A review of The Sims 3: Climate
Published on October 26th, 2010

Pre-release videos of The Sims 2 contained weather, but this much-desired feature did not make it into the base game. We had to wait until the fifth expansion pack, called The Sims 2: Seasons. As this game played one lot at a time, and previous expansion packs focused on community lots requiring loading screens, the greatness of Seasons was about bringing action to the Sims' homes.

The Sims 3 was also rumored to have weather, but the skies were as clear as usually in southern California. Seems like EA realizes that rain, snow and ice bring enough excitement to sell an expansion pack. And it certainly sells The Sims 3: Climate.

We can now play two new towns: Trollelva, which isn't much more than some red and white cottages squeezed between a fjord and a huge mountain, and Sacharovsk - a lump of Soviet concrete blocks and some traditional Slavic houses, in the middle of the Siberian steppes.

While the citizens of Sacharovsk freeze to the bone (despite their stereotypical fur caps) in the winter, and sweat in the summer, Trollelva has less extreme temperatures, but heavy summer rain. They also see variable daylight - once a summer these Norwegian Sims (complete with woolly caps and knitted shirts) see the Midnight sun, where the sunset slides on top of the horizon, and rises again. Once a winter there is an Arctic night, as the sun never makes it to the sky.

The weather of course affects Sims' behaviour. Some effects - such as yearning for family in winter and romance in spring - can be traced to The Sims 2, but there are several new ones - while a dark sky makes Sims significantly sleepy, the sound of rain outdoors relieves them from stress. Sims' desired comfort temperature varies with trait and activity - they prefer pumping iron in the cool, but relaxing with friends in the warm. If there are radiators or air conditioners in the room, Sims are smart enough to set these to desired temperature. Radiators also display local temperature, if no wall thermometer is around. Russian Sims heat themselves with a sip of tea from the samovar, while Norwegians prefer working out (which is why they always grand-slam the Winter Olympics).

We have always found walls to be rather expensive. Climate introduces light walls, which are much cheaper. They are as good as regular walls providing privacy to bathrooms and support to paintings, but since they leak some heat and sound, they are less suitable as outdoor barriers.

Of course, EA could not make a climate expansion pack without addressing environmental issues. Sims can pursue the Energy career at a monstrous refinery lying behind a toxic brown mist - both Norway and Russia are big oil producers - or the Ecology career at a botanical garden which looks much more inviting than the sterile science building in the base game. Sims can also set up windmills or solar panels on their lots to lower their power bills.

Seasons was much about gardening and fishing. These features were already in The Sims 3 base game, but Climate straightens out some flaws. Lettuces and onions now grow as they do in real life. We also get mushrooms, carrots and other new crops for a hardy climate. Trees grow now, and handy players can cut them down for profit - essentially allowing Sims to make a living as lumberjacks.

The lack of winter sports - except snowball fights and lame ice-rink skating - used to be a disappointment of Seasons. But Climate finally gives what we have been waiting for: skiing, skating on frozen lakes, snowmobiles, and ice-fishing through drill holes. They can even shoot hockey-pucks towards their friends or a goal! However, Sims need to buy the equipment themselves, and need some Athletic skill to stay on their feet. Building a snow castle is safer.

Of course, Climate re-visits many other The Sims 2 features, such as saunas, Christmas (with Santa visiting), kites and the Weather Machine. After a full play session, we could not realize how we accepted The Sims 3 without weather.