The Sims 3 Seasons Expansion Pack Review and Game Guides
Weather Guide, Seasonal Info and New Features in the Seasons EP
Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter | Aliens |
The Sims 3 Seasons was a highly anticipated Expansion Pack, as Simmers have long been waiting to experience The Sims 3 in a more realistic world. Seasons has delivered with wonderful weather and seasonal effects that add depth and beauty to any town EA has created. This guide to Seasons will cover the new Weather system, the Seasons themselves, the new life state: Aliens and game features like the new Attraction system.
Controlling Weather and Sims 3's Seasons: Options and Cheats
The Sims 3 Seasons offers new weather settings in the game options menu. This lets you set what Seasons can come up, how long they are, and the weather that can appear during gameplay. EA has finally separated the options for game files, so you can have one town set up this way, and another differently so that you do not have to constantly tinker settings between your various save files. A great feature for people who share their game with another household member.
Seasons also comes with a new cheat. When using the testingcheatsenabled true cheat, you can shift-click the ground to get a new Seasons cheats menu. There, you can change the current Season, weather and set the temperature on the fly.
Weather in Seasons
Weather is dependent on the temperature, less so than the current Season, much as it is in the real world. It can snow in the Fall or Spring when temperatures drop, but is unlikely to snow in Summer when they're high. Simple.
You can check the weather on the computer, the new weather channel on TV, or simply read it in the daily newspaper. These forecasts are not 100% accurate, again like real life. The temperature can be off by as much as 5 degrees either higher or lower. Also, it must rain or snow for more than two hours on a day for it to appear in the forecast. Here's a rundown on the types of weather you can see in The Sims 3 Seasons:
Sunny Days
Of course, Sunny days are a part of Weather. We're all quite used to seeing The Sims 3 with normal Sunlight, but now we have additonal effects. Sims can now get a tan or sunburn from sitting out in the sun while wearing Swimwear. They can also get uncomfortably hot, to the point of bursting into flame and dying. Higher temperatures play a role in how fast they'll burn. If a Sim wants to go to the beach and not get burned, they can use the new Sun Parasol. This will keep their temperature down as well. The simplest way to beat the heat is to head indoors as all buildings are climate-controlled. To see more about heat, read the guide to Summer.
Rain
Rain gets Sims a soaked moodlet, at least those without an Umbrella. Umbrellas can be bought under Outdoor Activities in Buy Mode's Outdoors tab. Rain realistically puts out fires and is supposed to water plants in the garden but some players report problems with this. There is a 50% chance that a rainbow will appear after rainfall during the daytime.
Lightning
Lightning is caused by rain and appears at Moderate rainfalls. This level of rain will only cause distant lightning, which cannot strike lots in the game world. Heavy rain causes lightning that can strike lots and even Sims, possibly killing. Sims are only supposed to get struck by lightning if outside with an umbrella. Lightning strikes every 15-45 minutes. Lucky Sims are 75% less likely to be struck by lightning, while the Unlucky are 75% more likely to be struck. Thankfully, the Unlucky Sim's trait should kick in and spare them with the Reaper.
Snow
Snow accumulates over time and can allow activities like making Snow Angels and Snowball Fights. It's also a ripe time of year for Snowboarding and building Snowmen. The cold weather that brings snow can kill Sims who are exposed, so wear the new Outerwear clothing option when outdoors. Sims should automatically change. Sims get colder over time and will eventually get a Frostbite, then freeze solid. To learn more about battling cold weather, read the Winter guide.
Wind, Hail, and Fog
Wind can appear any time, and will activate certain objects like flags to blow. Hail can appear during storms but doesn't last long and doesn't damage your property. Fog effects can roll in and reduce visibility in the world.
Getting Sick and Allergies
The cold weather can cause Sims to get ill, which brings a negative moodlet and makes them contagious. Doing things like bobbing for apples and kissing can get another Sim sick. The negative moodlet there isn't too bad. Similarly, Sims can get allergies during Spring and other seasons when picking Wildflowers. An Allergy shot at the hospital will clear up the ailment and let your Sim carry on with their life.
