MySims News

Ever wonder what its like to be the General Manager of Maxis? Meet Maxis' Neil Young in the chat transcripts!

Read The Transcripts!

maxiskitty (Jul 2, 2004 5:02:30 PM)
Hello and Welcome to today's friday fun chat with Neil Young our new GM (that is general manager) here at Maxis. He is hanging out with us here in chat today to get to know you guys and answer any questions you guys might have about Maxis.

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:02:47 PM)
Hi everyone - I'm really happy to be hear and have the opportunity to answer questions.

glitterbell77 (Jul 2, 2004 5:04:15 PM)
how does it feel to be GM of maxis?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:04:15 PM)
It feels great, it's a great honor to be a part of the team. Luc's shoes were big to fill....and french too.

Juliunos (Jul 2, 2004 5:05:30 PM)
Do you speak french??

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:05:30 PM)
No, but I do speak English.

Guest (Jul 2, 2004 5:05:45 PM)
do you feel you are going to be a great addition to the maxis team?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:05:46 PM)
I hope so.

SuperSonic1(st) (Jul 2, 2004 5:07:35 PM)
How have you helped make The Sims 2?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:07:35 PM)
Well the Sims 2 has been in development for a while, but I work very closely w/Lucy to make sure that all of EA is really focused on the parts of the game & it's launch that we hope will make it successful

PMaster (Jul 2, 2004 5:07:54 PM)
How much hours do you work as a GM and what do you do as a GM?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:07:54 PM)
I work 20 hrs a day and I earn about $8.50 per hour

Fabian[SimsZone.de] (Jul 2, 2004 5:09:08 PM)
According to Maxis September 17 is world release of Sims 2. But according to EA Germany the releasedate for Germany is September 16. Can you solve this contradiction?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:09:09 PM)
The worldwide (well most of the world) "in store" date is September 17th. It might be out a few days earlier in different places around the world.

Opalesence (Jul 2, 2004 5:09:22 PM)
Uhh... what's a GM?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:09:22 PM)
GM is General Manager

a_mashru88 (Jul 2, 2004 5:10:05 PM)
Neil, are u married? do u have kids?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:10:05 PM)
Yes I am married and I have 2 children.

Meg (Jul 2, 2004 5:10:26 PM)
If you were a Sim in sims 2, what kind of sim would you be? (ie romance, knowledge, etc)

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:10:26 PM)
I would be a romance sim.

straightXedge (Jul 2, 2004 5:10:47 PM)
i thought GM meant genettically modified?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:10:47 PM)
It does....Create-a-Sim is the sequel to Create-a-GM

soccerstar (Jul 2, 2004 5:11:52 PM)
what did u do before you were a GM

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:11:52 PM)
I ran the Lord of the Rings franchise for EA and I directed the last 2 games that we made. Before that I made an Online game called Majestic and before that I was the GM for Origin.

zen (Jul 2, 2004 5:12:54 PM)
have your children been able to play the game yet

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:12:54 PM)
Yes...well kind of...My Daughter has spent about 10 hrs in Create-a-Sim, she's only 5, so that's the coolest thing in the world to her

JulianVelasquez (Jul 2, 2004 5:13:41 PM)
How long do you plan to stay with maxis?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:13:41 PM)
Just until we achieve total world domination.

SuperSonic1(st) (Jul 2, 2004 5:14:19 PM)
Is it the law that all of your names start with Maxis in chat?

MaxisLucky (Jul 2, 2004 5:14:19 PM)
Yes. It is a law.

