I got it free today on one of my free app trackers (forgot which one though). But I am tempted to buy the in-game expansions for more locations! :P

A new fun free game for the iPhone – Tightwire. The aim of this game is simple: you have to guide the fat man across buildings on the tightwire. The game uses solely the accelerometer on the iPhone; you basically tilt left and right to balance him. It’s so much fun! Also, for the sadist in us all– if he falls there’s animation and sound effect.

P.S. And this post was written and published using a WordPress app for iPhone. Sweet.

DVD box cover. Taken from neoseeker.com

In this expansion pack, The Sims 3 gameplay takes a different turn from usual. As the name suggests, World Adventures involve your Sims in adventure. There are three locations to choose from – France (Champs LesSims), China (SimShala) and Egypt (Simhara). At each location, Sims can accept opportunities for adventures, such as delivering goods to NPCs, and exploring underground tombs. Sims can also learn new skills such as Martial Arts and Nectar Making.

Overall, I think this is a good value-for-money expansion pack because it is jam-packed with not only new features, also new items. Sims now have the choice of becoming a Master at Martial Arts as their lifetime wish. Also, the opportunity to explore tombs also add a new dimension to the previously less serial gameplay. Although the exploration is relatively easy to complete, I still see it as a cross between The Sims and a simple RPG adventure game.

What I liked:

• The new basement function. In Sims 2 and Sims 3 basegame, to build a basement we have to lower terrain, and always run the risk of building a non-functional basement. With the expansion pack, building a basement is easy – just click and drag.
• Curved roofs. There is a new roof type that is curved, like Chinese temple roofs. There is also option to add sculptures on those roof corners.
• The adventures. It was fun to explore tombs and collect relics and money bags for cash.
• The new items that were added, such as the circular arch commonly seen in ancient Chinese architecture. Also, they brought the door locks back! (This was something I complained about in the review for the base game).

Tomb exploration. Image taken from gamespy.com

What I didn’t like:

• The adventures are not exactly replay-able in the sense that it lacks refreshness after the first time you solve it. After which it only becomes laborious to have to explore the same tomb the same way for another family.
• The visa system whereby length of stay is dictated by the number of visa points a Sim has – and visa points can only be earned from adventure completion at each site. This brings us back to the previous point – in order for my Sim to stay longer at each country, I have to replay some, if not all, the adventures and explorations even though they are the same.
• Slow travelling pace; some tasks involve a Sim move from one side of the country to another. In France and Egypt they ride scooters and in China they ride bicycles. Yet many locations are only accessible by foot.

All in all, World Adventures opens up new gameplay styles and enrich (more literally and metaphorically) our Sims’ lives. However, it’s not a must-have. The base game itself is a lot of fun already. Furthermore, this EP is more expensive compared to the EPs for TS2. If EA is going to price future EPs this way as well, it will take a lot more effort in development to ensure players find the EPs value for money. Even World Adventures is a little pushing it; I was feeling rich the day I bought it. On other days, I might have passed on it.

So if you need more quick flash game fix, go to OMGPOP. You can always play as guest; no account is needed. Of course, when you sign up for an account you get to keep your points etc. for random rubbish on the webpage (that are oh-so-cute most of the time). If you ever decide you want an account and wants to Friend me, here’s the link to my public profile on OMGPOP.

So have fun gaming, but I am not responsible for your work neglect and excessive procrastination.

I’m a fond supporter of the The Sims franchise. I’ve been playing the first version, The Sims (1) since I was in secondary school. Over the years they have produced better installations with more 3-D graphics and more features. But I think TS3, when compared to TS2, has many things lacking. I assume they might fix that in later patches or expansion packs.

1. No parking sequence – the cars will miraculously end up in a parking lot without animation.
2. Sims no longer “sit” in cars – i.e. they can no longer listen to the car radio, cuddle or Woohoo! in cars.
3. Sims cannot lock doors – a feature in Sims2 I really loved because it helped to partition the house.
4. Where are my spiral stairs?
5. No two user-created families can exist in the same town.

Despite the these shortcomings, TS3 is revolutionary, even for a Sims aficionado like me. Some new features that awe me:

1. Now I know what my Sims are doing at work, and where they work.
2. My Sims can ride a bicycle, go fishing, plant vegetables (a feature I had to hack to get in TS1), visit friends … i.e. all things that entail a wholesome life.
3. I can put windows and doors on a diagonal wall, and put furniture in the diagonal axis. Yay!
4. I can tinker with colours and textures in Create-A-Sim itself to give my Sims new clothes.
5. New “Personalities” rather than just playing around with horoscopes!

All in all, I think TS2 lovers will love TS3. It’s bigger, better, and infinitely more entertaining.

Now allow me to conclude this post and get back to killing playing god to my Sim.

 Red Apprentice Hat, level 10 hat for magicians. And I picked up 7 of them.

 Grey Able Armour, a level 10 top for female archers. Market value estimated about 2750 mesos.

 Scroll for Cape INT, 100% success. INT+1. Market rate 400k.

Alas, no fish spear. Not that I am dying to procure an weapon that has a carcass of a seafood (as the French say, fruits de mer) attached, but it’s just one of those things one would love to have, like a panlid. And possibly another good news: my meso reserve finally hits the 750k mark (three-quarters of a million!). And my weapon assets are are at least about 500k worth. My Maple persona deserves every right to be haughty, smug and to strut.

UPDATE! I left the subway and went into Ellinia and hunted green mushrooms. And guess what, I received the much sought after panlid:

 Panlid, a level 10 common shield, super rare, weapon def. 10. Market rate for one with such weapon defence is 450k+. How smug I am.

  Cutlus- a level 35 one-handed sword, market value of about 40-75k mesos.

Mithril Polearm – a level 30 polearm (which I intend to use), market value of about 25-100k (I am pertubed by the wide difference in price.)

 Blue Avenger – a level 35 female Thief overall, which I sold at 60k .

And finally, this morning, the best gifts of them all:

Zeco – a level 40 spear (which I intend to use), market value of about 95k.

 Nakamaki – a level 35 spear (which I intend to use), market value of about 70k.

[Edit at 1.50pm : Psst. I got ANOTHER Zeco. Maple Santa must love me. ]