The Last True Sims 2 Expansion is out: Bon Voyage
By Shawn on Thursday, September 13th, 2007 at 1:33 PM PST In Computer, Electronic Arts, Games
EA Games has released what everyone assumed “hoped” would be the last true expansion pack for the Sims 2 series before Sims 3, Bon Voyage. Sure, there will be more Stuff Packs but this is the last time gameplay will be effected. This new expansion introduces vacations into the game, similar to the original Sims series Vacation expansion.
Whisk your Sims away from their everyday routines and take them on exciting trips to three exotic locations! Whether relaxing on a lush tropical island in a luxury suite, camping with the family on a pristine mountaintop, or exploring the culture of the Far East, your Sims will enjoy new activities to relax and rejuvenate them. Send your Sims packing for the trip of a lifetime!
The Sims 2 series has paralleled every Sims expansion pack put out accept for Making Magic. EA claims this will be the last true expansion pack, but will they actually skip the chance to bring Magic to the Sims 2? There are tons of magic and supernatural oriented game mods and skins out on the internet. It would surprise me if EA fails to cash in on this trend, especially with the popularity of magic in movies and literature.
UPDATE: Apparently EA has seen the potential to make more money off the Sims 2 series before they release the next generation of The Sims games. Bon Voyage came out with a notice of another expansion pack for Sims 2; Hobbies. There may be hope for a magical expansion pack after all, if magic isn’t including with Hobbies.
The Sims 2: Bon Voyage details are listed after the break.
The Sims 2 Bon Voyage Features:
- Travel to Three Dream Destinations-Each location offers unique landscapes and local residents, such as the Fire Dancer and Ninja, for your Sims to meet and learn from. Try local cuisine and admire cultural landmarks as your Sims explore these new locales.
- Send Your Sims on Tours-Glass bottom boat rides, adventurous van tours, and other excursions are fun new activities for your Sims, but there may be some surprises in store!
- Buy or Find Unique Items-Shop for unique objects found only on your Sims’ travels, including rare jewelry they can wear or take home as gifts. Stumble upon hidden locations, collect shells on the beach, or dig up treasure.
- Stay at New Travel Accommodations-Splurge on the luxury suite for your Sims or save Simoleons and choose a more cozy lodging. Your Sims will enjoy the comfort of room service, get pampered at the spa, and more.
via Press Release
There’s a few errors in this article….
First of all there was a leaflet in Bon Voyage stating the next Expansion Pack (EP) will be Hobbies. Therefore, Bon Voyage is NOT the last one.
Second, there actually was another EP from the Sims 1 that didn’t make it in besides Magic, which is Superstar.
@Chrisy
I’m pleasantly surprised to find out I’m in error. Although The Sims 2 is not really my game, my wife and kids love it. I haven’t picked up Bon Voyage yet and all the press I’d read indicated it would be the last.
As for Superstar, some aspects of that expansion were supposedly worked into the H&M Fashion Stuff although it was a very disappointing release in my household. Thanks for the heads up.
Well H&M wasn’t an expansion pack, it just a stuff pack. Basically it just added a clothes and some objects, not real gameplay except the catwalk which was the ONLY aspect from superstar that was worked into H&M , even then it’s not really the same. (I’ve been playing sims since the original Sims came out)
There was much much more gameplay involved with Superstar. Fame, stalkers, being a model, recording artist or actress/actor (and actually having to to said tasks well in order to get to the next level of fame). All that being said, I didn’t like Superstar and am glad Maxis/EA skipped it.
None of the press I’ve seen even before Bon Voyage came out that it would be the last EP, in fact most I’ve read indicates that there were to be 7 EPs,
Bon Voyage is #6.