DpS (Jul 2, 2004 5:15:00 PM)
Isnt there anything *NEW* you want to tell us about the sims2?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:15:00 PM)
Yes...the first expansion pack should be released early in the new year.

me_myself_and_sim (Jul 2, 2004 5:15:39 PM)
Beside lucy who do you get along with?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:15:39 PM)
pretty much no-one else

homestarfan21 (Jul 2, 2004 5:16:09 PM)
so, neil, what's your favorite snack? ^-^

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:16:09 PM)
baked beans on toast. Is that a snack or a meal?

lattyware (Jul 2, 2004 5:17:06 PM)
How hard is it to get to a job like yours? I am 12 and really want to be a game designer/programmer. I allready make my own games - Could I get your job one day?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:17:06 PM)
You're doing exactly the right things to get my job. Sounds like you'll get there at a lot younger age than I did.

xxseraphimxx (Jul 2, 2004 5:17:20 PM)
What is the expansion going to be? Just a little hint... Please???

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:17:21 PM)
It'll be good.

voicesinhead (Jul 2, 2004 5:17:50 PM)
thesimsresource.com had an article that announce that The Sims 2 would be changing its rating to M to add Threesomes and Orgies, is ts this true?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:17:50 PM)
No, not at all true.

_Coke_ (Jul 2, 2004 5:18:53 PM)
What will SimCity 5 be like?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:18:53 PM)
SImCity 5 will go back to it's roots. Think of it less of the 5th SimCity and more of The SimCity

Guest (Jul 2, 2004 5:19:35 PM)
Will Sims2 come out for gamecube at the same time as computer on Sep. 17 or will i have 2 wait

MaxisShorty (Jul 2, 2004 5:19:35 PM)
The Sims is planned exclusively for the PC, but you'll be able to pick up The Urbz: Sims in the City on the console of your choice this fall.

lattyware (Jul 2, 2004 5:19:48 PM)
Will the EP's be copies of old EP's? I know I for one would really like a new version of 'Unleashed' a favorite among the sims community!

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:19:48 PM)
They won't be copies, but we will listen to you guys about the things that you'd like to see and we'll try our best to address those things

bigzz4 (Jul 2, 2004 5:20:13 PM)
How many Cd's will the sims2 be?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:20:13 PM)
4 or you will be able to by it on 1 DVD (although the current plan for that is as a pre-order)

_Coke_ (Jul 2, 2004 5:20:58 PM)
Have you played The Urbz? any good?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:20:58 PM)
Yes, I have played the Urbz & Yes it is good and doing some really exciting new things with camera, control, pacing & metagame

mskgymnast (Jul 2, 2004 5:21:02 PM)
can babies die @ birth?

Domdncr (Jul 2, 2004 5:21:09 PM)
What's your zodiac sign?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:21:09 PM)
Aries

SCAD_Man (Jul 2, 2004 5:21:49 PM)
Are you still adding new features to The Sims 2 or are you just polishing every thing up for the release?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:21:49 PM)
We're polishing & tuning right now. I have Lucy locked away in a hermetically sealed chamber. Occasionally we let her out for a meeting

Utena (Jul 2, 2004 5:21:59 PM)
What do you mean "as a pre-order?"

MaxisShorty (Jul 2, 2004 5:21:59 PM)
Right now, you can go to your favorite games retailer and place your very own copy of Sims 2, thus assuring yourself a copy when it begins to fly off shelves

splashmo (Jul 2, 2004 5:22:23 PM)
Will the DVD edition be available at the same time?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:22:23 PM)
The current plan is that this will be for pre-order customers - Although that's subject to change

elmo (Jul 2, 2004 5:23:00 PM)
Whats your favorite Maxis Made family in the Sims 2?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:23:00 PM)
The Caliente Sisters are my favorite. Or at least that's who's house I always seem to find myself in!

Tinkerbelll (Jul 2, 2004 5:23:32 PM)
PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUESTION!! I am a die hard macintosh user and I realize that the sims2 is coming out for PC's only. Will a mac version of the sims2 come out? if so, when?!?!

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:23:32 PM)
I am a Mac user too! There will be a Mac version of Sims 2 - We haven't announced the release date yet.

