this will finally contain the Wishing Well that the Tree of Prosperity of LL hinted at.

We’re so excited and proud to announce our upcoming world, Lucky Palms! This world is one our favorites and if you stay with us we’ll show you all of the reasons we love it and more!

With ample parks, recreation, opportunities, and a thriving culinary scene Lucky Palms is an island of green amid shifting sands. This desert enclave offers manicured gardens, modern estates, and cozy abodes nestled on the banks of a pristine lake. At the heart of town a mysterious well is said to grant wishes to those who are pure of heart….what will you wish for?

Stay tuned here every day for more information about Lunar Lakes and great deals on other Sims 3 Store sets. And while you wait? For today June 18th only receive 25% off Lunar Lakes! If you haven’t had a chance to purchase our world that’s “out of this world”, now’s your chance!


And here's the link to the main thread at the forums: http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/550646.page

[Periandre]

I wondered what a "thriving culinary scene" consists of?

[heaven]

I saw wishing well and got rather excited. :)

I think wells in general are pretty for cottage, exterior decor but a wishing well would be fun too.

[babele44]

I wondered what a "thriving culinary scene" consists of?I guess all pre-mades will be fat and some of the pictures show what looks like another diner rabbithole.

[rian90]

I wondered what a "thriving culinary scene" consists of?

Probably a new diner/restaurant rabbithole.

[lisfyre]

I guess if we bought the Lucky Simoleon Casino, we can plonk it in this world and pretend it's Vegas right? I didn't buy the casino... at least not yet. My husband has surgery next week and we're moving in 2 weeks so my priorities aren't in the game just now. I didn't get LL but this one has potential... I think :)

[babele44]

Well, the screenshots for the Casino were already done in that world.

[DigitalSympathies]

I don't get the appeal for this world outside of the wishing well, but I'll reserve my judgement until the final reveal. It looks like Lunar Lakes mixed with Appaloosa Plains and Hidden Springs.

[Elphiron]

Urgh sadly (or luckily) I don't have the money to spend (or waste) on store content. The only things I downloaded were the deep fat fryer and ice cream maker because I registered the game and got free points. So unless they price the new world at 1000 points, and the next expansion pack gives me an amount of the same, my wallet is staying firmly closed.

[matrix54]

There will be no room for everything else. I'm almost positive. All that flat land and NO ONE though to add the additional space for everything else. At least it look nice.

And in response to the "Thriving Culinary Scene" comment, it's probably a series of Sims with traits, careers and skills related to cooking, and a new rabbit hole. Speak of rabbit holes, the appear to have colored some of them.

[ButchSims]

I think I'll wait until (if) the well is sold seperately. I have the casino, and it's pretty cool, but I got what I need out of it. I don't think I need a new world.

[rian90]

I actually think the terrain paint is not that nice. The cliffs are well made, but the floor of the valleys are all one color, no variation. The lack of real desert plants is a huge oversight, in my opinion. While I like it, it desperately needs a new paint job.

[Johnny_Bravo]

Ahh another 20 bucks to spend on one world..
But I have to admit, EA did very good on this one! The sculpting and painting are awesome :)

[Volvenom]

Yes it looks good, but the culinary thing have to be great if I'm gonna use money on it.

[Ive]

Desert world !!

Too much water around for me. A river is fine, but a river encasing all of it... Doesn't look right for that kind of landscape.

I'll stick to Red Desert for now :lovestruc

[efolger997]

It looks pretty nice, but if I wanted a similar world I think I'd just download Los Aneigos (http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/295247.page). 'Cause it's completely free and looks amazing :D That's just me though--personally I'd rather spend my money on a stuff pack, not a world. :)

[eskie227]

So they got us for $17 US for the casino, which was obviously meant for LUCKY Palms (another $20). So $37 for a "complete" world, or $30 if you can buy the gambling stuff separately and build your own casino building.......................and they wonder why people hate EA? Well, I guess for the same price you could have been stuck in Katy's LSD (not in a good way) candyland.

As for the culinary stuff, maybe we'll get a strawberry bush (or tree, depending on their mood) and a recipe for strawberry shortcake. I wonder if the wishing well will actually work, and not clash with some other content, like the fountain of youth did from Hidden Springs.

[lovevslust]

I think EA got into my computer and stole my ideas....I have a world slightly similiar to this...in CAW....stalkers...
Jk, but I'm not kidding about the idea.

[olomaya]

Probably a new diner/restaurant rabbithole.

The first thing I thought was that they were finally going to introduce some kind of functionality for open restaurants in the game (like some expanded/updated food register) and release it in the store. Which. Would. Piss. Me. Off. A lot.

I really hope it's just a rabbithole...

[eskie227]

The first thing I thought was that they were finally going to introduce some kind of functionality for open restaurants in the game (like some expanded/updated food register) and release it in the store. Which. Would. Piss. Me. Off. A lot.

I really hope it's just a rabbithole...

Well, if they did (which they won't) I wouldn't be upset if I had to buy it from the Store instead of in an EP/SP. At least we would have it (but we won't, so don't worry ;) )

[PunkyBreester]

I'm happy to see a desert world, although I agree that all of that water seems really out of place. I might have to get my hands on the distant terrain to use on my own project, though ;)

[jthm_nny]

Roflmao!

[Makai447]

I'm not sure how to feel about all the new towns, still. Lunar Lakes appealed to me for how different it was, but then what I saw what it was actually like I was pretty disappointed. It's one thing to have a town with necessary rabbit holes, but they ALL look the same in this world, and while I like some of the look of the world it seemed kindof sadly empty. Maybe that's just me?

For how much these world's cost I'm never sure if they're worth it or not, though. Not that they might not look cool, but, how worth it is it?

I might be more excited for seeing new towns and things, if I could get past those reservations about how expensive it seems, given that there's no new gameplay (same reason I'm shy about the idea of stuff packs).

I wish I could test it all out first and then see if I wanted it in my game, 'cause some of the items/places look cool.

[Srikandi]

Palm Springs, that's what it is based on I think.

And I think those with reservations about the cost are completely right... there are plenty of free player-made worlds with higher quality than these store worlds. For anybody wanting a city in a desert setting, I can highly recommend Pyronium's Setra.

[Vault boy]

Palm Springs, that's what it is based on I think.
My exact thoughts. Those windmills and the surrounding mountains were a dead ringer from the get-go.

Anyway, I hope the worldmakers at EA really put more effort on making the town inhabitants; the denizens of Starlight Shores were futt-bucking ugly, and most from Lunar Lakes come in a close second (though, I like to think of LL as a gimmick world, so I'll give them a pass).

[DuskTrooper]

I must say this one looks much better than the previous ones.

[babele44]

Well, the screenshots for the Casino were already done in that world.For the little disagreer to that post ;) :
A few smart simmers noticed that our Lucky Simoleon screenshots were taken on a world that doesn’t look like any out right now. Hmm. Want to find out more? Make sure you check out The Sims 3 Store on Monday!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150885296195079&set=a.86801125078.94610.35298715078&type=1&theater

[Johnny_Bravo]

Me too, Ive. Red desert is by far the best custom desert world I've played :up:

[dreamfoil]

I must say this one looks much better than the previous ones.

I'm not a fan of playing desert-like worlds, but I agree so far so good. I recently played the Barnacle Bay and the building and decor of the houses looks the worse (Lunar Lakes is the only one I haven't played) out of all of the EA worlds.
One of the houses in Barnacle Bay doesn't even have windows.

[zigersimmer]

There will be no room for everything else. I'm almost positive. All that flat land and NO ONE though to add the additional space for everything else. At least it look nice.


EA never does make enough available space in their towns.

I wondered what a "thriving culinary scene" consists of?
Sims making grilled cheese.

[SuicidiaParasidia]

i live in a small city with plenty of green and plant matter...a canyon just seems depressingly dull.

[Simsdestroyer]

EA would have to make a truly fantastic world in order for me to buy it. Our CAW creators are way better than the sims team. I haven't played in a EA sims world since 2010 to be honest.

[matrix54]

Did you guys see the blog post about the new Sims in the town? The bios... uh... leave more to be desired. They wrote in a style that made them seem like computer generated polygons, not people with personalities and lives.

Way to sell a product 6-man world team. :up:

[kiwi_tea]

Which blog post?

[matrix54]

http://simsvip.com/?p=12173

It's not on the Sims 3 site? Meh... I assumed it was. Still, those descriptions don't entice me at all. :/

[christx101]

I like it reminds me of strangetown with the desert feel.It just looks kinda small though.

[babele44]

It seems to be a translation from the German facebook site into Spanish and then to English, while the German text itself reads like a translation from English.

[applefeather2]

I just love the look of this town. :D

[justin1010]

This is actually the first store world that has sparked some interest for me. Big fan of the landscape, but still not sure if it would ever be worth 20$, though.

[sierrakusterbeck]

Meh. I'm gonna pass. The whole town looks like a golf course and the families are all very boring (seriously EA, how many times can you do the whole "skank after the old man with cash/skank who woohoos with every man in town for fun" thing before it gets really old?). I wish they'd make families that were actually interesting for a change.

[qpldmff]

I'm a sucker for desert worlds, but no way am I going to pay 20 or however many dollars for something players have already created and shared for free.

[~MadameButterfly~]

I wonder how tacky the houses are on the inside, and do they require heavy redecorating?

[pirate_wolf_12]

Palm Springs, that's what it is based on I think.

And I think those with reservations about the cost are completely right... there are plenty of free player-made worlds with higher quality than these store worlds. For anybody wanting a city in a desert setting, I can highly recommend Pyronium's Setra.

Mmm, the detail and effort some world creators put in is astounding, especially compared to EA. And they're usually doing it by themselves, for free as well as getting people to test it for bugs.

[matrix54]

There was a mention of cacti.
Dreams = Complete

[lewisb40]

There was a mention of cacti.
Dreams = Complete

I saw that too under the Dreamer's description. Really hope it is descent set, not like that plastic one that came with SHT.

[tangie0906]

It said that Darren Dreamer filled in his pool to plant a cactus garden, but there was no cactus visible outside the window in the screenshot they showed. They better be actually putting desert plants in this world and not be pulling that as a marketing ploy. Or I'll be mad. :| :P


http://simsvip.com/?p=12173

It's not on the Sims 3 site? Meh... I assumed it was. Still, those descriptions don't entice me at all. :/


It's there, it's posted on the News section I believe.

[matrix54]

Within the first 10 minutes (out of 60), they have SOLD this town.
There's actually a lot of space (A LOT) of space on roads for everything. Everything about this town is amazing! Builders... get this town... The windows + Architecture + Items... *swoon* And the trees, plants... *which are hopefully in the patch* The look of the town... it's so... *sigh* And the PC item is in the world.. I think.

Must buy.

Also, EA updated the water texture. Not sure if it's important, but they did. :)

Edit: Oh my gosh, the well is hilarious.
And I love how she pokes fun at the game lol "Burrito baby" :rofl:

[kiwi_tea]

I don't even know what to say.

I don't even know.