Michelle: I guess with all the Stuff packs, expansions and everything I miscounted or assumed(maybe even hoped secretly) Bon Voyage was 7. However I know we have the Teen Stuff pack coming up with all the high school stereotypes in it..
sorry 4 da people that can’t count but Bon voyage is the 5th ep so there are more eps coming out
um…rezzy?
and everyone, i guess:
Bon Voyage was the 6th, 7 ep’s are being released not including Stuff packs
The order was:
1. University
2. Nightlife
3. Open for Buisness
4. Pets
5. Seasons
6. Bon Voyage
7. *Hobbies* (unsure of the proper name as of yet)
and i’m pretty sure that these will be all the Sims 2 expansion packs, there is however going to be a Sims 3 some time in the future
So Rezzy was partly right, there is another major ep coming out
Hey you know what would be great? If EA would just incorperate all of of the major gameplay aspects of the eps (i.e. things like having pets, a downtown, weather, college, ect.)into Sims 3. I mean don’t get me wrong, I am a die hard Sims fan, but paying for almost the same eps 3 times for the different gens of the game is a little ridiculous. Alhtough I have to admit the people at EA are freaking geniuses, because I may not like it, but I’ll probably end up buying the Sims 3 expansions anyway.
What if they are leaving Making Magic for the sims 3? I mean, why not? Computer game play and graphics have improved over the last few years since the start of sims 2; and the way that sims 2 is done, it kinda seems like Magic would be an awkward fit in.
Just a thought n_n
Id love it if they brought out The Sims 2 Superstar or Makin Magic but even if they dont it will give you a reason to play sims 1 again.
That way both the series are unique!!
If there IS gonna be a sims 3, how will it be any different from the sims 2? the sims 2 is pretty great as it is, with awesome graphics and stuff. someone tell me- wut will be new? i mean, graphics? i doubt they will pull it off.
I agree with JJ. Things like Weather, Pets, College, and the entire Nightlife expansion ought to come with the core Sims 3. Some of the things I’ve been hoping they would change are: Ability to put things on/against angled walls, raising children could be slightly different, more careers, fix the thing where you need a ton of friends and then all you do is get 9000 phone calls, different body types/degrees of fatness, different voices, more clothes (the new expansions have done a pretty good job with that). Most of the things that I have thought of have to do with build mode and create-a-sim, so you can try to make houses/people true to life. Any other Ideas?
i was just snooping around looking for info on the future sims 2 expansion. Wal-Mart already has it for sale on Pre-Order. Its called “sims 2: Hobbies” and it says “should ship on 2/12/08″
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7789029
check it out
I agree with many of the people above who say they should just put all the stuff from the Sims 2 EP’s into the one Sims 3 game but i dont think that will happen. Remember EA/Maxis is a bussiness and i know they make these for peoples enjoyment but they also are doing this to make money. Just think of how much money they are making off Sims2 right now. I know that myself and all my friends play the Sims 2, multiply that by like more then a million people and just imagine how much money they get!
I think they will do the same as the last sims programs and have EP’s bit of a bummer for people like us but if your a dedicated fan i know you will find the money for it.
I just read what blake said sbout how they should improve on things such as different body types/degrees of fatness, different voices, more clothes and i totally agree. I have to say i get very annoyed when playing the Sims and all my sims look the same. There all the same height, weight, same vioce. Its like the whole community is a clone of each other.
It would be awesome if they could change things like height, body shapes, vioces and if they did what they did in the Sims Bustin Out for PS2 and make it so that yu can change the colour of different items of clothing and hair. That was one thing, actually the only thing i liked about Bustin Out. when i say change the colour i mean they had like a colour bar so you had many differnet shades of each colour.
I sure do hope someone from EA/Maxis reads this discussion because everyone has contributed some very good ideas and improvements for the Sims and future Sims games.
Happy Simming Fellow Gamers
For everybody who thinks that Hobbies is last expansion pack, it actually isn’t. Hobbies is going to be another stuff pack, along with Teen Style. The very last expansion pack is Castaway, which will be released for both Sims 2 and Sims 2 Life Stories.
Why would Castaway be the last? It doesn’t fit in with the whole “neighborhood” setting and would veer from the core of The Sims series. I think that will only be a Life Stories game–it just doesn’t fit with the regular EPs. I think Magic would be a very cool addition for TS 2! And werewolves that don’t look ridiculous…>_>; I’m surprised they pulled off sexy vampires.
But if/when Sims 3 comes out, what will the requirements be? I just bought a new video card and I certainly won’t be able to get another anytime soon, and my comp is about four years old. With the way technology advances I hope it won’t be too high-end for my computer to run.
As for mashing everything together into on Sims 3…
First off, it’d be an ENORMOUS file and you’d get a billion discs, and second, there wouldn’t nbe nearly as much money made off it compared to TS 1 and 2. Dividing all of the EPs are a much smarter way of marketing and making bookoo bucks. It’s be like…Sims 3. Here it is. That’s all. I wouldn’t even like that, even if it does sound neat on the outside.