Guest (Jul 2, 2004 5:23:55 PM)
When is the exact date for the urbz sims in the city to be announced?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:23:55 PM)
The current plan is for it to release on November 16th

Guest (Jul 2, 2004 5:24:10 PM)
Do you feed Lucy?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:24:10 PM)
We have people to do that

MONS PANTS (Jul 2, 2004 5:24:46 PM)
Is each neighborhood a little bit different?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:24:46 PM)
Yes, each neighbourhood is dramatically different

cory (Jul 2, 2004 5:26:02 PM)
What game do you like better "urbz or the sims 2"???

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:26:02 PM)
Aww..come on, that's not fair. I like them both for different reasons.

Dee (Jul 2, 2004 5:26:21 PM)
What version of SImCity is used to make neighborhoods? will later versions be compatible?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:26:21 PM)
You can make the neighbourhood landscapes with SC4.

Guest (Jul 2, 2004 5:26:49 PM)
where is the maxis H.Q

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:26:49 PM)
Maxis has a studio in Redwood City, CA and another in Walnut Creek, CA

_Coke_ (Jul 2, 2004 5:26:55 PM)
Will we have our own Sims2page? (Like our SimPages?)

MaxisLucky (Jul 2, 2004 5:26:55 PM)
Yes - we are working on improving the MySim pages for thesims2.com

JesusFreak (Jul 2, 2004 5:27:32 PM)
Will you guys be starting a The Sims 3 once The Sims 2 is finished?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:27:32 PM)
Yes, we're already thinking about Sims 3.....

Coldmenace (Jul 2, 2004 5:29:51 PM)
PLEASE ANSWER!!! Will the Sims 2 have Portuguese Language?

MaxisLucky (Jul 2, 2004 5:29:51 PM)
We are planning on releasing in Portuguese....

soccergirl4EvA93 (Jul 2, 2004 5:30:03 PM)
What other projects is the Maxis team working on?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:30:03 PM)
We're working on Urbz which is a new people simulator for consoles. Will is working on a new, top secret thing that will blow your mind & we're working on our design for SimCity.

kailove (Jul 2, 2004 5:30:31 PM)
What is the rating for the Urbz game?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:30:32 PM)
Urbz is T for Teen

Mathilde (Jul 2, 2004 5:31:06 PM)
Neil, what are you currently working on exacly?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:31:06 PM)
I'm working on figuring out how to sequel Maxis. Take all the great features and make them even better and then add some new ones!

Guest (Jul 2, 2004 5:31:29 PM)
What is URBZ?

MaxisLucky (Jul 2, 2004 5:31:29 PM)
http://www.urbzsims.com

Gabe (Jul 2, 2004 5:32:04 PM)
ANSWER PLEASE! Will there be a video when you start the game (like in TS1)?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:32:04 PM)
If you mean an intro video, then yes. If you mean tutorial then no, there are tutorials in the game itself.

JesusFreak (Jul 2, 2004 5:32:46 PM)
When will Will Wright release info on his top secret "thing" ? They said 2004 was when he would tell us, is he planning to tell us soon within months?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:32:46 PM)
I don't think we'll announce this until after the holiday season

HollywoodCeleb (Jul 2, 2004 5:33:12 PM)
Are you the Neil Young who wrote the song Heart of Gold?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:33:12 PM)
Yes

Jeter (Jul 2, 2004 5:34:12 PM)
PLEASE ANSWER!!!!!! is being a GM exhausting? are you at work more then at home?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:34:12 PM)
Home? What's that? We merged home & work a long time ago ;o)

Answer (Jul 2, 2004 5:34:36 PM)
Neil how old are you?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:34:36 PM)
34

_Coke_ (Jul 2, 2004 5:36:43 PM)
Are you open to any System Requirements questions for Sims2?

MaxisLucky (Jul 2, 2004 5:36:43 PM)
The system requirements are on thesims2.com. If you have questions, please post them to the BBS. Thanks.

tashascool (Jul 2, 2004 5:37:35 PM)
What is your favorite feature in The Sims 2? And in Urbz?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:37:35 PM)
Favorite feature in Sims2 is the Wants & Fears - totally changes the dimensionality of the game experience. On the Urbz, I love the way it looks & sounds it's got a new pace to the play and having the ability to move off of the lots an intro districts is very cool.

