The Sims 3 introduces you to a whole new way of building properties and furnishing them thanks to a number of new features, or advanced tweaks of features which were there in The Sims 2.
The possibilities for homes, shops and community lots you build are now quite literally endless with the new custom pattern features and advanced item customisation features.
Custom Patterns
Using a simple drag-and-drop system, you can apply any pattern you like to the items in your sims properties. You could even use a photo of yourself as a repeating wallpaper, if you are that vain of course!
Item Customisation
Virtually every item you can use within your homes in The Sims 3 is customisable to some degree. Items come with between one and four customisation points allowing you to create truly unique homes and lots.
Modding Tools
The Sims 3 will be accompanied by a range of modding tools which allow you to create items of your own if you wish to do so. What exactly the modding tools will cater for is yet to be confirmed – things such as cars and skins may not be creatable from the very beginning, but time will tell.
Object Positioning
In The Sims 3 you can rotate many objects such as sofas and tables 360 degrees, allowing you to place furniture at an angle as most of us do in our real homes. This adds a whole new level of realism to the game.
High Rise Properties
You can build properties upto five stories high in The Sims 3.
Filling Empty Objects
Some items, such as bookcases can be purchased empty to begin with. You can then purchase individual books in the game to add to your bookcase.
Linked Furniture Sets
Sets of furniture, such as a dining table and chairs, or a bed and bedside tables will now be automatically linked by The Sims 3 allowing you to move the entire set of furniture at once rather than having to move each item individually.
Customising Stairs
You can customise staircases in The Sims 3 by using a slider. The slider allows you to make certain stairs within the staircase upto four tiles wider than the rest.
I recently noticed the bookshelf topic. I thought that was pretty neat if you pay attention to small details. I also love the fact that you can move multi items at once this really cuts down time when re-decorating (which I do often). There really is a big difference in The Sims 3. I am really looking forward to exploring the game more.
When Sims 3 came out I already owned almost every single expansion pack for Sims 2. Now that I’ve read this, and discovered that items can be rotated as such, I’m going to sell my Sims 2 just so I can get these new features!