With the launch of The Sims 3 Diesel Stuff Pack comes another Game Update!  As with all updates, anyone who has The Sims 3 can benefit from the update – you don’t need to have the stuff pack!

Orange Fairy wings? Yes please.

When it came down to selecting which supernatural I wanted to work on, there really was no contest. As you all probably know, fairies are brand new to The Sims. I mean sure, werewolves and witches are definitely awesome, but being able to introduce fairies into the game opens a whole new world of opportunity. The chance to create something truly unique and fun for the players is what I was most excited about.

Right after you install The Sims 3 Supernatural, you jump in and Create A Sim to your liking. From here, you can select a fairy and begin customizing it by selecting your wing type and color. Want some pointy ears on your fairy along with a nice, golden skin tone? You can make that happen! Maybe you don’t want to start from scratch. Instead, maybe you want to use one of your favorite Sims that you’ve been playing for some time now. Don’t fret, we planned for that and implemented new ways that you can transform your Sim into a fairy through gameplay.

From the get-go, we knew fairies had to be mischievous. I mean, c’mon, it’s in their nature! We plotted and schemed on how to go about tricking Sims unbeknownst. Through legend, lore, and a bit of creativity from our design team, we found a great combination of distracting gestures combined with fairy magic and fairy traps to keep Sims on their toes. The outcome means that fairies have an entire repository of tricks and traps that they can go through. They must be careful though; some Sims may appear to be oblivious, but instead are privy to exactly what is going to happen. If this is the case, that fairy may just end up getting a taste of their own medicine. Some great examples of fairy tricks and traps are Skivvies, where a fairy can trick another Sim into changing into their own sleepwear, or Inner Beauty, where a fairy uses a little fairy dust to transform a Sim’s appearance and test their true character. Don’t worry though, the results aren’t permanent… that is, if your Sim proves that they have a kind heart.

After we took care of the whimsical, we wanted to move onto the beneficial. Think of a fairy godmother type of role that is able to make other Sims feel better or excel at certain things. For those of you that like to start new families, but don’t like to grind skills all day long, you will definitely want to add a fairy into the mix. Fairies are able to generate unique auras that will affect the fairy and surrounding Sims in different ways such as boosting their moods with the Aura of Soothing or increasing their musical skill gains with the Aura of Creativity. With their auras on, you’ll quickly realize that these aren’t the little sprites you heard stories about when you were younger, they are better!

With tricks, traps and auras aside, fairies still have a plethora of unique ways to interact with Sims and the world around them. For example, a fairy can Playfully Pester another Sim or Play Tag with a werewolf they’ve befriended. We also created several new objects including a Fairy House where fairies can go to satisfy some of their more everyday needs. If your fairy needs to relax or just cut loose, you can always throw a Fairy House Party inside with some of your friends.

The more fairies harness their Powers of the Fae, the more they increase which in turn enhances their current abilities while also unlocking new ones. For example, have you ever been fixing something and dropped a key component into a super tight space that you just can’t seem to reach? You find yourself wishing, “If only my hand or arm were a little bit smaller, I could reach it!” Well wish no more, because as you level up, you’ll be able to unlock Fairy Repairs which allow you to shrink down and repair broken objects. Plant some fairy traps, play some fairy tricks, help out some nearby Sims with a fairy aura, and get rewarded with some cool new interactions? I’ll take it!

Although fairies increase in their power, it is not limitless and does come with a cost. Fairies have a magic meter that they must maintain in order to continuously use their abilities. Once depleted, it doesn’t stay gone forever. Their power will slowly regenerate over time or they can instantly replenish their magic through the use of an alchemy elixir. Fairies can also regenerate their power at a faster rate by transforming into their true form and performing many of their unique interactions.

Now that you have gotten the scoop on fairies, let’s go to the other side of the spectrum to talk about our fun loving, plant hating, life-challenged friends – the zombies!

Zombies – What are they, why are they here, and why do they want my Cerebrum?

As many know, zombies have a constant craving for brains. I hear in some places it’s a delicacy, but as far as zombies are concerned, it’s the only thing on the menu. They also seem to have an undying fondness for shredding plants down to their very last fiber. I think this goes hand in hand with their enmity towards the living. They might appear to be a bit rigid, but have no fear; in most cases the rigor mortis is only temporary. At times, zombies have even been found to ignore their rigidity altogether and break into a full out sprint. It should also be noted that there have been sightings of zombies congregating in large groups and acting a fool as if it were 1982 all over again. Although they may not appear to be the most sociable at first glance, they can still perform most day to day tasks and hardly let their decay slow them down in their afterlife.

Zombies can come about in many different ways. If you happen to be an aspiring alchemist, you can concoct a special brew to either transform yourself or a different Sim into one of these members of the undead. Perhaps you are a wily witch and would rather utilize your superior spell casting to summon one of these ghastly ghouls. You need only find a tombstone or an urn to perform a high level spell and BEHOLD… a mutated malevolent menace will emerge on your manor. Last but not least, the third way to encounter a zombie is patience. When the moon is full in the night’s sky, you may want to batten down the hatches and fortify your gardens. Zombies are quite fond of the basking in the moonlight and have been found to crawl up from the earth in an attempt to tan their pale, undead flesh.

