Product ReviewsSims 3 (Windows/Mac: Mac and Windows, 2009)

GREAT PRODUCT / WORTH IT

Ok so first of all for the price this a a great product.I bought the game for my daughter so she will review it. I haven't played the sims 3 since I was younger so to see that gearandgames had it for less than half the price really caught my attention. The game is very addictive and has many things to do , travel , hang out with friends, garden , and jobs/careers, and MANY MORE. The graphics are not that great but it is realistic. They have alot of clothes / hairstyles to pick through. Since im coming from the sims 4 , you really notice how much of a change there is. Im loving the open world map view , I always questioned why they took that feature out. The sims 3 is a great game and it is worth it. The only bad thing I have to say is that the game crashes sometimes but gearandgames gives you a couple of suggestions if needed. They are also very respectful and nice. If your looking to buy this , I do recommend. Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: gearandgames

Does not work

The files would not install on my PC for the longest time, then after a lot of troubleshooting they did install, but the game launcher never worked. So, I never actually was able to play. And it all seemed sketchy (to be expected, I guess). If other reviews are truthful saying that this works for them, I do not know how.Read full review...

A worthy successor to Sims and Sims 2

If you are familiar with Sims-type games, you have an idea what it's like. The download was large, of course, some 16-18 GB of data. There were several download options: Google Drive, OneDrive, and Torrent. Here is a report of issues with this download collection. Minor annoyances (and workarounds) in the installation: the game launcher displays material in Russian on the right, even though the game setup specified English. The Sims 3 Member login in the right section isn't needed to play the game. The game interface bar on the left is actually in English (probably set by the game setup). The Sims 3 Addon loader (which selects which expansion and stuff packs are active) was probably originally run in Russian, because the pop-up boxes are largely unreadable (??? in place of probably Cyrillic text). However, the icons are in the same order as on the Game Launcher, have the same colors, and the Game Launcher icons do have readable English pop-up text. So it isn't hard to choose the expansions you want to play with.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: gearandgames

The Sims 3 - Really not All That Bad on Laptops

Finding myself with a load of extra time on my hands, I bought the Sims 3. Being completely new to the Sims, I figured I'd go with the newest, best one out there.

It has not disappointed me. There is so much you can do within the game once you figure out how to work the control panels. The in-game tutorials are great. The personalization of characters and their houses gives you so much freedom, not to mention all of the downloads out there offered by third party developers and websites.

When doing the research for buying this game, I thought about what I would be running it on. I have a dual core PC that is not made for gaming, and has a 3.4 Windows experience index.

I heard that it would run incredibly slow on laptops. I heard it takes forever to load. I heard it turns essentially into a slideshow.

Well, some things are true. It does take a VERY long time to load. But as for in-game performance, it really isn't all that bad, as long as you give it time to build up a cache. If you are swinging the camera all over the place, jumping from one side of town to the other, or switching between build-mode and live mode constantly, then yes you'll probably have performance issues. But if you treat it right, it will perform great.

The reason it takes so long to load is that it is essentially loading the entire town. There are no loading screens after your first initial load. You can just hop in the car and go anywhere in town freely without having to wait.

Another thing is many people say it takes them a long time to sleep. This is true. Usually takes about 2-3 minutes for me.

Of course, if you're buying the Sims 3, then you probably aren't too concerned about spending your time efficiently anyways...

Final thought: If you have the time (it's really addictive) then I would totally buy this game. Even without all of the add-on packs, the game has a ton to offer you and keep you busy for a while.Read full review...

sims 3

great product,love it list of new features in The Sims 3 is extensive, but the one overhaul that has the biggest impact on the game is how seamlessly you can now move around your virtual town. In previous games, the presence of various neighborhoods led to a disjointed experience, so you rarely felt like you were in a living world. Now, your burb is freely explorable, so traveling to the gym, the art gallery, or your place of work means walking, biking, driving, or taxiing to the location in question without any loading times to break things up. Want your sim to head to the library and read up on the latest mystery? Just zoom out to the city map and select your destination, and your sim will travel there automatically, using the most efficient means of transportation. You might even get the option to invite someone along with you, so you won't have to head to the diner alone if you've got a friend or acquaintance nearby who's available to tag along.Read full review...