HollywoodCeleb (Jul 2, 2004 5:37:51 PM)
Wait a minute if your thirty four, you couldn't have wrote Heart of Gold. It came out in 1972 didn't it?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:37:51 PM)
I was prodigious as a child.

beefy_the_llama (Jul 2, 2004 5:39:06 PM)
Is it complicated designing a game?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:39:06 PM)
Yes beefy, it's very complicated - but also really, really fun

Meg (Jul 2, 2004 5:39:19 PM)
Are you still prodigious?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:39:19 PM)
I've slowed.

*Tired* (Jul 2, 2004 5:39:33 PM)
Why is it's name The URBZ? I get really confused about that. IS IT a Sim-game???? :S

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:39:33 PM)
Yes, it has Sims Inside.

Guest (Jul 2, 2004 5:40:02 PM)
girl gamers scare me

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:40:03 PM)
I'll tell Lucy

pinkY891 (Jul 2, 2004 5:40:11 PM)
I've never heard of URBZ...what is it?

MaxisLucky (Jul 2, 2004 5:40:11 PM)
http://www.urbzsims.com

MiniMartMan (Jul 2, 2004 5:40:27 PM)
what is your favorite old skool maxis game

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:40:27 PM)
SimEarth

Drew (Jul 2, 2004 5:40:53 PM)
What's your worst fear?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:40:53 PM)
In the Sims 2 or real life?

christy (Jul 2, 2004 5:41:53 PM)
where is lucy

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:41:53 PM)
we've locked her up in a room to finish tuning Sims2

bigzz4 (Jul 2, 2004 5:42:17 PM)
what is your degree in?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:42:17 PM)
I don't have a degree

JesusFreak (Jul 2, 2004 5:44:34 PM)
Niel, are you guys ever planning to make The SIms Online 2?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:44:34 PM)
I think that all of our games in the future will have some elements of Online, including The Sims. So in that regard, then yes - but not in the way that you'd associate with TSO. It's unlikely to be a PSW.

BigBoi7 (Jul 2, 2004 5:45:59 PM)
Alright.....I know there's been this sort of big hype on releasing the game for September 17th, and I was wondering if thats like a pretty much positively sure date because don't you think it's possible you could lose interest of people thinking about buying the game...I know I personally can wait or whatever...but like if the game is delayed for whatever reason...couldnt it have a negative effect from the fans?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:45:59 PM)
September 17th is the date. There are no plans to change that - The game is great, it's ready we just need to do the last tuning, polish & bug fixing and it'll be ready for you all.

WhiskersIsMyCat (Jul 2, 2004 5:46:02 PM)
What's a PSW?

maxiskitty (Jul 2, 2004 5:46:02 PM)
Persistant world.. like the Sims Online or Ultima Online

SimsFanaticLUVYA (Jul 2, 2004 5:46:29 PM)
HAVE A HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!! its my birthday on the fourth! oh yeah! THE CREW FOR THE SIMS 2 ROCK!!! YOU GUYS ARE SO AWESOME .. THANX FOR INVENTING SUCH AN AWESOEM GAME!!

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:46:29 PM)
Happy birthday!

seansgirlkemi (Jul 2, 2004 5:47:34 PM)
What was your dream job when you were younger

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:47:34 PM)
Pre 11 yrs. old I though astronaut would have been cool - England didn't have a space program, so when I was old enough to realize that wasn't going to work, I got into games.

Unknown Sheep (Jul 2, 2004 5:47:47 PM)
What will you do after the chat?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:47:47 PM)
Prepare for the Maxis company meeting.

kailove (Jul 2, 2004 5:48:11 PM)
How long does it take a game to hit stores after it has "gone gold"?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:48:11 PM)
Usually about 30 days.

girl_17 (Jul 2, 2004 5:50:02 PM)
Do the designers for Sims 2 have a fine arts background?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:50:02 PM)
Some do. To be a great game designer, you need a unique blend of skills and being creative is definately one of those things

Coldmenace (Jul 2, 2004 5:50:20 PM)
if youre english what do you think about the Euro 2004 game?? PORTUGAL VS ENGLAND???