I don't even know what to say.

Edit: Yes. I do know what to say - *hrgh! want!*

Did you see those trees? Or that frog? Or the hellspawn?

[matrix54]

The architecture items... :cry:

And yes, the Evil Child from hell had me laughing. It reminds me of "The Ring" lol :rofl:

[pico22]

Ah, another vacation world. Nice.

*leaves to play Matkooskee some more*

[kiwi_tea]

This is basically a must buy for world builders and people who want to play custom worlds. It massively expands the range of flora - unfortunately it's all exclusive to the world - but I don't even mind. The amount of work here is evident, new rabbit holes are always a blessing. To my mind, this is worth a lot more than most of the SP we've seen. Maybe that's because my poison is neighbour-building, but hey, this certainly puts the likes of Town Life and Master Suite to shame.

[olomaya]

Argh! This looks so great, which makes me mad because it's way more than I'd be willing to pay for a world. Seems like it would fit in perfectly with the weather EP coming out and I wouldn't be surprised if the new water effects were made for Seasons.

ETA: I'm only halfway through this incredibly long video and am really impressed. The town is probably the best-looking EA world made to date, the houses are gorgeous, the wishing well looks so cool. I love that they brought the Dreamers back! They were one of my favorites. All this needs are swimmable oceans and it'd be a perfect vacation destination for my Sims.

[Splatedpumpkin]

PRAYING that the new trees and bushes are in the patch, because they are awesome!

[matrix54]

Time for an impromptu TISHRA: Lucky Lakes

-Bistro Chair
-Bistro Table
-Bisto Umbrella
-Planted Cacti
-Well
-Mail Box (in Buy Debug, FINALLY)
-Hot Tub
-Large Picture
-Curtains

-Thin Columns (3 story)
-Diagonal Upper Floor Windows
-Square Upper Floor Window
-Mid-Century Style Fence

[I never know plant names]
-Prickly Pear Opuntia (with recolors)
-Yucca Plant (with and without flower)
-Desert Palms
-Short Desert Palm
-Tall Desert Palm
-Mesquite Tree

-Rabbit Hole Recolors (Almost all base game rabbit holes)
-Bistro Rabbit Hole
-Desert Terrain Stones (Large and Small)
-Retaining Wall (could be one giant item, or many, not sure)
-Distant Terrain
-Wind Turbines

-Male Suit
-Female Dress

That's better than a stuff pack. :p

[kiwi_tea]

Prickly pear opuntia, by the looks - or "paddle cactus". Two colours, orange, and also a pink one.

There are LOTS of cacti that look like that, but the prickly pear opuntia is the most commonly grown and eaten.

[eskie227]

Anyone else catch the comment at about 01:30, when showing off the men's new suit, the comment about how "he would look good gambling wearing this". So, the casino was meant for LP, and they split it out for additional revenue.

[Ive]

Has there been any more pictures released yet?

[Captain THPS4]

Colour me impressed! I think I like this even more than Lunar Lakes. Love the houses on the pier, I've been waiting for a world to have something like that. When I buy this world the first thing I'll do is move a sim into one of those houses. The wishing well has very nice animations. The new bistro looks very realistic. No excessive plugging of Origin and both Sarah and Smitty made the chat entertaining. It seems they actually went out of their way to answer the more interesting questions. Apparently the new plants are actually exclusive to the world this time.

[olomaya]

Anyone else catch the comment at about 01:30, when showing off the men's new suit, the comment about how "he would look good gambling wearing this". So, the casino was meant for LP, and they split it out for additional revenue.

Well they said there's no difference if you buy the casino and LP separately than if you buy the Gold edition which has the two together (if I understood her somewhat confusing explanation).

But considering the casino lot is $19, I shudder to think how much the world would be! I don't see the price listed anywhere, any ideas?

[kiwi_tea]

SimGuruSarah says the tree is a mesquite tree. It's endemic to Mexico and Southern US, and invasive in Australia/NZ. Very cool to have that in the builder's arsenal.

[aGOLDENbox]

I really like this world, the poorer areas seemed like the most interesting exteriors for residential lots the TS3 teams had done. I also like the look of fast food place, the new posters on the buildings and why are they playing with us/probably just me with those stands for the school and no sports activity to actually do anything. The frog from the well was a very cute animation as well.

[MiniMimi]

Just finished watching the replay, boy it's good not to be TLDRed by King. It was even entertaining with these 2 lively ladies!
The wishing well is way more evolved than I thought, it's not a simple fountain of youth clone. The item is beautiful - and huge! -. All the interactions are funny, loved when the fairies tossed the coin at the sim's head! The animations are extremely good, like the disgusted look the sim had just before kissing the frog :P And that evil kid will be a good way to torture sims. It's also funny to be able to fish in it, a bit like the crazy sims who can fish in the pools.
I LOVE the new plants, they're top quality but they're really milking the cow with the beautiful cactus only available in simpoints bundle.:sheep:
Funny thing about the Dreamer family is that with Supernatural I'll be able to make it until Sims2 where at that time I started him by resurrecting her as a zombie (he wished for it!)... And do the same thing and resurrect her as a zombie... again! :giggler:

[Captain THPS4]

Fun fact from SimGuruSarah's Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/SimGuruSarah): Lucky Palms was made by the same people who made Sunset Valley and Riverview! She posted a picture of the new hot tub there as well.

[matrix54]

^Actually, If a Sim brings a football/baseball to the field (there being no actual reason why Sims can't place a football community lot - I modded it to appear in the buy menu, and Sims don't steal it), they can play catch there. It's not organized, but it works.

[orkhid22]

here is a link to the livestream chat; i'm currently watching it

http://www.origin.com/the-sims-3-lucky-palms-chat

[matrix54]

OMG! Sarah says the store team hinted at the new world, on the forums:

There is already a hint out in the wild I think, since we have to put some assets into patches

That's what those thatched roofs were for. Tropical town! :D

[MiniMimi]

That's what those thatched roofs were for. Tropical town! :DWe'ld better already have swimmable sea when this tropical world will be released, otherwise it's useless. I refuse to install anything beach related as long as we don't have usable beaches. :|

[lewisb40]

I was very impressed and shocked! Screamed when SG Sarah said you can get the mailbox in BuyDebug. Yay! Now they need to do the other mailboxes.

I want to get started redecorating and designing some of the residential and love, love, love the bistro. Wonderful presentation, and yes I am interested.

[frankie]

Burrito babies should be sold at the new Taco Bell venue at a discount. It'd be quite fitting with the new theme, and we already have tacos from Late Night and chihuahuas from Pets.

Seriously, though, I have to agree that LP is by far the best EA world to date. The price, however, will probably say otherwise. And I love Sarah! She's so goofy. Smitty is also very welcoming and giggly. They make the best pair of EA Gurus yet... though... I still like the one from Lunar Lakes and ShowTime video chats. (Or was she Sarah as well? They do look similar.)

The video was great. I didn't get an artificial vibe from these ladies, nor were there any beating-around-the-bush type of answers. Sarah seems to be matter-of-fact, and I admire that about her. She's not even boring! I sat through that whole video, without realizing the time. Take a lesson, gurus! (Though, the one buzzed-head guy from the Supernatural chat was hot, whoever he was.)

[Splatedpumpkin]

I just watched the video and WOW this world looks amazing. I thought that the plants were good, but everything is fantastic. There's loads that would be perfect to put in my own custom world, I really want to know how to do the water texture, and how to get the houses on the water looking good. Better start saving!

[frankie]

Splatedpumpkin, I was wondering that myself. The water looks great!

[Periandre]

Anyone else catch the comment at about 01:30, when showing off the men's new suit, the comment about how "he would look good gambling wearing this". So, the casino was meant for LP, and they split it out for additional revenue.

Or, looked at another way, they afforded people who don't want to buy the world the opportunity to just get the gambling content. ;)

[eskie227]

Or, looked at another way, they afforded people who don't want to buy the world the opportunity to just get the gambling content. ;)

You have a kind soul.

[tangie0906]

That actually irritated me too, but then I got the impression that there will be an edition of the world without the casino lot that will be less money - the extact less money that buying the casino lot would cost.

I loved the walk-through. And I am psyched for the world. I love all the plants and the textures and lots looks amazing. And of course the wishing well was awesome! I also think the Store Team is learning a thing or two about world building. ;)

[applefeather2]

So the cactus doesn't come with it? What's with that? Or am I misunderstanding something.

[matrix54]

All the plant-life is exclusive to the world.

[clay4kelly]

So the cactus doesn't come with it? What's with that? Or am I misunderstanding something.
No they come with it. You just can't buy them separately.

This world is fantastic. And the ladies were great to watch! Very informative. Did anyone else notice the lack of "AWESOME" and "SUPER" being thrown around to lazily describe everything?

[matrix54]

^Because they know they've got gold on their hands. They don't need to fake it.
Give people what they ask for, and it will sell itself.

Now, if only the price was released...

[babele44]

So the cactus doesn't come with it? What's with that? Or am I misunderstanding something.If you're referring to the cacti you get as part of Simpoint bundles I think these are re-colours of the one that comes with the world. So, one cactus is exclusive to the world, three re-colours of that cactus are exclusive to the Store.

[Ive]

Nice to see pictures from other angles, the water doesn't look so bad after all.

Might actually have to buy this, even if I was hoping EA would be including it in a EP! Maybe they will sell individually in stores like Hidden Springs and Barnacle Bay instead of the online store. I don't want to buy simpoints.

[Arisuka]

Wow, this must have been the best live chat to date! Good camera use, showing most lots, explaining details and no nonsense. These ladies rock! :)
The world too looks so much better than I expected, very realistic from the sim level. And those houseboats... AMAZING. So many good, interesting ideas! I wish they made worlds that come with EPs like this...

[kiwi_tea]

Good camera use, showing most lots, explaining details and no nonsense. These ladies rock!

I sound like a ridiculous fanboy, but Sarah Holding and her team really know how to work, and how to engage with a community without being patronising. I have never seen her making excuses that she hasn't backed up with a persuasive argument, either. Holding seems to understand that mysteries and hype are not helpful, and that there is no love gained by concealing the fact that EA makes mistakes. She has one of the hardest jobs - making us respect the store enough to actually want to use it, and damn her she's winning me over. :faceslap:

One of the very last lingering criticisms I have is that they're importing the store world landscapes from heightmaps (is obvious to look at), and some of the artifacting from that process is never quite cleaned up, lending the landscaping a "manufactured" look. A little more handcrafted love in the sculpting would go a long way, but I understand why they adopt the methods they do - they guarantee consistency. I would use the same methods, if I were more technically capable, but I'd put more polish on. Maybe they don't have the time.

One of the hardest things in sculpting a world is maintaining a *consistent* method. I haven't mastered that. I only know a very few world builders who have - ouerbacker appears to be one.

Edit: Also, SimGuruSarah has confirmed that all the CAW assets are available in CAW metadata, except the DT. There are some technical barriers to sharing store DTs at the moment, but they are hoping to eventually make them available if it's possible, which would be fantastic for CAW users.

