While viewing information for The Sims 3, the latest in the massively selling life simulation games from Electronic Arts. I noticed many questions that went unanswered, questions usually from those who enjoy this popular series but don't understand what exactly is new about The Sims 3. So it's with this in mind that I wanted to try and answer some of the smaller but still important questions I have seen asked around the World Wide Web. This is a quick and simple article, but hopefully it might make things a little clearer for those slightly confussed about this latest installment. So let's begin:

A. Well there are potentially many different answers to this question, often depending on the way you play The Sims. But if you wish to know what exactly is 'new' over it's predecessors then please let me explain:

- New Seamless Open Neighbourhood (gone are the loading screens of old).

- New unique personality traits allowing gamers to perfect their Sims design. 

- Huge improvements to Build and Buy, allowing for much more specific customization (including the new Create a Style tool).

- New Online functionality allows for even more community built items to reach your The Sims 3 experience easily. 

If you wish to know more detailed information on these new features, then please visit The Sims 3 official site.

A. No, it seems many people still believe it is being developed by Will Wright's former development studio Maxis who of course originally created The Sims and developed it's sequel. The Sims 3 is being developed by an internal EA studio, EA Redwood Shores to be precise. Maxis are currently at work on Spore, though I personally believe The Sims series is in safe hands at EA Redwood Shores. 

A. Yes, basically the developers wanted the life experience of your Sims to be key to your time playing. So rather then making sure they go to the toilet every couple of minutes, your Sims are now a lot smarter and can control their own needs without your supervision. They have removed two of the original eight needs found in The Sims 1 and it's sequel. These two needs being Confort and Environment, both needs I'm finally glad to see the back of personally. With these changes in place, the developers hope that gamers can now create better stories rather then babysitting their Sims every move.

A. The Create a Style tool is one of the most interesting (and welcomed) new features of The Sims 3. This tool will allow creative folk to be 'creative' when building houses or even creating their very own Sims. The tool is somewhat based upon the pre-defined styles found in The Sim 2, for example when you bought a chair you could select from a number of different patterns or designs. With the Create a Style tool, you can well... create your own style to any degree you want. This Sims 3 trailer shows off the new tool a little and it should allow for better interior designs. It's not just houses that can use the Create a Style tool either, cloths and hair colour can also be modified using this new feature and should allow for even more insane degrees of creative customization. 

A. Yes, infact there is quite a few small features that will already be found in the retail version of The Sims 3. These include the 'Young Adult' life stage and mobile phones (University), private cars, personal Sim inventories and restaurants (Nightlife). Fishing and gardening (Seasons), Jewelry and Beaches (Bon Voyage) and Toothbrushing and ceilings (Apartment Life). None of the large main features from past expansion packs will feature, though it will only be a matter of time before the first expansion pack details for The Sims 3 are released. There as 'apparently' been a video released showing of images from the first expansion pack which might hint at a possible reveal sooner then we expect. Though I have yet to find this video so I am dubious. 

Q. As any improvements been made to Create a Sim?
A. Apart from the obvious graphical upgrades over The Sims 2, a number of improvements have been made so that creating Sims is as freeform as ever. Body shape and facial structure is now even more customizable, with sliders allowing you to precisely get the Sim design you want. The Create a Style tool is also used for hair (which can now have multiple colours rather then the one), eye colour and cloths. The recent Creators Camp also provided details of a special 'Create a Twin' feature in CAS. Though this as yet to be confirmed by the developer so we can't say if it will or will not be in the retail version. 

Q. Will I still be able to control multiple families now that it all takes place in this open neighbourhood?
A. Of course you will, infact what's great is that you can now switch between families by the click of a button rather then having to wait for the neighbourhood overview to load up like in past games. You could do this in The Sims 2 though it was only for families near the lot you were currently in, now you can select a family who could have an home all the way across the town. This could also mean that storytellers could create tales that affect multiple families rather then just the one. 

Q. I loved downloading content from the community for use in The Sims 2, can I still do this in The Sims 3?
A. Indeed you can, the developers have only recently unveiled the new online features the game will get upon release. Clearly they understand that one of the overall reasons The Sims 2 was such a success lies in it's deep and creative community. So The Sims 3 launcher (launcher being like the one currently available for The Sims 2) will provide the latest pieces of news and information from the official The Sims 3 website, provide the newest items from the ever popular exchange where you'll have access to community built content and potentially also update you on new pieces of content from you favourite designers (this was discussed in a video by The Sims 3 producer Ben Bell). Of course it's also important to remember that sites like TheSimsResource and ModTheSims will also provide great content for use in the game soon after release. 

I think that'll do for now, I might get around to creating another quick Q&A round concerning The Sims 3 if I come across anymore questions that haven't been answered yet. If your a Sims fan and still confussed about any aspect of the game, then I'll do my best to answer them in a future set of questions as release draws nearer.

Credit to the two main sources of information to answer these questions to the best degree possible: The Sims 3 Official Website and The Sims 3 Wiki page.