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:50:20 PM)
Ack.

phoenixsp (Jul 2, 2004 5:51:19 PM)
PLEASE ANWSER Are you planning on releasing any further tools for The Sims 2 like an object creator?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:51:19 PM)
Yes we will release tools in the future for Sims 2, but probably not ahead of the release of the main software.

simsfreak51 (Jul 2, 2004 5:51:37 PM)
how much longer in the chat?

MaxisLucky (Jul 2, 2004 5:51:37 PM)
We have about 10 more minutes of our chat with Maxis General Manager Neil Young.

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:51:38 PM)
Lucy just came to my cube! I need to lock her back up

MatthewGreene (Jul 2, 2004 5:52:00 PM)
Do you plan on creating any Sims games for the upcoming DS or PSP?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:52:00 PM)
Yes, we do.

seansgirlkemi (Jul 2, 2004 5:53:00 PM)
About how many people have been working on the Sims2

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:53:00 PM)
A lot.

TheSidDog (Jul 2, 2004 5:53:20 PM)
Where do you see The Sims in twenty years?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:53:20 PM)
They play you....

Jenny Sim (Jul 2, 2004 5:53:42 PM)
When will this chat be posted?

MaxisLucky (Jul 2, 2004 5:53:42 PM)
We'll get the transcripts up as soon as we can after the chat today....

Sabeltan (Jul 2, 2004 5:54:21 PM)
Lucy!! Thank god, maybe you could answer because some other people refuse. How big will our sims 2 lots be in Simcity 4 squares? We need to know so we can start planning our road layouts. P.S. We miss you and had hoped you'd be doing more chats!

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:54:21 PM)
She says she'll answer on the BBS

verejoma (Jul 2, 2004 5:56:10 PM)
how many expansion packs are you guys planning on releasing?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:56:10 PM)
We currently have an outline for about 5 designs. The goal is a couple each year beginning in the first qtr. next year.

loverofchocolate (Jul 2, 2004 5:56:38 PM)
Hey neil do you like chocolate?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:56:38 PM)
I like dark chocolate.

*leagally brunette* (Jul 2, 2004 5:56:58 PM)
how many hours a day do you guys work on the sims 2?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:56:58 PM)
We are working around the clock right now.

alexmas (Jul 2, 2004 5:57:33 PM)
Is Lucky and Kitty their real names??

MaxisLucky (Jul 2, 2004 5:57:33 PM)
Absolutely!

SiMcHiCa (Jul 2, 2004 5:58:06 PM)
i've always been confused about MaxisKitty. i always here that she's a robot? whats this all about?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:58:06 PM)
She's one of our bot moderators - If you ask her questions, you'll often get the same answer.

maxiskitty (Jul 2, 2004 5:58:28 PM)
error does not compute error error

maxiskitty (Jul 2, 2004 5:58:32 PM)
404

nomel (Jul 2, 2004 5:59:17 PM)
why did you guys choose september 17th?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:59:17 PM)
We knew that we'd get it done right by then.

lltytgbr (Jul 2, 2004 5:59:33 PM)
do you think the game 'Singles' suck?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 5:59:33 PM)
Yes - It totally sucks

Guest (Jul 2, 2004 6:02:53 PM)
The Sims 2 BBS- Do you have anything *NEW* for us about The Sims 2?

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 6:02:53 PM)
Well with regards to Sims 2, we're on track, the game looks great. It will come out on September 17th. As for medium term expect big things from the marketplace in the first 12 months after it releases & look for multiplayer later next year.

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 6:03:56 PM)
Thanks for attending today, I'm looking forward to more chats in the future. Thank you for all your support. We love you guys.

MaxisNeil (Jul 2, 2004 6:04:07 PM)
We've got to wrap it up now

maxiskitty (Jul 2, 2004 6:04:14 PM)
That wraps up todays chat with Neil Young, looks for a Sims 2 specific chat in the future!