[Periandre]

Wow, this must have been the best live chat to date! Good camera use, showing most lots, explaining details and no nonsense. These ladies rock! :)
The world too looks so much better than I expected, very realistic from the sim level. And those houseboats... AMAZING. So many good, interesting ideas! I wish they made worlds that come with EPs like this...

Yes!!! And my favorite part... Examining the questions so that only new ones were asked, looking over the list and deciding which ones had been answered by their presentation. I know it must be hard to do these chats, a lot of multitasking, nerves, etc.... Still these two made it look easy and natural. Wish the SN crew would take notes. Cuz their presentation felt like a wasted hour of my life that I'll never get back.

[frankie]

I agree that Sarah truly knows how to sell a game. I'm shocked that she could actually sell a store item, according to these posts. I hope EA keeps Sarah for the long run, since I'm always seeing new faces with almost every add-on. And she had better get a nice raise for nailing the video (I thought she did quite well with the Lunar Lakes chat). By the way... is this the same Sarah as the one from the second ShowTime chat, the one who was the replacement of one of the guys, whom Graham referred to as an expert in the beginning of the video? If so, she looked quite different with her bangs cut like that. Even her face looked a bit different to the point of my questioning if it is her. If not, then, I like that Sarah, too. :)

[kiwi_tea]

There are two Sarahs, Sarah Holding and Sarah Nelson. I think Holding works primarily with Store content.

[matrix54]

It's not. This is store-world Sarah. She does THE best chats. If they ever show off a store world, and she's there, you're going to see a good presentation. It's funny how this is the best show, but it's also the shortest. Within the first 30 seconds, she want into the game not 10 minutes of house keeping. :faceslap: The diesel chat is going to be horrible. It's a stuff pack - not much to show off. Some clothing, so furniture - talk about the brand, the inspiration, etc. Sell the items - not drone on about "how cute this will look with flames! *waits to load the fabric category, then themed, looks for flame pattern, applies, recolors...*"

Also, there's a problem with distant terrain in general. Hidden Springs, Lunar Lakes and Starlight Shores all have broken terrain. AND, in regards to the house boats... I wouldn't exactly call them boats. The base of the pier is supported by concrete. One day, we'll be given an actual pier. It should just be a shell that goes on water, and connect to land, like in simulation games, when something has to attach to land and water, and snaps to the area it needs to be. Shouldn't bee too hard, all of the tools are there. The only annoying part is having the sand underwater recolored to look like a lot.

[zigersimmer]

Except Sarah is obviously as clueless as everyone else at EA. She says they left a lot of empty lots because players complain there aren't enough empty lots in the EA towns. Hello, Clueless Sarah. It isn't the number of empty lots that is the problem, it is the total number of lots that is the real problem. EA continuously adds new community lot types and the topography and unroutable terrain in the town prohibits us from adding enough of our own new lots to the town to accommodate. The only possible solutions are: A) A CAW tool that is not a broken beta POS; B) A functional means of actually editing the world while in the game; C) EA provides new, updated, default versions of the EA worlds every time EA adds new lot types. I believe EA owes us C.

EA should just stop making clothes for males because they just completely and epically fail every single time. Maybe the people at EA don't know what guys are? Sarah trumpets the 'awesome' lakeside houses, that are actually very badly done shacks. And, I don't find deserts the least bit attractive or interesting. I stopped watching after five minutes since they can't make up for the crap they already showed. Obviously I won't be buying this.

[Ive]

Well Starlight Shores was epic fail. it was nice to begin with. But then you realise there's not enough lots for the other lots... And the empty ones that were there were too big for most of it! Not to mentioned there was also no places you could place your own lots in edit town either. Either no straight roads or blocked because of routing.

[kiwi_tea]

Both Sarah Holding and Graham Nardone have acknowledged that they understand the nature of that problem, zigersimmer.

They backed themselves into a design corner, they know it, and they're looking at how to best address it within the constraints they have. I am assuming that the world has more lots than previous ones, and not just some empty ones, however they can't push the number up too high or they impact the lower spec machines (frankly I think they should stop trying to scale to the lowest spec machines, it's making the game ugly and hurting the design, and they charge so much I expect many players fall into a bracket with the income to have semi-decent machines).

[~MadameButterfly~]

My first reaction to this world was...ah...gahhh...nooo! But to be honest, it is slowly growing on me.

[lisfyre]

I just watched the chat on this world!! I'm going to buy some simpoints as soon as we're settled in the new place and get this world!! Been busy packing the apartment for the move to the new place so I haven't been playing at all.

[eskie227]

Both Sarah Holding and Graham Nardone have acknowledged that they understand the nature of that problem, zigersimmer.

They backed themselves into a design corner, they know it, and they're looking at how to best address it within the constraints they have. I am assuming that the world has more lots than previous ones, and not just some empty ones, however they can't push the number up too high or they impact the lower spec machines (frankly I think they should stop trying to scale to the lowest spec machines, it's making the game ugly and hurting the design, and they charge so much I expect many players fall into a bracket with the income to have semi-decent machines).

The problem is they're stuck with the specs from the base game. Can anyone really play this, even with only one EP installed, on a 2.0 GHz P4, 1.5 GB RAM for Vista (1 GB if you're still running XP, which is possible if you're still using a P4), and a video card that's less than 5 years old. Even new machines, with lots more RAM, and faster GPUs can't really run this thing if they're using an Intel integrated video solution.

So the towns get smaller, the population is increasingly limited, and improved graphics are on hold, all to satisfy the base game's original requirements. Face it, until they offer a new game engine (TS4) which takes advantage of current hardware, this is what we're stuck with.

[zigersimmer]

Both Sarah Holding and Graham Nardone have acknowledged that they understand the nature of that problem, zigersimmer.

They backed themselves into a design corner, they know it, and they're looking at how to best address it within the constraints they have. I am assuming that the world has more lots than previous ones, and not just some empty ones, however they can't push the number up too high or they impact the lower spec machines (frankly I think they should stop trying to scale to the lowest spec machines, it's making the game ugly and hurting the design, and they charge so much I expect many players fall into a bracket with the income to have semi-decent machines).


If they can't make the worlds bigger, then they need to take the control out of the lot type and move it into individual levels so I can have residential units on the floors above a consignment shop, or dive bar, or laundromat, or any other community lot including rabbitholes (rugs and doors), or even have multiple community lots on the same lot.

They added markers for hidden rooms, public rooms and level skips. I don't see any reason why the same approach could not be used to solve the community lot type problem.

[matrix54]

Rabbit holes markers would be a good send from EA.Rabbit Holes are great and swell, but nothing beats tailoring something the town your currently in. Making the exterior shell of a building in game takes what? An Hour? 2 at the most. Making an over sized that doesn't fit in every town takes a hell of a lot more. Some rabbit holes are nice, and they work, but not everywhere. Like, the lunar lakes rabbit holes - the idea is great. Some Rabbit holes in Bridgeport... not so much. If EA gave us more creative build tools (or at least increased the floor limit) and rabbit hole markers, space wouldn't be a problem At all. Make a few small little rooms, plop a marker in - bam - free space.

The Sims 2 had an excellent system. Commerical or Residential, in some cases, cheats for something special, like a hotel or whatever. It's nice to have some designation + attraction to the lots, but the game should examine what's on the lot and pull in Sims that way, not via lot type. By that logic, a Sim would real all day if something exists that they don't care about. Labeling a commerical lot "club" would have been fine EA. -_-

#rant

[applefeather2]

If you're referring to the cacti you get as part of Simpoint bundles I think these are re-colours of the one that comes with the world. So, one cactus is exclusive to the world, three re-colours of that cactus are exclusive to the Store.
Thanks, babele. I wish they hadn't done something as small-minded as that, but it clears up the question I had. It's such a lovely new world it's too bad they didn't go full-out with the colours.

[skmt999]

The problem is they're stuck with the specs from the base game. Can anyone really play this, even with only one EP installed, on a 2.0 GHz P4, 1.5 GB RAM for Vista (1 GB if you're still running XP, which is possible if you're still using a P4), and a video card that's less than 5 years old. Even new machines, with lots more RAM, and faster GPUs can't really run this thing if they're using an Intel integrated video solution.

So the towns get smaller, the population is increasingly limited, and improved graphics are on hold, all to satisfy the base game's original requirements. Face it, until they offer a new game engine (TS4) which takes advantage of current hardware, this is what we're stuck with.That's dodging the issue. They AREN'T stuck with base game specs. Each EP should have it's own increased Spec list - and a second spec list available at least online for if you have multiple EP's installed. I know they assume that their buyers are stupid sheep - but if you're too stupid to match how many EP's you have to the appropriate Spec List - then you shouldn't be installing them. This is one of the many things that irritate me about EA. They don't have to do things the way they do, but they do anyway because someone way up the food chain thinks that's how it should be done.

[Periandre]

I find the whole everything catered to the base game attitude a little trying. I can kind of back matching the specs -- at least for this iteration, but I can't back the lack of EP support. It makes no sense to me that you cater your business to the people who buy the least, not people who invest heavily in your product.

[matrix54]

And it doesn't even work. If people will buy products for years on end, why risk losing them? It's the equivalent to an affair: Yeah, the quick and easy is great, but what they need to do is settle with the old and faithful.

[kiwi_tea]

The problems are more to do with the architecture of the code itself. As I said, they've backed themselves into a corner, and it's because of a lack of forethought in part. The way they designed lots in the first place does not make it easy or simple to for them to now design a lot that can contain a residence, a salon, and an office rabbithole all at once. I'm not sure they have the freedom - in terms of investment and time - to make such big changes to the neighbourhood's vital infrastructure without them being a hack job or completely unsatisfying.

A rabbithole object seems perfectly viable though, as multiple rabbitholes can already exist on lots by their design.

[matrix54]

What about the Base Camp. The only real issue is Sims can't select rooms - this would require more coding on their part, and a new room hotel room marker. It functions just fine, since it's a community. Plop down a register or whatever and it's fine. Sims even cook on the lot, since it's a combination lot. Sadly, they gate all the good stuff form everything else. It wont have the proper functionality of, say, running a slon or shopping at a consignment store.

Rabbit holes do work on the home lot though. Sims get jobs their and everything. The coding is mediocre (and horrid in places), but it's possible - they just need to give it a bit of breathing room.

[Periandre]

The problems are more to do with the architecture of the code itself. As I said, they've backed themselves into a corner, and it's because of a lack of forethought in part. The way they designed lots in the first place does not make it easy or simple to for them to now design a lot that can contain a residence, a salon, and a office rabbithole all at once. I'm not sure they have the freedom - in terms of investment and time - to make such big changes to the neighbourhood's vital infrastructure without them being a hack job or completely unsatisfying.

A rabbithole object seems perfectly viable though, as multiple rabbitholes can already exist on lots by their design.

Then it seems to me they need to track down Jynx and give him/her some money to buy the rabbithole door/rug solution.