Sims 3 Supernatural Cross-Feature: The Weather Stone
If you own both The Sims 3 Seasons and The Sims 3 Supernatural Expansion Pack, you can use a new feature called the Weather Stone. Fairies can use the Weather Stone to to bring a reviving rain that will water plants, fertilize them and take care of any weeding that needs to be done. Vampires can use it to conjuer an Eclipsing Fog that will guarantee they can drink from or turn Sims. Werewolves summon a Snow of collectibles that also helps them find more rare items. Use this then go hunting! Lastly, Witches can make a rain that makes the whole town go nuts and dance outside while in a great mood.
Season Information
Festivals and Festival Lots
Each Season in this Expansion has a Festival. EA also took the time to update all towns with the new Seasons content instead of offering a whole new town this time. That is an appreciable effort on their part, as it will save a lot of trips to Edit Town for Simmers. These festival lots all offer activities that earn tickets for participating, which can be exchanged for prizes at a concession stand. There is a gnome for each season that can be had for 500 tickets. Each Festival Lot also has a photo booth where Sims can make a Greeting Card by taking pictures together. During the end of each Season there is a holiday, which gives Sims a +10 mood boost all day as well as a free day from work or school. To learn more about the new festivals in The Sims 3 Seasons, as well as the activities of each, follow the links to the individual Season guides below.
Spring
Spring renews the trees, thaws frozen rivers and ponds allowing fishing to begin anew and brings Wildflowers into the world. These new collectibles can spawn any time the temperature is right, but they start here. The Spring Holiday is Love Day, and all festivities here resemble Valentine's Day, save the Egg Hunt. Sims are likely to get love letters and gifts at this time of year. New features include the kissing booth, love tester machine, horseshoes, Spring Dance King/Queen and the Rollerskating rink.
Summer
Summer cranks up the heat and features many sunny days, though heavy rain and hail are possible. This Season's holiday is Leisure Day. Sims will enjoy the new swimming options: ocean swimming, along with diving boards. The festival features a tanning booth, but as mentioned before Sims can get a tan from the sun. There's a hot dog eating contest stand which can earn tickets, and a skating rink just like Spring. Engage another Sim in a waterballoon fight to learn this new hidden skill, which also helps with snowball fights in Winter. Sims can also have Soccer shootouts which raise Athletic skill and can earn them big tickets for the Festival.
Fall
Leaves will fall off decidious trees in Fall and accumulate in the yard. There they can be raked, and Sims can play in leaf piles or even Woohoo in them. The Holiday here is Spooky Day, which is obviously like Halloween. Sims can trick-or-treat, and of course wear costumes and throw costume parties. At the festival, they can bob for apples, participate in a pie eating contest, or visit the haunted house for a scare and some Festival Prize Tickets.
Winter
Winter brings snow, sometimes heavy and several activities that take advantage of this. Lakes and rivers can freeze over, allowing Sims to ice skate, but no fish can be caught in those conditions. Snow angels can be made, a variety of Snowmen built and Sims can have snowball fights and improve a hidden skill. Winter is a time to give gifts, and this is helped with the new Gift Giving party. The winter Holiday is Snowflake Day and all Sims can enjoy the free day off. Kids may even have snow days. Feast Parties can be thrown to share a big meal and time with family and friends. There is no Christmas Tree but sometimes EA offers one free for download around the Holidays so keep an eye out!
Other New Expansion Pack Features
Aliens
Aliens are the new life state offered with The Sims 3 Seasons Expansion Pack. These otherworldly beings have several telepathic powers, being able to read Sims' traits and transmute items with their minds. Their energy motive is replaced with Brain Power, which can be replenished by meditating or eating Space Rocks. Aliens can abduct Sims and take them aboard their UFO, which can cause Male Sims to get pregnant with Alien Babies. Click the link to learn more about Aliens and getting them to visit your lot and abduct your Sims. You may even befriend these visitors and ask them to join your household - they bring along the cool car and are skilled in logic/handiness.
