What is Open For Business?
(Click images to enlarge)
For the third expansion to The Sims 2, which is due for release in the UK on 3rd March 2006, your sims can run their own business. The type of business they run will be entirely down to you, from bustling bakery stores to high end electronics shops selling the latest range in home help robots, or perhaps you prefer just a small going concern run from your sims' garage. Will your sims run a successful chain of restaurants or will they settle for a quiet toy store or flower shop. The layout and theme of the store will be entirely down to you and just about anything that can be picked up can be sold off for profit, if you want to of course.
As the boss it will be up to you to hire and manage your sim staff effectively, training them to your high (or low) standards and making sure they tend to your customers needs, or will you need to fire those slacker employees that are dragging down your profits. Watch them as you dress them in new outfits and store uniforms including Knights, Ninjas, Gorillas and others.
How you manage your store will be up to you. Will you cater for those occasional browsers or grab them as they are passing and give them the hard sell. Maybe you are interested in only offering the highest quality items, or if you prefer, churn out junk and turn a quick profit, no matter what the consequences. If you prefer you can just let one of your staff manage your business, if they have the skills of course.
New gameplay includes a 'talent' system that rewards your sims with either bronze, silver or gold expertise badges depending on their talent level and opening up new interactions and abilities. There will also be the new ranking system which is based around customer loyalty. Higher loyalty leads to higher ranking and the reward of business perks. Perks include cash bonuses, increased sales effectiveness and the ability to motivate your employees and other sims.
Open for Business will have over 125 new objects (as seems usual for a sims expansion) including a new toy work bench, a floral station, a robot station, a beauty salon chair and for those sims who have just bought out all your stock and are struggling with the stairs, they can take the new lift (elevator) back to the ground floor. This expansion will also see several build mode additions including new roofing options and awnings, and a new business neighbourhood called Bluewater Village.
For more in depth information about Open For Business, have a read through of:
Eurogamer's Preview (13th January 2006)
GameSpot's Preview (24th January 2006)
IGN's Preview (25th January 2006)
1UP's Preview (25th January 2006)
Also see:
T-Mail (9th December 2005)
H-Mail (18th January 2006)
GameSpy's SimPrentice (17th January 2006)
OFB Web Chat Transcript (19th January 200)
Open For Business Classifieds (19th January 2006)
Designer Walkthrough (3rd February 2006)
H-Mail #2 (6th February 2006)
and the latest
OFB Videos.