The Sims 3

This game had some interesting takes, as each trait carries it's own abilities and advantages throughout your sim's life. The graphic detail is much improved for previous games in this genre. Also, buy mode involves a greater amount of customization dealing with pattern and color schemes for each, giving the user the home that they want. This customization is also shown when picking your sim's dress in the beginning. That being said, the initial sim creator lacks hairstyles and a bit of the more normal clothing that one might see. Contrarily, the advanced customization for every area of the face allow personalization that hasn't existed before. I have found that the game is addicting in the short term but once one Sim has gone through his career path, I feel burnt out. I even tried other careers in the same city by changing my active household, but that only bought me a few more days of entertainment. In all, the graphics and customization are great, but the game seems to get old faster than in previous games. One last note, the fastest time mode isn't fast at all so you may feel disappointed having to spend ten minutes sleeping and ten at work before you can do anything on your own.Read full review...

This is an overall great product and has a high re-play value.

In a nutshell, the game is fun for all ages. Me and my kids all play it and have purchased all the expansion packs and most of the stuff packs. We are REALLY into this game as it is addicting and has a high replay value. We have all spent hundreds of hours playing this game, so overall I give it a 4 star rating.

However, let's move on to the negatives. The game has constant crashes that we experience. The expansions, stuff packs, and extra worlds would be better suited for purchase if the prices were cheaper. To own all the content for the series is very expensive. I think the developer should release a 100% completed bundle package for those looking to own it all at a reasonable price. I also noticed that most of the "game crashing issues" have occurred AFTER Sims 4 was released. It makes me wonder if the latest game patch has intentional bugs in it to produce more frequent crashing errors in hopes that the end users, like myself, will get frustrated enough to make the leap and purchase Sims 4. I won't make that purchase while Sims 3 is so buggy-- I mean, I still have content coming in the mail for my Sims 3 collection I haven't even added to my game let alone played. Why would I purchase 4 when I am still investing in 3?

Be that as it may, overall the game is an excellent investment but be aware that it is very buggy still. Thanks for reading this review and be sure to vote that it was "helpful" if you found it to be so. Happy gaming and get your "Sim" on!Read full review...

I Can play this game for hours :)

If you're reading this, there's a very good chance that you've heard about The Sims. It's been difficult to escape the popular franchise's web, what with two full games and a seemingly endless stream of expansions. The first thing you may be asking, then, is whether The Sims 3 is worth playing, or if it's just more of the same. Well, it most certainly is worth it, and yes, in some ways it is more of the same. But in this case, that's a very good thing. For anyone who's played The Sims or its first sequel, this familiarity will let them ease into it, feeling like a welcomed guest rather than an outsider. But this doesn't make The Sims 3 a simple rehash of what's come before. Instead, returning elements have been energized and extended by a number of terrific improvements, such as expanded customization tools, additional tools for interaction with other sims (and other players), and more tangible goals and rewards. Most importantly, the free-to-explore town makes you feel like part of an entire virtual society--a feature approximated but never fully realized in the previous games. By blending together the old and the new, developer Maxis has created the best, most charming game yet in the series.
If you're new to the series, here's a quick primer. The Sims 3 is a virtual life simulator. In it, you take control of a character called a sim, or an entire household of them. Sims have needs; they need to empty their bladders, to eat, to sleep, to bathe, to have fun, to socialize. It's real life boiled down to simple mechanics, but within these mechanics lies an entire universe of possibilities. Your sims can have babies who will cry in the middle of the night, needing their diapers changed. You can manage their personal development by sending them to the gym to work out, or by telling them to fix a broken television, or by having them play chess, or by sending them to the park to play the guitar. Sims go to work to earn simoleans (money, of course) so they can buy better things for their homes and redecorate--or just buy a brand-new home. They make friends and enemies, they go swimming, and they clog up the toilet. In other words, they act a whole lot like real people, except that they yammer in a delightful gibberish called simlish and communicate via speech bubbles that appear over their heads. It all sounds terribly mundane, but balancing the needs of your sims and tending to your digital playmates can keep you happily glued to your monitor for hours at a time.

