Editing The Sims 2: Apartment Life

{{GameInfobox
| type      = Expansion
| developer = Electronic Arts
| publisher = Electronic Arts
| designer  = Lakshmi Jayapalan
| series    = The Sims
| game      = The Sims 2
| na_rel    = {{Release|2008|August|25|NA|Microsoft Windows}}
| au_rel    = {{Release|2008|August|28|AU|Microsoft Windows}}
| eu_rel    = {{Release|2008|August|29|EU|Microsoft Windows}}
| ratings   = ESRB-T, PEGI-12+
| genre     = Social simulation
| features  = Single-player
| platforms = Microsoft Windows, EA Mobile
| input     = Keyboard, Mouse
}}
'''''The Sims 2: Apartment Life''''' is the eighth and final<ref>http://www.destructoid.com/ea-showcase-08-the-sims-2-apartment-life-99785.phtml</ref> [[expansion pack]] in the ''[[The Sims 2]]'' [[video game]] series.

A [[Flyer (pamphlet)|flyer]] included in later copies of ''[[The Sims 2: FreeTime]]'' expansion pack and ''[[The Sims 2 Stuff packs#Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff|The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff Pack]]'' announced Apartment Life, which brings magic back to the franchise and new features like Sims' relationships with neighbors inhabiting the same apartment building, interacting with an NPC landlord, a new reputation system, and new activities for publicly accessible lots.<ref name="Sims2Site AboutExpansionPage">{{cite web | url = http://thesims2.ea.com/about/ep8_index.php | title = TheSims2.com About Apartment Life page | publisher = [[EA Games]] | accessdate = June 22, 2008}}</ref>

Pre-release began on August 27, 2008, via the EA store.<ref name="EA Store">{{cite web | url = http://eastore.ea.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayProductDetailsPage&SiteID=ea&Locale=en_US&Env=BASE&productID=104315900&sourceid=SMEP08 | title= EA Store page for Apartment Life| publisher = [[EA Games]] | accessdate= June 22, 2008}}</ref>

==Gameplay ==
=== Neighborhood ===
This expansion adds a new pre-made neighborhood, Belladonna Cove. It features many apartments, and [[San Francisco]]'s [[Painted Ladies]] townhouses. Other buildings in this neighborhood include a [[trailer park]], [[libraries]], [[café|coffee shops]] and [[grocery stores]] in addition to several parks.<ref name="TSRPreview">{{cite web | url = http://www.thesimsresource.com/article/apartmentlife1 | title = Apartment Life Preview | publisher = The Sims Resource Website | pages = 1–3 | accessdate = June 22, 2008}}</ref> Several of these lots showcase major gameplay elements not available in previous expansions or the core game. There is also a new icon, when there is a family living in an apartment building, there will be a green apartment icon over the house.

=== New interactions ===
This expansion adds multiple social interactions, including "[[High five|High Five]]", "Earthy Hug", "Fake Out", "Kiss Kiss Darling", and "Tough Handshake". Children have new special interactions to use with their peers, as do toddlers.  Parents and teenagers can now also play "[[Peek a Boo]]" with toddlers.  Sims of all ages (except toddlers) can participate in the "Classic Dance" or "Jump Rope".

=== Witches and Warlocks===
This expansion gives Sims the opportunity to become Witches (female) or Warlocks (male), similar to [[The Sims: Makin' Magic|''The Sims: Makin Magic'']]. While playing as a magical being, Sims may choose to be Infallibly Good, Good, Nice, Neutral, Mean, Evil or Atrociously Evil, each of which has a unique costume. A sim may become a witch or warlock by building a strong relationship with an [[Non-player character|NPC]] magic user until the option to request the transformation becomes available.

Witches/Warlocks may use various magical objects, including [[broom]]s and [[cauldron]]s. Spells may be cast by using specific ingredients (i.e. Mystic Dust, Dragon Scales, Eye of Newt, Vipers Essence, Crystallized Moonbeams and the Essence of Light). These ingredients may be obtained in any of three ways: produced in a cauldron, purchased from a Witch/Warlock NPC, or purchased at the secret Witch/Warlock lots.<ref name="TSRPreview" />

A character's alignment depends entirely on the alignment of the spells that they cast. A good spell will move the witch or warlock towards the "Infallibly Good" end while an evil spell will push the caster towards the "Atrociously Evil" side. Spell availability is determined by the caster's magic skill level and alignment. Even the most skilled Infallibly Good Witch will be unable to cast any but the single simplest Evil spell. The most potent powers of good and evil (such as Throne creation, zombification and revivification) are reserved exclusively for witches and warlocks on the extreme ends of the good or evil alignments. A sim's initial alignment depends on the alignment of the witch or warlock who initiated them into the magical mysteries.

Witches/Warlocks can use certain spells and magic according to what order of magic they use. Evil magic users can light fires, cause sickness, and even bring zombies to life. Good magic users are able to create happiness, put out fires, and bring the dead back to life. Good and Evil magic users can each build a "Throne of Light" and "Throne of Darkness" respectively.

All Witches/Warlocks can create potions and cast "neutral" spells that allow them to teleport, freeze time, and use a spell or potion that turns them back into humans. If the [[The Sims 2: Pets|"Pets"]] expansion is also installed, Witches and Warlocks can summon spectral cat familiars.

