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Upcoming Sims 3 Expansion Packs

There are two more expansion packs in the works for Sims 3. (I haven't been keeping track of The Sims Medieval, because that is a stand-alone game, and I'm kind of committed to my legacy families at this point. I'd like to give it a whirl, but… fifty bucks! That's a lot of money for something I know I won't be playing regularly.

The first expansion pack is called Generations, which will be released on May 31st. Generations is all about Today's Youf. This one is promising to really open the world up for the younger life stages. Not infants, I guess - those will pretty much still continue to lie around like color-coded cigars, or larvae. But toddlers, children, and teens will all get a whole new suite of options and experiences.

This is EXTREMELY welcome news, because as most Sims 3 players can attest, things are pretty dull until you get to Young Adult. There are very few skills you can learn, and not a lot of activities you can do. You don't even get many interesting wishes. Most children reliably get a wish to sell baked goods at the bake sale table (available in the Ambitions expansion pack) and most teens get a wish to get a part-time job (which is a terrible idea if you care about their welfare). Beyond that… meh.

Childhood and toddler-dom will be all about imagination and playtime, which will include the ability to play dress-up games, stargaze, and be read bedtime stories. The teen years will evidently be filled with mischief, with the ability to play pranks and set booby traps. Not to mention a prom experience, which I trust will be as anxiety-ridden as the real thing!

Your young Sims will be able to foster an imaginary friend, throw teen house parties, attend high school graduation, take field trips, and learn how to drive.

New objects will include A SPIRAL STAIRCASE!!!!! Plus water slides, strollers, bunk beds, and many more.

The next expansion pack will drop this coming October. It's called Unleashed, and it is the long-awaited return of PETS to the game! I know many of you have been eagerly waiting for pets to come back. In fact, I know at least one Sims fan who decided to stick with Sims 2 until Sims 3 got pets, because she couldn't bear to play the game without them.

As with the Pets expansion pack for Sims 2, this one comes with raccoons that can rummage through your garbage, and skunks that can make trouble for your Sims and their inquisitive dogs and cats. (The penguin came with the Seasons expansion pack - gosh, I loved that little fella!)

But in addition to dogs and cats, your Sims can now keep fish, snakes, birds, and - if the trailer is to be believed - horses!

I also have to give a special shout-out to the (leaked) trailer itself, which uses one of my favorite Simlish song versions as its soundtrack. That would be a song by the Neon Trees called… wait for it… "Animal."

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