You will not get as much with a stuff pack than you would with an expansion pack. A stuff pack usually consists of new décor options and objects for your Sims to interact with….  An expansion pack will give you new décor options and objects for your Sims to interact with as well as completely new interactions and gameplay.

In fact, most Sim players already gave out a verdict with Sims 2: Stuff packs are a waste of money!  And considering that EA has given us a Sims 3 store, I can’t even begin to understand what is the point of coming out with a stuff pack when they could have sold all the items in the online store!

So why bother buying a stuff pack?  If you can’t afford it, then don’t bother.  Some of the free downloads that you will see around are build from objects in a stuff pack, so if you don’t have the original mesh you will not be able to download custom contents made from High-End Loft items.

With the gazillions of absolutely fantastic free downloads available on the Internet,  you are still a winner by not buying the High-End Loft Stuff pack (also called The Sims 3: Design and Hi-Tech Stuff by the way).  But if you are like me, a hardcore Sim player, then you just have to own it!

Though I also know a few people who will not -or will not let their children – download anything from the Internet and would rather physically buy games and add-ons…  So we have to cater for different people though I doubt Electronic Arts would have taken that point into account…

The only really good thing about this pack is that your Sims will an aquarium which can hold up to eight fishes of any type, replacing the single fish bowl.

Other features of the High-End Loft Stuff pack that sounds better than it actually is:

• Add a sleek, high-end, tech-inspired look to your Sims bedroom, living room, bathroom, office and den.
• Upgrade your Sims’ wardrobes with forward looking apparel, tailored suits and sophisticated outerwear.
• Transform your Sims’ homes into cutting edge spaces with contemporary inspired furnishings, eclectic art and modern designs.
• Give your Sims coveted electronics including high-tech, ultra-slim TVs, video game systems, stereos and more.
• As a special 10th Anniversary gift this pack includes three coveted items from The Sims and The Sims 2 games: The heart shaped vibrating bed, the electric guitar, and the aquarium.

Download High-End Loft Stuff pack on Direct2Drive!

If you don’t already know it, here’s what you get with this new expansion pack…

World Adventures Expansion Pack is the first expansion pack for the The Sims 3. Playable both on PCs and Macs, it focuses on a range of travel opportunities available to your sims, which allow for everything from pleasant family vacations, all the way to an adventure-filled, possibly even dangerous Indiana Jones like adventures. Along the way your sims can accumulate unique skills and abilities, learn about new cultures, enjoy a unique soundtrack of real songs recorded in Simlish and get $10 worth of free SimPoints for use at The Sims 3 Store.

Explore realistic environments set in France, Egypt and China. Enjoy Indiana Jones like adventure. Develop new skills and abilities. Meet and create unexpected new sims. Put your new abilities to use. Story and Gameplay Like every The Sims game, the story behind the World Adventures Expansion is whatever you want to make of it, but in this case within the realm of international travel. And why not, since what sim doesn’t need a vacation. Players choose from environments set Egypt, France or China, with the possibility of others via download. Similarly, gameplay follows the same well-worn path familiar to veteranThe Sims players, and easy to pick up for those coming to the franchise for the first time. Players create their sims as they like, customizing everything from physical characteristics, all the way down to personality traits, habits, etc. They can mix with other sims, build relationships, start families and even die. Because this expansion is based around travel, your sims can also discover rich, new cultures, develop brand-new skills and abilities and explore and adventure through realistic environments. New skills related to these destinations include photography, martial arts, and nectar making (a sim beverage) among others. As part of of the exotic locales available, sims can get adventurous and explore the caves and tombs of Egypt and China. Here they will put their new adventure related abilities to work as they participate in Indiana Jones like adventures full of excitement and even danger, including some not-so friendly mummies and the Grim Reaper. Unique Simlish Soundtrack Just as with travel, every sim has his/her particular musical tastes. With that in mind the World Adventures Expansion Pack features an all-star soundtrack of real songs, recorded by the original artists in the sims native tongue of Simlish. These tracks include: Audrye Sessions – “Turn Me Off” Broken Hearts Club – “Na NA NA” Esmee Denters – “Outta Here” Fefe Dobson – “I Want You” Friday Night Boys – “Can’t Take That Away” Nelly Furtado – “Manos al Aire” Stefanie Heinzmann – “No One (Can Ever Change My Mind)” Pixie Lott – “Mama Do” Madina Lake – “Lets Get Outta Here” Manchester Orchestra – “I’ve Got Friends” Matt and Kim- “Daylight” Katie Melua – “If the Lights Go Out” Metalkpretty – “Wake Up, Wake Up” Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head – “Me + Yr Daughter” Hot Chelle Rae – “Say” LeAnn Rimes – “You’ve Ruined Me” Cassie Steele – “Summer Nights” Evan Taubenfeld – “Pumpkin Pie” Young Punx – “Juice and Sim” Key Features Accept challenges, find treasures, discover what’s lurking in hidden caves and more. Explore famous landmarks in China, Egypt, and France. Learn new skills like photography and pursue new opportunities. Meet new Sims from exotic locations and share their cultures. Get $10 worth of free SimPoints for The Sims 3 Store. Enjoy a unique all-star soundtrack of songs, especially recorded in Simlish for the expansion.

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Press Release here.

As listed on the Sims 3 Official site:

“The Adventure is Near…

Take your Sims on the adventure of their lives with The Sims 3 World Adventures. Guide your Sims to acclaimed fortune—or potential doom. Take your Sims to exotic destinations to hunt for hidden treasures.  Uncover new skills, experience new personality traits and garner rewards, if your Sims succeed.  Explore ancient tombs in the pyramids of Egypt, master martial arts in the Far East, and discover rich culture and famous landmarks of France.  Adventure is on the horizon — what will your Sims discover?