There are several ways you can ditch these dreadful drudges. The first, and probably the most amazing way, is to defend your home with the Plants vs. Zombies’ Peashooter. Put a couple of these guys up and you won’t have to worry about your home or your garden. They prove as a great first line of defense! The Plants vs. Zombies Peashooter comes only in the Limited Edition version of the game, which is available through pre-order only. However, the second way is to save them from their curse is by using a Cure or Potent Cure Elixir. This will effectively cure them of their craving so they can be satiated by a more acceptable means. The third way is by using just a dash of Fairy Dust; it’s really potent stuff and should be used sparingly. If too much is used, who knows what the effects might be!?  As you can see, there are many ways to banish these unwanted zombies in one way, shape, or form, but there are even a few more “extreme measures” that can be taken as well. We’ll let you use your imagination on those though.

As you can see, there is much to do when dealing with fairies and zombies alike. It was a blast working on fairies and I hope you enjoy all of the new supernaturals that we are offering in this upcoming expansion pack. Stay tuned for more info on The Sims 3 Supernatural that will be coming down the pipe in the near future and be sure to tune in for our second Live Broadcast in early August Date will be announced soon!

Some may call this town sleepy and slightly off the map, and tourists may pass through quickly due to the ‘odd’ Sims who call the town home. However, for the residents of Moonlight Falls, their town is unlike any other with its towering falls, foggy hills, and mysteries that lurk around every corner.

Moonlight Falls is a scenic escape filled with great places for exploring and hunting. While the natural surroundings of this town are quite beautiful, those seeking a lively setting will find a number of new venues to venture into to meet the locals and research some of the town’s eerie past. Let’s take a quick tour to see what venues await in Moonlight Falls!

The warm homey atmosphere of The Toadstool makes it a great place to unwind. Grab a rocking chair by the fire or take a seat on the upstairs balcony for a perfect people watching location.

For a howling good time, give Varg’s Tavern a try. This old converted warehouse is now deemed the local ‘supernatural hangout’ and a great place to grab a juice or pick a fight.

While the Red Velvet Lounge might not look like much on the outside, this vampire lounge sits on prime real estate near the river, and is known as one of the more posh locales to enjoy some plasma or get down on the dance floor.

Want to practice a little alchemy, pick up a new elixir recipe or buy that rare ingredient? Aleister’s Elixirs and Sundries, named after the historical Alchemist Aleister Krummly, is the one stop shop for all your elixir needs! This is also the place to put your elixirs up for sale if you want to make some cash with your alchemy skill.

Fae Ray Arboretum is a nature-lover’s paradise. Explore the grounds, read a book in the shade of your favorite tree or listen to the calming sounds of the fountains in this beautiful park. Inside the actual Arboretum you can search for fairies, take a tour or even play fairy games. For the competitive gardener, the Arboretum hosts frequent gardening competitions – enter your best produce and possibly win a prize!

For Sims with more intellectual interests, a visit to the Library of Lore & Vault of Antiquity is sure to satisfy even the greatest thirst for knowledge. Sims looking for ‘unique’ information can bypass the library building and head straight to the Vault of Antiquity. Trivia competitions and alchemy classes are just a few of the things to do in this historical location.

Watch the sun set from Moonlight Point or take a walk along La Shove Beach with your werewolf pals to truly appreciate the beauty nature has to offer.

Now that you’ve seen a few of the fun places to visit, let’s meet a couple of the new neighbors! The families in Moonlight Falls are a colorful cast of characters with rich histories and quirky traits.

Two cornerstone families in Moonlight Falls are the Van Goulds and Wolffs. Due to an unclear point in history, both Ayden Van Gould and Pappy Wolff have been attributed to being the Moonlight Falls’ town founder. This has caused an unfortunate feud between the two families, a feud that the younger generations seem determined to overcome.

The three Crumplebottom sisters are very different in both appearance and attitude. Beatrice is the oldest and very set in her grumpy ways. Belinda is as good natured a person as you could ever meet and often fills the role of family peacekeeper. Meanwhile Bianca is a bit of a spitfire and all about flirting her way through life. These witchy siblings can cast some serious magical mojo; that is when they aren’t squabbling over whose turn it is to wash the dishes!

The Goodfellow family is known as the town pranksters. Flora, Pip and Dahlia just love humans (and pulling some major jokes on their unsuspecting neighbors)! The newest addition to the Goodfellow family, little Fawn, may not have her own wings, but her parents think she’s something super special.

Who is this mysterious trio of ghosts and their human roommate? Could they have ties to any historical Sims families?

Thanks for taking a little tour of Moonlight Falls with me. We’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg today as there is tons more to see and discover in The Sims 3 Supernatural. We’re excited for you to see it all so check back soon for more details to be shared about the game!

-Brittany Henry, Associate Producer, The Sims 3 Supernatural