With a release date officially announced (Sept. 17th, FYI) and the game-tastic Electronic Entertainment Expo in full swing, The Sims 2 has been popping up all over lately. Check out some of the Sims 2 articles and interviews below.

• Gamespy Interview With Maxis General Manager Neil Young
• IGN Video Interview (Subscription Required)

Neil Young on the Future of The Sims

The Sims are all grown up, with a sequel on the way to the PC and a whole new console franchise in the works. We talk to the new General Manager of Maxis, Neil Young, about what the company is up to.

The last few years have been huge for Maxis, the company that started a gaming phenomenon with The Sims. The original franchise is booming, despite some hard lessons learned from the massively multiplayer version, and the game series is reaching out to a whole new audience with a series of console games. And more is on the way! Neil Young recently stepped up to become the General Manager of the company. GameSpy sat down to talk about what the future holds for Maxis and the Sims.

GameSpy: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us during a busy part of the year, and congratulations on the new position! Maxis has a pretty full plate right now, so let's talk about all the franchises you've got in the air one by one. First up: The original The Sims. With Sims 2 speeding to completion, will we see any more expansions to the original Sims?
Neil Young: There are no more expansion packs for the original are planned right now, but our sense is that player created content for The Sims will continue to flourish on www.thesims.com exchange, which we're of course going to continue to support and take to the next level for The Sims 2.

GameSpy: Sales for the expansions were huge all during the product's life. But, how can you tell when you've released 'one expansion too many?' Was Maxis ever worried about that?
Neil Young: Each expansion pack has focused on a most requested feature from fans, like going on vacation, and having pets. They have all been a top sellers and the fans kept asking for more, so we provided it! The Sims had many unique opportunities and avenues to explore whether it was taking your Sims downtown in Hot Date or finally giving your Sims their own pets. Every expansion pack was filled with more content than the previous and we had a talented team working to make each one a success.

GameSpy: Do you think that the Sims audience will embrace the sequel, or will the original continue on its own momentum for several years? How has the core audience been reacting to the sequel so far?
Neil Young: I'm sure that the new audience will embrace The Sims 2 It's really an incredible game with so many new features and elements that really take the Sims into a whole new dimension of realism. Our Sims fan community is eager to experience The Sims 2. We provide weekly updates on screenshots and news at TheSims2.com. I'd hope that we'd continue to attract people to the world of the Sims from multiple places.

GameSpy: So let's talk more about Sims 2. Do you think it has the 'magic' that made the first one such a hit?
Neil Young: The thing that's so exciting to me about Sims 2 is that it's not just that it has the magic of the original but it has this extra dimension that makes the Sims seem so much more real. They really have more than just basic needs, they now have wants, dreams, fears, and memories. They can have children, pass on their DNA to their offspring, grow old and eventually die. It just adds a whole different dimension to them. This coupled with the ability to create and build almost any home, populate neighborhoods, as well as design and evolve your Sims infinitely really makes it an incredibly rich and infinitely variable experience. It's very exciting.

GameSpy: Part of the lasting appeal of the original Sims was how the online community contributed so much downloadable content. What are you doing to encourage that this time around?
Neil Young: Access to custom and community created content via The Sims Exchange is now integrated into The Sims 2 and is only a click or two away so users will easily be able to access it. We've also really tried hard to enable users to more easily create new content whether that's stories via the built-in blogging functionality, the movie and screen capture tools, and through The Sims 2 Body Shop. That last component is actually being released on May 11th and is a stand alone tool for content creators to design unique and diverse Sims that players can use in The Sims 2 and share with others. By the time the game is released, we hope to have thousands of pieces of player made content available to download and use in the game on day one.
Overall, our community means a great deal to us and they play a major role in our development process. We are constantly impressed by the content these creative fans have made for the games.