FEATURES

• Accept challenges, find treasures, discover what’s lurking in hidden caves and more.
• Explore famous landmarks in China, Egypt, and France.
• Learn new skills like photography and pursue new opportunities.
• Meet new Sims from exotic locations and share their cultures.
• Customize your Sims homes with new styles & artifacts from their adventures.
• Get $10 worth of free SimPoints for The Sims 3 Store, and additional online features to be announced.”

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The Sims 3: World Adventures Q&A from IGN

Could not resist using my bonus point for pre-ordering the Sims 3 and go shopping on the Sims 3 Store.

As usual, the original objects are for most of them ugly and nothing matches!  And there is not much in clothes either. I cannot wait until all the custom content creators to work their magic and it is going to be great… especially the shoes that is going to be great.

The number of objects in the game has been greatly reduced compare to the Sims 2.  In a way it is a good thing as they were loads of useless stuff. And I know there is already a lot of talking about having to pay for downloads but I kinda like the idea of the store and being able to buy only what you need/like.  Paying can be an issue and hopefully there will be a way of earning points…  we might get reward points for pre-ordering expansion packs too…

At first I was going to get a whole set because you are apparently saving  and I really like the Bayside set.  but looking at it closely, I probably would not use half of the objects.  For instance the 2 bath have only a 5 & 6 points ratings.  The fridge and stove only have 6 points each. I always try to upgrade to the best appliances asap so that I don’t waste time on the boring stuff like sleeping and taking forever to wash or go to the toilets, I’d rather have my sims spend time on the fun stuff.  As for the Home Decor, that can wait too so don’t really want to waste my points on those.

I got only a few items but still ended up using half my points already

I also downloaded the Riverview town but even though it seems bigger than Sunset Valley and the layout is really nice, it does not have a beach so will keep my game in Sunset Valley for now.

The exchange page offers quite a few lots already and pre-made sims but for objects & clothing, they are recolors only for now. So will eagerly keep an eye for the new custom content creators for Sims 3…

Purchase a SimPoint Bundle now and receive your FREE EXCLUSIVE SET!

Start Shopping on The Sims 3 Store

Your Sims can roam throughout their neighborhood, visit neighbors’ homes, and explore the surroundings. They can stroll downtown to hang out with friends, meet someone new at the park, or run into colleagues on the street. If your Sims are in the right place at the right time, who knows what might happen?!

The new easy-to-use design tools in Sims 3 allow for unlimited customization to make truly individual Sims. Determine your Sims’ shape and size, from thin to full-figured to muscular—and everything in between! Choose your Sims’ facial features, their exact skin tone, hair eye shape and color and select their clothing and accessories.

With Sims 3, create realistic Sims with distinctive personalities. Select from dozens of personality traits and combine them in fun ways. The combination of traits you choose—brave, artistic, loner, perfectionist, klepto, romantic, clumsy, paranoid, and much, much more—help shape the behavior of your Sims and how they interact with other Sims. Your Sims can now rise above their basic set of every day needs. They are complex individuals with unique personalities.

Build your dream house or design the ultimate home in Sims 3. Customize everything from floors to flowers, shirts to sofas, wallpaper to window shades. It’s fun and easy to change colors and patterns giving you endless personalization options. Or you can populate your Sims’ neighborhood with pre-designed buildings and furnishings. Which of your Sims will live in high-end mansions, cool bachelor pads, ultimate dream homes or low-cost cottages?

The Sims 3 Key Features:

• New Seamless, Living Neighborhood: Explore the ever-changing neighborhood—and take your Sims to meet friends in the park, go on a date at the bistro, visit neighbors’ homes, converse with less-than-savory characters in the graveyard and more. Who knows what might happen? Admire the natural beauty of the beach, the mountains, and more.
• New Create a Sim Functionality: Create any Sim you can imagine with easy-to-use design tools that allow for unlimited customization of facial features, hair color, eye color, and more. Fine tune your Sims’ body shape from thin to curvy to muscular.
• New Personality Traits: Create over a million different personalities with traits such as evil, insane, kleptomaniac, romantic, and more. Influence the behaviors of your Sims with the traits you’ve chosen. Will you create a neurotic romantic with a heart of gold, or a geeky super-genius with an evil streak?
• 
  New Unlimited Customization: Everyone can customize everything—design and build your dream house and decorate it to fit your Sims’ personalities. Customize everything from floors to décor, shirts to sofas, wallpaper to window shades.
• New Gameplay That’s Rewarding and Quick: Face short and long-term challenges and reap the rewards. Your Sims can pursue random opportunities to get fast cash, get ahead, get even, and more. Choose whether, or not, to fulfill your Sims’ destinies by making their wishes come true. Will your Sims be thieves, rock stars, world leaders? The choice is yours.
• Get Connected and Share Your Creations with The Sims 3 Online Community: Get free bonus content—download Sims, outfits, furnishings, houses and more. Create and Share Sims, houses, movies and more with anyone. Join The Sims 3 community to share ideas with fans of The Sims from around the world.

Shop For The Sims 3

Create millions of unique Sims and control their lives. Customize their appearances and personalities. Build their homes – design everything from exquisitely furnished dream homes to quaint cottages. Then, send your Sims out to explore their ever-changing neighborhood and to meet other Sims in the town center.

With all-new quick challenges and rewarding game play, The Sims 3 gives you the freedom to choose whether (or not) to fulfill your Sims’ destinies and make their wishes come true.

The Sims 3 by Electronic Arts

Platform: Windows Vista / XP, Mac OS  |ESRB Rating: Teen | Category: Simulation, Social