Just my opinions and such. Have fun siming!
Hobbies is NOT a stuff pack.
Quote from Bon Voyage insert: “Lastest The Sims 2 Expansion Pack: now your sims can enjoy hobbies! Your Sims will have fun taking up a variety of creative, intellectual, or active leisure-time pursuits. They can even meet sims that share their interests and expand their social relationships. Develop your sims’ skills while they pursue their true pastime passions. Will your sims stumble reaching for new goals or find a new sense of fulfillment? Coming Spring 2008!”
That doesn’t sound like a stuff pack to me.
Also along the lines of adding many of the Sims 2 EP’s into the TS3 would be a good marketing tool in my mind. I personally don’t want to fork out 200-300 for the same old EP’s that I got with sims 1&2. Pets was hardly good enough to be a stand-alone EP for TS2 and Weather (seasons) should obviously come with the core game of sims3. If they want me (the average buyer) to buy their new version of the sims, it better not be as much of a dropoff as the sims2 was after all the EP’s in sims1.
Areilla thinks that it would take up too much room to put all those into 1 game? What do you think takes up more room: a base game with 7 additional expansions (all with their own install programs, and tons of duplicate old files to replace the originals) or have all that stuff pre-integrated? Not to mention TS3 will surely be released on DVD (4.7 gigs) vs CD (750 megs). I don’t picture storage being a problem. EP’s are more of a drain on system resources than a fully integrated game.
I agree- EP’s a smart marketing device. I’ll be the first one to admit it. HOWEVER they need new ideas, not just reselling their same old thing on a new engine.
I think they should just develop patches for the Sims 2 for the height/weight/voice/body type things, they all really annoy me so much but they would work so well on the Sims 2. I love the game so much and it’s brilliant as it is and I wouldn’t want to go out and by another umpteen amount of EPs and stuff packs unless it was REALLY good, and I don’t think it could get much better. It feels to soon to get another Sims game out and Maxis are clever people so hopefully they’ll be able to make the Sims 2 even better!
Does anyone know about s Sims game coming out for the Xbox 360? please email me at saggolfer@aol.com with the answer. -Thanks
NOT TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
like that wouldn’t there are *6* eps and in the last ep they will probobly merge superstar and makin magic together I dont have sims 1 but it sounds pritty cool!!
I wouldn’t say hobbies is a stuff pack. I’d say it was an expansion pack. Also Sims 2 Castaway is going to be a Sims Stories thing
I think that hobbies is NOT last ep. I think supestar can appear like last ep.
Sims 2 too popular to stop doing new eps now!!! But I thinking that magic is going to appear in Sims 3!!!
wat does evry1 fink the hobbies creature will be i fink they could have more than one coz hobbies opens up lots of options like magic is a hobbies i guess fame could be a hobbie but if this is gunna be the last ep then they could put evryfink in it…
random person, you are an idiot. It is okay to talk/type like a normal person. People might actually take you seriously rather than think you’re a moron.
What is he on there is still one expasion pack comming out in Spring. It’s to do with Hobbies
i think Nippy778 is right i can see thim adding magic into the game as a hobbie, hell i can see thim adding some tech things alog with it just so that thay dont use the same name agine, (making magic) cuz after all, we not like the ideal of buying somthing more than one’s..
as for sims 3 im thinking there going to do alittle more with it too keep the fans happy..such as making the graphics very very good and i meen doom 3 good or add some things form the sims 2 EPs and up the graphics just so it seems like a new game…or somthing aloge thowes lines
Random person you are right they should put everythink into this ep as for the creature i am hoping for witches and warlocks or devils and angels something along that route
I heard somewhere that:
“COMPLETE your Sims 2 Collection…” And then mentioning “Hobbies” implying that Hobbies is the last one. And Danica, you’re dumb. Castaway is a Sims Stories one and also for console that’s it – NOT AN EP MORON!
Oh and Rezzy, YOU are the one that can’t count! YOU said: “sorry 4 da people that can’t count but Bon voyage is the 5th ep so there are more eps coming out” Bon Voyage is the 6th EP!!! Duh!