EA is fond of those buydebug globes. One globe coded in the door/rug method, shift-control click them in buy mode and designate what sort of lot it is.

The thing is, if they anyone is aware of the problem why do they keep making it progressively worse with each EP? Pets - the equestrian center, not just a rabbithole, it has to be a dedicated lot? I don't get it? Showtime, not one performance lot, multiples. If I recall correctly it doesn't even seem to matter what you call it, because in the game both the binder clips place and the Hoi Polloi lot both are designated as big show venue... one is performance/movie theatre, the other performance/stadium. They function correctly, so what is the purpose of a live event venue?

[tangie0906]

Totally agree that they could solve much of the problem with a programmable marker that would allow us to set any room as the rabbit hole of our choice. I really, really hope they are working on something like this.

It is also true that they keep compounding the problem by creating multiple venue types for each EP. I think Kiwi Tea is correct, it is a basic design flaw. Everything they create is basegame compatible only, so each team that works on an EP makes that EP with pretty much only the Base Game in mind. All those lot types make it a more interesting game for the player who just has the base game.

The problem is that those of us who have multiple EPs are feeling the lot creep because we want the benefit of the whole game in every town we play. And why wouldn't we, since we've spent a lot of money on them!

[tangie0906]

That's dodging the issue. They AREN'T stuck with base game specs. Each EP should have it's own increased Spec list - and a second spec list available at least online for if you have multiple EP's installed. I know they assume that their buyers are stupid sheep - but if you're too stupid to match how many EP's you have to the appropriate Spec List - then you shouldn't be installing them. This is one of the many things that irritate me about EA. They don't have to do things the way they do, but they do anyway because someone way up the food chain thinks that's how it should be done.

Unless I misunderstand what you are saying, I have to disagree with you here - in a way they are stuck with base game specs when they create something new, because they design each new EP or world for someone who might just have the base game only. While they might try each new one with the other EPs to make sure there aren't any conflicts, they rarely if ever try to integrate anything in them, either. This is one of the reasons I am rather shocked that they've made changes to the vampires that came in LN - which many simmers are complaining about! :faceslap:

All that said, I totally agree that they can and should have separate spec lists for those who have more EPs.

As for the new world. I love it! I'll definitely be getting it and I thought the chat was very well done.

[skmt999]

By specs, I'm talking about the System Requirements needed to run the game, not the game play itself. It takes more horsepower to run Base plus all the EPs than it does to run just the Basegame. But the OP I quoted suggested that EA was limited to making worlds as if everyone still had computers that could only run Base alone, with no EPs added. I wasn't intending to suggest that it would be simple for EA to integrate the EP's together, because it isn't and they won't. Otherwise, we'd have been given the opportunity for Singers from SHT to join LN bands. Which will likely never happen.

[zigersimmer]

Unless I misunderstand what you are saying, I have to disagree with you here - in a way they are stuck with base game specs when they create something new, because they design each new EP or world for someone who might just have the base game only.

And that needs to stop. The base game was released 3 years ago. Many, if not most, of the players already have more than one EP. As someone else already said, EA must stop catering to the customers who spend the least and start designing for those who spend the most.

While I feel sorry for the kids playing on mom's old hand-me-down laptop, it's a truly craptastic business model from which EA is working.

[zigersimmer]

Time for an impromptu TISHRA: Lucky Lakes

-Bistro Chair
-Bistro Table
-Bisto Umbrella
-Planted Cacti
-Well
-Mail Box (in Buy Debug, FINALLY)
-Hot Tub
-Large Picture
-Curtains

-Thin Columns (3 story)
-Diagonal Upper Floor Windows
-Square Upper Floor Window
-Mid-Century Style Fence

[I never know plant names]
-Prickly Pear Opuntia (with recolors)
-Yucca Plant (with and without flower)
-Desert Palms
-Short Desert Palm
-Tall Desert Palm
-Mesquite Tree

-Rabbit Hole Recolors (Almost all base game rabbit holes)
-Bistro Rabbit Hole
-Desert Terrain Stones (Large and Small)
-Retaining Wall (could be one giant item, or many, not sure)
-Distant Terrain
-Wind Turbines

-Male Suit
-Female Dress

That's better than a stuff pack. :p
The only item in that list that interests me at all is the new bistro rabbithole. I have no need or interest in any of the other items.

[kiwi_tea]

The only item in that list that interests me at all is the new bistro rabbithole. I have no need or interest in any of the other items.

That's too bad. Because I'm in this thread making you buy it. At gunpoint.

The gun is plastic. That's not the point.

Point is...

...um. You don't have to buy it. You don't have to resent people for wanting to buy it either. For once it seems that EA is offering us value for $25US. Unless they bump the price up, god forbid.

[zigersimmer]

I don't resent people for wanting this. Not at all. But EA has, once again, failed to produce anything I would want to buy. They haven't produced anything I want for a very long time.

[matrix54]

That's because they aren't making the game for you.

[jay_envy]

I think this world is gorgeous, IMHO. I'm really glad that TS3 team have stepped up and finally delivered content as detailed as Lucky Palms appears to be! Everything is so gorgeous and done impeccably well! I really hope they continue putting out stuff of this quality, as I believe this to be a knock out of the park.

[lisfyre]

I don't resent people for wanting this. Not at all. But EA has, once again, failed to produce anything I would want to buy. They haven't produced anything I want for a very long time.

This is the first thing that's interested me in a LONG time from EA :) I passed on PETS, SHT and I'm going to be passing on SuperNatural. I don't have SP's yet and the only one I'm interested in so far is OLS.

[frankie]

Sorry for the late reply... ah, so, there are two different Sarahs. Well, I like them both, but Holding is the best. :)

I do agree with many of you about the design flaw. In fact, what exactly could be the reason for EA not bothering to give us rabbit hole markers? Do they not realize that we could take one 64x64 lot and turn it into a super mall? Hell, you can even make a little village with everything included in just that 64x64 lot. And why can't they at least allow us to recolor the rabbit holes at the very least? Many of them do not match with every world.

[ViolettaVie]

I just saw the video chat. Lucky Palms looks great!

[Mera Benzema]

Seems like a great travel destination with Nraas's mod. :D

[matrix54]

Sorry for the late reply... ah, so, there are two different Sarahs. Well, I like them both, but Holding is the best. :)

I do agree with many of you about the design flaw. In fact, what exactly could be the reason for EA not bothering to give us rabbit hole markers? Do they not realize that we could take one 64x64 lot and turn it into a super mall? Hell, you can even make a little village with everything included in just that 64x64 lot. And why can't they at least allow us to recolor the rabbit holes at the very least? Many of them do not match with every world.

There's a few, probably.

Rabbit hole Markers - they probably haven't even thought about. Also, lots are limited to a certain number of Sims, so if everything was on one lot, there may be some issue.

Maybe.

[frankie]

Matrix54, I didn't know about that issue. It makes sense. Well, at least, they should allow us to recolor rabbit holes in CAST... even if it's just in solid colors. But at least LP comes with new recolors.

[Ive]

And, they could give us some smaller RHs that are easier to connect in a town like setting.

[matrix54]

If you look in the game files, showtime had rabbit holes door items for the concert hall, and the stadium, in the style of shell doors. They could probably give us all RH types if the wanted to,

[zigersimmer]

This is the first thing that's interested me in a LONG time from EA :) I passed on PETS, SHT and I'm going to be passing on SuperNatural. I don't have SP's yet and the only one I'm interested in so far is OLS.
The stuff packs don't include many items for the price, so they aren't a bargain by any stretch of the imagination. In fact on a price-per-item basis buying stuff from the store may be the better bargain, especially when stuff is on sale.

With that said, I have purchased the stuff packs and yesterday I went through them one by one, placing the items from each on separate empty lots; and I do find that I actually use them quite a lot on my lots with my favorites being Outdoor Living and High-End Loft. There are a couple of cars in Fast Lane that I like, especially the motorcycle, but Fresh-Prince is the way to go for cars.

That's because they aren't making the game for you.
I know. They are making RPG expansions for Twilight loving tweeny-boppers.

[matrix54]

I know. They are making RPG expansions for Twilight loving tweeny-boppers.

EA made it perfectly clear they were steering clear of twilight. So part of that argument is completely invalid.

Tweens... the Katy Perry deal is unorthodox - I wont go into it. We all know it, I wont go into it.

Magic... I'll bite my tongue on that entire subject.

An RPG? Play the Sims 1. If the game wasn't classified as simulator (which is barely is, actually) I'd be an RPG.


The Sims is played by EVERYONE. I may not support them pandering to children, but they are in the games market, regardless of rating. I began playing very young as well - it already had appeal to me at that age.

[simtastic2]

This looks like the best world so far. My favorite world has been Barnacle Bay, but this may top it. I love the houses on the river where she placed her sim.

[kiwi_tea]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17818361

SimGuruSarah linked to this on twitter, saying it come out while they were developing the world. To clarify, the Salton Sea was a major inspiration for the world.

[Ive]

So I have totally been checking the store all day to see when it's up.

Hope it's not too expensive.

[Nemiga]

I cannot wait until I can get LP :) It looks awesome

[chyrun]

I cannot wait until I can get LP :) It looks awesome

Me too! I'm so excited about the wishing well. :)

[kiwi_tea]

Downloading. Thanks to SimsVIP for gifting it to me, I'll post anything I like about the place here while I work on my larger CAW Wiki review. I haven't been this keen for EA content in a good while.

- The rabbit holes are lovely, they really fit the world, and some are now more versatile. The stadium is Twinbrook's recoloured.
- The plants are everything they are cracked up to be. Lovely quality, multiple sizes, they look great and make this a must get.
- I suspect the boardwalk is a single shell-like object that has "lots" on it, but will need to look in CAW to be sure. Edit: Nope. It's meticulously assembled around lots. Ugh. Maths.
- Cacti are objects and cannot be clustered.
- Big stuff is available in CAW - rocks/boardwalk walls/etc.
- Trees show up as strings of numbers in metadata under "Trees" but they work fine.
- Two art galleries, two hangouts, two pools, lots of parks. Plenty of redundant lots for EP content, alongside the empty ones.
- It is big, but there's not *as* much space for adding lots as I expected. There still is space, though, and I think enough.

Edit:
Small Dustin' Rocks (http://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=11488&index=0&productId=OFB-SIM3:52140)
Prickly Pear Cactus with Orange Flowers (http://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=11488&index=0&productId=OFB-SIM3:52142)
Prickly Pear Cactus with Yellow Flowers (http://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=11488&index=0&productId=OFB-SIM3:52144)
Yucca Plant without Blossoms (http://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=11488&index=0&productId=OFB-SIM3:52146)
Yucca Plant with Blossoms (http://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=11488&index=0&productId=OFB-SIM3:52147)
Mesquite Tree (http://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=11488&index=0&productId=OFB-SIM3:52149)
Joshua Tree (http://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=11488&index=0&productId=OFB-SIM3:52150)

There may be others. Change the last numeral on the URL. Edit: Links no longer work. For a while it looked like the rocks and trees for the world were free. Oh well.