For experienced Sims players, the laundry list of new features in The Sims 3 is extensive, but the one overhaul that has the biggest impact on the game is how seamlessly you can now move around your virtual town. In previous games, the presence of various neighborhoods led to a disjointed experience, so you rarely felt like you were in a living world. Now, your burb is freely explorable, so traveling to the gym, the art gallery, or your place of work means walking, biking, driving, or taxiing to the location in question without any loading times to break things up. Want your sim to head to the library and read up on the latest mystery? Just zoom out to the city map and select your destination, and your sim will travel there automatically, using the most efficient means of transportation. You might even get the option to invite someone along with you, so you won't have to head to the diner alone if you've got a friend or acquaintance nearby who's available to tag along.Read full review...

What's It All About?!

The chances are you’ll have either played or heard of the Sims franchise. With over 100 million units sold across the Globe, The Sims is the biggest PC franchise in history. For this third iteration in the strategic life-simulation series, the gameplay has evolved rather than changed drastically from its original format.

In The Sims 3 you can once again expect to follow the daily activities of one of more virtual persons across an open-world neighbourhood. With a wealth of possibilities at your fingertips, it’s up to you to shape the destiny of your characters by determining their traits and career paths, while forging plenty of relationships along the way. Essentially, you're tasked with micro-managing your virtual life in this colourful suburb, earning cash in the process and building your ideal home on your way to acheiving your ultimate life-time goal.

The Sims 3 expands on previous iterations by offering a number of new features, including an expanded creation tool that allows you to extensively customize your Sim and in-game items, from wallpaper to floorboards. Buy and Build modes have been refined and a whole host of new community features have been added, including the ability to create movies and share them with friends. Sims fans can also look forward to public events that will take place in the neighbourhood, including pool parties and barbecues, as well as public protests and movie premieres.

It’s The Sims as we know it, with even more to think about than ever before. Like previous games, you're only limited by your own creativity and the amount of time you're willing to invest in creating your virtual lifestyle.Read full review...

Great Addition to another Great PC Game Series

I've been a fan of the The Sims Franchise since the first game and this new one really caught me by surprise. Its the same game but different functions and almost feels like a brand new game i never played before. The matter of gameplay has been somewhat simplified, different for people like me who have been playing the game since the beginning but other factors have been enhanced such as the "Create A Sim" Module with its added customization and you can now do diagonal placements of furniture and architectural designing for the sim homes. Great Game, i'v still trying to get useto the new controls but all in all great game, highly recommended. I think this will last for another 5 or so years til they come out with a new one!Read full review...

Not a lot of difference

Sims 3 is a lot like the previous version. There are a few changes, but for the most part it remains a time management game. You're no longer forced to manage a single Sim Family, but you control others as well. The Sims also seem more intelligent, so you don't have to tell them to eat, or use the bathroom, as frequently as previous versions.

Likes: Sims 3 offers better careers for your Sims.
The homes,decor, and clothing looks a lot better.
The overall game platform is interesting and intuitive.
Electronic Arts support for questions concerning game play.

Dislikes: Sims 3 no longer includes the diving board, jacuzzi or piano.
However, Sims can ride a bike the neighborhood spa for a message.

I cannot recommend purchasing a new version of Sims 3. Log on to Ebay, and find a good used copy, and enjoy the game.Read full review...