The Sims 3: Showtime - PC/Mac Reviews

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I have to say, I was really excited for this expansion pack (regardless of some of the lackluster packs we've been getting lately). It brought me back to the original Sims: Superstar, one of my favorite original packs. And the Sims 3 has had some good packs out so far (Pets, Ambitions, World Adventures) in my opinion! But Showtime doesn't really cut it.

The new town is nice. I like it. The new premade houses are nice and actually kind of spacious instead of being awkwardly shaped or sized. Some of the job locations are now melded into one big building for instance, say, science and medicine in the same building, not a separate hospital and science institute (that's just an out-of-nowhere example, not factual from the game). It's a little different, but still okay. One thing this town is surely NOT lacking is entertainment venues. Which is, you know, the whole point. I'd give the new town 4/5 stars.

There are some okay new hairstyles and clothing options too. Not the best, but by far not some of the worst I've seen. As far as new traits go, I've only seen three: diva, born performer, and social butterfly. I immediately tried out the diva and social butterfly traits and boy, is social butterfly annoying! If they aren't constantly talking to people, they get a negative moodlet. My sim will wake up and have an automatic negative moodlet just from not talking to people in her sleep. That's a little ridiculous. Diva, I'm enjoying a little more, mainly because of other sims' reactions to my sim's divalicious interactions, haha. Altogether, the new create-a-sim stuff, I'd give 3/5 stars.

The new careers seem interesting, and I was excited to try them out. My only problem is that they're professions not careers. You get a weekly stipend and go out and perform randomly when you get the opportunity. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and for those jobs, I understand it's probably more realistic, but I prefer the jobs to professions. I'd give the new jobs 4/5 stars.

So why did I give the game 3 stars and not 4? Well, it's simple had Late Night and Showtime been combined, I think they would've made a killer expansion pack. As it is, there simply aren't enough new features in Showtime. Some of the items you get in Showtime, I think you should've gotten in Late Night. Had they put the Showtime stuff in with Late Night, everything would've fit perfectly. There's just not enough here to constitute a new expansion pack, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong the stuff is cool, and if you're a true fan, like me, you'll buy the game anyways. But be warned it's probably going to be less new stuff and things to explore than you're used to.

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I was so excited to recieve this game, like I always am for every Sims game. I waited for it load and to download the extra venue. After playing the game for about 30 minutes, I realized this game is just a small add off of the hobbies concept. Three new jobs and that's it? I can be part of a band and save $39.99 if I would have skipped this expansion pack and just kept my old ones. I wish EA would come out with a really awesome expansion pack that you can't really live without. I remember how awesome each of the expansion packs for sims 1 were, I even liked the sims 2 expansion packs, but this one was a huge disappointment. After you complete the three jobs, that's it you're done and there's nothing else added, where is the months of fun in that until the next lack-luster expansion pack comes out. I have to say I would love to see an expansion pack like Makin' Magic from Sims 1. I don't care how old that game is, it was the best expansion pack.

Please do better next time EA.

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Let me just start by saying it's ridiculous how expensive these expansion packs are, and the lack of content you are getting with them. I've been playing The Sims since the very original. The Sims 1 was so much fun, The Sims 2 was great, and now here we have the Sims 3. They are honestly going downhill with each expansion pack. We expect NEW CONTENT with expansion packs, not useless social features. Everyone is wondering "Hmm, why wasn't this stuff included with "Late Night?" Well, allow me to enlighten you. MONEY! Money, money, money. EA is so money hungry that they have to cheap out on these expansion packs, cut content, and then try to sell it back to us. Honestly, it makes me sad. I used to LOVE The Sims, and now I can barely play for more than a half hour without getting bored. These new expansion packs just don't have the same feel as they did with TS2 or even TS1.

To wrap this up, this expansion pack was disappointing. There are tons of things I would love to sit here and complain about, but I won't. All you're really getting is 3 new careers, some unattractive hairs and clothes, and some objects. I really think EA needs to go back to their roots and make Sims expansions that are actually fun and worth the money. (Or better yet, bring Maxis back!) If not, they will be losing a lot of customers, including me!

Honest reviews on The Sims 3: Showtime - PC/Mac

I hate to say it but I own all of the Sims 3 Expansion packs. Some of them have been amazing (World Adventues), some good (Ambitions), and then there is Showtime.

Compared to other expansion packs Showtime provides the least amount of bang for your dollar. You get a new town which isn't too shabby. You get a few new jobs which are decent. You also get some cool new things to buy in the game like the pool table and skee ball machine. Sadly though there just isn't anything that stands out when it comes to this expansion pack. The social features are ok but a number of them came with the latest patch anyways. When it comes to clothes and hair there is a mix of junk. Most of them are ugly and you get find much better items online for free. There are also some cool new lifetime rewards but sadly there is only one new character trait.

Overall if you are a hardcore sims fan you'll enjoy this pack. When you consider that EA charges $20 for a new town, upwards of $10 for a single item with new functionality and at least $1 per peice of clothing through their store this pack could be viewed as a value.

Pros: New jobs, some neat social features, decent new items

Cons: Seems like a rehash of Nightlife at times, nothing really sets it apart from other expansions

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Honestly, once your Sim decides to become one of the 3 professions (acrobat,singer,magician)....all you do with them is have them try out for gigs, perform for tips & then perform at the gigs they booked.

Watching them do the tricks or juggling is fun...a couple times....but when that's all they do....it's a bore. In the normal Sims game, your Sims can form a band. You'd think the new singer career would fit right in, right? Wrong. A singer is an all alone profession. No duets (unless you get another Sim to sing karaoke with you)...no back up singers, no bands. Just your singer....out there on the stage.

If you singer Sim decides to switch careers to something else...then their singing days are over. Can't sing on any stage or even to their own kids. Other than the also boring karaoke...if you want them to sing....even as a hobby....you have to switch them back to that profession.

Expansion after expansion only adds a few new things to do...that are only fun for a short time. Your Sims basically have nothing else to do during their Sim day. The previous game of Sims 2 seemed to have much more creative people involved with it....this one tends to have people who do 'just enough' and no more. This expansion could have been much better...but they stopped short of producing a great game & instead...settled for just OK.

Disappointing and not worth the $40 price tag. If you can wait....try to hang in there till you can receive a price drop. I purchased my copy at Target because they offered a $10 gift card.