[Ive]

Lucky you kiwi_tea!

Says on the news updates that it's out, but just get page error not found when clicking it :/

[matrix54]

Edit: Nevermind.

[zigersimmer]

EA made it perfectly clear they were steering clear of twilight.
They failed. Epically.

[matrix54]

^And what "feature" unique to Twilight has made it's way into the game?

I know they reference the modern day Teen Wolf for Werewolves.

[kiwi_tea]

They failed. Epically.
Thank you, ever so, for that entirely on topic remark about Lucky Palms.

I can't for the life of me find where they've hidden this grate. It doesn't show up with s3oc used on the world file, and if it's in CAW metadata (it might be) then I'm missing it. It doesn't seem to have a name or anything.

http://twitpic.com/a1kikm/full

[matrix54]

(_)__(_)

Oh, that's lovely! That'd be great for one of those Port towns where ferries that carry cars are supposed to dock in, like in Alan Wake.

It's also a great alternative to using road barriers from the base game to mark off a road ending.

[Ive]

So for whoever wants to know,

It's 2100 for the standard version (on sale until 13/07. Will after then be 2450).
It's 3700 for the gold version, Includes the new casino (on sale until 13/07. Will after then be 4350)

[matrix54]

I wonder if the mills are a CAW object, or attached to the terrain.

[Criseida]

this neighborhood is looking good!

[Lisen801]

Now I've played a few hours with Lucky Palms and I must say that this is the finest world that the EA did so far. I think it's very beautiful and well done with many fine houses and sims. There are many empty lots and space to place many more.
The texture of the water is changed and very nice addition, and EA has changed the atmosphere light, very nice.
The only complaint I have is that the wishing well does not work completely for me. It runs no water in it, but otherwise it seems to work.
My opinion is that Lucky Palms well are worth all the simpoints it costs.

Edit:
Now discovered that it was my No. Mosaic Mod that led to the wishing well was not working, velocitygrass_nomosaic_1_34
Twallans Decensor works well.

[Ive]

I agree.

I'm a bit puzzled as to why they don't show any pictures of the part where the military base is on the store, or released any of it before.
I mean it's a pretty "big" part. Looking at just the pictures the world looks small compared. I only knew it was there from looking at the video.

[kiwi_tea]

They have a bit of an obsession with catering predominantly to the "wish fulfillment" players - the ones who dive in to play as the rich and famous, or in luxury. That means nice detailing that doesn't fit that glitz and glam marketing gets neglected a bit.

On the lots issue. This world has 96 lots all up. Lunar Lakes had 87, and Hidden Springs had 84.

[zigersimmer]

Is there enough room to build the Vegas strip in Lucky Palms?

Thank you, ever so, for that entirely on topic remark about Lucky Palms.
You are ever so welcome. I am glad I was able to clear that up for you.

[CeJaye]

How's the routing so far?

[kiwi_tea]

It actually looks good. I found one road not connected to an intersection, that's all.

Edit: There's the CAW Wiki review (http://cawtool.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Kiwi_tea/Review:_Lucky_Palms_by_EA_Store).

[matrix54]

Is there a count of how much stuff is here? There's a lot more that EA didn't list on the download page. This brings the price per item (if you only count items) to well below 1 dollar per item, regardless of actual item prices.

[olomaya]

It actually looks good. I found one road not connected to an intersection, that's all.

Edit: There's the CAW Wiki review (http://cawtool.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Kiwi_tea/Review:_Lucky_Palms_by_EA_Store).

Thanks for putting up a review so quickly. Very informative. Interesting that you gave Bridgeport higher marks in terms of landscaping. I love BP but Lucky Palms, to me, looks like the most beautiful world EA has put out to date.

Did they ever say the houses on the lake were boathouses? I thought they just called them lake houses.

Also, does anyone know how were they able to make the houses on the lake? Is that something we can do in CAW now?

[Shimrod101]

I can't for the life of me find where they've hidden this grate.

It's called Custer's Cattle Guard, it should be in BuyDebug. In the DCBackup folder you can find the cattle guard in the file which ends with ...29f19.package. 843 KB is the size Windoze gives me on this file.

[MiniMimi]

Yes, I saw it in buy debug while searching for the mailbox. Gosh this world is so gorgeous I can't stop taking pics :p
Instead of going for Darren Dreamer as my first play I finally switched to Naomi Nita, the lonely survivalist. Loved her bio, very lulzy and in reference of the upcoming EP! I even spruced up her looks and her 'bunker' for the upcoming invasion ROFL

[matrix54]

The town comes with 53 items. 54 if you count Distant Terrain (which will, eventually, work.

Keeping in mind some of these are recolors, and some are full on edits of existing items, (like the spa has new meshes in side, and the theater has lights), and some are just altered duplicates there for detail (like the yucca plants, cacti + windmills) the actual item count may go down, but there are 52 items included.

Builders will appreciate all this has to offer, since we need as much as we can get, and the ideas for new homes. I NEVER would have though about using the glass fence as a window. There's even space for more a wide number of excess buildings, both in and out of the main town, so nothing needs to be torn down. Even a full gold course can be build, and the word makes reference to it with street names.

World Builders has Desert Assets, and the new terrain to fiddle with (when they tear it apart)... I predict there will be more desert worlds being made after this.

Players will appreciate a change in setting, and the playfulness of the wishing well. Even the docked homes are a nice touch, and a change of pace for players. Not to mention the stories around town (both Sims and Locations).

If anyone is having an issue with the window being CASTable, get one of the recolors from around town (any of them) and store it. Add the window to a collection folder, and it will work no problem. :)


Also, I hate stucco after looking at it everywhere. The same stucco pattern, sometimes used throughout an entire home... it's sickening. >_>

Edit: Oh, and one of the homes on the docks has sand under it that you can't remove, so if you want the wood form the docks on your home (Like I did when I moved in and wanted to renovate), you can't have it there. I assume this is on other homes as well. -_-

[kiwi_tea]

The wood under the docks is the default terrain. It will never carry over when copying and pasting lots, only terrain paints do. Wish we had a nice wood terrain paint, though, I asked Graham Nardone if that's a possibility, hopefully planted a seed there.

The flavour text makes the "houseboats" out as "houseboats", but they're clearly not.

And cheers Shimrod!

EA decided to take the concept of a "Buthisface" to a whole disturbing new dimension:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/walruskeeper/Screenshot-128-1.jpg

[matrix54]

I meant why couldn't they all have been wood paint. People care about those details like that. It'd odd how one lot has empty space and wood terrain, but the others have sand. Also, upon deleting some of the other lots, you run the risk of a piece of the pier being removed. It only happened to me on one lot (the one next to the empty lot) so it's bets to be careful when editing them.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4011/screenshot262l.jpg

In regard to the "Houseboats" I say good effort on their part, but but more is needed. They certainly could have made the lots smaller to avoid the issue, and have covered them all with a wood texture to prevent the player form being forced to us clashing wood throughout the area.

Also, the Heliport/Pad at the military camp faces the wrong way, so planes will, without a doubt, hit mountains.

[chyrun]

I don't know what is going on but there's NO lag in LP for me, considering that I can't play other worlds because of constant lag. And my sims and objects seem to look much better, the colours seem more vibrant. I'm guessing it's got something to do with the lighting.

[kiwi_tea]

The light is, I believe, the default. I didn't see any tuning files for it. Should double check, though. It does have much better routing that than most EA worlds, so it could be that.

[Lisen801]

I have encountered a problem. The new restaurant, on a platform, is nice. But I thought it was too dark out among the tables so I put some lights there. I would never have done it meant that the lighting inside the restaurant and the restaurant's facade was extinguished. I took off my lights but to no avail, the restaurant is dimmed how hard I try. What is the remedy? I want to have a lit restaurant?

[matrix54]

EA put a slide next to Darren's covered up pool.

Bastards. >_>

[ButchSims]

Wow, I was pretty hesitant to get this world, but I gotta say, they outdid themselves with this one, it looks great, nice lighting.

[Anniversary]

Oh my! This world looks gorgeous. I don't even like desert worlds.

If I move my sim here, will he lose his skill journal progress? I've never moved a sim between worlds before. I have a sim who is working on getting every challenge in every skill journal. I know his adventures will have to reset, which sucks because he's starting with being an adventurer, but...

[ButchSims]

Oh my! This world looks gorgeous. I don't even like desert worlds.

If I move my sim here, will he lose his skill journal progress? I've never moved a sim between worlds before. I have a sim who is working on getting every challenge in every skill journal. I know his adventures will have to reset, which sucks because he's starting with being an adventurer, but... If you move him as a household, and not just a premade sim, they keep everything but town specific relationships.

[Anniversary]

If you move him as a household, and not just a premade sim, they keep everything but town specific relationships.

Even adventures? Because I ended up just evicting him. Do I have to move him out with his house? I forgot to check if anything stayed (I got the world already!)

This place is GORGEOUS. Also, these are very obviously not even supposed to be houseboats. They don't look a thing like houseboats and the architecture isn't anything like a houseboat.

http://i.imgur.com/ShTxX.jpg

The water is so pretty!

http://i.imgur.com/seJvS.jpg

[Finaleia]

As pretty as it is, I'm finding it extremely difficult still to justify buying this world for that amount of money. I'd go for the deluxe edition since I couldn't justify spending the amount of money they were asking for the casino... I mean, jeez... it's ONE LOT! This is why I just can't stand the store.

[lewisb40]

Go to edit town, click your active sim household. Click the folder icon to save to the household bin. There will be a pop-up question, do you want to save the household, house old with lot or cancel. Choose the way you want to save to the bin and when you open Lucky Palms you can have the household just as you left them. They even have their inventory stuff from the backpack and the family box in the buy mode.

[kiwi_tea]

Also, these are very obviously not even supposed to be houseboats. They don't look a thing like houseboats and the architecture isn't anything like a houseboat.

I agree with the last part. Which makes it very strange that the lot descriptions call them houseboats - also calls them "barges".

[pico22]

Maybe they tried to build houseboats, found out they could not make decent ones and settled for the docks. I tried to make such a boat a while ago and the result was rather awful to look at.

It really doesn't matter. It's a very nice world and fun to live in, though I still think I will use it primarily as a vacation world, a sort of Las Vegas.

[Bij0ux]

The light is, I believe, the default. I didn't see any tuning files for it. Should double check, though. It does have much better routing that than most EA worlds, so it could be that.

I've remarked a significant difference with indoor lightning. Indoors, through daytime there's a blueish tone with indoor lightning. My walls instead of being white or grey they become either light blue or light green. (it's really only in the tone tho), warm tones at sunset and normal tones at night. I've never seen this happen with custom world lightning (like mods or that comes with custom worlds) so I don't know if it could be due to this. I can confirm it is only in Lucky Palms, those houses lightning do not change in other worlds.

[Shimrod101]

Some of the .ini lighting files are included with this world, it isn't using default.

[Volvenom]

I've remarked a significant difference with indoor lightning. Indoors, through daytime there's a blueish tone with indoor lightning.

