Hi, I'm Kate, and this is my TS3 corner!

[Kate]

Aww thanks for you comments! I haven't played with a family who aren't the Warners for so long!

[Kate]

Kate's University Life Adventures!

I've been playing University life for a few hours now, and have been snapping a few pictures as I go along. Thought I'd share since some of you might be on the fence about this EP.

Initially I thought TS3 University was a lot shorter than TS2 University, but thinking about it I can't recall the length of the TS2 one. You get a week before your Sim has their "final exams" so I'm finding I'm trying to make my Sim cram in as much studying as he can, but at the cost of neglecting all the other aspects of Uni. This might change as my Sim progresses though. At the end of a term you get to go home, but you mustn't forget to enroll again for another term.

Without further ado, meet my lovely new Sim, Archie Benton. (He's a clone of Henry Warner with a few tweaks and a personality change, just so that you're all aware!)

Here he is, off for his first term at Sims University. I chose a Technology degree for him since his Lifetime Want is to reach the highest branch of the Military career.



I decide to put Archie in a dormitory - no rent, ideal for a legacy founder with hardly any simoleons! - and it's called Henry Hall Dorm. I thought this was quite apt, given the name and everything



The first thing he does? Shuns all of his roomies and heads to the computer to play some games. I think we've got a Nerd in the making!



He later gets a notification about a welcoming thing at the student union (I forget the proper name for it), so Archie gets on his bike and makes his way there. This gives him the opportunity to meet his professors, learn about Uni life, and to snag a few freebies!

As a Sim who loves the outdoors, thought I'd snap a picture of him enjoying his scenic bike ride.



Every Sim gets a few items in their inventory when they start at Uni. They relate to the course they are enrolled on and benefit their study progress in some way (except the backpack. That they just wear and look so cute!).

Archie gets a brain machine, proper name Cerebralizing Brain Enhancing Machine 1.0. When he uses this, his uni progress bar increases. Plus the facial expressions while a Sim uses this are amusing!

That's all I've got for now. Watch this space for more pictures!

[Kate]

Quite early here, but thought I'd post some more pictures before I go to work...sigh!

This classy dressed dude happens to be the University Mascot! I adore that llama costume, and check out that guy, strutting all over the shop.



One of the new additions to the object side of things is vending machines! Here you can see Archie getting his candy fix, hehe.



I think I mentioned yesterday that the whole mobile/cell phone thing got revamped? Well this is what the phone now looks like - a smart phone!

There is an option to check out the new social group feature brought in with University Life. It allows you to see your Sim's current progress in being a member of each group, and also gives you handy tips on how to increase your Sim's status.

Also I realise I have a rendering fail to the left of the phone...my new graphics card is very slow to render TS3, and I'm not sure why...!



A new interaction: the Heat of the Moment kiss!

Like the look of a particular Sim? Want to see whether the potential is there for a romance? Try the heat of the moment kiss and await the recipient's reaction!

(As you can probably gather from the bubble above Archie's head, it doesn't go so well for him...)



That's one angry girl!



For Archie's whole first term at University, it rains almost constantly. What a wet summer - didn't realise my game was British in terms of weather! He turns up soaking wet to a lot of his lectures, which doesn't exactly help his progress!

Here's a scenic view of the University campus in the rain (I would have liked it to be in the bright sunshine, sorry, hopefully I can snap another picture soon!).



It quickly rolls on to Thursday, Archie's last day for lectures before his final exams for that term.

His lecture for that day - since he's studying for a Technology degree - happens to be at the local Comic Book store! I like this new addition to the game since I am a book nerd and love any type of book.

The students spend their whole lecture whipping their brain machines out of their inventory and studying their brains in front of the store. All the Sims out the front are Archie's fellow classmates.



Archie is no different to his fellow students. Gotta love the horrified facial expression he's wearing!

Ok, that's it for today...need to get playing again, have run out of pictures!

[Deleted]

WOW. I got Uni Life but couldn't play because of a whole series of glitches. Just to warn you about a couple of them.
The microwave - not sure which dorm (better play safe and assume ALL microwaves) is glitched. My Sim put a meal in, and it got stuck. Sims (including mine) tried to get the meal out, but claimed they couldn't reach the microwave. So get your Sims to cook actual meals, rather than rely on the microwave.
I had the jump bug. Sims went into the shower and when they'd finished, they ended up standing inside the fireplace!!!!
My Class Schedules didn't show up. Not sure if that was a proper glitch, a mod (the KTStoreFix mod) that wasn't working or an oversight on my behalf.

But I sent another Sim to Uni and these glitches have gone .... so far. I'll try and post some pics, but in the meantime I'll enjoy yours instead :-D

[Kate]

I must be really lucky. I haven't noticed any glitches with Uni Life at all. The only glitch I have noticed - and this was prevalent before I got University Life - is one where Sims get stuck when they are about to do certain things (like hop in the shower, get into bed, etc.) and you've been using the fast/fastest speed.

Your glitches sound horrible, but I'm glad you're enjoying Archie's university experience! Here's another little update for you.

It gets to Thursday in my game and I am finally allowed to attend one of Archie's proper lectures. However since his energy bar is low, he spends his whole lecture asleep in the front row. Shameless!



After some pretty hard (he might have done terribly in one...) final exams Archie gets his results for that term!

If you want to judge by his facial expression, you can see that the news isn't that bad!



He gets a B! Which personally I think is pretty good going for our first ever term in University. It's quite hard to cater to all his needs while trying to maintain a healthy academic bar!



Bonus picture of Archie still on a high about his results.



Now that the term is over, Archie can relax and do what he wants. So he decides to talk to Leonard Shelly. It's a bit clear to see that he is a nod to Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory!



What do true nerds do? Enthuse about video games, that's what!



After a fabulous first term at university, Archie heads home to earn some more money to pay for his next few terms at university. I was so wrapped up in his academic progress that I didn't realise (until much later!) that he could earn money while on the university campus!