Here is the link.Hopefully it's a cas demo.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/b...=2&ref=business

Can't wait to see what this is, it better be good! Sounds like it will be online based and not a download since the trial will also be on Facebook.

Hmm sounds pretty cool. I wonder what the trial will feature

Is this for everyone?

As far as we know yes it is, but it's "meant for people who have never played the game before."

Maybe it's the game but you can only play part of Sunset Valley like that pc magazine in Britain did.

Screw them! We have been waiting FOREVER for this, I think we deserve it, especially after they delayed it. Hopefully we (the ones that have played sims before) can play it.

It clearly means it is *geared* towards people who have never played before, meaning people with no Sims experience will get the most benefit from it. I have no idea what the trial is but I can guarantee you it will be open to anyone who wants to download it, not just people who have never played before (as if they'd ever be able to enforce such a thing).

Sounds great! I'm going to be very busy on Friday so i hope I'll find the time later that day to check it out. ThanQ for sharing SLP!

Damn, the boyfriend is staying over Friday night. He's a mad anti-simist. No trial for me =(




... ah, screw it! He can sit through a little torture

Good to hear. Can't wait for this game to come out.

From the same article.

I'm hoping we'll be able to use CAS in the trial and export the characters we make into the real game.

Hmm, the official site mentions 3 new teaser experiences - SimSocial, SimFriend and SimSidekick, two of which are mentioned by name in the NYT article. That makes me suspect that SimSocial is the first thing they discussed, and unfortunately (to me) "SimSocial" doesn't sound much like a CAS demo or really any kind of actual demo. I'll wait for Friday but my hopes aren't up for anything beyond a few novelty widgets...

i quote Grant Rodiek: "No, there will not be a demo for The Sims 3 prior to a ship date."

This sounds like just marketing teasers (flash games and stuff), i hope i'm wrong but i doubt it =)

^ That's a bit of a shame. I'm not too fussed because S3 doesn't exactly thrill me (I plan on getting it but I'm not uber excited or anything) but I know a lot of people would love an actual trial.

Tell him to do what I do when American Idol comes on. Turn on the xbox 360

I think you're on the money

The free trial is just the "SimSideKick" thing

http://www.simprograms.com/the-sims...ly-simsidekick/

I suspect this might be SimSocial (which wasn't described in the NYT ad):



From: http://adage.com/madisonandvine/art...ticle_id=136626

Why did the New York Times have to be so misleading and call it a "free trial?" Just another example of faulty journalism. I didn't think it would be a demo of the actual game since it was also supposed to be on Facebook but some people might have been misled anyway.

The SimSideKick thing reminds me of those desktop pals that turned out to be spyware. My friend had one that was a parrot, I think he was called Peedee or something like that.

They have the sidekick thing - lame, the social thing - lame and as of today a non-functioning friend you are suppose to be able to check out but I can't get past registration - typical ea not to have it functioning correctly - guess there will be a patch!!! lol! I was getting excited about the game for the first time since the delay but after checking out the social and sidekick I'm not impressed at all. Are they trying to discourage people from buying the game or what? That stuff is so lame and hopefully not like the game at all.

I actually really enjoy SimSocial, except for the four hour break periods. It's fun to get to play around with traits and stuff.

I managed to register, the day is almost over and I haven't received any e-mails from my "friend" except for the first one.

I like SimSocial too! Don't think it's lame at all! Obviously the actual game would be better, but beggars can't be choosers. I've been without any kind of sims for 6 months so this little flash game will keep me sane for the next few weeks. :P

Just as a heads up, don't get too attached to any specific features or experiences from SimSocial - they probably won't be in TS3. It's actually a game called Kudos that has been repackaged to look Simlike. Based on my experience playing the Kudos demo yesterday (after the similarity to Kudos was pointed out in another thread), the only thing that has really been changed is the appearance. The text, the 1-activity-after work, 2-on-the-weekends, evening classes, job text, the meters on the right (coolness, confidence, etc)- all directly from Kudos.