=== New objects and tools ===

''Apartment Life'' adds a number of playground objects, including a [[jungle gym]], [[playground slide]], [[Carousel|merry-go-round]], and [[monkey bars]].  New furniture items include a [[Murphy bed]], [[open mic]] stand, [[break dancing]] mat, trash chute, apartment mailboxes, vibrating bed, vending machines, witch-themed furnishings, in addition to new TV sets and a large fish tank.

Build mode adds new types of objects and tools, such as spiral stairs, a new elevator (this expansion pack also includes all of the elevators from [[Open for Business]] if it is not installed), built-in [[wardrobe]]s, visible ceilings, [[duct]]s, vents, and heating and cooling windows as well as the usual assortment of new wall, floor, garage door, and door styles.<ref name="TSRPreview" /> New modes of transport available are [[helicopter]]s for purchase and [[Witch]] [[brooms]].

While the Sims are living in an apartment, they will only be able to change the floors and wallpaper within the apartment, as well as place miscellaneous Build Mode objects like marble columns. Also new with Apartment Life is the ceiling. A new 45 degree angle view in build mode will make it possible to view the Sims' ceiling which can be covered in the floor tile of the player's choice.

===New NPCs===
New [[non-playable character|NPCs]] include [[butler]]s, [[landlord]]s, [[roommate]]s and NPC neighbors. When players move playable Sims into an apartment, NPC characters will move into the other apartments if the player doesn't move other Sims into them.

=== Reputation meter ===

There is now a new meter called the reputation meter, which shows how high the reputation of a Sim is, the more friendly the Sim is with others, the higher it goes. As the meter increases, the player gains rewards which help him with his occupation, aspiration, and living.

=== Life skills ===

Sims can learn new life skills, they include Fire Prevention which makes them calmer in a fire, Anger Management which means they won't stay angry at another sim for very long, Lifelong Happiness, [[Physiology]] which means body skills increase faster (due to a bug in the game all skills increase faster), and Couple Counseling which means if a friend's relationship is on the rocks the interaction 'counsel' will be available and your sim can repair the relationships.<ref name="EdenstylePreview">{{cite web | url =  http://www.edenstyle.it/TS2_ExpansionPacks_Apartment_ENGL.htm | title = Apartment Life | publisher = Edenstyle Website | accessdate = June 22, 2008}}</ref>

=== Cross expansions ===

Players with both ''[[The Sims 2: Pets]]'' expansion pack and ''Apartment Life'' will be able to have witch's spectral cats, and with the ''Pets'' expansion pack, the player can have pets in the apartment. If the player doesn't have ''Pets'', 'Lap dogs' will be available for purchase in buy mode without the ''Pets'' expansion pack.

Heating and cooling will actually make a difference to a Sim's temperature gauge if ''Apartment Life'' is played with the ''[[The Sims 2: Seasons]]'' expansion pack installed.<ref name="TSRPreview" />

=== Roommates ===

This expansion pack offers Sims the chance to live in apartments in low or high rent districts, and allows for four user controlled families to be within an apartment building. The player also has the option to look for roommates whom he can choose, but not control. When he reviews potential roommates he is given a basic personality to help him decide which roommate would best suit. Though roommates can't be controlled, the player can view a scale that tells him how satisfied they are.

===New music===
The following songs have been converted into Simlish (Sim speak) for the Apartment Life soundtrack.<ref>[http://compsimgames.about.com/od/thesims2apartmentlife/a/apartment_music.htm "The Sims 2 Apartment Life" Soundtrack] from [[About.com]]</ref>

*“Everything” - Performed by [[A Cursive Memory]]
*“This Is a Test” - Performed by Shock of Pleasure
*“Brainless” - Performed by Sunny Day Sets Fire
*“Good Day” - Performed by [[Tally Hall (band)|Tally Hall]]
*“Come My Sunshine” - Performed by [[The Comas]]
*“Divebomb” - Performed by [[The Whip (band)|The Whip]]
*“[[Not A Love Song]]” - Performed by [[Uh Huh Her (band)|Uh Huh Her]]
*“On & On” - Performed by [[Vanilla Sky (band)|Vanilla Sky]]
*“Can't Believe My Eyes” - Performed by [[Wainwright (musician)|Wainwright]]
*“[[Hot n Cold]]” - Performed by [[Katy Perry]]
*“[[Sweet About Me]]” - Performed by [[Gabriella Cilmi]]
*“[[Mozdulj Már (Mondulo Mar)]]” - Performed by Lola
*“[[All Around Me]]“ - Performed by Flyleaf (Downloadable Only)
*“Battle Royale“ - Performed by [[Does it Offend You, Yeah?]]

==Marketing==
{{Expandsection|date=February 2009}}
The game was first announced in flyers inside ''[[The Sims 2: FreeTime]]'' and ''[[The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff]]''.

==Reception==
The game generally received positive reviews. It achieved a 75% average at [[Metacritic]], and an 81% average at [[GameRankings]].

{{VG Reviews
|GameZone=7.2/10<ref>http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r35588.htm</ref>
|IGN=7.7/10<ref>http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/908/908716p1.html</ref>
|1UP=B+<ref>http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3169660&p=1</ref>
|rev1=Game Chronicles
|rev1score=7.9<ref>http://www.gamechronicles.com/reviews/pc/sims2apt/life.htm</ref>
|MC=75%<ref>http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/sims2apartmentlife?q=The%20Sims%202:%20Apartment%20Life</ref>
|GR=81%<ref>http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/946800.asp</ref>
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://thesims2.ea.com/about/ep8_index.php ''The Sims 2: Apartment Life'' official site]


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