Seasons Romance: Online Dating, Love Letters and Attraction
Sims can find a date using the new Online Dating system, which lets Sims lie about themselves. Married Sims may even be spotted in online dating. You can make a profile with the computer and shop potential dates.
Seasons brings the Attraction system, which can make Sims randomly send letters, phone calls to say they're attracted, and provide Sims with gifts. Again, there is little regard to a Sim's relationship status and this may cause offerings your Sim doesn't want. On the bright side of romance, Sims can now slow dance, kiss under the mistletoe and woohoo in Winter's Igloo and Fall's Leaf Piles. To learn more about the Attraction system and the romantic holiday, Love Day, see Spring.
New Lifetime Rewards and Traits
Only two new traits are available here: loves the heat/cold, but there are eight new Lifetime Rewards in Seasons. These include a couple that improve Sims' performance at activities: Festival Frequenter raises ticket rewards at Festivals, Comeptitive Eater helps with pie/hot dog eating contests, and All-Weather Champion will make Sims better at water balloon/snowball fights, building snowmen and igloos, and be better at skating. There are immune to heat/cold that will protect a Sim from negative effects of extreme weather, one that prevents illness, and two which control the Weather.
The Sims 3 Seasons does not include any new careers safe a part-time job for Aliens, and no new Lifetime Wishes.
New Ways to Die
Sims can be struck by lightning, freeze to death, or spontaneously combust from the heat. Read the season guides for more detailed information.
Cooking
With all these seasonal treats, Cooking got the biggest new additons with a number of new recipes.
Hopefully this guide will help you decide whether The Sims 3 Seasons is right for you. Share your general tips on Seasons below:
Share Tips and FAQs (56)
Our Sims Forum is the place to go for faster answers to questions and discussions about the game. Use the form below to share your own experiences and provide helpful tips to other readers.
Thanks!
I love your site and find it super helpful, but I have one question. So I installed seasons on my computer and it didn't automatically update my town with a festival ground. And when I went to edit town there were a lot of festival grounds but none of them were like the one you described...no booths, skating, horseshoe game, etc. What should I do ?
And thanks Carl, this site has been invaluable to me and my daughters who are co-addicts of Sims3. We really appreciate the work you put in here. BUT boy I wish the captcha was a bit larger type. Hard for us old ladies to read. LOL
I only just got my sims base game recently and have 1 expansion pack (genrations). If I got seasons or any other expansion pack could I do say anything I could (lifetime wishes, ltrs, actions ect.) in the first expansion pack in the second expansion pack I get without using that disc? Thankyou of you reply I love your guide!
p.s. I have the version that you download to the computer instead of using discs.
Thanks!
Can alien sims die? Can I kill them like any other sim? I befriended one and moved him into my household but he's 117 sim days old but hasn't died?? My sim life is only 64 days. TIA!
And again, I love your guide; thanks so much for making it. And I can't wait to read your new guides for the upcoming Sims 4!
First off, I love this website! It's so helpful and without it I would be so lost in the world of Sims. I most recently got the sims 3 base and then also to expansion packs, Late Night, and Island Paradise and then a stuff pack, I can't remember the name. Anyway I LOVE my new expansion pack Island Paradise but I'm wondering if I got the Seasons expansion pack would it not be compatible with the Island expansion pack because of the cold of the seasons doesn't mix with the island summer thing. So basically I'm asking if all expansion packs are compatable or not. Thanks so much!
-Jjkkaa
I just wanted to tell you as a gamer who's been playing the Sims they first came out your guide is the best one out there, so organized and well explained and every tip you offer actually works which is a rarity these days, thanks for the effort and care you put into your Sims guides it really shows (and helps) I like it so much I have it bookmarked! keep up the good work!