Indoor light and outdoor light on a lot can be adjusted by clicking on a lightsource ... ?

I just bought this world, now I have to go shopping though. Need a cable for my new pc. I saw TheQuxxn's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nElCzKnFj_g&list=UU9IEUA0_jhXGNeyu-l_7jFw&index=1&feature=plcp) video of the world. She's just checking out the facilities. I don't agree with her on all the awesome lots, but it's still great for just checking it out.

I'm sorry if someone has already posted this.

Another thing I see in these pictures, why is EA modern columns always too wide or too narrow? Those leaning columns on the pier looks like they can't support a thing.

[rian90]

Looks more like Arizona than California although I get the references to Salton Sea. The mesas are definitely Arizona/Nevada/New Mexico/western Colorado rather than California though. I think I might turn my Lucky Palms into a Nevada retirement community for my elderly folks. :) Thank goodness for Twallan's traveller mod!

[matrix54]

^As much as I love Quxxn, she reminds me of catloverplayer, only Quxxn is lovable. And the columns... I think it's more of a design thing if anything. Not meant to support anything, but just look good.

^All the retired folk live on the docks. :rofl:

Also, the gas station in the dead part of town NEEDS to be turned into a community lot. What? I don't know... maybe a consignment store...

[Ive]

I'm currently working through going over all the community lots, and turning some of them into expansion lots.
But I'm not sure where to put the show stages.

[olomaya]

^As much as I love Quxxn, she reminds me of catloverplayer, only Quxxn is lovable. And the columns... I think it's more of a design thing if anything. Not meant to support anything, but just look good.

I barely got through that walkthrough. She had quite a few "double rainbow" moments while looking at the houses and the first 3 minutes of the video were spent just looking at the town description!

Would have been nice to see inside some other houses or get close-ups of more of the dead-end part of town, some of the houses look pretty interesting.

[babele44]

Quick question: the grass is not a default texture, is it?

[rian90]

Also, the gas station in the dead part of town NEEDS to be turned into a community lot. What? I don't know... maybe a consignment store...

Pawn Shop...of course.

[matrix54]

I barely got through that walkthrough. She had quite a few "double rainbow" moments while looking at the houses and the first 3 minutes of the video were spent just looking at the town description!

Would have been nice to see inside some other houses or get close-ups of more of the dead-end part of town, some of the houses look pretty interesting.

I'll attempt to get a few, or do a video of me poking around town. Don't hold your breath, I can be lazy, imageshack is a pain, and youtube... just no. :rofl:

Quick question: the grass is not a default texture, is it?

If you mean that bright green one, than no. It might have been recolored, but in a work packed with sand, it isn't something that'd be the end all be all. There are 2 grass textures (that I've seen) in there.

Pawn Shop...of course.
A non-functional gas station. :p

This is calling for a total make over. Fast Lane Style. :bunny:

[Bij0ux]

Indoor light and outdoor light on a lot can be adjusted by clicking on a lightsource ... ?

I know... but in this case it did not affect the tone of my white walls, only the light touching it (if it makes sense) so this has nothing to do with lights themselves but a general environment lightning.

[matrix54]

Petrol Place - Residential
An Old Gas Station

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5306/screenshot263t.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7827/screenshot264i.jpg
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/5978/screenshot265r.jpg




The Lido - Residential | Lancaster Household
And Old Theater

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/4888/screenshot275v.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/8013/screenshot276x.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9898/screenshot277i.jpg
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5161/screenshot278c.jpg



Fo'c'sle - Residential
And Old Yacht Club

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7167/screenshot266j.jpg
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1919/screenshot267j.jpg
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/1773/screenshot268i.jpg
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/4319/screenshot269y.jpg



Pharm House - Residential
An Old Clinic

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/149/screenshot279.jpg
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/9615/screenshot280k.jpg
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8202/screenshot281.jpg
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2198/screenshot282w.jpg



Salty Springs Resort - Residential
And Old Resort-Hotel

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4436/screenshot270e.jpg
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/8458/screenshot271o.jpg
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4130/screenshot272j.jpg




The Super House - Residential |Irwin Household
I think it's a hotel as well. Not sure.

http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/6509/screenshot283.jpg
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/8803/screenshot284g.jpg





Sandy Knoll Retreat - Residential

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/7060/screenshot273j.jpg
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9563/screenshot274uc.jpg





Sunshine Art Gallery - Community

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2886/screenshot285u.jpg
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/551/screenshot286ek.jpg
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/5223/screenshot287u.jpg




The Sandy Place - Community
And Old Diner. Could be a Dive bar.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2859/screenshot288.jpg
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/5/screenshot289g.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9793/screenshot290c.jpg




The Perfect Park - Community

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/1230/screenshot291q.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/556/screenshot292c.jpg
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3587/screenshot293o.jpg
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/2396/screenshot294.jpg



Lovely Lake Park and Playground - Community

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/6651/screenshot295m.jpg
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/4323/screenshot296d.jpg





Lovely Lake Pool - Community

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5797/screenshot297p.jpg
http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/8523/screenshot298p.jpg
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6765/screenshot299p.jpg




Highgate Hacienda - Residential

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/8689/screenshot300i.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9417/screenshot301z.jpg
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/6097/screenshot302oz.jpg




More on the way. :turtle:

[matrix54]

Crib Fantastique - Residential | The Unlikely Twosome Household
*I think whoever made this house is hinting at something. I'm all for pride, but sheesh... :rofl:*

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/2414/screenshot303c.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4192/screenshot304n.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2889/screenshot305q.jpg




Lakeside Manor - Residential | Diwan Household

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/4498/screenshot306x.jpg
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9770/screenshot307x.jpg





The Breakers West - Residential | Bard Household

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3931/screenshot308mx.jpg
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3163/screenshot309g.jpg





Palazzo Paradiso - Residential | Gilbert Household

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8935/screenshot310g.jpg
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/5056/screenshot311.jpg
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/4739/screenshot312dhi.jpg

[applefeather2]

More on the way. :turtle: Wow. Thanks for all the pics! Very nice to see.

[Anniversary]

I did not even realize half the houses int he run down area are converted community lots. That is such a cool idea, and it's so well executed!

The Perfect Park is supposed to be an electrical substation, I believe. http://preview.turbosquid.com/Preview/2011/10/22__15_59_17/substation2.jpg8c045fc1-d496-42e4-a449-2d6956b0fd22Large.jpg

[skmt999]

Mmm, I like me some run down building refits. Although I have an urge to get this just so I can redo ALL of the lots to look like they're Retro. Fallout: New Vegas comes to mind. Ahh, cross game infatuation. AND it will be all ready and waiting for da Zombies!

[matrix54]

I though the same thing at first, but there's a lot of concrete on that structure. I honestly don't know. *goes to the more glamorous part of town*

And you're welcome. ^_^

-------------------------------------------------

We should redo the town and make it run down. :up:
When I have time to do that. XD

[Volvenom]

^As much as I love Quxxn, she reminds me of catloverplayer, only Quxxn is lovable. And the columns... I think it's more of a design thing if anything. Not meant to support anything, but just look good.

I'm convinced most people actually playing this game has to be catlovers :rofl:

On the columns I'm just blabla'ing, I don't care about if they support anything, they just look forgettable design wise.

[olomaya]

Thanks for posting pics, matrix! The world looks so good and I think I am more in love with the rundown area than the glamorous side. This world would be perfect if we could make actual hotels. I love that rundown motel.

I decided to go ahead and buy it since I still have a lot of free Simpoints left and so the actual cost is quite a bargain for what we are getting in the world.

[Anniversary]

This world would be perfect if we could make actual hotels. I love that rundown motel.


Make the hotel into an apartment, and have a sim live in one of the rooms. :)

[olomaya]

I'm planning to use it as a travel destination in my game so I might turn it into a base camp.

[Bedridden_Corpse]

Is anyone experiencing problems with the lighting? Everything has a weird tint - like greenish.

[Tempscire]

they just look forgettable design wise.
Not to me! They look cutely retro circa the Googie architecture phase, maybe. Simple yet distinctive columns.

[eskie227]

Mmm, I like me some run down building refits. Although I have an urge to get this just so I can redo ALL of the lots to look like they're Retro. Fallout: New Vegas comes to mind. Ahh, cross game infatuation. AND it will be all ready and waiting for da Zombies!

Actually, it does look like a perfect world for a zombie invasion. Desert, isolated, some ramshackle areas, it could pass for a B zombie movie set.

[dream_operator23]

I haven't bought this one, but everyone's pictures are amazing! I love the eerie New Vegas feel of the rundown area. I haven't bought another Store world since Barnacle Bay, but this one really intrigues me. The wishing well looks fun too.

[kiwi_tea]

I haven't had this much fun actually playing the game - in fact I basically don't play the game - but this world really has drawn me back in. It's a wonderful, engrossing environment.

[Baiaana]

Beautiful world! I wanted to make one of my sims to live in one of the houseboats, but i did'nt resist: built my personal houseboat and moved all 8 girls family in.
Landscape and lighthing are a true inspiration!
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r547/Vorrestisaperlo/Screenshot-257.jpg
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r547/Vorrestisaperlo/Screenshot-263.jpg
Great world to play!

[simsample]

It looks lovely! Someone has uploaded the heightmap in the CAW resources section, and the sea/sky files are here too if you want to see them:
http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=459198

I would love this world, but it is very expensive! :(

[kiwi_tea]

Grr. simsample y u no accept PMs?

I have to be immodest now. :king: You have Lucky Palms. Enjoy. Messaging here on MTS solely because the damned official site never tells me I've been gifted anything until I find out in my purchase history, and I'm sure you want to check it out sooner rather than later.

And I am also certain anyone who wanders the CAW forums agrees it is a gift that you've earned.

Edit: :report: Your avvie is animated and I only just noticed. Sneaky. :report:

[babele44]

(...)
The only complaint I have is that the wishing well does not work completely for me. It runs no water in it, but otherwise it seems to work.
My opinion is that Lucky Palms well are worth all the simpoints it costs.

Edit:
Now discovered that it was my No. Mosaic Mod that led to the wishing well was not working, velocitygrass_nomosaic_1_34
Twallans Decensor works well.It must be something else, Lisen801, because my well works with nomosaic installed. I also checked the lighting issue at the bistro you mentioned and I was completely able to place lights there without the rabbithole lights going off. But I noticed that these lights are not visible when you zoom in too close.

[simsample]

I have to be immodest now. :king: You have Lucky Palms. Enjoy

:bunny: :bunny: :bunny: Squeeee! *Tacklehugs Kiwi*

Edit: :report: Your avvie is animated and I only just noticed. Sneaky. :report: If he blinked at you, it was your imagination. :cool:

[Ive]

I have thought that your avatar moves so many times but never been sure :giggler:

I'm seriously happy that I got this world. So many good lots, and those that aren't can easily be fixed up. I love the cactus park!
Only thing I'm disappointed in is lack of smaller lots for 1-sim/poor houses and lack of straight roads so that we can place our own. Like that part where there's three empty lots, the next bigger than the other. If you remove them you can't place new ones there as they won't snap to the road.