By the way Ariella, I’m worried about my laptop not being able to play Sims 3. It only has 512mb! And I have all the Sims 2 EP’s! (And Sims 1 Complete Collection) And my laptop is really slow! Sims 3 will kill my laptop!!!
Oh yeah I just remembered! Does anyone know anything about SPORE? I really want it but they keep moving the release date!
@ Dave
There’s no reason to insult people because they made a mistake.
ok, please help me out people. Does anyone know if there will be ANY Sims games/EP for the Xbox360
and I cant wait for the sims2 hobbies, also theres pictures of the supossid “sims3″ on google but i think the screen shots are fake b/c it is far to early for EA/Maxis to be releasing the sims3 info.
No, there will not.
I wonder what will be in the sims hobbies?
Please leave an answer
in hobbies probably sport an chemistry set an erm… don’t know what else but i don’t think there will be another chooser like downtown or bluewater village because how would that work for the theme wouldn’t it be good if they put more animals in like hippos an rhinos
insightful post millie…..
superstar and magic would be a big mistake, thats like taking a good series into an average series that only goths would buy. i personally dont like all that magic and gothic stuff but the vampires i do like. sims 3 is set to be released 2009 along with a film kalled the sims…
I don’t think that a magic expansion pack would be something that only “goths” would buy. I’m not goth or anything but Makin Magic was my favorite EP for sims 1, and I would love it if they had it for sims 2. Although I think that Hobbies seem stupid, I dont think I’ll buy it.. I barely have any space left on my comp. anyway
Well said Annabelle!
Wow, I had no idea that people could really not figure out exactly what is said on the official Sims 2 site. Castaway is a Sims Stories game, completely seperate from the Sims 2 games and expansion packs. Stuff packs are also seperate, although unlike Sims Stories, they require the original Sims 2 to play them. I haven’t yet had the chance to buy Bon Voyage yet, but it says all over the internet that inside it was a notification about Sims 2 Hobbies. This will almost positively be the final Sims 2 Expansion Pack, unless EA decides that there is still money to be made in the Sims 2 Franchise. If not, that will be it for Sims 2 and hopefully Sims 3 is well on the way.
i think it’s too soon for sims 3, how long did we have sims one before 2 came a long?
Tim- How are the sims 2 stuff packs separeate from the Sims 2 or its expansions if they require sims 2 to play them? They are totally 100 percent as much a part of the sims 2 as the expansions are. Do I have to draw a diagram for people?
Sims Franchise
/ / | \ \
Sims1 TS Online sims2 sims stories My Sims
Livin Large / \ \
House Party Expansion Stuff \
Hot Date / \ Life Stories
Vacation University Holiday Party Pet Stories
Unleashed Nightlife Family Fun Castaway Stories
Superstar OFB Glamour Life
Makin Magic Pets Happy Holiday
Seasons Celebration
Bon Voyage H&M Fashion
Hobbies Teen Style
Well that worked poorly.
THE SIMS FRANCHISE
*Sims 1* – Livin Large, House Party, Hot Date, Vacation, Unleashed, Superstar, Makin Magic
*Sims Online*
*Sims 2* -:Expansions:- University, Nightlife, OFB, Pets, Seasons, Bon Voyage, Hobbies -:Stuff Packs:- Holiday Party, Family Fun, Glamour Life, Happy Holiday, Celebration, H&M Fashion, Teen Style
*Sims Stories* Life Stories, Pet Stories, Castaway Stories – These are geared towards laptops – much like console versions of sims 2
*My Sims* – These are exclusively for console play
this will not be the last expansion becuase if it was you would of heard more about sims3 which is still in the making and i can’t find anything on it other than it might be released in late 2009 or early 2010 but thats not even for sure, but they wouldn’t go a yr and a half between the releases,
I was really hoping that the 7th expansion pack would be a Magic one. It would be nice to see our Sims practicing magic on each other. I have University, Deluxe, SEasons and Bon Voyage. I want Pets and I think that Magic would go along great with them. Quick question:
If I install Open For Business, can I install Nightlife after it? Or do I have to uninstall OFB and then install Nightlife?
it doesn’t matter what order you install them in. Otherwise you would have to buy them in the exact order they came out. That would be such a pain in the arse. meh… magic. It could be a hobby, we’ve already talked about that i think.