GameSpy: Do you think casual users will be able to get used to the 3D camera?
Neil Young: Yes and we're doing everything we can to make sure that the camera is easy to use. In addition to the full camera control that you'll have there are a number of preset cameras that the user can select that allows you to very easily select a basic set of views that'll feel familiar to Sims players.

GameSpy: Judging by the screenshots, Sims 2 has an unreal amount of furniture, decorative objects, landscaping, and architecture in tons of different styles. It must be intimidating to create so much content! Do you have a huge team? Who comes up with all the ideas?
Neil Young:: Yes, there certainly is a lot of content, and the object team is quite large right now. The way The Sims 2 works is that each element is a separate object and almost everyone at Maxis contributes to the design- I think that one of the greatest strengths of Maxis' products is object orientation as it allows us to harness the creativity of almost everyone here.

GameSpy: In recent years the Sims franchise has also -- pardon the pun -- "Busted Out" on console systems. How well have the console games done vs. the PC ones?
Neil Young: The PC act is a hard one to follow - We've sold 34 million units worldwide of The Sims franchise on PC and I'm not sure that any console game has done even that well. That said, we've been very, very happy with the performance of the console games - They've touched many millions of people and we hope to continue and expand that with The URBZ: Sims in the City (working title - ed.) due out this fall.

GameSpy: That was going to be my next question! Let's talk about The URBZ (or whatever the final will be called.) What have you learned about the previous Sims console games that you're applying here?
Neil Young: A lot of the same people that built the console Sims products are working on The URBZ, so we certainly get the benefit of their experience - Whether that's in understanding the underlying simulation or how it and the game's pacing and structure need to differ for the console from the PC. We're certainly building from that basis of knowledge.

GameSpy: You'll be debuting The Urbz at this year's E3. What really sets it apart? What's going to bring fans back even if they own the other Sims games?
Neil Young: I think that there's a few things that we hope will appeal to fans and new players alike. The first and most obvious thing you'll notice is the look, sound, and pacing of the product. It just feels like a different game with a familiar center. Once you get past the new look, the sexier Sims, now living in the city there's a whole new meta game about reputation and influence as well as a whole host of microgames that are integrated into the objects. There'll be a whole lot of "new" to see by the time The URBZ ships in November.

GameSpy: Let's move on to Sims Online. It isn't even listed on the front page of Maxis's site anymore. Is the company still actively involved in the product's ongoing updates?
Neil Young: The ongoing updates to TSO are handled by EA's Online division and there are a group of people who worked on the original game working on maintaining and advancing the product. We remain committed to TSO and, in particular, I think that there's a lot more life left in TSO.

GameSpy: What have you learned from Sims Online?
Neil Young: I think that the biggest lesson is that time requirement is a more important decision for mass-market gamers than subscription fee. The subscription fee informs an expectation about time requirement and that in turn affects the purchasing decision of the customer. I think from a game design standpoint we learned a lot about what makes a successful online experience.

GameSpy: Will we be seeing any more massively multiplayer -- hey, even plain ol' online multiplayer -- games from Maxis in the future?
Neil Young:We're not working on any new Massively Multiplayer products, although we're looking closely at how we can build games that connect a massive number of players together in new ways.

GameSpy: We can't forget SimCity. Did SimCity 4 meet expectations? Are any more expansions planned?
Neil Young: SimCity 4 was a big hit for us and was a top seller on the PC charts in 2003. We also released SimCity 4 Rush Hour in 2003, our first expansion pack for the SimCity franchise. In addition, we shipped SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition in 2003, which included both SimCity 4 and Rush Hour.
That said, I think we all feel that it's time to take a fresh perspective on SimCity and you should look to something from us in this regard in the future.

GameSpy: Mnnn... SimCity 5. Is anything in the works yet, or are you letting that one simmer for a couple of years?
Neil Young: You'll have to wait and see...

GameSpy: Any plans to create a SimCity-like game for console gamers?
Neil Young: We haven't announced anything yet.

GameSpy: Game Designer Will Wright still plays a major role in the company. What's he spend his time on these days? What's he got cooking for us next?
Neil Young: Will is involved in everything that Maxis does to some degree. Right now, he's working on his next project.