[matrix54]

EA should totally make more piers like this. So much usefulness!

The boardwalks are calling!

[Anniversary]

I am really impressed by the...mountains? are they called mountains like that? Anyway, the textures on them are very good. For a horizontal space in CAW 1-tile-wide is 1-tile-wide no matter how high the terrain is. So those steep hills are only a few tiles "tall", and those textures are very good to look appropriate instead of smudgy or stretched out. I feel like I might not be making sense. :)

Basically, a near-flat near-vertical wall of terrain has a lot less space for texture than a long, smooth hill. So they rocked those textures very well!

[simsample]

I love this world! I took some pictures of Sim Sample testing it out, click the thumbs for larger pictures.


Look at the shadows- they have the HorizonLightMinimum in the INI files set to make them really long in the evenings:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-37.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-37.jpg)
I like this diner which is on a steep slope:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-32.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-32.jpg)
The buildings are all really creative, I love this cactus water feature!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-31.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-31.jpg)
The casino looks great, I like the fountain especially:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-30.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-30.jpg)
A nice view of the world:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-27.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-27.jpg)
Joshua trees and a dried up lake. I really missed those trees, now we can make Strangetown!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-24.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-24.jpg)
I like those windows and the wall.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-22.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-22.jpg)
Aww, a cattle grid!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-20.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-20.jpg)
Won't keep many cows out though... they have put a lot of detail into this world, with the sculpting and terrain textures also.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-19.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-19.jpg)
Sim liked the casino, even though he lost 1,000 simoleons at blackjack:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-18.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-18.jpg)
He won the jackpot on the slots!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-12.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-12.jpg)
The colours used on the lots and rabbitholes really look good with the lighting and desert colours:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot.jpg)

[~MadameButterfly~]

The thumbs up shot looks like one someone would take in RL! So excited, and eyes kinda wide & glazed...hehe...

[eskie227]

That was 1,000 simoleans he lost, not 1,000 SimPoints, right? (wouldn't put it past EA to sneak in another way to make money off this)

[simsample]

The thumbs up shot looks like one someone would take in RL! So excited, and eyes kinda wide & glazed...hehe...
Hehe, attractive, isn't he? :p

That was 1,000 simoleans he lost, not 1,000 SimPoints, right? (wouldn't put it past EA to sneak in another way to make money off this)
Haha, now I know why people are worried about EA connecting to the net!

I sent Sim Sample to the Wishing well, and made him wish for love (since he has NO CHANCE normally :lol:):
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-40.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-40.jpg)

When it didn't work, he put his arm in and got his money back! He is so tight.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-42.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-42.jpg)

This picture is proof that Sim Sample will try it on with anything:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-45.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-45.jpg)

The frog turned out to be quite a nice girl though, which was a close thing for the amphibian gene pool.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-50.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-50.jpg)

Within 30 minutes, she was his girlfriend and by nightfall he was skinny dipping with her in a hot tub! What a cad. :lol:

[Anniversary]

I cannot praise these windows enough. This world comes with windows that are designed to be used on the walls created when you place a roof.

http://i.imgur.com/OJap6.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ut0yy.jpg

[ViolettaVie]

I haven't encountered any ugly sims yet. That's a first. Usually EA worlds are full of fugly sims.

[chyrun]

When it didn't work, he put his arm in and got his money back! He is so tight.


Did it work? I've tried about 30 times and the sim always fell in the well.

[chyrun]

I haven't encountered any ugly sims yet. That's a first. Usually EA worlds are full of fugly sims.

I know, right. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw a very hot paparazzi guy in LP.

[chreai]

Finally got my laptop working to where I can play TS3 without it overheating! Yay! :D In celebration, I bought Lucky Palms this weekend and started playing in it last night. So gorgeous! (for a desert town) Didn't play too long as it was late, but am so excited to soon visit the new casino, wishing well, etc. Actually, have not been able to play Sims since Generations and I have all the EPs and SPs, that I bought in anticipation of fixing my computer. So everything from Pets and beyond is all new to me. I'm on stimulation overload right now. *screeches of excitement* :lol:

[acid_fairy]

The wishing well hasn't worked for my sim yet - not in wishing and not in stealing coins either. Has anyone looked in the files to see what the chances of it working are?

[ViolettaVie]

It's working for me. Maybe you have a conflicting mod?

[Shimrod101]

The odds of wishes failing are about 40%, higher if your sim has "bad" traits.

[310175]

This looks lovely! I can't wait to finish my new computer and install Sims 3 again! Any news on any route failings, lags and such?

[KLTboy]

Has anyone encountered the 'no sound' with singers in this world? Here are the mods I have:

All Instant Skills
No Build Sparkles
nointro
NRaas Master Controller

[acid_fairy]

It's working for me. Maybe you have a conflicting mod?

I took all my mods out bar Twallan's because one of them was crashing my game and I couldnt be bothered to work out which one. Hmmm. I'll have to keep trying with my sim.

[kiwi_tea]

No sound with singers and other SHT careers is a known issue completely unrelated to this world. Crinrict's Help Blog has a post that with a nice run down of what we know about the bug. (http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2012/03/showtime-objects-and-singer-have-no-sound.html)

[KLTboy]

No sound with singers and other SHT careers is a known issue completely unrelated to this world. Crinrict's Help Blog has a post that with a nice run down of what we know about the bug. (http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2012/03/showtime-objects-and-singer-have-no-sound.html)

Well what's funny is, the sound was working prior to me installing Lucky Palms... now when I play it's in and out.

[kiwi_tea]

It probably coincidence. This bug feels like it hits quite at random - that's why we're struggling to get a solid id on the cause - so you might have run a lucky run that has unfortunately broken.

[KLTboy]

It probably coincidence. This bug feels like it hits quite at random - that's why we're struggling to get a solid id on the cause - so you might have run a lucky run that has unfortunately broken.

Darn! LOL... ugh I hope they fix this soon!

[Bij0ux]

Yeah, I've had that bug since installing showtime. Especially with the karaoke machine.

[omegastarr82]

The wishing well hasn't worked for my sim yet - not in wishing and not in stealing coins either. Has anyone looked in the files to see what the chances of it working are?

The odds are about 40% of it doing nothing. I have a mod for that here:

http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,21330.msg592593.html#msg592593

[eskie227]

Fine. I hope you're all happy now. After swearing I wouldn't fall for another EA store world, I just broke down and got this one after reading the seriously good reviews from some known tough critics here. I just installed it, and will pull it up after dinner. If I regret this purchase, I'll come back to haunt all of you through the new ZombiePort EA just dropped a hint about for SN (that should be a good rumor for at least 3 days of posts)

[zigersimmer]

Time for EA to patch in the ability to run hotels so people can play proper casinos with guest rooms, cocktail lounges, entertainment venues, shopping, a theme park and prostitutes.

[eskie227]

Time for EA to patch in the ability to run hotels so people can play proper casinos with guest rooms, cocktail lounges, entertainment venues, shopping, a theme park and prostitutes.

Maybe Twallan can add the casino as another location to the "Discreet Rendezvous" encounter from his Kama Simtra woohooer add on that's now only available at the spa. Perfect way for the high rollers to celebrate a win streak at the tables.

[chreai]

K, just wanted to give a heads up that I did encounter some routing problems today. My sim is an architect and her first job of the day was to remodel one of the houses on the docks. For some reason she would not go to the front step and instead ran at least two houses down, towards the dock entrance, and then canceled the action. I had to re-select the action twice, with the same result, but the second time around it finally went into buy mode for the remodel, even tho she was quite a few feet away. Thought for awhile that I'd have to reload the game, so I was glad that it eventually worked, but what a pain in the ass. :lol: So, anyway, :alarm: BEWARE OF THE DOCKS! :alarm: :heyhey:

[kiwi_tea]

It's clear from what Matrix said that one of the docks is inappropriately bound to one of the dock walls. This can happen when placing objects too close to lots, and can cause routing issues. I suspect that's the cause, but it could be lots of other things as well.

[simsample]

Did it work? I've tried about 30 times and the sim always fell in the well.

Yes it did, he got a 'lucky coin'. He could then use that at the casino in the slot machines ('lucky coin stake') and he got 7,500 simoleons!

[Click for larger images]
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-74.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-74.jpg)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-76.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-76.jpg)

Sim Sample had a 'lucky' moodlet when he got the coin from the fountain (from playing at the casino previously), so I wonder if that's what made him successful?

I really love the lighting for this world, they've made some lovely ramps for the colours, and they modded the scaling rate for the wave normalmap scroll too, which makes the water appear slightly different to the default.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-68.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-68.jpg)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/th_Screenshot-65.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/Bluefunk/Sims%203/Lucky%20Palms/?action=view&current=Screenshot-65.jpg)

[Petchy]

Best. Neighbourhood. Ever.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6ej2zxNWb1r501vzo3_500.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6ejhmMdkV1r501vzo6_r1_500.jpg


I've read things about EA doing stuff to their worlds and adding different lighting and colours, Simsample, but I was wondering if you had a mod [like this (http://nene.modthesims.info/download.php?t=367164) for example] would it nullify all new lights or would it only change the "default" lighting and then the extras wouldn't be affected? [Sorry this is terribly confusing, idek what I mean!]

[simsample]

I've read things about EA doing stuff to their worlds and adding different lighting and colours, Simsample, but I was wondering if you had a mod [like this (http://nene.modthesims.info/download.php?t=367164) for example] would it nullify all new lights or would it only change the "default" lighting and then the extras wouldn't be affected? [Sorry this is terribly confusing, idek what I mean!]
If you have an override mod then, depending upon which files the mod changes, it could potentially override the EA world custom lighting.

I know from testing that certain aspects, like sunset time, can be overridden by a mod even if the EA world has a custom value for this. But other things, like fog colour/ cloud colour, will not be overridden as the EA worlds have colour ramps which will take precedent over any basegame modded files, like those in dDefinder's mod. I think that's why EA chose to implement it this way.

I'm not sure what would happen though if you made a lighting mod by bundling, say, Bridgeport's lighting INIs and ramps up into a package file, and then sticking that into your mods folder. Would be interesting to find out!

We have discovered that Lucky Palms contains five colour ramps, but only ini files for four of those. So one is essentially redundant... not sure if that is intentional or an oversight!

[zigersimmer]

Best. Neighbourhood. Ever.
Needs. More. Lawns.

That reminds me, when do we get lawnmowers?

[eskie227]

Lawnmowers are coming with Seasons. I don't mind the sand, though. I do find myself arranging rocks as decor a lot more than I ever have before.

Damn, this really is a nice world. Good call everyone. BTW, I spotted the hot paparazzi alluded to in an earlier post. It does seem like EA made some more attractive sims for this world than in the past. Glad I didn't start out with my usual nuke the population, and let Twallan repopulate it from my library of, IMO, sims that are pleasant to the eye.

[babele44]

OK, I found the first Simtrap: Sims tend to get stuck inside the low fencings that surround the Diamonddrinks hang-out. How they get inside them in the first place, I don't know, but at least they cannot get out anymore, especially in the back area behind the wall where the two juice bars are.

I also noticed a high number of "frozen" Sims every other day, i.e., Sims that stand in a place and don't move and cannot be chatted too, and Sims tend to sink into the foundations most rabbitholes are placed upon.

Lots with difficult routing are the school, the diner, the police station. The foundation space in front of the entrances is either too narrow or the stairs are oddly placed.

Another minor nuisance is that most community gardens with garden plants are not fenced in. Bambina and Bambi might be happy deer now but I can't harvest any wild plants anymore after three weeks :(. Makes me wish for venison as a cooking ingredient.

And why is the bistro lot not equipped with a beautiful vista moodlet? It has a viewing platform, telescopes directed at the waterfalls, everything set up for, well, a beautiful view :rolleyes:

[kiwi_tea]

I passed that information on to Sarah Holding, babele44, and if anyone finds issues, I strongly recommend tweeting them to @SimGuruSarah alongside raising them on MTS for our benefit. Even when they can't fix them, Holding's team has demonstrated that they take issues on board and coordinate to avoid them in the future. It's totally refreshing, and I recommend not isolating ourselves from that willingness to improve on their part.

[babele44]

I passed that information on to Sarah Holding, babele44, and if anyone finds issues, I strongly recommend tweeting them to @SimGuruSarah alongside raising them on MTS for our benefit. Even when they can't fix them, Holding's team has demonstrated that they take issues on board and coordinate to avoid them in the future. It's totally refreshing, and I recommend not isolating ourselves from that willingness to improve on their part.Oh, thanks for that.
And I think that I figured out the stuck Sims at the hangout. The fence is the very low stony bordertype one that comes with a brick pattern by default. I think that in the past this was not trespassable but now it is - maybe because of Pets?. So it is not the fence that hinders Sims from leaving the spot they're stuck in but the banana and yucca shrubs. I've noticed before that the new yucca plants are not groupable, they occupy 4 tiles and won't allow any other plants near them without moveobjects. The creator of that lot did use that cheat in planting the area and so perhaps created an intrespassable obstacle. And the Sims that were stuck were all having the childish trait, so they probably got in there while playing tag (yes, I do make notes when playing a world for the first time and keep character sheets of the pre-mades). There are some small areas inside the fenced area where the ground is clickable, but most areas are not. I regrouped the plants and will see what happens next.

[~MadameButterfly~]

It's interesting...I finally have my own copy of this world, and I have found that my medical sim has to do medical emergencies and vaccinations. I have never had to do any of this before in my game. Although, I do remember reading about them in passing, but I couldn't understand why I never saw it in my own game.

[eskie227]

It's interesting...I finally have my own copy of this world, and I have found that my medical sim has to do medical emergencies and vaccinations. I have never had to do any of this before in my game. Although, I do remember reading about them in passing, but I couldn't understand why I never saw it in my own game.

That's been around since ~Ambitions? Not sure why you never saw it before. I've had it in EA worlds and custom worlds.

[~MadameButterfly~]

I can't even begin to understand why. I know that my previous medical sim, who lived in Starlight Shores, was kind of a jerk. Maybe she was hiding some of her work load. My main family, who were kind enough to take her in, ended up putting her out on the streets.

Or...it could be that combo rabbit holes just weren't playing nicely with me.

[pico22]

I had the first good look at the casino yesterday - before that I only visited it with my Sim who wanted to get some bad moodlets quickly. It is a rather boring architecture, probably done by some old fart (at least 25, if not even more) who has been with TS3 from the start, and not by the team who made LP.

The interesting thing is that he or she made an essential mistake, one that should never be made when building a casino. (To be clear: it's not game-related, not a bug or a glitch or whatever, but very much related to getting as much profit from gamblers as possible.)

I am sure that at least some of you have visited a real casino and the rest had seen one in a film or on TV. Have you spotted the mistake as well?

Hint: it's so obvious that it might be hard to spot. :p

[applefeather2]

I had the first good look at the casino yesterday - before that I only visited it with my Sim who wanted to get some bad moodlets quickly. It is a rather boring architecture, probably done by some old fart (at least 25, if not even more) who has been with TS3 from the start, and not by the team who made LP.

The interesting thing is that he or she made an essential mistake, one that should never be made when building a casino. (To be clear: it's not game-related, not a bug or a glitch or whatever, but very much related to getting as much profit from gamblers as possible.)

I am sure that at least some of you have visited a real casino and the rest had seen one in a film or on TV. Have you spotted the mistake as well?

Hint: it's so obvious that it might be hard to spot. :p
My guess is that the bathrooms are too far away. :rofl:

[Elphiron]

If you're talking about the windows- they said they did that deliberately.

[babele44]

(...) some old fart (at least 25, if not even more) (...) Thank you very much, kiddo, I feel like a walking dead after reading this. Hmpf, gotta go and find my walking cane now...

[SommarBlomma]

I took a look at the world's screenshots, and decided not to buy it. Well, the idea is interesting and quite new (there's been no desert worlds so far, only Egypt, but it's a vacation world), and LP has quite nice modern architecture, but still, there are some features i don't like about landscaping:
- "moon" mountains, shaped the same way as in LL, and not very suitable for earth landscape,
- too much water for such a dry desert, or too dry desert for such a location. The shoreline should've been wetter and greener that the rest of the world, with some plants near the water, maybe,
- no smooth transition between the sands and the oasis area, in Egypt they made this transition much better
- too rough edges of the water body, looks like a SC4 map for the sims 2.
Since landscaping and road layout are the main features I look at in sims 3 worlds, these are reasons enough for me not to get LP. Well, the road layout seems to be nce, but landscape... no, not that good, IMHO.

[Anniversary]

"moon" mountains, shaped the same way as in LL, and not very suitable for earth landscape,

Are you serious?

http://i.imgur.com/FLj8l.jpg

It's called a Plateau...

- too much water for such a dry desert, or too dry desert for such a location. The shoreline should've been wetter and greener that the rest of the world, with some plants near the water, maybe,

"Water" does not mean "Plants"... A desert is a desert, even with water. Water doesn't turn sand into dirt.

http://whattheheckever.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/lake-powell.jpg
http://www.greentaxi.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/lakepowell.jpg

You don't have a very good grasp on earth geography. :lol:

[SimmerE14]

http://i1069.photobucket.com/albums/u468/Simmer_E/luckycoin.jpg

http://i1069.photobucket.com/albums/u468/Simmer_E/coin.jpg

My sim got a lucky coin from the wishing well! :D

EDIT:

I got a message like this:

"The wish failed, but your coin floated back to your sim. Could this be a lucky coin?"

[zigersimmer]

I had the first good look at the casino yesterday - before that I only visited it with my Sim who wanted to get some bad moodlets quickly. It is a rather boring architecture, probably done by some old fart (at least 25, if not even more) who has been with TS3 from the start, and not by the team who made LP.

The interesting thing is that he or she made an essential mistake, one that should never be made when building a casino. (To be clear: it's not game-related, not a bug or a glitch or whatever, but very much related to getting as much profit from gamblers as possible.)

I am sure that at least some of you have visited a real casino and the rest had seen one in a film or on TV. Have you spotted the mistake as well?

Hint: it's so obvious that it might be hard to spot. :p

I don't think they were trying to work from the blueprints for Caesars Palace.

[applefeather2]

Nevertheless, I can't stand the suspense of what it is :!:

[pico22]

Sorry - my IP dropped dead suddenly so I could not get back earlier. It's still erratic.

If you're talking about the windows- they said they did that deliberately.

Windows are the answer. I don't follow the official forums so I did not know that they already had to explain themselves. I can't understand why they did it "deliberately", though; it a mistake, period. Was there any further explanation?

And thanks for calling me kiddo. Hasn't happened in a long time.

[cameranutz2]

They actually didn't HAVE to explain themselves, the question wasn't raised in the chat that I remember and I haven't been to the forum for several days so don't know if it was noted there. It was just mentioned in the chat that normally windows aren't in a casino but they wanted to lighten it up a bit.

I don't have a problem with that, the game wasn't meant to be an exact replica of anything. I guess if it really bugs someone then the windows are easily removed.

[Bij0ux]

And thanks for calling me kiddo. Hasn't happened in a long time.

You called 25 years old old farts.. you get the kiddo treatment.. Fair enough.

I didn't even see the windows but I guess I just glanced at the casino, no more than that. No big deal to me anyway.

[zigersimmer]

Sorry - my IP dropped dead suddenly so I could not get back earlier. It's still erratic.



Windows are the answer. I don't follow the official forums so I did not know that they already had to explain themselves. I can't understand why they did it "deliberately", though; it a mistake, period. Was there any further explanation?

And thanks for calling me kiddo. Hasn't happened in a long time.

They never said they were trying to recreate the Vegas strip. Also, gambling den is not the only meaning of casino. There is no gambling at the Casino on Catalina. And that one has windows. :p

[Mera Benzema]

Just got my hands on the new world & it was really... something else. Really amazing.

[pico22]

Also, gambling den is not the only meaning of casino.
True. In the original Italian version "casino" meant a brothel. (There was always at least some gambling going on in an 18th century - or earlier - brothel. Later gambling remained but other activities disappeared - at least officially.)

[zigersimmer]

True. In the original Italian version "casino" meant a brothel. (There was always at least some gambling going on in an 18th century - or earlier - brothel. Later gambling remained but other activities disappeared - at least officially.)

According to The American Heritage Dictionary:

Word History: The history of the word casino reveals a transformation from a cottage to a gambling palace. The source of our word, Italian casino, is a diminutive of casa, "house." Central to the transformation is the development of the senses of casino in Italian. The word was first applied to a country house and then came to be used for a social gathering place, a room or building where one could dance, listen to music, and gamble. This last pastime seems to have gained precedence over the others, at least as far as the development of the word is concerned, and casino took on the meaning "gambling establishment." These senses of the Italian word have all been borrowed into English, the sense "social gathering place" being recorded first in the 18th century, the sense "gambling establishment" first in 1851.

The Catalino Casino is a movie theater and grand ball room. The Lucky Simoleon is a bar(club or lounge), just upgrade to a Late Night pro bar and add instruments, or SHT venue (just add a stage), with a gambling den (although Sims 3 gambling is limited to black jack and slots). If we apply the word casino to any lot with black jack and slots then all of my community lots, even the laundromat, are now casinos. I paid for the blackjack table and slot machines, so I put them everywhere!

And now back to our regularly scheduled thread topic.

[simsample]

According to The American Heritage Dictionary:

[RIGHT]Word History: The history of the word casino reveals a transformation from a cottage to a gambling palace. The source of our word, Italian casino, is a diminutive of casa, "house."
'Casino' in Italian can mean brothel too, though. The word has several meanings.

[zigersimmer]

I just think of the state of Nevada as one big brothel. It's simpler that way.

[matrix54]

Oh, now that's just rude...