GameSpy: And along those lines, what's next from Maxis? What do you guys have in store for your fans in the years to come?
Neil Young: Aside from Will's next project, we're really excited to begin broadening The Sims from the people simulator product into a category with a number of products that have Sims inside. We believe pretty strongly that games with underlying simulations that have the flexibility that an object orientation allows in terms of incremental and user created content will be a fixture of the future of games - We're excited to be a part of that future.

GameSpy: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us and good luck at this year's E3!

By Dave Kosak

Hi Everyone!

The coming week is a major milestone for The Sims 2, and things have hotted up here in the Maxis office! The entire Sims 2 team is focused with a laser-like clarity on making sure that The Sims 2 demo that the public sees at next week's vast landscape of video gaming bliss, The Electronic Entertainment Expo, stands heads, shoulders, and plumb-bob's above the competition! Stay tuned for more information on interviews with yours truly on IGN, and a live interview with The Man Behind The Curtain, Will Wright, on Gamespot

But wait - there's more! You've been waiting for this one with baited breath for some time, and the day is almost here. That's right, the release of The Sims 2 Body Shop is well-nigh, and we couldn't be more thrilled to offer the public the opening salvo in our Sims 2 arsenal. With The Sims 2 Body Shop, you can build and customize Sims 'til your heart's content, with the comfort of knowing that your creations will soon be playable in The Sims 2.

Oh, and the customizability! Build the face and body of your dreams, with an incredible degree of control. Want a slightly longer nose? No problem! Firmer tummy? Piece of cake (without the calories)! What about day-glo lizard skin and a t-shirt emblazoned with your smilin' visage? That's right - all these things are possible with The Sims 2 Body Shop. We can't wait til you get your hands on it, and we sure hope you can't wait either!

So, like I said, next week is a big one for Maxis. We hope you enjoy it as much as we will.

Signing Off,

Lucy Bradshaw

The Very Tired Sims 2 Executive Producer

Hello Everybody:

They say sometimes the journey is its own reward, and if that's the case, then my predecessor, Luc Barthelet, got enough metaphorical rewards these past few years to last a lifetime (and let's face it, the games he's helped breathe life into have received enough *actual* awards to last a lifetime, too!). I've had the honor and good fortune to have worked with Luc through the launch of the SimCity 3000™ website, through the entire amazing roller-coaster ride of unbridled success that was The Sims™, and most recently, on the soon-to-be-unbridled-success that is The Sims™ 2. It was an incredible time for all involved, and I'd like to take this opportunity to wish him well in his new role of VP, Technology Fellow for EA, and to thank him for the years of hard work and dedication.

Now, to address all those naysayers out there who have ambivalent feelings about the addition of the letter "y" to the closing salutation of their Sims Community letter, let me say to you that you can rest assured that the flame of community passion and the dedication to create wonderful games and powerful sets of tools to support and add extensibility to them has been passed on to someone (me!) with the same fervent belief about what makes a product rise above the competition and achieve greatness. And fear not, die-hard Luc fans - he's just one floor up from the rest of Maxis, and is almost certain to put in a cameo appearance every now and then!

The other big news this week - the Llama has landed! We've settled into EA's Redwood Shores HQ and we've already begun pushing our secret agenda to make EA just a little more like Maxis. Decorations and artwork are popping up throughout our floor, and rhinos have been hung from the ceiling (not real rhinos, mind you) and we're quickly acquiring that lived-in look that only dozens of skilled workers working long, hard hours and not showering enough can bring. The interruption of our work on The Sims 2 proved to be no more than a blip of an annoyance, and we're now back to working full-time (and then some) on making The Sims 2 the incredible experience you all know it will be.

We'll have more information of the game in next week's email, but in the meantime, take a gander at the concept art of our posh new entry way that leads to our new digs:

Luc + y = Lucy

Lucy Bradshaw

Executive Producer, The Sims 2